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Nyesom Wike: Exposition of Nigerian Governor leading from anti-police/military angle the anti-Nigerian battle by Obasanjo-led coalition forces – A SPECIAL REPORT
*Plus: Army’s reaction to Rivers Governor’s allegations against GOC
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“Obasanjo’s failing in the PDP-laden divisive comments is in his lacking the smartness to say Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who his coalition seeks to install unconstitutionally despite losing elections, is not an acclaimed Hausa/Fulani by his indigineship and title of Wazirin Adamawa and that he is not a Muslim.”
The Nigerian Army recently described yet another allegations against its General Officer Commanding (GOC) Six Division, Major General Jamil Sarham, by controversial Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State as bizarre and spurious.
Aminu Iliyasu, a colonel and Deputy Director Army Public Relations in the Six Division, made this rebuttal in a statement already published in the general media.
What is still news, however, is the observers’ worry that many Nigerians buy into the hypocrisies of Governor Wike like they do into Atiku’s and Peoples Democratic Party’s, in order to discredit the only means by which Nigeria survived dangerous security challenges and has been able to stand as one entity and sovereign in existence.
Some of the observers who confided in The DEFENDER are saying that the ongoing anti-Nigerian project of the politicians in opposition in the country is nothing but just because the man in power is a Fulani and Muslim.
They are asking if any Nigerian wanting to contest election should henceforth renounce his or her religion (if Muslim) and ethnic identity (if Hausa/Fulani) before making his or her intention known. This, they said, is the scenario being painted lately by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a PhD Theological Studies, National Christian Elders’ Forum (NCEF), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and some ethnic groups like Afenifere and Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
One of them cited how election related wranglings had never been this bad as, according to him, ever since an unthought-of opposition party All Progressives Congress, and a man considered to be bent on transferring the ownership of Nigeria from the few owners as it had always been to the masses of the people, General Muhammadu Buhari won election as President of the country in 2015, the self acclaimed life ruling politicians, who ruled the country for 16 years, have unprecedentedly continue to wage war against the country they seek and fail to rule again thinking it is the way they can regain power and ownership of the national resources.
The source, who under strict condition of anonymity, said: “For me particularly, the Nigerians’ negative attitude towards the resoluteness of the Muhammadu Buhari Administration to rescue them from the selfish, wicked elites is worrisome. Or does it mean I am the only one who is able to think fast to detect that the challenges this governors had from all fronts are simply from one source: the #CorruptionFightBack elements?”
He continued: “Recall these elements have penetrated virtually all segments causing ethnic, communal, religious discomfort and disharmony across the country. Their latest, after having failed in all the fronts, is the ongoing ‘Fulanization and Islamization’ claim in the anti-Nigerian project, which former President Olusegun Obasanjo has always led.
“Of more worries is that you the Nigerian media practitioners have failed to draw a line between pro-Nigerian and anti-Nigerian struggles that we clearly see and I see this failure of you people because of the way you provide these unpatriotic elements the platform to thrive. What you don’t know is that you gain more by standing with Nigeria and its collective people-based interest than when you stand with the few elites who are still so reach that you get from them the financial patronage you don’t get from government that has decided to spend the money only for general interest than self or individual.
“Without going too far, an offshoot of these #CorruptionFightBack could only have made a Governor in Wike to want to lead the battle against the nation’s mainstay of protective powers which are police and the military particularly the Nigerian Army and it will be in the best interest of the Nigerian media, NGOs and other Nigerian public to choose the peace, harmony and development of Nigeria against the selfish interest of the few elites because, the consequences of doing otherwise will be adverse and terminal,” he warned.
In exposing the Rivers governor’s latest allegations, the Army said:
“Although Nigerian Army do not wish to join issues with the Governor, yet it is important to strongly state that the allegations are false and figment of the Governor Wike’s imagination. It is a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering image of the Chief of Army Staff and the General Officer Commanding 6 Division.
“Needless to say that in response to many accusations against the Division, already some responsible good individuals and groups in Nigeria have exposed the antics of Governor Wike against the leadership of the Division and the NA.”
It will be recalled how Wike worked hard using the Judiciary in Abuja to stop probes into killings of police officers and other notable Nigerians in Rivers State during the time of immediate past Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Kpotun Idris.
Records have it that the governor had a telephone conversation which exposed the plots between him and Ayodele Fayose, then Ekiti State counterpart, to carry out the killings.
With Rivers being fire, Zamfara bandits on the rampage due to Hausa versus Fulani communal clashes extended to Katsina and parts of Sokoto and kidnappings and cultism going on largely in the South West, Obasanjo-led coalition thought Nigeria had enough “insecurity” to be whipped into the sentiment that Boko Haram is not what is thought but simply a ‘Fulanization and Islamization’ agenda of Muhammadu Buhari Administration.
Obasanjo’s failing in the PDP-laden divisive comments is in his lacking the smartness to say Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who his coalition seeks to install unconstitutionally despite losing elections, is not an acclaimed Hausa/Fulani by his indigineship and title of Wazirin Adamawa and that he is not a Muslim.
Read the statement from the Army below:
THERE IS NO TRUTH IN GOVERNOR WIKE’S CLAIMS AGAINST THE GOC 6 DIVISION
The attention of the 6 Division (NA) has been drawn to a yet another round of bizarre and spurious allegations against the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander Operation DELTA SAFE, Major General Jamil Sarham, by the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike in a video clip released to some sections of the press and social media outlets.
The clip was purportedly released on the 15th of May 2019 by one Simeon Nwakaudu, Special Assistant to the Rivers State Governor on Electronic Media in which the Governor made unfounded false allegations gainst the GOC 6 Division.
Although Nigerian Army do not wish to join issues with the Governor, yet it is important to strongly state that the allegations are false and figment of the Governor Wike’s imagination. It is a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering image of the Chief of Army Staff and the General Officer Commanding 6 Division. Needless to say that in response to many accusations against the Division, already some responsible good individuals and groups in Nigeria have exposed the antics of Governor Wike against the leadership of the Division and the NA.
It is imperative to state the campaign of calumny against General Sarham and the Nigerian Army leadership by Governor Wike did not start today. Recall that on 22nd February 2019, Governor Wike brazenly alleged that there was an attempt to exterminate his life by assassins organised by the GOC 6 Division. As weighty as the allegation was, we are yet to know any action taken by Mr Wike that guarantees his safety. Mr Wike has since failed to use civilised legitimate options to prove his allegations against Maj Gen Sarham.
On the mischievous accusation against General Sarham leaking proceeds of State Security Council Meetings to criminals in Rivers State, Mr Wike knows well that Maj Gen Sarham is not a member of the Rivers State Security Council, neither has he ever approached the gates of Rivers State Government House since his assumption of office as the GOC 6 Division. Mr Wike only came face to face with General Sarham on the 15th of January 2019 during the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade at Isaac Boro Park.
However, the Nigerian Army challenge Wike to provide the public with any evidence of such meetings with Maj Gen Sarham in attendance.
Accordingly, Wike’s allegation against Major General Sarham’s selfish involvement in illegal oil bunkering is another reckless, spurious and mischievous accusation.
Hence, Headquarters 6 Division wish to request the Governor to take the most civilised way of putting up a petition to the relevant authorities to make a point.
Mr Wike’s resentment against the GOC is based on the latter’s choice of professionalism and integrity over the billions of naira offered to him by the Governor to compromise the 2019 General Elections. His refusal to be bought over and the rejection of such hefty offer is the genesis of Wike’s hatred and vociferous criticisms against Maj Gen Sarham.
Consequently, 6 Division Nigerian Army wish to reiterate its commitment to the protection of lives and properties as well as the protection of critical national infrastructure in its Area of Responsibility for the benefit of the nation. The Division wishes to also state that no amount of blackmail and Area boy gerrymandering will affect its resolve and commitment to discharge its roles professionally and in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff.
AMINU ILIYASU
Colonel
Deputy Director Army Public Relations
20 May 2019