Milton Daniels Bishop: June 2016

Thursday 30 June 2016

Terrorists Have Always Been In Cyberspace – Max Gbanite

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A security consultant, Mr Max Gbanite, has thrown his weight behind the Nigerian military’s recent announcement that it was moving the war on terror to the cyberspace.

Mr Gbanite noted that the terrorists have always been in the cyberspace but much attention was not paid to it because getting them “off the ground” had been the priority all the while.

“Look Boko Haram has intelligence, they have brilliant people working with laptops taking money from banks, financing their operations. It is just that we need to migrate to that fight.

“But do we have enough intelligence and commitment to fight the war in the cyber? That is another question. Is the military funded to take this war into the cyberspace?

“They (terrorists) have proven that they can hack into any system in this country and show private documents of any Nigerian to the media and pretend it is an expose or investigative journalism.

“So it is proper for the Nigerian military to look into this. It is an innovation and part of the new development all over the world.”

In analyzing the gains in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism, Mr Gbanite acknowledged the improvement since the appointment of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai.

He recalled that the situation was bad enough to force the then Nigerian government to postpone the 2015 general elections but a more determined effort; new strategies and operational activities, have led to the improvement.

New Strategies

Mr Gbanite agreed with the claims by the military that it has succeeded in ensuring that the Boko Haram have become unable to lay claims to holding any Nigerian territories.

“We no longer see Boko Haram taunting our military. Our military have become the hunters and Boko Haram have become on the run,” he said, commending the rescue of several captives of the terrorists.

However, the implication of the success, according to the counter-terrorism expert is that the insurgents have also devised new approaches to their operations and this requires that Nigeria also changes tactics.

“Boko Haram is like a chameleon, they have gone back to asymmetry.

“They have developed new shaheeds. A shaheed is a suicide bomber. So we must attack their mindsets, we must change the narratives to degrade the recruitment of shaheeds in the Boko Haram,” he said.

He called on the media to further support the efforts of the security agencies by making their platforms available to publish the names and faces of suspected terrorists.

He also expressed hope that the newly appointed Acting Inspector-General of Police would build on the improvements recorded by former IGP Solomon Arase in the area of intelligence policing.

Buhari Pays Tribute To Maduekwe, Justice Tobi And Elechi Amadi

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday commiserated with the families government and people of Abia, Delta and Rivers States on the passing away of their illustrious sons Chief Ojo Maduekwe, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Justice Nikki Tobi, retired Supreme Court judge and Elechi Amadi, a literary icon.

“With profound sadness, President Buhari received the passing of Maduekwe, who also served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada”, a statement by President’s Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said.

The statement added that “in all his years of service to Nigeria as a diplomat, minister, politician and ambassador”, adding that “Maduekwe was an ardent believer in the unity of Nigeria and gave all to that pursuit.

“As Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, the President affirms that Maduekwe’s relentless call to citizen diplomacy and for Nigerians to be treated with dignity across the globe will continue to inspire other patriotic people to promote a positive international image of the country”, he said.

President Buhari also paid tribute to Justice Nikki Tobi, describing him as a brave jurist, who served Nigeria creditably and brought his many years of training, knowledge and wisdom to the Bench.

The President also joined the literary and academic community in mourning Amadi, whose writings and postulations as a novelist, poet and playwright introduced many generations of the world to the vibrant Nigerian culture.

In paying homage to the Man of Letters, visionary and venerated elder who dedicated his life to values of peace, equality, dignity and the reading culture in Nigeria, the President believes that the passing away of Amadi is as much a loss to Nigeria and Africa as it is to the world.

The President affirmed that the outpouring of grief and tribute across Nigeria and beyond is a testament of the high degree of respect and acceptance Amadi commanded around the world.

He prayed that God will grant the souls of the departed citizens eternal rest and comfort their families, friends and admirers.

Buhari Sympathises With Turkish President, Condemns Bombings

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday condemned the recent terror attacks on Ataturk Airport in Turkey, during which dozens of people from around the world lost their lives.

In a letter to his Turkish counterpart a day after the incident, the Nigerian President commiserated with President Recep Tayyep Erdogan and the entire people of Turkey on “this horrific attack” on their soil by evil forces who have nothing to do with Islam despite their warped beliefs.

“On behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I wish to convey my heartfelt sympathy to you and the people of Turkey on the shocking terrorist attack at the Ataturk Airport yesterday.

“Please extend my most sincere condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the victims of this tragic incident.

“We condemn in the strongest terms these criminal, cowardly attacks, wherever they might occur as an attack on all decent, democratic and peaceful people. Every terrorist attack only strengthens Nigeria’s resolve to stand shoulder to shoulder with Turkey and other countries in the frontline of the war on terror.

“Our government calls on all peace-loving nations to commit themselves wholeheartedly to multi-lateral cooperation and collaborative actions aimed at eradicating the scourge of international terrorism,” a statement by the President’s spokesman (Mr Garba Shehu) said.

President Buhari urged the people of Turkey to unite at this time and to strengthen their resolve to fight terrorism.

He described Turkey as a country that is rapidly growing and its government and people must not allow this attack to take their eyes away from the goal of progress.

President Buhari also stated that Nigeria would continue to cooperate with countries around the world on the war against terrorism until victory is won.

CBN Governor Tasks Youths On Local Production

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Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has appealed to Nigeria youths to channel their energies towards the production of goods and services locally.

Mr Emefiele was speaking on Thursday at a meeting to kick start the pilot phase of the Youths Entrepreneurship Programme in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

As over 1,000 members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) are expected to benefit from the scheme, he said the programme would reduce the pressure on the nation’s foreign exchange.

The CBN Governor noted that the the National Bureau of Statistics put the recent unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2016 at 42%.

He expressed optimism that reverse could be the case if more youths gain financing that would help boost their businesses.

The Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier General Sule Kazaure, commended the development.

He explained that the CBN and the NYSC were seeking to address the inability of the young population to access knowledge on finance schemes that could help them develop and grow their businesses.

Abia Governorship: Court Restrains Chief Judge, Others From Swearing-In Ogah

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The High Court sitting in Osisioma Ngwa Judicial Division has given an order of injunction restraining the electoral umpire, or the Chief Judge of the state or any other judge from swearing-in Samson Ogah as Abia Governor.

This comes as the state government has called for calm, insisting that Mr. Okezie Ikpeazu remains the Governor of Abia State.

In a statement, Governor Ikpeazu expressed concern over the action of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in issuing a certificate of return to Mr. Ogah as governor of Abia State, despite a notice of appeal and motion for stay of the orders made by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The statement adds: “our laws are clear on this matter. No one may be issued with a Certificate of Return let alone be sworn in as governor, when there is a subsisting appeal and application for stay.”

INEC had issued the Certificate of Return to Mr Uche Ogah as the Governor of Abia State.

INEC’s Director of Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, said this followed an order by the Abuja Federal High Court mandating INEC to immediately issue Certificate of Return to Mr Ogah, who came second at the last Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries in Abia State.

Kadiri Ikhana laments Enyimba Caf Champions League defeat

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The Peoples' Elephants are on the verge of crashing out of the competition, but their former manager believes Aigbogun's men can still turn things around. Kadiri Ikhana has lamented Enyimba's Caf Champions League defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns on Wednesday. The Nigerian champions lost 2-1 to the Brazilians and sit at the base of Group B having lost their first game to Zamalek.

Ikhana, who led team to their maiden Caf Champions League trophy in 2013 believes Enyimba can still turn things around to qualify for the semi-finals despite their current predicament.

“Enyimba are a brand new team with a new bench and players yet to blend compared to their Group B opponents who have been together for four or five years," Ikhana toldsupersport.com “The two teams are more solid than Enyimba, but that is not to say Enyimba are not a good team.

“Enyimba tried in the last game at Mamelodi Sundowns, but were unlucky to lose the encounter at the end of the day. “The losses to Zamalek and Sundowns are not good for us as we must now win our remaining matches to qualify.

“Of course, when you lose two matches in a qualifier it makes it difficult to go ahead and win a ticket. “However, as we know nothing is impossible in football and that’s why we should not completely lose hope of a positive turnaround. Enyimba can win the two remaining matches and qualify to the semifinals."

Enyimba shoot themselves in the foot vs. Mamelodi Sundowns

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The reigning NPFL champions needed to avoid defeat in order to seize control of their destiny, but costly errors now leave them on the brink. In a broadly strategic sense, the easiest way to win is to force an opponent into an area of weakness, thereby provoking errors. Enyimba’s 2-1 Caf Champions League loss to Mamelodi Sundowns showcased two teams who spent periods outside their comfort zone, and ultimately the hosts dealt with it better.

The difference however was that, in Enyimba’s caseit was , they who engineered their own discomfort quite readily. For a side that insists so much on defending deep within their own area, the reigning NPFL champions really aren’t very good at it. Both their centre-backs are physical man-markers, in particular captain Chinedu Udoji has made a name for himself as something of a hard man who plays with his heart on his sleeve.

It is eye-catching, but masks a lot of tactical deficiencies within the player’s game and, in certain situations, such as in Pretoria, can be overtly counterproductive.

Sundowns opened the scoring after Keagan Dolly’s low, slightly scuffed cut-back was hashed up, allowing Leonardo Castro to bundle home. By unnecessarily going to ground in a bid to clear, Udoji lost control off the situation and slid the clearance against the retreating Kelly Kester, the sort of error that results when tackling, usually a last resort, becomes a trademark.

For their part, Enyimba did a fine job applying pressure in midfield and forcing turnovers in the first half. The pressing actions lacked coordination though, and with greater composure on the ball, the hosts would have broken through quite easily-the visitors simply closed down the ball carrier as quickly and aggressively as possible, but without proper spacing, there was a lot of energy unnecessarily expended. It told after the break, as there was a huge drop-off in intensity and closing down.

What it did do, though, was ensure the People’s Elephant faced no period of sustained pressure in the first period. Indeed, they looked more likely to go ahead, even in spite of the puzzling decision to exclude the competition’s top scorer, Mfon Udoh, from the start. Nzube Anaezemba came into the side and played loosely on the left of a midfield three, shuttling out to the flank to close down the Downs’ full-back. Christian Pyagbara was nominally on the left of the front three, but played extremely narrow, almost as a strike partner for Ifeanyi Onuigbo, while Daniel Etor played a more traditional wide role on the right.

It was an unfamiliar shape, Paul Aigbogun’s attempt at a compromise between a front two and midfield superiority. It didn’t make for fluency when putting together attacking moves from deep though; instead, Enyimba looked brightest when pressing high and winning the ball in advanced areas. Onuigbo lacks refinement, but his energy was crucial here, and while he was often wasteful (and clumsy) in possession, he stung the palms of Wayne Sandilands in the first half, and also played Pyagbara in behind the defence for a decent chance which the experienced goalkeeper sped out to smother.

This aside, the two-time African champions also found joy when the impressive Anaezemba stormed forward with intent. The diminutive midfielder offers dynamism, and gaps appeared whenever he was able to combine with midfield partner Ikechukwu Ibenegbu between the lines. This, sadly, happened without any real regularity.

Dare Ojo’s stunning equaliser seemed to breathe new life into Enyimba, imbuing the visitors with a visible swagger and newfound impetus: Pyagbara again failed to beat Sandilands after running onto a through ball, and substitute Udoh was similarly thwarted. That was before Wayne Arendse’s sucker punch with 13 minutes to play, a crushing blow which brought the Elephant to its knees, wheezing.

Surprisingly, there was no rally, no urgency in the closing stages, a meek surrender hinting at a pitiful lack of character.

On their brilliant white strip, above and below the club badge, are nine stars, two for their Champions League titles in 2003 and 2004, and the rest for each of their league titles. If it feels like overkill, that’s because it is; think of it as the sign of a club undergoing an existential crisis, overcompensating in a bid to reconnect with its identity. This teams bears the name and the crest, but in those final 10 minutes, it looked nothing like Enyimba.