Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls

Shettima, Chibok community: hope rises for Chibok girls


Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima said yesterday that the news of the rescued women is gratifying even if they are not the Chibok schoolgirls.

In a statement by his spokesman Mallam Isa Gusau, the governor said:  ”The lives, safety and well-being of all citizens of Borno are of equal importance to me. I celebrate news about the rescue with so much excitement in a manner I would celebrate when the military succeeds in freeing the Chibok schoolgirls.

“I was so full of excitement, gratitude to God almighty and commendation to our gallant armed forces for this great humanitarian feat. For me, the lives, safety and welfare of all citizens of Borno State are of equal importance. These rescued women are daughters, sisters and perhaps also mothers whose lives are important not just to their loved ones but also to me as Governor of Borno State whose mandate is to cater for the welfare of all those living in any part of Borno State regardless of who they are, their faith, gender, age, geopolitical origins and other background elements.

“They are important to us and words cannot explain how pleased we are. We are very particular about Chibok schoolgirls because of the peculiar manner in which they were kidnapped and how that kidnap has redefined the Boko Haram insurgency. The Chibok schoolgirls are very dear to my heart because they were kidnapped while they were in school. Their kidnap is very symbolic because their kidnappers are opposed to western education especially female education. The entire world especially myself, is desperate about the rescue of the Chibok schoolgirls in order not to allow the ideology held by the insurgents to thrive and to encourage education which is the foundation of any human or society that seeks to develop. However, this rescue is also very dear to me. I am as pleased as much as I would be when the Chibok schoolgirls are rescued by the special grace of God.

“I am very optimistic, prayerful and supportive of the military’s ongoing rescue and counter insurgency operations. We won’t give up on the Chibok schoolgirls like I said two weeks ago. No sane parent gives up on a missing child. I have daughters and I know the love of a parent to the girl child.

“For now, it is better to allow the military handle things, conduct their investigations and ascertain the identity of those rescued but irrespective of the identity of the girls, we are very happy they have been rescued whether they are citizens of Borno or any where else. I kindly urge the media to refer to the military for updates on the matter so that there are mixups at any point. I kindly call on all citizens of Borno and other fellow Nigerians to pray for our armed forces and volunteers to succeed so that good will triumph over Evil.”

The Director of Publicity for Kibaku Area Development Association (KADA), a pan organisation of Chibok people worldwide, Dr. Allen Manasseh, told our correspondent in Maiduguri on telephone that the rescue of the 293 women had cleared doubts about the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls.

Dr. Allen who expressed hope that the Chibok girls will also return someday said:

“What happened yesterday is cheering news for all of us. It has given us hope that the Chibok girls too will be rescued one day. The incident has also helped to clear the mind of some doubting Thomases that there was no abduction of the girls.

“At least it has shown that apart from these girls, there are several other women that were kept in captivity by the Boko Haram.

“The Chibok community is also happy with the families of the released victims and it is our hope that they will be rehabilitated and reunited to their families as soon as possible,” Dr. Allen informed

Fayose pays labour for prolonged strike to stall impeachment process' - APC alleges

Fayose pays labour for prolonged strike to stall impeachment process' - APC alleges



The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State has alleged that the state government is planning to talk the state civil servants into embarking on a prolonged labour crisis, in order to frustrate the impeachment proceedings instituted against the governor, Ayo Fayose, by the APC lawmakers in the state Assembly.


Speaking in a statement on Wednesday, April 29, in Ado Ekiti, Taiwo Olatubosun, the Publicity Secretary of the party cautioned the organised labour not to sacrifice general interest for selfish interest.


It was also alleged that some labour leaders have received huge sum of money from the government for various solidarity rallies in the last six months.


Olatubosun said plans for a politically-motivated industrial action that will last till the middle of June is in the works by the compromised labour leaders.


He said two options were put before the labour leaders at a meeting with Fayose on April 27 – they were to either choose to force a prolonged holiday from May 29 till the first week of June or for the government to trigger workers’ anger through half payment of April salary, that will force workers to embark on indefinite strike. He said the leaders chose the second option.


“To set the planned strike in motion, the governor has offered to pay half salary for April, which labour would reject, leading to a disagreement that would spark a strike action,” Olatubosun further said.

Military evacuates rescued girls, women

Military evacuates rescued girls, women




The military yesterday evacuated the 293 women and girls rescued from Boko Haram camps in Sambisa Forest to the hilly border town of Gwoza, as it seeks clues to the whereabouts of the Chibok schoolgirls whose abduction last year provoked international outrage.

The 200 girls and 93 women were freed from four camps during an army operation in the forest, believed to be Boko Haram’s final stronghold.

The military said on Tuesday that initial enquiries suggested the freed women did not include the 219 Chibok girls.

A military spokesman said the rescued girls would be transported for final checks in Abuja or Maiduguri.

“We will take them to Abuja or Maiduguri for further investigation to determine whether Chibok girls were among them and where they come from.

Colonel Usman said many of them were traumatized. The military is flying in medical and intelligence teams to examine them, he added.

On Tuesday night, he had indicated that none of the 219 Chibok girls were among the rescued females. But yesterday he said he was not categorically saying none of the Chibok girls was among the rescued females and that they still needed to be questioned to determine their identities.

“Most of them are traumatised and you have got to put them in a psychological frame of mind to extract information from them,” Col. Usman said.

Women abducted by the group have been forced into sexual slavery or combat, Amnesty International said in a report to mark the anniversary of the Chibok kidnapping.

For parents of the missing Chibok girls, news of the liberation of hundreds of women fired hopes of seeing their daughters alive.

“Since I heard the news it’s like I’m in heaven,” said Esther Yakub, whose daughter Dorcas was kidnapped. “I’ve never doubted the possibility of getting her back despite the news that has been flying around about all manner of dangers that could have befallen them.”

“I’m just waiting for the moment when they hand her over into my arms.”

Amnesty International described the ‘rescue’ of the women as an encouraging development but only a small step in securing the safety of the thousands of women and girls abducted by the armed group since 2014..

The organization urged the authorities to ensure that the trauma of those ‘rescued’ is not exacerbated by lengthy security screening in detention.

“This development is just cause for celebration and undoubtedly an immense relief to the women, girls and their families. But this is just the tip of the iceberg; there are thousands more women and girls, and men and boys who have been abducted by Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay, Africa Director, Research and Advocacy.

According to a recent Amnesty International report, more than 2,000 women and girls have been abducted by Boko Haram. Drawing from interviews with those who escaped, the report reveals how civilians were executed, tortured, raped and forced into marriage in camps and towns controlled by Boko Haram.

In previous cases where women and girls have escaped from Boko Haram they have been detained for weeks on end for security screening. Amnesty International is calling on the authorities to ensure that their physical and psychological well-being is paramount.

“The trauma suffered by the women and girls is truly horrific. Some have been repeatedly raped, sold into sexual slavery or indoctrinated and even forced to fight for Boko Haram,” said Netsanet Belay.

“What they need now is medical and psychological care and support and privacy. The government must now ensure that it doesn’t add to their suffering with lengthy detention and security screening which can only add to their suffering and plight,” he added.

Nigeria: I'm President Until May 29 -Jonathan Warns Buhari Against Parallel Govt

Nigeria: I'm President Until May 29 -Jonathan Warns Buhari Against Parallel Govt


President Goodluck Jonathan today reminded Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's president-elect that he is still President till May 29.

The President also warned Buhari against running a parallel government. According to DAILY TRUST, the National Planning Minister Abubakar Sulaiman disclosed this to State House journalists after today’s the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

The minister said the Federal Government took exception to some of the terms of reference of the transition committee set up by Buhari. He warned that President Jonathan’s magnanimity should not be misconstrued as cowardice.

APC Blames PDP For Aregbesola's Failure to Pay Osun Workers' 6 Months Wages

APC Blames PDP For Aregbesola's Failure to Pay Osun Workers' 6 Months Wages


The Osun Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC has fingered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Governor Rauf Aregbesola's failure to pay state employees for the past 6 months.

PUNCH reports that spokesperson of the APC in Osun State, Mr. Kunle Oyatomi, said this in a statement.

He said, ''The long and difficult battle to defeat the forces of evil that have squandered the nation’s wealth has just ‎been won comprehensively. This has now paved the way for a new, progressive and responsible APC government to take over the affairs of the country and end the suffering which PDP’s corruption, mismanagement and treasury looting have brought on Nigerians including workers in the state of Osun.

''This is a pleasant transition moment that requires sober, intelligent and calculating responses from all stakeholders in the state of Osun, so that we do not turn victory into sorrow by engaging in actions that will create more problems than solutions.

''Alhaji Mohammadu Buhari has promised to solve this problem, it is our duty to exercise patience and trust the integrity of the new President to deliver on his promise. Labour and civil servants should give the new leader a breathing space to demonstrate his integrity and progressive credentials, which is not in dispute, except in the evil consciousness of the PDP leadership in the state.

Permanent Secretary Suspended For Embarrassing President Jonathan

Permanent Secretary Suspended For Embarrassing President Jonathan


Ambassador Danjuma Sheni, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been suspended for embarrassing President Goodluck Jonathan.

The part of the embarrassment involved his alleged role in the controversy over the invitation of Nigeria’s envoys from South Africa few weeks after the diplomatic row between Nigeria and Morocco on issue of telephone conversation between Jonathan and King Mohammed VI.

A Source who spoke anonymously on the suspension said, ''The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been suspended and queried for embarrassing the President by not clearing from him before inviting the Charge d’Affaires. The President on Monday directed the Head of Service to query him and he has 24 hours to respond to the query.

''You will recall that that was the second embarrassment, this one came shortly after the Morocco saga. The permanent secretary was to be dismissed immediately, but for the civil service rule. Even at that, there will still be further consequence.

''As at now, a new permanent secretary has been redeployed to the ministry to replace him.”

APC reverses Buhari on AIT, says all accredited media free to cover President-elect’s activitie

APC reverses Buhari on AIT, says all accredited media free to cover President-elect’s activitie


The All Progressives Congress, APC, has reversed the controversial decision taken by President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to bar the Africa Independent Television, AIT, from covering his activities.

The party said all accredited media organizations in the country, including the AIT, are free to cover the activities of the president elect.

AIT journalists were on Monday denied access to Mr. Buhari’s temporary office when they showed up to cover his official engagements.

His spokesperson, Garba Shehu, cited family and security concerns for the decision.

“AIT has been asked to stay aside based on security and family concerns. In addition, Buhari has decided that they will have to resolve some issues relating to issues of standard and ethics.

“We will be talking with them to try and resolve the matter, but for now the station has been asked to stay aside, because like I said there are some family and security concerns. They have been asked to step down their coverage until we resolve the matter with them on ethics and standard,” Mr. Shehu said.

However, the party in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, said the incoming Buhari Administration would not discriminate against any media organization, irrespective of its role during the electioneering campaign leading up to the recent polls.

The statement however enjoined all media organizations to observe the highest level of professional standards in carrying out their duties.

”There is a Code of Ethics guiding the practice of journalism in Nigeria, and this demands every journalist to ensure a strict adherence to the highest levels of ethics and professionalism in carrying out their duties.

”There must be repercussions, within the realms of the law, for media organizations which have wantonly breached the Code of Ethics of the journalism profession and turned themselves to partisans instead of professionals. But such repercussions will not include barring any accredited media organization from covering the activities of the President-elect,” the APC said.

A lot of Nigerians had condemned Mr. Buhari’s decision to bar the AIT from his activities.

Majority of those who spoke on the matter considered it an infringement on press freedom.

Some however view the decision as payback to AIT after they ran a series of documentaries maligning Mr. Buhari during the electioneering campaign prior to the election.

A UK-based activist and strong supporter of Mr. Buhari, Kayode Ogundamisi, described the decision as a “disappointing”.

Writing on his Facebook page, Mr. Ogundamisi said although it is understandable for the President-elect to feel aggrieved about the activities of AIT, there was no basis for Mr. Buhari to ostracize the television station.

“News of General Buhari barring AIT is disappointing, the decision should be reversed, whoever advised the General to bar the organisation does not wish him well,” Mr. Ogundamisi said.

Also, an Abuja based lawyer, Abdul Mahmud, in a telephone interview, told PREMIUM TIMES that the decision to bar AIT was strange.

He said Mr. Buhari promised Nigerians change and that if he felt his fundamental rights were infringed upon, there were a lot of channels open for him to seek redress.

He said Buhari should have approached the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission or even a competent court of law.

Mr. Mahmud also said Mr. Buhari would be taking off on a wrong footing by declaring a media war.

“I have not seen anywhere in the world where the government wins the war against a big media outfit. In the short term, the government will be successful, but once the government starts making mistakes, other media houses will be drawn into the war to support the media group being ostracised by the government,” he said.

Mr. Mahmud also faulted the decision of Mr. Buhari on the grounds of privacy, as the place of his present abode, the Defence House, is an official building that is owned by Nigerian taxpayers.

However, some Nigerians also said Mr. Buhari acted within his right to stop the AIT from covering his activities.

The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, Bashir Yusuf said the change Nigerians voted for is a change from having things done on the basis of “business as usual”.

Writing on his twitter page, Mr, Yusuf said right to free speech stops where one’s right to privacy and safety starts.

“When people voted for change, were they told AIT and the media will be exempt? That business as usual can proceed in the name of free speech?

“In the US they have barred media organisations from covering the White House on ethical grounds. Now AIT is involved, the heavens is about to fall.

“I am of the view that AIT and NTA’s licences should have been revoked a long time ago. They have serially violated the Broadcasting Code.

“It’s a fallacy that because you have the money to set up a private TV station, you are a defender of free speech and can invade my privacy,” he said
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