The Contribution of Muslim Leaders to Insecurity in Nigeria.

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

At a joint meeting between the Special Task Force (STF) and representatives of Muslim communities of Jos and Barikin Ladi in Plateau State, the Muslims yielded to the appeal by the STF not to pray at their usual Eid praying ground at Barikin Ladi. A day earlier, the Izala group has also acquiesced to pressure from the STF not to pray at their Eid ground at Unguwar Rukuba, Jos, where many of its followers were killed and cannibalized last year. Muslim prayer is becoming impossible in Plateau State. The impossibility is aided by a federal government outfit, the STF, which misdirects its appeal at the victim instead of the assailant. But this is not even our point of discussion today.

In my conversation with one of the Muslim representatives just after yesterday’s meeting with the STF, he expressed his distress over the unhelpful behavior of top Muslim functionaries in government in the following words:

“Honestly, our leaders at the top are not helping matters. We could not reach any of them since yesterday; neither the Inspector General of Police (IGP) nor the National Security Adviser (NSA). Their lines have been switched off. One cannot but feel helpless and abandoned in situations like this.”

I have noticed that there is always a deliberate attempt by Muslim leaders and top functionaries in government to distance themselves from their fellow Muslims whenever the latter are faced with a crisis, when they need them most for guidance and advice. One of the leaders the Muslim community in Yelwan Shendam told me the pathetic story of how they were failed by Muslim leaders.

Since 17 February 2004, Muslims expelled from the villages around Shendam started converging to Yelwa for safety. Yelwa itself was eventually attacked on 24 February 2004. The attack did not succeed as intended. The Muslims were able to chase and kill many of the attackers, including some who, the Muslims claimed, were using a church as a hideout. Since then, a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed on the town and it remained so until it was attacked for the second time on 2 May 2004.

Sensing the worst might befall them when they are attacked the second time, given the revenge that the then governor Joshua Dariye promised, Muslim leaders of Yelwa took the pain to tour the North for thirteen days after the first attack, appealing to Muslim leaders in the region to persuade the federal government to beef up security in the area. Among the several Emirs they visited, only those of Birnin Gwari and Dutse promised to take their complaint further. The Emir of Kazaure would have been the third, if he were in the country, said the leader of the delegation. The Emir of Zaria out-rightly dismissed them as incapable of living peacefully with their Christian neighbors, as if he is able to live peacefully with his Christian subjects in southern Kaduna. Blaming the victim is his own way of escaping any involvement in the issue. The Emir of Kano consigned the Yelwa delegation to his Sarkin Fada, meaning that the matter did not even qualify for his attention. The Sultan was not in the country. Babangida, according a member of the delegation, “played us his maradona, without committing himself to anything.” Etc.

And the worst came.

When the end of 28 April 2004 approached and the campaign by the majority Christian tribes was about to commence, all policemen withdrew from Yelwa, saying that it has become “Afghanistan.” Only one Muslim police officer remained in the town. He was allegedly shot by a mobile policeman colleague when the attackers returned to Yelwa.

After they were informed that Christian forces were seen heading for the town, the soldiers stationed in Yelwa withdrew on 2 May 2004 – the first day of the second attack on the town – under the pretext that they are going to seek for reinforcement. They never returned. The Muslims were thus abandopned to their fate. Luckily, they suffered only eight deaths on the first day. If the military had stayed or returned with the reinforcement as they promised, the massacre that happened the following day would have been avoided.

Monday, 3 May 2004, the Muslims lost close to 570 lives. Hundreds of their girls and women were captured from their hideout at the house of the Galadima by the Christian tribesmen. They were carted away literally into captivity and slavery. That day, it took the braveness of a youth who drove through the roadblocks mounted by Christian youtand to inform the soldiers at Shendam of the massacre that he left taking place behind him in Yelwa. If it were not for the intervention of one Col. Femi and his troops, the entire Muslim population of the town would have been wiped out. He had to “clear” a number of Christian youths at the roadblocks on his way to Yelwa. Thanks to another brave mobile policeman in the team drafted to the town after the crisis, most of the slave women were retrieved after they have been subjected to weeks of unprintable abuse that has been documented by many human rights groups. As a side note, I must say that nobody was arrested for any of these crimes.

Also, when the Fulani in Riyom and Barikin Ladi local governments were given a quit notice by the STF last month, I immediately got in touch with the Sultan, the supreme commander of the Fulani in Nigeria, to register my disapproval of the order. To be fair to him, he took me into confidence and said he would appeal to the President to withdraw it. Meanwhile, he agreed with me that the Fulani should disregard the order. I conveyed his stand to them.

The Sultan contacted the President, who was attending an AU conference, and the Vice President in the following hours. We kept in touch until when it was clear by the evening of the first day of the quit notice that the Chief of Defence Staff has resolved that the operation must be undertaken. It then became clear to the Sultan that there was no going back. What would he tell the Fulani then? He never got back to me to advise us on what to do. Twice i called my commander, and twice he refused to pick my calls. I have not heard from him since.

As God would have it, Saleh Bayari was released that evening and together with Miyetti Allah leaders in the State we visited the STF the following morning and began to sort out how the Fulani would vacate their homes in the five affected communities. We agreed on a number of things with the STF and headed for Mahanga with a detachment of some soldiers and its deputy Commander that evening to explain matters to them. The rest is now a story which I was updating my readers on throughout the period of the crisis.

The operation has ended without any casualty. We thank God that the plan to use the soldiers to drive the Fulani out of their communities forever or “finish” them when they refuse to vacate was carefully foiled by the vehement outcry of the Nigerian public, especially from the civil rights groups and international humanitarian organizations which instantly responded to the apprehension we expressed online. As a result of that pressure, the federal government backtracked and instructed the soldiers not to kill anyone during the operation.

Throughout the period of that crisis, like in every other one during the past two and a half decades, not a single northern politician, traditional ruler, governor or government official – Muslim or Christian – made any public statement condemning the federal government for its actions. In their silence lies one of our greatest security problems in the country.

Muslims in the country are always left on their own under such situations. Unlike the Christians who would trust the Christian Association of Nigeria to speak on their behalf (though many times its leader speaks only on behalf of himself), Muslims have no voice to echo their grievances. The Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs are practically government mouthpieces because its core members – the Emirs – and their president – the Sultan – are officials of their respective state governments. They dare not say anything unpalatable to government otherwise they will soon be met with the wrath of their emperor-governors. The JNI branches in the states are mostly dysfunctional, made up largely by ulama are that are too weak to stop crises when they are set to happen.

What happens to the ordinary Muslim under such situations when he has nobody to refer to for guidance and no one to fight his battle in the security councils at state and federal levels? Take the case of Plateau for instance. There is not a single Muslim in the entire security council of the state – not among its federal representatives like the Commissioner of Police, Director (SSS), STF commander, Commander of Civil Defence, and, of course, not among representatives of state government like the Governor, his Attorney-General, Permanent Secretary (Security), etc. But if Muslim officials elsewhere cannot come to their aid, how would they expect any of the above officials to protect their interests during any crisis situation?

Muslims, being left on their own, are thus pushed to taking the law into their own hand in many instances. And should they take any move to defend themselves, the security agencies will promptly pounce on them with arrests, torture and prosecution. The press for political reasons will twist their story and blame them. Since the crisis on the Plateau started, many Muslims have been convicted – like the eleven convicted Fulani after Dogo Nahauwa reprisal attack – or are awaiting trial in jails, but there has not been a single Christian prosecution. This kind of injustice does nothing but feeds Muslim anger and complete feeling of estrangement from government.

This takes us to another dimension when government and the Christian leadership in the country would compel Muslim leaders to condemn their followers or appeal to them to remain calm or keep the peace even in situations where Muslims are at the receiving end. The result is a total disregard for the appeals of such leaders. Boko Haram is one such case. So much disconnect exists between Muslim leaders and their followers that their calls for dialogue and their condemnations have woefully failed to persuade the group to stop their attacks for a day. Two Emirs, the Shehu of Borno and the Emir of Fika escaped death from Boko Haram suicide bombers by a whisker. That was a powerful message.

And when Muslims suffer casualties or disaster, their leaders are the most unwilling to help them. In the donations we received for Fulani IDPs and the recent Jos Flood victims, apart from the Sultan sent a paltry sum of N2million to the flood victims through JNI, not a single donation came from a notable Muslim leader, top government functionary or politician even though hundreds of Nigerians including Christians and southerners sent in their donations. What crop of leaders are these who cannot defend the interest of their people, be with them during crisis or assist them during disasters?. How can they command the respect of their followers with this blatant abdication of responsibility? Nobody is asking them to carry any sword as their grandfathers did. We are only asking them to speak out; yet that too is not forthcoming. Kai!

The complacency of Muslim leaders when the rights of their followers are violated has thus become one the greatest sources of instability in the country. It has allowed the boat of our internal security to be pedaled by only one side – the Christian side, while Muslim leaders continue to keep their own pedals on their laps. No wonder the boat is tilting to the safety of one side, albeit temporarily. If Muslim leaders had pedaled their own side too, the boat would have moved straight in the desired direction of our collective safety when he government will be compelled to guard the rights of all citizens equally. Inevitably, the boat will capsize. In the end, the complacency they think is a service to government is turning out to be a great disservice to it. Today, it is evident that most of them can no longer be relied upon by government to calm anybody.

The Muslim communities in Barikin Ladi and Jos are therefore on their own. I doubt if any of them is able to reach the Sultan, the governor, the IGP, the NSA or the President. But for how long would they continue to yield to the STF appeals at the expense of their right to worship, just because there is a "security report" claiming that there will be trouble if pray for not more than an hour on a ground they bought and have been using for decades now? For how long would they continue to remain passive without learning from their Fulani brothers? As I set out to write this article this morning, I was told that the Berom have killed three Fulani and injured one as they were riding their motorcycles home from Barikin Ladi yesterday. I will not shade tears for them. I am sure the killings will not go unanswered.

And to Muslim public officials who toe the line of injustice by their silence and making themselves inaccessible to their Muslim constituency during crisis, we only need to remind them of the temporary nature of their seats. Boko Haram alone has brought down two IGPs and the most connected NSA in the Jonathan administration. With time the occupants of those seats will suffer the same fate. No amount of complacency will save them.

Back to Jos. If the STF commander, Major-General Ayoola, and his team are too weak to secure Nigerians in their place of worship for just an hour, I cannot see the reason why he should not be redeployed. This is incompetence at its worst. Some of the STF sector commanders are even conniving with the very Berom youths who instigate these crises. In the meeting yesterday, the STF commander was told about the connivance of the field commander of Sector 5 in Barikin Ladi, Col. Victor Ita. The Fulani have bitterly complained that he led the team of soldiers who demolished their houses using armoured personnel tanks just after a MOPOL was killed by an unknown assailant. He just could not wait to verify the murderer. Both the Fulani and Hausa accuse him of supporting the Berom in every instance. In the meeting between Muslims leaders and the STF commander yesterday, unknown to the STF Commander, Col. Ita smuggled two Berom youth leaders into the venue. The commander became clearly disappointed. Yet, I will swear by my honour that the sector commander will not arrest the assailants that killed the three Fulani in the area under his command yesterday. I will also not be surprised if he launches an attack on the victims' community soon, should they retaliate in any form. How could there be peace?

Such a person is not needed to command our soldiers. If he wants to fight the Fulani or the Hausa, let him remove his uniform and join the Berom camp. Then, I am as certain as my death that he will get a good run for his money. He thinks his actions are helpful to the Berom while in actual fact it is hurting them. It was his demolition of Fulani houses that led to the escalation of the crisis in many communities in Barikin Ladi and Riyom local governments last month. Many of the Berom have been living in self exile since then. They are too scared to return to their homes. If not for the aggression of Col. Ita, Senator Datung and House member Danfulani who lost their lives in that escalation would have been alive today.

I will appeal to civil rights groups to redouble their effort in fighting for the rights of the minority groups in Plateau State. Denying people worship is going too far: it could be a tipping point. Last year, at the Unguwar Rukuba ground, over forty Muslim worshippers were killed and cannibalized under the watchful eyes of the police. Despite the preponderance of the video clip, nobody is arrested to date. This bias cannot be sustained. It will not yield peace. The trend must be opposed by all well-meaning Nigerians.

The federal government, as I emphatically made it clear before the President at our meeting with him last week, must rise to protect the rights of minority Nigerians wherever they are in the country. It has for too long allowed its personnel to be used in the pursuit of narrow chauvinist agenda, especially in Plateau State. The hands of the chief architect of the crisis in the state – its governor, Jonah Jang – are very clear in every posting of security officials made to the state. The federal government in whose hands is entrusted our entire security and law enforcement apparatus must wake up to its responsibility. Otherwise, it must be prepared to handle crises worse than Boko Haram soon.

And, finally, I turn to you Muslim leaders in your palaces and government offices. Contrary to your belief that your silence is helping matters, it is further subverting the security of Nigerians and allowing the tree of intolerance and hate to grow and blossom. It emboldens the aggressor and pushes the victim to the state of despair where he must, in compliance with the natural law of self-defence, resort to his own devices. That is your despicable contribution to the insecurity of this country. I have come to your defence in the past when your name was unjustifiably dragged into the mud. But not in this. You must wake up and serve the nation boldly by speaking against injustice.

Please accept this article as my Sallah gift to you. And what a pleasant one!

Who will save the butchered rights of Nigerians? | Wetin Lawyers dey do sef?

The expression ”wetin lawyers dey do sef’ may sound ridiculous and funny but when you try to critically analyze the statement it begins to make sense most especially when we look at the way innocent helpless Nigerians continue to encounter unnecessary oppression, intimidation, harassment, brutality and disrespectful treatment in the hands of security personnel.
The intent of this piece is not to point accusing fingers at anyone but try to strike a balance.
Security officials in Nigeria today rather than being a safe haven to Nigerian citizens have collectively become terror unleashing machinery. Any Dick and Harry who finds himself wearing a uniform tends to use it to intimidate innocent citizens. The most annoying is even the baby paramilitary that call themselves Civil Defence.
One wonders if in their training the design was just to intimidate the same people they were employed to protect.
Initially it was the Army that was notorious for mercilessly violating the rights of citizens but these days it cuts across all security personnel, the only criterion for intimidation is wearing khaki. Very soon if care is not taken youth corps members might start using their NYSC khaki to unleash terror on the timid.
Even as a lawyer I had my own share of the terror only that unlike the ordinary Nigerian who will say I leave everything to God, I took recourse to the court room for justice to be done. My friend Abubakar Al-Amin said “Suleiman wallahi ba za mu bar su ba” meaning “we are not going to allow this “ it was as if we were acting a movie scene with myself as the actor as they say “actor never die”- I didn’t die. The defendant is the boss who eventually died at the end. The point am trying to make is as Nigerians we have inalienable rights protected by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (lying lifeless between sections 33-45 because Nigerians don’t care to utilize them). If anyone tramples on any of the rights do not hesitate to enforce it. The doors of the courts and the judges are ever ready to give you justice:
Section 46. (1) Any person who alleges that any of the provisions of this Chapter has been is being or likely to be contravened in any State in relation to him may apply to a High Court in that State for redress.
(2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a High Court shall have original jurisdiction to hear and determine any application made to it in pursuance of this section and may make such orders, issue such writs and give such directions as it may consider appropriate for the purpose of enforcement or securing the enforcing within that State of any right to which the person who makes the application may be entitled under this Chapter.
Security personnel have taken the rights of Nigerians for granted. Talking with some of my friends who were lamenting on a terror squad they said are the most feared in town and are called ‘SARS’ Special Anti- Robbery Squad’(smh at this) only in Nigeria will you find such squad which will deviate from the main reason of their existence and Nigerians will not do anything about but just lament. God cannot come down and fight for you, I keep giving people this example ‘ you see a very hungry lion you just stand and pray to God without making any effort of cutting out, (wallahi na for Ovation we go hear the rest of your story or Omojuwa will tweet it for us).
SARS are now the terror squad, violating rights of people with impunity, while Nigerians are happy to say so, (disgusting!) . I was amazed and perplexed that even graduates who I expected to know their right sit to lament about how security personnel unleash terror upon them without thinking of going to court.
My earlier question ‘wetin lawyers dey do sef’ you will agree makes sense here, my fellow colleagues we all took oath to defend and represent the oppressed. An ugly disheartening incident I witnessed at zone 1 Mega-station here in Abuja is a perfect example and many more which if I am to narrate will enable me write a book on this issue. It is my usual habit (considering the sharp practice other filing stations do by criminally adjusting their pumps) that I buy fuel at a Mega-station. As I was waiting to be served, I saw a police officer inhumanly beating a helpless old woman, the woman was running for safety but he went after her and kept whipping her, it was unbearable for me, I walked up to him, held the cane he was using and he turned in surprise and I simply introduce myself. “This is not right” I explained. Instead of the idiot showing remorse, he roared like a Lion. I said to him “that’s the worst you can do, but if you doubt, touch me”. He retorted “I was sent here by the IG to do my duty” and I said to him ‘“so you are telling me the IG gave you strict instruction to violate the right of Nigerians who are only here to buy kerosene?”( IG Abubakar if you get to read this I will want to know if you gave these instructions) I threatened to take the issue up since I had the whole thing videotaped but a superior officer appealed, using d usual naija mentality on me “oga please if you do the man will lose his job and him get family”, other people begged too and I let go of the issue. All I am trying to say here is as lawyers we can try and change things the little way we can.
Another annoying thing is the indiscriminate and unscrupulous abuse of the sirens by elected government officials. Today even a local government counsellor moves with a siren, breaking all sorts of traffic rules, intimidating and harassing people in hold ups. This are individuals we stood in the sun, fought for and some even lost their lives in the process of voting them into office to be our representatives as servants answerable to us at anytime. Personally I don’t give any siren way each time I encounter them, instead I tell them ‘come drive over me if they can’, Nigerians can do that as well, they are not gods, they are just servants we sent to represent us. Why then should we allow our servants intimidate or oppress us in any form, we are their masters and a master never budges for his servant, you have same right on the highway, if they harass you in any way you are not comfortable with the courts are there for you. We need to let them know that we can strip them of the power they feel they possess because ultimate sovereignty belongs to the people (section 14 (2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:
(a) Sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority
and they are there because we want them to be there.
Nigerians will have to wake up from their slumber and learn to enforce their rights by beginning to question the actions and inaction of their servants. Whoever assaults you, molests, intimidates or makes you go through undignified treatment for unjust and frivolous reasons do not think twice, approach any lawyer of your choice immediately, our doors are always open for you. I know many will say they cannot bear the prolonged nature of litigation in Nigeria. It may however, interest you to know that right enforcement is the easiest case you can prosecute within a blink of an eye. Lawyers please do not scare them away with outrageous legal fees when they eventually come, we need to encourage them.
May God continue to bless Nigeria and may He give Nigerians the Liver to want to start questioning and challenging their servant who the way I am seeing it have now become the Masters.
Written by: Babawo M

There Is No Security In Nigeria – Sheik Gumi.

AHURAKA ISAH.

A famous Islamic cleric, Sheik Ahmad Gumi has descended heavily on the government in its fight against insecurity, saying that government is not ready to fight terrorism.
He said, “Look at the trillions of Naira that is being spent on security, whereas there is no security except the road blocks.”
The fiery Islamic preacher, who is the son of the late famous Sheik Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, noted that “government seems not to be ready to fight terrorism in Nigeria.”
“Boko Haram is not an insurgency. They are not many; just few individuals here and there and their weapons are not explosives, and they don’t have tanks and so on.  They are not an army; they are just like the Niger Delta militants.”
“The best they can get here is Kalashinkov, (AK47), so it is not an insurgency, it’s just a criminality. Still government politically can use it for their advantage and the opposition can use for its advantage; so there is political consideration to this Boko Haram.
“We have fanatics; among those boys who are anti-social in behaviour.
‘‘They can easily join anything that can cause commotion and trouble thinking it is religious because of their ignorance about religion,’’ he said.
He described that Boko Haram as a complex, interwoven social, religious and political disorder,  saying that the social component of it was represented by criminals.
He explained that people are desperate to break away from poverty and remarked that, in Northern Nigeria, about 76 per cent of the people live below the poverty line.
The cleric further noted that the high rate of crime was a manifestation of the social-economic problem of the nation.
“These criminals go under the guise of Boko Haram to commit crimes. Why? So, that they cannot be traced. Any criminal, if he goes under the guise of Boko Haram, the police will be looking for the Boko Haram, they would not be looking for the criminals.  So, this is the socio-economic factor of it,” he stated.
According to him, “We have seen government involved in massacre and killing people just for political reason to sustain power.  So, whichever-way you look at it, the government is saying the opposition is behind Boko Haram trying to destabilize their government.
“The government too can be behind that political Boko Haram, in trying to castigate the opposition, to clamp down on them.  Look at it now all the Northern cities like Kano, Sokoto, Maiduguri, Kaduna now are all under occupation: people are not free to move around, businesses are going down,” he added.

FuelSubsidyScam: FG indicts Conoil, MRS, Capital Oil, 18 others.

The Federal Government has indicted Conoil Plc, MRS Oil and Gas Ltd., Capital Oil and Gas Industry Ltd., and 18 other firms in the fuel subsidy imbroglio.

It said that these companies were being investigated based on the evidence that they might have engaged in fraudulent activities under the fuel subsidy regime.

The Ministry of Finance, in a statement on Friday, gave the names of the other companies as Aluminnur Resources Ltd., Brilla Energy Ltd., Caades Oil and Gas Ltd., Downstream Energy Source Ltd., Eterna Plc and Eurafric Oil and Gas Ltd.

Others are Lumen Skies Ltd., Majope Investment Ltd., Matrix Energy Ltd., Menon Oil and Gas Ltd., MOB International Services, Nasaman Oil Services Ltd., Natacel Petroleum Ltd., Ocean Energy Trading and Services, Pinnacle Contractors Ltd., Sifax Oil and Gas Company, Tonique Oil Services Ltd. and Top Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd.

According to the statement, a report by the Presidential Committee on Fuel Subsidy Payments led by Aig Aig-Imoukhuede, had recommended that the firms refund various amounts to the national treasury.

The statement said, “There is a second group of companies with infractions which are relatively minor. They are in discussion with the government for a quick resolution of their issues. The government is prepared to settle their claims under the following circumstances.

“For oil marketers under investigation for possible refunds to the government, their 2012 outstanding claims will be netted out against their expected refunds to the government and those with a positive net balance, i.e. outstanding claims greater than expected refunds, will be processed and paid.

“For marketers with a negative balance with the government, i.e they owe the government more in refunds than the government owes them, the Aig-Imoukhuede committee will accelerate the review of their documents after the Sallah break so that their claims can be processed and settled, if cleared, without further delay.

“It is clear that those behind the strikes are marketers being investigated for possible fraud. These elements have now resorted to hiding behind the unions to unnecessarily antagonise the government and create hardship for Nigerians.

“We want to make it clear that the government will fully investigate their activities and if found guilty, bring them to book and recover all public funds fraudulently obtained in the guise of fuel subsidy claims.

“No degree of blackmail will stop the government from doing its work. The government will, therefore, pursue justice and ensure that those who are found guilty are appropriately sanctioned.”

The Federal Government had already spent N493.67bn on fuel subsidy claims this year.

Out of the amount, N451bn was used to settle the 2011 arrears. Also, a total of N888bn was earmarked for subsidy payments in the 2012 budget.

The FG had earlier stated on Tuesday that indicted oil marketers would not be paid subsidy claims, while dismissing the threat of strike by the marketers.

The current scarcity of petroleum products in some parts of the country, particularly the Federal Capital Territory, has been blamed on the refusal of the marketers to lift products due to the decision of the FG to withhold further subsidy payments.

The government said in a statement on Tuesday by the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of Finance, Mr. Paul Nwabuikwu, that it had been discharging its responsibilities to marketers whose claims had been verified.

Nwabuikwu said, “The claim by some marketers that they have embarked on strike because the FG has failed to pay them for fuel imports is not accurate. The true position is that the FG has been meeting its obligations to oil marketers in respect of all legitimate claims.

“For instance, between April and May 2012, batches D/12 and E/12 involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17bn were fully settled through the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes and other relevant documentation.

“In addition, since the directive by the minister to the Debt Management Office to continue payments of all verified claims, N25.6bn worth of claims has been fully settled with the issuance of Sovereign Debt Notes. In all, between April and August this year, in respect of 2012 PMS claims, Sovereign Debt Notes amounting to N42.666bn have been issued to 31 oil marketers.”

He, however, said claims by marketers who had been recommended for further investigation by the Aig-Imoukhuede committee had not been paid.

Payments or sanctions to this category of marketers, according to the statement, will be determined by the outcome of investigations.

Nwabuikwu said in the statement, “Against this background, it is clear that the strike was instigated mainly by marketers who were indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede committee, which investigated fuel subsidy payments.

“Their obvious intention is to blackmail the FG in order to escape sanctions for the crimes they have committed. Nigerians should not be deceived by their antics. Such tactics will not succeed because the FG is determined to ensure that persons and organisations that did wrong things do not get away with the wrong actions and behaviour.”

He gave an assurance that the payment of marketers whose claims had been verified would continue in a consistent and structured way that would protect the best interests of the country.

“All marketers who have genuine issues regarding their claims are encouraged to come forward for discussions or clarifications,” he said.

via Punch

Adenuga, Dantata, Fola Adeola, Others Behind Subsidy Scam, Fuel Scarcity-PREMIUM TIMES.

Billionaire Mike Adenuga

By Premium Times

Mr. Adenuga’s company, which was once accused of tax evasion, has been accused of being behind the current fuel scarcity.
Nigerian billionaire, Mike Adenuga, through his company, Conoil Plc, is one of those behind the fuel scarcity being experienced in Abuja, the Federal Government has said.
Mr. Adenuga is not alone in this alleged misdemeanour, according to Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Companies owned by other wealthy Nigerians such as Eterna Oil, whose directors are Mahmud Tukur, son of Peoples Democratic Party National Chairman, Bamanga Tukur, and Fola Adeola, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria in the last presidential elections; and MRS Oil and Gas, believed to be owned by businessman Sayyu Dantata were also found to be instigators of the fuel crisis.
Mr. Adenuga, listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the world’s richest billionaires, is not new to controversy. In 2009, the Ogun State born businessman was indicted by Nigerian tax authorities. The Federal Inland Revenue Service sealed the Lagos office of Conoil, and Continental Oil and Gas, another company owned by the businessman, over the non-remittance of $610 million tax to government. At that time, Mr. Adenuga was able to wriggle his way out of the crisis.
This time however, the FG says it is bent on dealing with Conoil and its other partners in crime over their fraudulent activities.
The subsidy fraudsters
Not content with fleecing Nigeria of hundreds of billions of naira through the fuel subsidy scam, the indicted oil companies, have decided to punish Nigerians by creating artificial fuel scarcity, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said.
The companies were earlier indicted of large-scale fraud by the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede presidential committee which investigated the 2011 fuel subsidy payments.
“It is clear that those behind the strikes are marketers being investigated for possible fraud. These elements have now resorted to hiding behind the unions to unnecessarily antagonize Government and create hardship for Nigerians,” Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said in the statement.
Seven of the companies had created fictional ships, which delivered imaginary petrol, for which they got N13 billion naira subsidy payments, PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported here.
Some of the others were involved in ship space travel, in which they claimed that vessels that were in China, or UAE, delivered petrol to Nigerian waters at the same time. Nigeria lost 21 billion naira to this category of fraudulent companies.
Already, petrol stations in Abuja are filled with long queues as road users struggle for the little petrol available. Should the oil workers go ahead with their strike which would commence next week, the rest of the country would join in the fuel scarcity.
We remain undaunted
In the statement, Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said government remained committed to seeing its actions through despite the scarcity.
The minister said following the submission of the report of the Aig-Imoukhuede committee that investigated the payments, the federal government has paid all marketers with “legitimate and unencumbered” claims and that such marketers will continue to be paid.
Between April and May 2012, two batches involving 14 oil marketers with a claim of N17 billion were settled while N25.6 billion worth of claims were paid since early July 2012, the minister said.
In all, between April and August this year, N42.666 billion have been paid to 31 oil marketers.
“Government will continue to encourage honest efforts by genuine companies engaged in fuel importation but we will not fall for the cheap blackmail of indicted marketers who are using all kinds of subterfuge to escape sanctions,” he minister said.
The companies punishing Nigeria
Apart from Conoil, other companies the finance minister mentioned include Alminnur resources ltd, Brilla energy ltd, and Eterna plc, headed by Mahmud Tukur, the son of the national chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is already prosecuting the younger Tukur for his role in the subsidy scam, and he has since been granted bail by the court.
Other companies involved are Caades Oil and Gas Ltd, Capital Oil and Gas Industry Ltd, Downstream Energy Source Ltd, Euraafric Oil and Gas Ltd, Lumen Skies Ltd and Majope Investment Ltd.
Matrix Energy Ltd, Menon Oil and Gas Ltd, Mob International Services, MRS Oil and Gas Ltd, Nasaman Oil Services Ltd, Natacel Petroleum Ltd, Ocean Energy Trading and Services, Pinnacle Contractors Ltd. Sifax Oil and Gas Company, Tonique Oil Services Ltd and, Top Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd, were also named.
Discussing with the cabal
Some other companies, also indicted by the Aig-Imoukhuede committee are however being courted by the government in other to prevent a nationwide fuel scarcity.
Mrs. Okonjo-Iweala said these groups of companies, with infractions which are relatively minor, are already in discussion with government for a quick resolution of the issues.
She said the outstanding claims of companies under investigation for possible refunds to the government, will be netted against their expected refunds to government and those with positive net balance will be processed and paid.
In other words, even though these companies dubiously received fuel subsidy payments, the government will let them off the hook by simply deducting the money they are expected to refund from the genuine subsidy payment the FG owes them.
The Aig-Imoukhuede committee had recommended that all the indicted marketers refund N382 billion to government.
Mr. Imoukhuede had however advised Nigerians not to expect that all the money would be recovered.

Bini, Afenmai in unending battle.

The Nation Archive.

IT is a party in peprpetual crises. Ever since the supremacy battle between Chief Tony Anenih and Dr Samuel Ogbemudia became public knowledge, the heart of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has stopped beating.

Now, indigenes of Edo North are at war with their Southern counterparts. The Afenmai no longer trust their Bini brothers. Governor Oserheimen Osunbor is at the middle, undecided. To him, it is just a trying period.

At a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, the governor said: "There is no problem insurmountable in the party. We have had problems like this before in the past and we surmounted them."

Now, members of the party at the National Aseembly are wading into the crisis which boarders on which zone should produce the state PDP chairman.

Some of them met at Uromi.

The meeting at Uromi may not be unconnected with the Deputy Governor, Lucky Imasuen’s assertion that Edo North and South should lobby Edo Central for the emergence of the state chairman of PDP which is the bone of contention.

Still, Ogbemudia is not relenting in the struggle to arm – twist Anenih to favour his people in Edo South. In a meeting held at NTA Benin zonal headquarters Main Auditorium by the People United to save Edo State, the partisan group said it is not a fight per – se, but that justice should be done.

The current political status of the state according to distribution of offices is as follows:

Edo North: Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Zakawanu Garuba and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice–President, Goodluck Jonathan.

Edo Central: Governor Oserheimen Osunbor.

Edo South: Deputy Governor, Imasuen, Minister of Interior Affairs, Major Gen. Godwin Abe and Ambassador designate, the Bini Crown Prince.

The Otaru of Auchi (Edo North) Alhaji Haliru Momoh described the treatment given to his senatorial district as unfair. He called for an end to the political marginalisation of the Afenmai people that constitute the Edo North zone.

"What has been done to us is not fair at all. We can be a better community in Edo State if we are our brother’s keepers", he added.

He said efforts should be made to create the Afenmesan State, so that instead of fighting over ministerial, ambassadorial and governorship position, there would be enough public offices to go round the zones.

While some argued that the crisis in PDP is not good for democracy in the state, others are happy and they are fanning the embers of war. For instance, the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in a statement signed by Comrade Godwin Erhahon, its State Publicity Secretary, appealed to all good people of Edo State to pray God to sustain the on going war between Anenih and Ogbemudia, , as the Almighty has sustained the quarrel that has separated both of them from the Igbinedions in recent times.

"ANPP believes that the political conspiracy amongst the triumvirate of Anenih, Ogbemudia and Igbinedion from 1998 till 2003 worked against the interest of the common man and therefore, did not receive God’s blessing."

"No wonder God has now pitched Anenih and Ogbemudia against each other at a time they were playing God by scheming for and against an unforeseeable second term for Osunbor whose first term legitimacy is still being contested at the Election Petitions Tribunal.

"The good people of Edo State should therefore, not allow themselves to be dragged into the rift, no matter how attractive it is dressed in ethnic sentiments. It is a battle for political supremacy between two oppressors.

"Let us therefore, praise God for allowing confusion into the camp of our oppressors. May those who conspired to rig elections in our land never enjoy peace and unity.

"The utterances from both Anenih and Ogbemudia’s camps betrayed their hope in the ability of PDP to continue to rig future elections and as such, rubbish the much talked about electoral reforms of the President Umaru Musa Yar,Adua’s administration. Both camps stand condemned!"

The Benin National Congress (BNC), in a statement signed by the President, Mr. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, after a critical diagnosis of the leadership crisis rocking the PDP in the state, also resolved as follows:

"That the antagonism against Ogbemudia (playing out in the form of a class struggle) by some PDP elements across the state particularly Edo North and Edo Central, rather call for a sober reflection in view of the calculated damage orchestrated by the architect of the blackmail on one of our son and a national leader of PDP and by extension Benin interests and integrity.

"That the congress is worried that the personality of Ogbemudia (A former military administrator of Mid-West State and a former civilian governor of old Bendel State); with national and international tributes and reputation in view of his developmental contributions even as a former Labour Minister of the Federal Republic could be so resolved to frontally address the imbalance in the state political super – structure.

"That although our people are still sobering over the violent and high powered rigging of Edo State mandate in the April 14 election, some so called Edo PDP leaders could have the effrontery to denigrate Ogbemudia and Edo South people in general despite our population and resources superiority which formed the bedrock of Adams Oshiomhole’s open victory at the April poll. And the back – up for Oshiomhole by the Benin’s was borne out of the need to redress the marginalisation of Edo South people even though one of our sons was a governor, we need not say that Igbinedion was forcefully suppressed to a corner by Mr. Fix it through the instrumentality of the National Secretariat of the party which was in his palm.

"That the congress is constrained to comment on this matter because of the political coloration of the issues arising there from, we wish to state unambiguously that Ogbemudia must rise up and be counted as a statesman than as a politician, by courageously denouncing the schemes that heralded the rigged elections of April. It must be pointedly stated that docility or such attitudes that questions bravery disposition are not known attitude of war – veterans of which Ogbemudia is an icon. Its more timely act now that Edo South people have resolved to put the past aside knowing fully well that his perceived misdemeanors where done inadvertently.

"That the congress believes that the immeasurable contributions of Ogbemudia has been a threat to some PDP elements masquerading as senatorial leaders hence diabolic attempts are fabricated to undermine the Edo South leader. Whether politically, socially or otherwise, Ogbemudia is a pride of the Benin’s and to those that cherish his charismatism.

The congress as a vehicle for the expression of Edo interests would mobilise Edo South people for the embattled leader more so when the congress is sure that he, Ogbemudia, would rise to the occasion by seizing the opportunity of this crisis to stand by majority of Edo people who voted for Oshiomhole. By going to the tribunal to expose the open secret of how the PDP rigged the April 14 election. This will make our leader Ogbemudia the hero of our time.

"That the congresses wish to warn that in appreciation of the homogeneity of the Edo culture and the sustained attitude of inter – marriage amongst Edo State peoples should not be under played by the actors of the present crisis whom are unnecessarily weeping ethnic sentimentalism into a glaring political tussle in the Edo State PDP. This matter has nothing to do with ethnicity."

Also, another twist has appeared in the crisis and it is coming from the Edo State Independent Electoral Commmission (EDSIEC) chaired by Justice Aliyu Okunega.

It borders on the action of a PDP Vice – Chairman from Edo North, Bruno Oshiokpekhai.

EDSIEC which has just won a case between it and the former Chairman, Justice Gabriel Okugbowa removed by the State House of Assembly’s two-thirds majority vote and accused of selling forms to independent candidates against the constitutional provision, spoke of the need to organise a credible election. According to, Oshiokpekhai has no right whatsoever to send a list of six people he called his candidates to the commission. He added that PDP, should tell him to obey Party rules and electoral guidelines so as to enable the commission perform effectively and independently.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Zakawanu Garuba and copied to other members, EDSIEC alleged that Oshiokpekhai addressed a letter to the Chairman of EDSIEC, Justice Aliyu Okunega. The purported letter reads in parts:

"I bring calvary greetings to you, my lord. You know that our party is heavily factionalised and I am sure you know my present predicament and ill – treatment being meted out to me now as a result of the principled position I often take on issues",

"As a result, I am not sure that candidates for the forth – coming local government election will be picked though I have submitted them to the state working committee having struggled with the State Screening Committee which is also not trusted. Even as their names have been accepted and enlisted, I trust no one, as the names could be substituted. More so, you know the operations of PDP", "I therefore forward the names of my councillorship candidates to you confidentially, so that if the names do not make the PDP list, you kindly help me re-substitute them and I am sure your claim and acceptance will be final".

With all the gladiators flexing muscles, it is not known what will be become of the party in the Heartbeat of the Nation.

The Anenih I know.

Much has been said and written about the person of Chief Tony Anenih and his role in politics, viewed negatively by many. While the celebration of his 79th birthday is still on, I consider it necessary to avail the public the benefit of my knowledge and perception of this elder statesman, whose image has assumed a leviathan status in Nigerian politics.

Many see Chief Anenih as a wicked and selfish fellow who does not believe in fair-play and justice. Some also rate him as the most generous, liberal and hardworking political strategist of our time. These conflicting views of the chief are not without iota of truth, depending on wherefrom you view this colossus. If you are lucky to be favoured by his leadership, you may be tempted to see him as next to God as you may not find anyone as generous and caring as him. You may be tempted to call him names as negative as a devil if you are on the side of his opponent because you probably may not find any formidable and fiery enemy like him.

As a journalist during the second republic, especially during the build-up to the controversial 1983 general elections contested by the defunct NPN, UPN, NPP, GNPP, PRP and NAP, I first knew Chief Anenih when he edged out his elder kinsman, Late Chief Anthony Enahoro out of NPN state chairmanship and conquered Chief Tayo Akpata in the struggle for that office and finally took over as state chairman of NPN. Stories were told of how he violently subdued his opponents within his home Esan land. He did all that then to secure victory by fair or foul means for his party governorship candidate, Dr Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, an eminent Bini son, over his (Anenih’s) kinsman and then incumbent UPN governor of the defunct Bendel State, Professor Ambrose Alli of blessed memory.

My clear memory of this his role continues to make it impossible for me to agree with those who brand him a tribalist. As I write, I remember several non-Esan beneficiaries of Chief Anenih’s favouritism and tutelage, whom he lifted from the bottom-most part of political obscurity to state and national limelight. What I know of the old man is that he is a fanatical party man and a self-asserting leader. When he led the NPN to sponsor Dr Ogbemudia against his kinsman, Professor Alli, some Esan people accused him of betraying the course of Esan, his ethnic group, but whenever he has had reason to promote an Esan indigene above someone from other ethnic groups, especially Bini, he is vilified as a tribalist. Yet he seems, in my estimation, to have uplifted more Binis than any Bini group or individual in politics.

What strikes me most in the political life of Chief Anenih is that whereas he is such a faithful leader who lifts beggars to wealth, most of his followers are often in a hurry to betray or abandon him when the political tide turns or appears to be turning against him; and when he regains control, such deserters run back shamelessly to drink again from his stream of favour.

But the likes of the Ugbesia twin brothers, Odion and Akhere, who are ever ready to swim or sink with Chief Anenih continue to reap bountifully from the fruits of their unceasing loyalty to him. Even during military interregnum, when he did not have direct government patronage, he shared his personal resources with his loyalists. During the Abacha regime when he enjoyed patronage, he extended his caring hands to his favourites.

His role in the post-June 12, 1993 presidential election won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola of blessed memory on the platform of Social Democratic Party, SDP, of which Chief Anenih was national chairman, is his most negative record in politics held against him till today. He alone can defend the charge against him concerning June 12 and the Abacha junta. I recall vividly, when Chief Abiola visited him at his old residence in Benin City in 1993, and I joined him to receive M.K.O; Chief Anenih accused Chief Abiola of fleeing the country without alerting him as the national chairman of the SDP on which platform Chief Abiola won the most credible presidential election. Chief Abiola, a man rich in parable and proverbs as in wealth, replied humorously that “a bird does not tell his fellow bird that a stone is coming.”

In a resent discussion with Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, first governor of Edo State, who won election on SDP platform on December 14, 1991, under the leadership of Chief Anenih, Oyegun disputed the popular claim that his election was bankrolled by Chief Anenih. But he credited Chief Anenih with the vigilance that foiled the attempt by the opposing National Republican Convention, NRC, to rig that election at the final collation centre. Chief Oyegun recalled how Chief Anenih woke him up at about 2am in the night following the election and urged him to mobilise his supporters to the office of the National Electoral Commission, NEC, as it was then called, to protect his result at a time his opponent was mobilising to tamper with the result. Chief Oyegun is a Bini man, yet Chief Anenih stood by him!

During campaign seasons, most leaders from the three senatorial districts go cap-in-hand begging him for money, which he often gives generously as if his resources is abundantly limitless. After victory, however, the leaders from South and North Senatorial Districts often object to every attempt by their pre-election benefactor to influence choice of appointees to political offices from their senatorial districts, urging him to confine his control to his home-base Central Senatorial District - Esan land. They try to resist every attempt by him who ‘pays the piper to dictate the tune!’

Those favoured by his selection from south and north hail him as national leader while those not favoured condemn him with all kinds of bad name.

Chief Anenih’s fighting spirit and loyalty to his party is worthy of emulation. He led Chief Oyegun to defeat Chief Lucky Igbinedion in 1991 and surprisingly led the same Lucky Igbinedion to defeat Mr. Lucky Imasuen and Senator Roland Owie in 1999 and 2003 respectively. He often projects his loyalists for nomination during his party primary, but where his loyalist lost, he stands by the nominated candidate in true party spirit.

In 1993 I observed at close range that Chief Anenih often denied himself of sleep during campaigns, he used to work late in the night and rise too early in the morning. Sometimes, he used to take a nap for about an hour during meetings without going to bed. I asked him how he was able to cope. He revealed to me that contrary to the claims of those who credited that habit to his police background, it was actually inherited from his late father. He told me how strong his late father was till death so much that up till few minutes to his demise, he inspected his compound, visited his neighbours and counselled his children and prayed for them and went to rest peacefully.

Whoever knew how strongly Chief Anenih fought against the re-election of Comrade Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole in the last July 14 Edo State governorship, will be surprised to hear him distance himself from the attempt by his party’s defeated candidate to challenge the election in court. He has directed PDP to allow Oshiomhole’s victory to be. That is Anenih, good fighter in times of war and a great peacemaker and bridge-builder after war. Chief Anenih is the best friend one should pray to have and the worst enemy one should pray never to have. Which political party would not celebrate if Chief Anenih decides to join its fold? Let us respect the old man for his fighting spirit even when he has fought against us.

It seems popular to write off Chief Anenih’s political leadership as one without positive result. Many chose to ignore the fact that it was during Chief Anenih’s tenure as Works Minister that the ministry constructed the first phase of the Benin City by-pass and commenced the dualisation of Benin-Asaba and Benin-Warri Federal Highways. Many admire the fine little ring road now linking Murtala Muhammed – Sapele Road – Ikpokpan Street in Benin City, but hate to credit Chief Anenih with it.

I think we should learn to praise our leaders for the good they did even as we criticise them for their bad doings, while they are alive. Not to always wait till they die before writing or singing their praises. Deserved praises encourage emulation of good characters as deserved condemnations discouraged people from taking after bad characters.

Comrade Godwin Erhahon is the chairman of the Edo State chapter of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC.