Bamgbose, who noted that the embattled police officer remained innocent of allegations leveled against him until proven guilty, called on well meaning Nigerians to rally support for “one of the finest cops Nigeria has ever produced”

Banning or significantly restricting social media, including under threat of prosecution, undermines Nigerians’ human rights and fundamental freedoms,” she said.

TonyeBarcanista:
PDP: Between Secondus, Udeh-Okoye and The Truth

By Tonye Barcanista

On Tuesday, August 3, 2021, the media space was shaken as a result of mass exodus of seven members of the Peoples Democratic Party National Executive Committee, NEC, from their positions.

The NEC members, who are all deputies to their respective principals in the National Working Committee, cited among others, the failure of Prince Uche Secondus, the Party's National Chairman, and the entire NWC to carry them along in the running of the party. They also alleged that the Prince Secondus treated them like nobodies in their almost four years in office.

Shortly after, a member of the NWC and National Youth Leader, Rt Hon SKE Udeh Okoye, held a press conference to demand the resignation of Prince Secondus. At the Press Conference, the Youth leader revealed that about ten members of the party's NWC are aligned with the call for Prince Secondus' resignation.

Okoye also revealed that Prince Secondus crippled all departments of the party, including his youth department, of performing optimally by striping them of resources and other necessities to function. He further accused Prince Secondus of abusing his position as the Chairman of the party to illicitly accumulate wealth at the detriment of the party, amongst other allegations.

Following Okoye's outburst, the National Chairman of the partyy, through his media assistant, Mr Ike Abonyi, accused Okoye of executing a hatchet job for unknown persons, and slammed him for keeping quiet since December 2017 but only speaking now that he has been hired for a "yeoman's" job. Interestingly, Mr Abonyi fall short of convincing members of the party why they shouldn't take the allegations levelled by the National Youth Leader seriously.

Curiously, Mr Abonyi could not factually convince party members whether Prince Secondus has delivered on his promise to Reform, Rebrand and Restructure the party or otherwise.

Though I am not interested in the back and forth exchange between the NWC members, I find it absurd that the Prince Uche Secondus permitted Mr Abonyi to author a statement which focuses on attacking the personality of Udeh Okoye, who is supposed to be a subordinate to Secondus, rather than address the issues raised by the Youth leader and the resigned NEC members.

Since the present NWC came into office, there have been series of complaints by party members of lack of vibrancy and activities in the youth, publicity, women and other key departments of the party.

Although the publicity directorate under Kola Ologbondiyan, has been up and doing in releasing press statements and organising press conferences, rank and file party members still complain of lack of visibility of the party on critical issues affecting the country. The Youth and Women departments that are meant to organise events and programs for the advancement of the PDP and galvanise support for the party, are unfortunately in a pitiable state. In fact, the two departments have been on redundancy ever since the present NWC came to office almost four years ago; and it appears that there is no hope in sight.

The situation was worse during the electioneering period of 2019 General Election as the party could not organise any youth or women events, neither did the party provide support for the hundreds of support groups that registered with the youth directorate of PDP to galvanise votes for our candidates.

Post 2019 election, the perception of party members and Nigerian public of PDP is that of a weak and inept institution that is yet to show seriousness to challenge the failure of All Progressive Congress (APC) in the battle for 2023. The PDP has become a shadow of its once glorious self, with senior members, including serving Governors and National Assembly members, switching loyalty to the opposition almost on daily basis.

Furthermore, the party is engulfed in Factional crisis in most states of the country, with Secondus' leadership failing to adequately address them and unite disparaging interests. Some party chieftains have accused Prince Secondus of fuelling the crises in states and sponsoring factions in states for his own selfish interest. These myriads of crisis in the states chapters coupled with absence of leadership are enough to discourage aggrieved members of the opposition party, All Progressive Congress (APC) from making the needed switch into the PDP fold.

Moreover, party staff at the national secretariat in Zone 5, Abuja, have serially complained of poor welfare packages from the party leadership, while people that are sent on adhoc assignments (Congresses) lament failure of the party leadership to pay their honorarium.

In view of the above, it is unpatriotic for anyone, including sympathisers of Prince Uche Secondus, to see the call for his resignation as attack on his person. It is also uncharitable for the Chairman's media office and sympathisers to blame SKE Udeh Okoye, Governor Nyesom Wike or any person as being responsible for the "No Confidence Vote" on Prince Uche Secondus.

Going forward, Prince Uche Secondus has three options before him.

The first option is to employ 'dignified' silence pending the conclusion of the internal resolution mechanism of the NWC.

The second option is to holistically address the salient issues that were raised against his leadership by Hon Okoye, and other officers of the party.

The third and final option before him is to save his honor and prestige by yielding the call to step aside as National Chairman in the interest of the party.

Tamunotonye 'Tonye Barcanista' Inioribo

tit:
So Nigeria army knows the serial impersonator?
Brigadier Onyuko, continue.

oilPUSSY:
By Tunde Thomas, Lagos and From Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan

]

https://www.sunnewsonline.com/oduduwa-republic-dream-divides-yoruba-leaders/

Kingdemu:


http://saharareporters.com/2021/03/05/food-blockade-lagos-ogun-traders-butchers-defy-anti-beef-day-campaign-championed

. The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has accused the federal government of allowing private citizens “known for supporting violence against other ethnic groups” to participate actively in affairs of national interest.

In a statement on Friday, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spokesperson of the group, condemned the decision of the federal government to include individuals, “who are supporting threats” to the security of northerners in the south-west, in the peace deal to lift food blockade to the south.

In a meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, Yahaya Bello, Kogi state governor, had helped facilitate an agreement to end the protest by northern traders who had blocked food supply to the southern part of the country.

At the Thursday meeting, Femi Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, was also in attendance.

The blockade by the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuffs and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) had resulted in scarcity and an increase in the prices of food items in the south — while a supply glut crashed prices in the north.

Speaking on the recent peace deal, the northern elders rejected the involvement of such private citizens, and said the federal government should have taken better charge of the situation.

“The Forum welcomes the decision of the Federal Government to address a major and prolonged grievance of transporters over multiple taxation and extortion on federal highways along the country’s eastern corridor, all the way from Borno, through Adamawa, the states in the south-east, and the south-south,” Baba-Ahmed said.

“The Forum is disturbed by the visible involvement of a private citizen, identified as supporting threats to the security of northern communities in the south-west, in the discussions preceding the resolution of the strike, and the mention of a number of people, who had been instrumental in creating intense hostility around northerners living in the south-west.

“Indeed, some of the persons mentioned as having been contacted to give assurances to northern traders, herders and transporters, have been fingered by the police as being involved in criminal activities against northerners in the south-west.

“The Forum rejects the idea that federal government or its agents could encourage the outsourcing of its duty and responsibility to protect citizens to individuals, who are neck-deep in encouraging violence and corruption of communal co-existence.

“The Forum would rather believe that the involvement of these people was contrived to render its purported intervention valueless. In any case, the involvement of private citizens, who represent existential threats to citizens, in an exercise designed to give them assurances that they could be safe, is abhorrent and unacceptable.

“The Forum recognises the pivotal role of governors in the south-west as well as other respected leaders of communities working with the federal government to improve the sense of security of all communities.”

Although Baba-Ahmed did not mention any name, Fani-Kayode, a former minister of aviation, who was also at the peace meeting, had earlier criticised the blockade and said there would be reciprocation from the south.

In a post on his Facebook page on February 27, the former minister had said the south will also block the supply of oil to the north.

“If the north blocks food supplies to the south, the south will block the supply of oil, refined products and oil money to the north. You touch me, I touch you! You do me, I do you! You Tarka me, I Daboh you! It’s called the law of reciprocity! Never start a dance you can’t finish!” Fani-Kayode wrote.

ggood:

If you need meat come to North,
If you need fruit come to North,
If you need fish come to North,
If you need milk come to North,
If you need yam come to North,
If you need honey come to North,
If you need beans come to North,
If you need Sesame come to North,
If you need millet come to North
If you need chicken come to North
If you need tomato come to North,
If you need tourism come to North
If you need cassava come to North,
If you need cattle come to North,
If you need horse come to North,
If you need goat come to North,
If you need ram come to North,
If you need camel come to North,
If you need date come to North,
If you need maize come to North,
If you need cashew come to North,
If you need mango come to North,
If you need cotton come to North,
If you need apple come to North,
If you need peach come to North,
If you need pineapple come to North
If you need orange come to North,
If you need guava come to North,
If you need Banana come to North,
If you need gypsum come to North,
If you need gold come to North,
If you need spring water come to North,
If you need groundnut come to North,
If you need watermelon come to North,
If you need fresh air come to North,
If you need vegetables come to North,
If you need talent come to North.

copied

Danzakidakura:
I wish the south as a whole should boycott anything coming from North for a month five years and try to be self reliance.

Ctorch:
In this interview with TUNDE OYEKOLA, the Seriki Fulani of Ibarapa, Oyo State, Alhaji Salihu Abdulkadir, speaks about his eviction from Igangan, Ibarapa North Local Government Area, following allegations of killings and kidnappings against Fulani in the community

You said you have been in Igangan in the last 50 years; when were you installed as the Seriki?

I have been in Igangan for more than 50 years. I was installed as the Seriki Fulani of the entire Ibarapa area in 1992 and in 2018, the Alafin of Oyo installed me as the Seriki Fulani of Oyo state.



How will you describe the relationship between your people and the people of Igangan?

There was a cordial relationship between us; we were living in harmony. I don’t know what caused the present strain in our relationship; it is not clear to me. But what I noticed is that the Ibarapa people suddenly didn’t want to see Fulani people around again. There was no quarrel between us; but I observed recently allegations that Fulani people were behind the kidnapping of the people in the area, which is a lie. From my findings, the people in Igangan were behind most of the kidnapping in the area. The indigenes were responsible for the kidnapping of the people and it came to a point that some of the victims were escaping from them. They then resorted to keeping the victims in their homes while negotiating for ransom with victims’ relations. I then made efforts to report them to the police both in Ibarapa and at the police headquarters in Ibadan.

There was one incident in which a Fulani man was abducted. We arranged for several vigilantes who discovered the house where the man was kept. Eight suspects were arrested in connection with the crime through police investigation. Out of the eight suspects, six are still in the police custody. One of them escaped but was rearrested. He is still with the police; he has not been taken to court. Four of those arrested are detained at Agodi Prison as I speak with you.


One of the allegations against you was that you were kingpin to Fulani kidnappers in Ibarapa and you shielded them . What is your reaction to this ?

This allegation is false . Whoever said so should come out and say it to my face. The person should name the people that I negotiated with kidnappers to release . I will be happy to see such a person who can come out and present a proof that I served as a negotiator and collected ransom for the kidnapers .
There is nothing like that . I have been the person reporting cases of kidnapping of both Yoruba and Fulani victims in the area. The records are there with the police both in Eruwa and Ibadan . People should take the pain to find out . How can I be a godfather to the kidnappers ?
Majority of kidnapped victims in Ibarapa were Fulani people and if I count them, they are up to 24 . Among them were those killed after the kidnappers collected ransom. On the other hand, the number of Yoruba that were kidnapped in Igangan cannot even be up to four.

You mean the Yoruba indigenes were kidnapping Fulani herdsmen?

Yes , it was collaboration between Fulani and the Yoruba people in the area .

Was the traditional ruler in Igangan aware of these Kidnappings ?

I reported all these cases to him . Any time I heard of any incident , I made a report to him .

Did you ever meet with Sunday Igboho before he came to Igangan?

No , I didn ’ t know him but Jambele invited Sunday Igboho to Igangan . Jambele is one of the kidnappers .

Is it true that three of your boys fired gunshots while you were having a discussion with Sunday Igboho ?

That didn ’ t happen; if we had a gun that day , we would have fought back . In my house no one can shoot. My kids are educated; I have one abroad , six are university graduates . The least educated is a secondary school graduate.
But there was a claim that one of your boys fired a gunshot and you said it was a mistake .
Nothing of such happened . As I said earlier , we do not have a gun ; we don ’ t know how to use it.
Is it true that some Fulani set a cocoa farm owned by a Yoruba farmer on fire in Igangan?
There is no cocoa farm in Igangan . I have never seen a large cocoa farm since I settled in Igangan .

Did you make any effort to inform the Oyo State Government about the quit notice issued to you by Sunday Igboho ?

I did my best . Immediately the incident happened , I went to the Deputy Governor , who , I believe , is a brother to Sunday Igboho, because they are from the same community. The Deputy Governor assured me that nothing would happen to me. I also went to the Commissioner of Police who assigned policemen to guard me. But few days to the expiration of the ultimatum by Sunday Igboho, I noticed that the policemen disappeared . A day to Sunday Igboho ’ s arrival , the Area Commander invited me and told me to settle the matter with Sunday Igboho amicably. But about five hours to the arrival of Sunday Igboho and the Area Commander , the Area Commander called me and told me to come and meet them. Then a soldier informed me of the ambush that Sunday Igboho had planned for me. Before I knew it, people bombarded my house with weapons and they burnt my house and killed six people. I also lost my only brother during the attack . We were only two from my mother . My brother was killed in the attack and up till now we cannot go to the place to bury him .


Can you quantify what you lost during the attack ?
We lost seven people , including my only brother; I lost 207 cows , apart from other animals. Most of my sheep , goats , turkey and chicken were gone . I am a good turkey breeder in my farm . They burnt all my houses and nine posh vehicles , including a Toyota Venza , Lexus SUV, Toyota Camry and a pick - up truck , as well as other vehicles belonging to other people in my household .

Since you vacated Igangan and came to the northern part of the country , what has been your experience ?

All I can is that I am still alive and I eat , even though I ’ m heartbroken and depressed. The food we eat and the clothes that my wives and I wear were given to us by the people around us here .

Has the Oyo State Government got in touch with you since you left the state?

No . I haven ’ t heard from the government yet . The police came here from Ibadan and took my statement and that ’ s all. I want the Federal Government to investigate the matter . What is my offence ? I want the government to help me .
Are you the only Fulani family that left Igangan?
Only few Fulani are left in Oyo State . The few ones left are still packing ( to leave ) and I was told they are being sent back by Amotekun. So , I will say all the Fulani have been told to leave . The people (Amotekun) once visited us , killed my neighbour and two of his kids .


What do you know about Dr Fatai Aborode ’ s death ?
I know nothing about it. I was very close to Aborode ’ s father and I once lived in their house , Ile Alagbede. In fact , we have become one family . Where Aborode was killed was very far from my village . It’ s about two hours ’ drive to my village; you will pass through Igangan town before you get to where I am . It is the opposite end of where I live .

It was said that some Fulani cows destroyed Aborode ’s farm and he came to complain to you and after that some Fulani people waylaid him and hacked him to death .
Whoever said such happened should come out and say it to my face. Aborode never came to me to complain . All I heard was that he was ambushed and killed by some unknown people . Even though he pleaded and offered money so his life could be spared , his killers refused. Meanwhile , the person who carried him on a motorcycle was not injured . I also learnt that some people, including some Fulani people who were passing by at the time , were made to lie down by the assailants .

Do you think his killing was political ?
Well , I can ’ t answer that .
Do you wish to go back to Igangan if this problem is settled ?

If the government can assure me of my safety , I would love to go back .
What do you think can be done to stop Fulani ’s cows from eating up farmers’ crops?
Cows must eat grass ; that ’ s certain . But the public notion towards Fulani as kidnappers is wrong and I would never agree or succumb to that because it is false allegation against all of us , Fulani .

You said that cows must feed on grass, is that a justification for them to eat up farmers’ crops?
No , but there is no way that farmers and herdsmen would not cross each other . For instance , a driver would not pray for an accident but it is certain it would eventually happen. It is the same for cow and open grazing. It happens and it’ s sort of a mistake .

Farmers say Fulani don ’ t compensate them when cows eat their crop. Is it true ?

Anyone whose cows eat farm crops and does not compensate the owner of the farm is senseless. If it’ s a deliberate act , it is wrong . Let ’ s look at it , how many farms can cows eat from that would feed or satisfy them? Cows are never satisfied , it’ s not possible . However , I have assisted many farmers to get compensation for the destruction of their farms by cows . There was no case of farm destruction reported to me that I didn ’ t send people to go and investigate the destruction of the farms and whenever we established that it was true, I would order the Fulani to pay money to the farmer . An example was the case of the Agoro family in Igangan and many more. I have a record for the issues affecting the farmers .

What do you wish the government should do to Sunday Igboho ?
I want the government to investigate this matter and tell us what our offence is. As regards Sunday Igboho , I believe whoever kills should be punished under the law .

https://punchng.com/yoruba-not-my-people-behind-kidnappings-in-igangan-seriki-fulani/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3cJwLDouLlmgg_S2A9bXdGon_JPSalxmE4-tKEduKS5ThnuW6R2tG3hXg#Echobox=1614475889

MrBlock:


Jonathan is to be blamed here not the Yorubas. If he was at least productive to a reasonable degree, we would have not needed to vote a dimwitted slowpoke like Buha-ri. Truth be told, Jonathan brought us into this mess.

lalasticlala:


https://twitter.com/royaleagles007/status/1365990871733272576?s=19