In Nigeria, most leaders often present themselves as the Greek philosopher kings of ancient times. They brandish themselves as all-knowing, and untouchables. They are people who cannot be counseled, and most times elevate themselves in magisterial eminence, cast in the shades of the likes of King Pharaoh. Outside their personal interest, nothing else obsesses the mind.

Challenge for any deprivation, means a hounding path to doom. Such leaders are happier when those they lead grumble and wail. They display a puzzling detachment from the led and cast themselves in the shadows of Princes and Princesses. Nonetheless, genuine leaders place the ruled first and themselves last.

Nigeria’s biggest insecurity challenge since 2009 has been Boko Haram insurgency.  There are pockets of other security challenges all over the country, but insurgency has remained the most daunting problem. True Nigerian leaders are committed to it as observable now.

Therefore, since the appointment of Lt. Gen. TY Buratai as the COAS and leader of the counter-insurgency operations, soldiers have sauntered on a new plane of leadership of the Army.

The welfare of troops has remained paramount in Buratai’s leadership of the Army. So, before his troops, the Army Chief de-robes himself of mastership and assumes the role of a loyal servant, in the mould of “Man Friday,” the character in Daniel Defoe’s novel, “Robinson Crusoe,” cast in the setting of an Island, usually lonely and forlorn.

Much like “Man Friday,” Gen. Buratai is not influenced by the language, ethnicity or habits of his troops. He places himself in a position of service at their disposal, by elevating their welfare above his personal interests. What affects his troops, shadows in him directly.  He shares in their pains, joys and sorrows. And with each passing day, Gen. Buratai thinks of the comfort and pleasure of his troops in the battlefield.

If troops are facing hard tackles in the warfront from Boko Haram enemy forces, Gen. Buratai does not retreat into his shell in  the comfort of his luxurious office in Army Headquarters, Abuja. He angrily   steps out in laced boots to the battlefield, fighting the enemies together with his troops.  

Since Buratai became the COAS, it’s difficult to remember which Sallah , Christmas or New Year celebration he has ever observed  in  the  company of his  lovely  family. He spends it in the dark caves, and dreadful forests with the troops in the Northeast.  

The Army Chief eats together, drink from the same pot and dance to the music of chirruping birds. Leaders of his ilk would mount a live music orchestra band erected in Abuja’s most secured environment. They will dance in stupor and wild celebrations,  in pomp and pageantry to the pleasure of family and friends.

But in the Northeast, especially Sambisa Forest, where troops keep strict vigilance, Buratai and his troops, celebrates any of these festivities, in the line of duty. They know there is no reason to renege on the covenant with Nigerians to secure Nigeria from terrorists.

Like “Man Friday,” whose relationship with “Robinson Crusoe” the main character in Defoe’s novel  is touted as  the father-son type of intimacy and  the  former genuinely  caring for  the welfare of his   circumstantial lad,  “ Man Friday,” so also is Gen. Buratai  to  his troops.

Gen. Buratai , who is an ardent believer in the principles of  the Chinese war veteran,  Sun Tzu, he has adopted  his wisdom of treating his troops in the same manner  and passion of a personal family in his interactions with them.     

So, though, Buratai is the overall master of the Nigerian Army today, but the Army Chief has reshuffled the roles and the aura surrounding his office upside down, to the favor of his troops to innately earn their loyalty for best results.  A foresighted war leader knows,  it is necessary to place yourself in the dungeon of your subordinates’ to solve any problem. And Buratai has mastery of it.

 So, practical application, Buratai has reversed the roles and he thinks, the troops are his masters and he is not hesitant serving them faithfully and loyally at all times. he leaves no room for any barrier to  affect interpersonal relationship just like “Man Friday”  with his boss, Robinson Crusoe marooned on the Island off the coast of Venezuela, where “Boy Friday” as he  is otherwise called by some  literary analysts found a master, friend and companion.

Gen. Buratai remains the only Army Chief in Nigeria’s history who thinks the wives and children of troops in the warfront  deserves special attention.  He does not mind who is your spouse, but renders himself generously to their problems and dispensing instant solutions.  

Consequently, Gen. Buratai has ensured salaries and allowances of troops are remitted to their accounts promptly. He has prioritized renovation of Army barracks, most of which were in dilapidated conditions, due to years of neglect.  Almost every Army formation in Nigeria today wears a new look.  The Army boss is not only concerned with residential quarters of soldiers, but also, the offices they sit to run administration of the Army.

Just last year, the Nigerian Army under the leadership of Gen. Buratai signed  a  N7.5 billion   MOU for  a  housing estate in Otukpo and Ohimini LGAs of Benue state  for both soldiers and civilians in partnership with Betonic West Limited.

Before it, the  Maimalari Cantonment, Maiduguri, Borno state;  Elele  Army Barracks, Rivers State and  headquarters of the 331 Artillery Tactical Forward Operation Base (FOB) at Buratai in Biu local government area of Borno state among others  from an inexhaustible list have both residential and office accommodation reliefs.

There  are  also  a Forward Operation Base, military barracks at   Okene, in  Kogi State;  and in  the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, new army cantonment,  named  Muhammadu Buhari Cantonment,  Giri; the Nigerian Army School of Artillery in Kachia,  Kaduna State and  Office of the Military Secretary at the Army Headquarters Abuja. Gen. Buratai’s transformative relics  in Army welfarism are everywhere in Army formations in Nigeria.

In essence, Gen. Buratai strikes special attention and stands tall in the midst of some Nigerian leaders because having sworn the oath of allegiance to his country to discharge his professional duties faithfully and dedicatedly, he has not slacked a second of a minute.

The funds committed to the development of the Nigeria Army and the welfare of Army personnel as practically verifiable could have been diverted by an uncultured leader for personal gains. But Gen. Buratai has proved to be different by signifying exceptional enthusiasm for the welfare and development of the Nigerian Army, in loyal service like Defoe’s “Man Friday.”

Onmeje contributed this piece from the United Kingdom.

The Joint Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria (JACCSON) has alerted the international community to plans by former president Olusegun Obasanjo to truncate Nigeria’s nascent democracy.

In a letter signed by its National Convener,  Musa Omede to the US, Britain and EU obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the group said it has uncovered plans by the former president to cause mayhem of monumental proportion in the country as a means of disrupting the outcome of the  general elections.

The group revealed that General Obasanjo has recruited the services of mercenaries from some francophone countries to carry out the destabilization plot across Nigeria before, during and after the elections.  

“It is instructive to state that this unholy plot to disrupt our nascent democracy by General Olusegun Obasanjo according to reasonable intelligence is as a result of the likely outcome of the elections that would likely not be in favour of his preferred candidate and his former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.”  

Recent revelations by the security agencies in Nigeria have given credence to the statement of the Minister of Information Lai Mohammed in a press release where he stated that the Federal Government was in possession of credible intelligence to the effect that widespread violence being orchestrated by the opposition is threatening the 2019 general elections.

Mr Mohammed had stated in the release that it has credible intelligence that armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have been mobilized to engage in massive attacks, and other acts of violence in several states across the country, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara. 

General Obasanjo in recent time has carried out an unbridled attack on the person of President Muhammadu Buhari on the pages of newspapers in the form of an Open Letter and through other sponsored opinions and editorials. 

Dr Omede said the strategy according to credible intelligence is to set the ball rolling for the widespread violence that has been planned. 

“The plan is that after the Open Letter attack on the pages of the newspapers, bombs would begin to detonate in public places such as motor parks, markets and places of worship. 

“Also, the activities of kidnappers would escalate beyond human comprehension across the country, as well as the activities of Armed bandits mainly in the North Western part of Nigeria and other places where President Muhammadu Buhari has large followership” He added.

He called on the International Community to be informed that General Obasanjo and a group of people of his likes have perfected this evil plot as a prelude to taking the country back to the doldrums as in times past, where there was so much impunity and disregards for human rights. 

“We also have credible information that suggests that a part of the plot is for the actualization of an interim government to be headed by a stooge and a trusted ally if the plot to destabilize the country comes to fruition. 

“This is indeed worrisome, and a significant threat to our nascent democracy if urgent and proactive steps are not taken. And one of such measures was the red alert issued by the Honourable Minister of Information on Monday, 21 January 2019 at a World Press Conference. 

“This obvious threat has indeed necessitated this SAVE OUR COUNTRY letter to the United States of America, Britain and the European Union to come to the aid of Nigeria in protecting our nascent democracy.   

“Consequently, as part of other measures in place to thwart this evil plot we are by this letter requesting for a travel ban to be imposed on General Olusegun Obasanjo so that he does not flee the country after setting it ablaze according to his plans.” Omede said. 

He called on the governments of the United States of America, Britain and the European Union to activate measures that see that in the event of General Obasanjo escapes from Nigeria after carrying out his evil plot requesting that he should be arrested and made to face charges on crimes against humanity. 

“We strongly plead that a travel ban is imposed forthwith on General Olusegun Obasanjo and his associates with whom they have planned to make Nigeria go up in flames. 

“We wish to by this means to express our confidence in the governments of the United States of America, Britain and the European Union to come to the aid of Nigeria and Nigerians at the critical state of our existence” – He concluded.

The President of the Senate in the Third Republic, Senator Ameh Ebute, has revealed how the Nigerian military has been able to tackle the lingering crisis between herders and farmers in the country.

Ebute specifically noted that military has been able to curtail the nagging crises between the two groups.

Speaking at a Roundtable with MPs of the British Parliament, January 23, 2019 at the House of Commons, London, United kingdom, the former lawmaker faulted former Chief of Army Staff, TY Danjuma over his recent submission that soldiers where partial in their fight against terrorism. 

Ebute said Danjuma was wrong because any Nigerian soldier that engages in acts of brigandage or molestation of civilians is now promptly disciplined accordingly under the current administration.

Senator Ameh Ebute delivered a position paper titled “Tackling the Violence between Livestock Farmers and Cultivators in Nigeria” before an audience that consisted of Chairmen and Members of committees of the British Parliament on Human Rights, Defense, Environment, as well as African Ministers, and a cross section of delegation from Nigeria. 

He posited that “violent clashes between two sets of farmers in Nigeria, cultivators, and livestock farmers have been a major feature of the Nigerian security landscape since 2003. These clashes escalated in late 2017 with the massacre of over a hundred people at Agatu in Benue State. 2018 witnessed a further deterioration in the violence.”

“While a responsible government has a solemn obligation to ensuring the safety of its citizens and implementing policies and programs that engender peaceful co-existence among its ethnic, regional and religious diversities of its population, it must ensure too that crisis between any two groups of its population is not exploited for the selfish and nefarious purposes of its detractors.” 

Senator Ebute further argued that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari was able to make substantial gains in the fight against terrorism. “Boko Haram was routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold. The Nigerian military recaptured Mubi, Gwoza, Baga and other major cities and villages that had been overrun by Boko Haram. Coordinated attacks by the air force and the army seriously degraded the fighting capabilities of Boko Haram.”

“Recognizing the regional dimensions in Boko Haram activities, the Buhari administration initiated a multilateral approach to fighting against Boko Haram by entering into a regional alliance with the neighboring states of Niger, Chad, Cameroon and the Republic of Benin. Hundreds of thousands of Nigerians who had fled to those neighboring countries in the wake of Boko Haram seizure of their towns and villages returned to Nigeria.” 

Some of the most prominent military deployments included Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Sharan Daji, Operation Awatse, Operation Shirin Harbi, Harbin Kunama I, Harbin Kunama II, Operation Crocodile Smile I, Operation Python Dance I, Operation Dokaji, Operation Egwu Eke (aka Python Dance II, Operation Harbin Kunama II, Operation Whirl Stroke. These operations are against terrorism, cattle rustling, kidnappings and robberies, banditry, and sabotage of oil facilities, theft of oil, and perpetrators of livestock/cultivators violence.

“In addition to military operations designed to end terrorism and curtail other forms of violence, the Buhari administration has promptly deployed the police to areas of violence to curtail the violence and arrest the perpetrators.”  

On the various allegations of the complicity of President Muhammadu Buhari in fueling the farmers/herders conflict, Senator Ebute posited that there is no shortage of conspiracy theories to explain the violence between livestock farmers and cultivators in Nigeria and they range from mildly misinformed attempts to explain a complicated social situation to outright falsehoods.

“The most often encountered of these theories blame President Buhari directly alleging that his ethnic affinity with the Fulani livestock farmers either encourages the violence or makes Buhari turn a blind eye to the violence.”  He further argued that “conspiracy theories on violence in Nigeria are given credence when otherwise respectable public figures use them as an explanatory framework for what is going on.” 

He gave the example of retired Lt. Gen. T.Y. Danjuma, a former Chief of Army Staff, as one of the purveyors of falsehood on the efforts of the Muhammadu Buhari led administration in tackling the farmers/herders conflict in the country. 

“Danjuma had asserted quite incorrectly that the violence in Benue and Taraba states between cultivators and livestock farmers was a result of cooperation between members of the Nigerian armed forces and renegade Fulani groups. This is certainly true. It is probable that the type of cooperation that Gen. Danjuma had described might have taken place when he was a minister of defense and the general impression that members of his group, the Jukun, rented soldiers in their violent struggle with their neighbors, the Kutebs.” 

“It was also during Danjuma’s tenure as minister of defense that soldiers opened fire on unarmed civilians at ODI in Rivers State and Zaki-Biam in Benue State killing many people and burning down the entire villages. That type of behavior can longer be authorized nor tolerated. Any Nigerian soldier that engages in acts of brigandage or molestation of civilians is now promptly disciplined accordingly under the current administration.” 

Senator Ebute consequently eulogized the international community for the assistance it has rendered to the government of Nigeria in tackling its security challenges. “the government and people of Nigeria appreciate the help it has received from the international community, but the international community can do more to help Nigeria tackle its security challenges.” 

“The Nigerian armed forces need arms, ammunition, actionable intelligence to deal with Boko Haram and other security issues. Nigeria is trying to revamp its small defense industry and cannot yet manufacture all the military equipment it needs. It is important for Britain and other international partners to supply needed weapons and materials to Nigeria. Nigeria is not calling for foreign troops on its soil. Nigerians will do the fighting themselves. Terrorism is a global problem and must be tackled globally”.

The Gubernatorial Candidate of ACCORD Party in Ogun State, Pastor (Sir) Tope Tokoya has raised alarm that some people are already using his candidacy as trade. Tokoya Stated this through a press release below:

 ACCORD
ACCORD party
STT CAMPAIGN OFFICE: Abeokuta –Lagos Road, Ita-oshin, Abeokuta, Ogun state. Tel: 07039004015

PRESS RELEASE A01.2019

ACCORD GUBERNATORIAL TICKET IS NOT FOR SALE

Gentlemen of the press, it has come to my knowledge that some individuals within our party state leadership have usurped  the powers of the state working committee and are now going about hawking the governorship ticket I unanimously won at the party’s primaries held last year.
The three musketeers have met with the SDP gubernatorial candidate and failed; they met with the two contending gubernatorial candidates of PDP and failed; took their empty ticket to APM gubernatorial candidate and also failed. Presently they are hawking the ticket they do not have power on to the APC gubernatorial candidate whom I heard has agreed with their terms of selling the ticket I won overwhelmingly along with the tickets of other legislative candidates of ACCORD for financial consideration.
This is to formally inform all my brothers on the governorship race in Ogun state that ACCORD gubernatorial ticket and the tickets of all our legislative candidates are NOT FOR SALE. The great members of ACCORD freely and willingly gave me the mandate to be the party’s flag bearer for the purpose of leading them to victory at the next election which will, by the grace of God, lead to my being the next Governor of Ogun state come May 29th 2019.

I hereby enjoin all our teeming party members, supporters and well wishers to remain resolute, focused and steadfast. Ours is God’s mandate and He will not abandon the project He has started.
Thank you for your support thus far.

Pastor (Sir) Tope Tokoya
ACCORD Gubernatorial Candidate, Ogun State.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, has declared 10 January, 2019 as a National Day of Prayers for peaceful, free, fair and credible election and freedom for Leah Sharibu and others in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists. 

The prayer meeting is to be organized in Abuja and all the State capitals nationwide between 11:00am and 2:00pm prompt with a view to asking God to prevent violence, manipulation, intimidation of voters and other electoral crimes with a view to having credible election. 
In a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the CAN President, Pastor Bayo Oladeji, enjoined Christian politicians, especially those contesting for any of the elections, all Christian groups or organisations and all stakeholders to participate in the programme.

“CAN urges all Christian Groups, denominational, church and block leaders of CAN or their representatives to assemble at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on 10th January for this all important prayer meeting.

“All Christian candidates for all the elective offices or their representatives are also invited as they will be prayed for to be good Ambassadors of Christ before, during and after the election.”
CAN aslo directed all State Chairmen and all denominational leaders to organize similar programme and Christian candidates who could not make it to Abuja, especially those who are contesting for State Assembly or positions of Governor to attend the one being organised at the State level. 
“We are to pray for all Christians contesting for one post or the other for the will of God to be done concerning their ambition. That the powerful in our nation will not be able to manipulate the election and edge them out.” He said.

The statement noted that prayers will be offered in the following areas:

1. That all captives in the den of the terrorists like Leah Sharibu, the Chibok girls should be set free immediately.
2. That the general election should be free, fair and credible.
3. That it should be violence – free and without any bloodshed.
4. That God should use the process to give the country good and godly leaders at all levels.
5. That every evil plan against Nigeria be frustrated.
6. That 2019 should be a New Dawn for Nigeria
7. That God should stop all groups behind the killings in Nigeria and their financiers. 
   “All churches and all Christians in the country are urged to participate in the programme to usher in the country into a new era of peace, unity, safety and all round prosperity. We urge you to please attach utmost importance to this prayer program for 2019 elections.” The statement said.