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Tag: Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai

  • Multipronged warfare

    • Army chief’s call for spiritual warfare against terror is in order

    An unusual seminar reflected the Nigerian Army’s multipronged approach to the war on terror. The focus of the September 30 Spiritual Warfare Seminar at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, was indeed thought-provoking: ‘Countering insurgency and violent extremism in Nigeria through spiritual warfare.’

    It is reassuring that the programme didn’t signal the army’s abdication of its responsibility on the battlefield, but highlighted the spiritual dimensions of physical warfare. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Maj. Gen. Sani Yusuf, said: “It is easier to defeat Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists than their ideology because while we degrade the terrorists and their havens, the narrative of the ideology grows the group. Therefore, communities, families and groups should join in the fight and narratives to reject and prevent the ideologies of the terrorists and extremist groups.”

    This call for a collective effort against extremism is in order. It is true that religious terrorism is driven by a mindset. It is also true that the war on terror is essentially a war against a mindset.  It may be said that while physical warfare targets terrorists, there is a need for psychological warfare to combat the mindset that drives terrorism. This is where the collective conscience comes in.

    However, beyond collective responsibility, there is certainly an important role for religious organisations in the war against extremism. Buratai said:  “Religious bodies and organisations in particular, which interface regularly with the grass roots, should be in the forefront of this spiritual battle and fashion out ways of stepping up their roles. It is a well-known fact that terrorism and terrorist groups cannot be totally eliminated by mainly military actions. This means focusing our efforts on the underlying narratives through ideologies employed by these terrorists to lure innocent citizens into their fold.”

    Indeed, religious organisations are in a position to influence behaviour by denouncing extremism and promoting religious tolerance and religious harmony. This is where the spiritual warfare that the army called for comes in. “The need to defeat the ideologies of Boko Haram and ISWAP is based on the awareness that it is the ideologies that enhance their resources and help to recruit new fighters to their fold and as such, kill their ideology and the terrorist movement withers and dies,” Buratai stated.

    No doubt, there are religious organisations that encourage extremism.  A case in point is the Islamic centre at Rigasa, Kaduna State, which the police raided on September 26. More than 300 people, many of them in chains, including children, were freed by the police. One of them, Hassan Yusuf, said to have a PhD in Energy Economics, said his relations had dragged him to the centre two years ago. He was quoted as saying: “My extended family accused me of converting to Christianity…they think they are helping me because, since I became a Christian, I am supposed to die. But bringing me here according to them is to deradicalise me instead of death.”

    This disturbing picture reflects intolerance, the kind that fuels extremism. The centre’s involvement shows how institutions can encourage extremism. This should be discouraged.

    While the army’s spiritual warfare seminar is helpful, it shouldn’t distract the military from physical warfare. The war on terror is a war that must be won. Those on the battlefield must concentrate on physical warfare. The Nigerian society should not accommodate religious extremism, or extremism of any kind.

    In the final analysis, the authorities should deal with the socio-economic conditions that encourage extremism, particularly poverty and ignorance. The troubling Boko Haram insurgency needs an effective military response; in addition, it requires a constructive approach to overcome destructive extremism.

  • Insecurity: Army drills officers

    Against the backdrop of insecurity in the land, the Army toughens its personnel in a competition for warrant officers and senior non-commissioned officers. SUNNY NWANKWO, who covered the event at 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State, reports

    One of the major challenges facing Nigeria across the six geo-political zones is insecurity. From militancy to insurgency, herdsmen attacks to banditry and agitation for secession by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Army has been battling to ensure peace in the land while performing their statutory role of warding off external aggression.

    This was why the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai directed heads of military formations across the country to ensure that their officers participated in the 2019 Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Competition.

    In compliance with the directive, the leadership of the 82 Division of the Army with its headquarters in Enugu, Enugu State, has held the military competition at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Barracks, 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State.

    The participating personnel were drawn from various 82 Division’s Areas of Responsibility (AOR) participating in the exercise even though some of them just returned from the Northeast where they have been over the years, engaging the outlawed members of Boko Haram sect in severe gun battle.

    The event provided the leadership of the 82 Division the opportunity to select the exceptional personnel among the participants that will represent the command at a similar event later in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The Inter-Brigade Warrant Officers and Senior Non-Commissioned Officers Competition for 82 Division held at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s Barracks, 14 Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, Abia State saw the personnel participating in Drill Competition, swimming competition which took place at Hotel Damgrete in Umuahia, shooting range competition which took place at the command headquarters of 34 Artillery Brigade, Obinze in Imo State, Obstacle Crossing at the 14Brigade Headquarters, Ohafia, among other competitions.

    The General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Major-General Abubakar Maikobi represented by his Chief of Staff Brigadier General Clement A. Atere at the closing ceremony of the exercise, extolled the Brigade for engaging in the training which he said would help enhance and improve their physical fitness, leadership qualities, discipline, efficiency, effectiveness, cooperation and esprit-de-corps that will prepare the warrant officers and senior non commission officers for more challenging tasks and responsibilities especially now that the country is bedeviled with series of security challenges.

    According to Atere, Maikobi used the opportunity to congratulate the winning team and further commended the efforts of the officers and men of the Division for their professionalism.

    The GOC also appreciated the support of the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen Tukur Y. Buratai for his contributions to the success of the competition.

    He also appreciated commanders of various formations that participated in the competition for the timely preparation of their teams and equally commended other security agencies for the synergies and cooperation in ensuring that Abia State remains safe and peaceful.

    The Special Guest of Honour, Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu ably represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Sir Ude Oko Chukwu extolled the Division for organising the competition especially by choosing 14 Brigade in Abia State as the host. He used the opportunity to congratulate the winning team and further commend the efforts of the officers and men of the Brigade for their professionalism in ensuring peace and safety of Abians especially at the just concluded 2019 General Elections in Abia State.

    He said, “I want to conclude by commending the Commander 14 Brigade and his team of officers and men for organising this worthwhile competition.

    “I want to also appreciate the General Officer Commanding 82 Division, other Services, the Nigeria Police and Para-Military Security Agencies for the synergy and cooperation in order to ensure Abia State remains safe and peaceful”. The Governor asserts.

    At the end of the keenly contested competition, 34 Artillery Brigade came 4th with 240 points, 13 Brigade Akim Barracks, Calabar scored 340 points to emerge 3rd, the host Brigade came 2nd with 400 points while the 82 Division Garrison was the overall best with 420 points.

    The highlight of the event includes an Award of Excellence to the Governor of Abia State by the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Enugu.

  • 2019 Polls: Group issues final report on exercise, lauds Nigerian Army, Buratai

    The 2019 general elections may have come and gone yet the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Conflict Resolutions in Nigeria is still in awe over the success of the exercise.
    In its final report, the group acknowledged the remarkable role played by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and the Nigerian Army in safeguarding the nation’s democracy and defending the constitution.
    Unlike recent history, Nigeria witnessed professional conduct and proactive approach to violence.
    The Nigerian troops rose to the occasion, halting obvious plot to manipulate the elections, especially in the country’s oil-rich south-south region.
    Having thoroughly examined the roles of the government and other critical stakeholders in the conduct of the polls, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations and Conflict Resolutions in Nigeria showered praises on the Nigerian troops, clearing them from any wrongdoing.
    This conclusion was reached after a team of researchers carefully interviewed political leaders at ward levels, clergymen as well as a segment of the voting population on the level of involvement of the security agencies in the conduct of the gubernatorial and presidential elections in six states.
    These states include Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Rivers, Nasarawa and Zamfara – all alleged to have been embroiled in violence.
    The group further revealed that the claims of human rights violations were not factual and reports that agents of government were used to intimidate voters were based on illogical conclusions.
    In a report signed by National Coordinator, Maxwell Gowon, the group dismissed allegations of partisanship against the Nigerian Army as it could not be substantiated and thus existed as a mere figment of the imagination.
    “ The Coalition of Civil Society on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria could not establish cases of human rights abuses against the Nigerian Army in the six states it visited.
    “ The Coalition of Civil Society on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria has interacted with members of the host communities identified that the news making rounds on the complicity of the Nigerian Army in undermining the credibility of the electoral process were fabricated with no evidence to substantiate the claims.
    “ The Coalition of Civil Society on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria states that it was satisfied with the human rights compliance of the Nigerian Army, before, during, and after the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.
    “ The Coalition of Civil Society on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria.  also states that from reports garnered from the fieldwork, the Nigerian Army indeed stood on the side of the people in protecting our nascent democracy.
    “ The Coalition of Civil Society on Human Rights and Conflict Resolution in Nigeria commends the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Tukur Buratai for providing that valuable leadership in the course of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria.”

  • Buratai to media: Avoid unverified reports in national interest

    The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai has appealed to media houses to always verify reports on insurgency in the interest of the country.

    He spoke while inaugurating buildings for corporal and below at the Bonny Camp, Victoria Island Lagos at the weekend.

    The army chief who also inspected the permanent site for the Nigerian Army School of Logistics, Ojo as well as inaugurated the reconstructed hospital at the Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, noted that most unverified stories turn out to be untrue and negatively affect troops battling the insurgents in the northeast.

    “The insurgency we are facing is something that we will continue to address as they appear and manifest in different forms and shapes.

    “I call on the media to be very cautious and make efforts to verify reports before publishing them,” he said.

    Buratai said he was glad that the welfare of officers and men were being taken care of, adding that it will boost their morale in these times of war.

    Commending the welfarist drive of the commanders of various army units, Buratai pledged the Army headquarters’ relentlessness to assist where necessary.

    “We will not stop addressing the welfare challenges of officers and men with their families. We are still addressing the dilapidated structures in our command schools,” he said.

    Acknowledging the peace in Lagos and Ogun States, Buratai commended the General Officer Commanding 81 Division Maj.-Gen. Musa Yusuf for reining in criminal elements.

  • Wike: Coalition exonerates Nigerian Army, GOC of any complicity in oil bunkering allegation

    An Investigative report by the Coalition for Human Rights and Good Governance has exonerated General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State of the allegations of oil bunkering against him by the Governor of the state, Nyesom Wike.
    Governor Wike had accused Jamil Sarham, the General Officer Commanding the Army’s 6 Division in Port Harcourt, of raising a team of soldiers to steal and sell petroleum products in the region.
    “The GOC has his own team now doing oil bunkering for him because he wants to be chief of army staff,” Wike had claimed.
      However, the Nigerian Army had in a reaction said the claims by Wike were false and a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering image of the Chief of Army Staff and the GOC 6 Division.
    Relatively, the latest report by the human right group, said there was no iota of truth in the claim by Governor Wike.
    The report released on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Shima Atoka, said the crux of the issues the Governor of Rivers state had with the GOC 6 Division Major General Jamil Sarham started after the GOC turned down the request by the governor for a private meeting.
    The report further revealed that the accusation that the GOC is involved in oil bunkering is far from the truth as there are no such operations spearheaded or supported by the Nigerian Army in the South-South region.
    The report below.
    In the build-up to the 2019 general elections, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) identified some states as the big win states and Rivers state was one of them. This much was revealed in a document where the Governor of Rivers State Nyesom Wike promised to deliver 3 million votes in an attempt to march whatever votes that the All Progressive Congress (APC) would garner in Kano state to avoid a repeat of the 2015 scenario.
    It was also identified that the governor who was seeking re-election felt pressured fearing that the former governor of Rivers state, Rotimi Amaechi would use federal might to edge him out of office.
    It was revealed that part of the plot was to get the buy-in of the relevant security agencies in the state which included the Nigerian Police, the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps, the Department of State Services and the Nigerian Army.
    Consequently, machinery was put in place by the Rivers state government with active collaboration with top chieftains of the PDP towards actualizing the plot and as such overtures were made to the relevant security agencies for their buy-in.
    It was revealed that the overtures made to the Nigerian Army were rebuffed by the GOC of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State, Major General Jamil Sarham, who directed that such request should be sent to the Nigerian Army headquarters in Abuja for approval.
    It was gathered that the Governor of Rivers State was alarmed by the position of the GOC, Major General Jamil Sarham that he requested for a private meeting with the GOC.
    It was revealed the crux of the issues the Governor of Rivers state has with the GOC 6 Division Major General Jamil Sarham started after the GOC turned down the request by the governor for a private meeting. The governor felt insulted by the actions of the GOC who he described as “arrogant and a poor man” who would retire from the Nigerian Army in penury.
    It was also revealed that the governor realized that the buy-in of the Nigerian Army was very critical to actualizing his ambition and he subsequently sent emissaries to the Army GOC with offers of millions of dollars if he decides to play ball.
    These overtures were also rebuffed by the GOC who threatened to confront the governor should he continue with his desire to compromise him with monetary inducement. It was gathered that this further infuriated the governor who vowed to make the operations of the Nigerian Army in Rivers and the South-South region difficult.
    The governor was quoted as sending threats to the GOC, Major General Jamil Sarham that he would instigate the people of the South-South against the Nigerian Army 6 Division unless he Sarhem agrees to play ball.
    It was gathered that the GOC sent words back to the governor stating that the Nigerian Army was a neutral party in the elections and its role was strictly to ensure that the polls were not disrupted by political thugs as directed by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai.
    It was gathered that the governor indeed carried out his threat by reaching out to governors in the South-South region and paint an awful picture of the GOC to them, also stating that the GOC was working hand in hand with the APC to rig him out of office and to reduce the votes of the PDP presidential candidate in the elections.
    This move it was gathered pitched the Nigerian Army against the locals in most of the states in the South-South region so much so that the hostility made the operations the Nigerian Army difficult.
    It was gathered that the GOC reached out to the Chief of Army Staff on the development and he was instructed to ensure as much as possible the neutrality of the troops during the elections and the also abide by the rules of engagement with little or no use of force.
    The posture of the governor indeed gave rise to the confrontation the Nigerian Army experienced during the elections in Rivers state that led to the death of an army officer and some civilians.
    Outcome of Investigations:
    The result of the investigations conducted by the Coalition of Human Rights and Good Governance indicates that all the allegations levelled against the GOC, Major General Jamil Sarham were false and targeted at the image of the GOC for turning down the monetary offers from the Rivers state government.
    The accusation that the GOC is involved in oil bunkering is far from the truth as there are no such operations spearheaded or supported by the Nigerian Army in the South-South region.
    Instead, the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers state under Major General Jamil Sarhem has helped to reduce incidents of institutionalized crime such as kidnapping, armed robbery, and oil bunkering in Rivers State.
    The activities of the Nigerian Army in the South-South region has helped the government a great deal in reducing the loss of revenue to the federal government by constantly engaging militants engaged in oil theft and the vandalization of critical government oil assets.
    The officers and soldiers of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army have remained very professional in the discharge of their duties and have been instrumental to the arrest and forwarding to the Police for the prosecution of militants and oil bunkers in the region.
    Recommendations:
    The Coalition for Human Rights and Good Governance as a result of its investigative report on the allegations of oil bunkering by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike on the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State, as a result of this make the following recommendations:
    • That the Government of Rivers State should as a matter of urgency discontinue the campaign of character assassination against the General Officer Commanding 6 Division of the Nigerian Army in Rivers State.
    • That Governor Nyesom Wike should apologize to the Nigerian Army and her personnel for the wrong accusations of partisanship and involvement in oil bunkering activities within 72hrs.
    • That Governor Nyesom Wike should stop dragging the Nigerian Army into politics as it’s been very clear from the posture of the Nigerian Army under Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai before and after the 2019 General elections that it cannot dabble into politics.
    • That Governor Nyesom Wike should concentrate on the task of governance and desist from making derogatory statements about the Nigerian Army.

  • Army confirms rescue of Sheik Suleiman, 5 others in Katsina

    The Army has confirmed the rescue of Sheik Ahmed Suleiman, a renowned Islamic cleric and five others, kidnapped in Katsina State on March 14.

    The Commander, 17 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Katsina, Brig.-Gen. L.T. Omoniyi, confirmed the rescue in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

    According to Omoniyi, the captives were released in the early hours of Wednesday.

    He also said that all the rescued victims were “in good health condition as ascertained by the medical examination conducted on them by the brigade’s medical centre.

    The commander said that the incident occurred along Kakumi-Kankara road, a general area in Kankara Local Government Area of the state on March 14.

    Omoniyi said that the rescue of the victims was sequel to the order by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai to the brigade to carry out the operation.

    He said the operation was conducted with relevant security agencies, while the Nigeria Army Directorate of Military Intelligence provided actionable intelligence and guidance for the brigade in the operation.

    The commander reaffirmed the commitment of the 17 brigade of the Nigerian army to ensure safety of lives and property in the state.

  • It is wrong to say election was militarized – Buratai

    The Nigerian Army has been in the eye of the storm over the conduct of soldiers deployed to provide security during the 2019 elections.

     

    The soldiers have been roundly accused in several quarters of committing infractions, including partisan interference in the electoral process that seriously undermined the credibility and sanctity of the elections. In fact, in the estimation of many observers, both Federal Government and the Army stand condemned over the undue militarization of the electoral process.

     

    But it is an accusation that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, in this interview with pressmen, dismisses in its entirety.


    The military was accused of aiding in election malpractices like snatching of ballot boxes. Your reaction?

    Militarization has to be defined. What do you mean by militarization? How exactly did the military take part in the elections? Generalisation is not the best. People just use the word militarization without defining it. Was the so-called militarization everywhere across the country? Why are people making so much noise about it? They are giving the impression that the military was involved in the entire process in the whole country. It is just probably a definition they only restricted to Lagos or where?

    ..Niger-Delta mostly

    People cannot just use the word militarization in general terms to say the security agencies were involved. Who are the people involved? What does the Constitution say about the role of the military? We have the constitutional provision. We have made it very clear; we are not part of these elections, we are only supporting the police.

    Anything we do there is helping the police who are representing the civil authority in law enforcement and it is very clear that we have been called out to support the civil authority. That does not mean militarization. And once we go out there, we are performing police role, it is not a military role, we are supporting the police essentially; that is very clear. The military was called out to come and support the police. So, they are just using the military in order to justify their failures, to justify their inadequacies, to justify their inability to rig because the security forces provided the needed security to prevent massive rigging, ballot box-snatching and so on. But strictly, the use of the word, militarization is misplaced, it is wrong. We were there to perform our responsibilities based on the invitation to support the police which is legitimate.

    There is no way you will say that the election was militarized; it is misuse of the term. If really the election was militarized, I tell you, nobody would take the law into his hands the way they did brazenly and deliberately did, even attacking our men, killing our personnel. An officer was killed; policemen were killed so if we were to take drastic steps to really show we were involved, it would have been worse than this.

    We were able to maintain law and order; we were able to conduct ourselves within the rules of engagement which is legitimate. So there is a deliberate misconception or misinterpretation of the role of the military in order to malign the military and discredit it despite the stupendous efforts we have made to ensure security in support of the civil authority.

    And you know very well if the security agencies, including the military, had not come out to support the elections in providing security, the level of insecurity, the level of killings, arson, ballot box-snatching and so on, would have been worse than what was experienced.

    So many of the stakeholders, both at home and abroad, have commended the military for remaining neutral, impartial and conducting themselves professionally; but a few elements who felt they were not given the chance to rig and to disturb on a massive scale the election process, are the ones shouting that the whole process was militarized.

    Read Also:Army hands over suspected electoral offenders to police

     

    The military was not there to support any political party; we were there to provide adequate security as requested, in support of the electoral process. That was essentially what we did. So to say that the process was militarized is a misplaced use of word; it is unfortunate.

    Over the years, from our historical experiences, the outcomes or results of elections have been the major cause of instability in our polity.  They have led to a lot of killings, arson, you name it: in Kaduna, Zangon-Kataf, Modakeke and so many other places. So historically, if you look at it, we had those unfortunate incidents because they were allowed to go out of control.

    We had so many underlying factors; even in the First Republic, we saw the underlying factors that led to the civil war; it is the same outcome of elections that led to that, characterized by so many malpractices. So government doesn’t want the same thing to happen and that was why the military was called in to support the police.

    There is no way we would be partisan; the country’s stability, the country’s peace is our watchword, it is very, very fundamental. Some people just chose to blame different entities and bodies for their failures.

    On the allegation that the soldiers caught snatching ballot boxes are fake

    “Yes, that is another dimension because as I said, those people that did not want the election to go smoothly, created their own local militia, gave them military and police uniforms to be moving out here and there to misbehave, snatch ballot boxes, to disrupt the electoral process and so on. So anyone that sees them will automatically say it is the military and that is completely at variance with our code of conduct, with our ethics and the way we train our officers and men to ensure they behave professionally; that is very clear.  We arrested several of them and you must have seen our press releases with pictures of the fake soldiers, fake policemen,fake security operatives and so on. So once you see this, it is not the Army that created those ones and gave them uniforms; so instead of them to admit their shortcomings and misconduct, they are covering their heinous activities/crimes under the guise of militarization.

    It is so painful, so terrible that they don’t have conscience and continue to blame the military for their own mischievous actions. This is where the Press needs to be objective, look at it critically. The Army cannot go and dress fake people or criminals to go and act on their behalf. We have seen the thugs, the militias; so where does the military come in?

    These are very clear. So we have to be reasonable and objective; we are paid by the state to ensure that we defend our country and prevent breakdown of law and order for us to progress; there is no other way. It is very important.

  • Senators in rowdy session

    Senators yesterday took partisan positions on the involvement of the military in the yet-to-be concluded general elections.

    They were close to exchanging blows in the chamber over alleged militarisation of the process.

    Another issue that pitted the lawmakers against one another was an alleged inconsistent application of electoral laws by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Tempers rose. Discordant and acrimonious voices became the order in the hallowed chamber, which was sharply divided along party lines, with All Progressives Congress (APC) senators squaring up to their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) counterparts, for a possible offensive.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki came to the rescue to no avail. The lawmakers shouted and threw punches into the air.

    The row was sparked by a motion on “The militarisation of the Nigerian electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by the INEC”.

    It was sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) with senators Mao Ohuabunwa (Abia North), Matthew Urhoghide (Edo South), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Clifford Ordia (Edo Central), Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central), Biodum Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central) as co-sponsors.

    Melaye claimed that the ADC to the Governor of Kogi State “mounted a roadblock with over 200 security agents, some of who were fake” on the eve of the Presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    Many PDP members, he said, were denied access into Kogi State.

    According to him, a former governor of the state, Idris Wada, was forced to return to Abuja when his security aides were arrested.

    He went on: “Some senators here and members of the House of Representatives were stopped from coming into Lokoja. I had to consult some celestial powers and that was how I got into Kogi State and my village through celestial powers.

    “This is not about PDP or APC. This is about Nigeria. Where is NPN? where is UPN? All these things will come and go. The Senate cannot look the other way while these things are ongoing. Lecturers and Youth Corps members were killed during the elections.”

    “It is pathetic that there is no national broadcast from the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. We must not have this kind of elections again in this country, Melaye concluded.

    The Kogi West senator prayed the Senate to:

    • condemn the “massive” use of military forces in the national electoral process;
    • urge the INEC to ensure the unrestricted and consistent application of all electoral laws without bias to a candidate or a party in all elections;
    • direct the Senate Committee on INEC to investigate all perceived inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in the 2019 elections; and
    • urge the President to give assent to the recent amendment to the Electoral Act to ensure a level playing field and adoption of equal standards in our national elections for a strong and peaceful democracy in Nigeria.

    Seconding the motion, Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan said the Senate has a role to ensure the provision of necessary legislative intervention.

    Read also: Post-election litigation: Bulkachuwa warns tribunal judges against misconduct

    Lawan said: “We are here to smoothen processes in all affairs of governance. The challenges of elections in Nigeria have been here with us.

    “We should consider those things we feel need the intervention of the Senate.

    ”I believe that our process remains a journey. Our electoral process needs a lot of refining and fine-tuning.

    “The executive is also concerned. Here, we have an opportunity to discuss with INEC what the challenges have been so that we can have an evaluation of the entire situation.

    “The ball is in our court. We should review what happened and see where legislative intervention is required. Then we will put it up before the executive.

    “When INEC postponed the election, we were concerned because it was becoming a trend that must be stopped.”

    Trouble started when Minority Leader Biodun Olujimi spoke about election rigging.

    Mrs Olujimi said: “What happened on the 23rd of February has been captured by Melaye. We are Nigerians and we are in Nigeria. For this country to favour us, we must speak truth to power.

    “Whoever is siding what happened during the elections because of partisanship, he or she is unfair to Nigeria.

    “That election was a sham. There was no way that election would have been an advancement of what we had in 2015. INEC was inconsistent. They used different methods in many places. They used EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) and Civil Defence (Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps) to rout people.

    “Someone, somewhere, has refused to give assent to the electoral amendment. During the elections, rigging was legalised. We need to look at that as a legislature.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us. Being a member of a political party doesn’t make you more Nigerian. Nigeria has to move forward. APC must surrender itself to the processes in Nigeria.”

    Mrs. Olujimi’s attempt to reel out the shortcomings of the elections did not go down well with her colleagues, especially from the APC camp.

    Lawan took the floor and called for caution.

    The Yobe North senator said: “There is an established process already in place. Whoever has any grievances can explore the options that have been made available. I don’t think this issue should be permitted here.”

    He reminded the Senate that the motion was specific, stressing that extraneous issues should not be brought in.

    Fearing degeneration of the debate, Saraki said: “We have an opportunity to take this motion and find a solution. Those contributing should not deviate from the issue so that we don’t have a turbulent session. Let me restrict us.”

    Saraki’s plea for decorum failed as it appeared that the senators had made up their minds about the motion.

    Senator Mao Ohuabunwa said that the Senate should treat prayers of the motion dispassionately to ensure credible elections and a level-playing field.

    The Abia North senator said that it was commendable that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, had set up a panel of enquiry on the role of the military

    The four prayers raised by Melaye created another round of rancour.

    APC senators appeared to have voted heavily against the prayers but Saraki overruled them to pave the way for the adoption of the prayers.

  • ‘Buratai should probe electoral violence’

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has appealed to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, to investigate the violence which happened during the elections.

    The party said some Army officials directly participated in the elections, and called on the military to redeem its image by probing incidents linked to them.

    Chairman Moses Cleopas said the activities of the Army deployed in Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw should be queried by the military.

    Cleopas lamented that PDP members were targets during the elections; he describing the situation as unhealthy.

    The chairman, however, described the victory of some candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as temporary, and vowed that his party would retrieve its mandate from them.

    Read also: Kwara elections met accepted standards, say observers

    He said: “APC chieftains came with military men and doctored results and forced INEC to change results to APC’s favour. This will not stand.

    “Nembe 2 and 3, Bassambiri was taken over by hoodlums. They chased away all PDP members from the community. Policeman who went there to maintain the peace were driven out by APC members. There were no proper elections there…”

    “We call on the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the activities of his officers and men in Bayelsa because it has become recurrent that soldiers now chase PDP members.”

  • PDP to Buratai: probe electoral violence in Bayelsa

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State has appealed to the Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai to investigate the violence that occurred in the state during the last general elections.

    The party alleged that some army officials directly participated in the elections and called on the military to redeem its image by probing incidents linked to them.

    Speaking at the party’s secretariat in Yenagoa, the Chairman of PDP, Moses Cleopas, said the activities of the army deployed in Brass, Nembe and Southern Ijaw, should be queried by the military.

    He wondered why the army had not kept sealed lips on the killing of two PDP members without provocation by soldiers.

    Cleopas lamented that PDP members were prime targets during the elections describing situation as unhealthy.

    He further took a swipe at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, saying wondering why the commission declared constituencies won by PDP candidates inconclusive.

    Cleopas, however, described victory of some candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as temporary and vowed that his party would retrieve them in courts.

    He said PDP won all the seats in areas where proper elections were conducted while the APC allegedly manipulated the process in cohort with the military and INEC to win few seats in the state.

    The party boss said that in Nembe all PDP members were chased away from Bassambiri, where APC candidates were declared winners.

    He said: “The PDP won everywhere in Bayelsa and in places where the APC has been declared winners, we will reclaim our mandate”.

    READ ALSO: Dickson seeks probe of election violence

    In Ekeremor constituency 1, Cleopas said a chieftain of the APC invaded the area with soldiers and forced INEC field officials to alter results under duress.

    He said: The APC chieftain came with military men and doctored results and forced INEC to change results to the advantage of his party. This will not stand.

    “Nembe 2 and 3, Bassambiri was taken over by hoodlums. They chased away all PDP members from the community. Policeman who went there to maintain the peace were driven out by the APC in that area. They wrote results. There was no proper elections there.

    “In the areas declared inconclusive, in Ogbia constituency 2, we were winning before military men came and carted away materials in Otuokpoti Same in Brass constituency 2 and Southern Ijaw 4, it was pure abracadabra,” he alleged.

    “We are going back for the inconclusive polls, but a situation where armed military men were used to harass our people cannot be tolerated.”

    The PDP chairman said he had a personal experience where military men whisked away INEC officials who were just rounding off elections and named a senior military officer as the culprit.

    “It is on this note that we call on on the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the activities of his officers and men in Bayelsa because it has become recurrent that army men now chase PDP members,” he said.