Three Boko Haram Groups: Which Is Responsible For Catholic Church Bombing - Akin' Okunowo, Monday, September 24, 2012

According to President Goodluck Jonathan at the 52nd Independence Anniversary Lecture, "...when we talk about the Boko Haram, we have political Boko Haram, religious Boko Haram and criminal Boko Haram. So also in the media, you have the professional media and the political media...."
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Considering the implication of ongoing back door dialogue by the Federal Government with the Boko Haram, it is important for clarification on which of the Boko Haram government have been meeting. Before the sect rejected the claim of the government that they were having meetings in Nigeria and abroad, the impression initially created was that the government is meeting the sect as a single body. The confusing aspect of this development now is that government might have been dealing with the wrong set of people all along.

However, the president is yet to mention which of the three class of the sect government have been meeting. But it is easy to conclude that government meetings and dialogue are not targeted at the terrorists. And whenever it appeared that the government is making progress, the real sect or the 'Criminal Boko Haram' comes up to debunk government claims. Likewise, the government too won't not make meaningful response against such claims, rather it sends state forces and other law enforcers after them while dialogue upon dialogue still continue.

Since the government have not been meeting with the real terrorists as the public was made to understand before now, then this crisis is becoming more complicated by the government itself; otherwise, there is need to check and review the role of government from the time Mohammed Yusuf was murdered up till date. It is worrisome with the level of the complication today that government will find it very difficult to fight terrorism in our Nigeria. The high level of corruption and confusion involved makes it obvious that the government cannot deal with the crisis accordingly than cover up its key political and religious government players in the sect.

From the outset, the government approach was poor in handling the matter, and it appear there are conspiracy to create mystery around the some people's involved in the sect. Now classifying Boko Haram membership into three different kind at this stage that so much time and resources have been wasted on the dialogue with no good result to show for is not encouraging. Now, the three-in-one sect consists of the following classes: the rich politicians (sponsors) as "Political Boko Haram," the non-political leaders as "Religious Boko Haram" and the poor as "Criminal Boko Haram." Meanwhile, both the rich and the leaders are known by the government. Those the government had emphasized not to know from the first day this sect started its terrorist assaults are the poor class.



It is advisable that government need not to protect the leaders and sponsors of the sect. There should be no secret amnesty for any one of them because this will have grave consequences on the security of the nation, and as well as, promote more corruption in Jonathan's government. Government is expected to be dealing with the those who are responsible for the various terrorist attacks committed by the sect. The Nigerian public are not requesting for detailed video and report of meetings and discussion, but desire meaningful approach and good result. They are not in support of the government organising secret meetings to protect the identities of sponsors and leaders of Boko Haram.

The implications are more because the good image of the entire northern politicians and leaders is stylishly put at stake by those covering up the terrorists. Of course, all the northern politicians and leaders cannot be terrorists, but it might be assumed that they are the ones playing on the President's intelligence or influencing the success of government being on top of the problem.

It is disheartening that this crisis that started from the refusal of the sect to follow a motor-bike helmet law in July 2009 was mismanaged by government to a level that many lives and properties are lost and harmed without solution. To be frank, the kind of knowledge and experience needed in handling this matter is very different. What is the background, experience and knowledge of those handling this matter? Why are the not confident at carrying out their duty in such encouraging manner with less errors and failure? Please, note that the insurgency is not based on religion issues alone, it is an aftermath of the extra-judicial killing of the sect against injustice, corruption, poor education and poverty indictment they made against their political class and government in the northern region.

From the beginning, there are religious and political back up for the sect. This confusion started long ago when Mohammed Yusuf was killed and the name of the sect was nicknamed Boko Haram. The original name of the sect is "Jama'atul Alhul Sunnah Lidda'wati wal Jihad" or "People committed to the propagation of the Prophet's teachings and jihad". There is need to know the reasons for this change; otherwise, many issues will still be covered along with the murder of Mohammed Yusuf. The word "Boko Haram" have not occur to many people that it was the re-branding master plan to create artificial confusion around the sect membership, operations and ideologies, allow the insecurity to linger much longer to distract the mass populace and later rig elections in future.

Therefore, any cover up by the government to protect the politicians and leaders involved before, during and after the sect is labelled Boko Haram will be counter productive for this nation, the government itself and the international community. The ongoing government "back door" dialogue with the Boko Haram is supposed address those bombing and killing to stop. Meeting any other people apart from the terrorists should not be the focus of government secret dialogue with the sect. And since the process is already ongoing, it is good to ask who are the Boko Haram the government have been meeting and having dialogue with?

Obasanjo Blames Boko Haram On Inadequate Education In The North - Akin' Okunowo, Friday, September 14, 2012

The situation in Nigeria has called for everybody to be involved. In the news, it was reported that the former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, showed a lot of concern towards finding lasting solutions to the Boko Haram insurgency. Based on his experience, education is essential for the development of the citizens in the north. Also that the issue of leadership in Nigeria must be improved to bring good results and not failure. The provision of unemployment opportunities for the citizens must be dealt with to tackle a lot of crises. He also noted on BBC Focus on Africa (September 14, 2012) that the major external factors encouraging terrorism are handiwork of Qaddafi of Libya who trained and armed forces to wreck havoc in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. In conclusion, he described Boko Haram’s demands as ‘unattainable.’
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It is reasonable to understand that the former president have mentioned some of the factors responsible for high rate of terrorism in Nigeria. However, it is the duty of the government like tax is been enforced, to ensure that every child is compelled to be given useful education in life. The government can focus on improving the weaknesses of the vast populace to properly train every child in Nigeria. Through this, adequate monitoring and provision of needed facilities and manpower to relief the burden of developing better citizens will be provided.

Governments at all levels in the country has role to play. They also need to ensure that this education in issue must be provided for all so that our society will not be bearing a burden of great loss that will set us back as a nation. The step in this direction requires that government must make it a law for officials or office holders in government not to train their wards outside Nigeria. Those who already have their wards abroad should have them withdrawn back to any public or private schools in Nigeria. This step in the right direction will not make mockery of our education system and people in administration of policies making and implementation for the development of our society will also eat from their programs. Education in Nigeria will never be improved if the people in control of governance are allowed to avoid reaping from what they had sown.

President Goodluck Jonathan must make a change for government to take control of welfare and protection of the general interests of the people. He must come up with realizable plans to save the all citizens from all sorts of foreseeable problems. This will make education accessible for all, provide people with good jobs for what they are skillful and knowledgeable in. This must start on time to realize desired results as it is in the policies of government towards Vision 2020. This will benefit majority of the people and bring about rapid human and resource development in a short time. Then government must organise enlightenment and advocacy programs to discourage all manner of corruption, campus cultism, and other forms of terrorist acts.

Poverty and political propaganda must be tackled by this government to discourage eulogizing political office holders with government resources. There should be provision of good health and social facilities and amenities for the populace. Before, it was campus cultism, later it was militants in the creek, now Boko Haram Islamic sect, only God knows what next? It is important there is justice, uncompromised rule of law and good governance for efforts towards peace to make good result. For example, if the unlawful mass murder in Maiduguri that is popularly referred to as extra-judicial killing was handled without delay, fear or favor, there will be no Boko Haram groups bombing in our society.

We have to pay attention to the increasing rate of campus cult membership recruitment in the northern part of Nigeria. The northern part of Nigeria recorded the lowest record of cult activities before the issue of Boko Haram came. After the mass murder in Maidugui, suddenly the recruitment increase in number and strategic operations of the cult became most active in the country. In fact, young people including children were targeted. Meanwhile, campus cultism with strong propaganda of blackmailing Islam against the Christians made it possible for their terrorist assault to affect most people in the various communities they have attacked. Through campus cultism, it is very easy for Boko Haram to subject some of their members to brainwashing process for the execution of their various terrorist acts, possibly creating some benefits for all sacrificial efforts in pursuit of their goals. It is time Nigeria start looking in the direction of checking the operations of cult system in our society in other to facilitate good counseling and rehabilitation for citizens.

If the government cannot fight corruption and eradicate campus cultism, there is a great challenge that the government might not be able to conquer the problems responsible for all manner of local terrorism in recent times. There is an ongoing round table dialogue between the Federal Government and the Boko Haram, and there is also an ongoing arm engagement with another Boko Haram in Maiduguri by the JTF that has arrested, killed and burst some Boko Haram members and operations. Emphasis should be laid on the success of the 'back door' meeting and military clampdown since these are the major efforts of the government to be in control of the situation in Nigeria now.

Mr. President Sir. We Need Good Lessons To Discourage All Manner Of Terrorism In Nigeria

We are 52... Happy Independence Day Nigeria!

We need to progress and move our nation forward. The world is moving everyday and we cannot afford to wait behind. Let's stop seeking magic solutions to all our problems. Let us come together as one family and reason with one another, hold colorful parade to share this happy moment as we believe that good lessons will be useful for all of us. Let us share good lessons from today as we commission this official blog of the "Anti-Cult Lessons" today. Congratulations!

The recommended material for anti-terrorism lessons in Nigeria is a book titled "Beware of Cultism (the Gathering of Demons)." This book was awarded the “Most Outstanding Publication on Campus Cultism in Nigeria” at the Lagos Women Award 2012 by the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria, an affiliation of the International Council of Women (ICW), on 21st February 2012. It is a book that focus on the menace of campus cultism in Nigeria, emphasizing on how terrorism has deepened hard into our society. It tells the background, culture, tradition and operation of the terrorist groups; and how dangerous the trend has become to mankind. It gives a broader understanding on the process of how young people are being transformed into Satanists and local terrorists in the society. It is tells what every Nigerian citizen need to know on the menace of campus cultism in Nigeria. This book enrich your knowledge and understanding, whether you are students, parents, guardians, tutors, law enforcers or stakeholders in the progress of our society.

Useful useful lessons will be developed from this book on a regular basis through this blog. The lessons will be used to combat all manner of terrorism and other associated vices. The lessons are frank critical minded contributions that should not be seen as antagonistic to anybody. This forum is a platform for every Nigerian to contribute to our nation building at this critical point in time. It is fundamental that everybody is concerned about their safety and are free to express their mind without any form of fear or threat. This forum will be of help to all of us. Let us join hands and make this material and lessons available for your children, tutors, students, libraries and all those that need it. Educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and so on will find this forum useful to grooming resource persons to teach lessons against campus cultism and all its associated vices.

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Corruption Rock Lagos State Treasury Office - Akin' Okunowo, Thursday, September 27, 2012

Corruption have become a common phenomenon across all levels of governance in Nigeria. The mass population of the citizens continue to suffer a lot, especially in the hands of the politicians, as a result of the various corrupt activities perpetuated by government officials. Our focus today is on the hardship the civil servants who are into cooperative societies in Lagos State are undergoing over collecting their entitlement from government. This entitlement was deducted from their salary as monthly contribution for cooperative societies and were supposed to be remitted immediately into the accounts of the appropriate societies for easy accesses of the staffs. The Lagos State Treasury Office that is in charge deducting the money from salaries straight into the accounts of the cooperative societies involved have no reason not to remit their money once deducted. But it is now over a month after August deduction that the office has refused to remit the money. Many of the affected government workers now have their children sitting at home not going to school because of unpaid bills for school fees and books for  their wards.

Corruption in the management of pension and cooperative funds by government is becoming more worrisome in Nigeria. Labourers' entitlement are deliberately mismanaged by the concerned administrative bodies who usually divert the funds for their own selfish purposes at the expense of a very huge number of workers in the state. Among these civil servants in Lagos State are teachers. Seeing the hardship these teachers are seriously going through over this matter, it is important that the attitude of government victimizing and oppressing the teachers and other poor civil servants must be corrected. Many of the government workers into cooperative societies are now living miserable life conditions as a result of delay of their entitlement by the Lagos State Treasury Office.

On a good note, cooperative societies have been helpful for the lower cadre of government workers to manage the peanuts they earned as salaries. With their monthly contributions, many of them could set aside a portion of their salaries to meet some of their personal financial challenges. The Lagos State Trasury Office monthly deduct the contributions of these government workers who belong to cooperative societies on behalf of these cooperatives societies. Immediately the money is deducted, the Treasury Office remits it accordingly into the accounts of the cooperative societies, for example, the Teaching Service Cooperative Society in Ikeja, Head of Office Cooperative Society in Alausa, and District II Maryland Cooperative Society. 

But it is unfortunate that the process is now abused by the Treasury Office, and the workers have been experiencing unnecessary delay before their money is remitted. This corrupt practices became worse since April this year that the unnecessary delay of their money for a month or more before being released now become a common experience for the poor workers. A staff of the Lagos State Ministry Agriculture and Cooperatives Societies who do not want his name to be mentioned claimed that "...the delay has nothing to do with our own ministry. It's from the treasury office Alausa. From what we heard, the governor has borrowed the money to construct roads, that is why everybody is experiencing delay. But I cannot guarantee whether they will pay the one they are deducting this month too on time even when the August is released this month. There is nothing we can do to help until your money is released to us."

If this claim is genuine, definately, what the governor has done is wicked, selfish, reckless and not right. However, further investigation shows that this money is deliberately delayed in banks by top government officials in order to gain secret interest. These top government officials usually conspired among themselves to delay any money in government accounts in their huge figures, including the ones belonging to workers, for a period when bank interest could be drawn before they release the money for its original purpose. Whether it is the governor doing this or the officials at the Treasury Office, there is need for the necessary financial crime agencies in the country to step into this matter and check the high rate of corruption in the government. 

If actually the governor is not involved, he should have investigated this matter since April 2012, except he is not aware which could be very strange considering that members of his personal staff too must belong to these cooperative societies. However, at this critical point in time, there is need for Governor Raji Fashola to urgently look into this matter and purge his administration and government of corrupt practices. The high level of corruption in the government is pathetic, sad, wicked and insensitive to the welfare of people, including government workers. The treasury office have serious explaination to make as to how the money deducted from the salaries are no longer available in the bank for remittance to the appropriate cooperative societies. And if the money is still in bank, why have they refused to remit the money immediately to the appropriate cooperative societies, what are they still waiting for? Also, where is the interests that have accrued on the money delayed since April up-to-date?

Meanwhile, the civil servants involved in these cooperative societies are making regular monthly contributions from their salaries in order to pay their children's school fess, house rent bills, and handle immediate domestic needs. Therefore, the integrity of the Lagos State Government is seriously at stake. The government must ensure that the welfare of these workers is protected. It is a shame that government officials abuse their offices to such level of mismanaging the entitlements of government laborers, which include the teachers. Too sad for Nigeria.

There should be no delay in remitting their money immediately it is deducted from their salary. The attitude of corrupt government officials delaying their money in banks in order to benefit secret interest should be seriously investigated and stopped. For example, the July deduction of the Lagos State workers was made on 27th July and was no released until 29th August. That of August was deducted on 26th August and yet to be released. The one for September was deducted today, 27th September. Only God knows when it will be released when the one for August is yet to be released. The Lagos State Treasury Office should have explanation for this delay. 

This delay is totally unfair and reckless. It is sad that this has affected many of the civil servants to the extent that they cannot pay school and rent bills. This delay have abused and defeated the purpose of the cooperative societies. This corrupt practice is common in many states across the country, and it has been happening for too long and it is totally unfair. Therefore, it is high time that government at all levels find a lasting solution to this problem in order to ensure that corruption do not totally jeopardize the welfare of government workers in the nation. 

Nevertheless, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola should look into this matter and expedite action for immediate release of all money as soon as they are deducted to the appropriate accounts of the cooperative societies. All those involved in the delay and mismanagement of those delayed since April and up till now should be investigated and punished accordingly. If the governor is involved too, as a SAN, he should voluntarily submit himself to appropriate punishment. It is reckless and greedy for government to borrow without consent from the owners money not belonging to government. This is not just wrong, it is very careless, selfish, wicked and counter productive to the welfare of the workers.

HATE OR ACCIDENT (1): WHAT CAUSED NIGERIAN DEATH IN UKRAINE POOL - by Akin' Okunowo

This review focus on the welfare of Nigerians in Ukraine considering circumstances that led to the death of Oladayo Olaleye, a 29 years old Nigerian engineering student in Ukraine . The purpose is to use this scenario to widen your knowledge on similar incidents.
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It happened on the 14th of July 2012 around 6 pm at the swimming pool of the Black Sea Hotel when No Culture band was invited to perform at an occasion. The hotel is opening for new service at Odessa City and invited No Culture to perform for its guests. The major people involved in this matter are two Nigerians, they were good friends and studying in Ukraine, Oladayo Olaleye and Adewole Ajeigbe. Both of them were into entertainment: Oladayo was a dancer, while Adewole is a music singer. Adewole runs a musical band called "No Culture" which creates means of extra income for them as students who cannot work while studying in Ukraine. Adewole do invite Oladayo to dance when No Culture performs at occasions. For more information about the band, click here.

Oladayo Olaleye hailed from Oshogbo, Osun State in Nigeria, and studied marine engineering at Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding in Ukraine. He graduated from the university the same month he died after spending five years in Ukraine. According to a report, he met his untimely death five days before he was to arrive back in Nigeria.

Before No Culture performed at the Sea Hotel, both friends, Oladayo and Adewole, went to swim at the beach near the hotel. On getting back to the hotel, Oladayo wanted to swim more and went to the swimming pool of the hotel where Adewole left him with three ladies by the pool side. Adewole left him to get the band ready for performance at the occasion.

Over 30 minutes later, their performance was due to commence, Adewole had not seen his colleague return from the pool. He inquired about his friend from the three ladies who had come to the area he was. The ladies told him that they left his friend by the pool side. He went to the pool side and found Oladayo lying face up inside the seven-foot-deep-pool.  He jumped inside the water to save his friend and called for help; some staff of the hotel assisted him. Oladayo was rushed to a hospital where he was confirmed dead.

Adewole did not know whether the three ladies swam together with his friend or saw him when he drowned. Could it be possible that a marine engineer trained in Ukraine cannot swim in a seven-foot-deep-pool? Could he be drunk or on drugs, or in poor state of health? An online journal, African Outlook, carried out an investigation into the matter but could not conclude on what caused his death. The author, Wasiu Sodeinde, emphasized more on emotion of the deceased's family, and the experience the author himself went through to gather his information. The investigation was not balanced to give insight into the actual cause of OLadayo's death.

Another limitation of the report is that the author based his conclusion on telephone and email conversations without extracting relevant facts and evidence that are available on the matter. He made no cross-examination efforts to assess the confessional answers to his questions as claimed by Adewole. He drew assumptions to suite his personal notion against  Adewole claim; and he sees Adewole as obstacle to the success of coming to a logical conclusion on his investigation.

Anti-Cult Lessons is looking beyond Wasiu Sodeinde's report, and shall beam its search light on what actually caused the death of Oladayo Olaleye. You can read Wasiu Sodeinde's Report here.