Detentions: Punch Lied, Says DSS

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December 31, 2019

The Department of State services, DSS, has denied involvement in the detention of Agba Jalingo and Abubakar Idris, two people detained in Kaduna and cross River respectively.

Reacting to reports by The Punch and Daily trust, the DSS said that the allegation that they knew anything about the detentions were at best ‘spurious”. Below is an extract of a press release by the group.

“The attention of the Department of State Services (DSS) has been drawn to serial allegations by sections of the media particularly the Punch and Daily Trust Newspapers that the Service is illegally detaining some Nigerians.

“Of specific mention were Abubakar IDRIS (aka Dadiyata) and Agba JALINGO said to have been arrested in Kaduna and Cross River States respectively by the Service.

“Another was Punch Newspaper’s wild allegation in its publications of 6^th and 29^th December, 2019 that over 50 suspects are being held by the Service under excruciating conditions and “routinely tortured”.

“These allegations, to say the least, are spurious and can only be taken for what they are – deliberate and subversive campaigns of calumny to undermine the Service and cast it in bad light before the public.

“That IDRIS was taken away from his house by some armed men does not suggest that those men were DSS staff. It was expected that Daily Trust and Punch should have properly conducted their investigations before holding the Service responsible for the acts it did not commit.

“For the sake of emphasis, the Service has no reasons to deny its arrest and detention of suspects if actually it carried out operations during which such persons were arrested.

“It is not out of place for security and law enforcement agencies to arrest and detain law breakers or those suspected to be. The arrest and detention of suspects are procedural and undergo continuous review. In certain conditions, some are routinely questioned and released while others are granted administrative bail.

“Some who are still under investigation or already undergoing prosecution are held on the basis of Court orders. Suspect handling is a critical aspect of the Service’s responsibility and this is taken seriously without any form of compromise.

“It diligently carries out this function in strict compliance with the criminal justice administration system and intelligence governance procedures absolutely necessary for consolidating democratic ideals in Nigeria.

“It is, however, important to state that suspects in the Service’s detention are not “routinely tortured”. Such accusation by the Punch or any other media outfit for that matter is only imaginary and a creation of the concerned newspapers.

“It is, therefore, disappointing that the Daily Trust and Punch would use screaming and sensational headlines to negatively profile the Service. For instance, the Daily Trust in one of its features of 31^st December, 2019, reported that “Four Months after, Family drags … DSS to Court over Missing Activist”. In the same vein, the Punch Newspaper had earlier on 29^th December, 2019 used “Sad Tales of Other Illegal Detainees Trigger Concerns”.

“In these misleading accounts, the Newspapers under reference reeled out falsehood against the Service. The Daily Trust Newspaper did not even believe some of the enquiries it had made from both the Kaduna Commands of the Service and the Police which had shown that IDRIS was not held by the Service. Furthermore, the newspapers have not brought forward any evidence(s) to the contrary that the suspects so referred in their write ups are in DSS custody.

“The style so far adopted by these two otherwise respected newspapers negate the ethics of professional media practice. Their positions and similar ones suggest that the country should probably be left lawless, chaotic and allowed to be taken over by criminals while the agencies go to slumber for fear of being unduly castigated or maligned.

“The Service is a professional body and a major stakeholder in Nigeria’s democratic governance. Its operations are guided by strict rules and procedures. It is mindful of the rights of citizens and will, however, continue to perform its statutory roles without let or fear. It will hinge such practice on the rule of law, respect for citizens’ rights and support for constituted authorities.

“It is believed that the Punch and Daily Trust will not engage in any acts that are capable of undermining national security and as such, patriotically recommit themselves and with deep sense of responsibility, to the pursuit of peace and order.

“The Service is dedicated to a robust collaboration with stakeholders, especially the media. But it wishes to categorically state that it will, henceforth, not condone acts of misrepresentation and falsehood against it and in this regard, will explore legal options to seek redress,” the statement noted.

Shehu Sanni Arrested By EFCC On Extortion Charges

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Uche Mbah

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December 31, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

The fiery and outspoken former senator that represented Kaduna Central senatorial district, Shehu Sanni, has been allegedly arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, of extortion charges. He was said to have extorted someone to the tune of $20,000 dollars.

His victim was alleged to be the owner of ASD Motors.

He is said to have obtained the money by assuring the man he has the ears of the EFCC boss, Ibrahim Magu. This Magazine was told that he was arrested and given administrative bail by the EFCC, but, according to sources, he remained incommunicado.

Sanni has been a rabid critic of the Buhari administration, and recently said that even if Buhari was given fifty years to rule, he will only continue to impoverish Nigerians.

Critics of the Buhari administration did not see his arrest as a surprise, but insisted that it is in line with the Government trend of silencing opposition.

Recently, he had tweeted the following:

“Nigerians are suffering and because the people in government have asked them to persevere. But the truth of the matter is that, none of the leaders’ children are suffering, none of their wives are suffering,” Sani had said in an interview on a Kaduna-based radio station.

“So, it is disturbing to note that, some sections of the masses are deceiving themselves by thinking that, the leaders love them, and the leaders are also suffering like themselves.

“This should stop complaining to Nigerians that, they met Nigeria is bad shape. If things were in good shape in the first place, you won’t be called to come and rule. Whoever looks at history and see the time that, past leaders like Sardauna came into power, they did a lot.

“But if you give this present government 50 more years to rule, this is how the masses will suffer for those 50 years. The masses are being deceived with promises.”

Breaking: EFCC Arrests Senator Shehu Sani

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The Source

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December 31, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

Fiery Human Rights Activist, and, until the 2019 Election when he lost out, the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, may spend the New Year eve cooling his legs in the cell of the Economic and Financial Fraud Commission, EFCC

Shehu was arrested Tuesday, by EFCC. He got into trouble for an alleged extortion, to the tune of 20,000 USD, by fraudulently using the name of the EFCC boss, CP Ibrahim Magu.

Sani reportedly collected the money, by claiming to be close to Magu, from the owner of ASD Motors.

On arrest, earlier, he was given an administrative bail. He refunded the money to the owner, but has, allegedly, shunned every invitation extended to him by the EFCC in connection with the case.

Shehu Sani Lands In EFCC Net

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Bayo Bernard

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December 31, 2019

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By Fola James

Senator Shehu Sani is not likely to spend the last few hours with his family.

Except for any divine intervention, he will be dining with officials of the EFCC for the last hours of 2019.

That’s if Ibrahim Magu’s men will allow him to have a nice time in their custody, considering the allege corruption case against him.

Sani who left the senate few months and has spent the better part of the year criticising the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, was alleged to have collected money from a businessman, promising to help him with Magu.

It was learnt that the businessman, name undisclosed has been having a raw deal with EFCC and desperately needed somebody to bail him out.

Details later…..

Dangote Trucks Kill Two On New Year’s Eve

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Bayo Bernard

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December 31, 2019

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By Fola James

Barely few hours to the end of the year, some families have lost their breadwinners after they were crushed to death by two trucks belonging to Dangote, a company owned by business mogul and Africa’s richest man,Aliko Dangote.

“It’s a sad event to lose love ones at the eve of the new year,”

an eye witness who was present during the sad incident told the magazine.

The incident which claimed the life of a motorcycle rider, the magazine learnt occured at Imowo/ Ijebu Ode in Ogun State.

The Ogun State traffic management agency confirmed the incident.

The Public Relations Officer of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps in the state, Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed that two persons were crushed to death.

“Two passengers on the motorcycle lost their lives and hoodlums around the scene burnt two Dangote trucks on the road and did not allow anybody to carry the two corpses on the ground for now,” the agency said through its spokesman.

At the time of filling this report, the management of the haulage company has yet to respond to the incident.

MTN In Trouble, Accused Of Bribing al-Queda, Other Terrorists

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The Source

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December 31, 2019

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By Charles Igbo

If the allegations against Africa’s largest Telecommunications Company, MTN, already filed in a Federal Court in the United States are true, then the outfit is in deep trouble.

The suit against MTN and five other companies was instituted by families of US citizens killed by al-Queda and other Terrorist groups.

In the legal complaint made on Friday, MTN is alleged to have paid protection money to Islamist terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

If true, the allegation violated US anti-terrorism laws.

The complaint says MTN, to avoid investing in expensive security for its Transmission Towers, paid bribes to the Taliban and al-Queda.

Now, the families are alleging that such bribe monies helped sustain the organizations financially, and so fuelled their activities.

The alleged bribe payments, it is reported, helped in providing “material support to the terrorist organizations.”

MTN says it is reviewing the allegations against it, and insists it is a responsible organization, compliant with the rules guiding any territories where it operates.

This will not be the first time MTN will be in trouble.

Aside its problems with the Nigerian government for which it paid fines to the tune of millions of USD, in February, a former South African Ambassador to Iran, was arrested for taking bribes to help MTN win an operational license to operate in Iran.

Kunnu As The Cheerleader Of The Uneducated

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The Source

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December 31, 2019

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By Chidi Onyemaizu

By the grace of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, one Adeniyi Kunnu has the right to hold and express both private and public views. But the constitution does not also confer on him the right to misinform and mislead the public which was what he did in his piece in Sahara Reporters concerning the detention and trial of Agba Jalingo for alleged treason.

No one knows if the highly jaundiced piece was his first attempt at mischief. If it was, then Mr. Kunnu failed because it was largely an infantile and failed voyage at seeking recruits to discredit Governor Ben Ayade.

The piece is puerile and fraught with inaccuracies, hearsay, ignorance and outright lies. Mr. Kunnu was merciless to himself. He showcased crass disconnect with education and quality information.

If Mr. Kunnu had the knack for the two, he would have saved himself the odium of advertising his infantility by getting hold of Agba Jalingo’s charge sheet which clearly exculpates Governor Ayade of complicity in his (Agba Jalingo) treason case.

Because Mr. Kunnu did not do this, he only succeeded in selling his stale tale to merchants of inanities and falsehood like himself. The educated minds are not deceived by his inglorious treatise which verges on idleness.

For the avoidance of doubt, let Kunnu and his co-travellers in deliberate mischief be informed that being a professional body of custodians of the law, the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has the presence of mind to recognize the fact that Ayade has no legal and Executive powers to, by fiat, order a halt to Agba’s trial or decree his release.

This is because the matter in court does not have the imprimatur of the governor but that of the federal government.

Lawyers know this to be true. No less a person than Barrister Inibehe Effiong, the National legal Adviser of Agba Jalingo’s party, the AAC has reiterated this clearly and poignantly.

His words: “First, the charges against Jalingo (treason, terrorism) are essentially federal offences (based on an Act of the National Assembly).

He was not charged under the Criminal Code Law of Cross River State but under the Criminal Code Act Cap. C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and under the Terrorism (Prevention Amendment) Act 2013.

Second, he is being tried in the Federal High Court, not Cross River State High Court.

Third, the charge was filed in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; not in the name of the Cross River State of Nigeria.

No State in Nigeria can institute a criminal charge against any person in the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Fourth, the Attorney General of Cross River State cannot enter a nolle prosequi (cannot discontinue the case). Only the Attorney General of the Federation can do so”

Kunnu left no one in doubt that his ill-fated mission to denigrate and discredit Ayade is part of a gang up by a misguided few against the governor but he and his gang have failed.

Chidi Onyemaizu is the Senior Special Assistant, on Print Media, to Governor Ayade

Murtala Muhammed Told Me He Took Bribes; Real Reason Gowon Was Overthrown

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The Source

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December 31, 2019

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By Gideon Njoku

In a sensational revelation, bound to shock not a few Nigerians, a retired Civil Servant, Otunba Theophilus Oluwole Akindele, alleged that former late Head of State, General Murtala Muhammed , took bribes from contractors.

General Muhammed , revered for his famed uprightness and efforts to ‘cleanse’ the Civil Service during his short regime, along with his colleagues, overthrew former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, in a bloodless coup.

But many people saw the cleansing of the Civil Service by Muhammed as a tragedy. They allege it marked the destruction of the once strong institution from which it has not recovered. Competent hands were retired unceremoniously during that exercise.

Akindele was the first Nigerian born Director General of Communications when Muhammed was the Commissioner for Communications. He also retained him in the position when he became the Head of State after the overthrow of Gowon, until he was sacked by Mohammed in an exercise that saw to the sacking of hundreds of Civil Servants. Akindele says he was the last civil servant to be so sacked.

Muhammed was, himself, overthrown in a bloody coup.

In a published interview conducted by Vincent Akanmode, and published in The Punch, of February 20, 2010, but which has, suddenly, gone viral, Akindele, also, revealed that far from the impression that Gowon was overthrown because he extended his stay in office, it was because Gowon wanted things to be done the right way.

Akindele: “The Military came, and things changed. You know that if you say no to a Military man, you are risking your life. But, my no was my no. Any paper that I could not sign, I told them that I would not sign it.

“The Federal Commissioners, who were mostly Military people, would send in a paper, and say this paper is meant for you to go through and put up a white paper accepting the conditions and so on. They are contracts actually. And when I look at them, I would say no.

“That was part of the reasons why Gowon was overthrown, because he stood by me. Murtala Muhammed was the Commissioner of Communications. He could not sack me because he was not the Head of State. He had reported me and said I should be sacked for indiscipline. And we went on and on and on.

“Gowon stood by me inspite of the fact that Murtala masterminded the coup that brought Gowon into office. Gowon was someone who would only do the right thing. He kept telling Murtala that if anything went wrong, I would be the one to answer for it.

“That was always Gowon’s stand, and that was one of the reasons why they planned the coup that unseated him. But they gave the reason that Gowon reneged on his promise to hand over power. But it was the decision of the Supreme Military Council to shift the handover date.

He also revealed what transpired, personally, between him and Mohammed over bribe taking.

As the Commissioner for Communications, Akindele said, Murtala Muhammed rang him one day, and said he was sending a contractor to Akindele, and he wanted him to give the man a contract to supply nails.

Akindele: “I said yes, Sir, I would do so. I wrote to the Controller of Stores, and said:’This man is from the Commissioner, he wants to be on the list of your Suppliers. Please, help if he meets the conditions given in awarding contracts.’

“I put it in writing. I think he got the job because the conditions were right. After about six months, the man came to me and I did not really recognise him. He introduced himself. As I was about to apologise to him, he said no, that he was actually given the job. He gave me an envelope and said it was just a small gift. I rejected it, and told him not to try it with me again.

“A few minutes later, Murtala rang and said, ‘ That man that I sent to you, don’t allow him into our premises again’. I said sorry Sir, but what happened? He said ‘he came to bribe me’. I said, well, he means well. He said, ‘Yes, I know he means well, but now, we should learn one lesson. Then, Murtala Muhammed said:

“I take bribes, but not from fellow Nigerians, but from these Europeans who came to take all our money away. I don’t even mind taking 50 per cent of their profits, but not from fellow Nigerians.’

“That was the first lesson I learnt from him.”

Ihedioha Sacks Zuma, Renames Street After Amaechi

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The Source

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December 31, 2019

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By Kachi Igbo

In one of the moves to reclaim Imo state, for its people, from their recent ugly experience, Governor Emeka Ihedioha, on Monday, erased one of the worst legacies bestowed on the people by his predecessor in office, Owelle Rochas Okorocha.

Okorocha, now a Senator, was so enamoured with the former President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, that he stamped Zuma on the face of the State.

He not only wasted the state’s money to erect Zuma’s life-size statue which he conspicuously displayed in Owerri, the state capital, he also named a prominent road after him.

At the time Okorocha was inexplicably doing these, Nigerians, especially, Okorocha’s South-easterners, living in South Africa, were being mowed down, and their businesses destroyed. Zuma raised no voice in condemnation of his people’s actions.

Imo people’s anger rose to high heaven. But they were helpless before Okorocha’s driverless moving train. Their protests meant nothing to him.

But Monday, in what the people have termed a New Year gift to the Igbo, particularly, Imo people, Governor Ihedioha stripped Zuma of the undeserved honour and, wiped the embarrassment off their faces.

With a stroke of the pen, and an executive pronouncement, he renamed the Jacob Zuma Road after an Igbo icon, Mbazulike Amaechi.

Amaechi, an unrepentant Zikist, a proud Igbo son, former parliamentarian in the first republic, former Aviation Minister, has just turned 90, and was a guest of the Imo State Government. The change gladdened Imo people who have, also been clamouring for a demolition of Zuma’s statue in Owerri.

In a statement, Chibuike Onyeukwu, Governor Ihedioha’s Chief Press Secretary, said his Principal announced the change in name to mark Amaechi’s 90th birthday in Owerri.

The CPS quoted Ihedioha as saying: “Dr Amaechi is an icon, one of the founding fathers of the Nation, whose contributions to the Nation should not be overlooked. He remains an inspiration who stood and defended those principles that remain valuable to nation building”

Not a few Imolites are looking forward to more reversals. One of them: the illegal impeachments of former Deputy Governors Sir Jude Agbaso and Prince Eze Madumere, and the restoration of their entitlements.

A couple of weeks ago, to the delight of Imo people, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya was restored to his throne, taken away from him by Okorocha, in one of the worst political persecutions ever witnessed in the State.

Every Court order to correct the illegality was disobeyed by Okorocha.

Suddenly, in Imo, the people can now count on the rule of law.

Group Says Buhari Is Insincere, Asks Him To Stand By His Words

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The Source

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December 31, 2019

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By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under strong criticism, and labelled insincere by the National Christian Elders Forum, NCEF.

The group asked him to stand by his words that the Islamic terrorists are godless, callous gangs of mass murderers by reorganizing the National Security Units to comply with the Federal Character Principle in Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution.

NCEF observed that the National Security Units are solely controlled by Muslims from the North of Nigeria, at the expense of other religions in the country.

The group held President Buhari responsible for the audacity, expansion, and unbridled atrocities of ISWAP, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen in the country, which have led to the loss of lives and properties.

In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Elder Solomon Asemota, SAN, the group said that while President Buhari appropriately described the Islamic groups as a terrorists group, millions of Nigerians believe he would however require a lot of hope before attaching any sincerity to his statement given the excessive pro-Islamic direction of his government since 2015.

“President Buhari not only deliberately created the atmosphere for Islamic insurgency to thrive in Nigeria, but has equally adopted repentant terrorists into the Nigeria Army.”

Reacting to the beheading of 11 Christians on Christmas Day, the group described the dastardly act as callous, stressing that the timing of the gruesome murder of the innocents Christians on Christmas Day was a signal of the Islamic insurgents deliberately desecrating the day in which Christians worldwide mark the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, and the central figure of the Christian faith.

The statement stressed that the act was not only a heinous crime, but provocative and insulting.

Asomota said, “These Christians were abducted by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a faction of Boko Haram. According to reports, thirteen men were shown in a video pleading for deliverance while eleven were eventually killed.

“Two of the captives were released because they are Muslims while the remaining eleven were presumably killed due to their Christian faith. Ten of the Christians were beheaded while the eleventh was shot dead.

“The President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari responded in a statement that he was “profoundly saddened and shocked by the death of innocent hostages in the hands of remorseless, godless, callous gangs of mass murderers that have given Islam a bad name through their atrocities.

“He further went on to appeal that we should, under no circumstance, let the terrorists divide us by turning Christians against Muslims because these barbaric killers don’t represent Islam and millions of other law-abiding Muslims around the world.”

The group frowns at the insincerity of President Buhari, stressing that if President Buhari is sincere, he should ensure that all the terrorists that have been assimilated into the Nigeria Army are dismissed, adding that at the most, they could be constituted into Civilian Task Force if they are willing to help combat terror in the land.

“No sensible Government, anywhere in the world adopts terrorists into its Army.

“Our suspicion is that the statement of President Buhari is for the benefit of the United States of America which recently placed Nigeria on its Special Watch List (SWL).

“However, President Buhari has the opportunity to prove us wrong by ensuring that the murderous Fulani herdsmen from his ethnic group are arrested and prosecuted.”

“We should, under no circumstance, let the terrorists divide us by turning Christians against Muslims …”

“Presently Nigeria is divided under its conflict of ideologies which produced ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS. The current distress in the country is caused by the conflict between DEMOCRACY and SHARIA ideologies. It is the Sharia ideology that emboldens Islamic terrorists in the country and until it is dismantled as competing National Ideology, the country will not know peace.

“President Buhari has done more than any leader in this country to inflame this conflict of ideologies. In its paper of 11th December, 2019 titled: “SOWORE COURT SAGA: WELCOME TO SHARIA”, the NCEF provided information proving that Nigeria is running under Sharia ideology rather than Democracy which President Buhari was sworn into office to uphold.

“We however, insist that the solution to the problem of Islamic terrorism in Nigeria is for Democracy to remain the only National Ideology as designed by the founding fathers of this country. If Mr. President is sincerely committed to the unity of Nigeria, he should promote Democracy.

“NCEF is also not unaware of the statement credited to the Sultan of Sokoto in PUNCH newspaper of 28th December, 2019 that Christians in Nigeria are not persecuted”.

“NCEF would want to conclude that his Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto was misquoted as this statement coming from a traditional ruler of his stature would not accord with statesmanship. Denying the obvious under the circumstances could hardly be described as a suitable solution to problems threatening the corporate existence of the country.

“The National Christian Elders Forum would not want to link this statement with another statement of the Sultan in 2011 in Harvard, USA, in which his Eminence said, “I do not recognize any Nigerian Constitution and the only Constitution I recognize is the Koran”. This pregnant statement which out rightly rejected Democracy and accepted Sharia could easily be interpreted to have escalated the current Sharia induced religious insurgency and intolerance in Nigeria.

“NCEF implores both President Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto, as Fulani Muslims, and leaders of the Islamic Ummah to open up dialogue with the rest of the country to resolve these problems caused by religious intolerance in Nigeria. Already, other Muslim countries in the world are relaxing their erstwhile hard Islamic stance in order to operate meaningfully in modern multicultural, multi religious and multi ethnic societies.

“For example: Saudi Arabia officially banned child marriage under 18 years. Sudan has apologized to Christians in the country. The Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasredin Mofreh, apologized to Sudanese Christians for the oppression and harm inflicted on your bodies, the destruction of your temples, the theft of your property, and the unjust arrest and prosecution of your servants and confiscation of church buildings.

“The Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan on Christmas Eve tweeted a photo with prominent activist Natalina Yacoub and said that he seeks to build a Sudan. That respects diversity and enables all Sudanese citizens to practice their faith in a safe and dignified environment.” Sudan celebrated Christmas for the first time in ten years.

“Locally, Shiite Muslims visited three Churches in Kaduna to felicitate the Christmas season with them. All these are pointers to leaders of the Sunni Muslim Ummah in Nigeria that rigid Islamic intolerance is going out of fashion. It is time for Sunni Muslims in Nigeria, particularly in northern Nigeria, to adjust to modern civilization and join to restructure the country for the peace, safety, and prosperity of all the citizens,” NCEF explained.

The group, therefore, called on President Buhari and the Sultan of Sokoto, as principal decision makers on all issues involving Islam in Nigeria, to participate in building ONE COUNTRY, ONE SYSTEM which is Democracy.

It said the conflict of ideologies of Sharia and Democracy must be dismantled, adding that as we enter a new decade in a few days time, the NCEF appealed to leaders of Sunni Islam in Nigeria to join all well meaning citizens to build a country that “though tribe and tongue differ, in brotherhood we stand.”