Politics
Why Borno Former LG Chairmen Forum Visited Buratai
Why Borno Former LG Chairmen Forum Visited Buratai
Sahara Weekly Reports John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream, learn, do more, and become more, you are a leader. “This aptly described the growing influence of the legendary acts of Ambassador Lt Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai (CFR) as members of the forum of all Ex-Local Government chairmen of Borno state paid him a visit at his prestigious Tukur and Tukur’s farm Located at Gora in Karu local government area in Nasarawa State, about 40 kilometers from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) along the Abuja-Keffi expressway on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022.
The forum led by their leader, Mallam Bulin Maumeri, stated that their mission was to appreciate Buratai for his immense effort in taming the insurgency in North East, especially Borno state under his leadership when he was the Chief of Army Staff.
According to the Forum, they confessed that before his emergence, the local governments in Borno became nonfunctional due to the fear of Boko Haram. But now all the local governments have become fully functional because of his giant strides in terminating the threat.
Mallam Balin in his speech stated that the entire people of Borno state and particularly the forum are proud of him. They noted with great pleasure his numerous achievements in the course of his career as a GENERAL in the Nigerian Army and his selfless service to humanity.
“The Forum warmly welcomes your resolve and entry into the political arena of Nigeria with your widely acknowledged sterling qualities and experience, more so, pitching your tent with our great party, APC. Our visit is to pledge our support and willingness to align with your political aspirations now and in the nearest future. We have very strong grips of the grassroots not just in Borno state but across the 774 LGAs in Nigeria. We, therefore, identify with you and offer our platform to build a Buratai Political Dynasty due to your outstanding honesty, humility, sagacity, intellectual capacity, and astuteness.”
Buratai in his speech appreciated them for honoring him. He called on the people of Borno and the Forum to support the APC candidates in the forthcoming election in 2023 with all available resources.
It would be recalled that the emergence of Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusufu Buratai as Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and leader of the counter-insurgency operations was the turning point in the war against the insurgents who have literarily occupied large chunks of the Northern part of Nigeria. His colleagues in the Military celebrated his appointment because they knew he had the nerve, courage, and capacity to give Boko Haram terrorists a bloody nose.
And Buratai flaunts enviable credentials in such warfare. Sequel to his leadership of counter-insurgency operations, Gen. Buratai had carved a niche for himself as Commander of various military operations in the dreadful days of the Niger Delta militants and elsewhere. He also piloted affairs of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF). He came to lead the counter-insurgency operations loaded like a volcano waiting to explode in the battle turf against terrorists.
Quite sensibly, the former Army Chief realized that he needed to raise a strong and professional Army from the decrepit soldiers he inherited. A philosopher, Confucius once cautioned that “To lead an untrained people to war is to throw them away.”
Therefore, Gen. Buratai quickly reformed the Nigerian and adequately prepared them through special training for the arduous national assignment. Sooner than later, the Nigerian Army was as fit as a fiddle to chivalrously face terrorists on the war front.
In a fresh and renewed confrontation with Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast battlefields by the last quarter of 2015, the Nigerian troops led by Gen. Buratai rapidly began demolishing and consuming Boko Haram insurgents. Nigerian troops speedily gained ground against terrorists through astounding military exploits.
It manifested in the sustained scampering of Boko Haram terrorists through unwinding labyrinths and bush paths in the face of the mightier Nigerian troops. The rough, unmotorable and almost inaccessible terrain of the Northeast was a natural defense bulwark for the scared and fleeing terrorists. Insurgents resorted to the use of motorcycles to escape the wrath of soldiers.
The astute strategist, Buratai discovered that insurgents used motorcycles to shield themselves against a conclusive chase to their hideouts by Nigerian forces. He, therefore, countered the barrier, by introducing the squad by the name, “Motorbike Battalion.” He flooded the Northeast region with troops on motorbikes and escaping insurgents were chased by troops to their remotest hideouts and neutralized.
It took the General no time to decimate the formerly rampaging terrorists. Insurgents ostensibly became enfeebled by the strength and pressure mounted on them by Nigerian troops.
The leader of the counter-insurgency operations is an embodiment of innumerable war strategies and tactics. The nightmare of insurgents was further compounded with Buratai’s launch of the Special Strike Teams. He sometimes, joined his subordinate Commanders to train them personally. He unleashed the Special Strike Teams in different parts of the Northeast who were under strict orders to proactively assail insurgents.
Unrelenting, LT Gen. Buratai started expanding its military presence in the troubled Northeast region. He established a dozen Army Battalions and Forward Bases to make it easier for troops to respond to distress calls or emergencies in a flash.
And determined to make insurgents uncomfortable and protect the most vulnerable communities, he expediently established the 8 Division, Nigerian Army at Monguno to make coordination of smaller operational units of the “Operation Lafia Dole” more convenient and effective.
To frighten terrorists, Buratai personally led troops into the trenches fighting and howling out directives in the heat of battle. Buratai’s physical presence in the trenches and frontlines was a big blow to the psyche of terrorists whose plans were instantly dissolved at the frontlines during fierce battles with troops. It was a psychological wreck on insurgents and their warfare plans. But it boosted the morale of troops and all Nigerian territories seized and occupied by insurgents were reclaimed in a jiffy.
The fall of the Sambisa forest in 2016, was a new dawn in counter-insurgency operations. The remnants of terrorists rather became too scared of their shadows. They took to hiding to escape the viciousness of the Nigerian Army. It was daybreak for Boko Haram factional leader, Abubakar Shekau who had to disguise himself as a woman, dressed in a black hijab to escape the Northeast into Cameroon.
OCTOBER 1ST 2023 INDEPENDENCE DAY: PRESIDENT TINUBU BROADCASTS TO THE NATION
As part of activities to mark the 63rd Independence Anniversary of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will make a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, October 1, 2023 at 7 am.
Television, radio stations and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority and Radio Nigeria for the broadcast.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 30, 2023
Politics
Ogun Tribunal Dismisses Adebutu’s Petition As Incompetent, Affirms Dapo Abiodun As Governor
Ogun Tribunal Dismisses Adebutu’s Petition As Incompetent, Affirms Dapo Abiodun As Governor
The Ogun State governorship election petition tribunal has dismissed as incompetent, the petition brought forth by Ladi Adebutu, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because it referred to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s result as “purported.”
The petition by Adebutu had contested the legitimacy of the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in March as the outcome of the polls against Governor Dapo Abiodun.
On Saturday, the tribunal concluded that Adebutu’s petition was fatally flawed on the grounds of incompetence hinged upon the fact that the petitioner’s case did not directly address the election results as officially declared by INEC. Rather, Adebutu’s petition had insinuated that the results were “purported,” which, in essence, suggested that he might have come before the tribunal to argue based on mere rumours rather than established facts.
In its ruling, the tribunal asserted, “Petitioners have a duty, as outlined in the Schedule, to plead the election results as officially announced. Regrettably, the petitioners failed to fulfil this duty. Instead, they used the word ‘purportedly’ when describing the election results, a term that, according to the dictionary, implies unverified rumours. Therefore, the court finds that the petitioners should have challenged the officially announced results, not unsubstantiated rumours.”
Consequently, the tribunal arrived at a decision, deeming the petition as legally incompetent due to this fundamental flaw.
INEC had declared that Abiodun won the election polling 276,298 votes against Adebutu’s 262,383.
The solid ground upon which Adebutu built his petition, according to the court, will no longer matter because the legal team referred to the figures as “purported
Politics
Supreme Court to Smart Adeyemi on Kogi APC guber primary: Looking at your brief, your Appeal ‘dead on arrival’
Supreme Court to Smart Adeyemi on Kogi APC guber primary: Looking at your brief, your Appeal ‘dead on arrival’
The Supreme Court on Thursday, hinted a former Senator who represented Kogi West in the 9th National Assembly, Smart Adeyemi, that his appeal against the judgement of the two lower courts on the All Progressives Congress’ primary election, which held in Kogi State on April 15, 2023, was incompetent.
Adeyemi had filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the primary election of the APC, which produced Usman Ododo as the party’s flagbearer for the state’s governorship election slated for November 11. The case was dismissed by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal for lacking in merit.
The apex court, while hearing his appeal, on Thursday, told his lawyer, Musibau Adetumbi, SAN, that his client was appealing against concurrent findings of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, which held that primary elections were held in Kogi State but that he had failed to challenge these concurrent findings or demonstrate that same was perverse.
The court which was presided over by Justice Inyang Okoro stated that by just looking at the brief, Adeyemi’s Appeal was “dead on arrival”, and hinted his Counsel on the need to withdraw the incompetent appeal.
Adeyemi’s Counsel however said he would go ahead to argue the appeal. The appeal was accordingly heard.
Counsel to Ododo, F. O. Ekpa who was led by M. Y. Abdullahi, SAN, while adopting his brief of argument, informed the court that Adeyemi’s appeal was academic considering that the relief sought by him was that fresh primaries be conducted. Counsel argued that the time within which to conduct the primary election as stipulated by the Electoral Act 2022 had expired, hence the court could no longer grant Adeyemi’s prayer.
Having heard the arguments of the Counsel, the Supreme Court therefore adjourned the appeal to 23rd October, 2023 for judgment.
Chief Anthony Adeniyi, SAN, represented the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, represented the All Progressives Congress, while M.Y. Abdullahi, SAN, represented the APC Governorship Candidate, Usman Ododo.
The Court of Appeal had, on August 18, 2023, held that the appeal argued by Adekunle Oladapo Otitoju on behalf of Senator Adeyemi was completely bereft of merit.
In a unanimous judgment of a 3-man panel of Justices of the Court, Adeyemi was said to have failed woefully to establish all grievous criminal allegations made against the conduct of the primary election by APC and its leaders.
Justice Mohammed Lawal Shuaib who delivered the lead judgment resolved all the three issues in dispute against Adeyemi.
Justice Shuaib said that the allegations of manipulations and falsifications of the primary election results made by Adeyemi, being criminal in nature, ought to have been proved beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
He also dismissed another allegation by the Appellant that he was denied fair hearing by the Appeal Committee of the APC based on his petition against the alleged unlawful conduct of the primary election.
Justice Shuaib said that the issue of denial of fair hearing was not raised in his originating summons at the Federal High Court, hence, could not be raised as a fresh issue at the Court of Appeal.
In the absence of cogent and verifiable evidence on the part of Adeyemi, the Court of Appeal held that his allegations remained mere assertions that could not enjoy any probative value.
The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment of Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on July 12, which had held that Adeyemi did not prove his allegations that Ododo was not lawfully nominated by the APC.
Senator Adeyemi had, therefore, sought an order of the Supreme Court, setting aside the judgments of the lower courts, allowing his appeal and granting all the reliefs sought in his originating summons.
“Since their Lordships made a categorical finding of facts that the Appellant’s case, simpliciter, is that the primary election in issue was not conducted in accordance with the law, the duty to prove the contrary lies with the Respondents who asserted positively that the said primary election was conducted in accordance with the law.
“With profound humility to our noble Lords of the Honourable Court below, their Lordships misapprehended where lies the burden of proof in the case at hand. Hence their Lordships came to a wrong conclusion in law and equity,” he argued.
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