Nigerian army still not able to get Boko Haram leader after 40 days ultimatum

The army's pursuit of the terrorist leader has brought it a lot of embarrassment in the past.

On Wednesday, August 30, 2017, the army's 40-day ultimatum to capture Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, expired.

Crucially, the army had organised a press briefing on Boko Haram operations for Wednesday, and in a room full of reporters, Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru, updated the nation on their encounters with the dangerous terrorist group.

Major General Ibrahim Attahiru  (Nigerian Tribune)

More crucially, there was no sight of a Shekau in chains or any cheerful claims of his death during the briefing.

When asked by a reporter in the room about the army's failure to stick to its own timetable, the Commander replied, "The 40-day ultimatum given to the theatre is concomitant task to the overall objectives for which the theatre stands to achieve. The theatre is here to deal a decisive blow to Boko Haram.

"That being the case, capturing Shekau is an enhancer to that objective. 40 days was a guideline.

"It does not mean that because 40 days is about to elapse and Shekau has not been captured, we'll renew other 40 days, and we'll go after him and get him."

There's not a lot of people that are surprised by the army's failure to capture Shekau or their defiance in the face of that failure.

When the 40-day directive was issued by Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, on July 21, a lot of people saw it for the diversionary tactic that it was; the same one that the army has employed several times in its long bloody war against the terrorist sect and its deranged leader.

A screengrab from a video released by the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram shows its leader, Abubakar Shekau, preaching to locals in an unidentified town   (Boko Haram/AFP/File)

In the hunt for Shekau, the army has had a lot of missteps that they've had to double down on to save face in public or suffer the humiliation in silence. The army's history of killing Shekau with word of mouth and press releases is a well-documented travesty.

At the height of that embarrassment, the army claimed in 2016 that it had destroyed every Shekau that has existed as leader of the sect.

Former Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major-General Lucky Irabor said, "I can confirm to you that the original Shekau was killed, the second Shekau was killed, and the man presenting himself as Shekau, I can also confirm to you that a few days ago, he was wounded. We are yet to confirm whether he is dead or not.

"They released videos to prove that they are still active, but that’s just a facade"

Despite that statement being 12 months ago, Boko Haram appears to still be active, with over 50 successful attacks under their murderous belts this year alone.

No well-meaning Nigerian should take delight in the army's failure to gain complete control of the Boko Haram problem in the north east.

To their credit, the group is less dominant in the country now than it was a year ago, and the highest point of that was the sacking of their largest base in Sambisa Forest in December 2016.

Despite the government's apparent exaggeration of what that victory represents in the war against the terrorist group, the army has come a long, hard way in curbing their menace.

However, it does not help itself with grandstanding and public chest-thumping that almost always results in the embarrassment of its genuine efforts to move the country completely past these perilous times.

As disconcerting as Maj-Gen Attahiru's words of renewal of the order to capture Shekau is, there is something many people should agree with him on, and that is that capturing Shekau is not the biggest objective of the war.

A poster displayed in Maiduguri, Nigeria, shows the photograph of Abubakar Shekau, leader of the militant Islamist group Boko Haram, declared wanted by the Nigerian military with a reward for information that could lead to his capture - May 2013  (BBC)

No one should be under the illusion that capturing Shekau or killing him is going to be an automatic death blow to Boko Haram.

As recent events have shown, the terrorist group has at least three known factions now, with Abu Musab al-Barnawi and Mamman Nur leading the other factions.

It is important to note that Al-Barnawi's faction, not Shekau's, is responsible for this year's deadliest attack; an ambush of an oil exploration team in the Magumeri area of Borno that led to the death of 69 people and the capture of three civilians who are still being held for ransom a month later.

Mamman Nur's faction is largely unknown yet, but who knows what he might become with the power vacuum Shekau's potential capture or death would cause?

While his capture or death would be an important morale-boosting public victory in the country's fight against terrorism, it probably won't amount to much in dealing that decisive blow Maj-Gen Attahiru is intent on delivering on Boko Haram.

This is why the army should do away with the public obsession with capturing or killing Shekau as he's only a prominent head of a deadly hydra that'll just grow another.

Nigerian soldiers on patrol in Banki, Borno State, to guard against infiltration or attack by Boko Haram insurgents  (AFP)

During the 40-day ultimatum that just elapsed,  Director of Defence Information, Major-General John Enenche, resorted to the army's long-held belief about Shekau.

He said, "There are many Shekaus, there are various Shekaus, which is my strong belief.

"A Shekau is still alive, people keep posing as Shekaus, but who knows the real Shekau? Only the indigenes and the people that are there, and people like carrying big names, that is why we keep knocking out any Shekau that comes up."

Will the real Shekau please stand up?

We need to close this chapter in the country's history for good and move on to the real work.

Cause of Buhari's illness revealed

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Modestus Umenzekwe has said the level of corruption and state of the economy left by previous administration caused President Muhammadu Buhari’s sickness.

Umenzekwe, who upon the president’s arrival predicted that Arewa youths would back down on their ultimatum to Igbos, said this in a statement he issued yesterday.

“President Buhari’s ill health was caused by the monumental heap of corruption that he met when he assumed duty,” he noted. 
“In the power sector alone over N11 trillion was spent and yet nothing to show for it. What the APC government met under power is enough to give Buhari ill health. 
“Look at the findings in the Ministry of Petroleum where someone accumulated wealth of over three nations put together. What about bad road. Today the entire Apapa, in Lagos is being closed down for one year for full road reconstruction. 
“The road network is in shamble up to Tincan Island Ports. That is why the pressure from those calling for restructuring of Nigeria is on the rise. 
“When people are talking about change, I laugh because the true meaning of change is nothing but creating a very congenial atmosphere in the state administration. 
“What has Buhari inherited from his predecessors, nothing. Where is Nigerian Airways, Nigerian National Shipping Line, National Electric Power Authority. Most of these were fraudulently privatized. What are the benefits the nation derived from such privatization? 
“What has happened to the old National Assembly Complex at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, the National Stadium, Tafawa Balewa Square, The National Arts Theatre, The Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL). 
“They have all gone into oblivion. They are either sold away or completely abandoned to decay. They are now gathering to takeover governance in 2019 when we are yet to clean the mess they made. They are all dreamers,”‎ he added

Emeka says Buhari did not lie about his father

Late Chukwuemeka Ojukwu’s first son, Emeka Ojukwu Jr. has condemned the statement credited to him of refuting the remarks of the President, concerning Buhari’s relationship and discussions with his late father.

He denied granting any media interview or posting any massage on social media that Buhari was wrong about his discussions with his late father.

The media was awashed with reports that Ojukwu Jr. replied Buhari’s statements as untrue which members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) described as lies, demanding proof of the meeting with the late Ikemba of Nnewi with Mr. President.

In a statement issued on Wednesday and made available to newsmen in Awka, Ojukwu Jr. noted that his late father actually held the said meeting with Buhari before his demise, adding that all that Buhari said in his nationwide broadcast were true.

He warned that such malicious and damaging publications would not be taken lightly should it be repeated.

The statement read in part, “It has been brought to my attention that there is an article making the rounds on social media attributed to me refuting the remarks of Mr. President concerning his relationship and discussions with my late father.

“Let me lend my voice to those of the rest of my fellow countrymen and welcome Mr. President back home.

“Let me state the following categorically; firstly, that I made no such comments to anybody, and secondly that I am aware that His Excellency’s comments were indeed factual.

“I have noticed a disturbing trend recently of fake news being attributed to me on social media. I don’t know who is behind it or what their motivation might be, but let me assure you that any time I feel the need to comment publicly on any matter, I will not do so via some anonymous email or anything of the like, rather be rest assured that there will be no ambiguity whatsoever as to whether the comments came from me.

While calling on members of the public to discountenance the stories in the social media or any media platform, Ojukwu Jr. urged the President not to take such comments serious as it smacks of gutter and yellow media reportage aimed at overheating the polity.

President Buhari To Announce His Resignation On National Broadcast On Monday

The attention the latest medical vacation that have lasted over 100 days has attracted may not be unconnected to the resurgent of the main opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP after the Supreme Court verdict as well as the loss of patience by some Nigerians. The past two weeks have witnessed series of verbal attacks on President Buhari including local and international protests urging Him to #return or #resign.

While the local front was championed by self-acclaimed area-father, Charly Boy, the international front was spearheaded by some concerned Nigerians who have increasingly become uncomfortable with the stagnation in the country due to the absence of the president.

While President Buhari has remained unperturbed about the protests insisting that he was awaiting the final order from his doctors in London, the protests took a different dimension with groups loyal to him (Buhari) also displaying their loyalty and solidarity. Both Pro and Anti-Buhari protests have been greeted by accusations of being sponsored by
individuals or groups with differing interests.

In the midst of the protests, some influential Nigerians turned Abuja House into the new Mecca with the recuperating President receiving various visitors almost on a daily basis and snapping photos with them all. This act resuscitating the hope of Buharians who were almost falling for the Fayose-FFK-collabo that Buhari was already dead in London.

Interesting enough, while some Nigerians based in London were on a vigil in front of the Buhari-London resident few hours ago, the President continued to laugh at them while watching the local TV Station, NTA until He slept off. Unknown to the protesters, Buhari’s luggage were already arranged enroute back to His country.

In a statement by Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina early Saturday, the big news was finally released out of the bag-Buhari is set to return to Nigeria today. Adesina quickly extended Buhari’s appreciation to all Nigerians who had continued to pray for His recovery and safe return.

The Presidential Spokesperson also revealed that the President on His arrival will address the nation on Monday 21 st August 2017. This is exactly what some Nigerians have been longing for-to hear from their president directly and not mere dumb pictures. True to Adesina’s earlier statement, the big eagle finally arrived Saturday evening in grand style with lots of excitements from different parts of the country.

Journalists of course were disappointed as Presidential Protocol Officers didn’t allow them to engage the new-bride President. Maybe they too have to wait till the Presidential Address on Monday.

On Monday, what will Buhari finally tell Nigerians? What will He tell those who had long expected his corpse? What will he tell those who had prayed terribly and trusted God, sorry Allah for His safe return in perfectly restored health. Against the expectations of many Nigerians, there are indications that President Buhari will announce His resignation in that much awaited national address. Yes, His RESIGNATION .

Recall that as the health of President Buhari had continued to rise more fears from different sections and interests in the country, the gang of “king-makers” had at various times had meetings either together or separately with the President.

Some of those meetings were not just to ascertain the health issues of the President but strong suggestions were made by some of this gang for the President to consider resigning in case He is convinced His health won’t allow Him to continue to perform the rigorous tasks required of His office.

Olusegun Obasanjo, Yakubu Gowon, Abdusalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Baban gida, you remember them?

Taking a closer look at the recent pictures of the president that has been trending on social media, it is extremely doubtful if the President is now strong enough to resume office. What is informing His recent decision to return to the country may not be far-fetched as all seem not certainly well with Mr.President.

A source close to the presidency disclosed to Suanu’s Blog that the President is seriously considering the option of stepping aside so as to take proper care of his health and allow for the smooth running of the country. “Mr.President is worried about the spate of events in the country.

From the IPOB agitations, the reciprocal reaction of Arewa Youths, the problems of herdsmen, the economic challenges, similar threats for secession by the Yorubas, the Niger Delta, the Middle Belt and others, and the recent local and international protests that have taken an embarrassing dimension.

The country seems more divided than ever and the President is aware that His absence due to ill-health isn’t helping the provision of the leadership and good governance Nigerians expected”.

On whether Mr.Buhari had revealed this to His Aides, the source said, “At the moment, it is a top secret. The president has decided to keep His tentative plans from many of its aides because of the various interests surrounding him and how they may react differently. Buhari is an elder statesman who is so passionate about this country.

He has made several sacrifices to keep this country together and prosperous and history will be favourable to Him in this regard. All the President wants is what will be in the best interest of the country and not to service the interest of just few persons” the source explained.

If Mr.President takes the path of this rare bravery, He will leave several Nigerians including His loyalists and supporters extremely shocked. However, Buhari’s dilemma is better imagined as the presidential cabal who will be greatly affected have tried tremendously in the past to persuade Him against considering the option of resigning from an office He has repeated tried to get to but failed on three occasions.

Like in the days of President YarAdua, the cabal are bent on managing Mr.Buhari no matter the state of His health at least till the end of His tenure in 2019.

Whether Buhari will show utmost patriotism and announce His resignation on Monday or the cabal in the villa will succeed in convincing him otherwise, Monday’s National Address will certainly reveal that. To many Nigerians, their happiness is that Mr.President is back, while to others, it is all about how strong he is to continue in the capacity of the President of the most populous black people on earth or otherwise.

EFCC office attacked by hoodlums

Some gunmen attacked the head office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja on Wednesday.

The spokesman

for the commission, Wilson Uwajaren, who disclosed this in a statement hours after the incident, said the gunmen left a death note for one of the anti-graft agency’s detectives.

He said the attackers did not succeed in entering the complex because security guards on duty successfully prevented them.

The statement reads, “A major security breach was recorded at the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in the early hours of Wednesday, August 16, 2017, as unknown gunmen attacked the office located at Wuse Zone 7, Abuja.

“The group of heavily armed bandits invaded the office at about 05.00 hours and began shooting into the premises, damaging vehicles parked in the premises in the process. However, the attack was repelled by guards on duty.

“The hoodlums escaped in a getaway vehicle but not without leaving a message; a white envelope dropped by the fleeing attackers was found to contain a death threat addressed to Ishaku Sharu, a senior investigator with the commission.

“Ishaku, who heads the foreign exchange malpractices fraud section, is in charge of corruption investigation involving several politically exposed persons and retired military brass hats.

“The attack on the Zone 7 office, which houses the commission’s AMCON desk, procurement fraud and foreign exchange malpractices sections, is coming few weeks after another investigator, Austin Okwor, was shot and wounded by unknown assailants in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.”

Uwujaren added that the incident had already been reported to the police for investigation.

AY TOAST 1

President Buhari might just be on his way home

The Nigerian Presidential jet which has been parked in a London airport for over 80 days now, allegedly departed the United Kingdom perhaps to Nigeria which caused tension within the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to a report by Vanguard, the media team of President Muhammadu Buhari, however denied knowledge of such thing, saying that it should be taken as rumour as there was no information available to them suggesting that the President had left London where he is on medical vacation.

Many online reports had speculated about the President’s return on Tuesday when some sources in London had claimed that the presidential aircraft had taken off from there to Abuja even as it was reported that some staff at the Presidential Villa had been on standby since Monday.

When contacted by a correspondent, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said he was not aware of the alleged departure of the Presidential aircraft from London from.

Also in denial of any knowledge of the alleged departure of the Presidential aircraft from London was the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adeshina who said he was not informed of anything like that.

According to him, “BBC also called me and said the president’s aircraft had taken off, I should confirm it. I said the tradition is that if the president is coming, we will be asked to issue a statement but there has been no such instruction.”

As at the time of filing this report, there was no confirmation to the effect that the presidential aircraft had left London and there was no movement within the Presidential Villa to support the rumour.

Acting president shakes off presidential cabinet

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has concluded arrangements to shake-up President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet this week, with the fate of the Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, and All South-East Ministers, unknown.

Already, the planned shake-up in the cabinet is causing anxiety among most members who are aware, but not sure of their fate.

A Minister confirmed: “You will notice that attendance at the last FEC meeting was unusual. Almost every council member attended, because they were not sure of what the outcome would be.

“President Buhari and the Acting President have agreed to overhaul the cabinet, and have been discussing on this since Osinbajo visited him in London.

“Let them drop those they want. God will help us. If you are given a job, do your best. So whatever happens, you are sure that you have done your best. I heard the cabinet shake-up will happen this week or next. So I’m waiting for any eventuality”, the Minister said.

An Aide of  Buhari confirmed the impending cabinet reshuffle. He however, stated that the exercise would have to wait until the President returns from London.

“One thing I know for sure is that the President is interested in the cabinet reshuffle. They will have to wait until he is back. This is the reason why the two Ministers were not given portfolios. The understanding is that there will be no need to do it now and again later.”

There are also cases of abuse of office by a few Ministers, which the government is not prepared to take lightly.

It was learnt that those likely to be affected in the shake-up include one of the female Ministers. it was gathered that the Presidency is no longer comfortable with her recent political involvement.

The Presidency, has been furnished with reports of her alleged “unwholesome” practices, which the government feels strongly will dent the anti-corruption war of the administration.

Another Minister that is also likely to be affected in the exercise, hails from the South-South. There are intelligent reports against the Minister of State who is believed to be having serious conflict with his senior colleague, a favourite of President Buhari, handling a critical sector of the economy.

It was learnt that one of the Ministers from the South-West, and all South-East Ministers have been penciled to be dropped from the cabinet.

However, a couple of Ministers will retain their portfolios, while one of the Ministers of State, will likely become full Minister.

On the fate of the former Governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, the source stated that the Minister will still retain the Works, Power and Housing portfolio. According to the source: “There are certainly few persons who will not be touched.

“I can tell you that Babatunde Fashola will retain the three portfolios he is holding; they will not be split.

“Most people don’t understand that the only thing left in power is transmission. Even at that, we are going to privatise the transmission. So, Fashola will keep the three portfolios. He is one of the performing Ministers.”

Also, the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, will also retain their current portfolios.

While the Minister of Education is considered as highly disciplined and favoured by Buhari, Adeosun is seen as one of the performing Ministers.

“Adeosun is seen as one of the performing Ministers. She has the capacity, and is one of the people that are delivering”, the source said.

On the fate of Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), it was learnt that he is likely going to retain his seat, on account of his closeness to the President.

“The President will have to come in, regarding the Minister of Justice, because you know that he is President’s man. Really, President Buhari will determine the AGF’s fate, but I think he might survive the cabinet shake-up, and retain his portfolio”, he added.

Washington post joins CNN in mocking the president of Nigeria

Nigeria is now the world butt of jokes as Washingtonpost has joined CNN in mocking the president.

CNN’s Fareed Zakaria had asked which president has been away for over two months.

Washington post joined CNN, calling Buhari a liar.

Here is an excerpt:

Buhari has been gone for months. The last Nigerian president absent this long died in office.

Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has been out of the country since May 7, seeking medical care in London. He has not disclosed the nature of his condition, and official updates about him have been rare.

It was only last week that the government released a photo of Buhari, the first image of him since he left Nigeria. This is Buhari’s second medical leave to the United Kingdom this year; his previous trip was nearly two-months long.

Buhari’s poor health and absence from the country raises questions about who governs when presidents get sick. Some research I’ve done about presidential ill health in Africa – and in Nigeria specifically – shows how important constitutions can be in dealing with sick presidents.

Unfortunately, for Nigerians, Buhari’s condition is a bit of deja vu.

Everyone gets sick – even presidents – but in 2010, an ill Nigerian president died in office.

Suffering from kidney and heart problems, former Nigerian president Umaru Yar’Adua sought emergency treatment in Saudi Arabia in November 2009. Yar’Adua returned to Nigeria in February 2010, but he died in office just three months after his return.

Following Yar’Adua’s death in office, his Vice President Goodluck Jonathan assumed the presidency, which is consistent with Nigeria’s constitution. More specifically, Section 146 of the Nigerian constitution (1999) states:

“The Vice-President shall hold the office of President if the office of President becomes vacant by reason of death or resignation, impeachment, permanent incapacity or the removal of the President from office for any other reason.”

Rules on succession following presidential death are not uncommon in African constitutions.

In an article I wrote with University of Malawi political scientist Boniface Dulani, we examined what happens when African presidents die in office. We surveyed all deaths in office since independence and we examined closely successions following the deaths in office of Umaru Yar’Adua in Nigeria in 2010, Levy Mwanawasa in Zambia in 2008 and Bingu wa Mutharika in Malawi in 2012.

Mutharika’s death in office and the initial uncertainty surrounding succession in Malawi prompted us in 2012 to look at other African cases. The timing was rather auspicious, as 2012 was the year when four African leaders died in office: Mutharika of Malawi, Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia, John Atta Mills of Ghana and Malam Bacai Sanhá of Guinea Bissau.

Our research identified 11 deaths in office of African leaders between 2008 and 2012. In nine of those 11 cases, the succession followed constitutional procedures, typically the transfer of power from the leader to his deputy. (The two others were a coup d’état in Guinea in 2008 and a revolution in Libya in 2011.) Constitutional succession is much more common today than in the period between independence and the third wave of democratization in Africa (1960 to 1990), when presidential deaths were often followed by a coup d’état or the military appointing a new leader. Our findings are consistent with work by political scientists Daniel Posner and Daniel Young, who show that political institutions became more important than personal relationships in shaping African politics after the third wave of democratization.

Although rules about succession are important, our research showed that a leader’s death did not necessarily lead to uncertainty about succession.

Uncertainty and inaction were more likely in cases of poor presidential health.

Like in the case of Yar’Adua in Nigeria, Zambia’s Levy Mwanawasa had a prolonged absence from his country while still holding the office and responsibilities of being president. He had a stroke in June 2008 and it is unclear whether he engaged in any governing after that stroke and before his death in a French hospital on Aug. 19, 2008.

In Nigeria – like in Zambia and Malawi – there are provisions in the constitution for when a president is too ill to carry out official duties. For example, Nigeria’s constitution (specifically, Section 144) stipulates that the president “shall cease to hold office” if a two-thirds majority of the Federal Executive Council declares that he is “incapable of discharging the functions of his office”; such a declaration would have to be verified by a panel of five medical experts.

In our research, however, we did not come across many African examples when constitutional provisions for medical incapacity were invoked. One example emerged during Yar’Adua’s long absence: Nigeria’s senate voted on Feb. 9, 2010, to delegate presidential responsibilities to Jonathan and make him acting president. However, there was never a declaration by a panel of medical experts that Yar’Adua was unfit to govern, and he returned to Nigeria on Feb. 24, 2010, and resumed his office and duties.