Online Network News - ONN (2024)

10/12/2021

*Arewa Group Slams Journalists For Linking Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau To DSS Arrest*

A group, Arewa Think Right Group has tasked journalists to cross check information, facts and clarify from reliable sources before going to press.

The charge was handed out by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Hamza Alkasim, in a statement he personally signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday December 9, 2021, in which they frowned at those responsible for reports, alleging that a former Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) was arrested by the Departmental of State Security Services (DSS)

"We were shocked and totally disappointed with media houses that reported the news as the former COAS, Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau (Rtd) was arrested by the DSS.
This is a blatant lie. The former COAS was never invited nor arrested by the DSS.

"Without mincing words, we categorically state that although we heard another Dambazau was arrested, it was not the former COAS they declared.

They wondered why some media organisations published the story as such, adding that it is a clear case of mischief.

"Linking the former COAS, General Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to DSS arrest was not fair, because he was never invited nor arrested. Instead, one Brigadier General Idris Bello Dambazau (Rtd) was arrested," they stressed

The group said that the Former COAS was a man of proven integrity and respect who contributed and served his fatherland with passion and humility.

16/03/2021

Arms Funds: Coalition Seeks Resignation Of Monguno Over Allegation Against Ex-Service Chiefs.

The Coalition of Civil Society Groups Against Terrorism in Nigeria, has called for the immediate resignation of Mohammed Babagana Monguno, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari, following his comment on the immediate past service chiefs.

Addressing a press conference on Monday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, the Convener of the coalition, Comrade Oladimeji Odeyemi, said Monguno has betrayed the sacredness and dignity of his office as the NSA by implying that President Muhammadu Buhari is not in charge of affairs in the country.

Monguno recently suggested in an interview with BBC Hausa that money appropriated for arms under Buhari’s former service chiefs — who had served for almost five years — “is gone.

Hours after the interview, however, Monguno was quick to dismiss his earlier comment, saying he was quoted out of context.

According to the coalition, Monguno, despite his recant of the comment, displayed limited capacity in security process and could be one of the reasons why the present administration is challenged by insecurity.

While describing the comment from the NSA as careless and ridiculous, the coalition said the tenure of the immediate past service chief’s, especially the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd), was the best and rewarding to have ever happened to the Nigerian Army, in terms of capacity building, morale upliftment and equipment acquisition.

“We believe a personality like Monguno is morally and psychologically unfit to continue to serve as the NSA to President Buhari due to his several unpatriotic gaffes especially the recent comment on the outgone service chiefs. On this basis, we demand his resignation as the President’s NSA.

“From the psychological perspective, he appears bitter and frustrated, perhaps over the restricted terms of reference President Buhari gave to him as the NSA. He probably wanted to be powerful and have unlimited say on the affairs of the security agencies and their budgets.

“He apparently was miffed that President Buhari decided that arms procurement must be handled by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Police Affairs, not the office of the NSA as the practice was before 2015.

“Don’t forget that before the demise of the former Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the NSA wrote a series of letters that leaked to the media accusing Kyari of interfering in military affairs and frustrating the war against Boko Haram.

“Before they eventually retired last January, everyone was aware that Monguno was not on good terms with the service chiefs. We can only advise the incumbent military chiefs to watch their backs because Monguno is lurking with his ‘tricks’.

Stating that Monguno was aiming to create a wedge between the former and current service chiefs, the coalition said the NSA ought to have take his exit, if he had any modicum of moral principles, the coalition said he was usually trying to be clever by half by trying to exonerate the President from any wrong doing, but shot himself on the foot by saying, “baa siyo kayan ba”, and “kudin sunbi ta wata hanya da ban sani ba, kuma ba wanda ya sani a yanzu.”

“Its so sickening that a public official could implicitly indict himself to score cheap points to get back at his imagined foes. For all it is, he should have known better rather than looking to pack the falsehood he already spilled on the ground. He has presented the Buhari-administration in a bad light especially with regards to addressing the security challenges in the country.

“As an anti-terror group, we commend the reaction of the former Chief of Army Staff, Gen Buratai denying fiddling with funds meant to procure arms and ammunition while in office.

In a statement by his lawyer, Osuagwu Ugochukwu, the former military chief said there was no arms fund missing under the stewardship of LT Gen T.Y Buratai.”

“Anyone interested in knowing how Arms were procured by the ex-service chiefs and particularly LT Gen T.Y Buratai should channel such request for information to the Ministry of Defence and stop the habit of speculation and false information peddling. Because any attempt to further tarnish the image of the former Chief of Army staff will be resisted legally."

14/03/2021

*NSA and his many Allegations against his kinsman and others*

When two elephants fight, it's the grass that suffers. It is also conventional wisdom that a kingdom divided against itself can not stand. This wisdom demands that we all work together harmoniously for the good of the society. Needless in fighting and name calling for whatever reason is baseless and counterproductive especially for a country like Nigeria that's embroidered in multifaceted woes.

The announcement on Friday from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) that Gen Olonisakin and the other service chiefs will be investigated and prosecuted by president Mohammadu Buhari for diverting funds budgeted for the purchase of arms was as empty as anything one could think of. That it is coming from a respectable personality like Babagana Mungono (Rtd) smacks of nothing but mischief which is aimed at getting back at no other person than Lt. General TY Buratai. It's needles to say that sheer envy and hatred by Maj Gen BM Monguno against Gen. Buratai has persisted for sometimes now. A fight between these two giants won't benefit anyone but wreck havoc on the gains made in the war against terror so far. The worst part is that Buratai and the service chiefs have done nothing to warrant this wicked malicious attack apart from their exceptional and meritorious service to the nation.

It would be recalled that after a meritorious service to Nigeria, the immediate former service chiefs were meritoriously nominated and appointed ambassadors immediately after resigning from their positions. There's no doubt that president Buhari must have done due diligence on them before appointing them. The sudden outburst by the NSA that funds were embezzled by people who gave their lives to salvage this nation is uncalled for. We should rather be thinking of ways to promote their good deeds and make them heroes to be emulated by those behind them and not to be maligned.

As the NSA, how could Babagana Mungono claim to have been unaware of arms purchase dealings when all along he was full of praises for the service chiefs and the president for their roles in decimating the remnants of terror cells in the North East? Where's the sudden attack coming from if not a deliberate attempt to blackmail the erstwhile COAS. TY Buratai and Babagana Mungono fortunately are all proud sons of Borno State, the name calling initiated by the NSA will not only affect the fragile peace in Borno State but throw the country more into panic, and chaos.

If Babagana Mungono believes funds are missing from the defense budget, he should account for the funds under his watch and stop looking for scapegoats as the personalities of the people he's trying to blackmail to save his name are above board and impeccable. They've paid their dues and the president and indeed Nigerians have given them a huge vote of confidence for their stewardship.

As NSA, Babagana Mungono should learn to behave as a national security officer, he should be more matured, focus and deep in thinking. He appears to be too flippant and unable to coordinate the security architecture of Nigeria. He should therefore honourably resign his appointment as the National Security Adviser for his failure to cordinanate national security. Rather than playing superiority games at the detriment of the Nigeria and the North East in particular.

Everybody who's familiar with the security situation in Nigeria and the North East in particular won't entertain the baseless allegations of the NSA. Babagana Mungono should therefore be the last person to play with the lives of his countrymen simply because he wants to settle personal scores.

Again I must say, Nigerians are very conscious and very discerning. If funds are missing from the budget of the ministry of defense which were meant for the purchase of arms then, the office of the National Security Adviser should account for the money and not the foot soldiers whose duty is to command the war efforts.

Yakubu Shendam a National youth president and security analyst writes from Abuja

13/03/2021

A legal practitioner Osuagwu Ugochukwu ESQ has said that anyone interested in knowing how arms were procured by the ex service chiefs particularly Lt Gen TY Buratai should channel such request for information to the Ministry of Defence and stop the habit of speculation and false information peddling, because any attempt to further tarnish the image of the former Chief of Army Staff will be resisted legally.

This information is from
Osuagwu Ugochukwu ESQ
Abuja
12. O3. 21

28/02/2021

GENERAL BURATAI REITERATES GRATITUDE TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AND NIGERIANS

The immediate past Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai (rtd), has reiterated his sincere gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for appointing him as Chief of Army Staff and further added that he discharged his responsibilities to the best of his ability. He also showered encomiums to Nigerians from various walks of life that supported him with prayers, advises, and words of encouragement that made him achieve so much as COAS. General Buratai stated this last night while speaking at a dinner organised in his honour by members of 29th Regular Course Foundation, held at Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Abuja.
In his words, General Buratai said, “I must appreciate all Nigerians, my well-wishers, the youths, elders, men and women for their continuous prayers, goodwill and support to the Nigerian Army and me in the course of our duties to bring about peace and security in our country.” He also thanked the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, and his northeast counterparts, who have “All worked hard to ensure that the insurgency in the northeast have reached what we have today; a manageable state and the progress have been quite tremendous so far.”
Going down memory lane earlier, the former COAS said that his appointment was a special price for his father, the late Alhaji Yusufu Buratai, a well-known staunch loyalist of President Buhari. It will be recalled that General Buratai’s father, a Second World War veteran, served as a Non-Commissioned Officer in the Royal West African Frontier Force fighting in Burma.
Speaking further, he expressed appreciation to the members of the 29th Regular Course Association for being such wonderful friends and course mates and organising such a befitting event in his honour, adding that he felt so happy to be celebrated. It means a lot to him and his family. “It is also a mark of fulfilment and pride that you have been recognised for the service you have rendered to your nation and your people,” he stated.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for nominating him for an ambassadorial appointment, reiterating that he would continue to do the nation proud and project Nigeria’s image in good light wherever he is posted.
The occasion featured the presentation of awards to Lt Gen TY Buratai (rtd) and books written on him by the 29th Regular Course Association, Nigerian Youth Organisation and the Reality Global FM.

27/02/2021

Adeyanju’s Rights NGO Not Registered With Us, Says CAC

The Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, has denied the registration of Concerned Nigeria, a civil society organisation said to be owned by Frontline activist, Deji Adeyanju, Daily Independent gathered on Friday

The commission made this disclosure via correspondence to Francis Xavier Solicitors and Advocate, Abuja, who had asked to ascertain the status of the said NGO for undisclosed reasons.

In the said letter dated 18/02/2021, the CAC confirmed that Concerned Nigeria allegedly one Deji Adeyanju is an unregistered entity and was never registered with the CAC.

In response to the official missive, the legal firm said that the NGO is not a Legal Association and cannot maintain an action in Law.

“An unregistered body or association is not recognized under Nigerian law.

“It cannot enter into legally binding contracts; it cannot sue or be sued in the name of the association save where each individual member or principal officers of the association are sued or sue others in their individual capacity.

“To assume legal protection, every association must be registered under Nigerian law, ” explained Barrister Osuagwu on behalf of the firm.

He was however not forthcoming on the purpose of the search for the NGO’s legal status.

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24/02/2021

Congratulations to a Visionary Leader with Very Big and Bold Ideas His Excellency Ambassador General Tukur Yusuf Buratai Rtd

23/02/2021

Breaking: Senate confirms Buratai, other ex-Service Chiefs as Ambassadors-designate

General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and former Chief of Defence Intelligence, Air Vice Marshall Muhammad Usman.

The confirmation followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Senator Adamu Mohammad Bulkachuwa.

Also on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari urged the Senate to consider and confirm Haliru Nababa for appointment as the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).

Senate President Ahmad Lawan read Buhari’s letter of request on the floor at plenary.

16/02/2021

HURIWA COMMENDS PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI FOR DIRECTING IMMEDIATE PROSECUTION OF ARMED FULANI HERDSMEN

Gentlemen and ladies of the forth estate of the realm , we welcome you to this emergency press interface that is necessitated by the growing restiveness and the flare up of grave inter-ethnic conflagration and disharmony all across the country .

First , we must say that the physical conflict of ethnicities flaring up everywhere must be extinguished by the President, the governors and all elected office holders whose primary constitutional duty as spelt out in section 14 (2) (b)of the Nigerian Constitution is to ensure the security of lives and property of all citizens. The grund norm says “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”.

However, allow us to restate our call on Mr. President to take immediate, comprehensive but transparent but lawful measures to bring all kinds of conflicts of Nationalities to an end. We had yesterday blamed the rise in these inter-ethnic conflicts on the apparent double standards of the central government.

However, our attention has been called to the position that it is inaccurate to locate the blame squarely on the desk of President Muhammadu Buhari. We accept this key point of correction.

We have also been asked by some of our prominent members to correct the impression that there is a deliberate intention of Mr. President to refuse to prosecute armed Fulani herdsmen and that there is no empirical data to believe that there is an agenda to alienate any ethno religious nationalities in the redistribution of National offices. We are glad to hear this second opinion and we respect it.

However, we will appeal to Mr. President to always respect equity and equality of rights in all his official conducts even as we call on him to either suspend or query his Federal Attorney General and Minster of Justice Abubakar Malami (SAN) who even in writing told us that arrested armed Fulani herdsmen who were hitherto paraded by the NPF here in Abuja will not be prosecuted because there is no case file.

The Minister of Justice told us in a response to our request that all the paraded armed Fulani herdsmen since 2015 must be prosecuted.

The impression conveyed by the Justice Minister is that a set of suspects are above the law only because of their ethnicity. This perception is damaging to the image of the government. It is totally irregular, unconstitutional and absolutely illegal and we call on President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to order the AGF explicitly to either carry out the order to prosecute offenders or be dismissed frim public office.

We hereby applaud the public statement of President Muhammadu Buhari in which he directed that armed Fulani herdsmen and indeed all criminals must be made to face the full weight of the law.

The ball is in the courts of the Justice Ministry to do the needful and for the police to enforce the law by building up strong case against all criminals. These prosecutorial activities must be transparent and accountable.

These are the exact words of President Buhari which has given us hope that there could be light at the end of the tunnel:
President Muhammadu Buhari had flayed the reported cases of ethnic violence across the country, saying his government will protect all religious and ethnic groups in line with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

Buhari, in a statement last night by his media aide, Malam Garba Shehu, vowed that his government will protect all religious and ethnic groups, whether majority or minority in line with its responsibility under the constitution.
Reacting to reports of the breakout of violence in some parts of the country by some ethnic and sectional groups, the president warned that the government will not allow any ethnic or religious group to stoke up hatred and violence against other groups.

He condemned such violence and gave assurances that his government will act decisively to stop the spread of any such violence.

Buhari appealed to religious and traditional leaders as well governors and other elected leaders across the country to join hands with the federal government to ensure that communities in their domain are not splintered along ethnic and other primordial lines.

President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security operatives to arrest and prosecute anyone found with illegal arms in the country.

Buhari, who lamented the spate of reckless killings of innocent citizens across the nation, said “all attacks by suspected herdsmen will no longer be tolerated in north central and elsewhere in Nigeria.”
He gave the order in Lafia, Nasarawa State during his one-day working visit to commission projects executed by Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura.
Buhari stated that his administration was doing everything possible within its capacity to ensure the security of lives and property in the north central and the country at large. “We have deployed special resources to all affected areas to ensure peace and safety of lives. I therefore appeal to all Nigerians to refrain from reprisal attack as the government is on top of the situation.”

He said his administration would stop at nothing to deliver its change mandate to the electorate in the fight against corruption, insecurity and employment generation for the teaming youths.

“I, therefore, condole with those affected by this barbaric act of killings,” he said.
So what then is the power of the AGF? We carefully cited Section 174 and 211 of the Nigerian Constitution were the powers of the AGF were detailed as follows: The power of the AGF
174 (1) The Attorney-General of the Federation shall have power –
(a) To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria, other than a court-martial, in respect of any offence created by or under any Act of the National Assembly;
(b) To take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person; and
(c) To discontinue at any stage before judgement is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person.
(2) The powers conferred upon the Attorney-General of the Federation under subsection (1) of this section may be exercised by him in person or through officers of his department.
(3) In exercising his powers under this section, the Attorney-General of the Federation shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process

211 (1) The Attorney General of a state shall have power
(a) To institute and undertake criminal proceedings against any person before any court of law in Nigeria other than a court-martial in respect of any offence created by or under any law of the House of Assembly;
(b) To take over and continue any such criminal proceedings that may have been instituted by any other authority or person; and c) to discontinue at any stage before judgement is delivered any such criminal proceedings instituted or undertaken by him or any other authority or person.
(2) The powers conferred upon the Attorney-General of a state under subsection 1 of this section may be exercised b him in person or through officers of his department.
(3) In exercising his powers under this section, the attorney-General of a state shall have regard to the public interest, the interest of justice and the need to prevent abuse of legal process.

From above, the power of the attorney general is vast when it comes to prosecution of cases. He can decide what case it wants to investigate or prosecute but cannot pronounce judgment on its own.

From all that we have seen so far since 2015, the failure of the Federal Attorney General to carry out transparent prosecution of all kinds of criminals no matter their ethnicity, is the primary cause of mass distrust in the government of President Buhari and when it is found out that there is a deliberate failure to prosecute armed Fulani herdsmen on the nebulous reason that there is no case file, you can now see why most people think there is double standard by this government.

So our charge to President Buhari is to compel his justice sector officials to either do their Jobs or be fires.

SUGGESTED MEASURES:
1. The expanding frontiers of inter-ethnic distrust shows that the National Agencies for peace and conflict resolution and the National orientation have failed in their duties.
Mr. President and the National Assembly should scrap these dysfunctional cash guzzling contraptions.
2. President Buhari should appoint six zonal Presidential Advisers/peace envoys who should run their offices each in the geopolitical zonal headquarters and their mandates are to hold weekly dialogues with stakeholders in the grassroots such as security officials; traditional rulers; community leaders and NGOs including religious leaders on ways to promote inter ethnic harmony and these offices should be adequately funded to carry out measurable deliverables and activities in this line. To do this, Mr. President should downsize his special advisers to avoid entering the traps of creating am unwieldy bureaucracy and increase the costs of governance.
3. The traditional Institutions should be recognised in the constitution and their offices should draw some percentages from the defence/security budgets of the President/governors and properly audited to ensure that only activities that pragmatically elevate inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic cm religious harmony are carried out.
4. There should be decisive action on the part of government to stop open grazing and encouraging ranching of livestocks and because these are private businesses, the owners should approach the banks for loans/credits to set up ranches.
5. On no account should groups be allowed to issue expulsion orders on other ethnic groups because this offends our constitutional right to live wherever we choose to. Those making such orders should face the full weight of the law irrespective of their status, tribe or religion. The police should stop double standards of failing to arrest northerners when they issue expulsion orders on Southerners but will spring up to arrest southerners making similar unlawful pronouncement.

The police has indeed messed up the public image of President Buhari. The police service Commission which promotes only Northerners has also muddied the public image of the President. It should be unbundled.

Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko; National Coordinator, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA).

15/02/2021

Sarkin Baburawa Mararaba Nasarawa State with Babur Community leaders in Minna, Suleja, Madallah, Gora and Masaka paid congratulatory and thank you visit to immediate past Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Tukur Buratai Rtd today 15 February 2021. The leaders, on behalf of their people, prayed to the Almighty Allah to grant Gen Buratai good health and happy retirement life.

15/02/2021

Emirs of Machina (Mai Machinama) His Royal Highness, Dr Bashir Albishir Bukar OON and that ofJajere in Yobe State His Royal Highness Alhaji Hamza Mai Buba Ibn Isa Mashio paid congratulatory and thank you visit to Lt Gen Tukur Buratai Rtd today 15 February 2021.

15/02/2021

Foreign Mission Alerted To Plots By IPOB, Other Terrorists To Blackmail Nigerian Diplomats

The Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has drawn the attention of foreign missions to plots by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and their cohorts to blackmail the immediate past service chiefs.

According to the group, the proscribed group and their NGO members through their petition aims to criminally malign the country’s former military heads and ultimately scuttle their imminent confirmation as ambassadors.

The SHAC raised this alarm on Monday at a press conference in Abuja.

In his address, Comrade Ogbe Owoicho, Director, Foreign Affairs said the petition has all the handwritings of the Eastern Nigeria’s Rights and Intelligentsia Coalition.

Owoicho noted that it is laughable that the petitioners called for the diplomatic community to disqualify the former service chiefs over falsehood.

While disclosing that such is the responsibility of the Senate, Comrade Owoicho called on these foreign nations to disregard the rants contained in the letters that were delivered to embarrass their diplomatic missions.

He noted that it is pertinent that the nation professes themselves as friends of Nigeria immediately to put this coalition in its place.

The group, however, urged the Federal Government to note that complacency is no longer an option in view of the repeated diplomatic salvos that the Eastern Nigeria’s Rights and Intelligentsia Coalition have fired against the country.

To avoid future occurrence, it further called on Nigerian authorities to slam the groups in the coalition and the people behind them.

Read full statement below:

Gentlemen of the press, you must have read or learnt about the petition reportedly written by a coalition of NGOs to the diplomatic missions of as many as 31 countries. The subject of the said petition is to criminally malign the persons and personalities of the immediate past Service Chiefs of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria viz: the immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (retd.), his air force and navy counterparts, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (retd.), and Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (retd.) and the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Abayomi Olonisakin (retd.).

The so-called coalition requested the 31 foreign missions in Nigeria to disqualify these eminent Nigerians, who President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated as ambassadors. They also want the recipients of their letters to declare these patriotic Nigerians as persona non grata in their countries.

Save Humanity Advocacy Centre (SHAC) has taken time to review news report of the petition and made certain findings that should concern Nigerians, including you, gentlemen of the press.

15/02/2021

Eminent Nigerians, security experts kick, reject NSA’s planned town hall security meetings

Eminent Nigerians, security experts, technocrats have kicked against the planned Town Hall meeting being arranged by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major-General Babagana Monguno (rtd) to address the security challenges facing the country currently, and called on the members of the national assembly to wake up.

Rejecting the proposed town hall meeting, the eminent Nigerians comprising a retired commissioner of police, former minister of education, a United Nations senior intelligence facilitator, and concerned citizens said “ It is a waste of time”. They added: It is a waste of resources and would turn out a sheer “Jamboree”.

As our reporter gathered on Sunday in Abuja, the eminent Nigerians and elder statesmen in their separate comments while reacting to the press statement by the NSA to the effect that the first of the Town Hall Meetings is scheduled to hold in Kaduna State on Monday, 15 February 2021 with all Seven Governors of the North Western States, said “This is the most idiotic statement that can emanate from a Security Adviser !Your response to security challenges is to hold town hall meetings ?” “What a country !What leadership !We are finished.” Another comment by a concerned intelligence expert reads: “This is definitely an exercise in futility.

“A man of average intelligence who has been following the news can analyse our problems. Why waste our resources?

“If our intelligent units require town hall meetings to establish or understand current issues we have grave problems.

“What reports have they been getting from their field staff?

“Our Governors and State / National Assemblies must wake from slumber to appreciate the reality that Nigeria is seating on gun powders. We are preparing grounds for disruptions in the system. Legislators wake up”.

In a similar tone, an intelligence analyst questions the relevance and role of security chiefs in the zones and states in concert with security authorities in Abuja.

As he puts it: “Another seemingly meaningless jamboree in the name of security jargon!

What does he intend to achieve by this fire brigade approach that can't be provided better by the security chiefs in the respective states/zones in coordination with the relevant authorities at Abuja?

“What then is the duty of the security chiefs at those locations?”

Urging the national legislators to wake up from slumber, they said that convocation of town hall meeting is not the way to secure the country.

News Express can state that the press statement from the office of the NSA signed and issued on February 13, 2021, discloses among other plans that the town hall meetings are expected to provide direct assessment of the security situation, generate local feedback and recommendations, encourage Geo-Political synchronisation of effort among States and to also create a pathway to lasting peace and security.

The statement also reveals that Monguno believes that addressing the security threats bedeviling the country call for the deployment of all national assets, including the cooperation of all Nigerians.

Furthermore, the statement states unequivocal that the first of the Town Hall Meetings is scheduled to hold in Kaduna State on Monday,(Today), 15 February 2021 with all Seven Governors of the North Western States.

Read full text of the statement:

In furtherance of Federal Government’s commitment to address multiple security threats facing Nigeria, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Major General Babagana Monguno (rtd) convened a meeting of the General Security Appraisal Committee ( GSAC) on 11th February, 2021. The meeting, which was attended by the Service Chiefs and Heads of Law Enforcement, Security and Intelligence Agencies discussed the threats of kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery and the resultant consequences of these threats on lives and property.

As part of renewed commitment to make Nigeria safe and secure, the meeting resolved to strengthen interagency coordination, stakeholders’ engagement and consultation in order to find lasting solution to the multiple security threats. Working with the Service Chiefs and Heads of Security and Intelligence Agencies, the National Security Adviser is coordinating a Whole -of -Government and Whole-of Society approach that cuts across the Legislature, Judiciary, Ministries and Departments , States and Local Governments and the Civil Society to ensure that every stakeholder plays a role in securing our towns and villages. The NSA believes that addressing these threats call for the deployment of all national assets, including the cooperation of all Nigerians.

Consequently, the National Security Adviser will be leading a delegation of Heads of Federal Law Enforcement, Security and Intelligence Agencies to the Geo-Political Zones to hold Town Halls meeting with the State Governors, Traditional and Religious Leaders, members of the Legislature, Non-Governmental, Youth and Women Organisations. The meetings are expected to provide direct assessment of the security situation, generate local feedback and recommendations, encourage Geo-Political synchronisation of effort among States and to also create a pathway to lasting peace and security. The first of the Town Hall Meetings is scheduled to hold in Kaduna State on Monday, 15 February 2021 with all Seven Governors of the North Western States.

The Federal Government is deeply concerned about the current spate of criminal activities and is taking major steps to strengthen the capacity of security agencies, while upgrading the security architecture, and implementing a multi-pronged strategy that involves political, humanitarian, economic and security measures. The Federal Government is equally committed to working with the States and community leaders to strengthen peace, security and development in all parts of the country.

END
Source News Express