₦airaland Forum

Beremx:
Ambode is a liar! I don't think he has realized that elections are over and he has been sworn in. The dude is still flexing and posing as Nigeria's next top male model.

Fashola is still the governor of Lagos in my heart. His legacies will forever be remembered.

Ambode,o ti bo rara! You're jonzing!

.

Story

POLITICS can be funny game; more so the Nigerian
version of it! Senate President Bukola Saraki, the
hunted, has suddenly become the hunter with loaded guns who, if he so desires, can treat President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministers-designate as fair game! A game of musical chairs – that is what politics is here; someone whose fate hangs in the balance, and who is fighting tooth-and-nail to escape corruption charges will now sit over the fate of others, able to make or mar their ambition. Not only that, he can put spanners in Buhari’s works; he can also hold the entire country to ransom. A man who, a while ago, ran from pillar to post begging for
audience with Mr. President but was given cold
shoulders was seen last Thursday rubbing shoulders with the same leader, both of them grinning from ear to ear, throwing banters and engaging in tete-a-tete.

It is a game of pendulum; it swings here and there
and when it swings your way, it is better you seize the opportunity with both hands. There are no
assurances that Saraki’s present good fortunes will
last; once Ministers are appointed or turned down –
depending on how much of the opportunity of the
present forced thaw in relations Saraki is able to
make – it could be back to square one again. It is,
however, interesting to see how politicians deceive
one another; nay, the unsuspecting public. Photo-ops are awfully deceitful; stark reality is often concealed in the politicians’ flowing and immaculate
“babanrigas”.

The situation out there is still as confusing as ever
concerning who made and who did not make the
ministerial list. Some names are out in the public
domain but sources presidential as well as
senatorial, so to say, are slamming disclaimers on
the leak. But I trust the media – if they do not get it
right 100%, they will make very close to it.
Spokespersons of both the Presidency and the Senate President have asked us to wait till Tuesday when, hopefully, the list sent to the Senate by the president will be officially unveiled. Why not? We wait! What is certain, for now, is that, finally, President Muhammadu Buhari has begun to unveil the names of his Ministers – pardon me, noise-makers! This is in fulfilment of his pledge to do so in September, which he now has barely managed to meet. The whole list is not ready even yet; according to the president, another list (or lists, as the case may be?) will be forwarded to the Senate in “due course”. No one knows what that due course is. What is obvious is that this president wants to take his time; he wants to give himself the liberty to work at his own pace; and he hates to be stampeded. He probably wants to do a perfect job; if there is anything like that. Having sent a list containing some names to the Senate, he must have heaves a sigh of relieve; he now expects us to get off his back even as he expects attention to now shift to the Senate – and sure it will.

The fact, however, that Mr President deemed it fit to
bend over backward to meet the self-imposed
deadline of September ending is good for our
bourgeoning democracy. It means impunity may be
receding and treating one’s word as one’s bond may
have begun to recommend itself to our leaders. The
reasons why Buhari could not wait for the whole list
to be ready before pushing it forward are not far to
fetch. First is the one earlier mentioned: The
president gave a deadline and felt compelled to meet it; otherwise, he will not be seen as a man of his word. That will soil his reputation! When Buhari set the September deadline, many described it as too long a wait; extending the wait again would have
been viewed with suspicion by many. Candidate
Buhari had thought the job of assembling a team
would not be this hard; he had, therefore, promised
initially to get his team ready earlier than now.

When he got into the saddle, however, he found that it would take a longer period if he was to get the right team. This delay played into the hands of critics who feasted on it, describing the president as too slow. “Baba go-slow” became an alias that such critics, chief of who are the opposition PDP, tried to stick on Buhari. Mr President and his party, APC, on the other hand, countered that cleaning the Augean stable and assembling a team of incorruptible leaders did not come easy.

Another reason why Buhari is trying to move a little
bit faster on his ministerial list is that ordinary
Nigerians are complaining that the absence of
ministers has truly slowed down governance.
Nigerians do not seem to share the president’s
condescending view of ministers as mere noise-
makers; they are of the view that ministers make
things happen in government and in that their
absence, there had been a regrettable lull in
government activities. In fact, real stagnation in
government activities are the right words to use.
Nothing appears to be moving. Money appears to
have disappeared from circulation. No contracts or
jobs are being awarded. No one seems to know what is happening. The civil servants who have been the head of the MDAs appear to be too scared or limited by statute to take any action that can make things move. Thus, economic activities have been virtually paralysed. The belief of the people is that the absence of substantive ministers is responsible for this. So, any further delay in the appointment of
ministers will certainly pit Buhari against the people.

The people will be right to then believe that Buhari
and APC either are not ready to govern or have been overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems
confronting them.

Then there is the question of the internal crisis
whacking the ruling party. At one level is the open
rebellion of the APC members of the National
Assembly, the Senate especially, against their party.
Had Buhari not met the September deadline, many
would have said that fear of a likely negative
reception at the Senate was responsible for the
pussy-footing. There rumour is also widespread
about the alleged unease of APC leaders about some of the ministerial nominees, who are said to be non-party members and, therefore, not “party workers” deserving of the invitation to “come and eat”. That could be the reason why some names keep appearing and disappearing in the rumour mill. Even now that all the names could not be submitted in one final batch, it is said to be as a result of discordant tunes coming from the party. Then, there is the APC “rebels” in the Senate to contend with and their PDP colleagues standing stoutly with them. Last week’s vote of confidence in the Senate leadership, in which over 80 senators out of a total of 109 voted in support, is evidence enough that if they so desire, they can fling Buhari’s list out of the window. Saraki himself gave a hint when he said in a speech at Independence Day celebration that it would no longer be business as usual. Possibly, there might be no “take a bow” and leave this time around. Another senator hiked the stakes when he said the same painstaking measures taken by the president to prepare the list will also be taken by the senators in considering it for approval.

Buhari had said no corrupt person will be appointed into his cabinet. This is one pledge that the people will be interested to see how far the president is able to fulfil when his list of ministers becomes public knowledge. Will he be able to walk the talk?

According to reports, the ministerial list had been
long in coming because of painstaking efforts to sift
the grains from the chaff and ensure that only those
above board, like Caesar’s wife, scale the hurdle.
After all the efforts and time expended on the
process, it would be a travesty if the list still falls far
short of expectations in this regard. I carefully said
“far short” because producing saints in the prevailing environment is herculean. The Senate demonstrated this in unmistakeable terms in their vote of confidence. Considered carefully, many of them only put themselves in Saraki’s shoes and concluded that they were not better than him. We must appreciate their honesty rather than pillory them. It was only an open admittance that even they cannot stand the scrutiny that Saraki was being subjected to. How many on Buhari’s list can stand the same scrutiny and how will senators treat such fellows? Certainly not with kid gloves, except APC sorts itself out in the upper legislative chamber before screening commences. I foresee a hard time for some nominees, especially anyone with corruption charges against his name.

I suspect that political bickering, vendetta, and, finally, horse-trading will take the centre-stage when the Senate sits on the ministerial list. It may have even begun as we speak! Some will have a tough time scaling through screening because of who their godfathers are. In some instances, competence will not be taken into consideration during the coming screening exercise.

As matters stand, the Senate can be said to be an
opposition Senate. The situation that played out
during the Goodluck Jonathan administration when
the House of Representatives with majority PDP
members effectively functioned in opposition to the
PDP government may repeat itself in the Senate. I
suspect that this will affect the screening of the
ministers-designate. I will not be surprised if some of those being recommended fail to get the nod of the Senate. It is likely that some will be subjected to
gruelling screening and, in the end, will be rejected.
I suspect that Buhari will have a very tough time with this Senate. Ministers may be cleared in trickles by this Senate. So it may be too early or premature to congratulate anyone who made the Buhari list. Until a minister-designate clears the Senate hurdle, it is not yet Uhuru.

Is this good for our renascent democracy? I know
many will say yes and for good reasons.
constitutional democracy rotates on the axis of
separation of powers between the three arms of
government i.e. the executive, legislature, and
judiciary. The liberties, freedoms, and fraternities
that democracy promises thrive where there are
checks and balances. The other side of the coin,
however, is that political shenanigans that sacrifice
merit on the altar of partisan and or selfish
considerations will ultimately lead to the collapse of
the system and set the nation back again. As the
Senate convenes to consider Buhari’s ministerial list, the nation waits with bated breath to see wither
democracy in the days, months and years ahead.

tribuneonlineng.com/buhari-caught-sarakis-lair

OrlandoOwoh:
No. E. A. Adeboye got his Bsc in Mathematics from Unife (now OAU, Ile-Ife) in 1967. He used to be a student in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), but left for Ife after the Federal Government directed that all undergraduates should transfer to universities in their regions of origin due to the crises of 1966. Adeboye and Yemi Farounbi (former Ambassador to the Philippines) left UNN for OAU. Farounbi got his Bsc in Geography in 1968. Prof. A. B. C. Nwosu, in the same manner, left UI for UNN.

Of all the universities, OAU, UNN and Unilag, that Adeboye is said to have graduated from, OAU, is the only he publicly, in Tafawa-Balewa Square, said he got his Bsc from.

Thanks for the info. Although he said at the Unilag 50th anniversary celebration that he was a student of the school.

MikeMoses:
BEKWARRA, ARE THOU FROM BEKWARRA LGA OF CRS?

No. I served there.

Lastborn12:
Please admin I didn't see my school UNIMAID

Abubakar Shekau

emmanuel596:
I didn't see the university PMB went to

obum88:
Which one Buhari go?

emmanuel596:
I didn't see the university PMB went to

Lmao bad belle.

phoneport:
This is a Tribal listing by the OPs who i guess is from the WEST?
What about a NORTHERN, EASTERN AND SOUTHERN List?
That will also favour their KIND more.

Just an observation PLEASE.

Must you guys turn everything to a tribal issue? Tell me any school that's not worthy to be on that list and I'll give up.

mowah:
Hehehe, what of Private universities

They are still on the path of producing great people, but it might take a long time if at all to catch the federal universities.

willian10:
In short, u just named almost the federal universities in Nigeria....WélíDóné

You might not agree with it totally. But can you name one state or private university that can dislodge any of these schools?

.

OKUCHI11:
so make I leave the one make I dey attend go start for these ones simply b cos of their alumni abi

It's not for you to leave your school. Just telling "school get rep pass school"

.

10. Lagos State University- LASU
The Lagos State government-owned institution has as its alumni people like: Desmond Elliot, Chioma Chukwuka, Tara Fela-Durotoye, Ruggedman, Dolly Unachukwu and House of Rep member Tajudeen Obasa.

9. University of Calabar- UNICAL
Unical can boast of alumni like:
Isabella Ayuk (Current MGBN), Ini Edo, Reuben Abati, Godswill Akpabio, Kate Henshaw, Grace Folashade Bent (politician), Emeka Wogu (fmr minister), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, Stephanie Okereke, Uche Jombo, Victor Ikpeazu (Abia State Governor).

8. University of Ilorin- UNILORIN
The university in the hometown of the senate president that's popularly referred to as "better by far" can boast in its rank of alumni great people like: Sarah Alade (fmr CBN acting governor), Babs Omotowa (MD NLNG), Aize Obayan, Charles Ayo, Nkem Owoh, Femi Adebayo (actor), Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara State governor), Joe Odumakin (activist), Folusho Olaniyan (MD UTC), Ado G. Muhammed.

7. University of Benin- UNIBEN
UNIBEST as it is fondly called by students both past and present can boast of former students that include: Babatunde Fashola (fmr governor), James Ibori (fmr governor), Emmanuel Uduaghan (fmr governor), Richard Mofe Damijo, Omoni Oboli, Ifeanyi Ararume, Oladipo Agboluaje, Sir Victor Uwaifo, Nduka Obaigbena (publisher THISDAY), Emmanuel Agwoye, Bright Okpocha (Basketmouth) and George Edozie.


6. University of Portharcourt- UNIPORT
Uniport is not only popular for its classy babes, it can also boast of a number of prominent people as alumni. They include: former president Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Rotimi Amaechi (fmr governor), Alex Otti, Muma Gee, Rita Dominic, Agbani Darego (fmr miss world), Timipre Sylva, Clem Ohameze, Monalisa Chinda, Bimbo Manuel, Prince Tonye Princewill, Senator Emmanuel Paulker.

5. University of Lagos- UNILAG
Due to its location in the country's commercial and entertainment capital, Unilag can boast of a vast array of alumni that transcend politics, entertainment and business. They include among others: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Tunde Bakare, Rilwan Akiolu (Oba of Lagos), Wale Adenuga, Wale Babalakin, Funke Akindele, Omowunmi Akinnifesi, Bisi Alimi (gay rights activist), Darey, Regina Askia, Funsho Williams, Stella Damasus, Denrele Edun, Linda Ikeji, Eldee, RMD, Teju Babyface, Tony Momoh, Bayo Ojo (SAN), Ganiyu Solomon, Afolabi Olabimtan, Tony Elumelu, Adetokunbo Kayode, Koffi, Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos state gov), Wande Coal, Pastor EA Adeboye, Dakore Egbuson, Dele Alake, Gbenga Ashiru, Reekado Banks, Onyebuchi Chukwu, Gbenga Daniel, Lara George, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, Ade Ipaye, Toke Makinwa, Ramsey Nouah, Helen Paul, Ikedi Ohakim, Annie Idibia, Abba Moro, Larry Izamoje, Joke Silva, OC Ukeje, Vector, TY Bello, Gabriel Suswam, Deola Sagoe, Oluremi Oyo.

4. Obafemi Awolowo Univerity- OAU
Fondly referred to by its students both past and present as Oba Awon Univerity (king of universities), OAU boasts of a vast array of dignified personalities cutting across different sectors of the national life. These people include: Akinwumi Adesina (ADB president), Segun Adeniyi, Oladapo Afolabi (fmr HOSF), Jimi Agbaje, Rotimi Akeredolu, Josephine Anenih, Segun Arinze, Bamidele Aturu, Biyi Bandele, Abike Dabiri, Femi Branch, Babalola Borishade, Clarion Chukwurah, Kayode Fayemi, Jimoh Ibrahim, Amaka Igwe, Oba Victor Kiladejo, Opeyemi Bamidele, Dele Momodu, Ernest Ndukwe, Stella Obasanjo, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde (JAMB boss), Babafemi Ojudu, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Dominic Oneya, Segun Oni, Seun Osewa (abeg no ban me o), Sola Fosudo, Oluremi Tinubu, Yemi Sodimu.

3. University of Nigeria Nsukka- UNN
The only university of Nigeria and pride of the east boasts of the best crop of the who is who in business, politics and the private sector from the east of the Niger. They include: Olisa Agbakoba, Prof. Dora Akunyili, Sullivan Chime, Ike Ekweremadu (DSP), Chris Ngige, Chimaroke Nnamani, Peter Obi, Peter Odili, Pat Utomi, Justice Niki Tobi, Godwin Emefiele, Oby Ezekwezili, Arunma Oteh, Charles Soludo, Okwesilieze Nwodo, Bianca Ojukwu, Chris Okotie, Zack Orji, Lam Adesina, Babs Fafunwa, Humphrey Nwosu, Joy Emordi.


2. Ahmadu Bello University- ABU
The pride of northern Nigeria and the home of the best crop of whatever the north has to offer. It's a university of great repute. It boasts of a stellar list of former students. These include:
Former president Umar Musa Yar Adua, Azubuike Ihejirika, Namadi Sambo, Atiku Abubakar, Dahiru Musdapher, Sunday Awoniyi, Attahiru Jega, Oladipo Diya, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Nenadi Usman, Turai Yar Adua, Prof. Jerry Gana, Idris Legbo Kutigi, Nuhu Ribadu, Rilwan Lukman, Ibrahim Lamorde, Nasir el-Rufai, Donald Duke, Isa Yuguda, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Hassan Dakwambo, Saidu Dakingari, Ibrahim Geidam, Danbaba Suntai, Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Sanusi Lamido, Adamu Muazu, Ahmed Makarfi, Samuel Ortom, Patrick Yakowa, Solomon Arase (IGP),

1. University of Ibadan- UI
The only university that can push ABU to second spot. While ABU has mostly politicians as its prestigious alumni, UI has a fine mix of politicians, businessmen, academicians and professionals. Being the nation's premier university, it's initial products formed the bedrock of the foundation upon which other universities were founded. UI can boast of a long list of accomplished and highly successful alumni in every sphere of the nation's life. They inculde: Bekwarra (yes me), Chief Bola Ige, Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Bimbo Odukoya, Christopher Okigbo, Gamaliel Onosode, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Prof Ben Ayade (Gov Cross River), Olusegun Agagu, Tekena Tamuno, Owoye Andrew Azazi, JP Clark, Elechi Amadi, DR Sid, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, Beautiful Nubia, Adebayo Faleti, Olusegun Aganga, Jubril Martins Kuye, Lam Adesina, Prof Babatunde Osotimehin, Teslim Folarin, Theodore Orji, Jim Nwobodo, John Odigie-Oyegun, Prof. Wande Abimbola, Segun Adewale (aeroland), Olusola Adeyeye (senate chief whip), Gabriel Afolayan, Bimbo Akintola, Grace Alele-Williams, Emeka Anyaoku, Tam David-West, Samuel Dagogo-Jack, Sunday Ehindero, Olu Falae, Umar Ganduje (Kano state gov) Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta state gov), Abel Goubadia, Obafemi Hamzat, Amaka Igwe, Harvard professor of philosophy Biola Irele, Funmi Iyanda, Aniete Song, Akinwunmi Isola, Matthew Hassan-Kukah, Pastor WF Kumuyi, Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Antar Laniyan, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, Nikki Laoye, Kenneth Minimah, Muyiwa Ademola, Adeseye Ogunlewe, Musiliu Smith, Sean Tizzle etc

Do you agree with this list? If not, contrary and constructive views will be appreciated.

Oh God

Aigbofa:
Yes o.

Mabinu jare. Olori pelebe ni month pe e. I'm just fed up with those people. Don't know what's the rationale behind their obsession with everything Yoruba.

MightySparrow:
Owambe on CNN: Gele skentele; fila skontolo! Ori elegan l'odaru! Proudly Oodua.

Yo dafun o jare omo yi. Ayato si awon gban tu eyo.

Aigbofa:
If Nigeria is a zoo that makes you a feral animal.

That's why you guys need to shut up and stop reasoning like fools. If you are not happy with CNN featuring a Yoruba wedding, you can end your miserable lives. Why should you even be concerned about anything in the zoo? Concentrate on your Biafra. I wonder what's interesting to watch in an Ibo wedding, except some marine daughters cum ex-ashawos being given out to a drug pusher who's ready to pay over the odds.

Drchristian:
What's tribalistic about it now. do u even knw the meaning of being tribalistc?

No mind them. The thing dey pain them. Since it's not Aba young boy builds battery powered toy.

dejavski:
It's a global thing so Nigeria looks much better

Is there anything like Nigerian traditional wedding? Thought this country is a zoo. So why will CNN feature a wedding from the zoo.

SMH

Yoruba traditional wedding to feature on CNN Inside Africa tomorrow at 09:00 GMT (10.00 Nigerian Time).
Who says the Yorubas are not great and well respected the world over? We are rich in culture and tradition.
Proudly Oodua.

edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/08/10/nigeria.royal.wedding/

Oga o

The thunder that will fire Aregbe and his cohorts is currently on a training session with Diego Costa.

Aregbe(Osun) is owing Popman for 9months, Ajimobi(Oyo) is owing Marle for 5months. May they both be visited with unmanageable cancer in Jesus name. AMEN

B

H

The thunder that will strike these body language propagandists is currently on a training session with Diego Costa.

The Osun State All Progressives Congress says the Peoples Democratic Party has continued to criticise the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola because the party is envious of the governor’s achievements. The APC was responding to a statement by the PDP in which the party insisted that the financial crisis in the state was due to financial recklessness on the part of Aregbesola. In a statement issued by its state Publicity Secretary, Kunle Oyatomi, the APC maintained that the condemnation of the Aregbesola government “centres on hatred and envy over his achievements before the financial crisis set in.” While describing the PDP’s salvos against Aregbesola as mischievous, the APC said in view of the dwindling oil prices and reduction in revenues, the state government has been doing its best to survive the crisis. The statement partly read, “The PDP is grossly ignorant and mischievous. Even a fool will know that if he has lost 60 per cent of his earnings, he cannot go on doing the things he used to do. Nigeria is dependent on oil revenues which, some two years ago, sold for $110 dollars per barrel. “This has now dropped to $40 dollars per barrel. And since that drop, Nigeria has not recouped its earnings because we are still dependent on oil money. “The PDP failed to tell us why there is financial crisis in the other states. Did the other states, which also owe workers’ salaries, spend recklessly too? The PDP appears not to have recovered from the loss it suffered in August 2014 during the governorship election. “The party’s pain is reflected in its statements against the person and government of Aregbesola since then. The PDP’s criticisms of Aregbesola are pure fabrication and outright lies.” It explained that in April 2015, Osun received N466m as allocation from the Federal Government whereas it got about N4.8bn per month three years ago. “The scale of decline is monumental and it is a direct result of the PDP’s reckless attitude in the previous Federal Government. They went crazy with stealing the nation’s money and criticising victims of their own kleptomania,” the party added. www.punchng.com/politics/opposition-envious-of-aregbesolas-achievements-apc/

Students of tertiary institutions owned by Osun State
Government on Monday staged a massive protest in
Osogbo against the prolonged strike by their
lecturers.
The lecturers in four state-owened
institutions embarked on an indefinite strike over
three months ago as a result of unpaid salaries,
inadequate staff and non remittance of their pension
deduction made by the state government to the
retirement savings accounts.
The students, mostly from Osun State Polytechnic,
Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke;
Colleges of Education in Ila and Ilesa, started the
protest from Olaiya and trekked to Abere, the State
Secretariat singing anti-government songs.
The students had laid siege to the main gate of the
state secretariat after they arrived there at around
11am.
At around 12:50pm, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Titi
Laoye-Tomori, was driven to the secretariat but the
students prevented her convoy from gaining entry.
Some of the students laid on the ground in front of
her car and some laid at the back making it difficult
for the deputy to go inside or to turn back.
All efforts made by Laoye-Tomori to pacify the irate
students failed as they held her hostage in their
midst.
Some of the students had earlier manhandled the
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr.
Lawrence Oyeniran, by poking his stomach and
making jest of him.
The Chairman, National Association of Nigerian
Students, Osun State, Mr. Lukman Adekitan, said the
students were tired of staying at home due to the
strike in the four institutions.
He called on Governor Rauf Aregbesola to addressed
the issues raised by the lecturers, saying students of
the affected schools have wasted a lot of time due to
incessant strikes.
www.punchng.com/news/unpaid-salaries-students-protest-paralyse-activities-at-osun-secretariat/

The National Agency for The Prohibition of Trafficking
in Persons and other Related Matters on Tuesday
paraded five suspected members of a human
trafficking syndicate based in Dubia.
The suspects were paraded by the Lagos Zonal
Command of NAPTIP after they were arrested for
trafficking two girls, Ann and Chisom, whose other
surnames were withheld by the command.
The agency’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Josaiah
Emerole, said that one of the victims, Ann, had
returned safely to Nigeria while Chisom was out of
the reach of her traffickers.
Emerole added that the agency was in touch with her
and working with other partners to assist her.
He said the officials acted after seeing two separate
videos of the young girls swearing to an oath to
prostitution went viral on social media.
He said the videos had caused the country a huge
embarrassment and the culprits needed to be
brought to book.
Emerole said, “You may recall that early in August
this year, the media, especially the social media was
awash with nude visuals of two of our citizens, Ann
and Chisom.
“They were filmed and uploaded by some unpatriotic
citizens engaged in trafficking of girls from Nigeria to
Dubai, the United Arab Emirate for prostitution.
“The nude visuals caused some uproar within many
circles in Nigeria and raised questions among our
international partners.
“The videos showed the two nude girls being forced
to swear to an oath of allegiance separately.”
“They were made to claim that they came to Dubai on
their own volition to engage in prostitution and ready
to obey their madams without reporting to anybody.
“The women that filmed the video threatened to
upload the nude visuals if the girls did not act
accordingly.
“The blackmail videos are part of the Dubai
syndicate’s control mechanism which also include
oath taking and confiscation of travel documents to
ensure submission.”
Emerole added that the suspects had been handed
over to officials of NAPTIP for further investigation.
He said, “The Director-General of NAPTIP, Mrs
Beatrice Jedy-Agba, needs to bring to the knowledge
of the public recent developments in our efforts to
stem the tide of trafficking in persons in Nigeria.
“Especially the arrest of suspected members of a
Dubai based Human Trafficking Syndicate and their
accomplices.
“Based on this despicable and criminal act in the fight
against human trafficking, the agency went into
action in collaboration with other sister law
enforcement agencies.
“The aim is to locally and internationally fish out
these criminals and their agents in Nigeria and to
rescue the victims.”
Emerole added that other traffickers who were not
yet in the custody of NAPTIP would be apprehended
soon.
“On September 8, 2015, officers of the Lagos Zonal
Command arrested the Dubai based trafficker who
took Ann out of the country.
“She was tracked and apprehended at Agboroko
Village, Iba New Site, Lagos, where she was in hiding
having sneaked into the country for her traditional
wedding.
“Earlier surveillance and raid operations by NAPTIP
officers were at two residents in Lekki Phase 1 and
Oke-Ira Nla, Ajah, Lagos, led to the arrest of two
others.
“Investigations have identified them as suspected
recruiters for the Dubai syndicate.
“The owner of a hideout for girls, from where one of
the victims Chisom was recruited and trafficked to
Dubai was also apprehended.”
He added that the key suspect’s sister was also
apprehended for her role in the trafficking ring.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect
has other accomplices in Dubai and that efforts are
underway to track them,’’ he said.
The spokesman added that the owner of the hideout
where the girls were kept had confessed that she
knew the victims.
Emerole said all the activities were in violation of the
trafficking in persons Enforcement and
Administration Act, 2015.
He said, “Consequently, the suspects so far arrested
and interrogated would be arraigned soon.
“Efforts are also being intensified at the diplomatic
level to track all other members of this syndicate who
are still in Dubai.
“The fight against human trafficking is one that we
freely chose as a responsible member of the
international community and to protect the dignity of
our people.
“We will not shirk this responsibility as an agency
because the image of our country damaged by these
unpatriotic persons must be restored through our
collective efforts,” he said.
www.punchng.com/news/naptip-nabs-dubai-based-human-trafficking-syndicate/

Governor of Edo State, Mr. Adams Oshiomole, was
on Tuesday smuggled out of the venue of the Bayelsa
State governorship primary of the All Progressives
Congress.
This happened as the much awaited primary of the
party ended in a deadlock.
Oshiomole, Chairman, Electoral Committee of the
APC primary, was trapped in the Samson Siasia
Sports Complex Complex, Yenagoa, venue of the
election when youths loyal to former Governor
Timipre Sylva stormed the area around 3.30pm.
The loyalists had stormed the area after Sylva had
finished complaining to one of the national officers
that the election was designed to scheme him out.
He had said the primary was skewed in favour of a
particular aspirant by the national leadership of the
party.
Sylva, who looked distraught, complained seriously
that he would not accept the treatment being meted
out to him by the national leadership.
No sooner had he finished expressing his
displeasure than scores of his loyalists took over the
area, chanting war songs.
The youth threw caution to the wind and started
attacking Oshiomhole and the national leadership of
the party.
At that point, the arena had been thrown into
pandemonium as aspirants, delegates, journalists
and other persons scampered for safety.
Oshiomhole, who was held hostage till about 5pm,
could only escape from the venue with the help of
operatives of the Department of State Security and
soldiers.
The loyalists of Sylva, who announced to the crowds
that accreditation was continuing by 5pm, wanted the
Edo Governor to be there with them.
But Oshiomhole was said to have pulled a
masterstroke when he told the members of the state
Executive Committee of the party, who were bent on
continuing the accreditation of delegates, that he was
hungry and needed to go and eat.
“That was how Governor Adams Oshiomhole was
able to escape from the venue,” one of the security
operatives, who spoke on the condition of anonymity,
said.
As of 5pm, the Chairman of the party in the state,
Chief Tiwei Orunimighe, announced that
accreditation of delegate would continue.
As of that time, some aspirants, including a major
contender, Chief Timi Alaibe, had escaped from the
venue for fear of being attacked.
www.punchng.com/news/bayelsa-apc-primary-ends-in-deadlock-oshiomhole-held-hostage/