₦airaland Forum

A former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has hailed Bishop David Oyedepo of Living Faith Church and the Christian Association of Nigeria on their recent comments over the state of the nation.

He quoted Rev. Sampson O. Ayokunle, CAN President, as likening the leadership style of Buhari to a blind man leading men that could see.

Fani-Kayode wrote, “How can a semi-illiterate lead a nation of almost 200 million people? It is like a blind man leading men that can see!

“Rev. Sampson O. Ayokunle, President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Port Harcourt, 23rd April 2018.”

He also supported the Sunday’s outburst by Oyedepo where he pointedly told Buhari that God was angry with him,

The ex-minister wrote, “Can I tell you my anger against this Government? No feeling for human lives. You know what God said? I am angry with the wicked everyday. You see where “change” has brought us today since 2015? If you bring the scoresheet out, it is 0%. You better wake up so you don’t suffer the Nigerian kind of change. Defending killers! God’s judgement will hit! If you are happy with what God is angry with, you are ungodly. Those who have made others childless, wifeless, husbandless, so shall they become! Bishop David Oyedepo, Winners Chapel, Canaan Land, Ota, 22nd April 2018.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/23/fani-kayode-backs-can-buhari-hails-oyedep/

Protesters are currently in front of the house of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, demanding that security operatives leave the place.

Armed security personnel comprising policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) had laid siege to the place on Monday afternoon.

The operatives restricted movement on Sangha street, Maitama, where Melaye’s house is located. They prevented four of the lawmaker’s colleagues from seeing him.

Abiodun Olujimi from Ekiti; Philip Aduda, federal capital territory (FCT), Isa Misau from Bauchi and Atai Idoko, Kogi were among the senators who visited Melaye’s residence.

TheCable overheard one of them saying they would mobilise protesters and in less than 30 minutes, people from an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp in Abuja arrived.

The protesters asked the security agents to vacate Melaye’s residence immediately, describing the lawmaker as their benefactor.

Kuchingoro Emmanuel, leader of the group, told TheCable that no individual had taken care of IDPs like in Abuja Melaye.

“Melaye is our federal government. He has taken good care of us. He is a good man,” he said.
More to follow…


https://www.thecable.ng/developing-protesters-storm-melayes-residence-dss-denies-senators-access-colleague/

Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has granted an order restraining the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed from further publishing the name of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, in his looters’ list.

Although the defendants or their representatives were absent in court, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyayi Laminikara, who presided over the matter of libel, also asked the plaintiff to serve the defendant with the appropriate notice and adjourned the matter to May 28, 2018, to proceed into the substance of the case.

Details coming…

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/23/dcourt-restrains-lai-mohammed-from-publishing-secondus-name-on-looters-list/

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has concluded plans to establish ‘a shadow cabinet’ ahead of the forthcoming general elections in 2019.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, revealed this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

According to the statement, this was part of the resolutions reached at the end of the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting held on Thursday at the PDP National Secretariat in the nation’s capital.

The NEC directed the National Working Committee of the party to commence action towards the setting up of the cabinet to pilot PDP’s roadmap towards national economic recovery and good governance.

It stressed that move was necessary as part of preparations ahead of the general elections, and in line with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.

The PDP noted that its doors remain wide open to all Nigerians, groups and like-minded political parties to foster a strong rallying point.

It said this would enhance the determined quest by Nigerians to rescue the nation from the alleged misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and enthrone good governance in the country.

The meeting further resolved that the PDP leads a strong conversation and discussion towards a formal coalition of democratic forces to guarantee Nigerians the much-desired all-inclusive platform ahead of the general elections.

It also agreed that the party deploys the instrument of its democratic structures at all levels across the country, to legitimately and urgently rally all Nigerians to vote out the ruling party and return Nigeria to the path of national cohesion, stability and prosperity for the good of all.

The NEC noted the scheduled visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the home of democracy, the United States of America.

It, however, faulted the President’s planned visit and accused the present administration of “annihilating, harassing and strangulating” opposition voices, even within the ruling APC.


https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/20/breaking-pdp-to-establish-shadow-cabinet-ahead-of-2019/

The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has insisted that there is no corruption in the presidency.

He noted that the anti-corruption stance of Buhari’s government has saved the country a lot of money.


Speaking while receiving the leadership of The Companion, an association of Muslim Businessmen and Professionals in his office, Osinbajo said government’s efforts towards curbing corruption in the country would soon begin to manifest.

The Vice President also stated that the rot the current administration met in office had never happened before.

According to Osinbajo “One thing that is very sure now is that this presidency is not stealing and we have a President who is not stealing and will not steal.

“There is no corruption in the presidency under the current government. This kind of body language is what is saving this country a lot of money now. Like what is happening in JAMB, Customs, FIRS, NPA, FAAN, NIMASA where we have witnessed improved revenue collection and returns to govt for unspent resources.

“When we begin to deal with corruption in all facets of government particularly within the public sector, there will be a lot of improvement in our country. The government is also looking at improving ease of doing business to be able to attract more foreign direct investment over a period of time.

“All MDA’s will be made to submit their expenditure in line with the budget as well and in compliance with the accounting year.

“The rot we met in office has never happened before. The previous government spent the whole reserves and even borrowed money which were distributed for election purposes.

“It has never happened in this country where the presidency directly takes money from the Central Bank to distribute to its cronies and where very few officials stole the country dry.

“This is the only nation where such can happen and the same party under whose watch it happened will still be clamouring to be returned to power.”

http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/20/osinbajo-speaks-corruption-presidency-says-jonathans-govt-worst-ever/

The Federal High Court, Abuja, has expressed doubts as to whether the claim of ill health by Olisah Metuh, the embattled former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), is true.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang, said this on Thursday while delivering a ruling on an application seeking the release of Metuh’s international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.

According to the judge, “I am wondering, if the defendant is really sick as he claims, why did he not appeal the two earlier decisions of the court that refused to release his international passport.

“I doubt that he is really ill as he wants the court to believe, if he is, he should have appealed the decisions of the court at the Court of Appeal.”

The judge wondered why Metuh appealed decisions of the trial court that had nothing to do with his health but refused to appeal those that dealt directly with his health.

Abang held that it seemed there was a hidden agenda by Metuh to present the court as inhuman by filing the same application before the trial court a third time rather than going on appeal.

He said that he agreed with the arguments of the prosecution that filing the application for a third time was an unpardonable and reckless abuse of judicial processes.

The judge maintained that the defendants ought to know that where a trial court decided a matter, it could not be brought before it again under any guise.

He further said that since the prosecution closed its case in 2016, the defendant, rather than defending his case, had taken several steps to frustrate the trial.

The judge said that he could not sit on appeal over his own judgment having already refused an application for the release of Metuh’s passport twice.

He added that contrary to the claim by Metuh’s counsel, Mr Onyeachi Ikpeazu, (SAN), there were no new facts in the current application as the facts in it were the same as those in the last two applications.

“The issues raised in this application have already been determined in the two previous rulings on the matter; there is nothing new in this application.”

He held that on account of Metuh’s conduct since the prosecution closed its case, he could not order the release of his passport and that he lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter having decided it before.

He therefore dismissed the application for lacking in merit and adjourned the matter until April 20 for continuation of trial.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Metuh on March 14, for the third time, asked the court to release his international passport to enable him travel abroad for medical treatment.

http://punchng.com/metuhs-claim-of-ill-health-doubtful-court/

The Chairman of Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN) has blamed Senate President Bukola Saraki for the invasion of the senate by suspected thugs on Wednesday.

Sagay explained that Saraki and his minions in the senate had been provoking people to take the law into their own hands.


The Senior Advocate said this while speaking to Punch.

He said, “This Senate led by Bukola Saraki has been provoking Nigerians for a long time. What happened today (Wednesday) was illegal; there is no doubt about that. But the provocation that this particular Senate has been inflicting on Nigerians has reached a boiling point.

“You cannot be enjoying the huge and enormous resources of the people, living in luxury and at the same time refusing to do your job, making trouble with the executive at the slightest opportunity, bringing the government to a standstill and then turning members of the Senate into puns who can be pushed here and there.

“I think Saraki has gone too far. While what happened today is illegal, I have no doubt in my mind that he and the group that surround him provoked it. Ultimately, I hold Saraki responsible for what happened today.”

DAILY POST reports that thugs suspected to be loyal to the suspended Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege had invaded the red chambers and forcefully took away the mace.

They broke into the chambers when plenary was going on, creating serious confusion and tension.

Few hours later, Sen. Omo-Agege was arrested in connection to the incident but was later released, after which he denied claims that he staged the incident.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/19/thugs-invasion-saraki-responsible-missing-mace-sagay/

The Senate has resumed plenary barely an hour after armed thugs stormed the National Assembly and carted away the mace. The new mace in the chamber is smaller in size and more coloured than that of the bigger one which was catred away.

The plenary which was disrupted at about 11.30am resumed by 12.10pm. Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu has assured lawmakers that the NASS will deal wit the situation fully, warning the attackers not to take democracy for granted.

Meanwhile, The Senate has described the attack on the National Assembly and the carting away of the mace by thugs ash act of treason cannot be tolerated. Senate Spokesman, Sabi Abdullahi stated this in a statement. “Today, some hoodlums led by suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace.

“This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such. All Security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.

“This action is also an affront on the legislature, and the Leadership of the House has come to express their support against this action. “The Senate is now in an Executive session. “An updated statement will be released immediately after the closed door session.

https://leadership.ng/2018/04/18/senate-resumes-plenary-with-new-mace-after-thugs-attack-nass/

A man proposing to his boyfriend? This is serious

One of our problems in this country

Nigeria’s former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (Rtd), cares to know the real reason why the presidential election conducted in 1993 was annulled, or give him credit for how fair the poll was.

General Babangida said this during an exclusive interview on Roadmap 2019, a Channels Television programme that aired on Monday.


The late Moshood Abiola, a philanthropist and successful businessman, had won the election which was later cancelled by the then military junta headed by General Babangida.

The poll, which was adjudged as one of the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s democratic history, was the first presidential election held in Nigeria since 1983 when the military took power in a coup.

The late MKO Abiola of the then Social Democratic Party (SDP) had defeated Bashir Tofa of the defunct National Republican Convention (NCP).

Twenty-five years later, General Babangida was displeased that despite explaining why the June 12 election was cancelled, nobody cared to listen to him.

He said he had a good relationship with the presumed winner of the election whom he said they had communicated at different occasions.

“Nobody has ever sat down to say the two persons are friends, what went wrong? We tried to rationalise why we had to do what we did but nobody is prepared to listen to us,” the elder statesman said.

“I have never seen anybody write anything on this to try to give people a different version altogether. He (Abiola) knew my feeling; I knew his feeling about the country generally because I do talk about Nigeria with the presumed winner of the truly democratically freest election. We even talked about it during the crisis itself.”

Babangida stressed further that the election was widely accepted to be the freest in the history of Nigeria, but he has yet to get a credit for conducting the poll.

He decried that Nigerians were instead interested in ‘he cancelled the freest election, noting that he loved being criticised.

On whether is he is planning to write an autobiography, the former military president said, “People may not read it because it’s coming from a dictator. Yea, he cancelled June 12 and that will kill the thing about the book, but I will try.

“I hope one day if God spares my life I will discuss about it (June 12 elections) because I still believe people don’t get what we were trying to put across.”

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/16/nobody-gives-me-credit-for-conducting-nigerias-freest-election-ibb/

An FCT High Court, Kubwa, Abuja, on Monday dissolved a 10-year marriage between one Ekpolador Koinya and Onajero Gloria over her “aggressive nature.”

Justice Bello Kawu also ordered that Gloria return a 12 KVA Mikano generator and her daughter’s passport in her possession to the petitioner, Koinya‎.

Kawu added that both parties should stay away from each other’s work place.

‎The marriage, which was contracted at the Marriage Registry, Lagos State in February 1, 2008 produced two children.‎

Koinya had sought the dissolution of his marriage with Gloria on the grounds that the marriage had broken down due to her aggressive nature.

He also claimed that Gloria attacked him at the slightest excuse and had denied him his conjugal rights.

He prayed the court for the custody of their two children, an order for Gloria to stop using his name and for her to stay away from his dwelling place.

Gloria, in response, consented to the dissolution of the marriage on the grounds that Koinya behaved in a way that she was unable to live with.

http://punchng.com/court-dissolves-10-year-marriage-over-wifes-aggressive-nature/

THE Leadership of Arewa Youth Assembly, on Monday, vowed to mobilize widely for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

The youths, who therefore, warned the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly not to victimize and disband the Pro Buhari Senators with a view to promoting corrupt and unethical practices which the President stood against, further advised youths nationwide to get their Voters’ Cards ready to vote in good Nigerians and vote out selfish ones come 2019.

In a statement jointly signed by Speaker and Clerk of the Assembly, Mohammed Salihu and Desmond Minakaro respectively, a copy of which was made available to Tribune Online in Abuja, the youths said the recent suspension of Senator Ovie Omo Agege from the Senate for 90 Legislative days, and the refusal to take same appropriate action on Senators Dino Malaye, Shehu Sani, as well as Isah Misau and others for publicly insulting the number one citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his office, was no doubt a betrayal of the collective trust.

This act, according to the group, is totally undemocratic, unprofessional and selfish, which must be resisted at all means by patriotic Nigerians.

“Our National Assembly should be seen to be representing our interest and not politicizing and blacklisting well-thought initiatives for selfish gains.

“We will mobilize widely for the great change that will ensure that the President Buhari second term which we are working towards, comes with people of integrity as our representatives at all levels. Never again should we fold our arms and allow corruption fight back as presently seen in the Senate.

“The Leadership of Arewa Youth Assembly wish to draw the attention of well-meaning Nigerians to the ongoing plot by the Leadership of the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly to disband the Pro Buhari Senators with a view to promoting corrupt and unethical practices which President Muhammadu Buhari has always stood against. While we respect the independence of every arm of Government, it is important that such privilege should not be abused. The interest of the Nigerian citizens should always be of paramount importance.

“The Arewa Youth Assembly which is an important integral part of the country controlling more than two third of the Nigerian Youth population and belongs to the highest office in the country, which is the office of the citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with the power to decide who Governor represents their collective interest, has observed with keen interest the plan by the Senate President Bukola Saraki and others to discredit our able President Buhari.

“We demand the immediate suspension of Senator Abaribe for calling Mr President incompetent, which is an abuse on the office of the President and morally wrong of a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Under the very watch of the Senate President, our 8th National Assembly is turned into a Trade Union, where only a few individual interests are being promoted to the detriment of Nigerians.

“We, therefore, wish to call Senate President Saraki to order and urge him to redirect his actions towards the unity and progress of Nigeria or the Arewa Youth Assembly will mobilize to resist any further betrayal of its collective interest.” He declared.

http://www.tribuneonlineng.com/well-mobilise-widely-for-buharis-second-term-arewa-youths-vow/

Mr Femi Adesina says he has no doubt that President Muhammadu Buhari would be returned to office when he contests the general election in 2019.

Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics via Skype from the United Kingdom.

With just 306 days to the presidential poll, the President Buhari’s spokesman was confident that his principal would be re-elected six days after he declared his intention to contest the election.

“I have no doubt that Mr President will get re-elected,” Adesina stated. “He will get the party’s ticket and he will go for the general elections, and he will get re-elected; that is my confidence and a lot of Nigerians are with us in this.”



16 Years Of ‘Mess’
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) asked President Buhari, who is in the United Kingdom for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to inform other world leaders at the gathering of the alleged depressing state of affairs in Nigeria under his watch.

The party said this in a statement issued earlier today (Sunday) by their National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan.

“We urge President Buhari to resist the temptation of seeking to impress world leaders with false performance indices, but should present the real situation, particularly the pitiable state of our economy, escalated insecurity, human rights abuses, daily bloodletting, persecution of opposition and erosion of democratic values in the last three years,” they said,

Adesina, however, took a swipe at the opposition party and noted that the PDP does not have any moral right to talk about anything pertaining to the country.

According to him, the party is already holding the shorter end of the stick in Nigeria and by the time the elections end next year, they may not be holding on anything at all.

“They had the 16 years to improve the condition of Nigeria, they messed it up. They are learning to live in opposition, to play in opposition, they are not finding it funny because there is no free food again, no free funds again but they will be there (as opposition) for a very long time,” the presidential aide said.

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/15/no-doubt-buhari-will-be-re-elected-in-2019-adesina/

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, on Friday, dispersed members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria protesting the continued detention of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky.

The policemen also arrested an activist, and Convener of a civil society group, Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, who has been championing the daily rallies by the Shiite group for the release of their leader by the Federal Government.

Adeyanju was arrested at the Unity Fountain, Maitama, during a sit-out which was disrupted by the police officers who fired tear gas at the participants.

The activist’s arrest is coming a few days after the Buhari Media Support Group called for his detention over comments made by him on Channels Tv breakfast programme, Sunrise Daily against President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday.

The group, in a statement by its chairman and secretary, Austin Braimoh and Cassidy Madueke respectively, noted that during the programme, the activist claimed that President Buhari upon landing in the United Kingdom, was immediately whisked to a hospital.

BMSG noted that the statement was capable of inciting unrest and instability in the country.

“Deji Adeyanju is notorious for his mischief and falsehood. He does this deliberately to incite the public. He is also known for his media consultancy with the Islam Movement of Nigeria on whose platform he has called for civil unrest across the country against the government.

“He has also taken to the social media several times to make completely false statements against the government, most times implicitly calling for anarchy,” the statement said.

Adeyanju had in his reaction to the statement said, ”If they don’t arrest me, then they are lily-livered.”

The FCT police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah, has yet to respond to calls and SMS inquiring about Adeyanju’s arrest.

Details later…

http://punchng.com/police-disperse-shiite-protesters-arrest-activist/

The age-long clashes between herders and farmers in different parts of Nigeria has been exacerbated by influx of gunmen from the Sahel region, President Muhammadu Buhari has said.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday told the Archbishop of Canterbury, Most Reverend Justin Welby, that the crisis is older than his administration.

Responding to question by the Archbishop, Buhari said: “The problem is even older than us.’’

“It has always been there but now made worse by the influx of armed gunmen from the Sahel region into different parts of the West African sub-region.


“These gunmen were trained and armed by Muammar Gadaffi of Libya. When he was killed, the gunmen escaped with their arms. We encountered some of them fighting with Boko Haram.

“Herdsmen that we used to know carried only sticks and maybe a cutlass to clear the way, but these ones now carry sophisticated weapons.

“The problem is not religious, but sociological and economic. But we are working on solutions,” Buhari said.

In a statement which was signed by his special adviser on Media and Publicity, President Buhari also blamed “irresponsible politics” for the crisis.

He said politics has been brought into the farmers/herders’ crisis, but assured that enduring solutions would be found, and justice done to all concerned.

On the schoolgirl from Dapchi, Leah Sharibu, who is still being held by insurgents, reportedly because she refused to renounce her Christian faith, the President said the issue is being dealt with quietly.

“We are managing the matter quietly. Making noise would not help. We are collecting as much intelligence as possible, working with the Red Cross and other international organisations.

“There are too many fraudulent people around, who claim they can do this and that. We won’t deal with them. That was how we got the Dapchi girls back, and the Chibok girls,” he said

Archbishop Welby in response said it was always a delight to see President Buhari. He also gave assurance of support for the President.

“You have my best wishes on your recent decision. I read your declaration speech. We are neutral as a church, but we will pray for you. Great statesmen are those who run for the good of their country. We will be praying for you,” the Archbishop reassured President Buhari.

http://thenationonlineng.net/herders-farmers-clashes-compounded-by-sahels-gunmen-buhari/

The OurMumuDonDo Movement abundantly condemns and rejects the reelection declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and we wish to state unequivocally that we shall persistently, albeit non-violently, demand a better deal for Nigerians come 2019.

The OurMumuDonDo Movement is utterly dismayed by the self-seeking and vainglorious declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari to rerun for the office of the Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria in 2019.
This laughable declaration reeks of the unapologetic demeanor of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and their leader, President Muhammadu Buhari despite monumental failure. Even more, it has become obvious that there are more sycophants around President Buhari than truth-sayers.

At a time when the unemployment rate is pegged at 18.8%; when Nigerians are heartbreakingly dying in their thousands in the face of insurgency and unrest; when the freefalling of the economy is making life precariously uncomfortable for the common people, the least the President Buhari's administration could do is resign honorably. However, President Buhari and the bootlickers around him have failed to admit that leadership is not a game of grandstanding but an undertaking for solving problems.


Obviously, the plan of president Buhari and his political party is to irredeemably ruin Nigeria and further subject Nigerians to a life of hardship and innumerable crises. By failing to competently resolve the Boko Haram Insurgency, the Fulani Herdsmen crisis, the senseless kidnapping of innocent citizens, the unending economic misadventure, among other national tragedies besetting the country, President Buhari and his party have not only failed to display competent leadership, but have also failed to be remorseful for their failure. This arrogant, unsympathetic, and self-serving impunity must be punished by all well-meaning Nigerians at the polls in 2019.

The OurMumuDonDo Movement abundantly condemns and rejects the reelection declaration of President Muhammadu Buhari, and we wish to state unequivocally that we shall persistently, albeit non-violently, demand a better deal for Nigerians come 2019.

We wish to state emphatically, that in an era when the world is speedily gravitating towards youthful, innovative, and visionary leadership, Nigeria must completely reject the recycling of deceptive, primitive, incompetent, ailing, power-intoxicated and arrogant geriatrics whose only mission in governance is to sabotage the nation, plunder our commonwealth, and endlessly ramify the masses.

In conclusion, we hereby urge all Nigerian youths to get their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) - no matter how difficult, and enthusiastically participate in the democratic process by saying NEVER AGAIN to President Muhammadu Buhari's administration in Nigeria.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/04/10/ourmumudondo-movement-says-never-again-president-buharis-re-election-nigeria

Femi Adesina, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, says his principal’s 2011 statement that he will only be president for one term is not applicable anymore.

Speaking on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme on Tuesday, Adesina said Buhari entertained pleas for him to be president for the past one year before declaring his intentions.

“The other one of running one term was in 2011. When he was running in 2011 he said yes he will be a president for only one term but did he win in that year? No. The victory came in 2015. So that being quoted from 2011 is not applicable again,” Adesina said.

“There were a lot of convincing and appeals. I have sat in different meetings with different groups and the president and all of them the reason they came was that they run for a second term in office.

“And do you know that whenever the president reacted to this groups, he will pick every other thing he raised and he said the issue of a second term he will not say a word and that has been the past one year, these calls have started coming and he didn’t say a word. That reinforced my opinion that for him that it is not a do or die affair it is just a matter of serving the country.

“I think the president had just picked the right time to make his intentions known, whether it will affect governance or not depends on the personality of who is the president,” the president’s spokesman said.

“Don’t forget that under Obasanjo when the process was affecting governance, he read a riot act and said let’s concentrate on governance, President Buhari is just somebody like that, he will never allow politicking to affect governance.”



He said the president may be re-elected on his achievements in security, reviving the economy and fighting corruption.

“There certain things that he set out to do. Normally it comes up under three broad umbrellas. One is secure the country, two is fight corruption, three is revive the economy and I have said it in all three areas,” Adesina said.

“There are successes in all three of these areas. Except anybody is willfully blind. The willfully blind will never see, even if you put the thing right in front of his eyes. We are not talking to the willfully blind or deaf.”

https://www.thecable.ng/femi-adesina-buharis-second-term-declaration-bid-wont-affect-governance/

Ace photographer, Sunmi Smart Cole, on Thursday narrated how he was rough handled by President Muhammadu Buhari’s security detail during the colloquium to mark Senator Bola Tinubu’s birthday in Lagos.

Smart-Cole, 76, who is currently recovering from the injuries sustained during the beating in a hospital in Ikoyi, threatened to sue the Department of State Service (DSS).

The former head of photography in the presidency said he was revived by the former Governor, of Ogun State, Chief Segun Osoba, the Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, and the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha.

He said he was invited to the colloquium to take photographs, and that things were going on well until the president arrived and the place became rowdy.

“I was invited by the vice-president’s office. The vice-president told one of his assistants, Mrs. Uwais, the wife of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, to invite me to cover the event”, he told Thisday.

“When Buhari entered with about 50 security personnel, things changed. If you stood near them, they would give you elbow. At a time, I just told one of them, ‘I am an old man; I am actually 76 years old’.


“He said he didn’t care and directed another security official to make sure ‘this old man does not come near the president’. I had to take photographs from a distance.

“The security operatives around the president continued to push me until I became exhausted and I slumped because my legs became weak.

“I slumped right in front of Segun Osoba, Niyi Adebayo, the former Governor of Ekiti State; the Governor Tambuwal, and Governor Okorocha, who sat together, including the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki. They all saw me. I am the oldest working journalist in Nigeria.

“I slumped but I did not pass out. Prof. Pat Utomi and the Publisher of Ovation Magazine were detailed by Osoba to keep me seated, saying I get too excited when I carry camera. He seized my camera.”

Smart-Cole, however, disclosed that the doctors were not yet satisfied with his recovery and would spend more days there.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/04/06/buharis-security-detail-nearly-killed-veteran-journalist-smart-cole/

Presidential media adviser, Femi Adesina says those opposing or criticizing President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of one billion dollars for security funding are only playing politics with the lives of Nigerians.

The Minister of Defence, retired Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali had on Wednesday revealed that President Buhari had granted assent for the release of the one billion dollars fund for the procurement of security equipment to fight insecurity in the country.


Dan-Ali disclosed this when he spoke to State House correspondents after a security meeting involving President Buhari, heads of security agencies and service chiefs which was held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The National Economic Council (NEC) had in 2017 approved the (one billion dollars) amount to be sourced from the country’s excess crude account for the fight against insurgency and other violent criminal activities across the country.

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday condemned the presidential approval of the one billion dollars to procure military equipment to fight insurgency without recourse to the National Assembly.

The party made the condemnation in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja.

Mr Femi Adesina responded to the PDP’s condemnation of the approval in a special interview on Channels Television on Thursday night, saying that proper procedures for the release of the fund were being followed.

According to him, the president will soon communicate to the National Assembly through the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters about the matter.

He said: “As we speak now the communication to the National Assembly is about ready. Those who have been flexing muscles over the matter should just have bothered to make inquiries from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly matters.

“If they had inquired they would have been told that the communication would soon be on the way to the National Assembly.

“Talking about the timing, there is no timing that is not good for security. Every time is security time. Those who are reading political meaning into it is just unfortunate they play politics with everything and they will play politics with the very lives of Nigerians, which is very bad.’’

He dismissed the insinuation that the amount was too huge to be spent only on security matters, saying that no government could quantify the amount of funds being expended on security as no individual or government could quantify the value of human lives.

“It is not something that I think any government could begin to disclose. But we know that it is expensive. I remember that the Chief of Army Staff spoke about some trillions of naira recently – security is expensive but human life is much, much expensive,’’ he added.

NAN

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/04/critics-1b-security-fund-playing-politics-says-adesina/

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will soon commence the trial of those listed as “looters” in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the federal government, TheCable understands.

An EFCC official said presidency has directed the anti-graft agency to “swing into action” as controversies continue over the publication of a looters list by government.

“We are getting the case files ready,” the source said but refused to divulge specific details on those to be charged to court.

Many members of the party which formed government at the centre for 16 years are already facing corruption trial, but some were only quizzed.

But the party has continued to accuse the government of witch-hunting its members, an allegation the current administration denies.

The allegations and counter-allegations on corruption took a new dimension when Lai Mohammed, minister of information, released lists of “looters” last week.

Former governors, ex-senators and those who are not members of the PDP were also listed as looters.

Mohammed had said the government took the action as a response to the challenge of the opposition party.

“The PDP has challenged us to name the looters under their watch. They said they did not loot the treasury. Well, I am sure they know that the treasury was looted dry under their watch. Yet they decided to grandstand… Some of the people on this list are seeking to plea bargain, and that is a fact,” Mohammed had said.

Some of the key PDP members on the list were Uche Secondus, chairman of the party; Stella Oduah, senator representing Anambra north; Jonah Jang, senator representing Plateau north senatorial district; and Peter Nwaboshi, senator representing Delta north.

A majority of those mentioned had denied any wrongdoing and threatened to file legal action. Secondus had given Mohammed an ultimatum of 48 hours to withdraw the list and tender an apology.

Responding to the list, Kola Ologbondiyan, spokesman of the opposition party, said his party would expose “looters” in Buhari’s government.

Reno Omokri, a former aide of Jonathan, subsequently wrote an article detailing allegations levelled against some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and top government officials.

Apart from the PDP, critics have accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of being selective in its anti-graft war but the current administration has vehemently defended its record.

Here are the names on the “looters” list:


1 Former NSA, Sambo Dasuki $2.1billion military equipment
scandalA total of N126 billion, over $1.5 billion and 5.5 million
British Pounds was embezzled through his office

2 Former petroleum resources minister, Dieziani Alison-Madukwe N23 billion is alleged to have been embezzled

3 Rtd. Lt.-Gen. Kenneth Minimah N13.9 billion. N4.8 billion
recovered by EFCC in cash and property

4 Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika N4.5 billion. N29m recovered by the EFCC so far

5 Alex Barde, former chief of defence staff N8 billion, and EFCC recovered almost N4 billion in cash and property

6 Inde Dikko, former CG Customs N40 billion, and N1.1 billion in cash recovered in cash and choice properties

7 Air Marshal Adesola Amosun N21.4 billion. N2.8 billion recovered in cash
28 properties and 3 vehicles also recovered

8 Bala Mohammed, former FCT minister N5 billion. Interim forfeiture order on some property secured

9 Senator Stella Oduah N9.8 billion Interim forfeiture order on some property secured

10 Former Niger State governor, Babangida Aliyu N1.6 billion – from NSA

11 Former Plateau State governor, Senator Jonah Jang N12.5 billion

12 Bashir Yuguda, former minister of state for finance N1.5 billion
$829,800 recovered

13 Senator Peter Nwaboshi N1.5 billion

14 Former NSA Dasuki’s aide, Aliyu Usman N512 million

15 Former NSA Dasuki’s PA, Ahmad Idris N1.5 billion

16 Former Oyo governor, Rasheed Ladoja N500 million

17 Tom Ikimi N300 million

18 Femi Fani-Kayode N866 million

19 Former PPS to President Goodluck, Hassan Tukur $1.7 million

20 Nenadi Usman N1.5 billion

21 Benedicta Iroha N1.7 billion

22 Close ally of former NSA Dasuki, Aliyu Usman Jawaz N882 million

23 Godknows Igali Over N7 billion

24 PDP chairman Uche Secondus On the 19th of Feb 2015, he took N200 million only from the office of the NSA.

25 Former PDP financial secretary On the 24th of Oct 2014, he took N600 million only from the office of former NSA

26 Former national publicity secretary Olisah Metuh On trial for allegedly collecting N1.4bn from the office of former NSA

27 Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of DAAR Communications On trial for allegedly taking N2.1 billion from the office of the former NSA

28 Former SSA to president Goodluck Jonathan, Dudafa Waripamo-Owei On trial, over N830 million allegedly kept in accounts of four different companies

29 Former president Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin Robert Azibaola Allegedly collected $40 million from the office of former NSA

https://www.thecable.ng/exclusive-efcc-set-commence-mass-trial-pdp-looters/

Nigeria’s Service Chiefs have kept mum after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

President Buhari had cancelled the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting to hold discussions with the heads of security agencies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

At the end of the meeting which held behind closed doors, the security chiefs declined to brief State House correspondents about what was discussed.

Those present are the Minister of Defence, Brigadier General Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd); the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonosakin, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

Others are Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris.

See photo of the meeting Below;

https://www.channelstv.com/2018/04/04/service-chiefs-keep-mum-after-meeting-with-buhari/

The embattled Oluwo of Iwoland, Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has said that God is using those against his lifestyle (swag) to make him popular, insisting that he has the right as a king to bear the tag ’emir’ and other kingship titles in Nigeria.

The traditional leader recently attracted a backlash when reports emanated that he had decided to bear the tag of ’emir’ rather than the established title of ‘oba’.

The monarch flayed his critics while speaking on a radio programme on Rave FM in Osogbo on Tuesday. He said by his actions, he seeks to upgrade Yoruba culture.

“How can you abandon who you are? Can you abandon king for king? Oba is our own word. I am an Oba and I will remain Oba for life. I only said I can also be referred to as an Emir. I am the Emir of Yorubaland, I am the Igwe of Yorubaland and the Obi of Yorubaland. I can bear all titles of kings. We have to upgrade and update our traditional culture, else, we will go into extinction.”

Mr Akanbi said he has started a cultural revolution which makes him wear ’emir’ regalia sometimes. “The northern traditional rulers admired my Emir regalia whenever I put it on but (I am) not getting support from Yoruba Obas and people.

“By saying that I can also be addressed as emir, I talked metaphorically. But some ‘bad-belle’ (unpleasant mannered) people are condemning me and telling lies against me. My enemies are making me known. God is using my enemies to promote me. Some people don’t like the way I add swags. I can’t help them. I want to upgrade our culture. I promote ‘ofi’ dress and emirs love my dressing.”

The monarch has been criticised by different people and groups including Yoruba Youth Movement following his adoption of the emir title last weekend.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/263952-i-want-to-upgrade-yoruba-culture-oluwo-of-iwo.html/

Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose has faulted the list of alleged looters unveiled by the Federal Government which he described as “concocted and afterthought to cover the shame of the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.

Fayose alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was presiding over “the most corrupt government in the history of Nigeria and protecting looters of the country’s commonwealth.”

The Ekiti governor likened Buhari to a father who is protecting his children that are armed robbers but calling on security agents to arrest children of his neighbour for stealing meats from their mother’s pot,

Fayose in a statement on Monday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, insisted that the administration Buhari presides over lacks the moral justification to call some people “looters” alleging that his (Buhari’s) presidential nomination form was procured with looted cash.


He reiterated that Nigerians were more interested in their welfare, security of their lives and physical development of the country than tales of concocted lists of corrupt Nigerians, who are only corrupt in the estimation of the government because they do not belong to the APC.

Fayose said: “With the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, saying that corruption has become more endemic in Nigeria than it was in the last 16 years.

“With the country moving 12 places below its rating, a honourable government would have stopped using fight against corruption as its major achievement and releasing names of people that are still under trial as looters just to cover up its failure.

“The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) never pretended to Nigerians that it had corrupt people in its fold and the party never protected them. Today, the party has gone ahead to offload the corrupt elements into the APC and they were not only accepted gladly into the party, they were given prominent appointments by the President.”

“For any lists of alleged looters to be credible, the President, who is protecting looters should be number one while those looters in his government should follow.

“His nomination form was bought with proceeds of corruption and those who bought the form and financed his election were paid back with the return of all their seized properties, ministerial appointments and even disappearance of prosecution witnesses in EFCC cases.


“A government that reinstated and promoted Abdullahi Maina, who was declared wanted for corrupt practices by the International Police Organisation, (INTERPOL) and dismissed in 2013 for alleged N2.1 billion pension fraud and used APC broom to sweep the $25 billion contracts scam in the NNPC under the carpet is nothing but a government of plunderers and that is the clear definition of Buhari’s government.

“It was in this same government that the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole suspended the National Health Insurance Scheme Executive Secretary, Professor Usman Yusuf for alleged corruption and the President recalled him even without the knowledge of the Minister.

“Up till today, nothing has happened to the probe panel on the allegedN500 million bribery said to have been paid to the President’s Chief of Staff (COS), Abba Kyari by officials of MTN to influence government to discontinue its heavy stance on the $5 billion fine imposed on the company.

“Therefore, no matter how hard they try now, they can no longer hoodwink Nigerians with their deceit of fight against corruption. Even APC Senator, Shehu Sani once said that the President uses insecticide to fight corruption involving his perceived political opponents, but use deodorant when it comes it affects his own men.”

http://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-presiding-corrupt-govt-history-fayose/

Kabiru Seidu a.k.a Osama, the last of the suspected criminals linked to Dino Melaye, a Senator representing Kogi West was allegedly planned and coordinated their escape from Police cell with the aid of some Nigeria Police officers at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad in Lokoja has been rearrested.

Osama was one of six suspects who broke jail last week, others include Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed they all escaped from ‘A’ Division of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) detention in Lokoja in Kogi state, where they were being held pending their court appearance with Mr. Melaye who was also been declared wanted by the police.

Kabiru was arrested in Bauchi on Sunday night and has since been taken to Abuja by police detectives. Police sources said they've now arrested all the jailbreakers who colluded with Senator Melaye to destabilize Kogi state. Since the rearrest of the criminals a few days ago, Melaye has not said a word although he gave the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun an ultimatum to produce the fleeing criminals during a Senate plenary last week.

http://saharareporters.com/2018/04/02/osama-last-jailbreaking-high-profile-killer-linked-senator-dino-melaye-arrested

Some angry constituents have attacked Garba Hamman Julde, a member of the house of representatives from Taraba state.

Julde represents Bali/Gassol federal constituency in the lower legislative chamber.

The constituents on Saturday reportedly hurled stones at the lawmaker for allegedly abandoning them. He had presented 11 motorcycles and one car to the ward executives and local government chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bali local government.

Before security operatives scuttled him to safety, the lawmaker had sustained injury.

Musa Sandirde, a witness, said that the lawmaker was attacked just as he finished a speech and moved to present keys to the car and motorcycles to Bali executives.

Sandirde said the constituents vowed not to reelect him in 2019.

“Trouble started after he ended his speech at the rostrum and was making way to present key of the motorcycles to the beneficiaries,” he said

“There and then, some youth started chanting ‘ba mu so’ in Hausa while at the same time throwing sand, stones and sachets of pure water at him. Police then quickly intervened and moved him to safety.”

On his part, Ibrahim Daka, a party executive of Bali LGA, wondered why the lawmaker would “abandon his people for two years and show up to present to present a car and motorcycles to a few people.”

“He has completely abandoned the people that sent him to Abuja. For more than two years, he went missing, only for him to show up this weekend to say he was presenting eleven motorcycles and one car toward and LGA party chairmen,” Daka said.

“He did that because election is here and they are the people who will serve as delegates to elect party flagbearers again. But the people he abandoned turned against him and showed their anger.

“How can you abandon the people and come here to give bicycles to a few people? We are not happy with him and we made our position clear to him.”

Julde could not be reached for comments but one of his aides who did not want his name mentioned confirmed the attack to TheCable.

He said the lawmaker would address reporters later in the day.

https://www.thecable.ng/house-of-reps-member-stoned-in-taraba/

Kayode Fayemi, minister of mines and steel, has joined the 2018 governorship race in Ekiti state.

Fayemi, who lost his re-election bid four years ago, asked Ekiti people to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

He said the PDP-led government in Ekiti was bereft of ideas and had nothing good to offer.

The minister said the July election would be an opportunity to halt the “brigandage and maladministration” going on in the state.

He added that the new APC government in the state would restore all the local Council development areas (LCDAs) created by his administration, and which was cancelled by the PDP government.

Fayemi spoke at his residence in Ishan-Ekiti on Saturday.

“I will run for the governorship of our state. As a leader of the party, I am going to follow the due process as laid down by our party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),” he said.

“This includes formal notification of the leadership of the party, presentation of letter of intent at the state secretariat and a public declaration.”

He said the state government’s “controversial white paper” could not stop him from contesting the election.

Fayemi added that he was aware of speculations about whether he would run for the governorship or not, explaining that last week’s release of guidelines and timetable for the election convinced him that the time had come to make a formal declaration and join the race has come.

In January, the Ekiti state government barred Fayemi from holding public office for at least 10 years.

The government based its action on the report of the judicial commission of inquiry which indicted Fayemi over alleged mismanagement of the state’s finances between October 2010 and 2014 when he was in power.

Fayemi, a member of the APC, will be contending with Babafemi Ojudu, an adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari for the party ticket.

During an interview with TheCable in December, Fayemi was asked if he would run for governorship but he said he was still on duty.

https://www.thecable.ng/fayose-nothing-good-offer-says-fayemi-joins-governorship-race/

Days after Governor of Taraba State, Darius Ishaku said the Buhari administration and the military were aware of security threats as well as soldiers’ misconduct but chose to do nothing, the state has again berated the federal government.

Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Dan Bala Abu at the weekend told journalists that although there was relative peace, the state government did not have confidence in the security apparatus of the national government.


He said that the people were continually losing faith in the ability of the present crop of security personal deployed in the state to conduct their affairs in a just and equitable manner.

Abu insisted that the people were not satisfied with the way the military posted to quell the security crisis in Taraba state were harassing them and even collecting their kitchen knives while attackers wielding sophisticated weapons like AK-47 were allowed to go on a killing spree.

“What we are saying is that even the relative peace we are enjoying now, we still do not have confidence in the military.

“We are saying that we have lost confidence in the military because nothing has been done to all our complaints that people were being disarmed and that the military are discriminating in the way they doing it.

“They collect their kitchen knives from them while they leave the other persons who are carrying AK-47. So where is the justice in this matter? That’s why we are saying that we have lost confidence.

“We have the right to say that the people that were posted to restore peace are not doing what is expected of them, that they are biased. It is left for them to find out what is wrong and do what they have do to correct the wrongs being done,” he said.

It would be recalled that retired General TY Danjuma, a Taraba indigene, had advised Nigerians to defend themselves before killer herdsmen wipe them out.

Danjuma, who spoke last Saturday at the maiden convocation ceremony of Taraba State University in Jalingo, the capital, called on the people to rise against “ethnic cleansing”.


“You must rise to protect yourselves from these people, if you depend on the armed forces to protect you, you will all die.

“This ethnic cleansing must stop in Taraba, and it must stop in Nigeria,” Danjuma warned.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/03/31/military-seizes-villagers-knives-protects-ak-47-bearers-taraba-blasts-buhari-govt/

Following the release of 2018 UTME results by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, another candidate has emerged with the highest score so far.

He is Esan Ibukunoluwa Caleb of Shepherd International College, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.


The 17-year-old student pulled a total score of 351

Breakdown shows that he sat for English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and scored 78, 91, 97 and 85 respectively.

A terse statement by the school on Saturday shows that his JAMB number is 85346758FD.

Esan’s examination centre was Ekiti State University ICT centre.


Also, the teenage’s career in view is Computer Science.

JAMB recently announced the release of the final batch of the 2018 UTME result.

Candidates were advised to their JAMB result on www.jamb.org.ng

http://dailypost.ng/2018/03/31/jamb-result-shepherd-international-college-student-scores-351-2018-utme/

Kwara state governor, Alhaji AbdulFattah Ahmed has pledged to appoint a Special Assistant, Fulani Affairs, to represent MIYETTI ALLAH in his administration.

The appointment, which would be done within the next two weeks, was made at an enlarged meeting of the state’s security committee held on Tuesday in Ilorin, the state capital.

A communiqué issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Secretary to the State Government, Alhahi Isiaka God said the appointment would also serve to ease communication between members of MIYETTI ALLAH, the government and local farmers.


The meeting, according to the communiqué, also agreed to discourage stakeholders from criminalizing herdsmen under the umbrella of MIYETTI ALLAH as well as ascribing criminality to a tribe particularly in information dissemination and called on the Federal Government to optimally utilize the forest reserves in Kwara State and those of the neighbouring States currently providing undue shelter for criminals.

The meeting was attended by members of the State Security Committee, Chairpersons of the 16 Local Government Councils, all First Class Traditional Rulers in the State, the leadership of Miyetti Allah, and Seriki Fulani from the 16 Local Government Areas in the State as well as those of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Kwara State Chapter.

According to the communiqué, during the meeting, each of the major stakeholders bore their minds on issues that could instigate conflict between the Herdsmen and Farmers. Some of those issues exhaustively deliberated upon are: night grazing, grazing on farmlands, attack on the cattle of herdsmen, among a host of others.

The 14-point communiqué indicated that participants agreed to, “stem the rising and alarming tide of security challenges confronting five of the 16 Local Government Areas in the State: Ekiti, Baruten, Kaiama, Ilorin South and Ifelodun LGAs; encourage the sustenance of arrangements between Herdsmen and Farmers to pay due compensation when either side’s properties are destroyed, for the protection of the interest of aggrieved parties without resorting to self-help;


“improve communication among MIYETTI ALLAH, Farmers and Security Agents in the State for better understanding of mode of operations of all parties for sustained peace; stem the tide of night grazing forthwith due to its potential to stir up problems among the stakeholders;

“discourage stakeholders from criminalizing herdsmen under the umbrella of MIYETTI ALLAH as well as ascribing criminality to a tribe particularly in information dissemination; appeal to the Federal Government to initiate a funding policy on ranching system that will allow the Herdsmen (i) rear their cattle without encroaching on farm lands; and (ii) have access to credit facilities at single digit rates for enhanced operations;

“improve synergy of communication among MIYETTI ALLAH, Farmers and Security Agencies; encourage MIYETTI ALLAH to carry all and sundry along in all their activities and properly identify their members to avoid demonizing and criminalizing the innocent;


“sufficiently create wealth from cattle rearing and cropping through efficient and profitable use of all parts of both businesses and solidify friendship between the Herdsmen and the Farmers; ensure that new settlers are disallowed on any parcel of land in Kwara State unless such is properly profiled, identified and with due communication from where such originate from and with the knowledge of the affected traditional ruler;

“local government councils and traditional rulers to promote community involvement in policing by all citizens and residents through surveillance and provision of timely information to the Security Agencies to enable them apprehend and prosecute suspected criminals”.


https://newtelegraphonline.com/2018/03/kwara-governor-to-appoint-a-special-assistant-on-miyetti-allah/

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, apparently tired of calling on the Federal Government to release its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has begged Nigerians to lend their voices to the call for his release.

Kanu had in September last gone missing after soldiers stormed his home in Afara Ukwu, near Umuahia in Abia State.


The military authorities had severally denied taking Kanu, but IPOB insistently said that the soldiers acting on orders from above had taken Kanu with them during their visit.

In a press release signed by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB wondered why Nigerians were keeping quiet since Kanu’s disappearance last year.

The group said Kanu showed courage and spoke against the injustice in the country, and remained the only strong voice of the Igbo and Christians, the reason the federal government planned his disappearance.

The group expressed unhappiness that the same people Kanu fought for have failed to ask the federal government to produce him.

Part of the release which was sent to DAILY POST in Awka reads: “It is unfortunate that APC Government led by Major General Muhammadu Buhari arrested and jailed him for two years without trial and later kidnapped him and kept him without traces since 14th September 2017 because he saw ahead and spoke out without fear or favour.

“He was hunted like an antelope for standing firm on the way to the truth that led and moved the Nigerian Authority and her security operatives including those unscrupulous politicians in Abuja to kidnapp him since last year without any well meaning Nigerian asking questions for his whereabouts because he looked the cabals and jihadists in the eyes and called them what they are.

“He was betrayed because he looked at his brothers and sisters who have become slaves of the Hausa Fulani Caliphate in the eyes and told them they were nothing but slaves.

“He was hated by a few who are suffering from identity crisis because he tried to liberate them from mental and physical slavery.

“Nigerians and Africa at large need to celebrate the leader of IPOB, prophet Nnamdi Kanu. It is now categorically clear to all that three years after the prophecies of our leader is playing out like a movie and manifesting before our very eyes.

“All the prophecies and declarations of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu have come to pass, the recent scenario and statement from Rtd General T.Y Danjuma has clearly shown that Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB is the only good thing that happened to Christians in Nigeria particularly Southern Nigeria and Middle Belt region,” the release stated.
Ends.

http://dailypost.ng/2018/03/28/ipob-angry-nigerians-keeping-quiet-kanus-disappearance/

Adelani Adepegba, Abuja
Following the escape of six suspects from custody early this morning, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the immediate removal of Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Ali Janga.

He also redeployed the Commander, Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad in the state, the Divisional Police Officer ‘A’ Division, Lokoja and other police officers implicated in the escape for negligence, dereliction of duty and gross misconduct.

The IG in a statement by the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, explained that the policemen are all facing serious disciplinary action.

Details later.

http://punchng.com/breaking-ig-removes-kogi-cp-over-escape-of-six-suspects/