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The reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari got a boost on Thursday as over 300 leading civil society organizations declared their support for his second term in office.
The groups hinged their reason on the sterling performance of the president in area of security.
According to the groups, Buhari has been outstanding on his war against terror and insurgency since he assumed power in 2015 and should be given another mandate to complete what he started.
A communiqué jointly issued after a convention of Coalition of 300 Civil Society Organizations (CCSOs) called on Nigerians to back the president in 2019.
Some of the leading organizations in the group are the Initiative for Minority Rights in Nigeria, Centre for Social Justice, Equity and Transparency, Foundation for Unemployed Nigerians, Africa Civil Rights Congress and several others.
Their communiqué partly reads.
“The CCSOs commended the Centre for International and Strategy Studies (CISS) for their diligence, accuracy and time devoted to this energy-sapping report, spanning the period of 2013-2018. Certainly, the CCSOs adjudged it as a priced document worthy of attention by all Nigerians and indeed, members of the international community in search of an unbiased and truthful accounts and perspectives into insurgency in Nigeria operations and battles in the country.
“The CCSOs endorsed without hesitations the general conclusions of the report, which aligns with the consensus opinions among majority of Nigerians, including the incipient opposition elements in the country, traditionally obstinate in conceding to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari the successes of the counter-insurgency battles.
“It yawningly reechoes that the President has frenetically tackled the insurgency with so much vigor, energy and resources. It stamps that the President has made the difference in counter-terrorism combat and deserving of loud accolades and commendations.
“For the benefit of Nigerians yet to read the report on combat of terrorism in Nigeria under the preceding and incumbent governments in Nigeria, as compiled by the Centre for International and Strategy Studies, the CCSOs have burdened themselves to highlight a few areas for emphasis.
“Securing freedom for a greater number of the abducted Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls and tens of thousands of other Nigerians held hostage by terrorists and the capture of Sambisa forest in Borno have been reflected in the report.
“Nigerians are persuaded to endorse and work assiduously for the reelection of President Buhari for a second term in office to finally lay to rest, the ghost of terrorism in Nigeria. A deviation from this trajectory would be disastrous.
[14:07, 12/21/2018] Bukola Amusan: Insurgency: Court Asked To Stop Security Agencies From Disclosing Security Spendings To Public
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, has been asked to refuse the request to make available to the public details of security spendings in the war against insurgency.
According to the suit filed by a lawyer, Mr. Osaze Agbonifo, releasing security spending to the public will breach the provision of Freedom of Information Act.
A civil society organisations, Global Integrity Crusade Network, had applied for the release of security spending on insurgency in the North East of Nigeria under the Freedom of Information Act.
But reacting to the development, the civil rights lawyer said the disclosure of such to any unauthorized body will be a breach of the provision of the Freeodm of Information Act and not in the interest of the country’s image.
Respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/159018, are the Office of the National Security Adviser, Ministry of Defence, State Security Service, National Intelligence Agency, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Police Force and the Nigerian Immigration Service.
In the suit dated December 20th, 2018, filed by Oghenovo Otemu, the plaintiff asked the court for an order restraining the respondents from releasing details of security spendings to any CSOs acting under the FOI Act.
The plaintiff in the suit asked for an order restraining the respondents from releasing or furnishing Global Integrity Crusade Network or any civil society organization, persons or entities that have applied for any for any information relating to OR connected with the world against insurgency in the North East Under the FOI Act.
He also asked the court not to allow the respondents release the following information:
*The amount received as budgetary allocations from the federal government of Nigeria for counter terrorism operation in the year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 respectively.
*The list of security hardware and equipment procured for counter terrorism operations in the year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 so we can confirm, if the approved budgetary allocation were used for the intended purpose.
*List of contracts awarded, executed on ongoing in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 as well as of list of newspapers, journala and other media outfit wherein the bidding exercise for the said contracts were published to be able us ascertain if the the procedure laid down in the Public Procurement Act No. 65 of 2007 were duly followed.
*The breakdown of coat expended by your office on personnel running in the year 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 to enable us ascertain if more that one third of the budgetary allocation meant for counter terrorism operations was not used for payment of allowances to only top management staffer.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.