₦airaland Forum

At the rate this defection is going Tinubu will be left all alone with just the presidential ticket

Agbadorites and Jagabandits should tell Tinubu to get his phone handy on election day because he will need to make the call and congratulate the winner before 4pm

By Tony Eluemunor

Keeping faith with the sorry saying that:”All things bright and beautiful Nigeria kills them all,” we members of the wasted and wasting generations (age 40 and above) are busy demeaning the only hope that Nigeria could ever hope to get it right as a nation.

Nigeria is right now on the verge of a right thing. Ever lucky, Nigeria is hosting a new political and nationalistic and developmental Mojo; that magical phenomenon of Nigerian youth rising up to sieze control of the political space and lead from the front, instead of following behind their fathers and mothers. Mojo? It is a slang for a magic charm, talisman or spell or magical power or supernatural influence or luck.

Ordinarily, Nigeria has so failed and traumatized it’s youth that that segment of the citizenry should be totally alienated. But, here comes the young ones are rising up to embrace and remake their fatherland. The political interest they have shown in the forth-coming 2023 election is out of this world, and could only have come from Nigeria, a country that breaks all the rules.

Instead of studying and understanding the youths, members of the wasted and wasting generations are insulting them by calling them all sorts of derogatory names and demonize them as crank pots, illusory idiots and worst still, Biafran war mongers. Foolishly, the Obidients have been mis-tagged. The politician and businessman called, Mr. Peter Obi does not own and control the Obidients.

The Obidients own him and could repudiate him anytime. What we are seeing goes beyond mere political support for Peter Obi. It approaches an inbueing of the dreams of a new generation of Nigerians on a person. No, I will take that back, it was not just imbued on Mr. Obi, it is actually being forced on him. He is not a young man and so does not belong to the generation that has adopted him. It is a strange political marriage.

The youths are trying to stand up and matter. They are trying to change Nigeria for the better. They are trying to build a new and better Nigeria, a Nigeria of their dreams, they are trying to nurse Nigeria back to life. And this is where we members of the older generations read their intentions wrongly. They are angry, they are sad, they are children of a worthless country who have refused to accept the frustrating view that Nigeria cannot rise to greatness, that things cannot begin to change.

Now, such a situation should provide a wholesome opportunity to the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress to key into this largely uncoordinated youth movement by showing that they can and are ready to do things differently. All they need do is to carefully check the feedback to know what the youths want; a real change. The Mohamadu Buhari administration has shown that Nigeria requires a surgical operation, not a pedicure and the youths are demanding that surgery. Finish.

Yet, the members of the wasted and wasting generations are too blind to see even the youths for what they stand for, such that some crazy columnists have tagged them Biafrans. What nonsense! Here Nigeria is treading an accursed path for the third time. In the 1940s, crass politics did not allow Nigerians to realize that the Zikist Movement meant more than a support for the late Africanist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe or his political party, the National Convention of Nigerian Citizens.

A set of Nigerian youths, inspired by Zik’s Africanist preaching formed the Zikist Movement as a youth wing within the NCNC…but the Zikist had their own flag, motto, song and logo, did not recognize the British colonial administration, wanted immediate independence from Britain.

Like the Obidients movement, it was pan-Nigerian, with Raj Abdallah (from Okene, Kogi State as president. Though Osita Abunwa ( an Igbo) was it’s poet laureate, Adeniran Ogunsanya, Kola Balogun led the garrison of Yoruba Zikist youths while Tony Enahoro from Uromi was among it’s most militant members. The British authorities imprisoned them in droves and they went to jail with smiles on their faces and songs in their hearts because it was a sacrifice for Mama Africa.

Unfortunately, their elders failed them. Even Zik could not give them the “prestige of his support” as Chinweizu pointed out in The West and the Rest of Us.” When that movement wilted and died nationalism died in Nigeria and crass and shameful and animalist ethnicity replaced it.

Over 70 years passed before Nigerian youths could rise again in the EndSars protest. After two weeks a gory bloody encounter between the unarmed youths singing and happily waving the Nigerian flag and soldiers ended it. The youths had held the belief that Nigerian soldiers would never shoot at Nigerians waving the Nigerian flag. They learnt a bitter lesson that night.

Now, the youths are on the move again. The Obidients cut across Nigeria. There is nothing wrong with having the Atikudients and Tinubudients variantions but Atiku Abubakar’s and Bola Tinubu’s policies and messages have to win the youths over first.

So far the youths are claiming political turf …for the third time. This time it’s proving to be a tsunami. Nigeria killed the first two of such movements or protests. We must learn from history because the French Revolution began as a protest, before it became a revolt and ended as a revolution.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/09/obidients-the-protest-before-the-revolt/

Op, thank you for this wonderful piece


Tinubu is going into this election with so much baggage

The whole south is not on his side, the North is not available for him, so also the Christians coupled with the abysmal performance of the current APC government.
so where does he intends to get votes from.

His supporters are urging him on to go and Fail

Well, like every empire, Tinubu empire will come an abrupt end immediately after the elections because he will lose and lose woefully and all these Agbadorites, Jagabandits and SWAGALians will desert and avoid him like a leper.

Candidtalk


I read the gibberish you type up there and I see someone who is trying so hard but failing woefully to justify the unjustifiable.

Your hate for the Igbos is so so bad

Election is a couple of months from now, it will soon be clear to everyone

Quite a wonderful idea

Owopariola001:
Lagos.

Where in Lagos

Don't tell me burdillon road, Ikoyi

Owopariola001:
Mr. Tinubu

From where?

plaindealer:
Typical dumb ipob Pandora terrorist thread..

Answer the question


Who is Tinubu's father?

APC and their co travellers and purveyors of fake news, lies and falsehood

It is in their blood

Koralords:
This youe argument is stale ,so if anambra gov sees a company that can increase its igr from 1 billionto 15 billion with 15percent commission would it accept it or not ,and its already out there thst that other pep states are using alpha beta too

Which other state is using Alpha Beta

Please list those states here

Can Tinubu beat his chest and challenge EFCC to "show where 1% of Lagos State money was misappropriated and I will stop campaigning"

Of course, He won't

Evidence are abound that he stole Lagos State treasury to stupor

Can Tinubu beat his chest and say "show me 1% of Lagos State money missing and I will stop campaigning"

Of course, He won't

Evidence are abound that he stole Lagos State treasury to stupor

“Let the election be over. That is one step. We have to comply with INEC and regulations regarding the elections, when we finish that, we will unveil to you those things that we have for the country and our objectives, our creed, our commitment should be development and our commitment to transformation, and our determination to bring help to the teeming Nigerians."

Agbadorites, Jagabandits and SWAGALians should kindly explain the meaning of the above statement

It seems Tinubu has lost touch with reality;

Is Tinubu implying that he will need to first win the election before unveiling his manifesto

"Being specific and going by the Constitution, if the vice president is going to take charge of security, is he going to preside over the Security Council at the federal level? I don’t understand that because there is a commander in chief. Is it a reversal of position? The Vice President can offer advice, but I will find it absurd to speak about taking charge. Possibly they (Tinubu and Shettima) have agreed that he (Shettima) is going to be the commander in chief".

Returning APC to power comes 2023 is the worst thing that can happen to Nigeria

Tinubu is a place holder

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency seized no fewer than 286 assets and 600 bank accounts of drug barons between January 2021 and August 2022.

NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who disclosed this in a document made available to one of our correspondents on Tuesday, said the assets consisted of 249 exotic cars and 37 mansions.

The agency’s seizures came against the backdrop of the categorisation of Nigeria by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime as the transit point for “heroin and cocaine intended for European, East Asian, and North American markets.”

According to the UN agency, since 2004 “drug traffickers have been increasingly using West African countries, including Nigeria for smuggling large amounts of cocaine from South America into Europe and North America. The country has a relatively high rate of drug abuse due to the continued availability of illicitly manufactured and diverted pharmaceutical products containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.”

The NDLEA, in the document made to The PUNCH, said it was faced with the “overwhelming task of drug control in a country with an exceptionally high prevalence of drug use of 14.4 per cent.”

Explaining the seizures by the agency in the last 20 months, Babafemi said 286 assets were confiscated and 600 bank accounts were frozen.

He stated that the assets of drug barons consisted of “249 exotic vehicles seized and 37 properties forfeited, all scattered across the country.”

The NDLEA also indicated that it seized N871.53m worth of illegal drug funds between January 2021 and August 2022.

It explained that N619.12m was recorded as final illegal drug funds forfeiture and N252.41m as interim forfeiture. The agency grouped this under its drug supply reduction effort where it revealed that it arrested 18,940 suspected drug traffickers from January 2021 to July 2022.

Under its drug supply reduction efforts, it stated, “Assets and financial investigation: Illicit drug funds that were investigated and seized include Final Forfeiture―(i.) One million, three hundred and nineteen thousand, four hundred dollars ($1,319,400) (ii.) One hundred and two thousand pounds (£102,000) (iii.) Fourteen million CFA Francs (CFA 14, 000, 000) ― and Interim forfeiture―Two hundred and fifty-two million, forty hundred and seven thousand, seven hundred and twenty-six-naira, twenty Kobo, (N252,407,726.20).”

The currencies were converted at the Central Bank of Nigeria’s official rate of September 2, 2022. At the time, one dollar was N424.55; one pound was N490.78, and one CFA was N0.64.

NDLEA’s arrests
The NDLEA explained, “The Agency’s drug supply reduction efforts recorded the following: the arrest of 18,940 suspected drug traffickers (comprising 17,444 males and 1,496 females and including 12 barons) from January 2021 to July 2022; conviction of 2,904 offenders to various jail terms in court; seizure of 3. 6 million kilograms of narcotic and psychotropic substances; cannabis farm destruction: 691 hectares of cannabis farms were detected and destroyed across six states.”

It revealed that it dismantled clandestine meth laboratories following the outbreak of abuse of crystal methamphetamine, popularly called meth in 2021.

It explained that its operational assets were able to locate and dismantle illicit meth laboratories across the country with recent discoveries in Victoria Garden City, Ajah, Lagos and Nise Community, Anambra State.

According to the agency, drug use in the nation was 14.4 per cent 20 months ago. It stated that since then, 12,326 drug-dependent people had been counselled, treated, and rehabilitated in its facilities.

The NDLEA revealed it commissioned a Drug Abuse Call Centre in July of 2021 to enable drug-dependent individuals or families and employers of people suffering from drug use disorder to seek help.

Meanwhile, the agency has secured an interim seizure of 25 properties belonging to billionaire businessman, Mallinson Ukatu, who is on trial for allegedly importing tramadol valued at N3bn into the country.

Ukatu and his accomplice, Sunday Ibekwute, were remanded at the Ikoyi custodial Centre on the orders of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in July.

The judge remanded the two defendants, following their plea of not guilty to the charges of conspiracy, trafficking in 322 kilograms of tramadol, unlawful dealing, and possession of the said banned drug made against them by the NDLEA.

Ukatu, who is Chairman of Mallinson group of companies, came under watch last year after five cartons of tramadol 225mg were seized from his staff on May 4, 2021, when he sold them to undercover police officers allegedly led by a former Commander, Intelligence Response Unit, Abba Kyari, a Deputy Commissioner of Police.

Kyari and his deputy, Sunday Ubua, who were subsequently arrested for drug dealing are currently being held in Kuje Custodial Centre, Abuja.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in an order dated August 29, 2022, restrained Ukatu or any other person from dealing with the properties listed as exhibit NDLEA III.

A certified true copy of the order in charge number, FHC/ABJ/CS/320/2022, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ukatu, obtained by The PUNCH on Tuesday read, ‘’Upon the motion ex-parte dated the 19th day of August, 2022, but filed on 23rd day of August, 2022, coming up today, the 29th day of August, 2022, before this honourable court praying for the following orders:

“An order of this honourable court preserving and restraining the respondent or any person or persons from dealing in any manner whatsoever with the properties listed as exhibit NDLEA III belonging to Ukatu Mallinson reasonably believed to have been derived from unlawful activities pending the conclusion of the investigation and trial of the respondent.


“That an order is hereby made preserving and restraining the respondent or any person or persons from dealing in any manner whatsoever with the properties listed as exhibit NDLEA III below belonging to Ukatu Mallinson reasonably believed to have been derived from unlawful activities pending the conclusion of the investigation and trial of the respondent.

“That an order is hereby made preserving and restraining the applicant or privies, agents and servants from dissipating, interfering or tampering with the properties listed as NDLEA III below belonging to Ukatu Mallinson reasonably believed to have been derived from unlawful activities pending the conclusion of the investigation and trial of the respondent.’’

Lagos properties
The properties temporary confiscated by the court include an office building at Ilupeju; building mart at Dopemu; a pharmaceutical factory inside Nigeria Air Force base, Ikeja; Nelo’s Place Event Centre, Ikeja; a personal house at Ikeja and a warehouse at Okota, Amuwo, Lagos.

Also seized were two big warehouses; an office shop; a Toyota car; Volvo SUV; a Range Rover SUV; Bulk Enclave SUV; NISPO factory; a proposed warehouse; a proposed office complex and warehouses in Igboko village, Ado-Ado Ota, Ogun State, Central Business District, Abuja; including a parcel of land at Maryland, Ikeja, Oshodi, Festac Town, Oregun, Ikeja and Nike in Enugu.

Others are a manufacturing plant in Igbesa, Agbara, Ogun State; a property at Yomi Oshikoya Drive, Ikeja and another property in Asaba, Delta State.

Commenting on the feat recorded by the NDLEA, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, charged the Federal Government to adopt a holistic approach in seizing properties linked to drug barons, stating that it should be extended to corrupt civil servants and politicians.

He said, “The aggregate of all the accounts frozen and all luxury cars and items taken cannot compare with what politicians pocket or what civil servants embezzle in the example of the accountant-general of the federation.

“So, if there is a war against corruption either by way of drugs, embezzlement and misappropriation of funds, the government should be holistic in that regard.”

He also posited that seized items should not be allowed to deteriorate but used to impact the economy positively.

“When you seize an item, you don’t allow it to disintegrate. So many houses and cars seized are no longer usable. The government should be proactive by seeking productive use of the seized items and not grind the economy further. We should be able to get positive effects from the seizures.”

Speaking on the implication of the seizures, a legal practitioner, Abdullahi Gayam said that drug barons may end up looking for another means to continue their crime.

“Nobody wants his or her properties to be seized. Naturally, these seizures by the FG will make drug barons rethink or adopt an entirely different way to acquire more properties,’’ he surmised.

The Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, Idayat Hassan described it as a welcome development, adding that there had never been a concerted effort in the fight against drugs, in the last decade, like there was now.

She, however, tasked the NDLEA to ensure effective management of the seized assets, stating that it would help to cover for past shortfalls of the agency.

NDLEA commended
The Convener, Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, Ariyo-Dare Atoye commended the NDLEA for its fight against drugs, describing it as the only agency of government under the Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) regime that has genuinely and sincerely earned the commendation of Nigerians.

He added that the seizure by the agency implied that traffickers had identified Nigeria as a profitable destination if it were not for the agency’s intervention.

The Coordinator, Advocate for Peoples Rights and Justice, Victor Giwa noted that the best way to combat drug trafficking was to fully equip the NDLEA and strengthen its operations against traffickers.

He called for the legalisation of Indian hemp, arguing that other countries have found that the more they campaign against it, the higher the consumption rate.

Meanwhile, the agency has warned politicians and their supporters against the use of drugs in the campaigns for the 2023 elections, which would begin on September 28.

Babafemi said the NDLEA would work with the Independent National Electoral Commission and other stakeholders to prevent the use of drugs at campaign rallies.

He stated, “More officers and assets have been deployed on the roads and other strategic locations to make the movement of these illicit drugs difficult and our recent arrests and seizures attest to this.

“Anyone found in possession of illicit drugs violates the law and definitely risks arrest for investigation and possible prosecution.”

Advising candidates against buying drugs for youths, he stated, “They need to have a rethink because such has adverse effects not only for the thugs and the youths but their families, communities, the process and the country. The politicians doing this may end up being victims themselves

“The agency works with an enabling Act and the provisions are clear on possession, production, distribution and peddling of illicit substances.”

https://punchng.com/fg-freezes-600-accounts-seizes-249-luxury-vehicles/

Agbadorites, Jagabandits and SWAGALians please, your attention is needed here

Kindly provide answers to the above A-level question

Kai! See as everybody don lose hope for this country Nigeria

Richardonald:
you are daft, Soo anyone that is not supporting tilumbu is igbo right..

Please don't respond to that clown

To them anyone not in support of Tinubu is Igbo or Ipob

; D

Nigerians will be so glad

Finally, The center table has become a flyover

“To be sure, he contacted Timi Frank to help lobby for a job in the Campaign Directorate, but where is the record to help his desire? As a serial hustler around food dispensers, FFK’s misadventure into the issue of the leadership of the PDP is nothing but a subtle campaign to be noticed and rewarded by prospective paymasters"


“Often when the issue of FFK comes up, I easily call to mind the time-standing analysis by ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo, of his personality, and the assertion that food is FFK’s price. His likes are appropriately described in Philippians 3:19, as belonging to the class of those ‘whose god is their belly, and whose glory is their shame. Sorry, PDP has no food for the lazy. And knowing FFK’s reputation for political scavenging, let me also ask him the unanswered question. FFK, who bankrolled your statement?”.

..... and Ahmed Lawan goes home to lick his wounds

“They have no bullion van history of questionable wealth and are ready and willing to be scrutinized".

Shot fired