The push to defeat Boko Haram

Also published in Daily Trust

Since the beginning of the ongoing war against Boko Haram insurgents, the performance of Nigerian military has fluctuated between dramatic exploits and mysterious relapse, which have understandably generated public commendation or condemnation accordingly.

The current round of stepped-up military offensive against the insurgents comes amid deepening sense of despair and frustration with the way the federal government is handling the crisis, which explains why Nigerians greet it with apparently cautious optimism instead of outright jubilation.

There are worries about the government’s commitment and the military’s ability or willingness to maintain the momentum and sustain the tempo attained. Many Nigerians worry that the current intense military offensive may also soon wind down and eventually relapse.

Free, fair elections haram!

Also published in Daily Trust

I did not write last Friday despite the controversial election postponement by the obviously coerced Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). I simply lost motivation to write and have ever since then been struggling to overcome a creeping sense of despair induced by the apparent motive behind such politically motivated, unwarranted, unjustified and indeed unjustifiable decision.

It is certainly part of a multifaceted and mischievous scheme designed to exhaust and frustrate the unprecedented momentum of the current political phenomenon that would, God willing, bring about the anxiously needed leadership change in the country. The aim is to ensure the continuity of the disastrous tenure of the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, by hook or by crook.

The ICC and Nigeria’s elections

Also published in Daily Trust 

Presumably worried by the rising pre-election tension in Nigeria, which could, if care is not taken, escalate into violence during or immediately after February 14 presidential election, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has indicated its readiness to send a team to Nigeria before the elections to, according to the Court’s prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, “further engage with the authorities and encourage the prevention of crimes.”

By the way, the Hague-based international court has already launched a preliminary probe into possible war crimes committed by Boko Haram insurgents and Nigerian troops in their ongoing war against the terror group. This is even though the ICC grapples with credibility issues as it is increasingly being seen as biased against poor and less influential countries especially in Africa, due to its real or perceived unwillingness to prosecute and/or convict many civilian, military and militia leaders of some influential countries allegedly responsible for war crimes and other crimes against humanity.