Post Insurgency Reconstruction: Shettima Sleeps In Uba, Another Liberated Stronghold, Tours Pulka, Gwoza, Lassa

Governor Kashim Shettima on Tuesday passed the night in Uba town, once held by Boko Haram in Askira-Uba local government area of southern part of Borno State. The Governor left Bama on Tuesday where he had relocated for nearly one week to mobilize reconstruction works and return of civil authority in the town which was worst hit by the insurgent attacks.

Uba town was put to life when the Governor arrived the Emir’s palace as he was received by obviously happy residents. Governor Shettima inspected destructions by insurgents during their occupation in the town and held meetings with locals towards enhancing community policing.

The Governor also inspected destruction in Lassa, another major town in Askira-Uba local government area during which he inspected houses, at the popular EYN church and gave directive for immediate reconstruction.

Before arriving Uba, Shettima was in Pulka, a populated village in Gwoza local government area during which he interacted with hundreds of returned IDPS. The Governor proceeded to Gwoza which served as a Boko Haram caliphate and inspected destructions before addressing elders and women at separate gatherings. While addressing hundreds at the Palace of the Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Idrissa Timta  the Governor pledged commitment to ongoing reconstruction works in different parts of Gwoza.

Gwoza is second to Bama local government area that suffered the same fate of destruction before it was declared as Boko Haram Caliphate in August, 2014.

Governor Shettima directed the Commissioner for Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement, Dr. Babagana Umara Zulum to ensure that his ministry align with professional engineers/builders from Gwoza to immediately put the liberated town in good shape for comfort of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who most of them have started returning back home.

“I want to sympathize with you over the unfortunate calamities perpetrated by boko haram in recent past, we are here to tell you that as government, we will do everything possible to rebuild all your destroyed houses brick by brick.

“We have also come with assorted food items including 1500 bags of 25kg rice, 1500 bags of beans, 1000 cartons of suphaghetti, Sugar, salt among other relief items.

“I urge some of the IDPs from Gwoza who are still residing in resettlement camps in Maiduguri and other places to please come back and join you, because, there is no any good place than home.

“I want to thank the federal government and the Chief of Army staff as well as the entire officers and men under the ‘Operation Lafiya Dole’ in the north east for their gallantry effort in degrading remnants of boko haram.

“My appeal to you all is to please give maximum support and cooperation to the military and the civilian JTF who are here with you to give you adequate security”. Shettima stated.

SOURCE:NTAng

UBA Reacts To Alleged Involvement In Turkish Coup

The United Bank for Africa Plc on Tuesday denied any involvement in the recent failed coup in Turkey, saying a Turkish newspaper report linking it with the high treason was false and spurious.

A Turkish newspaper, Yenisafak, had alleged that a suspected financier of the coup in Turkey, ex- US commander, General John Campbell, transferred funds used to finance the coup through the Nigerian bank.

It stated that Campbell managed more than $2 billion transactions through UBA in Nigeria, using CIA links to distribute the money among the pro-coup military personnel in Turkey.

But UBA in a two paragraph statement by its Head of Communications, Charles Aigbe, dismissed the allegation saying it was in no way connected with the coup in the European country

It said: “UBA is aware of the on-going spurious media speculation linking our institution to recent events in Turkey. In the light of this, we believe it is necessary to categorically state that UBA has no involvement in or connection to these accusations, which are clearly false.
“We remain focused and firmly committed to delivering on our strategy to build Africa’s premier banking institution.”

The report by Yenisafak had alleged that the Nigerian branch of UBA was the main base for the last six-months of money transactions for the coup plotters.

It stated that millions of dollars were transferred from Nigeria to Turkey by a group of CIA personnel.
The money, which it said had been distributed to an 80-person special team of the CIA, was used to convince pro-coup generals. More than two billion dollars were allegedly distributed during the process leading to the coup.
It said after taking money from their bank accounts, the CIA team hand delivered it to the coup plotters under military dresses.

It also stated that ongoing investigations showed that Campbell had paid at least two secret visits to Turkey since May, until the day of the coup attempt.

SOURCE: nigerianmonitor