Clay Richie

The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, yesterday, expressly warned local hunters to steer clear of the ongoing military operations against the Boko Haram insurgency group in the North East, as their presence and contributions were fast breeding mischief and thus becoming irrelevant to the system.

This quotable quote, more than anything else, captures my position on the Boko Haram maniacs. It is taken from Season 3 of the American political thriller, Homeland. Nicholas Brody, a retired US Marine sergeant ─ who had turned against his country, converted to Islam and become a terrorist while fighting in Iraq ─ was on the run. He was a suspect in the bombing of CIA headquarters. A bounty of $25 million was placed on his head. On self-exile in Venezuela, he escaped from his overbearing "protectors", moved into a mosque and introduced himself as a Muslim to the Imam, who gladly received and housed him.

By Punch The Sultan of Sokoto and leader of Muslims in Nigeria, Alhaji Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, has challenged Islamic sects in the country to unite and fight Boko Haram insurgency. The Sultan, while condemning the suicide bomb blasts at the Kano Central Mosque on Friday, which left about 120 worshippers dead and many others injured, stated that “those behind all the attacks are not Muslims.”

So I logged onto Nigerian Twitter yesterday afternoon and found people abusing economists and financial analysts for speaking in jargons about the CBN’s actions. So for those who’re still confused about what’s going on with Nigeria’s economy and are trying to understand the implications, here’s a simplified version. No bricklayers were insulted in the writing of this post…at least, not explicitly. So How Did This All Start? 

President Good luck Jonathan has assured the people of the South Western part of Nigeria that they would not be left behind in the scheme of things when re-elected in the 2015 general elections. The president stated this yesterday while addressing South-West leaders at the Yoruba Unity Summit held at the Oduduwa Hall of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, where protesting students booed him.

On Thursday 20 th , I heard over the news that because of the slide in oil price, we should be prepared for austerity measures. Over the weekend, I tracked as the CBN complained about the heavy dollar demand due to massive foreign investor selloff of Nigerian stocks was causing the Naira to weaken against the dollar and that it was becoming an impossible task to keep defending the Naira at the official exchange rate of 155. Then on Tuesday, the Naira was devalued to an official exchange rate of 168 Naira to a dollar, losing 13Naira. On Wednesday, the government announced Federal Executive Council approval for the procurement of 750,000 Clean Stoves and 18,000 WonderBags to distribute to Nigerian women. Total cost of this in Naira was N9.2Billion, and in dollars, at the new exchange rate was 55Million Dollars.

Fellow Nigerians, there is no doubt that Lagos is the most important State in our dearly beloved country. Once upon a time, it was our Federal capital before Abuja was carved out in what was supposed to be the centre of Nigeria. The idea for Abuja was not entirely new or original. I was told during a visit to Australia about six years ago, that the master-plan emanated from Canberra, the seat of government in that country. I used to think Sydney was the Capital, or even Melbourne. But I was kindly educated by the then Nigerian High Commissioner to Australia, Professor Olu Agbi, a Diplomatic Historian, who made sure I visited Canberra. I truly saw some similarities between Abuja and Canberra except that Abuja remains a chaotic ersatz, a shambolic attempt at emulating a masterpiece.

History has a lot of lessons for us. History itself though an event of the past is vision of tomorrow. History is a divine prophet. Little wonder why science relies on history so much to unravel mysteries. I have not seen in history a government or political party in its second term that outperformed its first term in office. Public office holders often disguise and show less of their color in first terms only to activate the beast in them in their second term when they think nothing is at stake.

Thousands of people have fled the ancient towns of Kukawa and Gubio in Borno State for the state capital, Maiduguri, after a letter reportedly written by the Islamist terror group, Boko Haram, threatened an imminent attack.

I have a political theory regarding the office of the president of the federal republic of Nigeria. Do you want to hear it? Hypothesis 1: Anyone who deliberately sets his or her mind on becoming the president and actively pursues this goal will never become the president of Nigeria. You may raise your eyebrows, what about Obasanjo in 2007 and Goodluck Jonathan in 2011? Okay, let modify the hypothesis.

A victim of circumstance is a person whom something bad happens to because of factors outside his control. Am not from Abia state neither am I a fan of Abia state governor or a supporter of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), am just a concerned and non partisan freelance writer that loves to uphold the sanctity of truth. I decided to critically analyze Abia state and give my own verdict from my own point of view. Is Gov. Theodore Ahamefule Orji a victim of circumstance? Gov. T. A Orji was not a known figure until he emerged as the gubernatorial candidate of Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) to contest the 2007 governorship election in Abia state. He convincingly won the governorship election and made history by being the first governor in the history of Nigeria to win an election while in detention.

Former Head of State and APC presidential aspirant, retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,   said yesterday in Port Harcourt that  it is not possible for anyone to Islamise Nigeria under any guise. Buhari, who was in Port Harcourt to seek the support of APC delegates, said those who had labelled him as an Islamic fundamentalist were only out to malign him.

No fewer than 30 suspected members of Boko Haram were killed  Thursday by vigilante youth, popularly called Civilian JTF, when the sect members, armed with sophisticated weapons, attempted to lay siege to Gubio Local Government Area of Borno State.

National Security Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki has been accused of sending threat messages to the Sokoto state governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko over the governor’s comment on the police invasion of the National Assembly in Abuja. Governor Wamakko made the allegation today in Sokoto during an APC stakeholders meeting in the state, with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other governorship aspirants, party stakeholders among others in attendance to brainstorm on the modalities for the coming party primaries in the state.

In spite of his endorsement by the PDP governors and the Board of Trustees of the PDP to run for the office of the President come 2015, President Jonathan still has many hurdles to cross, writes Ohia Israel As it is, some Nigerians are of the view that there are some constitutional impediments withholding President Jonathan from contesting and as such he is not eligible to contest. For instance, a PDP chieftain from Adamawa, Dr. Umar Ardo, has taken the President to Court, as according to Ardo in his open letter to the National Chairman of the Party, “Any person of average intellect who read the 1999 constitution (as amended) along with four key judgments of the Supreme Court (INEC Vs Boni Haruna, Peter Obi Vs Chris Ngige, Ladoja Vs INEC and INEC Vs 5 PDP Governors) would easily conclude that President Jonathan’s eligibility to contest for another 4-year term in 2015 or at any other time thereafter under the present constitution is impeded.

“Something interesting happened on my way to Oshodi this morning. At the motor park, this rough mean-looking conductor was screaming for passengers, his vernacular oscillating between Yoruba and Pidgin English. “Oshodi! Oshodi!” he shouted angrily as I, along with some other passengers, struggled for seats. There was this beautiful young lady who couldn’t throw caution and decorum to the wind but waited patiently until the bus was almost filled. Then she pleaded to sit by the conductor until somebody came down, when she would have a proper seat.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba, was adamant on Wednesday, refusing to recognise the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, as the speaker. The IG simply addressed him as “Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal”, a title that angered members of the House Committee on Police Affairs.

NR - In true practice of democracy, Presidents all over the world have been impeached for fewer and less grave offenses than the listed. The Nigerian  Senate and House of Reps has listed 50 reasons why they intend to commence impeachment process against the embattled Nigerian President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. Dr. Brimah, a public activist and social commentator has tweeted a list of some known grievances with the current Nigerian leader:

Twenty Senators have signed a motion seeking to institute impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan, Daily Trust has reported. Similarly, the House of Representatives which commenced collecting signatures for the president’s ouster last week now has about 200 in support of the proceeding, according to Minority Whip, Samson Osagie.

By Fejiro Oliver In criticism I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me. Edgar Allan Poe

They may be known as the weaker sex but in the battle to flush out Boko Haram from Nigerian territory, they stand equal with their male counterparts. Fearless, pretty and bold, the female hunters of Adamawa State fear neither man nor woman. To them, the common enemy is not their gender but Boko Haram. Ladi is a dark-skinned young lady in her 20s. Looking at her, you would hardly believe that she possesses the boldness to confront members of the terrorist sect. In fact, you would pass her off as a young man due to her masculine features but she is in all respects a lady.

The attention of the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) has been drawn to a centerspread advert in today’s  The Punch, pages 32 and 33, purportedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress, APC to showcase the achievement of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, which we found highly deceptive and misleading.

Let me first of all ask for permission from all language minders to allow me use these words “face-marked”. It means slap. Yes, dirty, hot slap. But one funny thing about slap is that, it hardly land on the faces of big men. At least, publicly. Its rules says it is only meant for some stubborn little ones. But this time around, the rules are changing fast. Just like the famed “Telephone is not meant for the poor” of the then younger Mark, which now is now affordable for every

By Premium Times Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again torn at President Goodluck Jonathan, saying Nigerian democracy remained at risk due to the action of the present administration.

General election season dawns inexorably upon us. It’s in the air everywhere: the flood of posters and billboards; the endless chatter of radio and television jingles. The social media is as well abuzz with activities – every day we wake up to politicians and their campaign teams showing their faces on Twitter, and minions and “voltrons” circle the waters frantically, looking for whom to devour on behalf of their principals.

First, let me quickly make an apology. I apologize for using the term “Buharists” to describe those invested in voting for General Muhammadu Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election if he is presented as the flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC). I make the apology duly noting that those who are opposed to the reelection of President Goodluck Jonathan and a lot of who are Buhari supporters have taken to describing those in support of Jonathan’s reelection derogatorily as “Jonathanians”, especially in social network exchanges.

“Every attempt to heal a sick country is an affront to those who benefit from its sickness.” – Bernard Malamud, in THE FIXER.

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal seems to have perfected the art of putting the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a strange place. To be sure, the behemoth has always had what could be termed the House problem. Even when it boasted of overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives, PDP had difficulties imposing its will on the green chamber. At a time, the House became the principal site of opposition to a PDP-controlled executive and nearly initiated impeachment proceedings against a president from the same party as the majority of its members. However, PDP always managed to muddle through its House problem. Until Tambuwal happened.

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has the decidedly non trivial distinction of mentoring and supporting able minds for political positions.  He has gone about this role un-intimidated because he believes that Nigeria’s problem is starkly a question of moral and political courage. He desires to see a smarter government.

By SaharaReporters Five military commanders have been handcuffed and detained at the military police guard room at the 23 Brigade headquarters in Yola Adamawa state for abandoning Mubi in Adamawa state to Boko Haram militants last Wednesday.

President Olusegun Obasanjo last week warned Nigerian political parties against “Muslim-Muslim” presidential election slates. “It will be insensitive to the point of absurdity for any leader, or any political party to be toying with Muslim-muslim or Christian-Christian ticket at this juncture,” the 141-word statement said, detonating such bombs as spectre, fear, proselytization and danger. Read the statement again, so you can assess the depth of its philosophical and political hollowness.  To begin with, it posed as being of general application, but it was clearly aimed at the APC, where such a ticket appeared to be feasible.  The PDP had already adopted President Goodluck Jonathan, a man whose overwhelming weakness as leader has nothing to do with religion, nor is he redeemed by religion.

This is not about the President’s recent visit to Israel with notable leaders of the Christian faith in Nigeria or the special sessions tagged a day with Jesus for Nigeria in Israel. We have been having many days with Jesus in Nigeria and rightly so, hence no need placing too much emphasis on another held in Israel with taxpayers’ funds, never mind that one of the most respected clergymen on the President’s entourage recently derisively asked Reuters why he should pay tax to Nigeria. Majority of Nigerian taxpayers quite frankly hold the belief that the prayers offered in Israel for Nigeria’s blessings just as the many that are continually being offered in Nigeria will in no time see to the end of corruption, build roads and hospitals, create jobs and generate electricity. Afterall, the fervent prayer of the righteous man makes much power available.

The leadership of Nigeria by announcing a meaningless unilateral cessation of fire with Boko Haram terrorists succeeded in giving the terror organization unprecedented credibility. The terrorists now assumed a status as a “rebel” group with control of territory. From a group of bandits hanging out in Sambisa forest, Boko Haram has since April of this year, emerged and overrun and captured large chunks of the northeast.

At the risk of sounding immodest I must say that I am disappointed that a group of persons in the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria appear set to continuously drag Nigeria back by 500 years with their retrogressive tendencies and ultra conservative approaches to the serious business of law making. This is not to say that I consider the members of the upper legislative chamber as buffoons but what we are analysing here is the quality of their current legislative inputs into the on-going constitution amendments which in some instances could be considered as misguided. I will call a spade by its name but of course in doing this I will still recognise the Senators as law makers and nothing less.

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alh. Adamu Muazu, has summoned the Deputy Speaker of the House, Chief Emeka Ihedioha, and 205 PDP members in the House to a meeting on Monday.

Fellow Nigerians, let me reiterate here that I’m a latter day convert to Buharism. Truth is it took me years to see the light. I had resisted the conversion due to an overdose of poison from anti-Buhari elements that litter our socio-political landscape. Those who wish to continue the current charade and wish Nigeria would remain in perpetual servitude would do anything and everything possible to make a Buhari Presidency impossible and unrealisable. However lies can run faster than truth but truth will always catch up especially when lies become predictable.

Boko Haram terrorists swore to pin their flag atop the house of Nigeria’s defense Chief, Air Marshal Alex Badeh. Thursday Boko Haram lived up to their pledge capturing Vintim, the defense Chief’s town and violating his home.

The Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the recent Boko Haram overrun of Mubi and the hoisting of their flag in Adamawa State’s second largest town, as a tragic act and a worrisome affront to the corporate integrity of Nigeria.

The Speaker who recently defected from the ruling party to the opposition wants the court to stop moves being made by the PDP to declare his seat vacant asking the court to preserve his tenure  until its expiration on June 5,  2015.

All the history books I have read tell me that when a Nation is in crisis a great leader must emerge to reposition and restructure the system for the better. I recall the great depression in the 1930s in the United States and how Mr. Franklin D. Roosevelt had a turning point in his political career when he was elected the President of the United States in 1932. The 1929/30 great depression provided an opportunity for him to emerge. America was in deep economic crisis. Millions lost their jobs as factories closed down. The banking system collapsed. There was total loss of faith in America. They needed a great and strong President. They voted in Roosevelt. He gave Americans the NEW DEAL.

Indication have emerged that the withdrawal of the security details of the Speaker of the House of Representative by the Nigeria Police Force on Thursday, may not be the end of the plot against the speaker following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The leader of the Boko Haram insurgents group, Abubakar Shekau has described the Nigerian government’s claims of a ceasefire deal as a lie. Shekau who spoke in a new video seen by APF also ruled out future talks with the government, but instead vowed more attacks.