₦airaland Forum

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE


The police have arrested a housewife and detained her at Area M Command, Idimu for allegedly selling four out of her five children to different buyers as goods without the knowledge of her husband in Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the woman simply identified as Vicky was arrested following a petition by her husband to the Area Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Austines Akika.

Police sources said the suspect was selling the children one after the other and successfully sold four remaining a child.

It was learnt that she lied to her husband that she took the kids to their relation until the husband later discover she has sold them to some undisclosed buyers.

The secret came to the open recently after she sold the last child for N400,000 and her husband was tipped by their neighbour who knew about it.

Thus, the husband reported to the police and she was arrested and detained at the Command Cell.

She was said to have already confessed to the police while efforts were already being made to rescue the children and arrest the buyers.

However, P.M.EXPRESS investigations about how the woman has successful carried out the illegal sales without her husband knowing revealed that the husband, who rented an apartment in Idimu area of Alimosho local government, was working outside Lagos, where he stays during the week and only return home weekend or monthly.

It was gathered while the husband was away, the woman plotted to be selling those children and deceived her husband they were taken to their relations.

Our correspondent learnt that the husband on his own tried to locate the relations where the wife claimed she took those children to was fruitless.

This makes the man to be suspicious before it was finally exposed.

When our correspondent visited Area M Command, Idimu, the suspect was still detained at the cell.

However, the Area Commander, ACP Akika was not around to comment on the matter.

All efforts to speak with the suspect and for more details was unsuccessful as the police declined to disclose any information.

However, it was gathered at the Command that the police was unwilling to give any information pending the arrest of the buyers and conclusion of investigation.

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In the morning while Temitope was still sleeping because of the romp, Benson reportedly stole her bag containing phone and cash worth N150,000 and escaped

A Lagos-based lawyer, Femi Falana, on Thursday blasted former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his vice, Atiku Abubakar, over their ownership of private universities.

Speaking at the launch of civic media lab, a joint project of citizen platforms Sahara Reporters and Budgit, Mr. Falana said the pension benefits of Messrs. Obasanjo and Abubakar are not enough to build a primary school, yet they own universities.

Commenting on how leaders appropriate illegal wealth to themselves while in office, Mr. Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, questioned where the former leaders got their monies from.

He explained that politicians advocating for restructuring of the nation are the same men who “restructured” the economy of Nigeria against the common people.

Mr. Falana said, “These guys who have restructured the economy of Nigeria. Or you are not aware that these guys restructured the economy of Nigeria to the extent that Nigeria is the only country today where former heads of states openly own universities.

“Have you ever heard of that anywhere in the world?,” he said, noting that “the likes of Obasanjo, Atiku, Babangida and others, own universities, and of course, the man who is now pushing for restructuring, Atiku, has a university as well.

“None of these guys worked outside the government. One was a customs officer, the others were soldiers; their pension cannot establish a primary school, not to talk of a university,” he argued.

Calling on young Nigerians to use the instrumentality of the new media to change the narrative, Mr. Falana said there is enough frustration on ground already.

“For young people, I think there is enough provocation on the part of the ruling class,” he said.

Mr. Obasanjo owns Bells University of Technology, Ota, in Ogun state, while Mr. Abubakar is the founder of American University of Nigeria in Yola, Adamawa state.

The Rivers State Police Command has confimed the arrest of one David for setting his lover ablaze over accusations of infidelity.

Spokesman of the Command, Nnamdi Omoni in a statement alleged that David emptied a keg of kerosene on his lover, Uchechi Okorie and set her ablaze.

He said Uchechi was badly burnt, adding that she was currently being treated at a private hospital.

Omoni also confirmed that the police burst an internet and cyber crime syndicate who specializes in hacking accounts of unsuspecting citizens and robbing them of huge sums of money.

He said the duo of Stephen Ikatubo and Michael Basil were arrested after they had successfully withdrawn huge sums of money from a new generation bank in Port Harcourt.

According to Omoni, “the CP Monitoring Unit headed by SP Grace Wonwu and her Team during the week arrested one David A.

“David inflicted grievous bodily harm on his live –in- lover, one Uchechi Jane Okorie by willfully emptying a bottle of kerosene on her and lighting fire, which got her burnt beyond recognition.

“The victim is responding to treatment while the suspect is helping the Police in Investigation and will be due in court soonest.”

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to apply for the final forfeiture of choice properties allegedly owned by former First Lady Patience Jonathan.

But the commission has been having difficulty in getting the original titles of the assets. They include Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa and eight others.

The anti-graft commission may ask the court to compel the agencies with the titles in Bayelsa and Rivers states to release them.

The assets in Bayelsa are two marble duplexes at Otioko GRA by Isaac Boro Expressway; a Glass House on Sani Abacha Expressway; Akemfa Etie Plaza by AP filling Station, Melford Okilo Road; and Aridolf Resort, Wellness and Spa on Sani Abacha Expressway.

Others in Port Harcourt are former Customs Service Officers Mess; two duplexes at 2/3, Bauchi Street; landed property with blocks at Ambowei Street; 3 Luxury apartments of four-bedroom each at Ambowei Street; and Grand View Hotel on Airport Road.

The EFCC might consider non-conviction options to recover suspicious assets allegedly traced to the ex-First Lady, it was learnt.

A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Investigations into the assets traced to the ex-First Lady have been completed. What is left is retrieving the land titles of these suspicious assets. But some land registries are not cooperating with us.

”We cannot allow these assets to continue to deteriorate. Very soon, we will apply for the final forfeiture of the affected assets – in line with our mandate. We will apply to the court for the final forfeiture of the assets to give room for those who owned the properties to come forward. We want to put the assets into public use like we have done in some cases of those implicated in the $2.1billion arms deals.

Responding to a question, the source said: “ Acting on orders from above, some officers in the Ministry of Lands in Rivers State have been blocking EFCC’s access to vital documents.

“If they continue, we will take action against such officers for obstructing this agency from doing its work.

“We have made them to realise that by virtue of Section 7 of the EFCC Act , these officers are expected to cooperate with us.”

Section 7 of the EFCC Act states: “The commission has power to (a) cause any investigations to be conducted as to whether any person, corporate body or organisation has committed any offence under this Act or other law relating to economic and financial crimes.

“(b) Cause investigations to be conducted into the properties of any person if it appears to the commission that the person’s lifestyle and extent of the properties are not justified by his source of income.”

It was learnt that the ex-First Lady had not been interrogated in line with a deal brokered by the Abdulsalami Abubakar Peace Committee.

Another source said: “Part of the deal was that any loot or suspicious asset traced to the former first family might be mutually discussed and quietly returned.

“But the deal went awry when the ex-First Lady decided to approach the court to seek the enforcement of her fundamental human rights and to challenge the freezing of her accounts.”

From: Kemi Yesufu, Abuja


A mild drama played out, on Wednesday, in the House of Representatives, as Hon. Uchechuku Nnam-Obi, the sponsor of a motion on the need for the Federal Government to submit reports to the National Assembly on recovered Funds and Asset,” walked out in anger after the motion was withdrawn without his prior knowledge.

The decision of the House to drop the motion, the 9th on the Order Paper for Wednesday’s business was met with surprise among lawmakers as the action went contrary to the tradition of the Green Chamber.

When contacted by Daily Sun, Hon. Nnam-Obi who is representing, Ahaoda-West/Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Federal Constituency of Rivers State, declined comment.

Though the motion was read by Speaker Yakubu Dogara, rather than the sponsor’s move for the withdrawal by himself, it was the Acting Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Bode Ayorinde, who was asked to proceed and he promptly moved for the withdrawal of the motion without giving any reason.

The Speaker obliged him and ruled in favour of the withdrawal.

Moments after the Speaker hit the gavel, signaling that he had ruled on the motion, Hon. Nnam-Obi left the chambers without any protest.

The lawmaker, in his debate as contained in the Order Paper, said it had become necessary for the Federal Government to furnish the National Assembly with full details of the recovered loot and what it has been used for, owing to keenness with Nigerians have followed the anti-corruption war.

Besides the 30 days ultimatum he proposed for the Presidency to submit the list of recoveries to the National Assembly, Nnam-Obi urged the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure that quarterly reports on the various amounts and assets recovered are submitted to the National Assembly.

The lawmaker commended the Federal Government for confronting corruption in an effective manner, noting that in order to ensure proper monitoring of recovered assets and funds, a Presidential Committee on Recovered Assets was set up under the leadership of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, with the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, the Department of State Service (DSS) and Presidential Advisory Committee on War Against Corruption as members of the committee.

“We however have to take cognisance of the fact that considering the importance of the recovered funds to the revival of the nation’s economy and the interest being shown by many Nigerians in the matter, there is a need for the Federal Government to submit to the National Assembly Reports on the amount and assets so far recovered and how they are being ploughed back into the economy,” he noted.

Committees on Special Duties and Financial Crimes were to be mandated to ensure implementation as part of the proposed resolution.

Despite being dropped unceremoniously, the motion could still be presented in the future as it was not debated and put on negative.

Femi Makinde, Osogbo


Rampaging Nigerian Air Force Institute of Safety, Ipetu Ijesa, have continued their assault and brutalisation of students of the Osun State University in the town.

Our correspondent gathered that the military men later stormed the private hostels where students of the institution live , beat them up and injured some of them.

It was gathered that the airmen invaded the university campus twice on Tuesday. Not satisfied with the level of brutalisation on their victims, they later invaded the hostels and injured some of the students.

A student told our correspondent on the telephone that a 400 level student of the university, Francis Olajide Olanubi, was wounded with a machete by the irate military men.

The Dean, Student Affairs, UNIOSUN, Dr . Adebimpe Adigun , confirmed the fresh attack to our correspondent on Wednesday morning.

She said, ” They called me again that the Air Force men went to various hostels where our students live and started attacking them again . I was told that one of our students was macheted . He was taken to the school clinic for treatment.

Our correspondent gathered that the crisis started when some Air Force men beat and detain a student believed to be one of the Internet fraudsters in the school.

The source said, “ There are Yahoo boys in our school and they usually settle men of the Special Anti - Robbery Squad whenever they come. At times, the boys would call the policemen that they should come for the ‘ settlement. ’

“ The SARS came, as usual , yesterday but one of the Yahoo boys ran away to the Air Force institute to stay with his friends. He was accused of not contributing to the money to settle the police before he ran away.

“His friends went to see him there and demanded that he should contribute his quotas but his Air Force friends said these boys should leave the guy. The guys also asked the Air Force men to stay out of the matter. The insult was said to have infuriated the Air Force men , who descended on the boys. One of the boys was seriously beaten and was detained.

”They beat him and detained him there.

Some students, who heard of this mobilised and wanted to go there to free him but the lecturers prevented the students. The Air Force men probably thought the students were going to attack them when this was going on and they came and invaded the campus and beat up everybody."

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A police inspector and two brothers have been killed during Kilajolu Festival at the Ibeju- Lekki area of Lagos State. The Saturday clash started after some youths from Ilagbo community and Oriyanrin fought at Kilajolu Festival at Ilagbo. Two brothers were killed in the mayhem were several others were injured.

A police inspector, who responded to distress call, was also hacked to death.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, explained that the clash started at a masquerade festival, between two youths from different communities.

Youths from Oriyanrin allegedly started causing trouble just as the festival was about to start. Elders of Ilagbo were said to have chastised and sent them away. The Oriyanrin youths, angry at being sent away from the festival, allegedly laid ambush for some Ilagbo youths.

They pounced on the boys who were returning from the festival and hacked one of them identified as Ismaila to death. The late Ismaila’s brother, Matanle, who went to evacuate the remains of his brother, was also hacked to death. When the mayhem erupted, some residents were said to have sent a distress call to the nearest police station.

The police inspector and other policemen were drafted to the scene. The rampaging crowd pounced on the policemen. Others escaped, but the inspector was not so lucky.

His body, which was later retrieved, was covered with machete cuts. The murder of the two brothers angered Ilagbo youths.

The Ilagbo youths carried out reprisal on Oriyanrin community, burning houses, vehicles and property valued at millions of naira. At least 16 houses, many vehicles and motorcycles were torched.

One of the residents, Mr. Moriu Made, described the incident as unfortunate.
He said: “In fact because of my ill health, I couldn’t run when the youth from Ilagbo invaded our community.
They burnt my house and that of my younger brother.

Houses of some other residents were also burnt. I don’t know where to start from. My family members have run away. I’m the only person left in the community. I have not eaten for three days. Government should please provide adequate security for us.”

A 102-year-old man was also sighted, abandoned in the deserted community.

Owoseni warned the residents against communal clashes. He said: “We will make sure there is no reprisal in the community.
The traditional rulers need to do something.

The elders in this community should be ashamed of themselves. The police helped you to settle clashes, but you went ahead to kill an inspector. “Nothing stops you from organising a vigilance group with the police.

Instead, your children go behind to kill policemen. Policemen also have families. You know the solution.

If you don’t want peace to reign, we will handle it with force. You need to give us assurance that you are ready to defend your community; security starts with you.

You’ll never see policemen carry guns in civilised countries, except in a community where hoodlums are rampant.

You should establish cordial relationship with investors to enjoy corporate social responsibility, not kill.” Owoseni disclosed that two persons had been arrested in connection with the crisis

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Eniola Akinkuotu and Chukwudi Akasike


The acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Magu , says there are many people in authority claiming to be supporting the war against corruption but are doing the opposite.

He also slammed those calling on the EFCC not to put too much focus on punishment of politically- exposed persons.

Incidentally, Senate President Bukola Saraki had at the public presentation of Senator Dino Melaye's book titled, ‘Antidotes to Corruption, ’ asked anti -corruption agencies to concentrate on prevention of corruption rather than punishment of corrupt persons.

Magu, while addressing a crowd during the EFCC stakeholders’ walk against corruption in Abuja on Tuesday, said the anti -corruption war was being frustrated by those who should ordinarily protect the poor masses.

He said, “It is time to weep for those who believe they can perpetually hold down Nigeria as a cow and milk her to death . It is time to weep for supposed men and women of honour who pose as corruption fighters but when they think we are not looking , they plot and fund the collapse of the anti - corruption war. ”

Magu added, “ While most of us who feel the pains of corruption are asking for more vigour in the fight, the cabal profiting from corruption would want the campaign watered down. While many Nigerians are calling for stiffer punishment for the corrupt, the patrons of corruption now tell us that it does not pay to punish the corrupt.”
The EFCC boss urged Nigerians to join the corruption war by embracing the whistle - blower policy of the Federal Government.

The walk , which lasted three hours, started from the EFCC head office in Wuse 2 through the Unity Fountain , Maitama and the Federal Secretariat.

The walk also took place in all the EFCC zonal offices located across the six geo - political zones.

In Lagos, the President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Joe Okei- Odumakin, called on Nigerians to continue to expose corruption, saying it is necessary to preserve the future of the country.

Okei- Odumakin, a leading female rights activist , also described corruption as “ cancerous. ’’

In his address, the Chairman of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said the walk was an expression of sheer determination to wipe out corruption from Nigeria.

Adeniran, who said Nigeria stood a chance of reclaiming her lost image through the current anti - graft crusade, further urged Nigerians to support the efforts of Magu to rid Nigeria of corruption.

Also , the Leader of Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, Inibehe Effiong, said the current decadence in Nigeria could only be eradicated through a sustained war against corruption.

In a similar event in Rivers State, Magu said he was not afraid of anybody in the ongoing fight against corruption.

Magu , who declared that he had no fear in his DNA, said he would not succumb to pressure no matter how highly placed those involved in corrupt practices might be.

The acting EFCC chairman , who spoke through the Zonal Head of the commission, South - South, Mr. Ishaq Salihu, during a walk against corruption in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, maintained that everybody was equal before the law.

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The situation worsened when the nurse abandoned him at the school’s clinic for three days without making an effort to ameliorate his condition.

By Samuel Oyadongha & Emem Idio


YENAGOA— A 26-year-old lady, identified as Miss Deborah Eteh, was bathed with substance suspected to be acid on Tombia Road by Edepie, Bayelsa State, by her ex-boyfriend, who came in from Rivers State.

It was gathered that both of them were in a relationship in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, before the victim, Deborah, pulled out of the relationship and relocated to Yenagoa.

The suspect is said to have traced his victim from Port Harcourt to Yenagoa, where he bathed the victim with substance suspected to be acid.

Following the alarm raised by the victim’s neighbours, residents of the area apprehended the suspect, who is currently being detained at a police station in the state capital.

The victim was rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa, where she is receiving treatment.

Contacted, spokesman of the state Police Command, Asinim Butswat, who could not confirm the incident, sent an SMS, saying “I cannot talk right now, I will get back to you.”
He had not done so at press time.

…murder in Bayelsa

In another development, it was yet another gory weekend in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as gunmen shot dead one Jackson Olali at the popular Tombia-Amassoma Road at 10:30p.m.

A relative of the victim said Jackson Olali had returned from his home town of Nembe that evening, before he went out to charge his mobile phone where he met his untimely death, as the gunmen suspected to be assassin shot him on the head.

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Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja


The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has seized 18 houses in an estate allegedly belonging to Alhaji Aliyu Usman , an associate of the embattled former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

Usman as well as two companies linked to him - Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited and Nordeen Global Resources – were among 300 others listed as persons who allegedly received contracts from the Office of the National Security Adviser .

The EFCC said Musa allegedly diverted N 897 m he received from the ONSA fund and allegedly used it to construct the estate .
The inscription, ‘ EFCC, Keep Off !’ was seen on the 18 terrace houses in the estate which is located at Mbora District , Abuja.

Usman also allegedly used part of the money to buy a three bed- roomed flat at OAU Quarters Wuse 2 Abuja.

The EFCC said, “ The EFCC is investigating the involvement of Aliyu Usman, who is linked with Leaderettehe Nigeria Limited and Nordeen Global Resources for their involvement in the monumental fraud that allegedly took place in the Office of the National Security Adviser during the regime of the embattled Col. Sambo Dasuki.

“The two companies allegedly received about N 897 m from the arms deal funds from ONSA and diverted part of the money in the construction of an estate with 18 unit blocks of flats at Mbora District Abuja and another for the purchase of a three bed- roomed flat at OAU Quarters Wise II Abuja."

A committee set up to probe contracts awarded by the NSA from 2011 to 2015 had last year indicted more than 300 companies and prominent citizens including serving and retired officers of the armed forces.

Mallam Garba Shehu , a spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari , had said in March last year that over N 7bn had been recovered so far from the indicted companies and individual.

Another N41bn is to be refunded by the indicted companies while further investigation by the EFCC had been ordered to determine whether another N75bn should be recovered from some of the companies for unexecuted or partially executed contracts.

The statement said the committee further established that one of the indicted companies, Societe D’ Equipment International , was overpaid to the tune of €7.9m and $7.09m.

The committee discovered that there was a total disregard of key provisions of the Public Procurement Act in the award of contracts by ONSA.

“ Several contractors were apparently overpaid, while others were given full upfront payments contrary to their contract terms and agreements in force, ” Garba had said.

Over 30 persons and companies are under prosecution by the EFCC for their alleged role in the scam while a few others have since fled the country.

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Electricity supply would be disrupted in many parts of Lagos this week as Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Monday announced five days power outage in the city.

EKEDC spokesman, Godwin Idemudia, said in a statement that the outage would affect Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Lagos Island from Wednesday to Sunday.

Idemudia said that the outage was to enable maintenance crew from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) address technical and maintenance issues at Alagbon transmission station.

“We want to inform our esteem customers that from Wednesday, May 24 to Sunday, May 28, there will be an outage within Ikoyi, Victoria Island and parts of Lagos Island.

“This is to enable TCN maintenance crew resolve some technical issues within Alagbon transmission stations,’’ EKEDC said.The EKEDC spokesman said that the company highly regretted any inconveniences caused by the five-day outage.

He promised that supply would be restored to the affected areas as soon as the maintenance was successfully completed.

Nemesis has caught up with a syndicate that specialised in diverting goods at the Tin Can Port Apapa Lagos.

The syndicate, including four men and a woman, was exposed after they attempted to bribe police officers attached to Festac Division, Area E Command, Lagos, with the sum of N250, 000 after they were arrested on Wednesday while allegedly attempting to divert a trailer load of bags of cashew nuts worth N13.7million meant for export.

The syndicate would have succeeded in their scheme but luck ran out on them when a team of policemen led by Inspector Peter Alyasi attached to the Area E Command Festac while on stop and search patrol at the No Man’ s Land area of the town intercepted the trailer.

Inspector Alyasi subsequently demanded to see the content of the goods and their vehicular documents. Instead of giving the policemen what they requested for, the syndicate led by the alleged criminal receiver of the goods offered the police N250, 000 bribe.

A police source said: “The woman claimed to be the owner of the goods but when she was questioned, she began to fidget and offered to bribe the policemen to let the trailer go without inspection. The policemen pretended as if they were cooperating with the syndicate and the woman brought out N100, 000 cash and offered it to the policemen. Immediately, the policemen arrested the woman, the driver and others and drove the trailer loaded with cashew nuts to the Area E command and detained the suspects.”

It was gathered that Inspector Alyasi under the instructions of the Area E Commander found out the authentic owner of the goods was a certain Mr. Bumi Olumekun and subsequently called him on the telephone to come to the station to identify his goods.

Speaking about the arrest and how his goods were diverted, Mr. Olumekun who is the President of Frieght Forwarders Association of Nigeria, said: “I received a call on my mobile phone and the person calling introduced himself as Inspector Peter Alyasi from Area E Command Festac Town Lagos.

He said they have arrested the driver of a trailer I hired to move my cashew nuts to Apapa for exportation. I rushed down to the station and learnt that the driver of the trailer I hired with his motor boy and three other persons diverted my goods.

Inspector Alyasi said the suspects offered him N250, 000 but his conscience did not allow him to take the money. I am in shock that a driver will connive with others to divert goods he was paid handsomely for. I usually hear such stories but it has happened to me and I feel urgent steps should be taken to stop these syndicates operating in our ports.

I commend Inspector Peter Alyasi and his team for turning down the bribe. This has shown that there are good people in the Nigeria Police and not all of them are corrupt.” The suspected driver identified as Yemi Alanu said he was deceived to divert the goods. He said: “I was deceived to sell twenty bags of the cashew nuts for N2,000 each.

I did not know the price of the bags but I later found out that each bag costs about N46, 000. I was diverting the goods in company of the woman who wanted to buy them to a ware house in Festac Town when the police arrested us.

We made frantic efforts to bribe the police w i t h N250, 000 but Inspector Peter who was leading the team turned our offer down and arrested us. I feel bad for getting myself involved in this crime. I allowed the woman to deceive me and greed led me into this mess.”

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Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina has decried false publications about the death of President Muhammadu Buhari who is London for follow up treatment.

In a article titled “The learnt Nothing, and forgot nothing” Adesina said it is wrong for any group of people to wish the President dead and clone websites of international media houses to announce the falsehood.

“Why do some people want their own President dead? Why do they want the eclipse of a man who is actuated by nothing other than love for his country? Why have they constituted themselves into enemies of national progress, haters of all that is good?

” But must any human being be hateful to the point of wishing another person dead, and indeed broadcasting a death that never happened? Shame. Shame upon evil wishers, purveyors of lies and wickedness.

Do they have blood running in their veins at all? Do they realize that wishing another person dead, is sin before God?,” Adesina wrote.

Below is the full text of the article:
THEY LEARNT NOTHING, AND FORGOT NOTHING
By FEMI ADESINA

They showed their pernicious hands again last Sunday, and have been on the prowl since then, roaring like a lion, seeking who to devour. Purveyors of death they are, and they have killed President Muhammadu Buhari many times over, cloned the websites of international media houses to announce the hoax, but their wishes did not become horses, so they remain stranded, with nothing to ride.

Between January 19, this year, when the President first proceeded on vacation, and March 10, when he returned, they had announced his demise many times. They even created apocryphal images and footages to back up their inhuman claims, but God showed them He was the ultimate.

The Real Deal, the Special One. President Buhari came back alive, and disclosed that he would still return to London at a later date for medical follow-up. He eventually left on the night of Sunday, May 7.

They saw the Deux ex machina, the Invisible Hands of God, between January and March, but they are so steeped and marooned in unbelief, evil wishes and malediction, that they have started all over again. Last Sunday, they cloned popular websites for the umpteenth time, using them to announce the figment of their diseased imagination. They learnt nothing, and forgot nothing from the immediate past experience. And you begin to ask yourself, just as the Good Book also asked:”Why do the heathens rage, and the people imagine vain things?” Why do they arrogate to themselves the power that belongs only to God? “I can kill, and I can make alive,” says God in His word. But these purveyors of hate possibly don’t know God. That is why they declare a man dead, when God has not said so. Once has God spoken, and twice have I heard it, that power belongs to God.

Millions upon millions of Nigerians love President Muhammadu Buhari. They love his simplicity, his forthrightness, incorruptibility, love of country, and many other virtues. And they are praying.

Bombarding Heaven with petitions. Baba o, Baba o, Baba o. Olorun da Baba si fun wa, Baba o, Baba o, Baba o. Olorun da Baba si fun wa. Oh God, spare our Baba, the father of the country. Spare him for us, O Lord we pray. And Heaven is listening to the supplications. We await the full manifestation.

Millions of us can follow Baba blindfolded into battle. We love him that much, and it is within our rights. But have you seen a man ever loved by everybody? Show me. Even if you feed an entire city daily, some people still won’t like your guts. So, those who are not Buharists have a right to their convictions. But must any human being be hateful to the point of wishing another person dead, and indeed broadcasting a death that never happened? Shame. Shame upon evil wishers, purveyors of lies and wickedness. Do they have blood running in their veins at all? Do they realize that wishing another person dead, is sin before God? Yet they go to churches, mosques, and other worship houses. Who are they worshiping? The Unknown God.

Why do some people, a tiny but vocal minority, wish the President dead? Do they know that if God wills, the man they wish dead could outlive them by many years? There was a lady who was very active on social media in 2015, before the presidential election of that year. She was in the league of anti-Buhari elements. Oh, he was too old. Oh, he was sickly. Yes, he would soon die. The lady was rabidly pontifical in her convictions, parading herself as someone with a charmed life, who would live forever. And then, it happened! Sometime last year, she died!

When I saw the news online, I just shook my head, and prayed for the repose of her soul. I did not gloat. No need to. Not in her wildest imagination could she have thought that she would pre-decease President Buhari. But who has the final say? Jehovah has the final say. The breath of man is in his nostrils, and God can decide to extinguish his candle at anytime. Jehovah has the final say. It is not by age, not by how healthy you seem, or how sickly you are. It’s a lesson some people have not learnt. They learn nothing, and forget nothing.

Back to the earlier question. Why do some people want their own President dead? Why do they want the eclipse of a man who is actuated by nothing other than love for his country? Why have they constituted themselves into enemies of national progress, haters of all that is good? Why do they prefer the dark jungle of infamy to the light of a clear and bright day, signposted by freedom from rapacity and lootocracy? Who then are these enemies?

“Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers, the men in high and low places that seek bribes and demand 10 percent, those that seek to keep the country divided permanently so that they can remain in office as Ministers or VIPs at least, the tribalists, the nepotists, those that make the country look big for nothing before international circles, those that have corrupted our society and put the Nigerian political calendar back by their words and deeds.”

Those were the words of Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, after the country’s first military coup in 1966. You may like Nzeogwu, or you may not, depending on how you view his actions and inactions. But you can hardly deny the veracity of what he said. And 51 years later, the words still ring true.

The enemies of Buhari are the political profiteers. To them, political office is not about service, but about making profit. Ordinary people can go to hell, and stay there. Personal profit is the name of the game.

The swindlers, too. Enemies of righteousness and transparency. They swindle man, and even try to swindle God. Of course, they wouldn’t want a new sheriff in town. They’d rather shoot him, and sing the reggae song:”I shot the sheriff…”

Those that seek bribe and demand 10 percent. Enemies. Only that they are not satiated by 10 percent again. They take the entire 100 percent, and leave the country prostrate. But when a Daniel comes to judgment, and hurls them before the law, knowing neither friend nor foe, they wish that he dies. Gerrout, so that business as usual continues, they shout.
Those that seek to keep the country divided permanently. Evil souls. They use all the fault lines. Religion. Ethnicity. Language.

Everything. We saw it all in the 2015 elections. They cashed in on all things that divide us as a people. But Nigerians were resolute for change, and they got it. But did those people give up? Did Pharaoh desist from pursuing the people of Israel? Hell, no! Till he ended in a watery grave. The stubborn fly follows the corpse into the grave.

For the greater part of this year, President Buhari has been away from home. But whether present or absent, he still looms large. The mere fact that his shadow hovers over the land riles evil workers to no end. But what can anybody do? Jehovah has the final say.

The old order is giving way for a new one in Nigeria. In just two years, the back of insurgency has been broken, corruption is taking a shellacking, and the comatose economy is turning round. Despite it all, some people still wish the President dead. Sad and sorry. But thankfully, they don’t have the final say.

However, if they refuse to repent, we can repent on their behalf, lest judgment comes speedily on them. How dreadful it would be.
Lord, we are sorry,
We’ve turned around and gone astray,
Your trust for us we have betrayed,
Your power we don’t recognize
Your Lordship we have all despised,
We cannot pretend
We all now repent
Forgive us Lord we pray
Bring down your glory…
May God bless Panam Percy Paul, who sang the song. May God accept our repentance on behalf of evil wishers. May God spare our President, and restore him to full health.

Baba o, Baba o, Baba o, Oluwa da Baba si fun wa.

Lord, please spare our President. Spare him for us, to the glory of your name. Let those who learn nothing, and forget nothing, be purged of all evil. Let them turn new leaf.
Amen somebody!

A member of the House of Representatives, Abiodun Olasupo has said the measures being used to fight corruption were developed by Goodluck Jonathan’s government.

Olasupo said this while speaking at the inauguration of projects in his constituency on Friday.

He stated that Jonathan’s administration lacked the political will to implement them.

The lawmaker said results had been forthcoming since the Muhammadu Buhari administration came on board to implement the polices.

“You should not be surprised that all the measures used in the anti-corruption crusade today were developed by President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration,” he said.

“The Jonathan administration developed the policies of whistle blowing, Bank Verification Number (BVN), Treasury Single Account (TSA) but lacked the political will to implement them.

“You can see that the implementation by President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is bringing the desired results”, he added.

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja


The Federal Government has approved and signed an Executive Order that will guide efforts in improving the Ease of Doing Business in the country.

Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, signed the order Thursday where he stressed government’s preference for indigenous goods and services as well as the removal of bureaucracies that stall the processes of business in the country.

Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment alongside the Presidential Ease of Doing Business Council (PEBEC) are expected to monitor the compliance of the stipulated orders.

Osinbajo, at an interactive session held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, said the government will work out incentives for performance even as it builds reward system that punishes malfeasance.

He stressed the importance of cooperation among agencies of government, stating that it was key in achieving an improved business climate that will be at par with global standards.

According to him, in the first 60 days target set up by the government, 70 per cent effectiveness was achieved and the remaining 30 per cent can be achieved through continuous transparency and cooperation of government agencies. He also harped on the need to give preference to indigenous providers of goods and services to strengthen the system.

“I agree that a system of rewarding performance, and punishing malfeasance is key. We must work out incentive schemes even as we tighten up sanctions regimes. We hit 70 per cent quickly on the 60 days of doing business target because of the cooperation of all the agencies like Ministry of Interior, Immigrations, Customs, among others, and that is why the remaining 30 per cent we will also achieve and deliver. I will hold myself accountable to it and I will also hold you accountable.

“Usually we blame the system. But the system is men and women not machines.

So we can and must reform it. These proposed executive orders present a unique opportunity to perform. Ladies and gentlemen, let us perform. The President has laid out a cornerstone policy of this administration; we must grow what we eat and make what we use.

The President again enunciated this principle in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan – buy Nigerian, use Nigerian.

“So we must now insist that at state banquets we eat and drink Nigerian,” he said.

Speaking at the interactive forum with heads of agencies and permanent secretaries who are strategic in the implementation of business processes in Nigeria, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah, said reports will be submitted to the President after 80 days and 60 days respectively.

Afobear:
nice one ....she don die

very good