In his resolve to reform the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (rtd), the Interim Administrator of the intervention programme has sought the cooperation and support of traditional rulers in the Niger Delta region.

Gen. Ndiomu who noted that as custodians of the culture and tradition of their people, the monarchs command enormous influence which they can deploy to propagate the new policy direction, assured that his policy direction is aimed at ensuring that the Programme becomes more impactful to the real beneficiaries.

The PAP boss who stated this when he hosted the traditional rulers under the aegis of the Association of Niger Delta Monarchs in Port Harcourt on Thursday, posited that to maintain the desired peace and stability in the region, monarchs must be consulted just like other critical Niger Delta stakeholders.

“Ever since I assumed office, I have been trying to get myself acquainted with the mode of operations of the Presidential Amnesty Programme. I have interacted with several stakeholders across the region and I realized that I will also have to meet with the monarchs in the Niger Delta.

“Being the principal custodians of the tradition and culture of our people and by virtue of your positions as monarchs, you’re the closest to the people.

“PAP is a national security programme and considering the role of our monarchs in the Niger Delta, it is very important that you’re carried along with the new policies that I intend to introduce to ensure we maintain peace and security across our region.

“I believe that through you, we can reach out to educate people that we need to maximize the benefits of this programme. This programme has already swallowed over a trillion naira. I personally believe that if we had properly directed the resources, a lot more could have been achieved,” he noted.

Ndiomu told the monarchs that he was seeking the approval of the federal government to commence the process of getting ex-agitators to form cooperatives as part of the deliberate policy to make them self-reliant.

He said despite the obvious challenges, the PAP has recorded some degree of success, especially in education and skills acquisition, but insisted that much more could have been achieved.

“We have recorded quite a number of successes in the educational pursuit of the dreams of ex-agitators and all other indigenes of Niger Delta through the very robust scholarship schemes.

“As of today, we have 2,984 students in training, in various tertiary institutions across the country.

“We have also over these years between 2015-2022 produced 121 first-class graduates in various levels of the scheme.

“The total number of graduates between 2018-2022 is 2,881. On this number we have Bsc students 1,862, Masters degree 362, PhD 38, we also have about 53 students currently schooling abroad, first degree, a masters degree, and PhD,” he added.

Highlighting some of the challenges that have bedeviled the programme, Ndiomu said, “One of the challenges I inherited in the amnesty office is the issue of the accuracy of the database, now like I said earlier, initially from the disarmament and demobilisation exercise they had recaptured about 30,000.

“Now when I took over office, they still had the 30,000 intact, based on our records. But you’ll agree with me that that is not realistic, what that means is that nobody died, nobody graduated from the university and got gainfully employed and so I decided to investigate.

“I’m sure our royal majesty and highnesses must have read in the papers some reactions by some of our people, at the end of the day, they call you all sorts of names, but what I am doing is in their best interest.

“In my investigations, now there are two categories of what we call stipend payments of the ex-agitators, you have the bulk payment and you have the single individual payments too, that is supposed to be to individual ex-agitators.

“In the course of our investigations, the bulk payment was explained to me, and I want to believe that that is the truth as monies paid in bulk to some of the ex-militant leaders and the basis for that is because there were a number of ex-agitators in the list, that was not accounted for disarmament and demobilisation phases, and so there was the need for all payments to be made to the ex-militant leaders who will, in turn, disburse same to those affected.

“But strangely in the course of investigating, if we could justify that of the bulk payment programme of the ex-militant leaders, we now found individuals with single BVN having multiple payments into their accounts with a single BVN, so which means a single BVN receiving 33 stipend payments of 65 thousand naira monthly.

“In a bid to now delist these names, well not delisting them to say we’re completely denying them because we have to understand exactly why an individual had 33 stipend payments into his account.”

Executive Chairman and General Coordinator of the Association of Niger Delta Monarchs of Nigeria, HRM King Frank Okurakpo, assured Ndiomu of their support in ensuring the success of his tenure.

Other traditional rulers who spoke at the event described the meeting as a necessary interaction for the good of the Niger Delta, noting that it was the first time any head of the PAP was reaching out to them to collate their views on the programme.

The monarchs jointly urged Ndiomu to remain focused and priotize the needs of the ex-agitators while also avoiding some mistakes of his predecessors.

Senator Bassey Albert Akpan and his supporters have been warned to desist from further blackmail and smear campaigns against Governor Udom Emmanuel, over the current legal imbroglio of the Young Progressives Party’s gubernatorial candidate.

A major advocacy group, Akwa Ibom Integrity Alliance in a reaction by its Chairman, Barr Stephen Abia, said it was unfair and uncharitable for the embattled senator to transfer blames of his travails to the doorsteps of Governor Emmanuel who neither originated the charges nor even knows of the facts of the case.

The group opined that to remotely or directly blame Governor Emmanuel for the probe of Bassey Akpan’s financial impropriety, was devilish, wicked and malicious.

“From investigations by our team of professionals, Governor Emmanuel was not in office as Governor, when the case of bribery and corruption against Bassey Albert Akpan commenced”, said Barr Stephen Abia.

“The case was purely on the heels of a probe of the infamous alleged slush funds against a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, where part of the funds where allegedly linked to a certain Jide Omokoro who confessed during investigation that he used the funds to bribe Senator Albert Akpan through car donations amounting to N204million to get contracts.

“For the avoidance of doubts, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested and detained Senator Akpan over cars that he had allegedly received as bribe from Jide Omokore while serving as Akwa Ibom Finance Commissioner and Chairman of the State Inter-Ministerial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee.

“Investigations show that the Omokore’s companies – Bay Atlantic Energy and Sahel Energy – received contracts from the Senator Akpan’s InterMinisterial Direct Labour Coordinating Committee and the EFCC claimed the vehicles were used to bribe Akpan.

“We have discovered that it is only on the basis of jurisdiction that the case could not be decided a long time ago when the trial was conducted at Justice O.A. Taiwo presided Federal High Court in Lagos, hence the case was reassigned to the federal high court in Uyo in line with Senator Albert Akpan’s argument that the offense took place in Uyo.

“When he was testifying at the High Court, Senator Albert admitted receiving the car bribe from Omokaro and further brought some members of his campaign team as witnesses that they were given the contentious vehicles to campaign for Albert’s elections in 2015.

“Throughout the duration of this trial and till this moment, there is no record that the Akwa Ibom State government was a party in the case, nor can it be said that Governor Emmanuel or any of his appointees had testified in the case. It is therefore worrisome that Senator Bassey Albert would come out to castigate the Governor for a sin he allegedly committed when Governor Emmanuel had not assumed office”, the group enthused.

According to Barr Stephen Abia, himself an indigene of Ibiono Ibom local government where Bassey Albert also hails from, the people of Ibiono Ibom have disassociated themselves from the corruption allegations against their son, and are also ready to remain in support of the transparent leadership of Governor Emmanuel, which has brought about monumental feats in the State since 2015.

Judgement on the case is expected to come up on Friday this week at the Federal High Court in Uyo

The Senate has endorsed the N48 billion oil pipeline surveillance contract awarded by the Federal Government to former leader of the Mivement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta High Chief Government Ekpemupolo (alias Tompolo).

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Albert Akpan, made the disclosure while speaking with journalists shortly after presenting the report of Senate ad hoc Committee on Oil Lifting, Theft and the Impact on Petroleum Production and Oil Revenues.

The Senator stated that there was nothing wrong with the decision of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), and the Federal Government to engage non-state actors to secure oil pipelines as far as the contract was achieving the objective for its award.

He said that with the award of the contract an appreciable level of achievement had been made in the fight against the scourge of oil theft.

He stressed that the recent engagement of the pipeline surveillance contract to address oil theft is yielding positive results with noticeable increase in the country’s oil production capacity.

The Senator who commended the NNPCL for the decision said that 500,000 barrels and 87,000 barrels of crude oil per day have been restored in Forcados and Bonny terminals respectively.


He said that the Forcados and Bonny terminals which are major export facilities had not been operational for over seven months because of the oil theft and pipeline vandalism until the decision to engage the security firms.

He recalled that the oil theft had reduced the country’s oil production capacity and a caused a loss of Two billion Dollar to the country since January.

“There are both formal and informal approaches to solving the issue. If that contract was contracted duly and processed, we don’t have any issue with it and if it yields desired outcomes, I don’t think there is anything wrong in it.

“We commend the NNPCL for the action. As we speak, the Forcado terminals have restored 500,000 barrels a day to our national production.

“Just about five days ago, the first 87,000 barrels a day was received at the Bonny terminals. So, things are getting better.

“This means that the abridged intervention done recently by government have yielded positive results because the production would have been shortened and you could imagine the effect on investment because investors will hold back if they cannot derive maximum profits from their investments.”


The Senate had earlier adopted at plenary the recommendations of the ad-hoc committee that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) should resume full regulatory oversight of all existing crude oil terminals in Nigeria

Dead silence from all the S/South Govs since the revelation by Gov. Wike. Yet, they make it a pastime to abuse Buhari’s govt everyday when they cannot account for the humongous amounts released to them by Buhari’s govt, monies PDP past govts failed to pay. See the figures below�

The lawmaker representing Egbeda/ Ona ara federal constituency at the House of Representatives, Honorable Akin Alabi has distributed 200 brand new laptops to selected ,qualified youths who participated in the 3 days digital marketing training facilitated by Servicom, an Agency of the federal government of Nigeria .
Honorable Alabi handed over the computers to the participants today at Devine grace event center at Akakia area of ibadan after successfully completing the training .

Honorable Alabi explained that the initiative powered by servicom was one of federal government initiatives geared towards empowering Nigerian youths , especially startups and existing entrepreneurs on better ways to drive traffic for there business and also learn the basics of running a successful business in this harsh environment.

The lawmaker who appreciated the speaker of the house , Rt. honorable Femi Gbajabiamila for his support and leadership style ,noted that he was able to facilitate the initiative to his constituency because the leader gave all the support needed to make it a reality .

Honorable Alabi who further explained that the empowerment program for today was basically for the youths ,disclosed that during the one week event put aside to flag off his second term campaign , different empowerment programs for different caliber of people were also done , with commissioning of different infrastructural facilities.

He said if given the opportunity to represent his constituents again , he will build on all the good initiative aimed at making life meaningful for his constituents by multiplying the efforts by ten times in order to spread the dividends of democracy to his people .

While reeling out his score card in the past three years to beneficiaries at the event , with lots of success recorded on youth empowerment, women empowerment , constituency development , improvement of education, infrastructural development , constituency outreach , brilliant representation at the upper chamber with presentation of developmental motions and bills and lots more, he said he is ready to do more , if his constituents are ready to trust him with their votes

He however pleaded with the lucky participant to help propagate the good news and also utilize the materials , with total market value at over 3.5million naira , to build their personal capacity and also expand their business.

While he emphasized that lot more developmental initiatives can be achieved and facilitated to the constituency, he implores electorate at his constituency to consider voting the ruling party from top to bottom, as this will go a long way in helping to spread the dividends of Democracy.

Some of the lucky beneficiaries who could not hold there joy on what was learnt, the opportunities exposed to and the presentation of brand new laptops , lauded Akin Alabi , who they described as the best lawmaker they have ever had , assuring him of there total support at all times.

In A move to improve sporting activities and education in Egbeda/ Ona Ara Federal constituency.

The federal lawmaker Representing Egbeda/ Ona Ara federal constituency, Honorable Akin Alabi has commissioned a newly constructed standard football pitch with market value worth over 100 million naira at Urban day grammar school ,at old ife road , ibadan .

Honorable Alabi commissioned the the sport facility today as part of programs lined up to flag off his 2nd term political campaign in coming election.

The lawmaker while officially opening the pitch for use noted that the construction of the facilities was his personal initiative at reviving sporting activities, especially football in his constituency and also imputing to education development .

He said that the construction of the pitch at urban day grammar school was intentional, as the school field was known to be the home base and hub for football activities at Egbeda in 90s ,however things went bad due mismanagement and nonchalant attitude of government towards sporting activities, hence the reason it was structured there just to bring back the old glory and also position the school where it ought to be

While he reiterated that the construction of the pitch was duly funded from his personal purse , he disclosed that the long term advantage of the facility at the premises of the secondary will serve as revenue generator for the urban day grammar school, as money made from sporting activities on the facility will be used to complement whatever is given by the state to development the learning facilities on ground ,boost sporting activities and also discover new talents from and outside the school.

He added that the football pitch is one of a kind in the state as the engineering done to put this together is top notch , made to withstand any type of weather with a long term guarantee duration of 10 years .

Moreover , he said all this lofty developmental initiatives is just a tip of the iceberg, as more is still to come if he is being re-elected in the coming election to serve for another term, noting that for a lawmaker to influence and push for benefits for his constituents, being a long term member is a major criteria, adding that if re-elected as a returning member , more dividend of democracy is ascertained.

In the same vein , he implored his constituents to consider voting the Ruling party APC from top to bottom , as this will make it easy and faster to bring development not only to the federal and state territories but also to local government areas and LCDAs all around the state .

Political leaders , party members , state house of assembly aspirant like Mr Jide Falade and senatorial aspirant Dr. Yunus Akintunde and constituents , present at the event lauded Honorable Akin Alabi for his relentless efforts and drive in repositioning Egbeda /Ona Ara federal constituency as best in the state with series of developmental ideas not leaving his outstanding representation at the green chamber .

They moreover pledge their support for this re election in the coming elections .

The event climaxed with a novelty match played by Akin Alabi and fiends and a friendly match played between lekki United of Lagos and Akin Alabi Fc, football clubs owned by the people man. Akin Alabi

Samson Okpetu, frontline lawyer and activist has decried the unlawful arrest of F.E.A Ozekhome over a leadership crisis in Iviukwe community, Agenebode, Edo state believed to be fueled by the Edo state deputy governor.

According to Okpetu, in May this year, the 83 year old Ozekhome was arrested by the police over the crisis and was detained for days before being charged to court.

Ozekhome was later granted bail and has always presented himself for trial to commence but the prosecutor have not shown any diligence in prosecuting the case.

“That notwithstanding, Ozekhome has never jumped bail and no warrant of arrest was issued against him but one Ayoola Ojo, the DPO of Agenebode, sent his officers to Lagos to arrest Ozekhome for the same purported offence which the court has already granted him bail.

“The general public may also wish to know that one Peter Okpetu was recently arrested by the same Ayoola Ojo and taken to Benin City, Edo State since on the 4th of November, 2022, notwithstanding that a pending fundamental human right suit is already before the federal high court in Benin, Edo State”.
Okpetu laments.

“To further show the abuse of power, the police officer in charge of Peter Okpetu’s case went to obtain 14 days detention order, when investigation has already been concluded and some alleged suspects charged to court. When the family of Peter Okpetu sought for his administrative bail, the Commissioner of Police directed that he should be taken to court.

“On 14th November, 2022, while Peter was being taken to court at Auchi where the matter is still pending, on getting to Ekpoma, Edo State, the police officer escorting him received a phone call on instructions from above to return Peter back to Benin and he is still in custody.

“Information available is that Ozekhome and Peter are being detained because they refused to attend the several meetings the deputy Governor of Edo State called in order to resolve the leadership crisis in their community. To the best of my knowledge, I find it strange that not attending meetings has become an offence”, Okpetu stated.

He came into the job at a very difficult moment in the history of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP. By the time President Muhammadu Buhari announced Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (retd) as the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme on September 22, 2022, the real essence of the programme had virtually been defeated with the expectations of the people of the Niger Delta, on whose behalf PAP was instituted, had been substantially dashed.

At the time he was ushered into office, it was clear to Ndiomu, a retired but brilliant military officer and lawyer, who had excelled in all his command and leadership positions while in service, that he had a tough job to deal with given the level of rot and disillusionment that had set into the scheme and eroded the confidence of both the government and the people.

It was also obvious to the interim administrator that the scheme had significantly deviated from the main cause for which the late Umaru Yar’Adua predicated the programme when he declared amnesty for militants in the Niger Delta to lay down their arms and accept peace on June 25, 2009 in return for the government to train them, empower them and develop the region.

Anger

At the time of Ndiomu’s emergence too, anger was rising high over the future and relevance of the PAP following the reported plan by the Federal Government to terminate the 13-year-old programme since in the thinking of the government, the scheme had outlived its usefulness and substantially failed to address rising crime wave in the region as evidenced in the large quantity of oil being stolen in the Niger Delta by malevolent elements and other sundry crimes, which have put the region on edge despite the sustenance and prevalence of PAP.

There was also heightened tension among leaders of the region and particularly the 30,000 individuals who claimed to have dropped their guns for peace and have been receiving monthly payments of N65, 000 from PAP since 2009. At the same time, previous administrations are reported to have left behind huge questionable debts totaling N90 billion and another doubtful N4.5 billion in PAP’s cashbook for Ndiomu to contend with on his arrival, a burden that has continued to stare at him on the face like timeless mirage.

But if these are considered as simple issues, Ndiomu knew he had a more complex and daring task to deal with and this has to do with a group of roughly five or six powerful and disruptive individuals who remotely control all the ‘foot soldiers’ in the Niger Delta. These unseen but powerful elements have been remotely controlling the activities of the PAP since its inception and can make or mar any administration or administrator who attempts to ignore them in the running of the scheme.

They decide who should be or should not be captured as a beneficiary of PAP and they also largely determine which contract should be given to who and at how much and whether it should be done and should not be done and also lead protests to block and free the only highway in the area- the East-West Highway.

This largely explains why the figure of 30,000 beneficiaries of PAP has continued to be elongated rather than diminishing after thousands of them had been successfully trained and empowered with start-up packs and many others given huge cash and equipment to begin businesses of their choices in many areas of human endeavours.

Burden

The 30,000 members receiving N65,000 stipends monthly have become a big burden on the neck of any administrator and any attempt to use forensic method to ascertain who the beneficiaries are, where they are located, what they are doing and which arm they submitted, have been ferociously resisted by the powerful figures who arrogate to themselves the toga of being the ‘godfathers’ of the amnesty programme in the Niger Delta, who should be treated with the highest level of respect and recognition by any chief executive appointed for the PAP.

The real trouble that created a serious drawback for PAP before Ndiomu’s appointment was that only a handful of powerful and influential elements used their positions and connections with the administration to draw down undeserving and questionable contracts worth hundreds of millions of Naira and went on to become overnight billionaires to the chagrin of majority of the real persons and communities that actually surrendered arms and brought about the institutionalization of the PAP in 2009.

This has been the major reason why there are frequent showdowns between the supporters and opponents of the ‘new billionaires’ and those who feel abandoned and marginalized by the PAP and the federal government before Ndiomu arrived on the scene. They are seriously craving for recognition and designation of roles for them by PAP in order to have a sense of belonging in the programme, which they want to see and feel as their own and by so doing, show their support, understanding and goodwill.

But there is hope that Ndiomu will address all the interest groups and entities that are contending for the soul of PAP given his strong leadership and military skills. He served well and recorded tremendous success in the military and left with an unblemished career record. Ndiomu remains fearless but charismatic and straightforward, attributes that might have endeared him to the Presidency in appointing him as the interim administrator of the PAP.

It is obvious that the Presidency must have read the minds of all factions in the Niger Delta very well in deciding to bring in such a brilliant and pragmatic administrator in the person of Ndiomu, who does not only understands the yearnings and aspirations of the people and the tiny but powerful subsets that always attempt to hijack the benefits meant for all, but also has the pedigree, determination and the capacity to provide the needed leadership to steer the PAP from near failure to success, add value to the people of the region and fulfill the mandate that the Federal Government set for it in 2009.

No-go-areas

Ndiomu has already started well by striking one of the no-go-areas of PAP, which the ‘godfathers’ or ‘untouchables’ have been using over the years to claim huge cash from PAP and smile to the bank. The tough military officer has successfully removed no fewer than 1900 questionable names from the list of 30,000 PAP beneficiaries thereby saving the much needed cash for the government.

He is likely to take off more and more questionable and undefended names from the list thereby pruning fake beneficiaries from taking home free cash on a monthly basis as they have been doing since 2009.

Ndiomu has also touched on a very crucial area of waste by negotiating with one of the contractors who claimed to be owned N4.5 billion by the immediate past administrator and successfully reducing the amount to N3.2 billion, thereby saving a huge N1.3 billion for the government in the process.

This is how leadership should be and this is what people-oriented management is all about. Maj-Gen. Ndiomu has so far demonstrated by actions and utterances that while he is ready to promote the interest of the people and bring about peace in the Niger Delta, train and rehabilitate the beneficiaries of the PAP, he is going to do so only on the basis of transparency, accountability and respect for all individuals and groups.

He has made it clear to all that he is not ready for the business-as-usual model of operation that has kept the PAP on its knees for years and virtually derailed its cause and almost convinced the Federal government to shut it down and move on. He has also promised to look into reports that the scholarship programme meant for the children of Niger Delta under the PAP was breached and sold to non-natives by officials of the agency.

This enquiry is imperative given the fact that close to 1700 places meant for Niger Delta youths were reportedly hijacked and sold like cakes to the highest bidders from any part of the country, a development that smacks of fraud and betrayal of trust by the said officials, who should be fished out and punished publicly to serve as a deterrent to others.

Ndiomu has also acted as a mediator and peace advocate by appealing to the federal government to continue to sustain and run PAP as a Social Intervention Scheme rather than terminating it as was previously contemplated. Happily, the federal government last week announced its determination to continue to sustain PAP and make it work for the Niger Delta people, a development that significantly calmed frayed nerves and brightened the hopes of those who depend on it for training their children at home and abroad and those who earn substantially from PAP through contracts and stipends.


This development also calls for all the actors in the Niger Delta to work closely with the new administrator in making the programme a success and a scheme that works and gives value to all and not a tiny few as it has been in the past years, creating enmity and bitterness in the process.

Rather than opposing and fighting Ndiomu, the current position PAP calls for stakeholders to rally round Ndiomu to fashion out ways and means of making those who have become billionaires from the scheme to also provide the needed support and foundation for the numerous youths in the region to be gainfully engaged so as to desist from untoward activities that can dent the image of the people of the region.

Right man

By all intents and purposes, the new administrator, Maj-Gen. Barry Tariye Ndiomu, means well and should be supported rather than being pulled down as has been the case since the inception of the PAP. As tough as the times may be and as intriguing as the PAP has turned out to be since its inception, Ndiomu appears as the right man for the tough job and at a challenging season like this!

It was a measure of capacity and preparedness for the extraordinary challenges that lie ahead and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa ticked all boxes. Okowa was at the Townhall meeting organized by Arise TV on Sunday night in place of his partner on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential ticket, Atiku Abubakar. He admirably convinced Nigerians of his suitability for the presidential office with his exceptional brilliance in canvassing positions and his maturity in pointing out answers to nagging questions.

In unveiling Okowa as his running-mate in June this year, Atiku implied that he wanted “a president-in-waiting” and someone he can depend on in the task of reversing the “destructive impact of the past seven years of the APC government.” [/b]The former vice president knows well enough that the task ahead won’t be easy and believed a partner who has what it takes to share in the burden is all he needed.

Okowa proved him right at the town hall meeting. [b]One of the main tasks of a running mate is to present the ticket as the best option available, brilliantly articulating plans that placed it ahead of other tickets. In the beginning, there was a sense of gloom around the hall. Murmurs that Atiku, not Okowa should be standing on the podium to debate other presidential candidates grew into a loud discontent.

Picking up the microphone, the Delta State Governor shredded those concerns with the exceptionality that comes from the incredible solutions to Nigeria’s challenges in the PDP recovery plan document. While many of the speakers only see problems, Okowa shared hopes and optimism– accentuated by the confidence that is expected of a politician who is prepared.

“There are numerous challenges in Nigeria today. We have insecurity. We have the issue of disunity. Until we can unite ourselves as a nation, we cannot move forward,” Okowa said at the meeting, and then went on to project likely ways that the issues can be tackled for the country to progress.

It was a performance that showcased Okowa’s pragmatism in taking on issues and why he will be a helpful hand to Atiku as president, going by the ability to connect solutions to a problem. “Technology is important in combating insecurity– and we will acquire it. We will acquire it for intelligence gathering and sharing,” Okowa aptly submitted.

For the entire time he held the microphone, he made it clear that the focus of him and Atiku is fixing the country and not just trading blame, which in truth is what Nigerians need at a time like this. Even more impressive was how Okowa conveyed the understanding of what an average Nigerian is going through and projected a ray of hope under a PDP federal government.

When the structure of government was up for discussion, Okowa did not waste time expressing the commitment of an Atiku presidency to true federalism, where power is devolved around the federating units. Doing this, he canvassed, will open up the country to a lot of benefits as the ‘too powerful’ center as we have it now, has impeded competitiveness.

By all measures, Okowa showed the balance we have not seen in recent times in a presidential ticket, and without doubt, signaled the huge benefits that Nigeria as a nation could benefit from a partnership with Atiku. He made it very obvious that he can easily fill into the role of president whenever Atiku is not available for that role.

Demonstrating the role he will play in helping Atiku achieve his mandate of fixing Nigeria, Okowa pointedly notes that “The right path is to use government resources to develop entrepreneurs, make people’s lives easier, and grow the economy so that people will live in a better condition.” This goes to show the strength of the partnership and the best for Nigeria at a precarious time like this.

Oke Umurhohwo writes from Ughelli, Delta State.

Now that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Government has been magnanimous in shelving the plan to wind down the Amnesty Programme, the stage is now set for Ndiomu to perform in flying colours. It is his time to shine.

The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) was birthed in June 2009, under the thoughtful administration of President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan. The mandate was very clear. To disarm, demoblize, and reintegrate ex-agitators back into normal productive life. Repentant militants who willfully surrendered their arms to the Federal Government, would be profiled, trained and empowered to become self-reliant, to the extent that there would be no need to return to taking up arms.



Being that the emergence of Major General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (Rtd) as the Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme came at a time when the Federal Government was considering winding down the Programme, it would have been a missed opportunity for the Amnesty Office and the Niger Delta at large to benefit from his sagacity. From a realistic point of view, the Amnesty Programme has not fully lived up to its mandate. Even as thousands of ex-agitators have been disarmed, the noticeable shortfall in the process is leadership to aggresively drive rehabilitation and reintegration of the ex-agitators. General Ndiomu brings this and many more to the table. He is a complete package.

The Operation Safe Corridor (OSC), a similar rehabilitation programme for ‘repentant’ Boko Haram terrorists in the Northeast is still up and running. Although it seemed like a path to peace, the OSC which was initiated in 2016, has not brought relative peace to the Northeast when compared to the impact of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta which largely succeeded in calming fraying nerves. Stakeholders had strongly advocated for restrategizing and sustaining of the Programme to improve upon the successes recorded. Thus, terminating the Programme would have sparked another round of unrest in the region.

It is on record that at a time when tensions were high over corruption that rattled the Amnesty Programme and ex-agitators became disenchanted, former President Jonathan reportedly advised the then Amnesty boss- Col Milland Dixon Dikio that: “One thing I should tell you is that you should not bite more than you can chew as the saying goes. You should accommodate the projects which you think you can effectively carry out with your budget.”

The Task Ahead For General Ndiomu

Now that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Government has been magnanimous in shelving the plan to wind down the Amnesty Programme, the stage is now set for Ndiomu to perform in flying colours. It is his time to shine. Buhari’s gesture was sequel wide consultations between Ndiomu and ex-agitators accross the Niger Delta, and then subsequent feedback to the Government. The Government is now determined more than ever before, to ensure that the Programme is re-engineered towards ensuring that its original mandate is fully realised culminating in a gradual phased winding down in the near future.

Interestingly, if the current administration had not back-tracked on its plan to wind down the Amnesty Programme, it would have gone down the annals of history, that Yar’ Adua a Fulani man from Katsina initiated the Programme, and then Buhari, another Fulani man from Katsina, terminated it. Trust Nigerians, many would have attached cultural sentiments to it.

The computation made by the National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno in 2020 that the Presidential Amnesty Programme’s fund totalling N712 billion released since its creation could not be accounted for, is another reason to make a case for better leadership and management. The rot in the Amnesty Office and the Federal Government’s earlier intention to wind down, shows clearly that the General has a herculean task ahead.

Over the years, a lot of people have fed fat from the Presidential Amnesty Programme, many of whom are called ‘billionaires’ today. Sadly, majority of the main agitators who battled in the creeks, are not part of this ‘billionaires’ clique. The Amnesty Programme has made a lot of business owners billionaires, but majority of the ex-agitators are still trying to find sustainable livelihoods. Corruption is now fighting back. The reason why sponsored groups are blackmailing the General is because he came on board to stop their ‘business as usual’. But he must not renege on his quest to put the Amnesty Programme back on the path of righteousness.

Part of his focus is also to make the Federal Government see reasons why the Amnesty Programme should be redesigned as a Social Investment Programme, rather than winding it down totally, due to the outcome of stakeholders engagement. This, he has succeeded in doing already.

Arguably, the Amnesty Programme has not created much value in terms of employment and engagement of the trained ex-agitators. There are massive projects and investments that have been carried out in the Niger Delta, especially in the Oil and Gas industry, but with little or no strategic measures to engage these trained ex-agitators. In the course of the Programme, scholarships were given to hundreds of non-indigenes of the Niger Delta region.

Another thrust of thought is that in Nigeria’s Northeast Development Commission, one would hardly find any Niger Deltan working there. But in the Presidential Amnesty Office, non-Niger Deltans, including those from the north, hold sensitive positions.

In May this year, Nigeria saw its crude production plunge to its lowest level in more than 30 years to 1.23 million b/d, according to estimates by S&P Global Commodity Insights. Aside some operational and technical factors, sabotage and oil theft was largely responsible for the shortfall. Key oil fields and terminals across the Niger Delta has been hit by a resurgence in attacks on critical oil infrastructures.

The estimates added that Nigeria alongside Angola, are not expected to be able to meet their current OPEC quotas “for at least another year, having produced almost 300,000 b/d less than their combined quotas throughout 2021.” According to Platts Analytics, Nigeria’s crude production is not expected to reach much more than 1.51 million b/d in 2023 and could dip lower by the end of next year.

His Early Impact At The Amnesty Office

Like Robert Kiyosaki rightly noted, “Without great leadership, mission and a team that deliver results at a high level, even the best product won’t make a company successful!”. Upon assumption of office, the General met over N90bn debt on ground. He also inherited a N4.5bn debt owed to contractors, which he swiftly renegotiated down to the tune of N1.3bn, thereby saving costs for the Federal Government. This is precision leadership with a deliberate intent to right the many wrongs in the Amnesty Programme.

Structurally, the Amnesty Programme is designed to run in three phases- Training, Empowerment and Engagement, after which the beneficiaries are expected to exit. Sadly, the 30,000 figure of beneficiaries captured since inception is not reducing, it is rather swelling. This formed a mickle part of why the Presidency was uncomfortable with the Programme. The Government had raised eyebrows that the Programme which was established with 30,000 ex-agitators still runs with the same number, even after billions of Naira have been spent on training and reintegration programmes.

In a deliberate move to tackle this, General Ndiomu’s earliest efforts since assuming office has beaten down the 30,000 ex-agitators list by over 1,900 persons. This would further save cost for Federal Government, as these dismissed persons will no long be under payroll for the N65,000 or so monthly stipend.

Another permutation is that if Tompolo, NNPC Ltd and other stakeholders had leveraged on the 30,000 ex-agitators to secure manpower to execute the Pipeline Surveillance Contract, it would have reduced the number of untrained ex-agitators, and would have been a win-win situation. The numbers will be trimmed down, just as more value would have been created for the Federal Government. Many have also imagined that the Federal Government considers Tomplolo’s Pipeline Protection Contract as a tenable excuse to end the Amnesty Programme.

His Track Record

General Ndiomu’s military training and track records in the Army, especially in terms of churning out positive results in assignments given to him, was top notch. No doubt, this must have triggered President Buhari to appoint him at this critical time as the Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme.

An indigene of Odoni in Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, Ndiomu was admitted to the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of 29th Regular Combatant Course, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1983.

His service was meritorious as the Garrison Commander, Nigerian Army Headquarters and at various times, he was the Chief of Training and Operations, besides other command and staff appointments he held in the course of his successful military career before retiring in December 2017.

He is also a trained lawyer, and an alumnus of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Administrative Staff College of Nigeria, Badagry, Harvard Kennedy School, and George C Marshall Centre for European Security Studies, among others.

“Under my watch, we shall place premium on transparency, accountability, and hard work; there shall be a clear departure from the past trajectory to a purposeful, result-oriented administration.

“We shall equally embark on reorientation, training, and empowerment of the ex-agitators in line with the present realities of the nation.

“It is my desire to uphold the sanctity of the core values for the establishment of the Amnesty Programme that borders on Disarmament, Demobilisation and Re-integration, which form the tripod upon which the Programme presently stands,” the General pledged when he took over as Interim Administrator of the Amnesty Programme.

The Succes Story Of The ‘Big Five’

The success story of the Amnesty Programme in ending militancy was huge. The Programme was able to capture and assimilate ‘the big 5’. These were the ex-warlords under the defunct Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) who led the resistance in the creeks. Majority of them are now engaged in productive ventures and are self-reliant.

Tompolo- real name Government Ekpempolo who embraced the amnesty offer of the Federal Government on October 4, 2009, now owns Tantita Security Services. The firm has been engaged in series of maritime deals with the Federal Government, the latest being a N4.5bn monthly Pipeline Surveillance Contract across the Niger Delta. In just a few months of the surveillance deal, Tompolo has made heart-wrenching exposures of oil theft across the Niger Delta.

Similarly, Ebikabowei Victor-Ben, nicknamed ‘Boyloaf’, a former MEND commander, currently runs his own business. He owns Bensam Maritime Oil & Gas Ltd., which does subcontracting work for Shell and Chevron. In March this year, he listed 40 students as beneficiaries of a scholarship scheme offered by his new foundation, the Boyloaf Foundation.

There is also Chief Ajube Bibopiri, aka ‘Shoot-at-Sight’. Despite his limited educational background, he rose above the challenges in the Niger Delta region to become one of the most successful entrepreneurs among his peers. He and many of his men rejected the N65,000 monthly stipend and chose the path of an entrepreneur. He floated a company called Bradama International. He has since trained many of his boys, mentored and employed them. Bradama has become a brand in the Oil and Gas servicing industry.

A successful businessman, King Ateke Tom was on November 25, 2017, crowned as the first Amanyanabo of Okochiri, Okirika, Rivers State. Like the others, he also runs successful private businesses.

Hon. Fara Dagogo who is now a Federal lawmaker representing Degema/Bonny Federal Constituency of Rivers State in the National Assembly, was a former MEND field commander. He was also a Governorship aspirant in Rivers State. Prior to this, he served as a lawmaker in the Rivers State House of Representatives where he sponsored high impact bills and motions.

MyCredit Investments Limited, (“FairMoney” or “the Company”) today announced the redemption of N3.7 Billion in aggregate principal amount of its 18% Series II Private Notes (the “Notes”) that fell due on November 03, 2022, to various reputable institutional & HNI investors.
The private note is the second tranche under the company’s N10 Billion Private Note Programme that was launched after a successful Series 1 Private Notes Issuance.

FairMoney Nigeria has continued to build confidence in the investing community through the development of innovative and attractive instruments thereby building a robust funding base in Nigeria. The Company has a strong track record of meeting its financial obligations to its varied investors. The funding base has helped the Company to responsibly grow its loan portfolio to retail consumers, working professionals, and digital natives as the company continues to improve access to finance to the underserved. FairMoney has a vision of building the financial home for the next 2 billion underbanked in emerging markets.

Commenting on this, Henry Obiekea; Managing Director, FairMoney Nigeria, affirmed that the redemption of the notes reflects FairMoney’s resilient business model and ability to ensure optimal performance and sustainable returns to its stakeholders and partners.

Henry further stated that FairMoney is building strong access to the Nigeria Capital Markets to deepen its funding pool. To this end, the company plans to launch a public debt note.

Laurin Hainy, Co-Founder and CEO FairMoney Group said, we are one step closer towards achieving our vision of improving financial access to the underserved with a professional management team, a resilient business framework, and the right funding mix. The Group will continue to focus on these levers to drive growth and service excellence.

Beneficial holders with any questions about the redemption should contact investorrelations@fairmoney.io or their respective brokerage firm or financial institution.

ABOUT FAIRMONEY

FairMoney is a mobile bank for emerging markets and provides financial services in Nigeria. The company is focused on serving underserved consumers in large emerging markets.

FairMoney is a full-service digital bank and currently the #1 digital lender in Nigeria.

The company offers a range of digital financial products including, investments, savings, payments, and cards. The company additionally offers near-instant digital loans 24/7 directly via its mobile app. The digital lending product offering covers loans in tenor from 15-days to 24 months to MSMEs and consumers. The end-to-end application to loan offer process takes 5 minutes and is fully digital with no physical touchpoints. Of the company’s over 6 million digital bank users, 3 million are unique bank account holders. The company aspires for its customers to have a wholesome banking experience from P2P transfers and lending to debit cards, current accounts, investment products amongst other products.

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Lagos-Nigeria: November 2, 2022 - Diamond Star Port and Terminals Ltd has commenced operations at its export processing terminal in Lilypond, Ijora-Apapa. The terminal was commissioned on Tuesday by the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko.

Diamond Star Port and Terminals is appointed and licensed by Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) as the Export Processing Terminal (EPT) operator of the Lilypond Export Terminal located at Ijora-Apapa. This appointment makes the company the “Central Pregate” for processing all export containers ingressing Lagos Ports through roads and railway. There are two terminals - Okota and the Lilypond. The Okota terminal will serve Tincan ports, whereas the Lilypond will serve Apapa ports.

Mr. Bello-Koko, while commissioning the terminal, commended the management of Diamond Star Port and Terminals for the appointment. He alluded to the company’s competence, capacity, and work ethic to perform creditably well. He expressed confidence that they will bring added value to the operational value chain in the sector. Speaking further, he said that the terminal being a pre-gate for processing all export-bound containers entering Lagos Ports, using the road corridors, was a demonstration of the premium placed on speed and priority in handling of exports - in a bid to make Nigeria’s exports competitive in the global market place.

According to him, “This initiative will improve NPA’s commitment to the implementation of the National Action Plan on Agric-export of the Federal Government of Nigeria, and help to fulfil government desire to diversify the national economy from oil-export to non-oil export. Export Processing Terminals are holding areas positioned in Lagos and Ogun States to help exporters prepare their arrivals at port terminals in view of the traffic challenges that have been observed overtime in Lagos.” He said that the Authority is by this initiative positioning to infuse greater efficiency into the logistics surrounding the entry of the export boxes into the ports and the eventual loading on sea-going vessels.

The Assistant Comptroller General (ACG) of Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), Zone A, Adeyanju Aremu, said that the service had developed Standard Operating Procedure in line with global standards to remove impediments along the export chain. She urged the users of the port to take advantage of customs commitment to the facilitation of legitimate trade to excel in their business and put Nigeria on the global map of top non-oil exporters.

The Managing Director of Diamond Star Port and Terminals, Mr. Olatunji Baale, said that the appointment of the company is a confirmation of the competencies, capabilities, and available facilities of the company to manage export processing terminals at a degree of operation demanded by the Nigerian Ports Authority. “Diamond Star Port and Terminals, is a fully integrated cargo and terminal logistic company, with core competence and expertise in port and terminal operations, barge operations, cargo handling services, outer port terminal operations, warehousing services and all related ports and cargo handling services.” He affirmed that this appointment will add immense value to the operations of the company, and to the Nigerian economy.

Speaking further, he said that, with the commissioning of the terminal by the Nigerian Ports Authority, the company is fully ready for the commencement of operations. He added that right from start “We are going to be seeing a seamless delivery of export cargo boxes to the vessels. I am glad to inform you that at these terminals we have all the government agencies that are in charge of examination and processing of export terminals.”

In her remarks, the Director of Strategy and Business Development, Oyeyemi Ayeyemi commended the efforts of the Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority for his forward thinking approach to Port operations and continuously engaging all stakeholders to ensure they get it right. She also acknowledged the impact of Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in promoting export and providing guidance and trainings for exporters. She recognized the dutiful efforts of Nigeria Custom Service and other Government agencies for working hard to ensure that our export meets international standards. She said their presence signifies the importance and the eagerness to see how export business will improve in our country. According to her “In Diamond Star we will do our best to ensure that the movement of containers from different warehouses of the exporters get to the port in good time to encourage more volume. We also want to encourage those who have been discouraged in export business as a result of processes at the port. We hope that such people and businesses will cease the opportunity of our offering to start rethinking their business strategies, knowing that Diamond Star Export Processing Terminals will be willing to support them and enhance their businesses.”

In conclusion, Oyeyemi called on Nigerians to start thinking of engaging in export business to increase their foreign exchange earnings and improve our economy at large.

National Mandate Group, NNP, a flagship organ under the leadership of Oloye Jumoke Akinjide in support of Atiku Abubakar, has berated the endorsement of Bola Tinubu by ‘Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo.

OYOINSIGHT.COM understands that Makinde, represented by his deputy, Bayo Lawal, had, at an Akure meeting of Yoruba leaders, said they would support a southerner to become Nigeria’s next president.

But in a statement Thursday morning, the Oyo state chapter of NNP, made up of PDP leaders and members, said “First and Foremost, We appreciate the good people of Oyo State for considering our Party, the PDP, as the best option and voting for our candidates in both the gubernatorial and the presidential elections in 2019, and for your continued and undiminished support thereafter.

“We give our wholehearted and unshakeable resolve and commitment to support the Presidential Candidate of our Party, the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar GCON, and indeed, all other PDP Candidates during the upcoming 2023 general elections. We are confident that Atiku Abubakar is the best qualified leader to rescue, reform and restore Nigeria to greatness.

“The NMG (OYO STATE CHAPTER) as PDP Leaders & Members hereby vehemently refute, disown and deny any suggestion that the Oyo State PDP will support any candidate other than Atiku Abubakar for the Presidency of Nigeria.

“We deeply abhor and frown at any denigration or use of our Oyo State Anthem, of which we are justly proud, and which is the heritage of all Oyo State citizens regardless of religious or political affiliation, to imply support for any candidate whosoever vying for political office.

“It is totally unacceptable and demeaning to reduce the Oyo State Anthem in the service of mere partisan politics. Our State Anthem speaks of our rich and God given frontline position as the Pathfinder State and should remain inviolable and unsullied. Indeed,

“Ipo Asiwaju l’Edumare fun wa Ni ipinle Oyo!”
Once again, We reiterate our total support for our Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the only Candidate with the competence for the herculean task to fix Nigeria and correct the disastrous 8 years of APC misrule. We urge the good people of Oyo State to vote for the PDP all the way down the Ballot,” the statement added.

The recent revelations of fraud amounting to over three hundred billion naira in the Niger Delta Development Commission has sparked reactions from Niger Deltans, the most recent being a letter of petition to President Muhammadu Buhari by a pro development and public accountability group in the region, Niger Delta Network (NDN) calling for the immediate probe of the recently sacked Sole Administrator of the coommission, Effiong Akwa, as well as all contracts and contractors awarded and hired during his reign.

Recall that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Okon Umana had, during a recent interface with staff of the commission in Port Harcourt, disclosed contracts amounting to over N300bn were discovered to have been awarded without due process by the past sole administrator of NDDC.

In the petition signed by the its Coordinator, Chief Kennedy Adams, Acting Secretary, Eric Igbinopogie Esq, and Director of Public Communications, Dr. John Douglas, the group reminded the said Akwa had betrayed the public trust upon which he was given the mandate to drive the commission and its affairs by committing what it described as “the worst and most devastating fraud in the history of the commission”.

“Mr. President, we have reasons to believe that it was on the basis of trust that the presidency in 2019 approved and allocated resources to back the forensic audit which purpose was to check myriad of fraudulent activities in the NDDC in the past years. It is however sad, disheartening and rudely shocking to discover that under the same NDDC regime which had such high level of public trust, is alleged to have committed the worst and most devastating fraud in the history of the commission”, the petition read partly

It also stressed that there should be no tolerance for such heinous crime which, according to the petition, has been responsible for the stalled development of the region over the years, adding that, there can be no justification for “the insidious impunity and high level corruption endemic in the Commission in spite of federal government’s efforts to sanity the system”.

“Mr. President, one would be puzzled by the antithesis of your administration being so popular in the news to have made genuine efforts backed by heavy funding towards the development of the Niger Delta region, yet, so infamous among Niger Deltans when and where it concerns the impacts of these efforts. The solution to this puzzle might be visible when one considers the development that over N300bn well utilised would have brought”, the petition also read.

The petition further prayed the president to direct the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to immediately publish list of contracts awarded by the Ministry and NDDC as well as order an immediate personnel audit in the commission.

“Mr. President SHOULD, without any reservation or delay, orders the EFCC and ICPC to thoroughly investigate the former Sole Administrator of NDDC, Mr. Effiong Akwa. ALL contracts issued within he tenure as the sole administrator SHOULD as a matter of urgency be investigated. ALL contractors and beneficiaries of prayer (2) should be invited for questioning.

“As a good governance and public accountability group, advocating the development of the region, we wish to demand the following prayers:
That Mr. President should without any reservation nor delay order the EFCC and ICPC to thoroughly investigate the former sole administrator of NDDC, Mr. Effiong Akwa.
That ALL contracts issued within he tenure as the sole administrator SHOULD as a matter of urgency be investigated.
That ALL contractors and beneficiaries of prayer (2) should be invited for questioning, the petition read further.

The group commended President Buhari for “his genuine efforts at developing the Niger Delta region”, while praying God to continually give him the enablement to do more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joOqn3Mio9Q
The Ijaw Women in America have raised the alarm over the worsening living conditions of endangered flood victims in the Niger Delta.

The National President of the Ijaw Women of America, Mrs Eunice Apreala, made the desperate call in a statement on Thursday.

Apreala raised the alarm that the raging flood has killed over 600 people with millions displaced from their submerged homes.

She called the attention of the international community to the devastation caused by the flood and the precarious living conditions of the flood-endangered people of the area.

The IWA President lamented that the current flood disaster has displaced over three million people mostly women and children with homes and crops submerged.

She said “Over 600 people are dead, and millions of people have been displaced due to the recent flood Disaster.

We, the Ijaw Women of America Incorporated (IWA), bring to the world’s attention the recent flood across Nigeria that has left many lives and properties in a devastated state, particularly the Ijaw people in the Niger Delta region.


“Over 3 million people, mostly women and children, have been displaced! All their homes and crops have been submerged in water. Yet no state of the Federal Government has declared a state of emergency on this troubling development.

“ It is noteworthy that this neglected area produces the lion’s share of all the oil used to keep the Nigerian economy afloat.

“Our people have been left hungry and hopeless, wading through dangerous waters and wandering the streets since these unforeseen circumstances occurred over two weeks.”

She stated further that aside from those that have drowned, the helpless victims are now forced to battle for space with dangerous reptiles like crocodiles and poisonous snakes.


Apreala lamented the isolation of the affected communities now desperate for food and relief materials from other parts of the country by the flood whose water level is said to be rising.

“Furthermore, poisonous snakes and other dangerous reptiles swim in the Ijaw communities’ shoreland. People are being bitten and killed by these dangerous animals daily.

“All the access roads leading to these communities and their farmlands are currently nonexistent as they have been swept away by the flood.

“Our people are crying for help! Our people are dying! How long will the world continue to watch and see our people lose their precious lives? How long will our government fold its hands and allow innocent children to die needlessly by their inaction?


“I plead with to all persons both local and foreign to come up with aids in support of our people. We are crying for help; we don’t want to lose one more life, every life is important and their destiny needs to be fulfilled.” She added

I’ve been inundated with requests by the media and a few patriotic Nigerians to make a statement and in some cases to react to the anniversary of the incident of the 20th of October 2020 tagged the EndSARS Protest. A few kind souls organized an event to address salient issues for closure but sadly logistics plans could not afford me the opportunity to be there physically and I believe it is best to address it via a medium like this

Disciplined, conscious and responsible Leaders of thoughts are not fond of reacting to societal issues but known to reflect on happenings and give their admonitions in the know.

The #EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Advocacy debuted on the 17th of December 2017 after a deep dive into the Police Brutality Imbroglio, a research and data collation that went on for almost a year since 2016 and we must not accept any trope based on the willful blindness to facts by painting any picture that suggests it started as a reaction in 2020.


The Advocacy was not about any Mexican Standoff between the belligerence of Government and the thirst for chaos of the mob seeking to deploy any popular/effective advocacy as a vehicle for their self genocidal plot.

When the structure of any society degenerates into tyranny (on all sides) the fundamental basis of relationship between people becomes dependent on POWER (chaos from the masses and the show of force on the side of the Government) this is why we (Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation —SIAF) have always advocated for finding alternative means of dispute resolution and engagement void of needless knee jerk confrontation and chaos.


To put it in proper perspective, the Anniversary of the incident of 20th October 2020 of the Protest Movement masked as #EndSARS protest, (without any recourse to the discipline, tenets, integrity or principles of the actual EndSARS Movement, that has built a bridge over the institutional gap between the relations of the Police institution and the People since 2017 till date, while running transparent, accountable and effective interventions nationally), is one that calls for national reflection.

If the lessons from Carl Jung’s Civilization in Transition (Madness of Crowds) is anything to by, we cannot underestimate the dynamisms of the collective individual let loose when people crowd together and form a mob, an assembly where beast or demons that lie dormant in every person until he is part of the mob gets unleashed. Little wonder why the Man in the mass sinks unconsciously to an inferior moral and intellectual level.

From unmanaged expectations, peer pressure that stokes the fear of missing out from every bandwagon, and attachment, springs obsession that soon degenerates into resentment and hatred. This is the worst kind of mental trap most find themselves in, where they cannot detach themselves from what they claim to detest. Our institutional crisis is a direct reflection of the decrepit state of our society and we must take collective responsibility.

#EndSARS #ReformPoliceNG Advocacy achieved its aim as it facilitated the passing and Presidential assent of fundamental laws through the repeal and replacement of the Police Act 1943, thus, birthing the Police Act 2020 (and Police Trust Fund 2019) via legislation that tends towards democratizing our police for good. This was achieved long before the protest in October, in line with the end goal of Reforming the Nigeria Police and repositioning the institution for effective service delivery to the people.

It was also during the engagement that the judiciary mandated the domestication of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015 across the Nigerian states, which aided the engagement of the Police operations and the curb of violation of human rights. It was after these intentional and strategic engagement that Police began accepting responsibility for their high-handedness and began making refunds and restitutions after extortion with subsequent prosecution of the rogue officers involved. Hundreds of millions (if not billions) has been recovered over the years till date as captured in the annual reports of the Police Complaint Response Unit.

We went further to recommend this model for virtually any policy thrust because it is based on common grounds that fosters unity regardless of our diversity as against the usual chaotic bickering and wild protests that cost human lives, while instigators get their notoriety established at the expense of the impressionable used as canon fodders in the process.

The Protest based on the layers of interests as against the vision of the monicker (EndSARS) deployed, did not achieve much beyond the hype and funds/bitcoin stolen and unaccounted for till date. It was devoid of responsibility and have become a weapon in the hands of perpetual protesters seeking political opportunity.

The lessons from decades of altruistic Advocacy reveals that seeking to replace violence by non-violence, greed by generosity is more or less presenting an ideal which hardly brings Change. It is only in Children that the presentation of better/sweeter brings about a change of mind in choice.

On the contrary the presentation of the ideal in maturity are impediments to a fundamental radical change. This is exactly the argument of a few I have met in the trenches and have come to admire.

Change is not merely conforming to a new pattern of thinking, to a new ideology, but a change brought about without influence, and without motive. So it is imperative to state that without self knowledge all action leads to confusion and ignorance. The strife and sorrow, dearth of right thinking and the lack of foundation for the discovery of the truth all stem from the gulf in self knowledge.

Sadly awareness is not a habit to be cultivated neither can those inflicted by chronic social anxiety facilitate social inclusion as there are majority, with the notion that life dealt them the short end of the stick and are earnestly waiting for and willing to volunteer in unleashing chaos towards the collapse of civilization as we know it.

There are others whose perception is that Government is the major problem with their overreach and self aggrandizement thus existentially seek freedom from the hold of authority and authority figures by taking up arms against the state with the view of founding an utopian society. But of course there are no armed men with utopian dreams.

As soon as peace and civility abates so would there be human droughts on the farm and places of businesses and before long, hunger and starvation creeps in. We had a glimpse of this during the global lockdown and also briefly with the sack of police officers in our streets when the thugs took over.

While living in fear of hunger with very few unwilling to till the earth for fear of being killed in the Mexican standoff, the easier alternatives would be explored and people will begin raiding homes and raping their way through what is left of the chaos to feed.

Living free of ‘governmental’ constraints as a picture of freedom oftentimes gets painted in the colors of chaos and extinction. This is certainly not what freedom looks like. The Bible never paints a picture of bliss void of governance under an authority be it heavenly or under a King. God is not the author of confusion.

Recall the period of the Judges in the Bible when everyman did what seems right in his own eyes? A period of hardship, suffering and pestilence where agreements were drawn on whose child to eat on an assigned date. Suffice to say that “There’s a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” (Prog 16:25)

Anyone who wants the society to be sanitized must begin by sanitizing his own home/compound. The change that we seek must begin with a change of mindset and personal responsibility. Parents must take back their responsibility for the future of society is in their hands. If we raise our kids in the way of the Lord, they will not depart from it when they are grown. No amount of distraction or indoctrination can. erode a Godly foundation.

As promised in 2017 at our media parley in Abuja as covered by the BBC and CNN as well as other media outfits, there is no point burning Tyres to resolve institutional gaps in Nigeria if the purpose and physiology of government is understood and means of engagement is surgically and strategically engineered.

We all can agree that we may not be where we hope to be yet but we are certainly not where we used to be as per Police Brutality. The internal accountability mechanism put in place as recommended are working and the Police are more responsive than ever. The IGP of Police is open to course correction and the leadership have been making a believer of the people.

The Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry’s report is in the public domain as acclaimed to have facilitated justice for the applicants before it on police brutality cases within its jurisdiction. On the investigation of the October 20 2020 incident, the Lagos State Government’s WhitePaper reviewed the 32 recommendations of the panel out of which 11 were accepted as is, 6 accepted with modifications, and 14 fell outside the purview of the Lagos state Government and was forwarded to NEC while 1 was rejected.

It must also be highlighted that Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry demonstrably proved to have been the most effective in terms of the answered prayers of the petitioners before it with over N400m paid in compensation to credible petitioners.

There are no switches anywhere neither are there quick fixes. We are dealing with an institutional imbroglio fueled by the culture of societal decadence and impunity. No one engages culture change with force without birthing something uglier. It would take methodical iterations over the years and will require the collaboration of the citizens and conscionable government to work assiduously towards monitoring the implementation of the laws and recommendations of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry, as well as those of the National Security Summit (both of which I participated in fully, with other stakeholders from various security institutions in the country), alongside evaluation and amendments of such provisions to mirror society in the here and the now.

Segun Awosanya (Segalink)

Convener EndSARS ReformPoliceNG, President/Founder Social Intervention Advocacy Foundation (SIAF) and CEO, Aliensmedia Limited

The Emir of Gumel, HRH Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Sani II, has given his blessings to Prince Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

This was during Prince Adebayo’s visit to honor the invitation to the Emirate of Gumel Durbar Festival in Jigawa State on Saturday, 8th October, 2022.

The SDP presidential candidate was received by the Emir of Gumel before the Durbar Festival commenced.

In his speech, Prince Adewole noted that his visit to Gumel is an example of politics without bitterness.

He said, “When our Emir was in politics as general secretary of the GMPP, the motto of the party is politics without bitterness, and that was what the peace accord was meant to be”.

“In doing our politics, we are going to disagree on issues, but we would give no bitterness. We will compete on ideas; we will see ourselves as children of Nigeria and leaders of Nigeria. We are brothers, even if we disagree on issues we don’t disagree in persons, and our followers and supporters will know that they, too, are brothers and sisters, that election will be over and Nigeria will continue”, he said.

He noted that the SDP is committed to eradicating poverty and insecurity and this is the message of hope that has been brought to the people of Gumel in Jigawa state.

He said, “What has been slowing them down is that they need a government that is committed to eradicating security and eradicating poverty and that is what message we have brought here. By the time that we will come here next year, insha Allah we will be in government and you will see a lot of projects in this emirate”.

The Emir of Gumel, HRH Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Sani II(CON) gave his blessings, prayed for him and expressed his support for Prince Adewole Adebayo.

Prince Adewole was accompanied by his entourage made up of Sen. Alkali Baba (The Saraduna of Gumel), Alhaji Shehu Gabam(SDP National Chairman), Solomon Dalung, Godwin Osigbeme, Ali Shettima SDP Kano State Chairman and other Jigawa state party Excos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuAi1rAZ3jw

JOINT WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE BY CHAIRMEN OF NIGERIA POLITICAL PARTIES, POLITICAL LEADERS, AND HEADS OF POLITICAL ASSOCIATIONS (REGISTERED AND DEREGISTERED), OPPOSITION COALITION (CUPP) COALITION OF UNITED POLITICAL PARTIES AND THE CIVIL SOCIETY ON IMMINENT THREATS TO THE 2023 GENERAL ELECTION AND DEMAND FOR CREDIBLE, ACCEPTABLE FREE AND FAIR 2023 ELECTION THROUGH THE USE OF THE BVAS MACHINE AND MAINTAINING THE INDEPENDENCE OF INEC.

THERE IS A NEW ALLEGED PLOT TO STOP THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS, DEACTIVATE THE BIVAS FROM THE INEC SERVER, AND FORCE OUT INEC TOP OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN

PROTOCOLS

Let me start by welcoming the media community, members and non-members of the opposition coalition, our friends in the Civil Societies, distinguished Chairmen and representatives of Political parties, heads of different political associations here, etc.
Thank you all here for coming, and thank you all who are watching us live as we are being transmitted live by AIT, Arise TV, and numerous streaming platforms.

To save time, permit us to go straight to the point.

The Chairmen of Nigeria Political Parties, Opposition Coalition CUPP, and Heads of Political associations have intercepted intelligence of an alleged fresh plot against the 2023 election and this time being coordinated by leading figures of the ruling APC Party, APC Governors led by a South East APC Governor with controversial past and another from the North West who are working with their colleagues to perfect a plot to intimidate INEC leadership into abandoning the use of electronic transmission and uploading of election results to the INEC server, deactivation of the BIVAS machine from INEC server and the creation of crisis of confidence based on trumped up charges that will lead to the removal of top officials of the Commission including the INEC Chairman Prof Mahmood and other National Commissioners who are insisting on the use of the BIVAS for the 2023 election and the irreversible use of electronic transmission of the result.

This latest intelligence and shocking information involve the use of security agencies, the APC-controlled Senate, and the court to cause a leadership crisis and change that will see to the removal of the Commission’s top leadership led by Prof Mahmud Yakubu and the appointment of a pushover and compromised acting Chairman who will ruin the credibility of the 2023 election by deactivating the BVAS machine from INEC server, stop the use of electronic transmission of result and also ensure that the Commission’sCommission’s Resident Electoral Commissioners nominated by APC Governors are quickly approved and deployed to States where they will be of assistance to the ruling party at the expense of credible, free and fair elections.

We, the Chairmen and leaders of different political parties here (AA, LABOUR, PDP, ADC, APP ETC), candidates of different parties, CSOS, and leaders of Opposition Coalition CUPP categorically state that any plan to destabilize INEC and force the top officials of the Commission including the INEC Chairman out of office, whether with trumped-up charges, manipulated security report, instigated or coordinated parliamentary investigation, a hurriedly obtained injunction from the court, a Code of Conduct Bureau inquiry or an arrest and hurried arraignment will not be accepted. We repeat, these will not be accepted by Nigerian political parties, party leaders, civil societies, and the generality of Nigerians.

Any further actions in this direction will be playing with fire and a direct affront and challenge to Nigerian voters and the entire political parties, and it will be resisted vehemently.

Read the mind, eyes, soul, and heart and hear the voice of the opposition. It will not augur well for anyone who continues with this alleged evil plot.

We have been tipped off by our intelligence both inside APC and the camp of the Governors in the conspiracy, and we can state that the opposition is in receipt of information that the INEC leadership, especially senior officials, are being put under immense pressure to abandon the use of the BVAS machine, result transmission and in particular to deactivate the BIVAS from the server, an alleged dangerous request which if ever granted under any circumstances can throw Nigeria into pre and post-election crisis and will be unacceptable to Nigerian voters, especially the youths who have renewed confidence in the electoral process.

We are also informed that there is a plot to cause a leadership change in the Commission’s top hierarchy and cause a sweeping change with less than 140 days to the elections. The alleged plan to remove Prof. Mahmud Yakubu and top officials of INEC is a no-go area. The political parties in the county will not accept it. This alleged plot has been coordinated by some APC chieftains and Governors led by a controversial South East APC Governor. If this plot is not crushed, it can discredit our election and throw Nigeria into crisis. Our institution can’t be destroyed for one man’s quest or a group of people to keep what was hijacked from the people.

NIGERIA POLITICAL PARTIES CHAIRMEN, LEADERS, CHIEFTAINS OF OPPOSITION CUPP, AA, LABOUR PDP, APP, ADC ETC, WILL NOT ACCEPT, AND WE REPEAT, ACCEPT ANY PLAN TO STOP THE ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS, USE OF BIVAS. WE WILL NOT ACCEPT OR AGREE FOR ANY ELECTION TO BE CONDUCTED WITHOUT ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS, WE WILL RESIST ANY PERSON OR PLOT TO DEACTIVATE THE BIVAS FROM THE INEC SERVER, WE WILL RESIST ANY HURRIEDLY OR ARRANGED PLOT TO FORCE, BLACKMAIL, USE TRUMP UP CHARGES, COOKED UP SECURITY REPORT OR ANY METHOD TO FORCE THE INEC CHAIRMAN OR ANY OF HIS COMMISSIONERS OUT OF OFFICE. KNOW IT TODAY, OPPOSITION AND POLITICAL PARTY LEADERS AND NIGERIAN VOTERS ARE AWARE, READY, AND UNITED TO DEFEND THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

REPEAT WITH US, NO BIVAS – NO ELECTION, NO SERVER – NO ELECTION, NO ELECTRONIC RESULT TRANSMISSION – NO ELECTION, ANY DESTABILISATION OR ILLEGAL MOVE TO FORCE COMMISSION TOP OFFICIALS, INCLUDING INEC CHAIR – NO ELECTION. THOSE WHO THINK THAT THEY CAN MANIPULATE INSTITUTIONS OF STATE, BOTH JUDICIAL AND OTHERS, TO SNEAK INTO POWER SHOULD KNOW THAT 2023 IS THE PEOPLE’S TURN, AND WE WILL DEFEND IT WITH ALL OUR HEARTS.

Any attempt to reenact the Onnoghen formula by a few desperate APC Leaders and Governors who know that they, as well as their sponsored candidates, are now unelectable will not work. The plan to destroy the only ray of hope for our election represented by the electronic devices that will also transmit results electronically, especially BIVAS will be resisted.

Knowing that the conspiracy against our electoral system started with the audacious compromise of the continuous voters’ registration exercise code-named Omuma magic, we applaud INEC for accepting there were issues and moving on to continue the cleaning up of the fake registrations which was of high magnitude and would have ruined the 2023 election.
The nightmare caused by the shocking uncovering of the Omuma magic, which saw foreigners, male pictures with female gender, female gender with male pic, burial pictures, and children faces with age above that of late queen Elizabeth will continue to keep Nigerians in shock for years to come.
We are not happy that those behind this audacious criminal operation have not been arrested, sacked, and prosecuted and have still been kept for likely more damage to our 2023 election.

We, therefore, call for the investigation, arrest, and trial of those who are involved in the compromise of voters’ registration called Omuma Magic and for INEC to make its internal report public and redeploy the staff responsible as a way to rebuild confidence.

We also call on President Muhammadu Buhari, if he is serious about his speech at the United Nations to ensure the 2023 election is free and credible, to keep watch on his APC Governors and some institutional heads whose alleged desperation can thwart the current electoral reform efforts and place him in a bad record. Security agencies must be neutral as 2023 is a decisive election that, if well conducted, can make Nigeria and, if not well conducted, can mar Nigeria as young Nigerians are apprehensive and ready to stand firm for a credible election.

The offensive attack on INEC staff to intimidate them into silence, submission, and allegiance pledge to APC have been launched. The political parties wish to alert the public and inform the President and heads of security agencies, assuming they are not aware and not part of it, and the Nigerian people and international community of the ongoing institutional intimidation and arrest of INEC staff at different states to intimidate them, especially Imo State where over 5 INEC staff have been taken by security operatives from the Imo DSS and without access to lawyers, doctors or families and are kept in no access confinement on the alleged, suspected influence of the State Govt who wants to intimidate them into silence to help cover the Omuma Magic compromise of the voters’ register. Nigerians, can we have a free and fair election when staff of an independent electoral body are taken away and kept in detention without access to their families, lawyers, and communication with their employer. If the intelligence that we have that innocent staff are being taken away in a bid to find out how Nigerians got to know that voter registration was compromised instead of going after those who released their password and criminally aided the fake registrations, then we boldly say Nigeria is in trouble, and 2023 is in danger. Fake registrations and manipulation of registrations are criminal offenses punishable under the electoral act with imprisonment, so coverage of such offenses is a state crime for which any officer of govt involved should be arrested for undermining the Republic. The non-arrest of the culprits and pursuit of the source of the leak that exposed the shocking Omuma magic is provocative, insulting, and an attempt to desecrate the institution of govt.

The painful cases of Felix Agu, Chidiebere Muo, and numerous other INEC staff taken by Imo DSS in Owerri to help silence the independence of the Commission must be mentioned, and the attention of the President, Muhammad Buhari and DG DSS brought to the situation that likes of Chidiebere Muo and others whose pictures I am now displaying are still in DSS cell. Our DG, take your telephone, call Owerri and find out. The integrity of the election starts with the independence of the Commission. Confidence building is important, and not only must our election be free and fair but seen to be so, and unless ongoing acts, if not stopped, can cause confidence problems that can lead to post-election disagreements.

This is to alert Nigerians that the Nigerian police, DSS, and other security agencies have not arrested those who helped to manipulate the voters’ register and released their BIVAS password with which fake registrations and the upload were made into the voters’ register, which was aimed at rigging 2023 election, rather staff are being taken to force them into silence and to find if any of them leaked the information of the criminality instead of finding and arresting the criminals. As parties, we say that arrest and public shaming of the perpetrators and their collaborators who perpetrated the voter registration fraud is non-negotiable. No matter the atmosphere, no matter who is involved, as leaders of the country’s political process and platforms, we have an equal stake and can’t be intimidated into silence. We will continue to act within the ambit of the law, but we are not going to run away or surrender to those who want to destroy what they did not build and what does not belong to them. We are ready for the election and will keep vigilance and not allow our electoral process to be derailed. We also wish to urge an end to continued arrest and denial of rights to those with opposing views to help lead us to a stable election as Nigeria belongs to us all, and even with chains on our legs, we, as opposition leaders, shall continue to fight for a better society.

Gentlemen, in view of the repeated and many failed attempts to either compromise the voters’ register Omuma Magic, arrest of INEC staff, filing of suits against electronic transmission of results, secret suits to remove INEC Chairman, trump up cases on his assets forms which the court has cleared him, and this latest fresh intelligence, we as major players in the country’s electoral process as political parties have unanimously agreed that we are proceeding to the court to seek judicial approval to restrain these alleged midnight enemies of democracy operating in the dark from causing the deactivation of the BIVAS from the server, the stoppage of use of BIVAS, the use of any method whether cooked up report, parliamentary resolution or instigated investigation, fabricated media propaganda or character blackmail, arrest on trumped up criminal allegations, investigation or charges in attempting to stop the leadership of INEC from carrying out their duties.

We are also storming the USA, UK, and other foreign embassies where we are going to submit petitions and alert them of the alleged new conspiracy which threatens the Nigerian electoral process and electoral stability. We will urge them to keep vigilant eyes on the process as development partners and ensure there is adequate vigilance and support plus pressure to ensure the right things are done in compliance with extant laws.

In conclusion, the Political parties and Opposition parties are saying that the continued stability of the INEC leadership, the electronic transmission of results, the use of BIVAS, the continued functioning of the INEC server, the stoppage of detention of INEC staff and immediate release, the non-harassment of opposition candidates, leaders and chairmen with trump up charges, arrest, etc. are non-negotiable and mandatory conditions for a free, fair and credible 2023 election.

God bless us all