Buhari: Americans wanted pragmatic solutions, Trump promised it , and he is fulfilling it

President Donald Trump

Donald Trump made some campaign promises which addressed certain real fears of the American people. Among those fears was the need to deal with terrorism through a pragmatic approach.

Americans saw him as a pragmatic solution to those fears and voted him in. He is now fulfilling those campaign promises. Americans wanted pragmatic solutions. Trump promised it and he is fulfilling it.

General Muhammadu Buhari made some campaign promises which addressed certain fears of the Nigerian people.

SAUDI SEEKS NIGERIA’S MILITARY COLLABORATION TO FIGHT TERRORISM

 The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is seeking for partnership with Nigeria to fight terrorism. A 7- man delegation from the country’s Ministry of Defence today visited Headquarters Nigerian Air Force to discuss areas of possible collaboration as part of the global efforts to stamp out insurgency and terrorism. 

The delegation was led by the Deputy Chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj Gen Yahya Ahmed Massiri. While commending the Chief of the Air Staff, (CAS) Air Mshl Sadique Abubakar for the successes recorded so far in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency, 

Terrorism: UN Security Council To Multinational Joint Task Force - Prevent Boko Haram From Regrouping

---Calls on International Mommunity to Provide Urgent Humanitarian Assistance for the People Affected by the Crisis

The UN Security Council has tasked the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to prevent the destructive Boko Haram insurgents, recently dislodged from its safe haven in Sambisa Forest, from regrouping.

The task force was set up by Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, Niger and the Republic of Benin to tackle Boko Haram insurgents. The Security Council, in a Presidential Statement, reiterated that terrorism should be combated in all forms to prevent its spread.

“The Council urged the Multinational Joint Task Force participating countries to further enhance regional military cooperation and coordination. The Force should deny safe haven to Boko Haram, and facilitate the restoration of civilian security and the rule of law in areas liberated from the militant group.”

MILITARY’S VICTORY OVER BOKO HARAM IS EVIDENCE OF ASCENDANCY OF GOOD OVER EVIL, SAYS VP OSINBAJO

“The victorious fight of our Military against the evil ideology of Boko Haram is evidence of the ascendancy of good over evil.”

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTER-DENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE FOR THE ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE ABUJA ON SUNDAY 8 JANUARY 2017

PROTOCOLS

Soldiers of Christ

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS, JANUARY 1, 2017

My dear Compatriots,

I am happy to welcome you to the beginning of a New Year in our beloved country Nigeria.


I felicitate with you today at a time when our nation is witnessing a new and impressive turnaround in our security and socio-economic situation.

I know you will join me to, once again, congratulate the heroic and gallant efforts of our military and other security agencies on their remarkable successes to rid the nation of terrorism.

Following the successful capture of Sambisa Forest, spearheaded by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole, we have entered a new phase in our battle against our common enemy, Boko Haram.

DEAR COMPATRIONTS: PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S 2016 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE TO NIGERIANS

Dear Compatriots,

I heartily rejoice with all Nigerians, particularly our Christian brothers and sisters, on this year's celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.

As we celebrate this year’s Christmas, I believe that it is very appropriate for us to reflect on the love of God aptly espoused in the teachings and lifestyle of Jesus Christ.

During his earthly sojourn, Jesus Christ repeatedly reminded his disciples and followers of peace that comes in the midst of trials and tribulations on earth.

There is no better time than now in our nation’s history to pray for divine guidance to get over our current challenges.

We can have peace in Nigeria if we all learn to tolerate and appreciate one another, respect constituted authority; and be our brothers’ keepers in word and deed.

TERROR ATTACKS ON GERMANY: WE MUST REMAIN RESOLUTE AGAINST TERRORISM — PRESIDENT BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari Friday said the latest terror attacks on Germany are a wake-up call for the rest of the world to show sympathy and solidarity towards Chancellor Angela Merkel in the global effort to neutralise and obliterate terrorists’ agenda against humanity. 

The Nigerian leader also extolled Chancellor Merkel's strong leadership qualities and her compassion towards immigrants from the Middle East and other countries. 

CEP Condemns Suicide Bombing at Madagali, Nigeria Market

(New York, NY) – The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) released the following statement in response to Boko Haram suicide bombing carried out by two women at a market in Madagali, Nigeria, that killed at least 30 people:

“The Counter Extremism Project strongly condemns today's terror attack at a Madagali, Nigeria market.  Madagali residents were liberated from Boko Haram’s rule earlier this year, but this attack shows their struggle with terror is far from over. We must continue to be aggressive and work together to stop radicalization and eradicate terrorism.

RESTRUCTURING THE COUNTRY FROM MAN-MADE MACHIAVELLIAN LEADERSHIP

Prof. Femi Ajayi

When you professionally designed and constructed a home of your dream and the situations at the end of the production are changing, not meeting up with your taste anymore, common sense, if and when applied, dictates that you should do some re-adjustments to the house, or completely abandon the house for a new one. For any human being to say that the way the house was at the time of construction, could not be altered for over the years of staying in the house, could be tagged as being conceptually slothful to meet up with the changes in the family growth. The family size has increased, the taste of the owner of the house and other additional family members have changed, and the community where the structure is situated has changed, whereas the world where they reside, has advanced to the immediate current conditions. For any rational person to say that restructuring the country is a counter move against any group in Nigeria, is not part of the changing world.

Nigeria should wake up for the call to adjust its thinking faculty to something Nigerians need not want, that could accommodate the direction of the world and subscribe to the changes, as the world is becoming a global village.

WHY WE OPPOSED GEJ's FUEL PRICING IN 2012 AND SUPPORT PMB's IN 2016 - Ekujumi

"President Buhari may not be abundantly blessed with the intellectual capacity to change Nigeria as he hopes to, but his weaknesses cannot become anointing oil for making the former President a saint overnight. No, it can’t."

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO KNOW WHY WE OPPOSED GEJ's FUEL PRICING IN 2012 AND SUPPORT PMB's IN 2016 - Read this Enlightening Piece on the New fuel price regime - "My take on fuel-subsidy removal by the Buhari Administration" - by: Nelson Ekujumi - May 13, 2015

Flashback to 1 January 2012
Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy on New Year’s Day in 2012. This took fuel price from N65 to N141 at filling stations. This led to massive protests by civil-rights groups, labour unions, and Nigerians generally. APC, the opposition party at that time, took political advantage of the situation by identifying with the suffering and criticizing the Jonathan administration for removing subsidy. Goodluck Jonathan eventually backtracked. Fuel subsidy was restored.

#OccupyNigeria - We have to tell the Daura old solder - Nigerians

Nigerians have been reacting to the FG removal of the fuel subsidiy as the Minister of state for petrolium resources Ibe Kachikwu announced today that a litre of petrol will now sell for #145. Nigerians said it's highly insensitive and clueless on the part of the government in this time of economic crisis!
 A Nigerian wrote: I am not very happy tonight and how I wish it wasn't true. I have lot of confidence in this government but am afraid tonight decision to increase pump price is very unacceptable, ill-timed and can only make worse the plights of already impoverished Nigerians, my humble self inclusive.

Another Nigerian Reacted as thus: Does this Buhari government really knows what it is doing? I doubt so. Well my " Occupy Nigeria " canvass is still there, it is indeed another period to go to the barricade. Yes, we have to protest to show Buhari that even if we support all his anti corruption fights, we dislike this increment. We have to tell the Daura old solder that even if we applaud his efforts at stamping out terrorism by annihilation of Boko Haram and decapitation of Ak47 brandishing herders, Nigerians are not in love with 145 naira per litter.

PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA OF CAMEROON ARRIVES FOR STATE VISIT TO NIGERIA TOMORROW

President Paul Biya of Cameroon, will at the invitation of President Muhammadu Buhari, begin a two-day state visit to Nigeria tomorrow, Tuesday, May 3, 2016.

In a statement issued today by the Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media & Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said President Biya, who will be accompanied by his wife, Chantal and senior Cameroonian government officials, will be received tomorrow afternoon at the Presidential Villa, Abuja by the Nigerian President.

Both leaders and their officials will confer on issues of common interest to Nigeria and Cameroon, including ongoing bilateral and regional cooperation against terrorism, violent extremism and cross-border crimes.

Supreme Court Judgement: Iran Threatens Legal Action Against US Over Diverted Funds

Iran has threatened legal action against the United States if $2 billion in frozen funds are diverted to compensate American families of people killed by Tehran-sponsored terrorism.

"We hold the U.S. government responsible for protecting our (frozen) funds," said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. "If our funds are illegally accessed, we will surely claim damages from the American government at an appropriate time."

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a 2012 law concerning the distribution of the funds. The court's ruling directly affects more than 1,300 relatives of victims, some who have been seeking compensation for more than 30 years.

FG Must Follow Up Supreme Court of the United States Ruling on Iran

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTU) ruling this week confirmed what some of us have always known and insisted on. Iran is a sponsor of terrorism, radicalization, extremism and other traits that undermine the safety of other nations.

The US Supreme Court ruled that Iran must lose nearly $2 billion in frozen assets to survivors and relatives of those killed in the 1983 US Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, the 1996 Khobar Towers bombing that killed 19 Americans in Saudi Arabia, and other attacks linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran It took 33 years in the case of the first bombing for victims and relatives of the dead to get closure.

That is a luxury Nigeria cannot afford. The US is well established. Iran could not attack on its home soil so its proxies hit offshore targets. The approach is different in Nigeria. Iranian proxies live right among us. Their attack, if allowed to happen, would be catastrophic.

EgyptAir: Hijacker surrenders at Larnaca airport

A hijacking that diverted a domestic Egyptian flight to Cyprus has ended with all hostages released and the hijacker surrendering.

EgyptAir Flight MS181 was taken over by a passenger claiming to be wearing a suicide explosive belt.

Airline officials later said they had been told by Cypriot authorities that the belt was fake.

The hijacker's motives remain unclear but the Cypriot president said the incident was not terrorism-related.

No-one was injured in the hijacking, Cypriot government spokesman Nikos Christodulides tweeted.

How the hijacking unfolded

LAFIYA DOLE: NIGERIAN ARMY ESTABLISHES MEDIA CENTRE IN MAIDUGURI

In its effort to keep the general public well informed about the activities of Operation LAFIYA DOLE the Nigerian Army established a Media Centre in Maiduguri. The media centre is based on the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai. The aim of establishing the media centre was to provide real time and accurate information and to provide avenue for a better interaction with the media particularly on Military operations in the North East.

GOOD NEIGHBOURLINESS ESSENTIAL FOR SECURITY OF AFRICAN COUNTRIES - BUHARI

RESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI RECEIVED EQUATORIAL
GUINEA ENVOY AT THE STATE HOUSE IN ABUJA. NOV 5 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari said Thursday in Abuja that recent developments have made it more important than ever before for Nigeria and other African nations to close ranks and work together against terrorism.

Speaking at an audience with a Special Envoy of President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, President Buhari said that since terrorism no longer respects national borders, the international community must urgently evolve and implement more effective collaborative measures to enhance global security.


"Good neighbourliness is essential for the security and economic development of African countries.

WASHINGTON POST: Nigeria committed to good governance and fighting terror - Buhari

I SEEK OBAMA’S ASSISTANCE IN LOCATING AND RETURNING $150 BILLION

This month, the world moved a step closer to the defeat of Boko Haram, the jihadist group that has terrorized hundreds of thousands in the northern states of Nigeria. In one of my first acts since taking office as president six weeks ago, I have replaced the heads of Nigeria’s army, navy and air force. Our new military leadership has not been chosen because of their familiarity with those in government, as was too often the case in the past, but on their track records and qualifications alone.

These new military leaders will be based in Borno State in northern Nigeria, where the headquarters of the armed services has been relocated. This shift of resources and command directly to the front line, in addition to the replacement of the head of the State Security Service, Nigeria’s intelligence organization, and a new emphasis on working in partnership with our neighbors, has equipped us to take the fight directly to Boko Haram.

Already we are beginning to see a degrading of Boko Haram’s capabilities as a fighting force. In recent weeks, it appears to have shifted away from confronting the military directly to an increase in attacks on civilian areas, as we saw only last week when an elderly woman and 10-year-old girl blew themselves up at a Muslim prayer gathering in northeastern Nigeria. We should not be confused by this change, hateful as it is: It does not mean that Boko Haram is succeeding in its aims — it shows that it is losing.

Britain Will Never Give In To Terrorism - Cameron

David Cameron tells Sky News that Britain will not pay ransoms for kidnapped British hostages

British PM David Cameron has condemned the "sickening and brutal" murder of US journalist Steven Sotloff by a man he said appears to be British. The PM told the Commons the ordeal of a British hostage understood to be held by the same group of Islamic State (IS) militants was "unimaginable".

In a video showing the purported murder of Mr Sotloff, the killer showed the hostage, described as British. Mr Cameron said: "This country will never give in to terrorism. Our opposition to ISIL (Islamic State) will continue at home and abroad.

"It makes no distinction between cultures, countries and religions. There is no way to appease it; the only way to defeat it is to stand firm and to send a very straightforward message. A country like ours will not be cowed by these barbaric killers. If they think we will weaken in the face of their threats, they are wrong; it will have the opposite effect."

Britain Announces £1.1 billion In Defense Spending To Fight Terrorists and Cyber Attacks

A huge investment is to be made in Britain's military to fight its "unseen enemies", including cyber attacks and terrorism.  Prime Minister David Cameron will announce the £1.1 billion package of investment in military capabilities, such as drones, at the first day of the Farnborough Air Show today.

Writing in The Daily Telegraph, he insisted Britain "cannot defend the realm from the white cliffs of Dover". He wrote: "Today's investment demonstrates our approach to national security. There are those who believe we would be safer if we fundamentally retreated from the world.

"They see new warships and military investment and imagine a government bent on foreign adventurism.