The Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to look into cases of alleged police brutality, human rights violations and extra-judicial killings by the operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in the State of Osun will on Thursday, November 12th, hold its inaugural sitting.
The sitting will hold at the Council of OBA's Chambers, Finance Building, State Secretariat, Abere between the hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm to receive testimonies and evidence from victims of police brutality in the State.
The Panel has consequently requested members of the public to submit Memoranda.
These were contained in a statement signed by the Secretary of the Panel, Kemi Bello, and made available to journalists on Monday in Osogbo, the State capital.
The statement added that, subsequently, the days of the sitting are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday weekly from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
The Panel also directed that Memoranda should be submitted to the Secretary at the Department of Public Publications, Ministry of Justice, State Secretariat, Abere or through e-mail to osunjudicialpanelofinquiry@gmail.com.
#EndSARS: A warning to Buhari's handlers Atiku will Accept Animadversion not Cyberbullying.
Segun Showunmi I wonder what is to be gained in responding to a sinking government and its minions on Twitter who are obviously moving against the run of play.
That Atiku Abubakar’s name is associated with everything in Nigeria at this time is fantastic. We must not for fear of Buhari allow ourselves to be bullied. Waziri Atiku Abubakar will not walk on eggshells in a country he has served in numerous capacities, both as a public servant and a political leader, sacrificing so much to build a pan-Nigerian acceptability across tribe, gender, religion and generational divides.
These did not come by happenstance; they are primed on a vision that indeed, our country must and should work for all and that a leader must strive to be a leader for all. In all the politics of Atiku Abubakar, even the strongest of his detractors would agree that he is never garrulous, bitter, vindictive or destructively violent. He has never been.
That he has borne so much with the dignity of a statesman cannot be contested; but let it be said loudly and clearly that he will not be made to walk on eggshells in this country.
At a time where all opinion leaders are soberly thinking of how to douse the somewhat lingering tension and reassure the youths of Nigeria that tomorrow holds a better promise, those with the responsibility of solving today’s challenges are in their characteristic manner looking for enemies where none exists.
A Nigerian problem of the gravity of the violence that has left all agape must not be reduced to political rabble-rousing of the hangers-on of Buhari. Doing otherwise would be spitting on the graves of the victims. No worthy patriot would engage in that at this time.
When we campaigned in the last election, we were very clear that one of the main issues before Nigerians, based on well-researched evidence, was the quadruple issues of very high unemployment, a greatly divided country, an urgent need to open up more opportunities for prosperity, and of course, an unacceptably high dose of insecurity.
We campaigned passionately, and we believe the election was rigged against us, but as democrats, we took the very high moral ground of going to court. We are not convinced that we lost on truth, no, we are not. But the verdict came and we accepted it knowing full well that our country was in too fragile a state to endure anything untoward. Otherwise, a good number of our people wanted a long-drawn agitation; some wanted a situation that the country would be made volatile and ungovernable, but Waziri would have none of those.
He believed, in doing these, the sacrifices of democrats; a few of them who lost their lives to the struggle to enthrone civil rule in our country, would be lost, and that this would not be in the overall interest of our country.
We therefore moved with the Nigeria First attitude, placing our opinions on national issues in a manner that has earned great admiration from other democrats the world over. We acted according to our conviction that no ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. We have managed our rhetorics in as civil a way as possible, never inciting nor shaming anyone. However, rather than get reciprocated goodwill, those uncivil, undemocratic, near irresponsible rivals have continued to embarrass themselves in the glare of the entire world.
Humanity must continuously strive to achieve a mindset of good over evil, and moderation in tone of narrative for we have seen what angry narratives can do and we all must do all within our means to avoid anything that can make a fluid situation combust.
I suppose it is fair to say that we are not like you guys. We don’t jump in front of citizen advocacy and protest like you all did with Bring Back our Girls, Enough is Enough and the numerous other protests you all funded, energised and actively participated in before the 2015 election circle.
The truth is that the then leader of the country was and remains an excellent example in democratic behaviour. The same cannot be said of you and your group. You cannot handle a protest of that nature; you react with high-handedness to everything. For you, every problem is a nail, as such, the only solution you know is a hammer.
At this time, a worthy leader in his final term would be healing the country and bringing everybody to the table to discuss the future, but no, not you and your irritating paid agents.
Look, the issues that young Nigerians are agitating for are not the types that go away. Truth be told, they are things we all see, and shamefully it has taken young Nigerians to force the issue. We must make good currency of it by embarking on the necessary reforms in the true sense of the word, not chasing shadows, looking for those to blame. And if you must blame, please do not blame Atiku Abubakar. He has held himself up better than Buhari when the roles were reversed!
NB: Animadversion means that when a man accepts a public place, he ought to acknowledge that he will be subject to public scrutiny and should act with magnanimity
The Democratic challenger took the lead in the key battleground state by 5,587 votes on Friday morning after trailing the president since Election Day.
Prior to the latest results in Pennsylvania, Mr Biden was behind Mr Trump in the state by about 18,000 votes. He then brought in an additional 27,396 votes to the 3,760 votes for Mr Trump in the latest batch tabulated.
Pennsylvania holds 20 Electoral College votes, a prize for either candidate to win. If Mr Biden’s lead holds, the 20 Electoral College votes will put him over the 270 needed to take the White House - making him the 46th President of the United States.
The Associated Press has not yet called the state for Mr Biden.
Georgia election results: Biden takes lead in count for crucial state for first time with nearly all ballots counted State has not turned blue since 1992, but would be enough to give Biden the presidency if he can also hold onto Arizona
Joe Biden has taken a dramatic late lead in the vote count for Georgia, having trailed president Donald Trump in the crucial swing state since polls closed on election day.
CNN and MSNBC reported that Mr Biden went ahead by a margin of 917 votes at 4.30am local time
Georgia would provide enough electoral college votes to take the Democrat above the crucial threshold of 270, if he can hold onto his lead in Arizona. Arizona was declared for Mr Biden early on by several networks, but is now being watched closely.
Election officials say more than 99 per cent of the vote has now been counted in Georgia, with both candidates on about 49.4 per cent of the nearly 5 million votes cast in the state.
Mr Trump won Georgia by a sizeable 5 points in 2016, taking 51 per cent to Hillary Clinton’s 46 per cent.
Georgia has been reliably Republican since 1972, except when a southern Democrat was on the ticket – Georgians sided with native son Jimmy Carter in 1976 and 1980 and Bill Clinton in 1992.
Former Nigerian Ambassador to Venezuela Senator Felix Oboro has revealed how APC Bayelsa West Senatorial Candidate and Former Bayelsa Deputy Governor Chief Peremobowei Ebebi orchestrated his kidnap over a land dispute in September. Senator Oboro wrote to the Bayelsa State Police Commissioner detailing his kidnap experience by gunmen who disclosed to him that they were sent by Chief Ebebi, his wife and her younger brother Mr Census to kill him over a land dispute in Yenegoa.
Senator Oboro wrote that the kidnappers, however, asked for N50m to enable them refund the amount they were paid by Chief Ebebi to carry out the hit on him. The police arrested and have quizzed the Bayelsa West Senatorial Candidate, Chief Ebebi, for alleged kidnapping. Although he has been released on bail, the police are still investigating his involvement in the kidnapping of the former diplomat.
In this Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Review, I share my experience using this device over the past month, the pros and cons, including specs and features that stick out to me. All Z Fold 2 devices have Snapdragon processors but depending on the markets you can find either 5G or LTE versions. In my opinion and as at the time of this review, the Z Fold 2 can be categorized as the best folding phone but what does it really have to offer?
• Screen size: • Main Screen: 7.3 inch Front Display • Unfolded: 7.6 inch 120Hz Display Ultra Thin Glass • Improved Hinge • Snapdragon 865+ (No Exynos Version) • 12GB RAM • 256GB Base Storage • 4,500 mAh Battery + 25W Charging • Back Cam: 12MP + 12MP + 12MP • Front Cam 10MP • Android 10 • Low Price of $1,999 or NGN895,000
ENDSARS PROTESTS: ADVOCATING FOR PROGRESSIVE REFORMS OR CARNIVALS FOR PARTY REVELLERS – TIMING IS KEY
The last two weeks have been a watershed moment for decades-long calls for reforms of institutions in the nation, and the unfolding events have stirred emotions and soul searching as the youth of the country have brought to the fore the importance of these reforms for the first time to take front and centre of national discourse. The Nigerian youth have proven themselves in every characteristic as true millennials; those who have come to take the very heart and soul of the nation into the 21st century. The protests have garnered worldwide support and the public opinion has been overwhelmingly in support of their cause and demands. Beginning as just outrage to police violence, it has metamorphosed into a genuine call for social reforms which have been long over due. It is clear that the attention the protests have given to these societal issues is now be given attention and dialogue has become the next logical step in seeing the actualization of the demands.
But timing is of utmost importance. As with any movement of people or ideology, timing and clarity of purpose is everything. Following the masses protests that rocked much of the South in the United States following the discrimination and violence in Birmingham, Alabama the US government under the leadership of John F Kennedy were called to action and move to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race, colour, religion or gender. The protests, very much like the #EndSARS protests, were also largely peacefully carried out by protesters and the government had no other option but to hastily listen to their demands and act on them. The protesters seized the moment to advocate for purpose-driven change, reforms leading to the end of segregation and prejudice that has since been built on over the last 50 years. The #EndSARS protesters should seize the moment and not become complacent. Every day is critical to taking the initiative and engaging in dialogue, especially when leadership in states like Lagos, where the governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been at the forefront constantly engaging with protesters across his state and readily making himself available for dialogue as the protesters continue to block of major thoroughfares and highways, crippling economic activity across the state.
It would appear that most of the protesters themselves, whom have stayed true to the demand of the protest the week prior, have indeed began to lose sight of their agenda. This can be seen in most protest grounds been converted into street parties and raves, where the atmosphere is carnival-like. Young revellers have flocked daily to the protests grounds to frolick into the late hours, indulging in wild drinking, indecent exposures and use of banned substances. It would appear that the message is being lost in translation and not all the protesters are happy with this. “We believe we have made our point to the world and have demanded a seat at the table to end not only police violence, but to force reforms in society”, said Feyikemi Adetiba, a 24-year old protester who has been at the protests all week. “But we seem to be losing our focus. Some of us come here just for the fun. I don’t know if I can continue to partake in these parties if it is all we come here to do”.
“This is the change we have demanded for and we can take this to the next level now. We believe we can sit with leaders and they have heard our voices loud and clear”, says Felicia a 20-year old student. “But it’s like we are just not coordinating ourselves. Many of my friends have stopped coming because it is only the party goers that come here now and have made this into clubbing.”
This presents a problem for the protests as the growing concerns from within their ranks is becoming evident and sooner than later, the interest will stay to wane as moral and financial support will only see images of party revellers. With the 5 point plan already accepted by the Nigeria Police Force which represents a landmark in the first step for wider social reforms, timing is most crucial to transport what has widely been seen as a major victory into lasting progressive action through dialogue and this can only be achieved after the protests, which started as calls for real change stop being transformed into wild session of youthful indulgence in wild parties and debauchery.
In this Infinix 43 Inch Android TV S1 Review, I go over the specifications, features and my experience using it. The Infinix TV S1 is a 43 Inch and 55 Inch set of Android TVs. They are respectively 1080p and 4K TVs and I had the chance to check out the 1080p version. I cover the Display Quality, sound quality, and overall user experience in this video and subscribers also stand a chance of getting one for free. So far, only the 43 inch TV is on the market while the 55 inch TV hasn't been seen. Some of the specifications of the TV include:
Screen size: 43 Inch IPS LCD 60 Hertz Display Frameless Design OS: Android 9 for TV RAM: 1GB - - Storage: 8GB 3 HDMI Ports 2 USB 2.0 Ports LAN Port AV IN Ports Digital Audio Port Comes with Dolby Audio Price: $250 / approx. NGN 115,800
Jimoh Isiaq was a young Nigerian, and like almost every other person, have a dream. But he's no more. He fell to a bullet from a policeman, and just like that he is no more. The painful thing about his sad loss was that he died in the hands of people who are supposed to keep him safe from harm.
Isiaq's pathetic story is the reality of most young Nigerians. They are under a fierce attack from the Nigerian police. Let me point out that Isiaq was shot when many young Nigerians took to the streets to protest police brutality. According to news reports, he was a bystander and the impunity which many Nigerians are pushing against fell him and took him away from his loved ones.
That video would most certainly throw anyone in a disturbing mood, except for callous minds, who will watch the reaction of Isiaq's father and not be enraged. That electrified the campaign and many youths, who had hitherto show little or no interest in the demand to end police brutality, joined the push so as not to experience the unbearable pain of losing their loved ones to police brutality. But what did peaceful protesters got? More bullets and more deaths in the hands of police. Men of the Nigerian police are recklessly shooting at armless citizens, who are exercising their rights of peaceful protest, causing the deaths of people they are being paid to keep safe.
When the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Muhammed Abubakar, announced the dissolution of SARS on Sunday, Nigerians thought their nightmares were over. But it turned out to be the usual words with no action as policemen were on rampant in Ogbomosho, wielding lethal force on protesters and left at least three persons dead. Some accounts quoted a larger figure of casualties as a result of the brute force of policemen. Images from that incident were so horrible and disgusting as one of the videos that circulated on the internet showed security agents dragging dead bodies on the floor and point to a disturbing but salient truth–Police have declared war on Nigerians. This is too obvious for any discerning Nigerians not to have realized. We're under attack and our attacker are the same people who swore an allegiance to keep us safe
The events of the last five days are not enough to convince you, look at the unnecessary tragedy that was thrown up in Surulere on Monday. Protesters, as usual, tried to sustain their campaign for reformed police but what they got were bullets flying in every direction. This caused commotion and many Nigerians were not lucky.
This is sad and shows the frightening situation that Nigerians are facing in their country. Up North, Boko Haram, and bandits are the terror shutting down lives and forcing people to flee their homes, but here in the south, it is the police, and that is most unfortunate. This is not something that should continue and everyone must join in the clamour to #EndPoliceBrutality so that we can be safe. Just like Isiaq, some of our compatriots have paid the ultimate price with their lives and we must not fail them and let their deaths be in vain. We owe it ourselves too so that our children will no longer need to pour into the streets like we are doing now to trend #ReformNigerianPolice.
Enough of the inhumanity. Nigeria’s future does not deserve to live like this #EndPoliceBrutalityinNigeria
UDuX, a leading Nigerian Music Streaming platform has collaborated with Niyola to release ‘The world is on fire’ - a song that showcases the frustrations and growing pains of Nigerian youth.
As the #EndSARS protests grow across the Nation, it is important to hear what our youth are saying; they have had enough, and they demand responsive leaders to police brutality and other rising issues.
The verdict is in, and sadly, our party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN; did not win.
Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN; of the All Progressives Congress has been declared the winner of the October 10, 2020 Ondo State Governorship Election. I congratulate him and his party. May the good people of Ondo be served adequately by their mandate freshly renewed.
When all is said and done, the high level of temporary loyalty purchase that has become a disturbing factor in our elections must call us all to a sober reflection as to the overall cost of elections and the extreme monetisation of democracy.
Pondering on the overbearing pecuniary component of victory ingredients in elections in Nigeria and the widespread poverty that has given the anomaly a scary potency, there is no better time than now to call for sincere deliberation on this unfortunate situation with a view to reducing the menace to the barest minimum or completely eradicating it in the interest of the nation.
I must commend the good people of Ondo State for the 'sincere' votes given to our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, SAN. We are grateful for your love.
To our party faithful, ably led by the Seyi Makinde National Campaign Council, I say well done for all our efforts.
Loyalty to party means we step forward always and give our best to the party whenever the occasion calls for it. That is what makes us responsible party men.
To our Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee, well done. We are consoled by the Godwin Obaseki victory in Edo. No party can or should imagine it can win all the time. We were outmanoeuvred and outspent. I am sure great lessons must have been learnt and care would be taken in the future to improve on our election management techniques.
Eyitayo Jegede SAN, what a beautiful display of courage, candor, comportment, capacity and character! The contagious love of your people, which they demonstrated all through the campaign, as you crisscrossed Ondo State, should reveal to you how much you are appreciated. We are proud of you and we are with you this hour.
We gave it our best and we are satisfied that we stood with a damn good man. God bless Ondo State.
The time is now for us to have a police force that makes sense, we have embarrassed ourselves for too long. #EndSarsNow https:///dtC1pWaIYg
It has come to my attention that young people who came out to protest the #EndSARS in Abeokuta have been arrested and taken to the force headquarters in Eleweeran. Peaceful Protest is the right of a free people, especially in a democracy.
It will be my advice that the Nigerian Police Force should not make a tensed situation worse. To the protesters, your message has been heard, loud and clear. And to the security agencies, decency and restraint must be the watchword.
Speaking now is @okestalyf, the Marketing Manager for @itelmobileng. He is currently sharing itel’s brand story and how far they have come. #itelBrandLaunch #itelS16Series
Welcome to the live launch of itel Brand. The itel brand will be releasing several new products today 8pm. So, stay tuned for more pictures, videos and updates so you don’t miss out.
You can also follow itel on their social media pages on @itelMobileNG on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more updates and click here to watch the launch;
Akin Alabi has filed a motion before the House of Representatives asking for an urgent dissolution of the dreaded police special anti-robbery squad, SARS.
Mr. Alabi, APC-Oyo, said there is enough evidence in the public domain to proscribe SARS immediately, warning that the unit has committed enough atrocities.
Mr. Alabi said SARS operatives have become so lawless that even the police inspector-general can no longer contain their excesses, decrying how Nigerians now harbour untold fear of the deadly and corrupt unit.
“Policing in Nigeria continues to fall short of modern practices where citizens should be treated with utmost respect and decorum, therefore making it very difficult for an average citizen to truly trust that the police are their friends,” Mr. Alabi said.
Lawmakers were notified of the motion today and would likely be considered at a plenary this week.
The demand came after widespread outcry against SARS deadly and crooked conduct led to an emotional weekend for the country.
Inspector-General Muhammed Adamu responded to the outrage by announcing yet another restriction of SARS officers from the road, a decision Nigerians, including Mr. Alabi, said was superfluous and did not go far enough.
Yo, guys! There’s good news! itel Mobile will be holding their Brand Launch tonight by 8pm and they have promised to give away 10 brand-new itel S16 smartphones to 10 lucky people. Here’s another cool thing about itel’s launch tonight; they will be unveiling new products like smartwatches, powerbanks, TVs, and more. And I’m so sure these products will be extremely affordable.
Olamide Baddo, Annie Macaulay Idibia, Bimbo Ademoye, and Ceec will be there joining other celebs for the much awaited launc; smartphones will be won, and you can know more about the brand-new itel.
The launch will be live on Channels TV, Itel’s Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter pages @itelmobileng by 8PM TONIGHT.
Nationwide Independence Day Balloon Protest: Centre for Liberty Demands Complete Reversal of Electricity Tariff, Others
The Centre for Advancement of Civil Liberties and Development, also known as Centre for Liberty (CFL) is a network of social change agents who are committed to institutional reforms, protection of fundamental human rights, democratic and legislative governance and digital freedom. CFL is dedicated to reawakening the citizens and mobilizing them for non-violent citizens’ actions against impunity, injustice, bad policies and bad leadership throughout Nigeria.
In a statement jointly signed by Adebayo Raphael, Ariyo-Dare Atoye and Deji Adeyanju; co-conveners, Centre for Liberty, the group believes that things have gotten really bad for Nigerians economically, and that Nigeria’s democracy is being battered and her civic space is shrinking.
“We recall that between March 19, 2020 and now, the price of petrol being sold to ordinary Nigerians has gone from 121.50Naira to 162Naira or more in some places. In the same vein, the tariff for electricity was increased by 100%, taking effect from September 1, 2020, and adding salt to the injury of economic hardship of Nigerians. And as if that weren’t enough, the government hurriedly passed a bill that will ensure the disappearance of the Third Sector in Nigeria into law; The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, was passed by the National Assembly and became law upon President Buhari’s assent on August 7, 2020. These unpleasant developments followed the lingering legislative consideration of the Social Media Bill and Hate Speech Bill seeking to criminalize freedom of expression and punish citizens for freely expressing themselves.” The statement read in part.
The statement read further: “The obnoxious provisions in the CAMA Act that undermines nongovernmental organizations, and also the entire provisions of the social media bill and hate speech bill, are legislations worse than colonial edicts and laws, and they seek to subjugate rightsholders and put them at mercies of the ruling elites.”
“No truly Independent Democratic nation will seek to impose such laws on its citizens, and believe that the occasion of Nigeria’s Independence anniversary provides an opportunity to the government and the world that Nigerians are Not Yet Independent, until we are free of internal subjugation and oppression.”
According to the group, the emergency intervention which it called “NotYetIndependent” focused on mobilizing citizens against the “recent plethora of government’s policies and the impunity and nonchalance for the plight of common people that characterizes those policies.”
The #NotYetIndependent protest was done in several locations across the six geo-graphical zones in the country, including the FCT, Abuja. Protesters took to the streets in places like Yola, Benue, Bauchi, Benin, Auchi, Iseyin, Lagos, among others.
According to the statement, the group said “balloons are often used to celebrate happy moments across the world. Our goal is to create a new and strong sense of awareness through the usage of Balloons for this nationwide protest: that while the rest of the world may be celebrating beautiful occurrences with balloons, Nigerians are in fact lamenting the state of the nation with their own balloons.”
The protesters urged the federal government to completely reverse the Fuel Price Hike, Electricity Tariff Increase, and suspend the CAMA ACT, just as it urged the Nigerian Senate to kill the Hate Speech Bill and Social Media Bill.
The Agri-Business/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme is a CBN initiative to support the Federal Government's efforts and policy measures for the promotion of agricultural businesses and small/medium enterprises (SMEs) as vehicles for sustainable economic development and employment generation
Here are testimonies from some of the beneficiaries as they share their joy
Today 1st October, Nigeria clocked sixty years of nationhood. That is, sixty years after colonialists handed off control to aborigines, who has since managed the affairs of the country. It signifies how long Nigeria has been an independent nation, free from colonial rule that stretches several decades.
It should be a moment of celebration and presents an opportunity to gauge the progress of the country. Sixty years is a whole lot of time to access how we've faired under self-rule and make an informed judgement on whether the independence we got in 1960 is serving its purpose.
When Nigeria's founding fathers fought and secured independence, they were so assured that it would better serve the people and fast track development. They were persuaded by the abundant potentials, both human and natural endowments, possessed by the country and believed it would drive inclusive growth and bring about a formidable nation.
But here we are, sixty years after, and nothing is really playing out as envisaged. Those dreams that heralded independence have largely been eroded, and worse, Nigerians are left with a sordid experience that raises a silent question– was independence actually worth it?
Reminiscent of the biblical Israelites and how they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years, Nigeria shares a similar story, except that her time in the wilderness has surpassed that of the Israelites and still counting. This is well written in every aspect of the country, whether it is the economy, security, welfare, or infrastructure. Everything is plain and there is a lack of anything to cheer about.
Independence anniversary should be the most important date in any country calendar. But what October 1st do to many Nigerians is to remind them of how long they have been in the wilderness. Though the Bible gave some perspectives on the tortuous journey of wilderness in the book of Numbers 13: 1-13, but seeing it play out in reality, is an unpalatable experience.
At the actualization of independence in 1960, Nigerians poured into the streets in jubilation and were full of optimism that it will usher unrestrained developments and endless opportunities for citizens. The general perception then was that having locals administer the country would encourage transparency, human dignity, and equitable application of resources available to Nigeria.
But things turned out entirely different from anticipations as Nigerians are not having it any better in the hands of the locals that took charge of the country since 1960. Fear and flight, death and despair, oppression, and impunity of the ruling class have become a pattern and yet, there is no end in sight to the gross leadership failures that are stalling any meaningful progress in the country.
It is difficult to take pride in being a Nigerian, to celebrate "Independence Day", when there is hardly anything to show that we're truly independent considering the deteriorating state of the country and citizens. As the country marks 60 years, many Nigerians will either be taking to the streets or the internet to decry the unbearable hardship in the country and the insensitivity of government to their plights.
A few weeks ago, the Nigerian government hiked the pump price of fuel and electricity tariffs. Aside from that, it came at the wrong time. It is unimaginable that Nigeria, an oil-rich country, is lacking a functional refinery after 60 years. Epileptic power supply remains a challenge, a tariff hike was slammed on citizens. That is pathetic!
In addition to these is the deplorable state of Nigeria's road infrastructure network, putting many users through excruciating pains and the not so lucky lose their lives on it. What of education? It is one sector that has suffered greatly in standard and worth, leaving a multitude of citizens with no alternative but to move abroad for their studies. It is that bad and no remedy is in sight.
Extreme poverty and unabating strife among ethnic groups is another blight on the independence of Nigeria. That is the unfortunate faith poor leadership has wrought on many Nigerians, and as the country marks 60 years on Thursday, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of citizens who will be hiding in neighbouring countries as insecurity must have forced them to flee.
So, the expectations of freedom, that comes with independence are largely unseen or felt, and Nigerians are daily wandering in their country searching for a direction to better living and improved standards. This is not really what independence should be about, or it must be that Nigeria got a wrong version, and explains the invisible shackle tied around Nigeria's progress as a nation. This is wilderness and we should start talking on how to escape it as Israelites did centuries ago.
Written by Oke Umurhohwo, a Political Analyst and Strategist. He tweets via @OkeStalyf and can be reached on oke.umu@gmail.com
It’s not everyday that a Nigerian company makes it to 60. So let’s celebrate this one. Notable subsidiaries of Flour Mills PLC are Golden Penny Foods, Bagco packaging company, Premium Edible Oils (formerly ROM Oil), Northern Nigerian Flour Mills, Premier Feeds among others.
Within the FMN group, we have the largest Edible oil and margarine factory in Sub-Saharan Africa (Ibadan), the largest sorghum milling plant in Sub-Saharan Africa (Kano), largest Nigerian, greenfield sugar production (Niger State) investment. largest single site mill in Nigeria (Apapa).
Interesting facts about The FMN Group: - 51 Food and Agro-allied product brands. - 21 Subsidiaries - Over 14000 employees and distribution partners. - 150 billion (another 65 billion over the next 6 years) in Backward Integration Projects (Cassava, Maize, Sugar production, Wheat and Palm Oil)
Akure- Spokesman for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Segun Sowumi has declared that the people of Ondo State would vote out the All Progressives Congress (APC) government in the October 10, 2020 due to its anti-people policies.
He said the recent hike in fuel price and electricity tariff would affect the performance of the APC in the poll.
Sowumi handed down the verdict on Monday while addressing a section of the media in Akure the state capital on the October 10 gubernatorial election in the state.
According to him, “If a governor has been elected for the past four years, a second term election for him is a referendum. Because the people can engage in whatever he has been doing and take a decision on it. Has he done well to the people on education, health? The answer is no. Has he done well to the people on poverty alleviation, social harmony? The answer is no.
“Everywhere you turn, you hear people say they’ve been hijacked by a filially of family relationship that leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
“When you look at their programmes and policies. Political parties run on ideology and manifesto, no descent Nigerian would say he’s happy with APC. And there’s nothing to differentiate between APC at the national and the APC at the state because they are like two sides of same coin.
“You can’t have the people of Ondo deal with increase in fuel price and electricity tariff occasioned by the Federal Government, and then have their governor increased their school fees by 500 percent and cancelled the Mother and Child programme for the people. There’s a pattern in APC, they are anti-people.”
Sowumi stated that the Peoples Democratic Party’s standard bearer, Eyitayo Jegede was that right person the people of the state needed to turn their fortune round.
He said: “It’s the turn of the man who can get the job done. The difference between Jegede and their candidate is beyond the primordial sentiment.
“A governor in Ondo must be good enough for all the tribes in Ondo and even for all the settlers, visitors and every resident of the state. Except you don’t know who the Ondo people are.
“The conglomeration of people who formed Ondo are very principled, determined people and fiercely independent. Yes, some small sentiments would play, but not big enough to override competence, capacity, good character, what you call Omoluabiism.”
The PDP chieftain noted that the reception being received by Jegede in everywhere he went had revealed that the people of the state had made up their mind to reject the APC-led government in the state.
According Sowumi, “I will tell you that perhaps not winning the first time was a blessing in disguise, because wherever we went with our candidate, Eyitayo Jegede, the reception has been really heavy. The people troop out. The energy level is great.
“Across all levels, even against the pattern that in some areas that everyone goes with their sons even in Owo. I must tell you, this is different. We will do well. Ondo people are ready for us and we are ready to serve them.”
By the evening of Sunday, September 20, 2020, the ballots count had ended, and the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), wasted no time in announcing the result. According to INEC, Godwin Obaseki, the incumbent governor, polled 307,955 votes to beat his closest rival, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, who got 223,619 votes.
This outcome renewed the mandate of Obaseki for the next four years and expectedly, triggered varying reactions in Edo state and across the country. Just like the election, celebrations and criticisms are dependent on the side of the divides, causing sentiments and emotions to flow freely.
What just happened? That question rang like a bell in the mind of political observers, many of who least expected the outcome of the poll. While Obaseki secured a fresh term as Edo governor, something big had happened, and in the process, altered the political configuration of Edo state.
It was not unexpected, but the timing and how it happened is what must have caused a sensation. The re-election of Obaseki pointed to one thing– and that is the depletion of Oshiomole’s relevance in the scheme of things in the state.
Before that election, Oshiomole was seen as the ‘kingmaker’, who dictate the political direction of Edo state, and without his blessing and backing, becoming a governor or holding any other political office in the state, would be a herculean task. So, when he withdrew support for Obaseki and queued behind Ize-Iyamu, some presumed it was game over and that the outcome would produce a new governor for the state.
But that didn’t happen, and without much prompting, the Edo electorates put a final seal on the political fortune of Oshiomole and left him with nothing. Edo is not Lagos sentiment pushed Oshiomole to the brink, and he could not withstand the defiance of a multitude of electorates, who resoundingly opted for freedom. Before that election, Oshiomole’s political fortune had dwindled, and winning Edo state for Ize-Iyamu could have offered a reprieve, but that didn’t happen.
Well, Oshiomole has himself to blame for the outcome he got. The signs were there for some time now, but typical of people oblivious to the ephemeral nature of power, Oshiomole failed to read the mood of things properly, or perhaps, as some people have insinuated, allowed himself to be pushed to the extent that he blew everything away. Yes, Oshiomole is left empty, just like the first time he joined politics.
Whether in his home state or elsewhere, Oshiomole’s influence has nosedived significantly, and the huge goodwill he enjoyed over the years, seemed fast gone. The problem, as several events in the past have shown, is his high-handedness and insatiable lust for control, most of the time, for personal benefits and to massage his ego.
All these were enough motivation for resistance, and before you know it, Oshiomole turned an aging fighter who has lost touch but keeps flailing away while his opponents easily throw punches. This is evident in the manner in which he was unceremoniously sent packing as the National Chairman of APC, and with the outcome of the Edo governorship election, he could no longer be a godfather.
If there was any good news in how things turned out for Oshiomole, it would be the valuable lesson on the transient nature of power and how no human should play ‘god’ in the face of other people. That was the impression that the disqualification of Obaseki in the APC’s primary suggested, and the subsequent moves from Oshiomole, including that of a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who went as far as to canvass against the governor’s re-election in a viral video, gave to the public.
As things now look, Edo did not only decide who govern them for the next four years, they made an even important choice– and that is saying no to godfatherism. In 2016, Oshiomole was able to maneuver his way and get the electorates to agree to his choice, but as the just concluded governorship election showed, they resoundingly say no this time, leaving the former governor empty handed. A sad turn for him!
Written by Oke Umurhohwo, a Political Analyst and Strategist. He tweets via @OkeStalyf and can be reached on oke.umu@gmail.com
BAYELSA WEST: APC CAMPAIGN RUNS INTO CRISIS AS PARTY’S STAKEHOLDERS COMMENCE COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY ENDORSEMENT OF CHIEF DICKSON
The Campaign of the APC Candidate for the Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, has run into more trouble as stakeholders of the party have embarked on community by community endorsement of former Governor Henry Seriake Dickson, the Senatorial Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party.
The Stakeholders of the APC in Ekeremor and Sagbama Local Government Area converged at Isampou on Friday and decided that efforts must be made to prevent the political ambition of any politician from damaging the existing cordial relationship between Ekeremor and Sagbama, the two local government areas in the Senatorial district.
The Stakeholders and community leaders of Isampou community, Aleibiri community, Amanaigbene, Peretorugbebe, and others were unanimous in their position that they would not support any political party and candidate that would scuttle the existing agreement on power sharing between Sagbama and Ekeremor Local Government Areas which make up the Senatorial district.
Leader of the stakeholders, and Chairman APC Grassroots mobilization Sagbama/Ekeremor, Mr Ebide Brown, said while addressing APC leaders that the party stakeholders had to take the bold decision to wrest the people of the area from needless bitterness and division.
He said that the stakeholders decided to embark on a comprehensive programme of endorsements for Chief Dickson because it was improper and unfair for the two National Assembly positions in the district to go to Ekeremor.
He stressed that any arrangement that promotes an Ekeremor candidacy for the Senate when the position of the House of Representatives is being occupied by an Ekeremor son is both indefensible and unacceptable.
Brown insisted that the two positions of Senator and Member House òf Reps are shared between Ekeremor and Sagbama and the two had not gone to any single council since the commencement of democratic governance in 1999,
Brown added that the performance of Chief Dickson as Governor was also a major reason the people have resolved to back him for the Senatorial job.
He said that “the Sagbama/ Ekeremor people are grateful to the former Governor for the construction of the Sagbama/Ekeremor Road, a university, a polytechnic, general hospitals and several projects in the Sagbama/Ekeremor Senatorial District.
According to him, there is no better and suitable person to go to the Senate than Chief Dickson who has the courage, the experience and the network to speak for the district, Bayelsa State and the Ijaw nation.
Stakeholders at the meeting include Hon, Peres Adakuru, financial sec APC Grassroots mobilization Sagbama/Ekeremor, Stanley Beralade leader Amanaigbene community,Tabu Pudiya, Coordinator Foutorugbene Community, APC grassroots mobilization sagbama/ekeremo, Kesta Femone Kesta, Coordinator, Aleibiri community.
Others are Werepere Okorie, co-coordinator Aleibiri community and Hitler Moses, Spokesperson APC grassroots mobilization sagbama/ Ekeremor.
The State Executive Committee ( SEC ) of Ekiti APC met yesterday and resolved as follows:
RE: DR. KAYODE FAYEMI ANTI - PARTY ACTIVITIES.
After painstakingly reviewing the activities of some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, we the authentic members of the Party in the State and Members of State Executive Committee per Section 12.8 of APC Constitution being duly constituted members of the National Convention of the Party, rose from its meeting of the 23rd September, 2020 and resolved as follows:
1. We note the continued illegalities in the name of the party, being conducted by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who as Governor is an ordinary member of the SEC and ought to have called meetings of this duly constituted body as a critical party organ, has failed to do so since his assumption of office in 2018.
2.That the body currently masquerading as the elected members of the SEC or as the State Working Committee or appendages is unknown to us (as due statutory members of SEC) since no Ward Congress has taken place in Ekiti State APC since inception. All SEC members listed in Section 12.8 of our constitution, (i) to (xxvii) as such are open positions since only duly officiated Ward congresses with INEC observation can fill these positions.
3.As such, only the duly elected members of the APC in the state serving as Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker & Deputy Speaker as well as Principal Officers of the House and Members of the National Convention which includes all present and past National Assembly members today constitute the State SEC of our great party.
4.To this end, in the absence of a properly organized body and meeting, and the continued insistence of the Governor to neglect his duty to initiate Ward Congresses or call a meeting of the SEC to deliberate upon pertinent issues, we as loyal members of our party and members of the State Executive Committee met to rescue our party from continued denigration and abuse, and resolved thus:
1.That Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the Executive Governor of Ekiti State is hereby suspended from the Party in view of his numerous anti-Party activities especially his role in the recent concluded governorship election in Edo State which is contrary to the provisions of Article 21 (A) (ii) of the APC Constitution. For five days prior to the Edo elections Gov Fayemi hosted PDP big wig Mr Femi Fani- Kayode in the government house in Ado Ekiti in the run up to the Edo elections . It was here they perfected the coup against our party in Edo State. This is same Fani-Kayode who daily abuses President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the APC as a party as well a vital section of our country. We have evidence of that meeting.
Fani-Kayode specifically said he has gone on his tour as part of an effort between him and Fayemi to build a cross-party alliance and few hours after leaving Ekiti he fired a shot at Asiwaju Tinubu.
1 (a) We also have evidence of celebration by his aides in Ekiti government house and on social media.
1(b) We also recall his role in the gubernatorial election in Oyo State where he supported the PDP candidate to defeat the APC candidate. A second tranche of money he sent to Gov Makinde in the election was intercepted by soldiers. The courier Mr Ayo Adegbite, his Chief Protocol Officer was arrested and he immediately disowned and announced his sack . Mr Adegbite remains his aide till date.
1(c) We also recall the support he provided a PDP candidate who challenged an APC Senator Prince Dayo Adeyeye in the Tribunal. He moved the judges to Kaduna to deliver judgement when he knew what he planned against his party was unpopular in Ekiti. We have more to tell on this betrayal and traitorous act of his. APC Senator is out of the Senate today and PDP is in. The relationship between Fayemi and Senator Olujimi of PDP , the beneficiary of his treachery is known to all in Ekiti State.
We also recall his resort to court when majority of party members nominated late Senator Abiola Ajimobi for Deputy National Chairman of the party. He fought Ajimobi till death.
1(d) His fraternisation with the PDP in continuation of his bid for Vice Presidential candidate under the party ( if his bid for Presidential candidate in APC fails ) was masked by commissioning of projects in Rivers State, a smokescreen for his consultation to woo the support of Governor Nyesom Wike last year .
2. That the Paul Omotosho led faction of APC Executive in the State is hereby declared illegal and suspended from the Party for failure to emerge in accordance to the Constitution of the Party.
3.That Paul Omotoso and his co travellers's refusal to respect court proceedings in which they are not only joined but appeared in court through the proceedings but defiantly disrespected the court contrary to the hallowed decision of the Supreme Court in OJUKWU vs GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE
4.That Paul Omotosho faction of the executive should desist from parading themselves as the Executive Members of the Party in the State and that the Nigerian Police and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the general public should take note.
5.That Senator Tony Adeniyi, as a statutory member of the SEC going by our party’s constitution, was elected by all members attending as the Acting Chairman of the State Executive Committee in the absence of direction or directive from the National Body. He is as such the only one thus capable to call the SEC meeting as duly required by the constitution from henceforth.
6.The committee seating also agreed to begin bridge building across our members, statewide and nationally, and set up a special intervention committee, APC Majeobaje Working Group, to be led by Prince Bamgboye Adegoroye, and six other individuals from across our great state. That working group will henceforth do the hard work of rebuilding APC in Ekiti state and prevent the oncoming annihilation of our party if we take no action at the upcoming polls.
We note that the All Progressives Congress is a party of progressives, and must do things only in line with the law. The APC cannot act against its constitution or the law of the land, hence this intervention became urgently necessary and pertinent before marauders destroy the party permanently.
It must be emphasized that with the increasingly discerning capacity and sophistication of our people we cannot afford to take them for granted. We must be able to sustain the relevance of our party in Ekiti State, hold our members and win new members. We are obligated to ensure that the light of our electoral prospect and fortune is not dimmed or extinguished.
Signed: For Ekiti State APC State Executive Committee
1. Senator Tony Adeniyi - Senator , Ekiti South Senatorial District ( 2011 - 2015 ) 2. Senator Babafemi Ojudu - Senator , Ekiti Central Senatorial District ( 2011 - 2015 ) 3. Senator Dayo Adeyeye, Senator , Ekiti South Senatorial District ( 2019- ) Former Minister of Works. 4. Congressman Bimbo Daramola, Ekiti North Federal Constituency ( 2011 - 2015 ) 5. Hon Robinson Ajiboye , Ekiti North Federal Constituency ( 2011 - 2015 6. Hon Oye Ojo, Ekiti North Federal Constituency ( 2011 - 2015 ) 7. Hon ( Dr.) Adewale Omirin - Hon Speaker Ekiti State House of Assembly ( 2011 - 2015 ) 8. Hon Femi Adeleye , Member , Ekiti State House of Assembly , ( 2007 - 20011 )
“Leaked Former Commissioner’s controversial tape against ex-Gov. Dickson, treacherous” – – – APC Chieftain
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State, Hon. Sunday Frank Oputu has described as “treacherous” the allegations of high debt profile against the past administration of Gov. Seriake Dickson by the former Commissioner of Lands, Surv. Furoebi Akene in a leaked viral telephone tape in the state.
The 15 minutes telephone conversation between the former Commissioner of Lands, Furoebi Akene and the immediate past Governor, Hon. Seriake Dickson, which went viral on the social media bothers on allegation of high external debt burden by successive administrations in the state.
Hon. Sunday Frank-Oputu, while reacting yesterday to the development, described the allegation of Former Commissioner Furoebi Akene as full of treachery, selfishly motivated and filled with inaccuracy.
According to Frank-Oputu, though every Bayelsa Indigene has the constitutional right to question activities of government and advocate good governance, the claims of the former Commissioner, who served under the same administration is characterized with selfish motives and anger against those who purportedly Stopped him from benefits while serving as a public office holder.
He said that the former commissioner was bitter that he did not execute contracts while in office which according to him is absurd.
”It’s quite unfortunate Akene has continued to display this character. The people of Bayelsa know him; he believes he’s smarter and more intelligent than others when he was made commissioner in the early days of Dickson’s government”
“He questioned the integrity of the Former Land Commissioner during the administration of the Dickson.
“For the records, I must advise our people not to take the claims of the former Commissioner serious.
“He was given a job, to construct a road from his community, Funibiri through Eneware, obololi Ekebiri to join the Ayama axis of the road being constructed by the State.
“The project was awarded to the former Lands Commissioner by the NDDC when Dr. Tarila Tebepa was the Chairman of the commission . The first payment made was N2 billion and subsequent payments were made. To the surprise of all, Akene went and bought a locally made dredger and took it to his community where they brush somewhere with hands not even with bulldozers. They just brushed, cleared a road and then poured some sands and that’s the end of the road till today.
”A man who could deny his people, access to road does not have any moral ground to challenge any leader. If he had done that road, people would have seen him as an agent of development.
“His failure to do that critical road leading to his community, shows that Akene is an agent of underdevelopment. There is a popular saying that Nobody will do a road to your community, except the people from that area are eager for development.
“Akene is supposed to be the one who should have taken that job to ensure that the road was constructed and implemented to the letter but he refused.
“The records are there. People can go and check the funibiri, Enewari, obololi Ekebiri to Ayama road. This is the worst thing that has happened to the people of Boma because if that road was constructed I believe all the speed boats from our communities, would have been stopping at Ofunibiri rather than going to Yenagoa.”
He also accused the embattled Former Commissioner, Furoebi Akene, of alleged intolerance against the former Surveyor-General of the Federation, Awudu. People can recall that Surveyor Akene and Surveryor Awudu, who later became Surveyor-General of the federation, were school mates. Sadly, when Awudu was made Surveyor General of Bayelsa state, it was Akene who stampeded him out of office with false protest and harassment. “
” The Governor tried to settle the two of them but Akene said he would never work with Surveyor Awudu who had been surveyor general since 1997 until Akene was made commissioner. Nobody ever heard that sands were dropped in the Surveyor General office until Akene became commissioner.”
“There were a lot of stories from the surveryor general’s office every week. There was a time salt was poured round the whole of the surveyor general’s office and Akene blamed it on the Surveyor General alleging that he was the one doing charms.
“By and large, when the man saw what was coming, he went to the governor to seek transfer of service from Bayelsa to the Federal”
“Eventually, the man, with the help of some friends, went to the federal and became the Surveyor General òf the Federation!
On the high debt profile, Hon. Sunday Frank-Oputu faulted the former Commissioner over the claims that the administration of Governor Seriake Dickson was the most indebted in the State.
“On the issue of the debt burden, Akene lied. When Sylva took over from Dr. Goodluck jonathan, the debt burden on the state was N86 billion and we had N20 billion Naira shares in oceanic bank bought by Goodluck administration”
“But the debt burden was N86 billion. If people could remember, George fente addressed a press conference and gave these facts that were there. When Sylva took over, we all know that Sylva took some loans. In fact there was one that was resisted by so many stakeholders of Bayelsa state, when he wanted to take one hundred billion naira from the capital market. A lot of stake holder wrote to the then vice president and president that he should not be allowed but, he was given and several other loans, were taken.”
“Before Sierake Dickson came into office, the debt burden on Bayelsa was over a hundred billion.
And if they are finding it difficult, let them look at the financial report by Timi Alaibe, Okoye Committee which was set up to look at those issues.
“So as far as am concerned, he’s economical with the truth and that all the claims made by surveyor Akene are false because we know what happened.
“Akene should not deceive himself that Bayelsa people don’t keep records. The records are there and the issues are before the public for everybody to know .
Politics › EndSARS: Osun Judicial Panel To Begin Sitting On Thursday by AnonPoet(op): 8:25pm On Nov 09, 2020
