SUNDAY VANGUARD, AUGUST 25, 2013 — PAGE 5
BOKO HARAM LEADER’S DEATH A EXCLUSIVE
The last days of Shekau Continued from page 1 a raid on his hideout by military forces, he was said to have been taken to Mali for treatment by the Boko Haram top hierarchy. In Mali, Sunday Vanguard learnt that Shekau’s situation soon grew worse. After consultations, the leadership of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad, which in Arabic means, “People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet’s Teachings and Jihad”, decided to move their boss to Cameroun. “It was in Cameroun that the situation got out of hand. “There, all known medical support that could be provided within acceptable underground limits was mustered. But that was where he gave up the ghost”, one of the security sources said. The source added that a recent video recording allegedly released by the sect showing Shekau calling the bluff of the US, Britain and France and claiming that nobody could stop the group was a smokescreen to paint the picture that he was still alive and in control. Indeed, the spectre of hopelessness was initially discarded as news which first filtered out of the sect’s camp suggested that Shekau could actually survive. To buttress that air of invincibility, the publicized recording had to be released to members of the public. Sunday Vanguard was told that “if the sect members had had access to modern medical facilities, Shekau may have survived. But the leadership of Boko Haram was also sure that the military was all out to get Shekau and, therefore, could not risk even a disguised Shekau being taken to an hospital”, a source disclosed. “In fact as I am talking to you now, we have it on good authority that a close confidant of his (Shekau) who was mandated to follow him and ensure he received proper treatment has been killed by members of the group for allowing the information of his death to get out”, the source said.
From left: Wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi; Deputy Governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; representative of GOC, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Capt. Ande Danbeki; son of the deceased, Mr. Donald Fajuyi; his wife, Lanre; Governor Kayode Fayemi; and representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Capt. Aduku Saheed, during the funeral mass for the late Mrs. Eunice Fajuyi (wife of late Governor of old Western Region, Col. Adekunle Fajuyi), in Ado-Ekiti, yesterday. Aside killing the confidant (aide), Sunday Vanguard was made to understand that there was an intelligence report indicating that his followers hurriedly buried his remains, in an attempt to hide the death and paint a picture of invincibility around him so that they would continue to use it to hoodwink sect members. Sources said the death of Shekau and the likely response of Boko Haram who may be mobilising to hit back (revenge) through bombings, kidnapping and killing of innocent citizens played a role in the decision of the Federal
Government to approve the establishment of a new army division for the North-East, 7 Division, with headquarters in Maiduguri.
Sustained attacks Meanwhile, sustained attacks in some parts of the North-East, the latest of which was the massacre of 44 persons in a village in Borno State, on Friday, believed to have been carried out by Boko H a r a m , lent credence to the claim that
Chief Servant of Niger State, Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, (left), presenting certificate to the newly elected president of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Abdullahi AbdulMajeed, who paid him a courtesy call at his residence, shortly after conducting the national election, while the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Job Creation, Ms Josephine Washima, looks on.
a new leader may be in command of the sect. Shekau’s deputy in the Boko Haram hierachy, Momodu Bama, was reportedly killed by the Joint Task Force, during an encounter with troops around the Bama corridor on August 4. Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, in a statement announcing the killing, penultimate week, said Bama had been leading attacks against troops and civilians in the c o m m u n i t i e s of Yobe and Adamawa states. According to him, Momodu, said to be a specialist in manning
anti-aircraft guns, was known to be vicious and heartless with a penchant for personally executing his victims. Bama was among the most wanted terrorists with a N25million bounty placed on his head. The defence spokesman said others that died in the operation i n c l u d e Bama’s father, Alhaji Abatcha Flatari, who was also said to be one of the spiritual leaders of the Islamist group. 17 other insurgents reportedly lost their lives in the encounter, while 24 were arrested.
North in dilemma over 2015 •2 northern presidential candidates likely BY SONI DANIEL
T
HERE is uneasy calm among northern political
leaders following the registration of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, barely two weeks after the historic birth of the All Progressive Congress, APC. Sunday Vanguard learnt that the emergence of the PDM, last week, has significantly altered the calculations of the North, which had hoped to use the APC platform to present a major challenger to President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
SOLUTION
A leading APC chieftain, who pleaded anonymity, said, Abuja, yesterday, that the North was confused over what to do with the registration of PDM. The politician, a member of the inner caucus of the APC and hails from one of the northern states, said that the North was suspicious that some politicians who did not wish them well were behind the sudden registration of PDM, which they see as an extension of the PDP, to counter the APC. The APC big wig confirmed that the North had zeroed-in on his party to upstage Jonathan in 2015 but was jolted by the emergence of PDM. The APC top shot described the promoters of the PDM as enemies of the North, who were used to register the party in order to split the votes of the region in 2015. According to the politician, there was a tacit agreement among ‘aggrieved and sidelined members of the PDP’ that they would all fuse to form a party that would displace the PDP at the centre. The former lawmaker said, “From our findings, there are some northern elements who are working hard to ensure that the region does not get to the Presidency in 2015; their own calculation is that if they don’t, and can’t get the Presidency, no one should get. “Theirs is not the interest of the region but their personal interest and concerns. Before the APC was registered, we had some working relationshipwith those who are aggrieved and have been sidelined by the PDP with the intention of forming a broad-based party to unseat the
PDP in 2015. “But from what we are seeing, with the registration of the PDM, last week, a different scenario is unfolding because the two parties are likely to field two northern candidates thereby splitting the northern votes and enhancing Jonathan’s electoral fortunes. “The implication is that the votes of the North would be divided along the line and this is what we are trying to avoid by reaching out to the PDM in order for both parties to have a working relationship that will throw up a common presidential candidate in 2015.” In the meantime, Second Republic lawmaker and National Coordinator of the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, Dr. Junaid Mohammed,
yesterday, expressed concern over the emergence of the two parties, which he said left the North nowhere. According to Mohammed, the people of the area were simply watching the two parties-APC and PDM- as none of them has made its position clear on the quest by the North to claim the Presidency in 2015”. Mohammed added, “It is too early to assess PDM now because its birth leaves the North nowhere considering the fact that it has not declared its intention relating to North’s quest to reclaim the Presidency in 2015”. But PDM’s Director of Communication and Strategy, Alaba Yusuf, made it clear, yesterday, that the party did not intend to align with any other party, stressing that PDM had what it takes to win the 2015 presidential election.
Anambra 2014: Confusion as two PDP candidates emerge BY CHARLES KUMOLU
S
ENATOR Andy Uba yesterday emerged the winner of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial primary election just as another candidate was set to emerge from another primary convened by a faction of the party recognised by the party ’s leadership. Analysts said this portend confusion in the PDP as two members were set to lay claim to the candidacy of the party. Uba contested alongside Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe, Chief Ugochukwu Okeke and Chief
Emma Anosike. He pledged, after clinching the ‘ticket’ for the November gubernatorial poll, to ensure that the PDP emerged victorious in the election. At the time of filing this report, the faction of the party recognised by the PDP leadership was about to commence voting. No fewer than 15,000 delegates from the 326 wards in the state were expected to participate in the exercise. The primary by the Kenneth Emeakayi faction attracted a large number of party faithful against Uba’s group which had few people in attendance.