By BASHIR ADEFAKA
In what looks like response to a recent challenge fired by the House of Representatives at President Muhammadu Buhari to name member of National Assembly sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria, the Presidency has come up with a name and more may still emerge.
In an apparently decisive weekly column by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Mr Femi Adesina, the Presidency spat at the challenge and the challenger in the face using linguistic intelligence to name one of them, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe.
*Partners in terrorism? Nigeria’s senior Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe poses with leader of IPOB terrorist group, Nnamdi Kanu, in this file photo.
Abaribe remains in the consciousness of an average Nigerian as the Federal lawmaker, who earns Nigeria’s money as senator and uses it to sponsor a terrorist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and its leader Nnamdi Kanu, whose destructive campaigns put the country at security risk and he has put off the nation as merely a zoo that must be destabilized and collapsed.
He stood surety for Kanu and watched him jump bail escaping into United Kingdom only to use his Radio Biafra, via social media networks including Twitter, to spread Fake News and with that has caused several deaths of innocent souls and destruction of several public infrastructures in the country.
The DEFENDER reports that President Buhari had, in his Independence Anniversary broadcast address, revealed how ongoing investigations showed that high-profile personalities were behind the terrorism and other criminal activities perpetrated by arrested Nnamdi Kanu and Sunday Adeyemo a.k.a. Sunday Igboho.
He then vowed to now go after those personalities one after another including those at the National Assembly.
Characteristically, some lawmakers – believed to be opposition members in the lower chamber of National Assembly, as usual like they did about Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) contractors challenge – asked the president to name the lawmakers sponsoring terrorism, a question generally believed to be counterproductive to the fight against insecurity in the country.
In the piece on Friday, Mr. Adesina, breaking down the President’s broadcast address to the layman understanding, gave a confidence that Mr. President minces no words about anything as he says things as they are.
Telling the public to believe the President when he says that “in line with section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the security and welfare of Nigerians continue to be the prime focus on which programmers and projects of our government revolve,” the presidential media and publicity adviser said, “When Muhammadu Buhari tells you something, you can take it to the bank. Believe!”
He continued, “Some people incite violence through words or actions, thus exacerbating the security challenges we have. You wonder where they are from, and why they would further stoke a burning fire with incendiary materials.”
Although he did not mention name specifically, Mr. Femi Adesina said:
“There is one funny Senator who talks about the mismanagement of our diversity as a country, yet he daily uses foul language against those in leadership. He stood surety for someone bent on dismemberment of the country, and when that one vanished, and he should have been cooling his feet in prison, the Senator still spews rubbish. Chief ‘mismanager’ of our diversity. And the President had words for him and his ilk, who exist round the country.”
Quoting the president he said: “We are ready to arrest and prosecute all persons inciting violence through words or action. Our resolve for a peaceful, united and one Nigeria remains resolute and unwavering…
“The seeds of violence are planted in people’s heads through words. Reckless utterances of a few have led to losses of many innocent lives and destruction of properties.”
From the words of the Presidency’s senior man, lips have wagged with questions as to if Eyinnaya Abaribe is not one of National Assembly members sponsoring insecurity occasioned by all phases of terrorism especially by IPOB in South East region of the country.
He praised the great work the Nigerian Armed Forces have done in the last four months tackling situation that has made the last 18 months most challenging for the country in terms of security.
Recall the President said: “In the last four months, the gallant men and women of the military and security agencies have made tremendous progress in addressing these new security challenges. We are taking the fight to our enemies from all angles, and we are winning.”
Adesina explained: “God bless our troops! From the air, the land, the waters, they are defending us, routing out the evil and wicked. They pay heavy prices, even the ultimate sacrifice, but they keep at it. Nigeria must be free, and must be at peace. By force! We appreciate. We are winning all the wars, we are not looking back. With the banners before us, we are sure of victory. I say it again: God bless our troops! Amen.”
He advised Nigerians saying, “Nigeria must go beyond a never-ending potential for becoming a great nation to an actually great one. Many presidents have said it. Shehu Shagari. Olusegun Obasanjo. Umaru Yar’Adua. Goodluck Jonathan. But here we are today, still just a country with potentials. But I tell you, under Muhammadu Buhari, those inherent capacities and capabilities are being unearthed, utilized, and we are on our way there. It’s just to stay focused, and we’ll get to our Canaan, flowing with milk and honey.
“Finally, my brethren. President Buhari said a lot has been achieved in the past six years on many fronts: in infrastructure, social care, governance, Nigeria’s image and influence in Africa and the international community. He added: “But critics misdiagnose incremental progress as stagnation. Since coming to power, this Administration has tackled our problems head-on in spite of the meager resources. No government since 1999 has done what we have done in six years to put Nigeria back on track.”
“Bull’s eye! And I challenge those who kept us in the slave market for 16 years, and threatened to keep us cabined, cribbed and consigned for 60 years, to controvert it. I join Minister Raji Fashola, SAN, to challenge them to show us one major road project they started and completed in 16 years. One major bridge, rail project, airport they built, despite the humongous resources at their disposal. Let them speak up now, or forever hold their peace,” Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, said.
