How Nigerian Army Sponsors Boko-Haram

By John Campbell

In a report from this May, before the shocking revelations of Nigeria’s Presidencies Boko Haram negotiator, Stephen Davis implicating the army chief, Azubuike Ihejirika as sponsor of Boko Haram; apparently investigative reports and former US ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell had figured that Boko Haram was being armed directly by the Nigerian army.

Here is an excerpt from the report in May on ThisDay:According to US network TV NBC, most of the Islamic terror group’s weapons are either stolen from Nigerian military stocks or purchased on the thriving Central African arms black market, say the experts, including current and former U.S. officials.

Many have often wondered where the insurgents source their weaponry from, given both the sophistication and the sheer number.

The group blamed for last month’s kidnapping of nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls routinely raids police stations and military bases in search of weapons, they say. In some cases, Boko Haram sympathizers in the Nigerian military abet the theft.

“There are hints that sympathizers in the Nigerian army will deliberately leave doors of armouries unlocked for Boko Haram,” said John Campbell, U.S. ambassador to Nigeria from 2004 to 2007.

.A top military officer was indicted several years ago in Kaduna, for supplying the weapons of the Nigerian army to Niger Delta militants, led by, now jailed, Henry Orkah.

In addition to weapons, the rebels frequently seize non-lethal equipment that helps them carry out their terror attacks, said one U.S. official, citing a raid last week on an open market in northeast Nigeria that left 310 people dead.

That attack, according to local reports, was carried out by men in Nigerian military uniforms who arrived in Nigerian military armored personnel carriers (APCs).

Apart from benefiting from sympathizers in the Nigerian military, the Islamic terror group is able to purchase small arms and occasionally some larger weaponry in nearby conflict zones, “probably Libya, probably Chad,” said the official, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity. Read full Where Boko Haram Gets Its Weapons.

There is no evidence of any court-martial of any implicated sympathizers involved in this transfer. Also there is no evidence the army attempts seriously to retrieve the weapons and vehicles. This implicates the army chiefs, past and current in these direct transfers of ammunition, armored tanks and APC’s to the terrorists.

Source: abusidiqu.com

2015: Nigeria needs strong persons

By: Mukhtar Jarmajo 

It is indeed sad that after sixteen years of democracy, aspiring politicians will present to us in 2015 same packages of promises we were being told during campaigns since 1999. The interpretation of this is that since 1999, Nigeria only developed an inch if indeed it deed. The same problems of insecurity, ineffective and inefficient health system, interrupted power supply, substandard education and bad road networks, which we have been battling with since the military era are the same problems we are facing virtually 16years in a democracy. 

This simply suggests that this democracy of ours is not fine. Otherwise things in this nation would have been much better than they are today. It is however all too conspicuous that it was Nigeria`s election system that has not been fine. It has not been producing credible leaders who had the willingness and competence and were strong enough to resuscitate our now collapsed institutions for a better Nigeria. 

Contrary to the common thought that for development, strong institutions are required rather than strong individuals, in Nigeria, strong individuals are needed to make the institutions strong. Only when strong persons man our institutions will Nigeria`s infrastructures reinvigorate thus reassuring Nigerians of a flamboyant economy.

This thought was in conformity with the idea that there is an organic relationship between politics and the economy. Meaning, the very moment we get the politics right, we will get the economy right. And a flamboyant economy only implies that a nation is getting it right and therefore its people see light at the end of the tunnel.

 Given the aforementioned, it was quiet easily demonstrated that Nigeria must get it right politically in 2015, otherwise, the nation will continue to dwindle in the hands of mediocre politicians and technocrats who are lame both in morality and sincerity.

It is simply an understatement that Nigeria needs better experienced grown up minds to takeover its affairs come 2015. This nation needs sincere leaders with sycophantically tested negative aides. As a people therefore, we must avail ourselves with the opportunities in the elections next year to make it quite necessary for any thoughtless self-serving; self-seeking political joker irrespective of their political party or affiliations to check out of Nigeria`s political turf.

 This is achievable through enlightening ourselves on the need to actively participate in politics as our fate squarely rests in our hands. Politics should be everybody`s business as it determines every bit of our lives We should learn that the height of ignorance is where a person whether lettered or not decides that they have no business in anything politics.

The people must also learn of the imperatives of remaining together irrespective of our religious beliefs, cultural thoughts and or regional geography and history. The dirty tactic of polarizing the polity is a political strategy very peculiar with our mostly myopic thinking politicians. Unlike in 2011, Nigerians must learn to remain resolute and stand together against the forces of darkness.

Jarmajo wrote from Bauchi