Headlines

Boko Haram: Gov Shettima In Phantom War With Senator

Published

10 years ago

February 15, 2016

How Agenda Was Set To Re-Echo Governor’s Earlier Views
Borno Citizens Allege Grand Deception, Insist Garbai Was Right

gov shettima While Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima, may have succeeded in creating the impression that he is at war with the senator representing Borno central, in the Nigerian senate, Baba Kaka Garbai, over the later’s comments on Boko Haram, to the effect that the sect still occupies part of Borno state, emerging facts point to a phantom war nationalTrail exclusively gathered Garbai’s comment, which merely re-echoed Governor Shettima’s earlier position to the effect that the Military is ill motivated and equipped to contain Boko Haram, was actually an agenda setting move by the governor, to warm himself into the hearts of both President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, General Yusuf Buratai, both of whom were reported to be unimpressed with his approach to issues concerning the fight against insurgency, especially the president who has refused to give him any listening ear.
Our correspondent was able to establish that, Governor Kashim Shettima and Senator Garbai are the best of friends, even outside politics, and it was not possible for the duo to take conflicting positions on such issues, as sensitive as Boko Haram.
Further findings reveal that the governor actually discussed the matter with the senator before the latter’s visit to Dalori, so that they can stir up the hornets’ nest, and depending on the reaction of the Federal Government and the Military, the governor will take his own position, disowning Senator Garbai, but by then the fact would have been stated.
Sources around the governor, confirmed to nationalTRAIL that all the grandstanding against Senator Garbai’s views was a façade, as the two have remained in constant touch long after the seeming quarrel or disagreement, and the senator has continued to speak well of Governor Shettima, even when the governor was being reported to have lampooned him at least in public.
Our correspondent reports that, the gullible public has been vehement in supporting Garbai’s position, while a few others hailed Governor Shettima, but the truth remains that, Garbai’s views were the correct reflection of Governor Shettima’s position on the insurgency fight.
Vice Chairman of the Peoples democratic Party, PDP in the state, Mbursa Gabassa, told nationalTRAIL in an interview that the Borno State Government has not been truthful about the situation in the state, and often misleads the Federal Government and the military in making unconvincing remarks that are always controverted unfolding by events.
nationalTRAIL had earlier reported that Governor Kashim Shettima, may have perfected strategies to distract rehabilitation efforts of the Presidential Committee on displaced persons, by deliberately creating controversies about the true situation in some local governments, which from very clear indications have not been totally liberated.
Investigations further revealed that, shortly after making his remarks and the attendant response by governor Shettima, the senator quickly recoiled, and declined further comments, while the governor continued, emphasising his outburst against Garbai, creating the impression that he is in tandem with the views of the Federal Government, which claims to have decimated the Boko Haram insurgents.
It is rather ironical, critics say, that at the time the federal Government was busy making claims of having recovered all occupied territories, Boko Haram has tended to be more vehement sacking towns and villages on the fringes of Maiduguri, the state capital, even as the sect seems to be acting contrary to the claims being made.
A cross section of Borno citizens who spoke to our correspondent insist that, there may be a grand deception to shield the truth of what is happening in Borno State from President Muhammadu Buhari, even as others cautioned the Presidency from buying into a propaganda war, without verifying the truth about the situation in some of the local governments alleged to still be under threat by Boko Haram.
A University lecturer who claims to be the Governor’s classmate, who does not want his name in print, said in reaction to the development, “This Government is a master of grand deception. Governor Kashim Shettima is never truthful about what he does since he became governor. We have been following issues in the state and we know that the Senator spoke Kashim Shettima’s mind. He is only playing the ostrich, as everybody knows that he is the architect of the whole drama. Truth will eventually come out some day”.
Musa Sale Shuwa, who fled Mobar in the Northern part of the state and Baba John Glavda who left Gwoza about two years ago, also told our correspondent that, they were aware of residuals of Boko Haram in those areas, and it was wrong to say their areas have been totally liberated.
According to Shuwa, who spoke in Hausa, he has been trading in pepper and dried tomatoes in Damasak for more than thirty years, and he did not flee until it became obvious that Boko Haram were not in a hurry to leave, having established bases in several localities all over Mobar Local Government, and only go under whenever soldiers show up.
He argued that, Boko Haram has continued to suffer heavy casualties in recent times, but they have not been defeated. The absence of flags does not mean the terrorists have been defeated, he argued, rather, they have changed tactics, and now resort to guerilla style of attacks, making little noise about their conquests. They no longer insist on hoisting flags, but they are very much around.
It could be recalled that the Borno state governor had shortly after a visit to then president Jonathan, told reporters that the Boko Haram elements were better motivated and better equipped as opposed to the Nigerian troops, a remark that was greeted with criticism of the governor at the highest level in the country.
Governor Shettima, has since then recoiled into silence on this matter till last week when week when senator Garbai reechoed the views and subsequent backlash that followed.
Not even spirited attempts by Isa Umar Gusau, Governor Shettima’s man Friday was able to convinced people that Shettima was being honest in his seeming repentance. In fact, the general view in Borno state today is that, Boko Haram is still far from being defeated, and the seeming war amongst stakeholders is a façade.

Headlines

2027: THE MANY WARS IN PARTIES

Published

4 weeks ago

June 1, 2026

Our Reporter

☆ ADC, PDP, NDC, LP Tacle APC Amidst Internal Wranglings.
☆ Party primaries trigger godfather vs godson clashes.
By: Our Special Correspondent.

Election periods always make Nigeria a political melting pot. Tensions, intrigues, violence, manipulations and grandstanding have been the order.
2027 may not be an exception, as already, the polity is heating up and political players are up in arms.
Between political parties, battle lines are being drawn.
It is no longer news that, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the ADC and former Anambra state governor, Peter Obi of the NDC have secured the presidential tickets for their various political parties, ahead of the 2027 elections.
While Nigerians await the outcome of the presidential primaries for the other parties, it is apparent that the leading dramatis personae of the 2023 presidential election debacle, are set to square it out again in 2027.
But, while most, if not all the opposition political parties are emershed in multi-dimenssional crisis, the stage seems set for dirtier political schemings, in the quest to wrestle power from the ruling APC.
With the apparent collapse of the much talked about coalition, frontline candidates may again go into the election as a divided house, as the parties are further polarized by the attendant crisis arising from the just concluded primaries.
The ruling APC, also faced with similar crisis following the primaries. The primaries of all the parties seem to have sparked internal wranglings
across Edo, Delta, Lagos, Oyo, Kano, Rivers and other states. In most states, the primaries for governorship, Senate and House of Representatives seats have triggered deepening crises between governors, former governors, senators and entrenched party blocs.
While one may regard such disagrerments as normal and could be resolved before the main election, the disagreement between President Tinubu and the opposition may linger.

The President is fighting hard to ward of attacks over his failed promises which were made in 2023, as campaign issues.
Similarlly, the issue of insecurity, fuel subsidy, pol8cy summersault, and general cost of living have been brought to the front burner, in political discourse.
Tinubu told Nigerians on Friday that subsidy removal and forex reforms have revived investor confidence, lifted market cap to 250,000 points, and drawn new oil and gas investment. He also said security operations have “intensified” against bandits, separatists and insurgents.
But critics insist that Tinubu’s camp is working to cripple opposition parties reminescent of the Abacha-era dark days.
In apparent move to realign forces and reshape 2027, NDC’s Peter Obi has announced Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso as his running mate.
Obi told a gathering brfore naming Kwankwaso as his running mate, that, the Vice President office under him, will be “an active partner, not ceremonial”. The NDC held a special convention Saturday to affirm Obi as flagbearer where he promised 10,000MW electricity generation. Labour Party has also presented Dr. Chibuzo Okereke as its presidential candidate, a lowly rated personality.
At the sub-national level, political players are pulling the strings from different end. Most governors are being accused of imposing their cronies as governorship, senate, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates.
The national leadership of the APC has been struggling hard to adress the widespread crisis occassioned by the primaries. The APC, in Lagos amidst the internal wars, has picked Princess Damilola Sonayon-James as running mate to Lagos governorship candidate Dr. Obafemi Hamzat. Both are seen as stooges of the governor and by extenssion the President.
In Rivers, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has vowed that, the APC “Rainbow Coalition” will agree on one governorship candidate and that ADC’s Atiku won’t get 10% of Rivers votes. Though the candidate has not yet been named.
Wike also declared “Rivers has no option but to back Tinubu”.
In several states, there have been massive decampments from the APC in particular, because of unfavourable outcomes of the primaries.
All these point to a turbulent outing for the APC, even as the ruling party.
As for the opposition parties, they all have been emasculated, and may not be able to pose much threat to the ruling APC.
While the political wranglings were going on the most serious threat to the APC remains the rising concern over insecurity. The issue seem to have ignited anger across the country, with Federal Workers Forum threatening an indefinite nationwide strike over rising insecurity and unresolved wages. SERAP, has meanwhile urged the UN Secretary-General to invoke Article 99 over Nigeria’s “escalating insecurity—mass abductions, killings, displacements”.

Headlines

“Nigeria Is in a Hurry to Celebrate Victory Over Enemies of the State,” Says Tinubu as He Decorates New Service Chiefs

Published

8 months ago

October 30, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged the newly appointed service chiefs to discharge their duties with utmost dedication and renewed commitment, declaring that “Nigeria is in a hurry to celebrate victory over enemies of the state.”

The President made this statement on Thursday during the decoration ceremony of the new service chiefs with their ranks at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Those decorated were General Olufemi Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff, Lieutenant-General Wahidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff, Air Marshal Kennedy Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and Vice Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima and the spouses of the newly promoted officers, who joined the President in performing the decorations.

In his address, Tinubu underscored the central role of security in fostering national development and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting the lives and property of all Nigerians.

“Security is an essential element without which everything else becomes meaningless,” the President stated. “There can be no sustainable development if this fundamental need is not met. Our people and our nation must remain secure to enjoy the dividends of governance.”

The elevation and decoration of the new military chiefs followed their confirmation by the National Assembly on Wednesday, after a closed-door screening session with lawmakers.

It will be recalled that, in a recent overhaul of the nation’s military hierarchy, President Tinubu appointed:

Lieutenant General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede as Chief of Defence Staff,
Major General Waidi Shaibu as Chief of Army Staff,
Rear Admiral Idi Abbas as Chief of Naval Staff,
Air Vice Marshal Sunday Aneke as Chief of Air Staff, and
Major General Emmanuel Undiandeye retained as Chief of Defence Intelligence.

The new appointments mark a strategic restructuring of Nigeria’s security leadership aimed at strengthening the fight against insurgency, banditry, and other threats to national stability.

Headlines

FG Dismisses Coup Rumour, Reaffirms Confidence in Nigerian Military

Published

8 months ago

October 20, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Federal Government has dismissed widespread rumours of an alleged military coup plot against President Bola Tinubu, declaring its full confidence in the loyalty and professionalism of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, made this known in an interview with The Punch on Sunday, insisting that the administration has “no reason whatsoever” to doubt the assurances given by the Defence Headquarters, which had earlier denied reports linking the detention of 16 military officers to a coup attempt.

“The Federal Government has no reason to doubt the military on what it has said,” Idris stated.
“We believe the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity and strengthening the fight against insecurity. The government commends their sacrifice and will continue to support them in safeguarding the country.”

The minister’s remarks came a day after the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, firmly debunked a report by Sahara Reporters alleging that the detention of 16 officers was connected to a failed coup plot and the cancellation of the 65th Independence Day parade.

Gusau described the publication as “false, mischievous, and deliberately aimed at creating unnecessary tension and public distrust.”

He clarified that the cancellation of the October 1 Independence Day parade was a purely administrative decision — taken to allow President Tinubu attend a key bilateral meeting abroad and to enable military units sustain ongoing counterinsurgency operations nationwide.

On the issue of the detained officers, Gusau said their case was “an internal disciplinary process” and not related to any political matter.

“The investigation involving the 16 officers is routine, aimed at upholding discipline and professionalism within the ranks,” he explained. “An investigative panel has been constituted, and its findings will be made public in due course.”

Reaffirming the military’s constitutional role and unwavering commitment to civilian rule, Gusau stressed emphatically: