Continuing Protection Of Religious And Other Freedoms

by Eze Eluchie

The sycophantic disposition of Consul-General at Nigeria’s High Commission to South Africa, Mrs Uju Ajulu Okeke, during the recent visit of President Buhari to Johannesburg, is worrisome and hopefully not a precedent others will feel compelled to imitate.

Though there is no indication that Mr. President made any insistence that the Nigerian Ambassador MUST cover herself up in Islamic Hijab whenever she is around the President, was any such preference subtly communicated?

A key question that crops up is: Will others in Ambassador Ajulu Okeke’s shoes, who feel a need to ingratiate themselves to the new helmsman, need to conform to particular religious dress-codes, or religious doctrines, to keep their jobs, continue to provide for their families, continue to be relevant under a regime headed by Mr. Buhari, a self-confessed devout Muslim.

It is hoped that basic freedoms, particularly of religious preferences, right to expression and other fundamental rights, continue to be respected and preserved as we march on our tenuous and precarious route towards democratic governance. 

Picture: President Buhari with Ambassador Ajulu Okeke in Johannesburg and the Ambassador alone.

Will President Buhari Stand By Our Heroes?

by Eze Eluchie

I have just read the skewed, unfortunate and unprofessional Amnesty International report (released today, 3rd June 2015) on Nigeria’s effort at tackling BH.

Blame should not go solely to the characters who crafted such insensitively biased reports but perhaps we have to inquire into the local collaborators who, for lucre and some grants, would even sell their mothers.

I wonder why similar calls for probe of Chief’s of Army Staff’s, Senior Generals and commanding officers has not emanated from Amnesty International for the role played by the various armies which battled Al Qeida in Iraq and Afghanistan and those confronting ISIS across the Middle East.

Our soldiers continue to sacrifice daily to defend the rest of the contraption – efforts to portray them in bad light, deflate their morale or shake their resolve should be condemned by all well meaning Nigerians and persons everywhere interested in eradicating terrorism.

Considering that:

a.      As Presidential Candidate of the opposition, current President and Commander in Chief of Nigeria's Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari, had stated that the efforts by the Nigerian military against Boko Haram terrorists in the North was an attack against the North and Northerners; and

b.      The haste with which President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed 'concern for the enormity of evidence' contained in the just released scathing Report by Amnesty International against the Nigeria Armed Forces and some of its principal officers, regarding Nigeria's war against terror;

Can the President, Muhammadu Buhari be trusted to be fair in his reactions to the AI reports and his dealings with our heroic military forces? Can Mr. President 'cover the back of our boys'?

If no, what if anything, can our military do to ameliorate the situation.

Will he seek to sacrifice our heroes to appease external interests?

Our military, like all soldiers the world over (including the military of the US, UK and those of EU member states), engaged in tackling unconventional forces/terrorists, are faced with serious challenges in containing terrorists whilst adhering to the international rules of engagement. Collateral damages may occur, but such should not dilute the overall objective of rooting out terror.

Nigeria's push against terror must be unwavering and must succeed - alternatives to this are unworthy of consideration.

Picture: President Buhari in his first meeting with Service Chiefs of the Nigeria Military and Security agencies.

Politicizing and Criminalizing FIFA

by Eze Eluchie

That footballs international governing body, Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has been a hotbed of corruption has never been in doubt – that is why I felt one of the worst moments for Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathans administration was capitulating to threats from FIFA over domestic football issues in Nigeria.

It is important to highlight that virtually every other major sporting franchise, inclusive of the Olympic Games, the Basketball, Baseball and Cricket franchises, are not devoid of scandals and allegations of improper financial dealings

What is however intriguing is the current United States interest in probing FIFA.

Hosting rights of all FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup in the USA, South Africa and Brazil, are won after intensive under the table ‘lobbying’, which often times includes exchange of ‘gifts’.

One really wonders if FIFA’s decision to accord Russia and Qatar hosting rights over the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup tournaments respectively, played any role in the ‘indictments’?

Is this whole affair an extension of the ongoing spat between the US and Russia?

Is politics overly been foisted on Sports?

Picture: FIFA logo