November 26, 2021

[GIST] Buhari Government, Worst In The History Of Nigeria— Northern Groups

[GIST] Buhari Government, Worst In The History Of Nigeria— Northern Groups

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Following the renewed regular attacks on passengers along Kaduna-Abuja highway, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has described President Muhammadu Buhari's administration as the worst in the history of Nigeria.

This comes after the recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari that troops should deal mercilessly with bandits. 

President Muhammadu Buhari

However, the group said the Presidency issues empty threats, stressing that the government has completely lost control of the region's forests and highways to armed criminals who roam freely and terrorise the population with ease.

This was disclosed by the spokesperson for the Coalition, Mr. Abdul-Azeez Suleiman on Friday, while reacting to the recent rise in attacks, killings and kidnappings in the North.

The group said the Nigerian government and troops can no longer be relied upon to provide even the minimal guarantee of security for citizens.

According to the Coalition, northerners have heard enough of excuses and fake promises from the Buhari-led administration.

"It was unacceptable for the people of the North to continue to live under this level of exposure to criminals who freely attack, kill, maim, rape, kidnap, burn villages and rustle cattle, while the President and security chiefs issue threats and promises that have no effect.

“While all northern states' governors have completely run out of ideas, the President and federal troops keep telling us that they are doing something about the daunting security situation, but by now all northerners must have realised that our communities have been abandoned to the mercy of unforgivable poverty and armed criminals that continuously waste the greatest asset of the region; its population, weakening us politically and pauperising the region economically.

“Enough of taking excuses and fake promises of action from an administration that runs from threats and acquired the reputation of being the worst in the history of our nation in terms of any capacity to generate confidence in its ability to achieve security of citizens’ lives and properties.

“All northerners are by now alarmed at the rising insecurity of communities and their properties with the escalation of attacks by bandits, rustlers insurgents and other assortments of armed criminals who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc.

"It was no longer in doubt that the current federal administration and set of state governors have lost the capacity and necessary courage to discharge the vital constitutional duty that they swore to uphold.

"The situation is getting worse literally by the day, as bandits and insurgents take advantage of the huge vacuum in the administration’s political will and capacity to act which they exploit with disastrous consequences on communities and individuals.

"The situation under which all northern communities live today is no longer tolerable, everyone must rise to protect themselves," the group stated. 

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[GIST] Africa Investment Forum: A cContinent; Its Destiny And Capital, By Fredrick Nwabufo

[GIST] Africa Investment Forum: A cContinent; Its Destiny And Capital, By Fredrick Nwabufo

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The Africa Investment Forum, a conference where the finest melange of the continent’s leaders and policymakers on one side -- and investors, big businesses, critical industry players on the other wing -- converge to discuss, decide and transact deals on exigent matters affecting Africa such as healthcare, food security, electricity, and transportation will take place this year from December 1 to 3 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. The Forum which began in 2018 is a solution-primed initiative to create targeted investments and capital for the continent to meet its infrastructural needs.

The Africa Investment Forum Market Days event brings together investors, project sponsors, transaction advisors, legal and other applicable professionals under ‘one roof’ to engage and continue the process of addressing the continent’s investment gap. The inaugural Africa Investment Forum 2018 (AIF2018) boardrooms convened investors, project sponsors, and transaction facilitators around 63 deals valued at $46.9 billion. Also, the platform mobilised investment interests across 49 of these boardroom deals worth $38.7 billion -- across 24 countries. The 2019 edition (AIF2019) upped the ante. AIF2019 featured 57 boardroom deals valued at $67.7 billion and succeeded in crowding-in investment interests across 52 deals worth $40.1 billion from 25 countries.

Fredrick Nwabufo

Akinwumi Adesina, president of the African Development Bank; Africa50, Afrexim Bank, the Africa Finance Corporation, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the European Investment Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Trade Development Bank set up the Forum as a transaction hub where real investment deals for Africa are concretised – so the Forum is essentially a dividend-deliverer and not a chatter assembly.

According to AfDB’s economic outlook on Africa (2018), the continent’s infrastructure needs amount to $130–170 billion a year, with a financing gap in the range $68–$108 billion. Clearly, Africa needs investment in critical infrastructure – power, transportation, water, agriculture, etc -- if it must industrialise and bridge the deficit, as well as reduce the unemployment of millions of youths. This underscores the viability of the Forum.

The theme of the 2021 edition is “Accelerating Transformative Investments in Africa”. Sessions focusing on the five investment sectors that received priority under the Forum’s Unified Response to COVID-19: agriculture and agro-processing; energy and climate change; health; ICT/Telecoms; and industrialisation and trade will be elemental to the programme.

In addition, sector-specific discussions at this year’s event will include energy and climate –including reflections on November’s COP26 summit in Glasgow, UK – agriculture and agro-processing; health; ICT and telecommunications; and industry and trade.

Nigeria has been a principal feature in the Africa Investment Forum since 2018. In the 2018 edition, out of the 63 boardroom deals presented at the Forum, Nigeria had five deals worth $7 Billion. This represents 14.9 percent of the total deals accounted for on the continent, and 43 percent of the deals accounted for in the region.

The AfDB, facilitator of the Forum, had said it would help Nigeria to bridge its infrastructure gap estimated to cost about $3 trillion in the next 26 years. According to Ebrima Faal, former director AfDB, Nigeria and director of operations committee secretariat, Nigeria’s infrastructure cumulative financing needs are estimated to reach $3 trillion by 2044 or about 100 billion dollars annually.

The Africa Investment Forum offers Nigeria a smorgasbord of opportunities to attract the needed investments to the country. And as always, a high-level delegation of the Nigerian government and captains of industry from Nigeria are expected to be at the Forum this year. 

The Africa of the future will be driven by infrastructure. But to achieve that future, infrastructure-led investments are critical – most especially in this time of global economic peril brought on by the COVID pandemic. 

Africa needs more accessibility for citizens within the continent; it needs better healthcare; it needs to achieve food security, have stable power supply, affordable internet connectivity, technology innovation, good transport system, and ensure the safety and security of its populace. It all starts with the right investments. 

By Fredrick Nwabufo; Nwabufo is a writer and journalist
Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @FredrickNwabufo

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[GIST] Your Street Protests, Prayers, 'Big English' On TV, Radio Won't Save Nigeria—Pastor Femi Emmanuel Tells Youths

[GIST] Your Street Protests, Prayers, 'Big English' On TV, Radio Won't Save Nigeria—Pastor Femi Emmanuel Tells Youths

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The Presiding Pastor of the Living Spring International Chapel, Femi Emmanuel has advised Nigerian youths to shun street protests. 

He said they should rather participate in grassroots politics to save the country from political gladiators.

Pastor Femi Emmanuel

He further stated that political debates and analyses on the television, radio and newspapers cannot solve Nigeria's problems until patriotic, God-fearing and productive Nigerians take over the mantles of offices at the ward levels.

Emmanuel revealed this in a video during a gathering where he spoke to his congregation as seen by SaharaReporters on Thursday.

The Christian cleric, who is a former Deputy Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, noted that those who really decide the fate of the country are at the local government politics as delegates to vote who lead at the central government.

  

“Nigerians, save Nigeria. Nigerians, wake up and save this country. This is the only country we have. Over 200 million of us cannot migrate to any country. They will close their gate against us. Nigerians, save Nigeria. And we cannot save Nigeria by protest, by marching on the road.

 

“It is high time our youths left the road because you can’t save Nigeria by marching. You cannot save Nigeria by speaking big English on television, and radio and newspapers. Those who decide the fate of Nigerians don’t read newspapers. They don’t listen to television debates. They don’t listen to the radio.

 

“Those who will save Nigeria are not locked up in churches praying, we have prayed enough. It is time for action. How would Nigeria be saved? Nigerians will be saved when good Nigerians, patriotic Nigerians, God-fearing Nigerians, educated Nigerians, productively-busy Nigerians will go to the grassroots politics of Nigeria,” Emmanuel said.

 

He reiterated that “Politics is at the grassroots. Politics is at the ward level. No amount of English, no amount of protest, no amount of prayer, no amount of fasting will take Nigeria back from evil and wicked politicians except we go there and flush them out. Politics is at the grassroots at the ward level. And that is what the political warlords have captured.


“They have arranged and mobilised their own people there to be the ward officers. You will weep for Nigerians if you get to the ward level and see those who made decisions who you vote for. You will weep for Nigeria. They are the miserable, hungry, desperate, illiterate, ordinary people mobilised there by the politicians and funded. So that they can put their own people there. Now, those who decide who you vote for are at the ward level.”

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[GIST] IPOB Reacts To Burning Of Houses, Cars, Others By Suspected Nigerian Soldiers In Imo Community

[GIST] IPOB Reacts To Burning Of Houses, Cars, Others By Suspected Nigerian Soldiers In Imo Community

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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has disclosed that Nigerian Army personnel were responsible for the burning of houses, vehicles and shops worth millions of naira in Awo-Mmamma in the Oru East local government area of Imo State on Monday.

IPOB said the soldiers transferred their aggression to innocent residents of the community instead of engaging in battles with their attackers.

The group disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, which was made available to SaharaReporters on Friday.

The Nnamdi Kanu-led group revealed this as a reaction to the Nigerian Army's statement that IPOB members were responsible for the destruction of the community. 

Some gunmen on Monday afternoon killed a military officer when they attacked some soldiers in the community, and in reprisal, military operatives regrouped, invaded the town and allegedly razed all property on sight.

Reacting on Friday, IPOB said, “The attention of global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) under the command of our indefatigable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the fallacious and fabricated statement from the compromised Nigeria Army blaming IPOB for the atrocities they committed at Awo-Mmamma in Imo State on the 22nd of November, 2021.

“The allegation by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Major Abubakar Abdullahi, that IPOB and ESN (Eastern Security Network) are responsible for setting vehicles and houses on fire in Awo-Mmamma, Imo State, is false and intended to divert attention. 

“It is too appalling that Nigerian Army set the whole community ablaze and burnt down the whole community because of attack by unknown gunmen created by the Supreme Court Administrator of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma in his quest to demonise IPOB and ESN operatives. Now that the monster they created has gone out of control they are blaming IPOB for their wickedness.

“The fact remains that IPOB is a non-violent movement seeking the peaceful restoration of Biafra. Neither IPOB nor ESN was involved in the mayhem at Awo-Mmamma community. The wicked Nigeria Army which cannot resist Boko Haram and Fulani bandits slaughtering them and other security agents as well as hapless citizens in North like fowls show their gallantry only when dealing with innocent Biafrans.”

The group faulted the security operatives for hounding innocent citizens in the South-East region, while terrorists and bandits are killing and abducting people in the North.

“Boko Haram is destroying lives and properties worth billions of Naira in the North and the Army has never attacked any community in retaliation but they are here shamelessly destroying Igbo land for nothing. They should know they will one day account for their atrocities in Biafra land.

“What did the innocent people of Awo-Mmamma do to deserve the destruction of their homes and means of livelihood by soldiers? Why did the Army not go after their attackers but cowardly transferred their aggression on innocent folks? What they did at Awo-Mmamma is unprovoked destruction of a defenceless community. 

“The Nigerian Army is still penalising Awo-Mmamma because of their son Ikonso who it earlier murdered in cold blood because he was a member of ESN resisting Fulani bandits against the occupation of our ancestral land."

“The 82 Division of the Nigerian Army instead of owning up to their atrocities at Awo-Mmamma, as usual, resorted to lies. No matter how hard they try to cover up, the truth cannot be buried,” the statement further said.

IPOB also rebuked Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma and Igbo leaders for not speaking against the alleged atrocities committed by the Nigerian army in the region.

“The good people of Awo-Mmamma already know who their attackers are. They know that IPOB and ESN were not involved in the burning down of their shops, properties and buildings. 

“Nigeria Army must stop denying the obvious. The world must hold them accountable for their crimes against humanity in Biafra land.

“It is a big shame that the so-called political elite and Igbo leaders are watching purported repentant Fulani terrorists recruited into Nigerian Army destroy our communities. Last month they burnt down villages in Awgu, Enugu State, now it is Awo-Mmamma in Imo State. 

"Just last week they burnt down two communities in Izombe, Oguta also in Imo State. Who knows where their next target will be, yet their own political elite is watching them?

“The global community must know that IPOB and ESN were not responsible for the burning down of communities in Biafra land contrary to blatant lies by the NIGERIA Army. There are credible videos and pictorial evidence showing Nigerian Army engaging in this inhumanity. They must be made to answer for their crimes.

“Hope Uzodinma should hide his face in shame for watching the destruction of the people he claims he is governing. No Northern governor can take this nonsense,” IPOB added.

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[GIST] "It's Your Duty To Pray For Me Even When I'm Wrong"—Benue Governor, Ortom Tells Christian Residents

[GIST] "It's Your Duty To Pray For Me Even When I'm Wrong"—Benue Governor, Ortom Tells Christian Residents

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Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on Christians in the state to stop castigating him, even when he is doing something wrong.

He said rather than criticise him, they should pray for him and his government, adding that it is the obligation of the citizens to pray for their leaders. 

Governor Ortom

Governor Ortom made the call on Thursday during the dedication of a church auditorium of the Remnant Christian Network (RCN) Embassy in Makurdi, the state capital.

The Governor identified prayer as the major duty that the citizens owe their leaders. 

He said, “The people owe their leaders the duty to pray for them. Even if I am doing the wrong thing it is your responsibility to pray for me for God to lead me in all that I do.

“As a person, I have been working with God and it accounts for the successes I have been recording in life. I urge Christians to always pray for me rather than castigate me.

“As for me, I will always stand up for the truth. I will always ensure that God takes preeminence in all that I do and I will also abide by the dictates of equity, fairness, and justice.”

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