A former Nigerian and Biafran soldier, Colonel Emmanuel Nwobosi, has warned that history may repeat itself as Nigeria has failed to learn from the events of 1967.
Nwobosi, who was one of the officers that truncated the nation’s first republic in the January 15, 1966 coup, said that President Muhammadu Buhari was sleeping on the wheels.
He further warned that the planned settlement of Fulani herdsmen across the country, otherwise known as Ruga would surely set Nigeria ablaze or bring it to its knees.
“The thing is that they said that if you don’t learn from the history of war of the past; something will repeat itself,” he told Sun.
“That thing they said would repeat itself is what is about to happen now. The latest is with this Ruga, which would surely set Nigeria ablaze or bring it to its knees.
“Sometimes, I would like to think that Buhari has lost control of the Government like he said the other time that he didn’t know about the Ruga idea.
“If it’s true that he didn’t know about it; then he must be asleep on the wheels, if not, I would think that heads should have started rolling because this Ruga programme has given him such a bad name.
“It’s not easy to wipe it off and as if he’s not attempting to learn any lesson; the fact that Ruga is just about dying down, and they’ve started this one they said, is electronic registration of illegal aliens.
“I don’t think that one has come out in the media as Ruga; not too many people know about it. We are still talking about what was done and even more dangerous steps were being taken.
“I really don’t know because Buhari had been really very eager to go back to the seat after his military administration. He did everything; and there were different opinions as to why he continued trying.
“Some said; those who wanted to use him to achieve their aim were so dogged that even if he was tired or not ready to risk it; they were pushing him.
“I cannot imagine what is going on now; it’s either things have gone amok; he’s lost touch with reality or he is still in control but wants us to believe he’s lost touch.
“Whichever of them, it’s not good for the country. You know, sometimes when Nnamdi Kanu talks about Jibril from Sudan, I try to think whether there is some truth in it; after a while, I said no, if it were Jibril, he would have betrayed certain things.”
Growing Insecurity: NPM tells Buhari to start dialogue to avoid anarchy
Some concerned elder statesmen and political activists, under the Project Nigeria Movement, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to take urgent measures to stem the spate of killings in the country in order to avoid an erosion of legitimacy in the country.
While condemning the killing of Nigerians across the country, they stressed the need for the President to constitute a “national consultative and reconciliatory commission of eminent leaders and jurists” to engage in dialogue and engender national understanding and reconciliation.”
The NPM, with a former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; Prof Ben Nwabueze, SAN, among others, as members, lamented that the heightened criminal activities of bandits and terrorists had pushed the nation to the brink of anarchy.
The group stated this at a press conference on the insecurity and political tension in the country in Lagos on Friday.
A statement signed by a former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke; professor of political economy, Pat Utomi; Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide; Director, Centre for International and Advanced Professional Studies, Prof. Anthony Kila; and the Head of Secretariat, PNM, Sir Olawale Okunniyi, urged Buhari to take urgent steps to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the dastardly acts.
The statement read in part, “We strongly call on President Muhammadu Buhari, as the chief security officer of the country, to take visible and active measures to secure the country and to urgently put in place a serious security machinery to fish out these criminal invaders and murderers, whoever they are, and to make them pay for their ungodly acts.”
Army confirms killings of Colonel, Captain, soldiers as Boko Haram over power troops
The Nigerian Army has confirmed the killing of an Army Colonel and a Captain in an ambush laid by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno/ Yobe states axis.
The Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, in Charge of the 212 Battalion in the northeast, Col Ado Isa said in a statement that the incident happened when troops were in hot pursuit of terrorists who came to attack a military base.
He said three soldiers were also killed in the attack, while the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai has commiserated with the families of the fallen heroes.
The statement by Col Isa reads: “Troops of 212 Battalion deployed at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Jakana, on Wednesday 17Th July 2019 dealt with and neutralised unconfirmed number of Boko Haram/ISWAP Terrorists when they woefully attempted to infiltrate their base in dire need for logistics.
“The terrorists came at about 1845 hours in 7 Gun Trucks and fought fiercely to infiltrate the camp, but the attack was thwarted with heavy fire and bombardment by the gallant and patriotic troops who were vigilant and battle-ready.
“The terrorists couldn’t bear the firepower any longer after losing a significant number of both equipment and personnel in an exchange of fire.
“They lost initiative and withdrew in disarray along the Benisheikh – Damaturu axis, – abandoning a damaged utility Gun truck which was earmarked to convey looted items.
“Troops immediately followed in hot pursuit and the following items were captured:
1 x Anti Aircraft Gun
2 x Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) Tubes
2 x AK 47 Rifles
15 x Machine Gun rounds
and 12 x AK 47 NATO rounds.
“Sadly, a Colonel and a Captain, as well as 3 soldiers on transit from Maiduguri to Damaturu, run into an ambush staged by the routed/fleeing terrorists from the Jakana axis which led to their unfortunate death.
“The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai while commiserating with the families of the fallen heroes reiterated that “Personnel of the Nigerian Army will never be deterred in the ongoing noble and patriotic fight against terrorism and insurgency in the North East”.
“He further commended the efforts of the entire troops in the theatre and charged them to remain focus, highly committed and professional in the discharge of their constitutional roles.
“The sacrifices of the fallen heroes in the ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency is no doubt painful to all, but that will further spur us to do more to ensure that our country remains secured, peaceful and free from terrorist activities for the overall interest of the nation.”
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