RingTrue
with Yemi Adebowale; yemi.adebowale@thisdaylive.com
Just on January 7, Fulani herdsmen attacked Tsonje village, which is a stone throw from Kagoro town in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing two teenagers – Ephraim Ezekiel (19) and Joshua Ladi (14). Two other villagers are still missing. This attack came notwithstanding the large number of soldiers in Southern Kaduna. Vigilante in Tsonje and some policemen resisted the rampaging terrorists for hours, forcing them to retreat. While the battle lasted, soldiers deployed in Kagoro did not come to the assistance of the natives. Danjuma Laah, the Senator representing Southern Kaduna, has corroborated this account. This has been the trend in most of the Southern Kaduna communities that had been attacked by the rampaging herdsmen. Security agents often ignore distress calls from the communities and only appear after the attackers must have gone.
The case of Kagoro town is most painful. The area from which the terrorists launch their attacks on communities in the town is an open secret. Their well-known camp is located behind Pasakori village, at the foot of Kagoro Mountain. I am shocked that security agents have not taken steps to dislodge these terrorists from Pasakori, where they have forcefully taken over the lands of the natives. This only goes to support insinuations that the terrorists are enjoying some form of support from security agents in Southern Kaduna, as they go about killing law-abiding citizens of Nigeria. Another horrible trend in this troubled area is that youth vigilantes, who take turn to protect their communities against these terrorists, are daily, harassed and humiliated by security agents.
“I get reports of soldiers brutalizing Southern Kaduna natives; intimidating and threatening our brave young ones with arrest as they watch over their communities. I am making this public to alert the world to a possible regrouping of Boko Haram terrorists with Fulani herdsmen in Southern Kaduna. They are now conquering large swaths of lands. That was how Boko Haram started in 2009. I am appealing to the military to step in and assist the police,” remarked Senator Laah.
The truth that must be told is that a large number of security agents operating in this killing field called Southern Kaduna have compromised. They turn a blind eye to the killings, and only rush to trouble spots after the terrorists had performed their act of killing and destruction of houses and farmlands. This is why the casualty figures are on the high. According to the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, the unrest has claimed over 808 lives, in 53 villages in the area, with 1,422 houses, 16 Churches, 19 shops, and one primary school destroyed. The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris did not calm nerves when he recently visited the area. Instead of marshaling how to tame the terrorists, the IGP spent quality time upbraiding Southern Kaduna leaders and questioning the casualty figures pushed out.
Clearly, there is an urgent need to overhaul the security arrangement here, with the natives playing a key role. For me, it is pertinent to bring in soldiers from other parts of the country to secure Southern Kaduna. Unfortunately, governments, both at the state and federal levels can no longer be trusted to provide a dispassionate security arrangement here. This is why they are unable to perform their constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property in Southern Kaduna. Governor Nasir el-Rufai has been acting like a key member of this army of occupation disturbing this troubled area. This governor has consistently shown bias in the handling of this crisis. That was why the affected communities have persistently protested against him. Just as the General Secretary of CAN, Reverend Musa said, “El-rufai lacks the will power to arrest the situation and bring it under effective control.” The Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu was apt when he remarked: “Governments, both at the centre and state levels have failed woefully. If anything, government has shown outright partisanship in favour of the herdsmen to the disappointment of the majority Southern Kaduna indigenes and Christians.”
The response from the government at the federal level has been feeble. It took President Muhammadu Buhari over a year to even acknowledge the massacre going on in Southern Kaduna. This systematic genocide and persecution in this part of our dear nation must not be allowed to continue. Buhari must take personal interest in the security arrangement in this area. He must prove that he is a President to all, by putting an end to the impunity in Southern Kaduna. These killing have continued because no single perpetrator has been brought to book by the government. It is disheartening that not even one perpetrator has been arrested and arraigned in court. This is the height of impunity in a democracy. At this point, I need to remind Buhari about that historic statement, “The buck stops here” made popular by late President Harry Truman of the United States. It was etched on Truman’s desk in the White House, while he reigned, because he reckons with the importance of responsible Presidency. Our own Buhari must realise that the buck stops on his table. He must rise above personal interest and tackle the Kaduna massacre with all his strength.
It is heartwarming to learn that the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Dr. Agnes Callamard is set to probe Kaduna killings. Callamard is hoping to identify the perpetrators, bring them to justice and provide reparations to victims. This morning, I urge Buhari to reflect on the recent submission of the former Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, who remarked: “Killing of innocent Nigerians has nothing to do with the triumph of democracy. We are not free if our lives are in danger while government that ought to protect us appears to be helpless.”
A ‘Defeated’ Boko Haram Still Attacking with Precision
The attack on an Army brigade in Buni Yadi, Yobe State, last Saturday, left me distressed. It came just about two weeks after the absolutely unnecessary noise by the federal government that the terrorists had been defeated. The spokesman of 27 Task Force Brigade, Lt. George Okupe confirmed the attack, adding that it was successfully repelled by the troops. It was so painful that we lost a Captain (Victor Ulasi), who is a medical doctor with the brigade. Five other soldiers were killed in the attack. According to Lt. Okupe, “it was a surprise attack by the insurgents who attacked from the eastern side of the brigade in large number and lunched superior fire power on the military formation before they were repelled.” This statement is a confirmation that the terrorists are obviously still existing in large number and very potent too.
A day after the attack in Buni Yadi, multiple explosions hit Maiduguri, resulting in the death of five innocent people. The terrorists had earlier attacked a military facility in Rann, in the northern part of Borno State, injuring several soldiers in the process. Just yesterday, Madagali was attacked, with scores killed. Our gallant soldiers should be allowed to do their jobs, while all these political talk that Boko Haram had been defeated, should stop. Politicians should stop distracting them. The truth is that this war is far from over and our soldiers should be allowed to concentrate. When the war is over, it would be obvious to all. The men we lost in Buni Yadi are heroes of our nation; they died for all of us to enjoy peace. May Allah grant them Al Jannah Firduas.
Governor Tambuwal Should Get Serious about Water Supply
Water scarcity has become a recurring problem in Sokoto metropolis in the last 19 months. The last four weeks have been horrendous for the residents of this city, following persistent epileptic public water supply. Frustrated residents have been patronizing hawkers of largely unhygienic water and paying fortunes. This problem only eased a bit this week. The truth is that the public water plants in this city are in a mess and Governor Aminu Tambuwal must get serious about fixing them permanently. When I served in this city about 25 years ago, uninterrupted water supply was a thing of joy. I often send messages home about the reliable water supply in Sokoto. Suddenly, this is now history. Tambuwal must return this city to the beautiful days of uninterrupted water supply.
Ashimolowo’s Sweet $5m Ponzi Story
On December 14 last year, the Charity Commission for England and Wales published its findings on an inquiry into a Ponzi scheme in which Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC) in the United Kingdom lost £3.9 million. The trustees of the 12,000-member mega church in Britain headed by Mathew Ashimolowo were indicted by the Commission. It ruled that the church’s trustees who handed over the funds were guilty of “mismanagement.” They invested over £5 million in four installments between June 2009 and June 2010, resulting in the huge loss. The scam was the brainchild of Richard Rufus, who was a former trustee of the church. He had guaranteed that the investments would earn a massive return of about 55 per cent in a year. I wonder how KICC Trustees thought this would happen in the UK.
What I find infuriating are attempts by the KICC to exonerate Ashimolowo from this misadventure. According to a statement from the Church, Ashimolowo “did not make the decision to invest; and not a trustee and has never been a trustee of KICC.” Haba! How can the founder and Senior Pastor be unaware of the movement of a huge £5 million from the Church’s account? This is food for thought for all of us this morning. The church should simply keep quiet since the UK Charity Commission is not interested in Ashimolowo’s role in this epic.
Corruption Allegations against Isiaq Oloyede, Ambali
The recent petition by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, alleging the perpetration of N2 billion fraud against the management of the University of Ilorin is weighty. The fact that it is coming from the umbrella body of all university teachers in Nigeria, makes it imperative for the EFCC to dig in.
The petition was signed by the Ibadan Zonal Chairmen of ASUU, Dr. Ade Adejumo, and that of the University of Ibadan, Dr. Deji Omole. Others who signed were Dr. Biodun Olaniran of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Dr. Dauda Adeshina of Kwara State University and Dr. Kayode Afolayan of the University of Ilorin. They alleged that the said fraud was perpetrated by the former Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isiaq Oloyede, and the incumbent, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali. “University of Ilorin’s management is one of the most corrupt in the country. The institution has been operating under the pretext of keeping stable academic calendar to silence whistle blowers while perpetrating enormous fraud,” alleged the petitioners.
The allegations listed in the petition included pension fraud, unremitted deductions, extortion from students, contract inflation and kick-backs, as well as unlawful payments to ex-principal officers of the university. I have spent quality time reading this petition dated December 29, 2016. I have also read the defence put up by Oloyede and Ambali. To be honest, the past and incumbent VCs of the University of Ilorin did not impress me one bit with their defense. They need to do more by properly addressing specific issues raised. In line with the anti-corruption stance of the Buhari administration, the EFCC should thoroughly examine the petition and ensure that anyone found wanting is brought to book.
