International

Africa: A Continent Cursed By The Cancerous Calamity Of Coup

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2022

By Bala Ibrahim.

According to history, the 1963 Togolese coup d’état was the first military incursion that occurred in West Africa, and by extension, the first coup of the continent. Since then, to paraphrase the saying of late Professor Ali Mazrui, the records of coup across the continent, read like the telephone directory of the Organization of African Union, OAU. And those countries that lie to the west of the equator, are the most afflicted by the calamity of the coup cancer.

The western part of the African continent is occupied by the countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.

Nigeria, the richest and most populous of them all, had it’s first coup on the 15th of January 1966, when mutinous soldiers, led by Nzeogwu Kaduna, killed many people, including the Prime Minister of Nigeria, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, senior politicians and many senior Army officers, thereby rewriting the political and social history of Nigeria as a country.

Court did not rebuff Police on Muaz’s Criminal Prosecution

The Togolese and Nigerian coups, that came about the same time with the arrival of independence to the continent, seem to coincide with the coming of the coup calamity, that kept reverberating across the continent like a cancer. The excuse given by the military then, was that they were coming to correct the mis-governance, occasioned by the misconduct of politicians, whom they accused of engaging in consumptive corruption.

Though the military mostly help to midwife a transition to democratically elected governments, in almost all cases, they only succeed in changing the nomenclature of the problem, from corruption by men and women in civilian clothes, to corruption perpetuated by men and women in uniform. And they sow the seed for new agitations after their departure, especially as in the case of Nigeria, the agitation for the creation of more states, which is almost an impossibility under democracy.

Since 1999, Nigeria has been enjoying stability in democratic governance, with no reported coup attempts or visible threats from the military, but looking at the trend of events in recent times across the continent, no concerned person can claim to be comfortable with what is happening.

The continent is facing the rise in the wind of the misfortune of coups, and the breeze is blowing faster in West Africa. For the third time in less than six months, violence is compelling the transfer of power in some countries of West Africa, starting with Guinea, Mali, Chad and Burkino Faso, seeing the arrival of new leaders, almost all of them from their respective militaries.

Pursuant to the democratic stability enjoyed by Nigeria, and by virtue of its position as the regional powerhouse of the continent, there was a strong feeling that the days of military coups in Africa were over, because Nigeria has been extremely active diplomatically against coups, supported by the West African regional bloc, the ECOWAS, which is always quick in imposing sanctions until the cowboys reverse their unpopular stance.

But things are changing, and changing rapidly. And the military is engaging a new strategy for ousting democracy- doubtful legitimacy. In Guinea, Mali, and Chad, heads of state removed from office were accused of enjoying dubious legitimacy. In Guinea for instance, President Alpha Condé had been elected to a third term in elections that were not accepted as credible. In Chad, Idriss Derby had been virtually sitting as a president for life. He was killed by rebels, and replaced by his son in an extra-constitutional process.

In Mali, the problem dates back to the 2012 coup against Amadou Touré, the long-time political strongman of the country. In June, the present Malian President, Assimi Goïta, removed the country’s interim head of state, less than a year after Goïta initiated a coup against President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita and installed himself as interim vice president.

About a week ago, precisely on the 23rd of January, 2022, gunfire erupted in front of the presidential residence in the Burkinabé capital, Ouagadougou, as well as several military barracks around the city. Shortly after, it was confirmed that soldiers have seized control of the military base in the capital and taken in the president as hostage. A coup had taken place.

The immediate reason given by the military for the coup was the alleged “inability of President Roch Kabore’s government to stem an Islamic militant insurgency”, which has been ravaging the country for some years now. According to the military, they were not given enough resources to combat the insurgents. So by taking over power, they are simply saying, they would take the money they want directly from the treasury to do whatever they want. Poor Africa, what obscenity is being committed against you, by way of coup in the name of correction.

Although the chief of Defense Staff, Gen.Lucky Irabor, has recently reassured Nigeria and Nigerians that, the military would continue to subject itself to democratic rule, the government must take note of the new lexicon introduced by the military in Burkino Faso, i.e. “INABILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT TO STEM AN ISLAMIC MILITANT INSURGENCY” and act proactively, considering the fact that Nigeria had been in such insurgency for decades, and spent an unaccountable amount of money fighting same.

The curse and calamity of the coup cancer must be curtailed quickly, and not allowed to continue creeping the continent, under the guise of any claim of correction.

International

Kenya Mourns Loss of Defence Chief and Top Brass in Helicopter Crash

Published

2 weeks ago

April 18, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Kenya’s defence chief and nine other top brass died on Thursday in a military helicopter crash in a remote area of the country, President William Ruto said.

Today at 2:20 pm, our nation suffered a tragic air accident… I am deeply saddened to announce the passing of General Francis Omondi Ogolla,” Ruto told reporters.

The president, who had convened an urgent meeting of the National Security Council after news of the accident emerged, said nine other “gallant military personnel” on board were also killed while two survived.

He said the Kenya Air Force has dispatched an air investigation team to establish the cause of the crash, which took place in Elgeyo Marakwet county, about 400 kilometres (250 miles) northwest of the capital Nairobi.

The helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Chesegon, where he and his entourage had been visiting a school, Ruto said.

“A distinguished four-kistar general has fallen in the course of duty and in the service of the country,” he said.

“Our motherland has lost one of her most valiant generals, gallant officers, service men and woman.”

Ruto announced three days of mourning from Friday, with official flags flying at half mast.

He said Ogolla, 61, had left Nairobi on Thursday morning on an air force Huey helicopter to visit troops deployed in the North Rift area in Operation Maliza Uhalifu (Operation End Crime in Swalihi), and other sites.

Kenyan authorities have long battled insecurity in the Rift Valley region, with armed bandits and cattle rustlers rampant.

“The helicopter burst into flames after crashing and it had more than 10 senior commanders on board including General Ogolla,” a police officer had told AFP earlier.

They were in the area on a security mission because there are KDF (Kenya Defence Forces) soldiers deployed in the region,” he added.

International

DICAN Hails Tuggar’s Leadership As Minister Celebrates 57th Birthday

Published

2 months ago

March 12, 2024

Nigerian Tracker

Ambassador Tuggar

The Diplomatic Correspondents’ Association of Nigeria (DICAN) has extended its felicitations to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yussuf Tuggar, on his 57th birthday anniversary.

Tuggar, who comes from a distinguished political background in Bauchi State, has had an impressive career serving the country. His father, a prominent figure himself, served as the Organizing Secretary of the Northern People’s Congress before and after Nigeria’s independence in 1960, and later became a Senator.

Tuggar has held various notable positions. He served as Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany from 2017 to 2023. Prior to that, he was a member of the Nigerian House of Representatives from 2007 to 2011, representing Gamawa. He also contested for the governorship of Bauchi State on two occasions.

Chairman, Diplomatic Correspondents Association of Nigeria, DICAN, Comrade, Idehai Frederick specifically highlighted Tuggar’s contributions in securing crucial partnerships for Nigeria.

“Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs played a key role in the conceptualization of the Siemens Power deal, which aimed to significantly expand Nigeria’s electricity grid capacity.

“He is also instrumental in attracting significant funding from German institutions for the Kano-Maradi rail line project,” DICAN Chairman said.

The Association however, wished the Minister a happy 57th birthday and many more fruitful years of service to fatherland and humanity.

Meanwhile, DICAN is an association of journalists covering Diplomatic related beats in Nigeria.

International

Open Letter To The President of The United States,Joe Biden-Ibrahim Khalil

Published

5 months ago

November 23, 2023

Nigerian Tracker

President Joe Biden

176 Kabara, Kano State, Nigeria. November 5, 2023 Mr. President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

HUMANITY FIRST

Sir! With due respect, Mr. President, we humans should not be killing ourselves for political, economic or religious reason in the messianic age. We are now living in the Messianic age; I am the Messiah, Messiah “Son of David” alias Imam Mahdi (“The Guided One”); and I am, however, not the Hidden Imam whom Mr. President talked about, but the real Imam Mahdi. Mr. President, this is not the time when world leaders should be divided between the two sides of the Israeli-Hamas war. Why should human beings – civilians and military officers alike, and especially women and children – be killed daily

Mr. President, Allah [swt] – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – granted the Holy Land to the Patriarch Prophet Abraham [as] and blessed it for the nations so that Messiah “Son of David”, the 2nd anointed King after HM King David [as], the King of Israel, will establish a world government, which will establish real justice and peace for the Peoples of the World. The Holy Land wasn’t meant to be a war zone or graveyard for the descendants of Abraham: Arabs and Jews.

Mr. President, a 9-Year Global Project (Re-Establishment of the Throne of David in Zion) was predestined to begin in 2023 AD/1444 AH for the creation of a world government, world economy and world religion. This was 126 years after Theodor Herzl founded the World Zionist Organization; 79 years after the creation of the IMF and the World Bank; and 1954 years after the destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem. It is a righteous deed par excellence; and it would be undertaken by the Believers among us whom Allah [swt], the lord of the worlds, promised to bless to rule the world under King Messiah (Melekh haMashiach), the ultimate prince and King of the World.

Mr. President, I already addressed the Royal Proclamation to the United Nations, calling for the Re-Establishment of the Throne of David in Zion; the prophet Muhammad [pbuh] did prophesy the 9-year rule of Imam Mahdi (“The Guided one”) as the Caliph of the promised Caliphate: Seat of King David on Earth; and hence, I call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to save humanity regardless of race, religion or nationality throughout the world.

Thank you. Yours Sincerely, Ibrahim Khalil (+234 913 615 3018)

Cc:
President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Norman Albanese President of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau President of the Peoples’ Republic of China, Xi Jinping President of France, Emmanuel Macron President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo

President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella President of Japan, Fumio Kishida President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador President of Russia, Vladimir Putin King of Saudi Arabia, HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud The Crown Prince, HRH Muhammad ibn Salman President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol President of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan King of the United Kingdom, HM King Charles IIIPrime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu President of European Union, Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen President of Iran, Ebrahim Raisi The Pope, Francis I UN Secretary General, Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres GCC GCL President of the UNGA, Dennis Francis President of the World Bank, Ajay Banga