The Department of State Security Services, DSS, has issued a stern warning to the general public to be careful of utterances made on the recent arrest of Desert Herald publisher and Kaduna Train hostage negotiator, Tukur Mamu.
Mamu, who also serves as a media aide to controversial Islamic Cleric, Shiekh Abubakar Gumi, was arrested last week in Egypt and deported back to Nigeria, where he was also arrested by DSS officials.
A raid was carried out on his home and offices where Military uniforms, equipment and 'Incriminating documents' were recovered. Reacting to the development on Saturday, Shiekh Gumi accused the DSS of engaging in 'Terrorism'.
Below is a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Sunday, signed by the PRO of the agency, Peter Afunanya(Phd.);
"The Department of State Services (DSS) has followed, with keen observation, overzealous comments by sections of the public in view of issues relating to the arrest and investigation of Tukur Mamu."
"The Service wishes that it is not distracted with some of the skewed narratives pervading the media space. Instead, it requests to be left alone to concentrate on the ongoing investigations, the outcomes of which have remained mindboggling."
"Meanwhile, the Service will cease further comments on the subject matter since the court will determine its course. Consequently, the public is hereby enjoined to desist from making unguarded utterances and await the court proceedings."
The Department of State Security Services, DSS, has given an update on a raid carried out on the home of Desert Herald Publisher and Kaduna Train hostage negotiator, Tukur Mamu.
Mamu was arrested on Wednesday by the agency on the request of the Nigerian military.
In a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Thursday evening, signed by its PRO, Peter Afunanya(Phd.), the DSS revealed that 'incriminating materials' were discovered in Mamu's home.
The statement read; "So far, appropriate security agencies have executed valid search warrants on Mamu’s residence and office."
"During the processes, incriminating materials including military accoutrements were recovered. Other items include large amounts in different currencies and denominations as well as financial transaction instruments."
"While further investigations continue, Mamu will, sure, have a day in court."
The moment Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha received rousing ovation at the Thanksgiving service marking the 80th birthday anniversary of Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu at the Cathedral of Transfiguration of our Lord, Owerri, Sunday.
The All progressives Congress, APC, has attacked the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Iyorchia Ayu over the crisis within the party.
The APC, in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, lampooned Ayu over his failure to grasp hold of his party's affairs. They also mocked him for being 'unable' to bear responsibility for his comments against the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike.
The statement read; "As he struggled to deny a statement credited to him that Governor Nyesom Wike could not father a child, the National Chairman of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. lyorchia Ayu, alleged, ridiculously, that the All Progressives Congress (APC) and "other mischievous people" were planting such stories in the media and stoking the feud between him and the Rivers State Governor."
"Understandably, Chairman Ayu is deep in quicksand and swinging wildly in search of third parties to blame for the internal combustion in the party that he leads. With such an escapist mindset, it is not difficult to see why the meltdown in the PDP has proved intractable on his watch. Lacking forthrightness and character to accept responsibility for the crisis in his party, how can he possibly resolve it?"
"Unlike the party of Ayu, APC does not “plant stories” and does not meddle in the internal affairs of other parties. That is an area of extreme and unrivaled competence of the PDP. In any event, the PDP is unraveling unstoppably and needs no help from the outside."
"Rather than distract himself in search of an illusory scapegoat, Ayu and stakeholders of his withering PDP should concentrate on finding an anchor to slow the Party’s rudderless drift."
"How can a party that has proved incapable of governing itself seek to govern a country as important as Nigeria? After 16 years of ruthless misgovernance and crass failure to reform and reposition itself, quite frankly, the PDP stands morally disqualified from asking Nigerians for their votes in the next general election."
"On our part, we will remain focused in search of new and creative ways of improving the quality of life of our people, and working to convince them to renew our mandate again in 2023."
The Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike burst into 'Tongues' on Monday as he issued another strong warning to those attempting to undermine him in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike, who was in Aba, Abia state to commission the Okezuo Abia Flyover along the Aba -Enugu Expressway in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, and the rehabilitated Aba-Owerri Road in Aba South Local Government Area of the state, disclosed that nobody could break his relationship with his allies.
A statement issued by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri, read in part; "When I read on the pages of newspapers. They say some people are making attempts to break my rank, I say to myself that they don’t understand the modus oparandi of what we are doing."
"If they understand the modus operandi of what we are doing, they won’t waste their time. If you like go and meet Ikpeazu, if you like go and meet Seyi (Makinde), if you like go and meet Ortom (Samuel), and if you like go and meet Ugwuanyi (Ifeanyi), I pity them. People think that relationship can be bought with money."
"Look, nobody should bother about any abuse on me. I’m too much for it. I don’t even know when I’m abused. If they like, let them put everything on social media and abuse me, at the end, we will know who is relevant or not at the appropriate time."
"Politics is not to go on the pages of newspapers. Politics is not to go and buy slot on television and speak.It is who will deliver at the appropriate time. That is what is key. If you like abuse me from now until tomorrow, it’s your business."
In an apparent jibe at the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Wike said; "Now, what’s the problem, we say, my brother, you have shared and given to Atiku; you shared and given Okowa, you shared and given Saraki, which one have you given to Ikpeazu?"
"What Ikpeazu and company are saying is that when you are sharing Senate President to so and so person, which one have you given to Abia," he said.
The Crisis currently rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP may not becoming to an end anytime soon as the Governor of Rivers state, Nyesom Wike is yet again meeting with key members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, in an apparent move to either leave the party or scuttle the chances of its Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
It's no longer news that Wike and Atiku have been at loggerheads for months now following the outcome of the Party's Presidential Primaries.
POLITICS NIGERIA has reliably gathered that Wike; Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi and the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Iyiola Omisore, met in London at the weekend to explore the areas of collaboration ahead of the 2023 elections.
This development is coming a day after a key ally of Wike, Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, clarified that he would not leave the main opposition party, explaining that his alliance with Wike was to negotiate better deals for the South-east.
With the renewed calls for Ayu’s resignation, there was palpable tension within the camp of the presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar following the accusation that he was shielding Ayu from resigning. So far, PDP stakeholders from the South, including the supporters of Wike, are mobilising for a showdown with Ayu’s supporters over his continued stay in office.
The southern stakeholders are demanding that Ayu should relinquish his position for the South-west as a strategy against Senator Bola Tinubu’s presidential bid on the platform of the APC.
The demand for Ayu to step down is no longer just a campaign of Wike, but has metamorphosed into a southern agenda. The General perception in the party at the moment is that with Atiku from the North-east, Ayu from the North-central and the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State from the North-west, the southern members of the party have been marginalised.
"There is nothing for the South other than the Office of the National Secretary held by Senator Samuel Anyanwu and the vice presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa," a source disclosed.
The source explained that Atiku’s camp has been thrown into panic because there is a strong suspicion that the presidential candidate is backing Ayu.
"This is the time for the presidential candidate to speak out and prove to Nigerians that he can take tough decisions. Atiku’s continued silence on the matter of agitation for Ayu to step down is not golden,” he said.
Another PDP stakeholder from the South revealed that Ayu would bring only little value to the table.
"What is Ayu bringing into the campaigns that Atiku cannot sacrifice him? I can’t believe that Atiku is this weak to take a tough decision. Let us see how all these will go with the national caucus and NEC meetings."
Also speaking on the issue, a former governor elected on the platform of the PDP said the manipulations and horse-trading that took place at the presidential convention and the nomination of Okowa as the vice presidential candidate have divided the once-united PDP governors forum.
The former governor noted that because of the role played by the Chairman of the PDP Governors, Tambuwal, a meeting of the party’s governors cannot be called to intervene on issues affecting the party. The former governor said the governors have thrown their weights behind Atiku and Wike, stating that this is the time for the presidential candidate to step in and restore normalcy within the party members.
The former governor said it is a complete falsehood to think that there is no crisis at hand.
It was further gathered that the Governors of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde; Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Abia State, Dr.Okezie Ikpeazu; Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed and Benue State, Mr. Samuel Ortom have lined up behind Wike to insist that Ayu must go.
However, Okowa; Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel; his counterparts in Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri have thrown their weights behind Atiku.
The trio of Wike, Ortom, and Makinde left Nigeria for London on Friday. The trip to London, it was gathered was to conclude plans for their mobilisation for the NEC and national caucus meeting.
Wike, Makinde, Fayemi and Omisore were also said to have met in London to explore areas of collaboration ahead of the 2023 elections. A source close to the Wike’s camp told said; "This is Atiku’s time to show leadership and he should not fail the party. He should weigh in on the matter before NEC and the outcome should be announced there."
"This is the hour of reckoning for Atiku and Ayu. But, if he should play the ostrich, we will help him to lose the election," the source said.
Wike is not relenting in his bid to ensure that the NEC and national caucus of the party force Ayu to resign the same way Prince Uche Secondus was forced to vacate the seat as the national chairman.
It was gathered that even other presidential aspirants that took part in the presidential primary are not happy with the Ayu-led NEC as nobody has reached out to them. So far, 10 members of the National Working Committee (NWC) have signed that Ayu must go.
Kwara State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu, has been nominated for the Excellence and Leadership Award by the Nigeria Society of Engineers.
Our correspondent gathered that the award is in recognition of his excellent leadership role in promoting professionalism and sustainable development in Nigeria.
The award ceremony is billed to be held during the society’s annual week and induction ceremony from September 3 to September 8 in Abuja.
This recognition comes days after the Engr. Rotimi received a surprise birthday celebration from directors in the Kwara state ministry of works.
He has also been commended by members of the public as well for his outstanding performance which has rendered Kwara an infrastructural developing state under the leadership of Gov. AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman.
A Federal High Court in Lagos has stopped the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country, and shutting down the stations for allegedly failing to renew their licenses.
Honourable Justice Akintayo Aluko (Court today granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).
SERAP and NGE had last week filed a lawsuit against Buhari and NBC, asking the court for “a declaration that section 10(a) of the Third Schedule to the NBC Act used by NBC to threaten to revoke the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and to shut down the stations is unconstitutional and unlawful, as it violates freedom of expression.”
In the suit, SERAP and NGE had asked the court for “an order of interim injunction restraining Buhari and NBC, their agents from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country and shutting their down operations, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed contemporaneously in this suit.”
The suit is adjourned to 8th September, 2022 for the hearing of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction. The suit followed the decision by the NBC to revoke the licenses of the 53 broadcast stations and shut down their operations within 24 hours over alleged N2.6 billion debt.
In the suit number FHC/L/CS/1582/2022, SERAP and NGE are asking the court to determine “whether section 10(a) of the Third Schedule to the NBC Act used by NBC to threaten revoke the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and shut them down is not in inconsistent with freedom of expression and access to information.”
SERAP and NGE are also seeking “a declaration that section 10(a) of the National Broadcasting Act used by NBC to unilaterally revoke the licenses of the broadcast stations and shutdown the stations is a violation of the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed right to fair hearing.”
The suit, read in part: “The provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties on freedom of expression indicate that this right can be exercised through any medium.”
“Effectively, these provisions recognize that every individual has the right to an equal opportunity to receive, seek and impart information through any communication medium without discrimination.”
“The use of NBC Act and Code in this case would inadmissibly open the door to arbitrariness and would fundamentally restrict the freedom of expression that is an integral part of the public order protected the Nigerian Constitution and human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“The media plays an essential role as a vehicle or instrument for the exercise of freedom of expression and information – in its individual and collective aspects – in a democratic society.”
“Indeed, the media has the task of distributing all varieties of information and opinion on matters of general interest.”
“The public has a right to receive and assess this information and opinion independently. Therefore, the existence of a free, independent, vigorous, pluralistic, and diverse media is essential for the proper functioning of a democratic society.”
“According to the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa adopted by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ‘licensing processes shall seek to promote diversity in broadcasting. Any registration system for the media shall not impose substantive restrictions on the right to freedom of expression.’”
“Revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations and shutting down their operations because they have not renewed their licenses would both seriously undermine the rights of millions of Nigerians to express their thoughts, and their right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, in any medium they choose.”
“Freedom of expression includes the public's right to receive, and the right of those who express themselves through a medium of communication, to impart the greatest possible diversity of information and ideas.”
“The right to freedom of expression is based on the right to establish or use a media outlet to exercise freedom of expression and on society's right to have access to a free, independent, and pluralistic media that allows for the most and most diverse information.”
“The media, including the affected 53 broadcast stations, serve to distribute Nigerians’ thoughts and information while at the same time allowing them access to the ideas, information, opinions, and cultural expressions of other individuals.”
“The exercise of the right to freedom of expression through the media is a guarantee that is fundamental for advancing the collective deliberative process on public and democratic issues.”
“Therefore, the strengthening of the guarantee of freedom of expression is a precondition for the exercise of other human rights, as well as a precondition to the right to participation to be informed and reasoned.”
“The media including the affected 53 broadcast stations play an essential role, as they allow millions of Nigerians to access both the relevant information and a variety of perspectives that are necessary for reaching reasonable and informed conclusions on matters of public interest.”
“The Plaintiffs recognize the mandates of NBC to regulate broadcasting. However, the exercise of such mandates including renewals or revocation of licenses must follow the thresholds and guidelines set by the right to freedom of expression.The free circulation of ideas and news is not possible except in the context of a plurality of sources of information and media outlets. The lack of plurality in sources of information is a serious obstacle for the functioning of democracy.”
“The NBC Act and Broadcasting Code cannot and should not be used in a manner that is inconsistent and incompatible with plurality of voices, diversity of voices, non-discrimination, and just demands of a democratic society, as well as the public interest. Broadcasting is a means of exercising freedom of expression. Any restrictions on freedom of expression must meet the requirements of legality, necessity, and proportionality.”
“The regulation of broadcasting must aspire to promote and expand the scope of the right to freedom of expression, not restrict it.”
More light has been shed on the meeting between the Rivers state Governor, Nyesom Wike and 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar in London last week.
The meeting was attended by Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Samuel Ortom, Seyi Makinde, who are allies of Wike and Ahmadu Fintiri, an ally of the former vice-president.
POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that both men have been at loggerheads ever since the party's presidential primaries a few months ago. The rift became wider after Atiku chose Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate against the recommendation of a committee setup to chose the Vice Presidential candidate of the Party. The committee had selected Wike.
However, reconciliatory moves are in high-gear and this newspaper has reliably gathered that Wike and his allies made 6 solid demands from Atiku in order to support him in 2023. The demands include;
1. The Immediate Removal of Sen. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the Party
2. Alteration of the North-dominated National Working Committee (NWC) of the party
3. That Atiku puts in writing, his commitment to serve for only one term if he wins, to pave way for power shift to the South
4. Demanded to produce the new PDP National Chairman from the South-west Zone
5. Demanded to produce the Senate President, Principal officers of the National Assembly and key ministers if the PDP wins
6. Nomination of a Director General for the Atiku Campaign Organisation
A reliable source disclosed to this newspaper that Atiku allegedly told Wike that he will consider their demands and get back to them within 2 weeks.
It was also learned that Wike met with Tinubu and the Presidential Candidate of the Labour party, Peter Obi, who are both lobbying the Rivers Strongman.
Speaking on the meeting after his return from London on Friday, Wike said; "I can confirm that this is the first time as a team that we are meeting with presidential candidates. For whatever its worth, consultation is ongoing. Whatever we are talking about, is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians. It is not parochial and tied to one person or group of persons."
"We believe that with what is going on, it will be for the interest of Nigerians at the end of the day."
Wike decried the situation where standard, training and competence had always been traded for mediocrity.
He said leadership should not be about one individual and the interest of his family, but about the collective interest of everybody.
"Consultation is still ongoing. Never mind some people who do not believe in the existence of this country."
BUA Foods Plc, Nigeria’s largest indigenous Foods company, has announced the resignation of Isyaku Naziru Rabiu, as an Executive Director of the company effective August 17, 2022.
Isyaku Naziru Rabiu, resigns from board of BUA Foods PLC This announcement was contained in a recent regulatory disclosure by BUA Foods Plc to the Nigerian Exchange in order for the company to meet the regulatory requirements of the Securities & Exchange Commission Corporate Governance Guidelines (2020) and the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance, on family and interlocking directorship which stipulates that not more than two members of the same family shall sit on the Board of a public company at the same time.
Prior to his appointment as a member of the Board of BUA Foods in November 2021 (which later became publicly listed BUA Foods Plc in January 2022), Isyaku Naziru was a Director of IRS Pasta & Flour Limited which later merged with other companies to form BUA Foods. Isyaku Naziru Rabiu, however remains an Executive of BUA Foods Plc with his portfolio remaining unchanged.
Isyaku Naziru Rabiu holds a degree in Business Economics from the University of Hertfordshire and held other previous roles within the organization including as Commercial Director of IRS Pasta Flour Limited.
Former Presidential aide and Controversial social critic, Reno Omokri has stated that the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will be the biggest beneficiary of Peter Obi's campaign for President.
Omokri, in a series of recent tweets, disclosed that Tinubu was using media proxies to promote Obi in order to whittle down the chances/divide the votes of frontline opposition Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. It can be recalled that Obi defected from the PDP to Labour party after he was denied the Presidential ticket.
He wrote; "The biggest beneficiary of Peter Obi’s Presidential race is Tinubu, not Obidients. Peter won’t affect APC’s votes. The votes he will likely get are votes that would have gone to PDP, including SE, some non Yoruba Lagos votes, and a few votes in peripheral states."
"Tinubu is a master tactician. He knows Peter Obi cannot win. He knows that very little of Peter’s votes, if any at all, will come from him. He is aware that Peter is eating into the PDP’s votes. So, he will promote Obi’s candidacy through proxies to deplete the PDP."
"Hysteria has blinded the eyes of core Obidients. That uncontrollable emotion makes them blind to a lot of things. One of which is that the Yoruba have NEVER voted for a non Yoruba when a Yoruba is in the race. It does not matter whether or not they like the person."
"The person who lured Peter Obi to Labour Party is close to me. He is a man I greatly admire. Peter may not know that this man and Tinubu are 5 and 6. I know this man well. I benefited from him. So I can’t mention his name. Even Obi does not know he is being used!"
"After 2023, if God spares my life, I will publish photos. Obidients don’t even know half of what’s happening behind the scene. They know you guys and counted on your hysteria. Tinubu’s hand may be shaking. But his cunning is intact! He’s just laughing in Bourdillon!"
The Kwara State Police Command has reacted to a protest by Police Special constabularies over alleged non-payment of Salaries.
The Protest, which went viral online, caused serious traffic gridlock along the Popular Ahmadu Bello Way in Illorin.
However, In a press release, on Saturday, signed by its public relations officer, SP Okasanmi Ajayi (anipr), titled; “RE: VIRAL VIDEO ON FACEBOOK OF POLICEMEN PROTESTING NON-PAYMENT OF SALARY IN KWARA STATE.”, the command dissociated itself from the video, clarifying that those in the footage were constabularies and not Policemen.
The statement read; "The Kwara State Police Command wishes to dissociate herself from a video already spiralling on Facebook, regarding a protest by some purported policemen over the non-payment of one year salary."
"For purposes of clarification, the characters seen in the video are police special constabularies recruited to complement the operation of community policing. It is important to state that the concept of community policing and recruitment of special constabularies is voluntary, meaning they are not on monthly remuneration like the conventional policemen."
"This much the constabularies were briefed before taking up the job, besides, the job is not a full-time job."
"The commissioner of police Kwara State, CP Assayomo psc (+) wishes to state categorically, that the police are not owing any policeman or woman any salary, nor is the police owing the special constabularies salary. Therefore, members of the public are advised to disregard the viral video as it was designed to embarrass the police and to draw undue sympathy from the public."
"The men and women of the special constabulary are at liberty to honourably disengage from the service if they so wish."
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja said entrepreneurs and the business community, whose investments align with the priorities of the government in value and job creation, will continue receiving the full support of his administration, noting that the huge growth experienced by conglomerates like BUA Group is evidence of the correctness of government policies.
The President, who received the Management of BUA Group at the State House led by the Chairman, AbdulSamad Rabiu, said the government’s focus on import substitution to encourage local production and export stimulates growth and stability, urging investors to take advantage of the vision.
“Let me assure you and the entire business community that this government remains ready, willing and able to support all well-meaning Nigerian entrepreneurs whose investments align with our import substitution and domestic job creation policies and programs,’’ he said.
President Buhari commended the Chairman of BUA Group for concentrating investments in the country and transiting from trade to manufacturing.
“I am impressed and proud of the transformation BUA has made from trading concern to a manufacturing conglomerate.
“A key pillar of our administration’s policy thrust is import substitution especially when it comes to essential items such as food, household consumables and shelter. A nation of our size and with our natural and human resources is exhibiting its weakness if it continues importing essential commodities.
“For every grain of rice, wheat or maize we import, we destroy the livelihoods of our local farmers while creating jobs abroad. It is because of this that seven years ago, our Government introduced numerous laws, executive orders and incentives that support businesses with import substitution projects,’’ the president said.
He stressed that the focus of the administration stays on job creation and economic security.
Nigerian Senators are currently scheming to Impeach President Muhammadu Buhari over the lingering Insecurity in the country, POLITICS NIGERIA has learned.
It can be recalled that some days ago, several Senators staged a walk-out from Plenary after Senate president, Ahmed Lawan blocked attempts to discuss President Buhari's failure to solve the nation's longstanding battle with Insecurity.
They also held a press conference where they issued an 6-week ultimatum to the President to solve the problem or face impeachment proceedings.
In a recent Interview, Senator Francis Fadahunsi, who represents Osun East in the Red Chamber confirmed that there are moves to impeach Buhari adding that the Senate president, Ahmed Lawan will be removed should he attempt to block proceedings.
"We have been talking and giving suggestions on how we could end the insecurity challenges facing the country but the Head (Senate President) is hooked to the Villa. He has been frustrating all our moves to take drastic measures against the President."
"We have now made up our mind to strike now that the iron is still hot instead of wasting our time, cooperating with the Ahmad Lawan leadership while the nation is being destroyed by terrorists with no plan by the government to stop them. We won’t wait until we are all killed."
"We have now decided to pull out of the ‘rubber stamp’ arrangement so that the whole of Nigeria would know that we have not been in support of the failing economy, the huge debts accumulation, falling naira, insecurity across the country and the unprecedented forms of corruption going on in the polity."
"Unfortunately, the man heading us now (Lawan) was leading the opposition lawmakers before and was challenging the rots in the system then. Now, he doesn’t want anyone to challenge Buhari’s government when things are falling apart every day. Any leader that opposes such a challenge in a democratic setting must also be challenged because we are elected by the people."
"Go and interview most of the senators. There is no effective oversight of the ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government. Buhari will bring the budget and his people here will want us to pass it as he brings it. No examinations and heads of MDAs are doing what they like."
"That is why we resolved that if we come back on September 20 and discovered that the situation is still the same, with no appreciable steps taken, we would impeach him.", he disclosed.
The Department of State Security Services, DSS has lampooned a former minister of aviation, Osita Chidoka over his recent comments on the state of security in the country.
Chidoka made headlines a few days ago after appearing on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, where he criticized the nation's security architecture.
He also opined that the nation's intelligence agencies do not have any first-class graduate working for them.
"The security agencies, many people forget that they are recruited on a state-by-state basis so every state is represented."
"When you get to the top you find out that only people from a particular section of the country are going to be the heads of the security agencies. That automatically creates a problem because the people from the other section of the country begin to take a lackadaisical attitude to work."
Reacting in a statement on Wednesday, Spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya(Fsi, Phd) stated that Chidoka was grossly ignorant about the nation's security protocols.
“Mr Chidoka spoke as a politician and the DSS does not join issues with politicians,” the statement reads.
“Intelligence activities are based on need-to-know, need-to-hold and need-to-access principles. For today, Mr Chidoka is not on any of the security platforms to appreciate the workings of the intelligence community or the DSS in particular. He has no history of core intelligence practice, competence and experience."
"Chidoka exhibited lack of knowledge or complete ignorance in aspects of his analysis especially as it concerns the DSS."
"In any case, the Federal Road Safety Corps, where it once headed, has unarguably continued to enjoy a robust relationship with the DSS based on inter-agency collaboration."
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu will remain in prison till October 31st as the case has been adjourned again.
Ekweremadu appeared in court on Thursday was will remain in Custody as the judge adjourned the case till the end of October for a hearing.
It can be recalled that the Nigerian senator first appeared before the Uxbridge magistrates’ court in London, where the lawmaker denied all the charges against him.
Both Ekweremadu and his wife were denied bail and remanded in custody while the case was adjourned to July 7 and now August 4, 2022.
However, on July 2nd, his wife, Beatrice was granted bail under strict conditions.
POLITICS NIGERIA gathered that Ekweremadu put in a request for a new counsel on Wednesday. However, the Nigerian senate ably represented by Adamu Bulkachuwa (in brown kaftan), senate committee chairman on foreign affairs, was in court to show support for Ekweremadu.
Only 20 people were allowed into the court premises to witness proceedings and any and all recording devices were barred.
A recent report that has since gone viral on Social media alleged that a 16-year old girl, Chiamaka Okoro, arrested by the DSS in Imo state earlier this year, got pregnant in its custody.
POLITICS NIGERIA, in its pursuit of truth and accountability, decided to investigate and verify the authenticity of this report and here is what was discovered.
CLAIM: On the 15th of July, a Facebook page affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, called 'Anyi Kings', shared a story titled "four months in DSS Chiamaka Okoro now pregnant in Owerri DSS dungeon."
The story read; "Her name is Chidera Amaefula, a 15-year-old teenager from Atta Umunnam Njaba Local Government Area, Imo state. She and six other little girls: Oluebube Uzoma, Chidinma Oba, Favour Azubike, Chiamaka Okoro, Chibueze Ezike, and Mmesoma Ezike, are still been held hostage incarcerated and sexually abused in DSS for over four months now and counting in Owerri DSS dungeon."
"Disturbing report from DSS dungeon in Imo state has it that these little girls have been turned into sex slaves… which has resulted to a confirmed report that one of the girl Chiamaka Okoro is now pregnant."
The Page has over 24,000 followers.
Furthermore, a news platform, Naija247news published a report on the same story. The report read: "Disturbing report from DSS Dungeon in Imo state has it that these little girls has been turned into sex slaves in the hand of Fulani controlled DSS in imo state."
"As these uncircumcised elements are taking advantage of them, taking turn to abuse them sexually on daily basis helplessly which has resulted to a confirmed report that one of the girl Chiamaka Okoro is now pregnant inside DSS Dungeon in Owerri Imo state."
BACKGROUND
Chiamaka Okoro was one of the suspects arrested by DSS operatives during a raid on a hideout of suspected members of the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a paramilitary organisation of IPOB in Njaba area of imo state on March 14, 2022.
She has been in Custody ever since.
VERIFICATION: A medical report exclusively sighted by POLITICS NIGERIA, showed that as at July 22nd, when a scan was conducted by a medical facility – Medicare Manus – in Owerri, Chiamaka Okoro was 27 weeks, 6 days pregnant.
"Having gone through the pregnancy result, you now know that the suspect was twenty-seven weeks, six days gone, as at July 22, 2022. In fact, her expected due date (EDD) is 15th October, according to the scan result you just sighted.", a source who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent.
“Note that she was nabbed during a serious operation within the Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State, on March 14th, 2022. The government, having read online propaganda aimed at disparaging the secret service, directed the ministry of health to get to the root of the matter,", the source said.
Also, the spokesperson of the DSS, Peter Afunanya, when contacted, denied that the girl was impregnated by DSS operatives
"Our staff are highly disciplined and professional, and so cannot be involved in such an act, more so that they know the consequences," he said.
CONCLUSION:From the medical report and the denial of the DSS spokesperson, it is evident that the claim that Okoro was impregnated in DSS custody is FALSE.
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) – brainchild of Industrialist, philanthropist and founder of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, has awarded a three million US Dollars development initiative to Niger Republic from its ASR Africa Fund for Social Development & Renewal.
This donation was announced when President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic hosted the Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu, at the State House in Niamey over the weekend.
Speaking at the reception hosted in his honour, Abdul Samad Rabiu thanked President Bazoum of Niger Republic for the warmth, hospitality, and honour accorded him in Niamey.
He also announced that his private philanthropy, ASR Africa, had selected Niger Republic as a recipient of a 2022 National Development Grant to the tune of 3 million dollars which will be drawn from the ASR Africa Fund for Social Development and Renewal, and channeled towards interventions in the areas of health, education, or social development that the government of Niger Republic will identify for implementation.
In his response, President Bazoum thanked Rabiu for the gesture and stressed the importance of pan-African cooperation in various areas from business to infrastructure development, social development and economy.
He further added that partnerships in business and development such as this, are critical in building an economically prosperous Africa for the future. President Bazoum later hosted a state dinner in honour of Abdul Samad Rabiu which was attended by the Nigerien Prime Minister and other senior members of Government.
ABOUT ASR AFRICA
The brainchild of African Industrialist, Philanthropist and Chairman of BUA Group, Abdul Samad Rabiu, the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting health, Education and Social Development within Africa.
The Nigerian presidency has issued a statement on a recent video by Terrorists threatening President Muhammadu Buhari and flogging Kidnapped train passengers.
It can be recalled that several passengers were kidnapped by Terrorists after an attack on an Abuja-Kaduna Train a few months ago.
On Saturday, the Terrorists released a video threatening President Muhammadu Buhari, Kaduna state governor, Nasir El-rufai and flogging the kidnap victims.
Reacting to the development via a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA on Sunday evening, signed by Presidential Media aide, Garba Shehu, the Presidency described the video as 'Propaganda' adding security agencies were on top of the matter.
"Terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world. The country’s security and defense forces are not clueless or helpless. They have their plans and ways of doing things which they will not display in the media."
"The dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists are manifold: punitive action like the popular call for carpet bombing of the known locations may assuage the desire of an angry public for revenge, but what about the hostages? They have committed no offense."
"All they did was to board a train. It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support."
"Terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors- the military, the civilian population and the communication service providers. This is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world."
"To help the nation against ongoing situation, the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes. The Presidency, in the meantime wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate."
The Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar has challenged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to sit for a 1 hour interview with any television.
Atiku's comments are coming after the Tinubu campaign group criticised his recent interview with Arise Television, branding him an 'expert in lies'.
Responding to this, Atiku's campaign team, in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA on Saturday evening replied Tinubu, daring him to sit for an hour-long interview as it would be a good opportunity to see if he was as articulate and mentally fit as the former vice-president.
The statement read; "We were rather amused to read the knee jerk response from the Tinubu Campaign Organisation to the wave making interview granted by Waziri Atiku Abubakar to Arise TV on Thursday, July 21, 2022."
"Amusement, because we expected this. Mr. Tinubu has not sat down to do any prolonged interview for obvious reasons. Nigerians have seen him talk in public and can themselves gauge the reason why he is mortified to do so."
"Nevertheless, I will now take the issues in their statement one after the other."
"The Tinubu campaign exposed its gross desperation and vacuousness by citing the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999, to declare Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s stance on engaging in a side business while he was a young custom officer as a breach of the law. It is pertinent to educate the Tinubu campaign organisation that Nigeria is not under a military regime and our Constitutions are not retroactive in nature."
"Again, the Tinubu campaign betrayed either dishonesty or lack of attention to detail by claiming that Atiku Abubakar said oil contributed 20% of Nigeria’s GDP. That is a lie. What the Waziri said is as follows: “Oil only maybe accounts for about 20% of our GDP."
"The use of the word maybe by the Waziri was in reflection to the different figures given. While the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics states a figure close to 10%, other multilateral organisations have given a much higher figure of between 15-20%. So, while the jury is still out, it is right to qualify the contribution of oil and gas as a maybe. However, we do like to point out that Waziri Atiku Abubakar mentioned both the PDP and the APC during the interview and did not forget the name of his own party."
"It seems the Tinubu campaign organisation (can a disorganised body be called an organisation?) does not know the meaning of rotation of power and micro zoning. So, we will gladly educate them. Rotation of power refers to a constitutional provision where power is zoned between North and South. Micro-zoning refers to a non constitutional idea, where power is zoned not between North and South, but amongst geo-political zones. We hope this cures the political illiteracy of the authors of that document."
"The rude response also accuses Waziri Atiku Abubakar of having “limited education”. Atiku Abubakar has an earned Masters degree from Anglia Ruskin University. We challenge any of the present Presidential candidates to present an equal or higher degree. Moreover, his university attendance is a matter of verified record. Can we say the same about some other persons?"
"On President Lincoln, we are afraid the poor student of history is the Tinubu campaign disorganisation. Yes, it is true that Lincoln ran for President with his name on the ballot twice. But he ran at other times, and failed to get his name on the ballot."
"In conclusion, we would like to challenge Bola Tinubu to subject himself to an hour long interview, like the Waziri did, and if he is able to be as articulate and mentally present as our candidate, then he can talk. Until then, we will only want to remind him and his yes men that they are not in a position to point fingers when they have not sat on the hot seat."
The Tinubu Campaign Group has lampooned the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar for telling several 'lies' during his recent interview on Arise TV Interview.
The group, in a statement signed by its DG, Bayo Onanuga, described Atiku as an 'expert' in telling lies.
Below are 5 lies the group alleged that Atiku stated during the viral interview;
RECORD OF SERVICE/WEALTH
The statement read in part; "We have watched Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s interview on ARISE Television and were extremely shocked by the many lies and ignorance displayed by the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential candidate.
“In the interview, Alhaji Atiku exposed himself as a man who is not prepared for the job he is applying for and a man who cannot be entrusted with our commonwealth. He was flippant in his response to important questions about his record of service and how he made money while serving in Customs. He muddled up facts and exhibited befuddling absence of mind,"
"The PDP candidate is a law breaker,"
"He cheated the system for decades and engaged in gross misconduct as a government worker. As a customs officer at the Idi-Iroko border, Atiku revealed that he ran a commercial taxi service, claiming ‘there is no law stopping public officers from doing business in Nigeria.’ He punched harder, claiming there is no conflict of interest in doing so. We found this to be untrue."
"Every officer in the civil service is expected to comply with a code of conduct and service rules which bar civil and public servants from engaging in private business while in government employment to the detriment of the service he/she is employed to render to the public. The 1999 constitution further codifies this in Part I, Fifth Schedule, Section of 2 (b)."
"It says a public officer shall not, except where he is not employed on full-time basis, engage or participate in the management or running of any private business, profession or trade. The rules, however, allow a public officer to engage in farming."
"We wonder which rule or which law Atiku was relying upon for his gross misconduct as a public officer. It is our considered view that Atiku gamed the system all through his career in public service, culminating in his founding of the Intel Logistics along with Late Shehu Yar’Adua and some Italians, even while he was still in the employment of the Nigeria Customs Service."
ECONOMY
The Group further criticised the PDP presidential candidate had poor knowledge of key sectors of the economy and accused him of citing false data from Egypt.
"We also found it surprising that the PDP presidential candidate does not know the contribution of oil and gas industry to Nigeria’s GDP. He claimed the sector represents 20% of our national GDP whereas it is below 10 per cent and it is still falling owing to the growth of non-oil sector under the current All Progressives Congress led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari".
"Atiku Abubakar wanted to impress his audience with his supposed knowledge of international affairs, he ended up embarrassing himself with false data he cited from Egypt. We found his claim that Egypt has 2 million police officers on the streets to be untrue. Various sources put the number at about 500,000 for a population of 104 million and not 80 million as falsely claimed by Atiku."
ROTATIONAL PRESIDENCY
The statement continued: "Asked to justify why the PDP jettisoned Section 3c of its own constitution which enshrines power rotation between the North and South, Atiku tried to fudge his answer by focussing on Governor Nyesom Wike and his effort to reconcile with him after he, a northerner, snatched the presidential ticket that ought to have been taken by a southerner. While Atiku was playing to the gallery on APC’s Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket, he didn’t see seeking to be President after 8 years of a President from his part of Nigeria as politics of exclusion."
"Probed further, Atiku provided several contradictory answers. In one breath, he said power rotation is not in the constitution. In another breath, he said the PDP has never ‘micro zoned any position’. Then he admitted that the party has always rotated power between the North and the South. Atiku’s justification as to why he became PDP’s presidential candidate, instead of a southerner, is a perfect example in ellipsis: ‘In politics’, he said, ‘we negotiate power through negotiations (sic)’. Whatever that means."
MUSLIM-MUSLIM TICKET
The statement read in part; "Atiku, ever an expert in not telling the truth, also did not come clean over his once-upon a time preference for same-faith ticket. In 1993, after Atiku and Kingibe lost to MKO Abiola in the SDP presidential primary in Jos, Atiku was the choice of the Yar’Adua camp to become Abiola’s running mate. Abiola overlooked him and picked the more cerebral diplomat and bureaucrat, Babagana Kingibe. In all the tonnes of biographies written about him, there was no where he said he opposed Shehu Yar’Adua’s support for his candidacy as Abiola’s VP. He was not against it, since it favoured him. Now, it is politically convenient and opportunistic for him to oppose Tinubu-Shettima ticket."
LINCOLN/NUMBER OF TIMES HE RAN FOR OFFICE
"Most reprehensible was Atiku’s lies about how many times he ran to become the governor of Adamawa or old Gongola State. Mr. Presidential candidate, in case you don’t know due to your limited education, you run for an office, only, when you are on the ballot in an election. Your signifying interest in an office does not mean the same as running for the office. From available records, the first time you contested the governorship election in your state was in 1999. Your name entered the ballot for the first time and you won."
The organisation further derided Atiku, saying he "exhibited poor Knowledge of history when he claimed that Abraham Lincoln, one of America’s famous leaders contested the presidency five to six times before he eventually won."
"This is a beer parlour tale that has been recycled over time. Lincoln contested U.S. presidency twice. He ran in 1860 and 1864 and won both, before he was assassinated on 15 April, 1865. The false story about Lincoln’s failed presidential bids sprang from his previous failed state and national elections, from his state of Illinois. They were not the same as America’s presidential election."
"According to historians, Lincoln lost his first election in 1832 for Illinois state legislature. In 1834, he ran again and won. In 1843 he ran for Congress. He lost. Three years after in 1846, Lincoln ran for Congress again – this time he won and went to Washington. From established history, in 1848, Lincoln ran for re-election to Congress and lost. In 1854, he ran for Senate of the United States. He lost. Lincoln also made another failed bid for U.S. Senate from Illinois in 1858. He lost to Democrat Steven Douglas."
The former Governor of Imo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, has condemned the increasing level of indebtedness resulting from unbridled borrowing by Hope Uzodinma led administration in Imo State.
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the Mbaise USA 13th Annual Cinvention at Santa Clara, California, in the United States of America, he said, statistics released in April this year, by the Debt Management Office, DMO, shows that the debt profile of Imo State has jumped to N205.19 billion, which means it has more than doubled from the level he brought down the huge debt profile he inherited from the previous administration.
The high indebtedness of Imo State, incurred in the last two and half years, is cause for worry. This is because, while other states like Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Akwa Ibom with the same level of debt profile have robust economic activities, including significant internally generated revenue to meet their loan obligations, Imo State is left with, practically nothing to fall back on to support its loan exposure. What this means is that the debt burden, without economic activities to generate revenue, will continue to weigh the state down.
Hon. Ihedioha described the high indebtedness as man's inhumanity to man and a mortgaging of the future of the State.
The former Governor who used the opportunity to thank the people of Imo State especially of Mbaise extraction also gave an account of his 7months stint as the Governor the State.
He said rebuilding Imo State was at the heart of his growth and development initiatives. Of priority, he noted was the development of the human capital Index, the economy and Infrastructure with special interest in the rural areas.
Hon. Ihedioha who set up Technical Committees to harness potentials in the State stated that he took steps towards enhancing the internally generated revenue (IGR) thereby raising monthly revenue to over N1 billion (One billion naira) by blocking areas of leakage through the introduction of Treasury Single Account, TSA, while reducing the dubious debt profile of the state.
During his 7-month old administration, Chief Ihedioha says, short, medium to long term contracts were awarded to redress the sorry state of road infrastructure in the State.
To support rapid rural development, the former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives stated that he ordered Caterpillars, Graders and Pail loaders for each of the 27 Local Government Councils.
Above all, he said, was the restoration of the people's confidence through probity and accountability, full and regular payment of monthly salaries and pension arrears without stretching the aged beneficiaries for verifications in Owerri.
While speaking to over 2000 delegates from across the US, Europe and Nigeria at the 13th Mbaise USA Convention in California, he assured that if given an opportunity to preside over the affairs of the Imo State again, he will be bold In redressing the developmental retrogression in the state.
Senator Albert Bassey Akpan has resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Akpan, in a letter to his ward chairman, seen by POLITICS NIGERIA, explained that he intends to contest for the Governorship of Akwa-Ibom state on the platform of another party.
It can be recalled that Pastor Umo Eno is the current gubernatorial flag-bearer of the PDP in the state.
The letter read; "It is with the greatest sense of responsibility, purpose, and love for my people that i make bold this communication.
I have been a loyal and committed member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for over 20 years and have through the platform of the party serve our people, state, and nation diligently without any blemish, and I have by the grace of God contributed positively and impactfully to the growth and development of our dear country, state, and our people in general.
I believe as a law maker and a distinctive one at that must at all times advocate and pursue virtues and values that promote and sustain the effective adherence to the rule of law.
As you are aware, my aspiration to serve our dear state in the office of the Executive Governor is not personal or selfish but rather the collective ambition of our people, based on the principles of justice and equity, to achieve a better and prosperous Akwa Ibom State.
In words of Jean Anouilh and I quote “The only immorality is not to do what one has to do when one has to do it”.
"Therefore, after an extensive consultation with my God, family, friends, supporters, and well-meaning believers in a just and equitable Akwa Ibom State across the world, it’s obvious that these collective yearnings and aspirations cannot be actualised under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)."
"Consequently, guided by the sentiments, concerns and worries of our people so expressed on the need to take immediate steps for the actualisation of their aspirations. I am therefore compelled to resign my membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) forthwith."
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has secured the conviction of one Emeka Ekwunife on an 8-count charge of stealing by fraudulent conversion.
Ekwunife was arraigned at Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja on Thursday, 14th of July.
It was gathered that the suit, "Federal Republic of Nigeria Vs. Chukwuemeka Ekwunife & Structured Energy Limited" which has been in court since 2016 finally came to an end today after the embattled businessman was found guilty on 6 charges and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with option of N50m fine by the Presiding judge, Justice S. Solebo.
Further checks by this newspaper reveal that Ekwunife has previously been remanded in prison custody over an alleged theft of N434.1 million.
BACKGROUND
According to the EFCC, Ekwunife alongside his company, Structured Energy Ltd, were alleged to have on November 19 2013, dishonestly converted the sum of N99.6million to personal use, the property of Napal Oil and Gas Services ltd.
Between June 4, 2015 and October 28 2013, Ekwunife converted the sum of N85million and N3million to his personal use property of Nepal Oil and Gas ltd.
The defendant between November 4th, and 7th 2014, converted the sum of N3.5million, to his personal use property of Nepal Oil and Gas. The commission further stated that the defendant alongside his company on November 28th 2013, converted the sum of N130million to his personal use.
The commission also disclosed that the defendant and his company stole the sum of N25million and in June 24, 2015, the sum of N88 million was also stolen by the defendant. According to the EFCC, the offence was punishable under sections 285 (1), 278 (b), of the criminal laws of Nigeria.
Former Secretary General to the Federation, Babachir Lawal has reacted to the 'Muslim-Muslim' Ticket being floated by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
POLITICS NIGERIA recalls that the 2023 flagbearer of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced Ex-Borno Governor, Kashim Shettima, also a Muslim as his running mate last weekend.
The news has generated massive outrage amongst Nigerians with many condemning the move.
Lawal, in an Op-ed made available to this newspaper disclosed that the development was 'proof' of an Islamization Agenda.
Read Below;
I thought I will be able to avoid commenting on the disastrous error by my very good friend, Sen Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his choice of a running mate.
I will be the very last person to stand in the way of my very good friend Tinubu’s path to the presidency. This is because, since 2011, my consuming passion has been for him to succeed Buhari as President of Nigeria.
It will not be true if I say that I did not see it coming. I have often read his body language, picked up snippets from several discussions with his lapdogs (some of whom, sadly, are Christians but most of whom are Muslims), and I have conveyed my reservations to them against the pitfalls of a Muslim-Muslim ticket towards which I sensed they were drifting.
As part of my obligation to him, a close friend, I had on many occasions argued the merits and demerits of both ticket permutations to him. I have done so in both verbal and written form, and I have likewise done so with some of his close respectable associates and friends. In all instances I had left him with the sole responsibility for his final decision arguing that in the end the consequences of the outcome of any bad decision would be his to bear.
There might be some collateral damages, though. I have also, on several occasions, passed on to him counsel and messages from some well-meaning Nigerians intended to alert him on the possible outcomes of the presidential ticket permutations.
Tinubu is a very good man. He is a great listener. He has a very humble and friendly disposition to everyone. He is very generous in both cash and kind, especially where it could advance his political interests. But I have realised that it is in the nature of power that sycophants and lapdogs have the most influence on leaders with such character traits.
They will lie to him, malign and disparage others and generally do anything to curry his favour and also put well-meaning associates in a bad light. I suspect this is what has happened to my friend. He has been cornered by self-serving, hero-worshipping lapdogs.
It never used to be like this. While in his hay-days in Lagos, he surrounded himself with smart, street-wise guys that could tell truth to power. He had Rauf Aregbesola, Yemi Osinbajo, Babatunde Fashola, Dele Alake, Muiz Banire, etc. The Lagos days were the days of think-tanks, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation, principles and ideologies.
But these people have since grown-up and moved up to establish their own systems, leaving my friend stranded. Nature, they say, abhours a vacuum.
Welcome the Abuja equivalent. But the Abuja equivalent are people inflicted with the modern Nigerian diseases – religious bigotry, sycophancy and morbid tribalism. They are mostly political jobbers who are most times not averse to the application of diabolical means. Gone are the days of think-tanks and strategic planning. Gone are the days of principles and ideologies.
Try and call a meeting; they will not attend. Try and make a plan they will sabotage it. Everything is ad-hoc; everything is chaotic because they excel in such environments.
The result is that they have played on his long-term ambition to be president and have built it into a sort of desperation and a crescendo that easily justifies this satanic resort to a Muslim-Muslim ticket. This is the calamity that has befallen my friend.
And why Kashim Shetima? He is an overambitious man who has a Machiavellian bent and has lots of money with which to procure a preferred-candidate status among Tinubu’s lapdogs. And as we are beginning to see, to also procure bogus supporters, especially from among the Christian community, to help launder his not-so-good image.
But as a popular proverb goes: “Those whom the gods want to destroy they first make mad”. It appears that the gods want to destroy the APC and its presidential candidate and have chosen the instrumentality of the northern Moslem governors and their super ambitious tool and Kashim Shettima for this purpose. Alhaji Kashim Shetima is a Greek gift from the Northern governors to Tinubu. I advise Bola to make sure Kashim’s two hands are always in plain sight and empty.
True, based on the advice of his new friends, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made his choice. And I am sure he thinks he is ready for the outcome of that choice. He has chosen to bring religion to the front burner of Nigerian politics. And being a Muslim, he has chosen to take sides with his own religion. For all he cares, Christians can go to blazes with their votes.
But he must also be told that there will consequences for this choice. Some of them are that Christians all over the country will revolt against the APC to put the chances of his election in serious jeopardy. It will also put the election of all Christians standing for elections in Christian-dominated areas in jeopardy. This could result in APC being a minority party in both the National and State Houses of Assembly.
Now tell me which Christian will vote for APC with the following contraption: Moslem Presidential Candidate (Lagos), Moslem Vice Presidential Candidate (Borno), Moslem National Chairman (Nasarawa), Moslem Deputy National Chairman (Borno), Moslem President (Katsina); Moslem Senate President (Yobe); Moslem Speaker (Lagos); Moslem Deputy Speaker (Plateau) e.t.c. APC the great! Wu na de try woh!
The northern governors and some northern Moslem elites must have persuaded him that they would never vote for a ticket that has a northern Christian on it. And he has agreed with them. But if he thinks a Moslem-Moslem ticket will win him the northern Muslim votes, he should have a rethink. They will massively vote for one of their sons because it is in their nature to do so.
Buhari, their first son, will not be on the ballot in 2023. Atiku their second son will be.
Proof of a possible Islamic agenda was leaked when Governor Ganduje, the “Kadmul Islam”, gave advance notice that Tinubu had assured them he would nominate a Moslem as his running mate. For those who might not know, Governor Ganduje has a foundation called “Ganduje Foundation” which purpose according to its website is to “provide selfless service to humanity and Islam” but whose primary purpose it appears is the conversion of Christians to Islam.
So if my very good friend Tinubu, in a desperate bid to become president, allows himself to be made into a religious bigot or even a mujahideen, he is welcome. But it is a risk that will not play out positively for his presidential bid. But, were he to win and become President of Nigeria, it would be as a sectional president, an Islamic president, and he will surely face massive discontent and opposition even before taking off.
Expecting Nigerians to ignore this crass insensitivity to the country’s diversity amounts to acceding to the perpetration of very grave injustice and discrimination against a huge segment of the society. No one who seeks to be president of Nigeria should ever deploy the tool of religious extremism and exclusivism as a tool to win elections. This is very, very dangerous. And this is very sad.
But, baring any last-minute change of mind, Bola has made his choice. He should be bluntly told that in this choice, Nigerian Christians clearly see a pending Islamic Republic of Nigeria in its infancy and are right to be severely anxious. There has been gloom among the Christian community all over the country since Tinubu announced Kashim Shetima as his running mate. Are the generality of the Muslim ummah happy with this? The answer is a resounding NO.
How then do we respond? The decision as to how to respond to this deliberately senseless act of provocation is both corporate to each religious group and also personal to each voter that loves peace, and hates injustice. Christians want to continue to live peacefully with their Muslim neighbours at home, at school, and at the workplace. In the markets and on the streets as we have always done or desired to do. And I am sure Moslems share this view too. No one person’s ambition to rule over us should be allowed to set us apart and at war with one another.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, should be compelled by whoever can do so to rescind this decision. President Mohammed Buhari should exercise his powers as the Commander-in-Chief and as the APC Leader to revoke this nomination of a VP by Tinubu. The APC National Chairman should refuse to sign the nomination forms if not rescinded. There is a story in the bible on how some people responded to similar provocation:
“And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, “What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David.” So Israel went to their tents” (1 Kings 12:16).
I would love for Bola to be our next President. But I am afraid a Moslem-Moslem ticket will be “Dead on Arrival”. And the arrival date according to INEC’s election timetable is 25th February 2023. This ticket will drag down the whole APC members to the pit. We all should reject it.
Following Tuesday night’s bomb attack on the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari has visited the facility.
POLITICS NIGERIA had reported that over 100 terrorists had on Tuesday night attacked the facility, freeing hundreds of inmates, among them fellow terrorists.
The president was received by the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Baba Alkali, paramilitary service chiefs among other top government officials.
The Nigerian Correctional Services, NCS has successfully recaptured several Inmates that escaped during a Terror Attack on Kuje Prison.[/b]
POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that [b]hundreds of inmates escaped after gunmen suspected to be Ansaru Terrorists stormed the facility on Tuesday night with bombs and heavy gunfire.
Speaking on the matter, Defense Minister, Bashir Magashi revealed that all Boko Haram Inmates at the Facility escaped. Addressing newsmen after taking an assessment tour of the facility, the Minister said the attack started around 10:30pm with heavy gunfire and explosions.
He said they came in their numbers, gained entrance into the prison and released some of the inmates who are now at large adding that some had been recaptured.
“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken, aside that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned.
“The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates, over 600 escaped and many have been recaptured and brought back to the prison.
“Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.
“I think everything is under control and the people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group.
“Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have a sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.”
Below are photos of the recaptured Inmates being returned to the Facility;
President Muhammadu Buhari will be departing Abuja for Senegal on Wednesday to participate in the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal.
The President's Trip is coming amidst attacks on Kuje Prisons in Abuja and on his advanced team on Tuesday.
POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that two people were injured after bandits ambushed the President's Advanced Team Convoy in Dutsinma, Katsina state. Also, Kuje Prisons was attacked later that day leading to the release of Inmates comprising of hundreds of Terrorists.
Announcing the trip via a statement sent to this newspaper on Wednesday, the presidency disclosed that the meeting is basically to map out economic recovery strategy for countries affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the War in Ukraine.
"An institution of the World Bank Group, IDA is deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle (IDA20) which goes into effect between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025."
"At the High Level event slated for Thursday, July 7 and hosted by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration."
"This commitment is expected to chart the way forward for the transformation of the economies of these nations in partnership with the World Bank/IDA."
"Topics slated for discussion include: Financing for Recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa; Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security; Human Capital; Digital and Technological Innovation; and Energy Transition and Climate Change."
"The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; as well as Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo."
"Others on the entourage are: the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director- General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan.
"President Buhari is expected back in the country at the end of the Summit on Thursday, July 7."
Several Inmates have escaped from Kuje Prisons following a Terror attack on the Facility on Tuesday night, POLITICS NIGERIA can report.
The terrorists launched the attack around 10:30 pm and its currently unclear if there were any casualties.
However, it was gathered that other inmates have been removed from the facility including the suspended deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari, who was remanded at the prison by a Federal High Court.
Kyari is standing trial for allegedly dealing in cocaine alongside four members of his former police unit, the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Unit (IRT), and two other persons arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State, in January this year.
Kuje Prisons, established in 1989, has Maximum and Minimum Holding cells with over 700 inmates.
The Nigerian Correctional Services, NCS, has confirmed the attack adding that "Men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control."
A group of daredevil gunmen opened fire on President Muhammadu Buhari's advance convoy deployed ahead of his Trip to Daura, Katsina state for Sallah Celebrations on Tuesday.
Reacting to the development in a statement made available to POLITICS NIGERIA, presidential aide, Garba Shehu hailed the Presidential Security Guards for successfully repelling the attack.
"The Presidency has described as sad and unwelcome, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, at the convoy of cars carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah."
"The attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy."
"Two persons in the convoy are receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered. All the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura."
Fresh Information made available to POLITICS NIGERIA may put to rest the recent controversy surrounding the educational qualifications and age of the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Findings by this newspaper reveal that several petitions and suits challenging Tinubu's age and qualifications in the past have either been dismissed or discredited for lack of merit.
Below is a Timeline of these cases;
August 12, 1999: Petition by Alhaji Jameed Seriki of No. 62 Balogun Street, West, Lagos, and one Dr. Waliu Balogun-Smith of No. 5, Unity Road, Ikeja alleging tinubu falsified his age and educational qualifications
Tuesday, September 21, 1999: following a motion moved by Honourable Tajudeen Jaiyeola Agoro representing Lagos Mainland Constituency, the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Dr. Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora, set up a five-man ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations and report back to the House. The committee comprised Hon. Babajide Omoworare (Chairman), Hon. Thomas Ayodele Fadeyi, Hon. Adeniyi Akinmade, Hon. Ibrahim Gbola Gbabijo and Hon Saliu Olaitan Mustapha. The petitioners never attended the hearings but Tinubu was still investigated. Femi Falana represented Tinubu as his Lawyer. Investigations reveal the petitioners wrote the petition under fictitious names and never existed.
In its report to the House, the Committee stated that “The Committee deemed it fit to invite the petitioners and therefore wrote the petitioners. The letters were sent by courier.
June 2000: Appeal Court dismissed Gani’s suit against Tinubu on this
May 2002: The Supreme Court dismissed another suit by Gani on this. Note: the supreme court said the Lagos State House of Assembly is the only body that could probe Governor Tinubu then. And they did an intensive investigation. He was cleared of all charges
June 2013: Federal High Court Lagos dismissed Dr Adegbola’s suit against Tinubu on the same certificate forgery Matter.
The findings of the adhoc panel report:
But the courts, including the Supreme Court held that as a sitting governor cloaked with constitutional guaranteed immunity, Tinubu could not be investigated.
The only body that can investigate the governor was the Lagos House of Assembly, the apex court had ruled.
Onabolu acknowledged that questions about Tinubu’s certificates, institutions and age raised by Adedayo are critical and cannot be ignored especially by someone who wants to be President of Nigeria.
But he insisted that the questions have been thoroughly investigated and conclusively addressed by the appropriate institutional authority legally competent to do so when they were raised in the petitions written in 1999.
So, what were the findings of the lawmakers and Tinubu’s defence about the allegations of forgery levelled against him?
Read a detailed account as excerpted from Onabolu’s column published this Saturday titled, Festus Adedayo, Tinubu and the Character Question below:
Shortly after he was sworn in as governor of Lagos State in May 1999, there were allegations widely published in the media that Tinubu had perjured and forged the credentials that qualified him to run for the gubernatorial election in the state.
The allegations were contained in a petition dated August 12, 1999, written by one Alhaji Jameed Seriki of No. 62 Balogun Street, West, Lagos, and one Dr. Waliu Balogun-Smith of No. 5, Unity Road, Ikeja.
The kernel of their allegations were: (1) that there was a discrepancy in the age of the governor since the profile published during his inauguration stated that he was born in 1952 and the age on his transcript at the Chicago State University claimed that he was born in 1954; (2) that the governor did not attend Government College, Ibadan, as was stated in his profile and INEC FORM CF.001; and (3) the governor did not attend University of Chicago as claimed in INEC FORM CF and an affidavit sworn to at the Ikeja High Court of Justice on 29th December 1998.
It was unanimously agreed by all legal authorities that the governor enjoyed legal immunity courtesy Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution and that the Lagos State House of Assembly was the only competent institution that could investigate the governor and take punitive action against him if he was deemed to have committed acts constituting gross misconduct.
Consequently, following a motion moved by Honourable Tajudeen Jaiyeola Agoro representing Lagos Mainland Constituency, the Speaker, Dr. Adeleke Olorunimbe Mamora, on Tuesday, September 21, 1999, set up a five-man ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations and report back to the House. The committee comprised Hon. Babajide Omoworare (Chairman), Hon. Thomas Ayodele Fadeyi, Hon. Adeniyi Akinmade, Hon. Ibrahim Gbola Gbabijo and Hon Saliu Olaitan Mustapha.
In its report to the House, the Committee stated that “The Committee deemed it fit to invite the petitioners and therefore wrote the petitioners. The letters were sent by courier.
The petitioners did not attend the hearing and we have not heard from them up till now. We visited their address at 62 Balogun Street, West, Lagos and 5, Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, on Wednesday, September 22, 1999 and found out that the petitioners neither reside nor carry on any business at the addresses. Hence, we concluded that the petition was written in fictitious names. Attached herewith and marked “Annexures 1 and 2” are pictures of the buildings bearing the above addresses taken when the Committee visited the addresses. Also attached and marked “Annexxures 3 and 4″ are copies of the evidence of courier of the letters forwarded to the fictitious Petitioners”. Despite this, the Committee continued with its investigation.
Continuing, the committee stated in its report that “The Committee invited Editors of ThisDay Newspaper because of the prominence, which they have given to the publication of the allegations. The Editors of ThisDay visited us informally, refusing to oblige our invitation and informing us that they would rely on their publications”. The governor appeared before the Committee on Thursday, September 23, 1999, alongside his counsel Mr. Femi Falana who was then not yet a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
According to the report, “The Governor of Lagos State started his evidence by admitting “full responsibility” for some of the “needless errors” being pointed at in recent publications and which formed the basis of allegations against him. The Governor told the Committee that as a result of the acrimonious primaries of the Alliance for Democracy in Lagos State and its attendant crisis, the information contained in both the INEC form and affidavit of loss of certificates was supplied by Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi.
The Governor then submitted to the Committee a copy of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) senatorial candidate form dated June 1, 1992, which he used to contest the 1992 Senatorial election as candidate of the party for Lagos West. In the form, which he personally filled, the Governor attached the certificates of Richard Daley College and Chicago State University. For his educational qualifications he filled B.Sc Accounting only”.
According to the committee report, “This according to him demonstrated that “needless errors” spotted in the 1999 INEC form were not consistent and that they were “genuine errors”. He further directed the attention of the committee to the INEC form CFO1 that bore a wrong date of twenty-eight December 1999 instead of twenty-eight December 1998. The error he said was made by INEC which printed the form. And not even the Commissioner of Oath detected the error. This in his view further confirmed that the hurried and confused manner under which the preparations for the governorship primaries of 1998 were made gave room to error on all sides”.
Giving further insight into their interaction with the governor, the committee report stated: “The Governor spoke about his difficult and traumatic youth and how he scaled the hurdles of life as a self made man. After his primary education, the Governor said he was admitted into secondary school but he could not further his education because of his poverty. The Governor thus had to engage in menial jobs before he proceeded to the United States of America in search of the Golden Fleece. The Governor informed us that in America, he undertook various odd jobs and tried to improve himself academically. After five years of the most harrowing work experience, the Governor said he enrolled at Richard Daley College in Chicago, which among others offers basic, remedial and academic classes, preparatory to entering Chicago State University. He presented a photocopy of a certificate issued by Richard Daley College (City Colleges of Chicago), a copy of which is attached as herewith and marked as “Annexure 5″.
Throughout the time he studied in Chicago, the Governor said he also had to fend for himself and that he actually paid his way through school by working extra hours as a tutor in the same university.
He said he studied for extra hours especially during summer. The Governor said 27 (twenty seven) credit hours were transferred from Richard Daley College to Chicago State University, where he obtained Bachelor of Science in Business and Administration. His major was in Accounting”.
Most recently, Chicago state University confirmed that Tinubu attended the University from August 1977 to June 1979.
Predictions and projections filled the air on the eve of the All Progressives Congress Presidential primaries. Most of the analyses pointed to the political death of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a man who shamelessly took his campaign across the length and breadth of the nation, voicing a single mantra — "It's my turn".
On national televisions, radio stations and the social media space, Tinubu’s gestures, speeches and medical records were dissected like students ripping apart a cadaver for a medical study. Some said the former Governor of Lagos looks too desperate, others said he lays claim to the Presidency as his birthright.
This was worsened with the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari. The APC Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, publicly declared Senate President Ahmed Lawan as the choice of the party and this caused another brouhaha, raising suspicion that President Buhari had something under his sleeve.
Prior to Adamu's announcement, Buhari had solicited the APC Governors' blessings to allow him choose his successor.
“We gave governors re-election tickets or opportunity to pick their successors; allow me pick my successor," he said at a meeting.
So it was not a coincidence that Adamu, Buhari's loyalist, endorsed a candidate, a few days after. Maybe Lawan was Buhari's preference, maybe not. But that action pointed to a scheme to out a man who had sacrificed a lot for the party.
The belief that Tinubu’s house was not in order with the revolt of his godson and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, who was also gunning for the same position, also complicated issues. It gave way to the perception that the APC National leader is loathed by outsiders and also despised among his kindred.
But the drama climaxed on D-day. Majority of the aspirants stepped down and publicly canvassed votes for Asiwaju. It was unprecedented in the political history of Nigeria to have over five political heavyweights bow to one aspirant on the election day. Never in the history of presidential primaries in Nigeria!
Before the rise of a new day, it was obvious that the cat with nine lives had emerged victorious again. Tinubu swept 1,271 votes to defeat Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Rotimi Amaechi who scored 235 and 316 respectively. As if to make a mockery of the opposition, the total number of votes his opponents garnered, did not come close to the winning figure.
Of course, Tinubu is no stranger to victory at the polls. Following his stint as a financial management guru, Tinubu, in 1992, delved into politics and contested the Lagos West senatorial seat under the banner of the Social Democratic Party. He won.
Even though the military dictator Sani Abacha dissolved the parliament in 1993, Tinubu's influence did not wane. He became an activist campaigning for the return of democracy as a part of the National Democratic Coalition movement and was in the process forced into exile.
He did not return to Nigeria until after Abacha's 1998 death in 1998, which heralded the transition to democratic rule in 1999.
In 1999, he presented himself for the number one office in Lagos state and won by landslide. He did it twice. He ruffled feathers with many contenders to serve two terms as Lagos state Governor.
Under his watch, Lagos became the commercial hub envied by other Governors. Despite the obstruction by the Obasanjo-led government that cut Lagos off from the monthly Federal allocation, the state was doing well in all ramifications. Tinubu, with his cerebral team, laid the foundation of the mega status of the present day Lagos.
Interestingly, fifteen years after he had left office, it's crystal clear that the seeds of leadership Tinubu planted across different zones have germinated. His tremendous efforts brought about the Action Congress of Nigeria that later merged to become the All Progressives Congress.
His biggest investment, many say, is building people. He groomed a lot of the political figures around today who are now grown enough to hold structure. This makes it difficult to believe that Tinubu, who has never lost an election, will be trumped by any of the candidates. It will be against the law of nature, considering the enormity of human and financial resources at his disposal.
Politics › "Watch Your Utterances" - DSS Warns Shiekh Gumi, Others Over Mamu's Arrest by aminulive(op): 7:28pm On Sep 11, 2022
today granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).