₦airaland Forum

An insider in the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, Lagos State, has narrated to FIJ how 101 suspected Boko Haram terrorists were released from the facility on Saturday morning.

Speaking to FIJ on Sunday, the source said wardens at the facility let them out of the medium and maximum security facilities as part of a swap deal with the terrorists for the release of travellers who were abducted in Kaduna on March 28.

They told FIJ that the freed terror suspects had been awaiting trial since 2009, and had spoken about their release happening before a new administration took over.

The source said, “They secretly released 101 Boko Haram suspects at about 6 am. The negotiations had been ongoing for some months.

“We used to pray together. During prayers, they spoke Hausa, and they told me they would be going home by October.

“Early yesterday (Saturday) morning, they owned the cell door and called them out. They had returned their properties already.

“I used to speak with one Adamu in G3 cell. He is no longer here. He is tall and slim, and has a long face.

“They told me that their release was based on negotiations and the pressure their sponsors gave Buhari. They felt if they didn’t get released before a new president, who might not be their tribesman, took the seat, they might not be granted amnesty.

“The controller of corrections, Ben-Rabbi Freeman, had been there multiple times to meet with them.”

The source said the freed inmates knew of the Kuje jailbreak before it occurred, and had shared the details without mentioning specific dates.

This source also said the freed inmates did not usually associate themselves with other inmates unless they were Hausa speakers, and had been prepped on how to stay off the radar after their release.

“When they spoke about their release, I asked how I would reach them, and they said they had been warned not to open bank accounts and use mobile lines, as it would be easier to track them,” the source added.

The inmates released, according to this source, are :

Muhammad Ridwan
Malam Aji
Muhammad Bukar
Kachala Umara
Tijjani Ibrahim
Abba Hassan
Muhammad Tahir
Abdurrahman Muhammad
Musa Fushimngamdu
Isyaku Haladu
Muhammad Musa
Abubakar Aminami
Muhammad Tahir Mahmud Tchad
Muhammad Muhammad
Abdullahi Adamu
Idriss Abubakar
Adamualkasim
Abdullahi Abubakar
Baffa Ajibukar
Modukime Sale
Alhaji Modugrema
Ahmad Abuzar
Baba Ganawali
Yunusa Ibrahim Sabo
Adam Konto
Muhammad Muktar
Abba Hassan
Muhammad Abba Mamman
Abu Umaru
Ali Usman
Abdullahi Abubakar Mubi
Sale Adamu
Abdulwaheed Ibrahim
Alhaji Abubakar Abubakar
Muhammad Abubakar
Idris Hashim
Abu Barra Abubakar
Baba Ganamodu
Muhammad Ali
Abdullah Abubakar
Muhammad Hilanta
Muhammad Muktar
Abdulwahid Abdulssalam
Adamu Abdullahi
Aliyu Abdullahi
Alkaseem Abdulahi
Husaini Aliyu
Abdullahi Isah
Husaini Yusuf
Yusuf Muhammad Hamisu
Muhammad Yakubu
Salisu Bilyaminu
Bulama Muhammad
Haruna Umaru
Abdullahi Abubakar
Haruna Shitu
Abdusallam Muhammad
Kabiru Ladan
Mansur Muhammad
Abdullah Aliyu
Abdulmummeen Ibrahim
Muhammad Lawan
Haruna Adamu
Kabiru Ibrahim
Umar Abubakar
Nasuru Garba
Hamza Yakubu
Musa Ali
Muhammad Auwal
Nura Abdullah
Sa’adu Abdurrauf
Sulaiman Jibirin
Yakubu Bello
Adamu Saidu
Muhammad Jidda
Abubakar Na Tuka
Abba Hassan
Maji Umaru
Umaru Adamu Subari
Ibrahim Abba
Muhammad Nur Hassan
Baba Gana Musa
Muhammad Yusuf
Sadiq Buba
Adamu Musa
Mustafa Yahya
Muhammad Muktar
Umara Tijjani
Umar Brema
Suleiman Adamu
Muhammad Muazu
Kabiru Aminu
Siraja Abdullah
Husaini Abdullah
Hamisu Abdullah
Aliyu Abubakar
Isa Ahmad
Alhaji Kambar
Auwal Mati
Bashiru Hamisu
Ahmad Yusuf.

FIJ sent an email to the Ministry of Interior, but as of press time, there was no response.

Full text of Tinubu’s Independence speech
By Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu On Oct 1, 2022

Today, we mark our independence as a nation. On this day 62 years ago, we set forth to determine our own way, to shape our own destiny.

The path we walk has not always been an easy or smooth one, but we walk it nonetheless because it is the road hewn by our own hands, ingenuity and aspirations.

In this complex time, it is easy to forget the struggles of those who came before us. Those Nigerian founders and nationalists who devoted themselves to making the dream of an independent and proud Nigeria a reality. But we must not forget. We commemorate this day so that our nation shall forever hold in remembrance those who won our nation’s independence. There is no way we can repay them for their patriotism except to remember them and strive to match their love of country and their sacrifice for it. Some gave not only their best years but their very lives so that Nigeria can be born. Their labour shall never be in vain!

Indeed, we have come a long way from 1960 when we gained independence. We have walked far since then. Still, the best of our national journey lies before and not behind us. Since 1999, our country has experienced 23 years of uninterrupted democracy. While, we have firmly established democracy as our way of governance, we still have work to do in perfecting our form of governance such that government will always and completely be for, of, by and because of the people. That our people live in the dignity afforded by prosperity, justice, freedom and an unyielding belief in our capacity to overcome any obstacle was what compelled our founders to strive for the independence we now enjoy.

This anniversary of our independence offers us the opportunity to take stock of how far we have come as a nation and how far we must go to achieve a better nation.

On this Independence Day, let us commit ourselves to Nigeria’s unity as well as to our collective improvement. In unity, we must see each other as brothers and sisters regardless of our ethnic, religious or regional diversity. In seeking national improvement, we must join hands in growing the economy, creating jobs, feeding the hungry, educating our youth, caring for the sick and protecting our people and their way of life from evil and misguided foes who seek to destroy all that is good.

Today, let us thank President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration for their patriotic efforts in the service of the nation. We give utmost thanks to the committed service of the brave members of our armed forces, security and law enforcement agencies some of whom have given their very lives in defence of our freedom against terrorism and violent extremism. We thank all who have dedicated their lives to public service and to the belief that this nation can be made great. We thank each and every law-abiding citizen of our great nation who dedicate their lives in the hope that Nigeria will better and more united.

Today, I speak not of politics but patriotism. The time for politics will come soon enough. But the time for and demand of patriotism never fade.

May we all seek the best for Nigeria regardless of partisan affiliation and may we never undermine the national purpose in pursuit of narrow gain.

As the nation heads toward the coming election, may we all eschew violence and recourse to divisive, incendiary politics that pull against the fabric of national unity and concord.

My running mate, party and I stand committed to a prosperous, violence-free, and democracy-filled Nigeria. I ask you all to do the same. Only by so doing, shall we honour the sacrifices and devotion of our nation’s founders. In this way, we bring a dependable promise of renewed hope to our quest for national greatness.

Thus, on this occasion of Nigeria’s 62nd Independence Day, I congratulate all Nigerians everywhere. I wish you all a memorable celebration of both peace and unity.

SIGNED
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu
October 1, 2022

Tinubu Is Resting In London, Says APC Campaign Council Member

A member of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, Ayo Oyalowo, has said that the presidential candidate of APC, Bola Tinubu, went to London to rest

Oyalowo disclosed this in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday. The whereabouts of the APC candidate had been a trending topic on Twitter.

When asked where Tinubu is and what he is doing, Oyalowo stated that Tinubu is in London resting because people would not let him rest after working an average of 20 hours each day. As a result, Tinubu was advised to take a break before the official start of the campaign.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in London. He cannot rest in Lagos, they will not let him rest. He came to Abuja most of the time, and they will still not let him rest. This man has been working for an average of 20 hours in the 24 hours in each day. So reasonable people thought he should leave the country because people will not let him rest since the campaign is coming soon,” he said.

Oyalowo went on to say that the invitation to the peace accord, which was signed on Thursday in Abuja, came after Tinubu left the country and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, who was in Maiduguri, travelled to represent him at the event.

“The invitation for the peace accord came after Tinubu left the country. Even his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, was not in town, he had to leave what he was doing in Maiduguri.”

Tinubu Is Resting In London, Says APC Campaign Council Member

A member of the All Progressives Congress presidential campaign council, Ayo Oyalowo, has said that the presidential candidate of APC, Bola Tinubu, went to London to rest

Oyalowo disclosed this in an interview with Arise TV on Thursday. The whereabouts of the APC candidate had been a trending topic on Twitter.

When asked where Tinubu is and what he is doing, Oyalowo stated that Tinubu is in London resting because people would not let him rest after working an average of 20 hours each day. As a result, Tinubu was advised to take a break before the official start of the campaign.

“Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is in London. He cannot rest in Lagos, they will not let him rest. He came to Abuja most of the time, and they will still not let him rest. This man has been working for an average of 20 hours in the 24 hours in each day. So reasonable people thought he should leave the country because people will not let him rest since the campaign is coming soon,” he said.

Oyalowo went on to say that the invitation to the peace accord, which was signed on Thursday in Abuja, came after Tinubu left the country and his running mate, Kashim Shettima, who was in Maiduguri, travelled to represent him at the event.

“The invitation for the peace accord came after Tinubu left the country. Even his running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, was not in town, he had to leave what he was doing in Maiduguri.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has begun an aggressive drive to recover the loans it gave out under its development finance interventions.

Top on the list of debtors are state governments whose monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) accruals are already being debited directly every month. The deductions will last six months.

Director, Development Finance of the CBN Yusuf  Yila, who disclosed this during a post-Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) in Abuja yesterday, did not name the debtor states.

Yila, who named the Anchor Borrowers Programme (ABP)  and Commercial Agric Credit (CAC) as some of the intervention programmes, said: “Every person(s)  or state that took that loan (ABP) is going to pay. We have their BVN.”

Such persons referenced by Yila are smallholder farmers, who received funds for farming from state governments via the ABP, but have yet to pay them back.

The CBN director added that the apex bank was collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)  to ensure that the loans were recovered.

Yila  said while the ABP loan repayments were particularly poor, that of CAC was almost excellent.

Under the ABP, the CBN gave out about  N1 trillion but recovered only N400 billion. But under the CAC, the bank. lent out about N800 billion and recovered  N700 billion.

His words: “We have started recovering loans from state governments. We have been doing a loan workout programme with them and we are debiting their monthly  FAAC  accruals directly for the loans.

“If a state government has taken N1 billion and is already in default, over a six-month period, we debit them N150 million every month. So, we’ve started that programme..

“So, every single loan that has been given out through any of our intervention programmes must be paid back.

“There is absolutely no mercy. We have started; we are in recovery mode. At the development finance department, we have begun to recover the loans.”

“There is the ABP which is a primary consumption element of our interventions.  We lent out N1 trillion for the ABP  of which we have gotten over N400 billion back.

“Every single person or state that took that loan (ABP) is going to pay. We have their BVN. In fact, we have started implementing the Global Standing Instruction (GSI).

“We will continue to pull the account in the bank that they lent to or whichever bank that they have account. Anytime we see money in that account, we will recover it.

“We are working with the EFCC. The CBN governor has approved the collaboration with the EFCC on loan recoveries.”

Yila also said that credit facilities extended to businesses and individuals have not performed poorly.

According to him, out of the N9 trillion intervention fund to spur economic growth, about N5 trillion is still under moratorium.

Another staff member of the CBN, who did not want his name in print,  said there was  “an intervention facility that state governments accessed for projects but had failed to pay back.”.

He explained that “the CBN wrote to the states reminding them of payment as per our recovery drive but they decided to fight back by seeking the reduction of the bank’s powers.”.

The staff member made reference to the debate by the   Senate on Tuesday on whittling down the powers of the CBN governor.

The  Director, Banking Supervision of the CBN,  Haruna Mustapha, spoke on the implications of Tuesday’s interest rate hike by the apex bank.

Mustapha said  that “banks will make more profit from interest charged on loans and will reprice existing loans to borrowers.”

This, according to him, “will be transferred to bank customers and this will add to cost of borrowing. “

Adding that  “interests on government securities will also go up, ”  he said the CBN has given approval to banks to increase interest on savings deposits to 30 percent effective.

“We increased it from 10 percent to 20 percent and it stands to reason that since we hiked MPR yesterday(Tuesday) to 15.5 percent, it will change the equation.  The effective date is September,” Mustapha said.

This is not the first time Mr Tinubu will be missing major public appearances with other candidates.

https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/27221134/Bauchi-crusade0.jpg
Thousands of Christians gathered at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi for the crusade of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, which began on Tuesday.

Adeboye’s first mega crusade in the state tagged, ‘Light Up Bauchi’, organised by the RCCG and the Christian Association of Nigeria is expected to end on Wednesday.

In attendance are Pastor E.A. Adeboye; Prophet Isa El-Buba; Pastor P.J.A. Olaiya and Pastor Ishaku Chintok.

Music ministers like Dr. Panam Percy Paul, Solomon Lange, Friday Jibo and many others were also in attendance.

See the photographs:
https://cdn.punchng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/27221126/Bauchi-crusade3.jpg

The governor was reacting to the allegations by Jemgbagh Development Association, Abuja that he was plotting the downfall of his fellow Benue man, Ayu.

…Describes him as dedicated, hardworking Nigerian

By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness over the demise of a former Executive Director of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Rotimi Fashakin.

Reacting to the death of Fashakin, President Buhari, in a statement ssued on Monday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said:

”I’m saddened by the death of such a dedicated and loyal party man whose intellect and competence were amazing.

 “As a former spokesperson of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) party, I’m proud to put it on record that Fashakin was one of the most dedicated and hardworking party officials that I had ever known and related with.”

 Recalling his relationship with Fashakin in the former CPC, President Buhari explained that “the former party spokesperson had also given a good account of himself, discharging every responsibility with amazing skill and competence.

 “The late Fashakin was an outstanding loyalist who would stand by you through thick and thin without ever complaining.

“These are rare virtues among our politicians. May God bless his gentle soul and forgive his shortcomings and grant his family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.”

Operators of commercial tricycles in Awka, the Anambra State capital have protested the enforcement of a monthly N15,000 tax by the state government.

Tribune Online gathered that the operators complained over the constant hounding of their members by policemen, personnel of OCHA Brigade, a civil security outfit in the state, and operatives of Anambra Vigilante security services, which were used to enforce the payment.

During the protest, the operators including operators of shuttle buses refused to ferry passengers, leaving many stranded on the streets.

They carried placards expressing their pains over the high tax. Some of the placards read: “Soludo wants to kill us. We say no to Soludo” “We cannot pay N15,000”, “We are driving hire purchase,” and “I am the breadwinner of the family, N15000 is too high,” among others.

One of the operators who gave his name as Ajebo said the timing of the enforcement is sudden and not convenient for them.

“The government is putting so much pain and hardship on us. I am driving hired purchase and I am responsible for every cost incurred. The amount of the taxing is too much,” he said.

Many people in the capital city today were unable to meet their schedules as a result of the development.

Our correspondent who monitored the situation saw a lot of people trekking in various parts of the city as a result of the protest.

Soludo had months back unveiled a new tax regime, which confers monthly payment of N15,000 to all tricycle operators, as against the daily payment, which the Soludo administration said amounted to over N1,000, and which was illegally collected.

At the time of filing this report, police operatives had dispersed the protesters who made bonfires on several roads in the city, while many had been arrested at the popular Aroma junction, in the state capital.

Chairman, Lagos State Park and Garages Management Committee, Musiliu Akinsanya[b] aka MC Oluomo, has distanced himself from the controversial sale of stickers bearing image of himself; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu to tricycle (aka Keke) drivers.[/b]

His outburst is reaction to a viral video which shows Keke drivers protesting to pay for the said the stickers on their tricycles.

According to the voice heard in the video, the drivers were reportedly charged N500 per sticker.

Reacting to the video, MC Oluomo said in a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday night that he was not involved in it.

“My attention has yet again been drawn to a video clip circulating online showing an altercation between two people as regards a sticker,” MC Oluomo said.

“It came to me as a surprise seeing that people were attaching the video to me and were also quick to state that it was a campaign fee to support the election of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

“Naturally I would have just ignored knowing that it’s the handiwork of naysayers. Being in an election session, I also know their malicious intentions and the cheap political goal they aim to get with the video. I am however compelled for the sake of clarity to set the record straight.

“I did not know anything about the said sticker, neither did I sanction the sale. I would appreciate additional information as regards the location where the incident happened so that we can conduct thorough investigation.

“We are against anything that would hamper the free flow of business activities or bring hardship upon our people. May I also inform the public that the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has more than enough people willing to finance his campaign and such money would not come from me or my office.

“I want to urge our people to be vigilant and remember that we are in an election period, as such, political parties would be looking for ways, both ethical and unethical, to outsmart themselves. I however implore them to leave me out of their political permutations and stop maligning my name for the sake of cheap popularity.”

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu on Tuesday said no Igbo man can win the presidency in 2023, ostensibly writing off Dr. Peter Obi’s chances.

Obi, Labour Party’s Presidential candidate is seeking to become president in 2023, with a huge social media followership base.

He has no single structure to drive his ambition, but he believes that the people are his structure.

But Kalu, Chief Whip of the Senate while briefing newsmen at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday said the presidency was not a regional issue, saying he asked then that the political parties to zone the presidency to the South East.

“When they didn’t do that, and since presidency is not a regional issue, I had to withdraw. I have no problem with Igbo man being president. But we have to do it with other Nigerians.

“If we don’t do it with other Nigerians, it is not going to work, no matter how popular you are. It’s president of Nigeria, not president of Igboland,” he said.

Kalu said he is an Igbo man to the core and also a Nigerian to the core, but said if anyone from the Southeast would have been nominated for presidency, he would have been the one.

“So, it’s a party business. I have no grudges against anybody who is running. So, it is not personal. It is political and party. This thing is about party winning elections.

“I have chosen to be in APC. Why will I vote against Tinubu? It’s madness, and I’m not going to do it. Elections go along party line, not along tribal line,” he stated.

He asked the Igbo people to wait for another time and see whether Nigerians would agree to zone the presidency to the Igboland.

“But for now, our presidential candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu is a strategic leader, he will make his presidency beneficial to the Igbo. The Igbo will be the biggest beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidency” he said.

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu on Tuesday said no Igbo man can win the presidency in 2023, ostensibly writing off Dr. Peter Obi’s chances.

Obi, Labour Party’s Presidential candidate is seeking to become president in 2023, with a huge social media followership base.

He has no single structure to drive his ambition, but he believes that the people are his structure.

But Kalu, Chief Whip of the Senate while briefing newsmen at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday said the presidency was not a regional issue, saying he asked then that the political parties to zone the presidency to the South East.

“When they didn’t do that, and since presidency is not a regional issue, I had to withdraw. I have no problem with Igbo man being president. But we have to do it with other Nigerians.

“If we don’t do it with other Nigerians, it is not going to work, no matter how popular you are. It’s president of Nigeria, not president of Igboland,” he said.

Kalu said he is an Igbo man to the core and also a Nigerian to the core, but said if anyone from the Southeast would have been nominated for presidency, he would have been the one.

“So, it’s a party business. I have no grudges against anybody who is running. So, it is not personal. It is political and party. This thing is about party winning elections.

“I have chosen to be in APC. Why will I vote against Tinubu? It’s madness, and I’m not going to do it. Elections go along party line, not along tribal line,” he stated.

He asked the Igbo people to wait for another time and see whether Nigerians would agree to zone the presidency to the Igboland.

“But for now, our presidential candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu is a strategic leader, he will make his presidency beneficial to the Igbo. The Igbo will be the biggest beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidency” he said.

Mr Fayose said he would never join the APC

The former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, has said despite his misgivings about the current state of affairs within the Peoples Democratic Party, he will not defect to the All Progressives Congress.

Mr Fayose also restated his support for the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, in his contention with the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

The former governor was addressing key members of the party in Ado Ekiti on Monday.

The leadership of the PDP had been making efforts to ensure the support of the Rivers State Governor for the presidential candidate of the party.

Mr Wike has been indifferent to the party’s activities since he lost the presidential ticket to Mr Atiku and was also not considered for the Vice Presidential slot.

The governors of Lagos and Ekiti states, Babajide Sanwo-olu and Kayode Fayemi had, in the company of Mr Fayose, travelled to Rivers State apparently to woo the governor to the APC.

Although rumours had it that Mr Wike was considering dumping the PDP ahead of the 2023 presidential election, the governor came out to deny it.

However, Mr Fayose said on Monday that despite his support for the Rivers State Governor, he will work for Mr Atiku in the coming election.

“A lot has been said, but like I have said many times, let me state it here expressly again that I will never join APC for whatever reason,” he said.

“In all the issues we are having as a party, no one has said that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not our presidential candidate. No one has said too that Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is not our party’s vice presidential candidate.

“Also, we have Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates here. Among them is my biological son, Joju, and others who are my political sons and daughters. My interest is that all these candidates should win elections.

“Therefore, I am appealing to those who are angry to stop being angry. Those who are fighting should stop fighting. Let us face the 2023 elections together and win first. After that, we can resume the fight.”

The PDP candidate in the last Ekiti governorship election, Bisi Kolawole, used the meeting to thank party members for supporting him during the election.

“Even though we lost, I am still grateful to the party for the opportunity and I wish to urge all the party stakeholders to close ranks so that together, we will rise again,” he said.

The State Acting Chairman, Lanre Omolase, who spoke on behalf of the State Working Committee members, affirmed their belief in Mr Fayose’s leadership, saying that those plotting against him should sheath their swords in the interest of the party candidates who are standing for elections next year.

Others who spoke at the meeting were former Acting Governor, Tunji Odeyemi; Secretary of the Elders Council, Idowu Odeyemi; PDP leader in Ado Ekiti, Lamidi Alaketu; Lateef Ajijola, who spoke for the National Assembly candidates; Anjorin Olarewaju, who spoke on behalf of the House of Assembly candidates; Olufemi Babatunde, who spoke for Local Government party Chairmen and Bukola Oyewusi.

Others who were at the meeting Lateef Ajijola and Funso Ayeni, Senatorial candidates for Ekiti Central and North respectively as well as Lere Olayinka, Yinka Akerele, Joju Fayose and Adenike Jennifer, House of Representatives candidates for Ekiti Central 2, Ekiti North 1, Ekiti Central 2 and Ekiti South 2.

Also at the meeting were 10 out of the 16 local government party chairmen and over 150 ward chairmen among other party members.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has asked the management of the University of Benin to withdraw the degree certificate it issued to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN).

Fashola, a former governor of Lagos State graduated from the law department of the university some decades ago.

The minister on Wednesday said the obstruction of vehicular movement on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway by NANS is a violation of the law.

"The right to protest is a very well-protected right in our Constitution, but it does not include the right to inflict pain and inconvenience on other people. And so, whilst the protests can go on, they should refrain from blocking the road in order to do their protests. That in itself is a violation of law,” Fashola had said.

Reacting, NANS spokesperson, Giwa Yisa Temitope, said the minister’s statement showed that he is enmeshed in a big contradiction in terms of what the law says.

The students’ movement called on the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to start the process of withdrawing Fashola's law degree.

The statement read, “He tries to trivialize a very important issue by watering down the law. Aside from the clear nature of the letters of Section 2 of the constitution on fundamental human rights, Fashola should tell us how a protest is embedded in the right to "inflict pain and inconvenience on other people?"

“As far as NANS is concerned, Fashola has long shown that he does not understand the laws of Nigeria. Same person who heralds a SANship to his name went ahead to attempt to destroy evidence on the very crucial Lekki massacre. Nigerian youths do not respect Fashola and his fake ideals anymore.

“The best is for the minister to go and make restitutions with the Buhari government to pay ASUU now rather than appeal for a suspension of the protest we have begun.

“If Fashola continues to tongue-attack our protests, we would start preparing to prevent another attack on our movement. We know that the same Fashola has started contacting government agents and thugs to attack us. We want to put it on notice that should anything happen to our students in any part of the country, we will hold Minister Fashola responsible.

“However, we call on ASUU UNIBEN to start the process of withdrawing Fashola's Law degree. Just as we reiterate our demand for a meeting with ASUU leadership soon. We need constructive synergy to win this struggle.

“Finally, we apologize to all our parents and friends who have been affected by these protests. We appeal that we are condemned to act bow as the education of Nigeria at all levels is at stake. And as you know, a nation that fails to care about education is planning to pay heavily for the consequences of mass ignorance. Victory is certain!

“And, we also state that there is already a taskforce in place to enforce compliance which is headed by a former VP of the association, Ojo Raymond Olumide. So, there shall be no going back and we shall continue this struggle.”