Politics
Boko Haram: The Swap Option
It has been five weeks of
suppressed anger, fragile peace, anxiety, trauma, hate and suspicion from a large chunk of Nigerian population following the abduction of well over 200 school girls at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State. Indeed, religious organizations, global bodies, various governments across the globe have risen to condemn the dastardly act against humanity.
It is for this reason that United States, Britain, China, France, Israel and many more sovereign nations have volunteered their security expertise to tackle the menace of Boko Haram sect in Nigeria.
For the past two weeks, Nigeria’s landscape has been under the increasing surveillance of the international community in a bid to secure the release of the Chibok school girls from their vicious and ruthless captors. The Boko Haram sect has offered to send the girls back home if the Nigerian government will reciprocate the “gesture” by freeing their members who are held in various parts of the country.
The leader of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah Lid Da’awati Wal Jihad otherwise known as Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, in a video released last Monday, offered to free the school girls who were kidnapped by his fighters last month in exchange for the Boko Haram detainees. The 27-minute video showed a reasonable number of girls dressed in black hijab, reciting the opening chapter of the Qur’an in an undisclosed location.
“All I am saying is, if you want us to release your girls that were kidnapped, you must release our brethren that are held in Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Abuja, Lagos and up to Enugu. We know that you have incarcerated our brethren all over this country,” the Agence France Press quoted Shekau as saying in the video.
He continued; “There are some of our brethren who have spent five complete years without seeing their wives, without seeing their children. There is even a woman that you released but refused to let her go with her baby. For God’s sake, even for ensuring their release, will I not kidnap? After all, Allah says I should kidnap.
“You that seized and detained my brethren for five years, you arrested and kept a woman without getting married for four years, you sieze and held our children.
“I will sell them, I repeat. And by Allah you will never get them until the day you release our brethren you seized and detained”.
In a swift reaction to the Boko Haram offer, Federal government officials came out with contradictory statements on government’s position, thus creating confusion in the minds of Nigerians and other members of the international community who are monitoring events in the country.
The Minister of Interior, Abba Moro told newsmen that the Federal government was closing in on the abductors and would not bow to their demands.
“Boko Haram has been designated a terrorist organization, hence it is unthinkable if this group gave out condition for anything to the government.
“As you know, Nigeria has invited international countries and we are closing in on them. There is no doubt that everybody has been eager to see that these girls are released, but in everything, there is supposed to be rules of game.
“Hence, no amount of pressure on Nigeria as an independent nation will make us to bow out. We know that this way is part of the rules of engagement, but as government, it needs to exert its powers towards adherence to the rules”, Moro said.
Also speaking, the Senate President, David Mark ruled out any form of negotiation with the Boko Haram insurgents, and assured that the Federal government would do everything possible to eradicate terrorism in the country.
“Boko Haram has become a real nuisance, and the menace is unacceptable. They have declared war on Nigeria and we will fight them with all the resources at our disposal.
“We will not allow it to go on for too long; government is very serious about it.
“It is an avoidable distraction and it is something we do not need at this point in our history when we are trying everything possible to bring development to Nigeria, to attract foreign investors.
“So, the message should go out loud and clear to anyone who is either a sponsor or a member of Boko Haram that we will fight them with all resources at our disposal”, Mark said.
The Director-General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, however, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, said “Government is reviewing the content of the video and the accompanying statement issued by the sect.
“Government will continue to explore all options for the release and safe return of our girls back to their homes.
“An earlier report by a section of the media purported to have been issued by government is totally false. This remains the official position of the Federal government of Nigeria”.
Pressed several times to confirm whether the federal government was going to negotiate with Boko Haram insurgents or exchange prisoners for the girls, he insisted that all options were open to the government.
“I still say all options are open. At the moment, all options are open. We are interacting with military and security experts from different parts of the world. So, there are part of the options that are left for us. There are more. If it is necessary that we use any action to get our girls, we will do it”, he said.
The Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki on his part, called on the leader of the sect to come for dialogue to end the onslaught on the Nigerian nation.
Turaki who is also the chairman of the committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to broker peace with the insurgents, said Shekau should demonstrate his sincerity by sending the representatives of the Boko Haram sects for negotiation with government.
According to him, “Dialogue is a key option in bringing the crisis to an end and that an inssue of this nature can be resolved outside violence”.
However, Director of Information at the Department of State Security, Ms Maryln Ogar, said negotiating with the terrorists was not an option.
“No government in the world will negotiate with terrorists. That is the best practice and we believe in the global best practice”, she said.
On the identity of the spokesperson for Boko Haram in the released video, Ogar insisted that the original leaders of the group, Abu Kaka and Shekau had been taken out by the security agencies.
“I think we have said on several occasions that Boko Haram has become a franchise. So, when you talk about Abu Kaka; when you talk about Shekau, Boko Haram has become a franchise. Anybody anywhere in the country can get up and assume Shekau and Kaka. Kaka is no more. Abubakar Shekau is no more. Both of them have been taken out a long time ago”, Ogar added.
The parents of the abducted school girls also commented on the Boko Haram video. A parent, Mallam Awana Babagana said with the release of the video, the parents believed their daughters were still alive and called on the federal government to do everything possible to secure the release of their daughters.
He said: “I have seen the video but I couldn’t identify my daughter. I hope they are the ones, we will keep on praying until they are released.
Another parent who spoke on condition of anonymity said he had the opportunity to watch the video, but he didn’t identify any of his missing daughters.
Also, another father of the kidnapped girls said that he would rather let his child die than have her converted to Islam or be exchanged for Boko Haram prisoners.
Speaking to the Telegraph of London, the man whose name was not mentioned for the safety of his daughter, said, “I have not yet seen the video, but I am not really interested in what Boko Haram’s demands are.
“My daughter is a Christian, she will never change. I would rather prefer she dies a Christian than convert to Islam.
“I don’t want a prisoner exchange either, our daughters are not prisoners and they should not be exchanged for anyone.
“Let the government try to rescue them. If they have a prisoner exchange, that will look like the government is giving in to Boko Haram and it will just encourage them to take more hostages. They will never stop”, he said.
For pundits however, whatever option that is most acceptable to government at this point in time is immaterial as Nigerians and indeed the entire world are more concerned about the safety and home-coming of the abducted school girls.
Reward Akwu
Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has approved the release of N15.6 billion for the payment of outstanding severance gratuities, accommodation, and leave allowances owed to over N3,000 former councillors across the State’s 44 local government areas.
The approved payment covers councillors who served during the periods of 2014–2017, 2018–2020, and 2021–2024 under the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. The entitlements, which remained unpaid for years, will now be disbursed in three installments between April and June 2025.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information to the Governor, Ibrahim Adam, the administration described the move as a corrective measure to address the neglect of past leadership and fulfil a promise to ensure fairness to public office holders.
“The approval of N15.6 billion is in fulfilment of Governor Abba K. Yusuf’s commitment to ensuring that all outstanding entitlements owed to our dedicated public servants are fully paid. It is a matter of principle and justice to uphold the dignity of those who have served in elected positions”, Mr Adam said.
He noted that the financial intervention reflects the governor’s broader vision of governance rooted in fairness, accountability, and public trust.
“His Excellency recognises the sacrifices and dedication of these former councillors. This action is part of a larger effort to right the wrongs of the past and restore faith in public administration,” he added.
Local government officials and affected former councillors have welcomed the decision, describing it as long overdue and a step toward healing the financial frustrations of many grassroots leaders.
Governor Yusuf’s administration, elected on a different political platform than his predecessor, continues to draw commendation for its proactive efforts to resolve inherited liabilities and improve the welfare of public servants.
As the payment schedule begins, it is expected that this intervention will offer financial relief to thousands and stimulate local economic activity across the state.
Politics
Gunmen Disrupt Political Rally In Bayelsa ….As Turnah, Others Emerge New Associates’Leaders
Scores of spectators and political faithful were hospitalised after a yet to be identified gunmen invaded a rally organised by a group loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike and President Bola Tinubu in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
Part of the activities scheduled to hold at the occasion was the inauguration ceremony of the Bayelsa State chapter of the ‘New Associates’, a pro-Wike political forum.
The Tide which monitored the event reports that trouble started just at the preparatory stages of the event, when the unidentified gunmen launched sporadic gunshots from a farm close to the venue of the event, injuring unsuspecting spectators and party faithful across party lines.
However, calm was restored after a swift intervention by men and officers of the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations which enabled the event to go on as planned.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after restoration of calm, factional South-South zonal Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the State’s chapter of the party, Barrister George Turnah, commended security operatives for their timely response.
He noted that the plan of detractors had been defeated as forces loyal to certain individuals in the State never wanted the rally to hold as scheduled.
Turnah, who doubles as Convener of the ‘New Associates’ in the State, commended President Tinubu and Chief Wike for the appointment and facilitating the same for Ijaws across the Niger Delta region.
He said, but for the love of the duo for the Ijaw people of various extractions, the Presidency would not have given preferential political portfolios in the Federal Government’s Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to Ijaws even though the ethnic nationality produces bulk of the natural resources for the economic mainstay of the nation.
The PDP chieftain reiterated that the reason for the event which was attended across party lines was to say ‘thank you’ to the two political leaders, stressing that to ‘whom much is given, much was expected’.
“For me, I’m of the larger opposition party, PDP. But I’ve decided to support and work for President Tinubu for what he is doing for the Ijaw nation, Niger Delta region in particular and Nigeria in general.
“President Tinubu has given Bayelsans and other Ijaws across the Niger Delta region several juicy political appointments. He appointed our brother and son, Heineken Lokpobiri as Minister of Petroleum even though former President Muhammadu Buhari had previously appointed a Bayelsan as Petroleum Minister in his government.
“Apart from the Petroleum Minister, Tinubu has also appointed Ijaw sons, Chief Boma Iyaye as Executive- Director, Finance, and Dr Samuel Ogbuku as Managing-Director and CEO of the Niger Delta Development Commission.
“Though former President Buhari had appointed Ogbuku initially in Acting capacity, when President Tinubu came, even after sacking all board members of the Commission, he still kept our brother, the MD and upon the completion of his tenure in Acting capacity, the President again reappointed him as substantive MD/CEO.
“But there’s one man who has made all these appointments for Ijaws possible. He is the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Ijaw people, Bayelsans are we not enjoying these appointments?
“Has the NDDC not lit up the entire Niger Delta region? Are you not feeling the impact of the Ogbuku-led NDDC? So for me and all the members of the New Associates we’ve decided to support President Tinubu for a second tenure so that our state and region can benefit more from his government”, he said.
“We want Governor Douye Diri to tell us his stand on the forthcoming 2027 general election. He should tell us whether he is supporting the President or not. If he’s supporting the President, we’ll work with him. After all, Diri was the first Governor from the South-South zone that benefitted from the President’s magnanimity during the 2023 elections and even in terms of infrastructure projects and appointments of Bayelsans at the Federal level”, Barr Turnah added.
In his remarks, Chairman of the occasion, and leader, Rivers Ijaw Peoples Congress (RIPCO), Senator George Sekibo, lauded President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for their love and friendship with the Ijaw people.
Represented by former Chairman of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Dr Roland Sekibo, Senator Sekibo said the ‘New Associates’ political forum was to galvanize support for the President for his 2027 election.
He said while President Tinubu had performed well as Nigeria’s leader, the FCT Minister had continued to show leadership from the federal level after showing the same in Rivers State while serving as governor.
“I like to thank the convener of the ‘New Associates’ political forum in Bayelsa State, Barr. George Turnah (MON) and the Coordinators for standing firm in spite of threats from highly placed political leaders not to hold this event.
“Love is not theoretically, but must be expressed, which explains why they have gathered to celebrate their Excellencies, President Tinubu and Barr. Ezewon Nyesom Wike for the various roles they have played and have continued to play to ensure the appointment of Ijaw sons and daughters to positions of trust and authority at the federal level.
“The ‘New Associates’ is in synergy with President Tinubu and will continue to follow directives from the FCT Minister who has openly declared support for Mr. President”, he said.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party (LP) in Enugu State, Mr Titus Odo, has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Odo defected to the PDP on Wednesday alongside the former Commissioner for Chieftancy Affairs in the State, Emeka Mamah, who was the state Coordinator of the Peter Obi Presidential Campaign in the 2023 presidential election.
The duo dumped the PDP during the 2023 general elections for the Labour Party.
Receiving the defectors at the party’s state secretariat, the state PDP Chairman, Martin Chukwunwike, expressed happiness over their decision to return to their former party.
He explained that Governor Peter Mbah gave them the directive to do everything possible to bring back aggrieved party members who left the party.
“We are happy to have them in our midst, and God has set this party on a good footing, as 2027 is already assured,” he said.
The PDP chairman, however, called for unity within the party to package themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Speaking during their presentation to the party state chairman, Mr Odo expressed joy for returning to his former party, revealing that Mr Mbah’s massive development in the State informed his decision.
“I am happy to tell you that I am back to my home. I came back because of the giant development strides of Governor Mbah and I say kudos to him.
“The second reason is the defection of my immediate boss, the LP governorship candidate for the 2023 election in Enugu State, Dr Chijioke Edeoga.
“Another reason is that the council chairman in Igboeze North, Mr Uchenna Ogara, is turning the council area into a township,” he said.
Mr Mamah also thanked the PDP leadership in Igboeze North, Enugu North Senatorial zone and the state chapter of the party for receiving him back to the party.
He extolled Mr Mbah for extending hands of fellowship to those who had left the party, saying, “Personally, I am pleased with the performances of our governor.”