Friday, October 10, 2014
Kwakwanso blasts Jonathan for seized $15m
Governor Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso of Kano State has accused President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government of not being sincere over its defence of the seized $9.3m and another $5.7m by the South African government.
He said the seized money by the South African government under the guise of procuring arms and ammunition to fight insurgency, contravened established rules and guidelines.
The governor said it was a clear violation of the due process in the procurement.
Kwakwanso spoke in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday after the public presentation of two laws-Ekiti Magistrate Court Law 2014 and Administration of Criminal Justice 2014-by his counterpart from Lagos, Raji Fashola (SAN).
Fashola, who described laws and constitutionality as the bedrock of any nation, said the application of the Cremation and Public Health Laws gave the state a breakthrough in its fight against the Ebola Virus Disease that broke out in the country recently.
Kwakwanso, who had earlier inaugurated the Ire Burnt Brick Industry revamped by Governor Kayode Fayemi, said Nigerians must rise up to protect judiciary for the sustenance of the country’s democracy.
The governor said, “As a former Minister of Defence, I am very conversant with the way and manner, and the due process that is required to procure any arms, ammunition or equipment, there are rules and guidelines. Arms and ammunition are not rice and beans that you can just go to the market and purchase.
“Many of us were concerned when the information filtered in. In fact, we didn’t believe it initially, but along the line, based on the defence of what happened, we realized that it was a bitter truth that such a thing happened: that money of that magnitude in an aircraft flown to another nation, I think so many things have gone wrong. I think it is high time for the Federal Government to sit up to its responsibilities to ensure that things are being done correctly.
“Yes, we need arms and ammunition; yes, we need security in this country, but even under that circumstance, there are rules and guidelines that must be respected.
“While we are trying to tackle insurgency, we must follow the due process. Even in the operation there are rules of engagement; they are very important to protect the lives and properties of innocent people.”
Kwakwanso wondered why it took the Federal Government three weeks to accept that over 200 schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok.
He said so many things were wrong under the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“That is why we are confident that by 2015 the APC will take over because all that we have seen in insecurity, unemployment, education…There are so many schools closed down in the North. Our children cannot go to school because some are being stolen,” he lamented.
Boko Haram has not released Cameroonian hostages -Minister
Cameroon’s Communication Minister, Issa Bakary, on Friday said he was surprised by the news that some hostages kidnapped by Boko Haram militants in Northern Cameroon were released as reported by a news website.
“You are the first to give me that information,’’ the minister said.
According to the report, Boko Haram militants have released the wife of Cameroonian Deputy Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, 10 Chinese workers and district heads, who were kidnapped in different attacks.
The Chinese workers were found missing and believed to be taken by the Islamic terror group on May 16 after an attack at a Chinese work site in northern Cameroon.
The wife of Amadou Ali was also believed to be kidnapped on July 27 by Boko Haram militants in Kolofata but the group did not claim responsibility.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya in August strengthened military operations in the far north region to fight against Boko Haram militants.
According to the report, Boko Haram militants have released the wife of Cameroonian Deputy Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, 10 Chinese workers and district heads, who were kidnapped in different attacks.
The Chinese workers were found missing and believed to be taken by the Islamic terror group on May 16 after an attack at a Chinese work site in northern Cameroon.
The wife of Amadou Ali was also believed to be kidnapped on July 27 by Boko Haram militants in Kolofata but the group did not claim responsibility.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya in August strengthened military operations in the far north region to fight against Boko Haram militants.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Apple sells record 10 million
Reuters Apple sells record 10 million new iPhones in first three days http://blink.htcsense.com/web/articleweb.aspx?regionid=3&articleid=29230586
Monday, September 8, 2014
US expands air strikes against IS
The US has launched five air attacks on Islamic State fighters
threatening the Haditha dam, as Washington widened its air
campaign against the group.
The attacks on Sunday destroyed Islamic State vehicles, two
of which were carrying anti-aircraft artillery, a fighting
position and a command post, the US central command
said.
“At the request of the Iraqi government and in keeping with
our mission to protect US personnel and facilities, US
military planes have begun striking ISIL terrorists near the
Haditha dam,” said a US official.
Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said the
bombardment targeted IS fighters between Haditha and al-
Qaim, close to the Syrian border.
“That area is key to defeating or at least containing IS who
use the route to transport weapons,” she said.
Iraqi helicopters were also taking part in the offensive, the
Iraqi defence ministry said.
Iraqi state television said government troops had taken
control of the northern entrance of the town of Berwana,
about 15km south of Haditha and that 15 IS fighters were
killed.
Last month, IS fighters tried to capture the Haditha dam,
which has six power generators alongside the country’s
second-largest reservoir. Iraqi forces backed up by local
Sunni tribes were able to hold them off.
The IS group was able to take control of the Mosul dam in
northern Iraq last month, but US air strikes helped Kurdish
and Iraqi forces retake it.
An interior ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that US
support was crucial to beating the Islamic State group.
“If we want a remedy for this cancer… help from the
American side will tackle it in a shorter time – especially
when we are talking about air power,” he said.
In a separate development, Kurdish peshmerga fighters
supported by the Iraqi air force have retaken Gazzer
mountain, close to Kalak on the road to Mosul, sources told
Al Jazeera.
Peshmerga forces are advancing from the east and west on
Mosul, the stronghold of the Islamic State group in Iraq.
The attacks came as the Arab League promised to take all
necessary measures to combat the Islamic State group.
“What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive
confrontation, militarily and politically,” Arab League chief
Nabil el-Araby said on Sunday.
The Arab League also endorsed a UN Security Council
resolution passed last month calling on member states to
“act to suppress the flow of foreign fighters, financing and
other support to Islamist extremist groups in Iraq and Syria”.
The US president, Barack Obama, last week announced a
Nato-led “core coalition” to confront the group in Iraq and
Syria, and called on Arab states to consider military action.
threatening the Haditha dam, as Washington widened its air
campaign against the group.
The attacks on Sunday destroyed Islamic State vehicles, two
of which were carrying anti-aircraft artillery, a fighting
position and a command post, the US central command
said.
“At the request of the Iraqi government and in keeping with
our mission to protect US personnel and facilities, US
military planes have begun striking ISIL terrorists near the
Haditha dam,” said a US official.
Al Jazeera’s Jane Arraf, reporting from Baghdad, said the
bombardment targeted IS fighters between Haditha and al-
Qaim, close to the Syrian border.
“That area is key to defeating or at least containing IS who
use the route to transport weapons,” she said.
Iraqi helicopters were also taking part in the offensive, the
Iraqi defence ministry said.
Iraqi state television said government troops had taken
control of the northern entrance of the town of Berwana,
about 15km south of Haditha and that 15 IS fighters were
killed.
Last month, IS fighters tried to capture the Haditha dam,
which has six power generators alongside the country’s
second-largest reservoir. Iraqi forces backed up by local
Sunni tribes were able to hold them off.
The IS group was able to take control of the Mosul dam in
northern Iraq last month, but US air strikes helped Kurdish
and Iraqi forces retake it.
An interior ministry spokesman told Al Jazeera that US
support was crucial to beating the Islamic State group.
“If we want a remedy for this cancer… help from the
American side will tackle it in a shorter time – especially
when we are talking about air power,” he said.
In a separate development, Kurdish peshmerga fighters
supported by the Iraqi air force have retaken Gazzer
mountain, close to Kalak on the road to Mosul, sources told
Al Jazeera.
Peshmerga forces are advancing from the east and west on
Mosul, the stronghold of the Islamic State group in Iraq.
The attacks came as the Arab League promised to take all
necessary measures to combat the Islamic State group.
“What is needed is a clear decision for a comprehensive
confrontation, militarily and politically,” Arab League chief
Nabil el-Araby said on Sunday.
The Arab League also endorsed a UN Security Council
resolution passed last month calling on member states to
“act to suppress the flow of foreign fighters, financing and
other support to Islamist extremist groups in Iraq and Syria”.
The US president, Barack Obama, last week announced a
Nato-led “core coalition” to confront the group in Iraq and
Syria, and called on Arab states to consider military action.
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Jonathan is afraid of Boko Haram, says David-West
A former Minister of
Petroleum, Prof Tam
David-West, has
berated President
Goodluck Jonathan for
failing to address the
security situation in the
country.
David-West said he was convinced that the President was
afraid of Boko Haram that was why he (Jonathan) refused to
visit the parents of the schoolgirls that were kidnapped in
Chibok, Borno State over four months ago.
David-West said it was wrong of Jonathan to have invited the
parents of the Chibok girls to Abuja instead of going to
Chibok to visit them, adding that going to visit them would
have given both the parents and Nigerians a psychological
boost.
The former minister said this during an interview with
Sahara TV, which was monitored by our correspondent.
He said Jonathan had no right to seek a second term in
office and urged Nigerians to rise against bad governance.
He said it was unfortunate that more Nigerians were being
abducted by terrorists.
He described as shocking, the takeover of several towns by
Boko Haram members.
He said, “Anyone that is complacent about the state of
affairs in the country is an enemy of Nigeria. It is a terrible
situation and we should be ashamed, President Jonathan
should be ashamed. He is the Commander-in-Chief and the
number one security officer and citizen of the state.
“Over 200 of your girls taken away from your territory for
the past three months and you are still talking. First, you are
not even sure, his wife said nothing happened, then he also
did not believe that anything happened and later he
changed and said he knows where they are. If you say you
know where they are, why can’t you save them?
“With all the security forces in the country, you cannot bring
them. Our President is afraid of Boko Haram. He claimed
they have infiltrated his cabinet and isn’t he ashamed? Since
you know they have infiltrated your cabinet, why don’t you
expose them?
“Up till now, he has not gone to Chibok and when he made
that cosmetic move to see them, he invited the parents to
come to Abuja and when they were going, he gave them
money which has now been exposed and that is why Boko
Haram has been so because they know that the President is
weak.”
David-West said even though he is Jonathan’s kinsman, he
would not turn a blind eye to the incompetence of his
administration.
Petroleum, Prof Tam
David-West, has
berated President
Goodluck Jonathan for
failing to address the
security situation in the
country.
David-West said he was convinced that the President was
afraid of Boko Haram that was why he (Jonathan) refused to
visit the parents of the schoolgirls that were kidnapped in
Chibok, Borno State over four months ago.
David-West said it was wrong of Jonathan to have invited the
parents of the Chibok girls to Abuja instead of going to
Chibok to visit them, adding that going to visit them would
have given both the parents and Nigerians a psychological
boost.
The former minister said this during an interview with
Sahara TV, which was monitored by our correspondent.
He said Jonathan had no right to seek a second term in
office and urged Nigerians to rise against bad governance.
He said it was unfortunate that more Nigerians were being
abducted by terrorists.
He described as shocking, the takeover of several towns by
Boko Haram members.
He said, “Anyone that is complacent about the state of
affairs in the country is an enemy of Nigeria. It is a terrible
situation and we should be ashamed, President Jonathan
should be ashamed. He is the Commander-in-Chief and the
number one security officer and citizen of the state.
“Over 200 of your girls taken away from your territory for
the past three months and you are still talking. First, you are
not even sure, his wife said nothing happened, then he also
did not believe that anything happened and later he
changed and said he knows where they are. If you say you
know where they are, why can’t you save them?
“With all the security forces in the country, you cannot bring
them. Our President is afraid of Boko Haram. He claimed
they have infiltrated his cabinet and isn’t he ashamed? Since
you know they have infiltrated your cabinet, why don’t you
expose them?
“Up till now, he has not gone to Chibok and when he made
that cosmetic move to see them, he invited the parents to
come to Abuja and when they were going, he gave them
money which has now been exposed and that is why Boko
Haram has been so because they know that the President is
weak.”
David-West said even though he is Jonathan’s kinsman, he
would not turn a blind eye to the incompetence of his
administration.
Boko Haram, our girls and our soldiers
These, without a doubt, are strange times for Nigeria. To say
that the spate of insecurity in the country is becoming very
alarming will be an understatement. Suddenly, we are faced
with a different kind of insecurity occasioned by incessant
terrorist activities. Before now, terrorism is alien to our
culture. But occurrences in recent years have since altered
the picture as the reprehensible activities of the Boko Haram
sect, which today remains one of the nation’s foremost
adversaries, have made Nigeria a focal point of global
terrorism activities. Through a series of bloodletting
operations, unrivalled in the annals of the country, the sect
has, in the past 12 years, held the nation to ransom.
To underline its newly found status as a global terrorist
group, the sect was designated by the US Department of
State as a terrorist organisation in 2013. In the first half of
2014, it killed more than 2,000 innocent and hapless
civilians, in about 95 attacks. In the last three years, more
than 3,000, people have lost their lives as a result of Boko
Haram terrorist operations. A recent data claimed that Boko
Haram attacks have left at least 12,000 people dead and
8,000 crippled in the last three years while hundreds of
thousands have fled their homes for the fear of the
insurgents.
Perhaps, the most audacious of the dastardly acts of the
group, till date, remains the abduction of over 200
secondary school girls, who were kidnapped in a most
notorious manner, from their dormitories in Government
College Chibok, Borno State. The girls, henceforth to be
referred to as our girls, have since been in the custody of
the sect for well over 140 days. The act was met with outrage
and wide condemnations across the world. Indeed, some of
the leading nations of the world offered to help in rescuing
our girls. Several local and international groups have equally
been clamouring for the release of our girls. A renowned 17-
year-old Pakistan child right activist, Malala, recently visited
the country on account of our girls’ plight. She reportedly
had “useful” discussions with major stakeholders including
President Goodluck Jonathan. Malala’s visit eventually
opened the door for a Presidential parley between the
Presidency and distraught parents of our girls. The parley
was, however, beclouded by controversies over the sharing
formula for the money purportedly released by the
Presidency for the upkeep of our girls’ parents.
Somewhere along the line, we were told by the nation’s
military high command that the location of our girls,
supposedly in a vast forest named Sambisa along the
Nigerian /Cameroonian border by Eastern Borno, had been
discovered . However, according to military authorities, they
had to tread cautiously in order not to jeopardise the safety
of our girls. Good. But, while one appreciates the efforts of
all the stakeholders in the bid to free our girls, the point,
however, is that we are now becoming very apprehensive,
especially with regard to the safety of our girls. With Ebola
presently capturing the attention of the whole nation
coupled with preparations for the 2015 general elections,
the fear is that, like most unresolved murder cases in the
country, the issue of our girls might soon fizzle out of the
consciousness of the nation. Consequently, more than ever
before, this is the time to keep asking questions concerning
the plight of our girls. Where are our girls? What is
happening to them? How are they being fed? With what are
they being fed? How healthy is the place where they are
being kept? Are they being sexually abused by their captors?
Is it true that they have been fully integrated into the Boko
Haram family? Is it true that some of them are now being
used as suicide bombers? How can we be pretending that all
is well when we have yet to find our girls? Are we actually
making efforts to bring back our girls?
This brings us to the issue of the Nigerian military. Truth be
told, these are unusual times for our military. Perhaps,
there is no other time in the country’s history, aside from
the civil war era, when the professionalism of the Nigerian
military has been fiercely put to test than now. While one
values the sacrifices of our military men and women who
put their lives at risk to uphold the safety of other members
of the society, one must, however, stress that the Nigerian
military needs to do more than it is presently doing in order
to completely flush out the men who have held our nation
hostage for too long. One is rather disturbed by several
unconfirmed reports of Nigerian soldiers absconding to
neighbourng Cameroon in a bid to escape the ferocious
firing power of Boko Haram insurgents. Though one is not
really schooled in the art of military warfare, it is becoming
alarming that we couldn’t really curtail Boko Haram’s
incursion through military actions thus far. Some have
suggested, though one finds this rather incredible, that the
insurgents possess more sophisticated war arsenals than the
Nigerian military. Could our military have really sunk that
low?
In his inaugural speech in May 29, 1999, former President
Olusegun Obasanjo painted a rather horrid picture of the
Nigerian Army when he said among others that “the
incursion of the military into government has been a
disaster for our country and for the military over the last
thirty years. The esprit-de-corps amongst military personnel
has been destroyed; professionalism has been lost. Youths
go into the military not to pursue a noble career but with the
sole intention of taking part in coups and to be appointed as
military administrators of states and chairmen of task
forces”.
Obasanjo further affirmed that “as a retired officer, my
heart bleeds to see the degradation in the proficiency of the
military. A great deal of reorientation has to be undertaken
and a re-definition of roles, retraining and re-education will
have to be done to ensure that the military submits to civil
authority and regains its pride, professionalism and
traditions. We shall restore military cooperation and
exchanges with our traditional friends. And we will help the
military to help itself”.
To what extent the fortune of the military has improved in
the last fourteen years of democratic rule is better left for
scholars, researchers and other stakeholders to determine.
One thing that is, however, certain is that these are tough
times for our military. But with the help of everyone
stakeholder in the country, we shall surely overcome. We
have demonstrated with our commitment to the
containment of the deadly Ebola virus that we can fight back
when we are pushed to the wall. We need to do more in our
resistance against our other adversaries. God bless Nigeria!
that the spate of insecurity in the country is becoming very
alarming will be an understatement. Suddenly, we are faced
with a different kind of insecurity occasioned by incessant
terrorist activities. Before now, terrorism is alien to our
culture. But occurrences in recent years have since altered
the picture as the reprehensible activities of the Boko Haram
sect, which today remains one of the nation’s foremost
adversaries, have made Nigeria a focal point of global
terrorism activities. Through a series of bloodletting
operations, unrivalled in the annals of the country, the sect
has, in the past 12 years, held the nation to ransom.
To underline its newly found status as a global terrorist
group, the sect was designated by the US Department of
State as a terrorist organisation in 2013. In the first half of
2014, it killed more than 2,000 innocent and hapless
civilians, in about 95 attacks. In the last three years, more
than 3,000, people have lost their lives as a result of Boko
Haram terrorist operations. A recent data claimed that Boko
Haram attacks have left at least 12,000 people dead and
8,000 crippled in the last three years while hundreds of
thousands have fled their homes for the fear of the
insurgents.
Perhaps, the most audacious of the dastardly acts of the
group, till date, remains the abduction of over 200
secondary school girls, who were kidnapped in a most
notorious manner, from their dormitories in Government
College Chibok, Borno State. The girls, henceforth to be
referred to as our girls, have since been in the custody of
the sect for well over 140 days. The act was met with outrage
and wide condemnations across the world. Indeed, some of
the leading nations of the world offered to help in rescuing
our girls. Several local and international groups have equally
been clamouring for the release of our girls. A renowned 17-
year-old Pakistan child right activist, Malala, recently visited
the country on account of our girls’ plight. She reportedly
had “useful” discussions with major stakeholders including
President Goodluck Jonathan. Malala’s visit eventually
opened the door for a Presidential parley between the
Presidency and distraught parents of our girls. The parley
was, however, beclouded by controversies over the sharing
formula for the money purportedly released by the
Presidency for the upkeep of our girls’ parents.
Somewhere along the line, we were told by the nation’s
military high command that the location of our girls,
supposedly in a vast forest named Sambisa along the
Nigerian /Cameroonian border by Eastern Borno, had been
discovered . However, according to military authorities, they
had to tread cautiously in order not to jeopardise the safety
of our girls. Good. But, while one appreciates the efforts of
all the stakeholders in the bid to free our girls, the point,
however, is that we are now becoming very apprehensive,
especially with regard to the safety of our girls. With Ebola
presently capturing the attention of the whole nation
coupled with preparations for the 2015 general elections,
the fear is that, like most unresolved murder cases in the
country, the issue of our girls might soon fizzle out of the
consciousness of the nation. Consequently, more than ever
before, this is the time to keep asking questions concerning
the plight of our girls. Where are our girls? What is
happening to them? How are they being fed? With what are
they being fed? How healthy is the place where they are
being kept? Are they being sexually abused by their captors?
Is it true that they have been fully integrated into the Boko
Haram family? Is it true that some of them are now being
used as suicide bombers? How can we be pretending that all
is well when we have yet to find our girls? Are we actually
making efforts to bring back our girls?
This brings us to the issue of the Nigerian military. Truth be
told, these are unusual times for our military. Perhaps,
there is no other time in the country’s history, aside from
the civil war era, when the professionalism of the Nigerian
military has been fiercely put to test than now. While one
values the sacrifices of our military men and women who
put their lives at risk to uphold the safety of other members
of the society, one must, however, stress that the Nigerian
military needs to do more than it is presently doing in order
to completely flush out the men who have held our nation
hostage for too long. One is rather disturbed by several
unconfirmed reports of Nigerian soldiers absconding to
neighbourng Cameroon in a bid to escape the ferocious
firing power of Boko Haram insurgents. Though one is not
really schooled in the art of military warfare, it is becoming
alarming that we couldn’t really curtail Boko Haram’s
incursion through military actions thus far. Some have
suggested, though one finds this rather incredible, that the
insurgents possess more sophisticated war arsenals than the
Nigerian military. Could our military have really sunk that
low?
In his inaugural speech in May 29, 1999, former President
Olusegun Obasanjo painted a rather horrid picture of the
Nigerian Army when he said among others that “the
incursion of the military into government has been a
disaster for our country and for the military over the last
thirty years. The esprit-de-corps amongst military personnel
has been destroyed; professionalism has been lost. Youths
go into the military not to pursue a noble career but with the
sole intention of taking part in coups and to be appointed as
military administrators of states and chairmen of task
forces”.
Obasanjo further affirmed that “as a retired officer, my
heart bleeds to see the degradation in the proficiency of the
military. A great deal of reorientation has to be undertaken
and a re-definition of roles, retraining and re-education will
have to be done to ensure that the military submits to civil
authority and regains its pride, professionalism and
traditions. We shall restore military cooperation and
exchanges with our traditional friends. And we will help the
military to help itself”.
To what extent the fortune of the military has improved in
the last fourteen years of democratic rule is better left for
scholars, researchers and other stakeholders to determine.
One thing that is, however, certain is that these are tough
times for our military. But with the help of everyone
stakeholder in the country, we shall surely overcome. We
have demonstrated with our commitment to the
containment of the deadly Ebola virus that we can fight back
when we are pushed to the wall. We need to do more in our
resistance against our other adversaries. God bless Nigeria!
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