₦airaland Forum

ABUJA — The opposition Labour Party, LP, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, expressed shock over how the United States 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices arrived at its conclusion that the 2023 polls reflected the will of Nigerians, despite widespread irregularities.


However, the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Presidency hailed the report but said the party did not need external validation of its victories at the polls.


The report published by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, US Department of State, highlighted human rights practices and violations in different countries, including Nigeria.

It said the last general elections in Nigeria reflected the will of the populace, despite widespread irregularities.

Picking holes in the conclusion, LP and PDP said they are committed to deepening democracy in Nigeria and averting a one-party state.

Highlights of report
The report stated that supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, suppressed votes in Igbo-dominated areas during the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos.

“National elections were widely reported to have reflected the will of voters, despite technical and logistical difficulties, and some irregularities.

“Many independent observers who assessed the results of the presidential, legislative, and state-level elections during the year reflected the will of voters despite reports of voter suppression and vote-buying, campaigning at polling stations, lack of ballot secrecy, violence, and intimidation.

“During the March 18 state election in Lagos, All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters reportedly intimidated and suppressed voters in Igbo-dominated areas, which Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, won in the February 25 national election.

“Viral videos on social media showed APC supporters in Ojo (LGA in Lagos) threatening to attack ethnic Igbo voters presumed to be pro-Obi.


“In Eti-Osa, APC supporters also attacked journalists and, in some cases, shut down voting and prevented non-Yoruba voters from accessing polls. They similarly destroyed property and physically blocked voters in Amuwo-Odofin.
“According to videos posted on social media, police officers were present but failed to respond to attacks,’’ the report read.


It said there was no evidence that individuals who perpetrated violence in Lagos during the election were arrested or prosecuted.

Corruption in govt

The report also stated that the Nigerian government has not “consistently” implemented anti-corruption laws.
It said there was “widespread” corruption across the country, including the judiciary.

“In August, President Tinubu appointed former Governor Abubakar Bagudu, the Minister of Budget, despite Bagudu’s widely reported history of helping then-President Sani Abacha steal hundreds of millions of dollars from the government in the 1990s,’’ the report stated.

We remain committed to democracy — PDP, LP
However, the two main opposition political parties, the PDP and the LP, in reaction to the report, restated their commitment to the development of democracy in Nigeria, despite its shortcomings.


National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, in a telephone chat with Vanguard said: “I am yet to read the report but one thing we, as a party, can assure Nigerians is that we remain committed to the advancement of democracy in our country.
“We are also committed to ensuring that our country does not become a one-party state or slide into dictatorship.”

Speaking in a similar vein, his counterpart in the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, said: “With all said and done, we take solace in the fact that the report was fair enough to admit that there were irregularities, including but not limited to vote buying, ballot box snatching, intimidation and physical attacks on our party supporters, especially in Lagos.

“The report was magnanimous enough to note that supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, suppressed votes in areas dominated by our supporters during the March 2023 governorship election in Lagos.

“To say the outcome of such an election reflects the majority view of Nigerians is left for the people to judge. Our commitment to the development of democracy in Nigeria remains unshakable.”

Report is welcome devt, but… —APC
On its part, the ruling APC said while it welcomed the report, it does not need any external validation in that regard.
Deputy National Organizing Secretary of the party, Nze Chidi Duru, told Vanguard that the party had since moved on, concentrating on developing Nigeria’s electoral democracy.


He said: “It (report) is a welcome development but I want to restate that we do not need any external validation on the outcome of the 2023 general election.

‘’That election, as far as the party is concerned and as far as the people of Nigeria are concerned, is now behind us and we are looking forward to the 2027 general election.

“All the infrastructure of government at all levels, whether it is at the federal, state, local government or ward level, are already in place. Our councillors, National Assembly members and governors have been elected and are in place.
‘’Where there are issues arising from that election, those elections have been contested at the courts and we know that the courts have heard and given their well-considered ruling. So, we have gone beyond that.

“We also believe improvement, development and change are constant things and then as a government, we will continue to encourage and fund INEC in a way that empowers them to be able to further improve the electoral process in Nigeria.
“As we continue to march on the path of democracy, we hope to continue to conduct elections that would reflect the will of Nigerians.

“So, in a nutshell, as much as this is welcome, we do not need any external validation. Elections have been conducted and those elected have assumed offices and where there are disputes, they were taken to courts and the issues have been resolved.”


We don’t require any foreign validation to make our election free, fair — Presidency

Speaking in like manner, the Presidency through the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said INEC “conducted a free and fair election.’’

He noted that there is nowhere in the world the electoral umpire conducted a 100 per cent error-free election.
His words: “INEC conducted a free and fair election. We don’t need any foreign country to validate or make our election free and fair.

“The report doesn’t require any validation. As far as we are concerned, it was a free and fair election. We (the All Progressives Congress) won the election.”

The presidential aide also debunked the allegation of voter suppression in Lagos State.

YourMrBoo:
It was suppose to be a Palliative to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, naira depreciation and market inflation

osuofia2:
Those who voted Obi are originally PDP people. Tinubu used Obi to win elections. Even Buhari was against handing over power to Tinubu reasons for the Cashless policy in the eve of election by Emefiele.
Obidients no de hear word

YourMrBoo:
I heard he is paying N10,000 wage award. while others are paying more than 30k

garfield1:
He's a bad politician

garfield1:
Efforts in utility.may obaseki lead them to failure...

chopnaira:
Because Nairaland belongs to you abi. Anyone is free to mention anyone, if you don't like it, you can close your account. I am sure you won't be missed.

Fuel scarcity is biting hard on Kaduna residents as motorists are forced to buy the product for as high as N1, 100 per liter from black marketers.

Our correspondent reports that many passengers going to work and their business premises were stranded following the scarcity of fuel across the state and very few commercial operators were providing services.

Most filling stations were not dispensing fuel and the few which had the product hiked the pump price to between N750 and N810 per liter. Despite the hike, long queues were seen at the stations.

A resident, Mohammed Amin, said he bought half a gallon of fuel which amounts to two liters for N2,200. He said he was considering dropping his vehicle and opting for commercial means of transportation if the problem persisted.

Our correspondent further gathered that commercial operators are also taking advantage of the scarcity to hike up their fares.

A commuter, Amina Isa, who said she usually paid N100 from NNPC filling station in Millennium city to a roundabout where she picks another tricycle to her destination, revealed that, “After waiting three hours without getting a ride, I had no option but to board the next available keke who charged me N300 to the same destination.”

Another passenger, Moses Joseph, said he paid N400 instead of N200 from Kakuri to Ahmadu Bello Way.

Also, Mrs. Anna Yohanna who boarded a bus from Goni Gora to Kaduna Central Market, said she paid N500 instead of N250

Biodun556:
Crypto bandits are really trying their best to destroy the economy

OAFMods:
All this one na foolish comment.

This bastard n criminal called Peter Pandora Obi that wants to be Nigeria president did he willingly chose not to pay teachers at any point he was governor for any reason at all ?

That is what you should be addressing

Goodvibes007:
Atiku came 2nd in the last election. If only 2 million of the PDP traditional votes he usually gets from the SE were added to his votes, he would have been the commander in chief today.

Goodvibes007:
Two things.

1: Obidients destroyed Atiku's chances of becoming President. Buhari's Bleep up should have made the contest a walk in the park for Atiku.

2: Obidients threatened Reno and his daughter.

Number 2 hurt him most, and he vowed he would help destroy Peter Obi's chances.

Afamed:
Except you have another result which showed that he didn't win

Afamed:
Is Rivers state north central?

Afamed:
Even when Obi in the court never claimed to have won any election?

Gbajue with 6 Senators out of 109 ,

Gbajue that didn't win any state in NE neither did he win any state in NW,

paramakina202:
It is over for PDP in SE.
They are greedy pack of wolves.

shortgun:
The real enemies of Nigeria are those who frustrated President Jonathan out of office when a bag of rice was sold for 8k and dollar was N216.
Now they expect us to celebrate and roll out the drums now that a bag of rice is sold for 70k and dollar is 1,300
Nonsense

Owaincouncil:
I can now see that you are not a happy man when it comes to good news. Instead of you to rejoice that it is coming down, you are fuming.
May God deliver your soul from hatred.
It's not all post you should be commenting on, after all, you don't use diesel. So let we that are buying diesel rejoice in peace

Richtaiwo:
Derailing threads is a good symptom of serious problem that require urgent psychiatrist's attention.

Tareq1105:
How must was diesel in 1999 before Obasanjo was sworn in as president?

Richtaiwo:
See who is talking about comprehension of English. He is also talking about mental health. Some people will just use the expressions used by doctors and learned people for describing them and pour them on social media.

Richtaiwo:
You can go ahead to insult shit out of Dangote for not selling at N100/litre.

helinues:
Please, please and please.

We engage only those who celebrate good news not those who get bitter and frustrated for reading same good news

Know your mates to dey engage with

Thank you

Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has vowed to ensure that the former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, is probed.

On April 18, the EFCC declared Bello wanted over an alleged N80 billion financial crime.

Bello is yet to appear in court for scheduled arraignments since he was declared wanted.

Speaking with select Editors in Abuja on Tuesday, the anti-graft czar said he made a direct phone call to Bello out of respect, urging him to appear before the commission and address the charges against him.

The EFCC boss said unfortunately, the former governor declined the invitation.

Bello had denied that he was invited, daring the anti-graft agency to produce a copy of the invitation letter.

In a statement through his media office on Tuesday, Bello accused the commission of spreading lies.

But the EFCC said he would get to the root of the matter, dismissing the allegation that was being used against the former governor.

He said: “If I do not personally oversee the completion of the investigation regarding Yahaya Bello, I will tender my resignation as the chairman of the EFCC.

“I have arraigned two past governors who have been granted bail now — Willie Obiano and Abdulfatah Ahmed. We would have gone after Bello since January but we waited for the court order.

“If I can do Obiano, Abdulfatah Ahmed and Chief Olu Agunloye, my kinsman, why not Yahaya Bello?”

The National Security Adviser, NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, has said the number of deaths related to terrorism in Nigeria has dropped from 2,600 per month to less than 200.


Ribadu disclosed this while noting that AK-47 now sells for over five million naira due to the effort of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in curbing insecurity.

Addressing journalists at the High-Level African Counter-Terrorism Meeting in Abuja, Ribadu said AK-47 being mopped up are destroyed.


He said: “We are working and I think we have done fairly well. One of the things that we have seen as an indication that things are beginning to look different for example, is AK 47 that used to be sold for less than N500,000 last year but now goes for N5 million.

“This means it is not available and we are mopping them up, we are taking them out, we are destroying them. We do not just take but we destroy,”

“A lot of this work is ongoing, but people don’t really see; we salute our armed forces, our security forces, our governors who are doing extremely well.


“A lot of difference is taking place in Nigeria and that is the reason why I can assure you that in the last one year, we have reduced deaths as a result of violent crimes and use of arms.

“We used to record 2,600 or so a month but now we do have less than 200 on the average.

“It is an indication that we are getting results for the work being done.”

The Nigeria Police Force has detained a female police officer who was the aide-de-camp to embattled former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, Saturday PUNCH has learnt.

The ADC was arrested alongside other police officers attached to 48-year-old Bello, [/b]and is being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

[b]Their arrests and detention followed a Thursday night order by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, directing their immediate withdrawal from the former governor.

Senior police sources, who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity because they did not have authorisation to comment publicly on the matter, noted that the officers were arrested on the suspicion that they aided and abetted Bello’s escape from operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, who had gone to effect his arrest at his Abuja home on Wednesday.

“The ADC and the other police details attached to Yahaya Bello have been arrested and detained.

“They were arrested on the order of the IG, on the suspicion that they aided and abetted the former governor’s escape from the EFCC on Wednesday,” one of the sources told our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Friday.

Another source said, “Yahaya Bello’s female ADC and other police officers attached to him were brought to the command this morning, and they’ve been detained for aiding and abetting (the governor’s escape).”


Egbetokun had, on Thursday night, ordered the withdrawal of all police officers attached to Bello.

The order for the withdrawal was contained in a police wireless message sighted by our correspondent on Friday morning.

The document read, “CB:4001/DOPS/PMF/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.48/ 34 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X FOLLOWING MESSAGE RECEIVED FROM NIGPOL.

“DOPS ABUJA X BEGINS X CB:4001/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.21/462 DTO:180955/04/2024 X ORDER AND DIRECTIVES X REF MYLET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/36 DATED 15/04/2024 X AND MY EARLIER LET NO CB:3412/DOPS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.1/30 DATED 24/01/2024 X Nigeria police have ordered the withdrawal of all men.

“Police attached to His Excellency and former Executive Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, should acknowledge compliance and treat with utmost importance. Please above for your information and strict compliance.”

Also, the Federal Government had on Thursday night placed Bello on a watch list.

In a document exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Thursday night, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, revealed that Bello was placed on a watchlist for conspiracy, breach of trust, and money laundering.


The Assistant Comptroller General signed the document and copied the Nigeria Customs Service, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, and the Director of the National Internet Agency.

The document read, “I am directed to inform you that the above-named person has been placed on a watch list. Suffice to mention that the subject is being prosecuted before the Federal High Court Abuja for Conspiracy, Breach of Trust and Money Laundering vide letter Ref; CR; 3000/EFCC/LS/EGCS.1/TE/V 1/279 dated April 18, 2024.

“If seen at any entry or exit point, he should be arrested and referred to the Director of Investigation, or contact 08036226329/07039617304 for further action.

“Please, accept as always the Comptroller-General’s warmest regards and esteem.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had earlier declared Bello wanted for laundering the sum of N80,246,470,088.88.

The development was contained in a notice posted on the commission’s official Facebook page on Thursday, with a snapshot of the embattled ex-governor attached.

The notice read, “The public is hereby notified that Yahaya Adoza Bello (former Governor of Kogi State), whose photograph appears above is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in connection with an alleged case of Money Laundering to the tune of N80,246,470,089.88 (Eighty Billion, Two Hundred and Forty Six Million, Four Hundred and Seventy Thousand and Eighty Nine Naira, Eighty Eight Kobo).


“Bello, a 48-year-old Ebira man, is a native of Okenne Local Government of Kogi State. His last known address is: 9, Benghazi Street, Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. Anybody with useful information as to his whereabouts should please contact the Commission.”

Bello had, on Thursday, failed to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja following his arraignment by the EFCC.

The embattled former governor was arraigned in absentia before Justice Emeka Nwite alongside three other suspects, Ali Bello, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu on 19-count charges bordering on money laundering.

The PUNCH had earlier reported how the incumbent Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, on Wednesday helped Bello, who is his predecessor, escape arrest by operatives of the EFCC.

One of our correspondents who was at the ex-governor’s residence on Wednesday observed Ododo’s arrival with heavy security at about 2:30 pm.

At exactly 4:20 pm, Ododo’s entourage drove out with Bello in the governor’s car.

About 10 minutes after the governor and former governor left, the EFCC operatives laying siege to Bello’s home retreated from the scene

Twenty minutes after the EFCC operatives left, the policemen, DSS operatives, Counter Terrorism Unit personnel, and other security agents guarding Bello’s house also drove off.

In a statement on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale said, “Bello’s arraignment is coming on the heels of a warrant of arrest and enrollment order granted the EFCC by the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.”

The EFCC further noted that the commission’s attempt to execute a warrant of arrest lawfully obtained against Bello met stiff resistance on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

He added, “The security cordon around the former governor’s residence in Abuja was breached by the current Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, who ensured that the suspect was spirited away in his official vehicle.


“As a responsible law enforcement agency, the EFCC exercised restraint in the face of the provocation, waiting for his arraignment on Thursday, April 18, 2024. It is needful to state that Bello is not above the law and would be brought to justice as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, in a statement on Thursday, Yahaya Bello’s media office accused the EFCC of persecution, while accusing the anti-graft agency of filing the same charges in three different courts.

The statement read in part, “The attention of the Media Office of Yahaya Bello has again been drawn to another chapter in the series of the ongoing persecution of the former Governor by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.


“Having failed woefully to achieve their motive of national embarrassment with the critical questions that greeted their earlier allegations that the former governor converted over N80bn Kogi State funds to personal use in September 2015, even before he became governor, masterminds of this unending persecution have hurriedly repackaged their script, this time dragging the name of the EFCC further in the mud.

“In a miscalculated bid to satisfy their paymasters at all costs, some desperate politicians have pushed the EFCC to approach another Federal High Court in Abuja, with the same set of questionable allegations without waiting for the determination of the two preceding cases they’ve filed in two different courts simultaneously.

“In this particular one, they tried to correct their initial blunder by saying that about N80bn was now stolen in February 2016, arguably less than three weeks after he assumed office for the first time as Governor of Kogi State on January 27, 2016.

“Looking at the curious and endless scenarios of duplicated charges, cross-charges, counter and frivolous charges, it has become crystal clear that the whole onslaught is nothing but a desperate political witch-hunt of the immediate past governor.

“We want to draw the attention of the President to the fact that the abuse of court processes and prosecutorial powers by the EFCC is assuming a dangerous dimension that the head of the commission might not even have paid attention to. We still want to assume that he is being misled into political persecution, rather than diligent prosecution by bad eggs within the system, working with criminals masquerading as politicians.

“The desperation to nail a man that has done nothing but to raise the bar of governance in his state and provide visible dividends of democracy to all, irrespective of religious or ethnic leaning, has beclouded the rational thinking of masterminds and pushed them into a consistent pattern of raising extremely frivolous and indefensible allegations against their target.”

Ododo may boycott Ondo APC primary


Meanwhile, there are fresh indications that Ododo might not turn up in Ondo State for today’s governorship primary election of the All Progressives Congress as promised.

Ododo was appointed to head the seven-man Primary Election Committee set up to conduct the shadow poll in all 18 local government areas of the state, while a former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, was chosen as his secretary.

Other members include a former Oyo Deputy Governor, Iyiola Oladokun; Senator Lekan Mustapha, Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, Margaret Duru, and Dr Sani Danjuma.

The Kogi governor was however absent from Friday’s oath-taking ceremony, which took place at the party’s national secretariat.

Defending his principal, Ododo’s deputy, Salifu Oyibo, attributed his absence to ‘security challenges’.

He, however, insisted that the governor had promised to be available in Ondo State for the assignment on Saturday.

But, a source in the newly inaugurated primary committee, who preferred not to be mentioned, told our correspondent that the governor may boycott the exercise due to the same ‘security challenges’ excuse given by his deputy.


“Ododo is not coming. Did you sincerely expect him to leave Kogi to monitor an election at a critical period when the EFCC is seeking to apprehend his mentor and predecessor? Who does that?

“Even the party knows that the promise of being in Ondo is not feasible. I am sure a last-minute arrangement is being made. Otherwise, Omo-Agege may take charge of proceeding on Saturday (today),” the source explained.

Meanwhile, Ododo’s imminent absence may unsettle some governorship aspirants, who are looking forward to the committee’s work.

One such aspirant is Wale Akinterinwa, who spoke highly of Ododo’s qualities on the eve of the primary at a press conference in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

He said, “I expect that the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo, I don’t know him, but I believe he is a man of integrity and capacity. Obviously, for choosing him to conduct the election here, the party hierarchy must know that he is capable of doing a good job.

“I expect that we will have a level playing field, and there will be free and fair primaries, hitch-free, even though people are still a bit skeptical due to certain things. But, I know that despite these obstacles, I will surmount them and come out victorious.

“The party has a structure. I believe that the people coming to conduct the primaries are also members of the party, and have an understanding of their roles.”


APC chieftain calls for Ododo’s suspension

A former National Vice Chairman of the APC, Salihu Usman, has called for Ododo’s suspension by the party’s leadership.

This call comes in response to allegations that the governor shielded his predecessor from the scrutiny of the EFCC.

Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Usman described Ododo’s action as an impeachable offense.

He stressed the need for accountability, stating that Bello must face the allegations against him.

He said, “In a simple allegation of corruption against him, he (Yahaya Bello) is running away. As a party, we must tell him that he has a duty to go and answer to the charges being levied against him.

“It is even more scandalous, and it raises a bigger moral burden when our governor who succeeded (former) governor Yahaya Bello is shielding him and blocking him from being answerable to law enforcement agencies.


“As far as I am concerned, if proven, that constitutes an impeachable offense. I think our party should have made a pronouncement to suspend the governor from the party until this thing is brought under control.”