₦airaland Forum

Femi Adesina, former Spokesperson to former President Muhammadu Buhari, has disclosed that the media was deliberately misquoting his statements when he was in office.

Adesina, who spoke at a media chat organised by the Association of Veteran Journalists in Osogbo on Wednesday, said some media outfit deliberately set him against the members of the public just because he was serving in government.

“My biggest challenge during the eight years that I served with former President Muhammadu Buhari was the fact that a section of the media deliberately quoted me out of context.

“I eventually grew out of it and got used to the antics. Even while I had a television interview, it was turned upside down in the papers deliberately to make me an enemy of the public, but I outgrew it and it did not affect my duty throughout my tenure”, he said.

Nigeria electricity has collapsed again, as power generation dropped from a peak of 3,594.60 megawatts (MW) at about 1am on Tuesday morning to a meagre 42.7MW as of the point of writing this report.

Only Delta Power plant was active on the grid with 41.00MW as at 12noon while Afam had 1.7MW, Guardian reports.

This comes barely five days after the grid collapsed twice within a space of more than 12 hours leaving the nation in total darkness.

SaharaReporters reported last Thursday that the Nigerian Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu claimed that the explosion at Kainji/Jebba 330kV was the cause of the collapse of the national grid during the early hours of last Thursday.

The minister had disclosed this in a series of tweets on X platform while assuring that all hands are on deck to ensure speedy restoration of the power.

He had said, “At 00:35Hrs this morning, Fire outbreak with explosion sound was observed on Kainji/Jebba 330kV line 2 (Cct K2J) blue phase CVT & Blue phase line Isolator of Kainji/Jebba 330kV line1 was observed burning. This led to sharp drops in frequency from 50.29Hz to 49.67 Hz at 0:35:06Hrs with Jebba generation loss of 356.63MW.

“We are on top of the situation and speedy restoration is in progress. The fire has been fully arrested and over half of the connections are now up and the rest will be fully restored in no time. My sincere appreciation to those who responded or expressed concern via different.”

SaharaReporters also reported that Electricity supply was restored in Nigeria hours after a nationwide blackout on that Thursday due to the collapse of the national grid operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) from Osogbo in Osun State

This was disclosed by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company in a Twitter post on that day.

ijustdey:
https://punchng.com/arms-mop-up-police-plan-clampdown-on-vips-cultists/

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has sent all management staff with less than 15 months to statutory retirement on compulsory early retirement.

A statement signed by management the oil company on Monday, September 18, 2023 and posted on its X handle (formerly Twitter) early Tuesday morning stated that the early retirement takes immediate immediate effect from Tuesday, September 19, 2023.

It added that the decision became imperative in order to pursue effective organisational renewal to support the delivery of NNPCL’s strategic business objectives.

“In our bid to pursue effective organizational renewal to support the delivery of our strategic business objectives, it has become imperative to rejuvenate our workforce.

It wrote: “Consequently, in addition to the recent exit of three (3) Executive Vice Presidents, other Management Staff with less than fifteen (15) months to statutory retirement will be exiting the Company effective 19th September 2023.

“This is in line with our commitment to scale up NNPC Ltd’s capabilities through targeted talent management and equal opportunity for all Nigerians.”

LEADERSHIP recalls that a couple of days ago on September 17, 2023, NNPCL announced the appointments new Executive Vice Presidents to spearhead critical sections of the company.

Oritsemeyiwa A. Eyesan was appointed Executive Vice President for the Upstream sector, Olalekan Ogunleye for Gas, Power, and New Energy, and Adedapo A. Segun for the Downstream sector.

“In line with NNPC Ltd.’s commitment and drive for organisational renewal, anchored on our business imperatives, standards of excellence, people development, and strengthening our competencies and capabilities through broad-based leadership exposures, the company wishes to announce the following executive appointments with immediate effect,” the firm stated, before outlining the earlier stated names/designations.

This strategic restructuring is a result of pivotal recommendations put forth by the Energy and Natural Resources sub-committee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Advisory Council back in June 2023.

The sub-committee, committed to instigating vital reforms in the energy sector, set a stringent timeline of 0 to 100 days for the new administration to meticulously head-hunt competent, seasoned, and reform-driven leaders within the NNPCL.

The primary aim is to ensure that the company functions as a commercial entity in strict accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), effectively contributing taxes and profits to the Federation Account.

Beyond executive appointments, the sub-committee underscored the urgency to realign NNPCL by divesting it of policymaking roles and advocating for the strategic sale of certain assets.

These comprehensive recommendations reflect a resolute effort to fortify the NNPCL, facilitating its alignment with statutory mandates and transforming it into a more efficient and profit-oriented entity.

According to the NNPCL, the developments within the company stand as a beacon of change, poised to reshape the energy landscape and drive the nation towards a more accountable and prosperous future.

Note also that the sub-committee proposed a generation of a substantial $17.4 billion in funds, primarily through well-structured NNPCL sell-downs.

The committee’s vision entails strategically selling down interests in joint ventures to a minority position.

This approach is meticulously designed to streamline operations, introducing an operating model that eradicates the traditional cash call system, fostering financial efficiency and sustainability.

Furthermore, the committee advocated for a prudent divestment of interests in refineries while simultaneously advocating for the development of a robust Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) operating model.

These twin strategies, meticulously planned, are poised to realign NNPCL’s financial structure, injecting agility and a more lucrative trajectory.

The sum of $17.4 billion represents a significant injection of funds that can potentially steer NNPCL towards a more profitable and resilient future.

In July last year, the national oil firm, formerly known as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, transited fully into a commercial entity, becoming the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

The official transitioning into a private entity means that the oil company is now being regulated in line with the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020.

The group chief finance officer of the firm is therefore expected to bear additional tasks of ensuring the liquidity of the group as well as the efficient allocation of capital to its businesses based on returns and business relations.

Also, the federal government is to halt all forms of funding for projects and sundry purposes of the firm, compared to what was obtainable in 45 years of the NNPC before it transitioned to a limited liability company.

The oil company has since been operating as a limited company, run by a group chief executive officer (GCEO) and his executive vice presidents.

Suspected Terrorists Kill 15 Persons, Abduct 32 Others In Fresh Attack On Southern Kaduna Community

No fewer than 15 people have been killed in a fresh attack by terrorists, locally dubbed as bandits and armed herdsmen, in Dogon Nama village, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

Several others were said to have sustained injuries from gunshots while about 32 villagers were taken away by the gunmen.

The incident, according to a resident of the community, took place around 7 a.m on Friday.

He said the attackers who were communicating with one another in Fulani language invaded the villages and fired gunshots indiscriminately.

SaharaReporters learnt the gunmen also set houses ablaze and engaged in sporadic shooting of the residents as they ran out of their homes.

“Fulani herdsmen invaded our community today, killing 15 people and abducting 32 others. This happened around 7am this morning, they entered with motorcycles,” the source said.

Kaduna is one of the states with periodic incidences of inter-communal killings.

BossGerald:
CNN reports

ijustdey:
NTA

Nigeria Police spokesperson Olumuyiwa Adejobi has said young Nigerians always get extorted by Police officers because their means of income are not genuine.

Adejobi said this while responding to a post made by a user on X (formerly Twitter) handle @altruistglotv.

The individual reacted to a video of a young man on X, in company of his girlfriend, who was stopped, labelled a Yahoo boy and extorted by Police officers in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Commenting on the video, the individual called out the Police spokesperson for knowing about the extortion that takes place.

“Uniform shouldn’t be a symbol of war to citizens, your officers are criminals, the way they extort young guys instead of politicians is too much. You know about this, you see it and hear it everyday. We have families, we have parents,” the X user said.

In his response, Adejobi said only young people with ingenuine incomes get extorted and questioned why those harassed always go ahead to pay the officers.

He said that if such a person has a genuine income then there is no point paying the officers.

“Why do the young ones pay them? Someone who claims he doesn’t have work, he’s suffering, yet he pays 500k or 1m naira etc, how come?” Adejobi said.

“I guess they are birds of the same feather. If you are genuine, you earn your income from your eork place, legit money, I dont think you would allow someone or some people to rob you of it. No way. My take.”

nlfpmod:
https://dailytrust.com/nis-cleared-60000-passport-backlogs-in-4-days-interior-minister/

The Police Service Commission on Tuesday said vigilante organisations would be used in the community policing system because the police and other security agencies do not have the numeric strength to dominate the security spaces and fight criminality.

The organization said that as volunteers, it should be able to key them into the community policing system in Nigeria with regards to information gathering, because of their presence and visibility.


The chairman of PSC and former Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, stated these in an interview with journalists in Abuja during the national vigilante conference organized by the Vigilante Group of Nigeria with the theme, “Mobilizing VGN members for improved security in schools, farmlands and roads”, with about 50,000 members in attendance.

At the event, the Commander-General of VGN, Navy Commander Umar Bakori (retd.), said the organization was committed to mobilizing its members to safeguard schools, farmlands, roads and vital spaces that demand utmost attention.

He said, “With our strength of over a million members nationwide and all operating in our localities, we can play a crucial role in safeguarding these vital areas. The security of our schools is of paramount importance. Educational institutions serve as the foundation of our nation’s future, nurturing the minds and talents that will shape a prosperous Nigeria.”


Arase highlighted the limitations of the police and other security agencies in their ability to dominate security spaces due to their numeric constraints but emphasized the importance of harnessing the support of volunteers who have stepped forward to assist in maintaining security.

He stressed the necessity of developing a comprehensive plan to collaborate with these volunteers effectively.

Arase said, “The police and other security agencies don’t have the numeric strength to dominate the security space. Now, if we have people who have volunteered, what we have to do is to draw up a plan to collaborate with them.

“Security is everyone’s business including journalists and others. But these people are volunteers, we should be able to key them into the community policing system.


“We will collaborate with them on information gathering which will, in turn, be processed into intelligence and this is because of their presence and visibility which mean so much.

“When criminals want to commit a crime they will go on surveillance and if you see the vigilante, either on the highway or in the community, it is already a deterrent.

“All we have to do is to harness their numeric strength, their spread and leadership to deal with issues of insecurity.”


According to Bakori, recent events have shown that schools have become vulnerable targets for criminal activities, and endangering the lives and education of children.

He said, “It is our duty as vigilant citizens to create a safe and conducive environment for learning, where students can thrive without fear.

“As an agricultural nation, the productivity of our farmlands directly impacts our economy and food security. Our farmers, who toil day and night to feed the nation, face numerous challenges such as theft, destruction of crops, and attacks from bandits. By mobilizing our vigilant members, we can provide a protective shield around our farmlands, ensuring that our farmers can work without fear and that Nigeria’s agricultural potential can be fully realized.

“The safety of our roads is essential for the smooth functioning of our society and the economy. Unfortunately, incidents of armed robberies, kidnappings, and other criminal activities on our highways have become all too common. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that our roads are secure, allowing citizens to travel freely and businesses to thrive.

“Mobilizing our vigilant members will help create a strong presence of security and deter potential threats, thus fostering an environment conducive to economic growth and social harmony.
To achieve our objectives, collaboration and training are crucial. We must strengthen our ties with law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, farmers’ associations, and transport unions. By fostering partnerships, sharing information, and conducting joint operations, we can amplify our impact and create a united front against criminal elements.

“Furthermore, continuous training and capacity-building programs will equip our members with the necessary skills to tackle emerging security challenges effectively.

“By focusing on these critical areas, we aim to create an environment where education flourishes, agriculture thrives, and citizens can travel with peace of mind. Together, let us harness the power of vigilance, unity, and collaboration to forge a safer and more prosperous Nigeria for generations to come.”

Aminu Ado Bayero, emir of Kano, says rich Nigerians should help those in need around them.

Speaking with journalists on Saturday in commemoration of World First Aid Day, the emir said Nigerians are facing difficult times, adding that some go to bed for two or more days without eating.

He appealed to citizens to help one another, irrespective of religion, tribe and culture, in order to build a peaceful society.

”I am appealing to the rich among communities across Nigeria to assist the needy around them facing hardships and hunger due to the current difficult economic situation in the country,” NAN quoted him as saying.


Bayero called on Nigerians to remain hopeful, saying the present economic situation is not permanent and will be “a thing of the past as no condition is permanent”.

The emir advised citizens to “support and assist one another” and not limit such gestures to “times of disaster” only.

He added that rendering assistance to the needy can also be described as aid, noting that presently, “more people are in need of assistance”.


“We will not relent on our call to the government as we inform them of the hardship being faced by the people. We call on them to find solutions to the hardships being faced by the people, especially those that are weak among us.”

Godfullsam:
This banditry of a thing is becoming a norm in Nigeria.

If the news is true that the local traditional rulers are in collabo with the bandits, it means the problem of insecurity has just started.

…seek quick FG’s intervention to tackle challenges

Governors of the North-East have lamented the rising spate of banditry in the region just as it accused traditional rulers and local authorities in the six states of collaborating with the bandits to cause mayhem among innocent citizens.

The governors under the auspices of the North-East Governors’ Forum stated this in a communique issued at the end of their 8th Meeting which was held in Maiduguri, Borno State on Saturday, September 9th, 2023.

According to the communique which was signed and read by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and obtained by our correspondent, they said the rising banditry in the region was because of the aggressive military operations against them in other parts of the country.

They specifically mentioned Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba States as becoming a safe haven for the terrorists.

“While acknowledging the relative success recorded against insurgency, a new dimension of growing banditry is added to worsen the security situation in the subregion. As a result of the concerted efforts of the Military to flush bandits from the other parts of the country, the bandits are now moving towards the Northeast.

“The case is becoming worse in Bauchi, Gombe, and Taraba, places hitherto without banditry. The forum calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to address this issue.

“The forum is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are conniving with the bandits, giving them shelter and cover to commit crimes within the subregion. The Forum unanimously resolved to decisively deal with any traditional ruler or community leader that is found to be harbouring or conniving with the bandits,” it stated.

It added that the proliferation of legal and illegal mining in the region is becoming a problem, noting that there is a link between mining activities and insecurity, especially the abuse of the mining leases.

The forum, therefore, calls on the respective governments to enforce compliance with the provisions of local consent as contained in Nigeria’s Mining Policy and reiterated its call for strict compliance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

According to the them, climate change and environmental degradation which are major issues affecting the subregion are a source of great concern.

“The issue of flooding that has affected the States leading to the destruction of properties and loss of livelihoods is increasing the sufferings of the people. This has been compounded by the silting of our rivers as well as deforestation brought about by the massive charcoal business. There is a need for the Federal Government’s intervention in the area of desilting the rivers.

“Furthermore, there is the need for effective control of deforestation with stern regulation to local authorities against compromise to granting approvals for such business. The Forum has resolved to key into the Global Initiative of Carbon Credi, the Great Green Wall, and other initiatives that will mitigate the devastating impact of climate change in the sub-region,” it stated.

Nigerians have called for a restructuring of the Judiciary, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after scrutinizing the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal, PEPT, delivered on Wednesday. Elder statesmen, leaders, retired judges, lawyers, and activists, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard, this weekend, faulted the judgment, saying that the operators, not necessarily our laws, were the problem of democracy in the country. They expressed dissatisfaction that the PEPT did not dispense justice on the glaring issues that arose from the last presidential elections tabled before it for determination.

Restructure Nigeria — Emiaso, ex-customary court president

A former President of the Delta State Area Customary Court, Miakpo Emiaso, said: “I have always taken the position that there is nothing wrong with our laws apart from the lopsided federal system that this country operates. Unless there is restructuring of the political system such that each part of the nation is sufficiently autonomous to pursue its own goals according to its needs, this country is going nowhere. There is a fundamental flaw in the organization of this country, and unless we remove the flaw by restructuring to something similar to what we had in the First Republic, this country is going nowhere. In terms of the electoral system, the problem we need to solve is the people who operate the system. The politicians and electoral umpire must change their attitude and they cannot change their attitude because what propels them is the faulty federal system that we are operating in Nigeria. We have established it without argument that we cannot function together the way we are trying to force ourselves together. I am not advocating the dismemberment of Nigeria; Nigeria must remain Nigeria, but we must give the federating units greater autonomy. There is too much power concentrated at the federal and there is too much power concentrated on the person who becomes President. This country will not move like this. There is no problem with our electoral system; it is the dramatis personae that we need to talk to, to change their ways because the faulty federal system that we operate foists that attitude on them.

INEC breached electoral laws — Nwoko, SAN

Former Attorney General of Akwa Ibom State and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Uwem Edimo Nwoko, said, “My position built on my experience, over the years, both as a lawyer and participant in the electoral process would be that human beings are the architects of the unfortunate democratic experience we are having. Why do I say so? The laws we have today, particularly the Electoral Act 2022, can engineer a perfect electoral process, but the problems lie with those executing and implementing the law. For example, globally, the management of the 2023 General Elections, particularly the presidential election, was highly flawed. If you read through the reports of all the observers, both local and international, you see that every observer with integrity and dispassionate evaluation came up with the conclusion that INEC did not follow the Electoral Act, especially in the deployment and use of the BVAS machines. They did not follow the provision concerning real-time transmission of results from the Polling Unit to the INEC server. People complained that the INEC server suddenly shut down during the presidential election. The irony is that the same machines that transmitted the National Assembly results could not transmit the presidential results at the same time. The INEC Chairman was announcing the results of the Presidential election when collation was still going on. Since he said the machines did not transmit the results, how did he get the figures he was declaring? Until today, INEC has not explained to Nigerians why that happened. Unless we get people of integrity to supervise our electoral process, we will make no progress, so the problem is not with our laws.”

Reform judiciary — Onuesoke, ex- guber aspirant

Former Delta State governorship aspirant and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, said: “The electoral laws are very okay. The major problem we have is the judiciary. What happened on Wednesday was a rape of Nigeria voters’ rights. Nothing is wrong with the Electoral Act. The judiciary is responsible, for example, there is a constitutional clause that you need to have 25 percent of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT. It is in the laws but they just came out and started reading if Abuja people are better than the people in other states That contradicts the law. We should blame the judiciary, not INEC. The way forward is to reorganize the judiciary.”

Unfashionable to ignore BVAS, IREV – Okah, lawyer

A legal practitioner in Bayelsa State, Jonah Okah, asserted, “The judgment on the presidential election has exposed certain salient issues in the Electoral Act. The much-celebrated reform provided in the 2022 Electoral Act has teeth, but cannot bite in the face of the judgment that the Tribunal delivered.

Granting autonomy to state legislature, judiciary, an infringement — Gusa
“We need to make specific provisions to address the issues of electronic transfer of results, the legal validity of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and IReV, INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, as well as curtailing the latitude conferred on the electoral empire, as highlighted by the issues arising from the judgment. It is anachronistic in this Information and Communication Technology, ICT, age when electronic transmission cannot be used as a legal process in the conduct of election as stated in the judgment.”

We‘re diminishing — Evison, Community leader

National President of the Sagbama Federated Community, Ebi Evinson, said: “From the judgment, we seem to retrogress our electoral system. Introducing BVAS and the electronic transmission of results was a remarkable improvement in our elections. But now that the judgment says that collation and electronic transmission of results by INEC is optional, then the gains we made on our electoral system would have eroded and future elections shall be terrible in terms of credibility. We will slide back to our old ways of manual collation with its attendant challenges. I think that the only way we can make progress in our elections and democracy is to ensure that we conclude election cases before swearing in so that there will be minimal influence. The confidence with which President Bola Tinubu jetted out of the country, on the eve of his crucial election case that was due for judgment, when the conference still had a few days ahead to begin, simply shows the effective application of the Nigerian factor in the entire scenario.”

Hope lost – Clarkson, attorney

A legal practitioner and former spokesperson of the Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnicity Nationality in the Niger Delta, MOSIEND, Amaebi Clarkson, said: “We are in the ICT age, and expectantly, our electoral process would have been driven by technology, particularly with the introduction of card reader and BVAS. Unfortunately, the 2023 general election has clearly shown that we are not ripe for digitalized elections possibly because of our value placement as a people. I am of the firm opinion that we go back to our indigenous Option A4 introduced by Prof Nwosu in the conduct of our elections.”

We need a fearless judiciary, competent INEC – Odi, community leader

A retired Bayelsa senior civil servant and community leader, Chris Odi, suggested, “Strengthening INEC to be able to fund its operations, and equip workforce to function optimally with near-perfect logistics to deliver credible elections, and working with a fair and fearless judiciary to prosecute culprits of electoral offenses. Also, the electoral umpire must work hard to ensure there are no cases of voter suppression (disenfranchisement). The government must adequately equip the police to check electoral violence before, during, and after elections. There should be proper orientation and reorientation by the relevant government agency (NOA), and media outlets on the need to shun ethnic and religious politics for Nigeria to have the benefit of the best candidates. They should revisit the problem of voter apathy through voter education. For instance, the 2019 election recorded 34.75 percent voter turnout, while in 2019, only a meager 28.6 million voters cast their votes out of 82 million eligible voters. The above suggestions will go a long way in improving Nigeria’s electoral system.”

Electronic voting, solution toNigeria’selectoral turbulence — Chima Nnaji

On his part, Lagos-based legal practitioner and Rights activist, Chief Chima Nnaji, strongly advocated the evolution of electronic voting as a permanent solution to Nigeria’s hydra-headed electoral system.

He regretted that those who benefit from the current flawed system are reluctant to embrace innovations that could help eliminate fraud in the system. According to him, “Electronic voting is the way to go but the drag by those in power is causing the delay. See how the last ditch effort in the 2022 Electoral Act was messed up at the tribunal on Wednesday. It was consigned to the waste bin, and it looks as if they dumped all the money budgeted for those gadgets in the lagoon. So, the first is to show sincerity of purpose by leadership that must look beyond today. They must look beyond their narrow interest and be statemanly in their perception of realities such that even if they are being selfish, such selfish interest should as far as possible, be situated within the national interest. And the only way to do that is to commit to electronic voting system that will de-personalise human interventions in such a drastic manner that it is done at the whims and caprice of whoever is the National Chairman of INEC. It should be made in a way that it becomes absolutely difficult to game the system. There might be glitches which have to be battled and upgraded as in the banks. Although the electronic system has not prevented fraud, it has reduced it to the barest minimum. We need something that is de-personalised, we de- personalise to improve effectiveness. The process has been dragging because of human interest. If you eliminate human interest, the court will be removed from the electoral process. The court is not supposed to be the final arbiter in the electoral process. That’s not the intendment of the philosophers who propounded democracy. We were taught in those days that the ballot boxes were the most painless killers. If you are under- performing as a politician, the people go to the ballot box and kill you silently, and you go home and lick your wounds. I’m sure those who philosophised democracy will be turning in their graves the way democracy is murdered in this country. At this stage, we expect that judges should be more circumspect. When you are 60 years and above, you don’t need to be corrupt “.

Comprehensive verdict – Edokpolo, UPAN facilitator

However, the National Facilitator, United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria, UPAN, Ambassador Ayamekhue Edokpolo, told Saturday Vanguard in Edo State, “First, the pronouncement of the judges has further broadened the huge confidence reposed on the judiciary in Nigeria. The reason is that the judgment was comprehensive, and every point was lucid, deliberately explained in detail that an illiterate can assimilate or comprehend the issues. We can strongly improve our electoral system when the judiciary stands its ground to ensure that lawyers do not bring frivolous cases to tribunals hearing such cases. Another way we can improve our electoral system is what I call the agility of the electorate. If the electorate insists on good governance and capacity and rejects bribes or favors from the candidates or the political parties, they will invest fundamental sacrifices for the strengthening of our electoral system because the greatest threat to our electoral system is monetization. It is highly monetized, which is why those who have the capacity to perform well feel intimidated to step forward. For instance, you will need private jets to run a presidential election in Nigeria. If you want to run for a governorship election, you are going to need bulletproof vehicles. Therefore, if the followers deliberately refuse inducement and are firm on capacity, it will greatly improve our electoral system. We must sensitize institutions like INEC, police, and army that play good roles in the election to maintain greater impartiality and remove their personal interests from the electoral system.

Electoral laws shouldn’t be incongruous — Benjamin, IYC

National spokesperson, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Bedford Benjamin, stated: “The country’s electoral laws must be definite and devoid of contradictions and contradicting sections of the law, ranging from electronic transmission of results, and management of pieces of evidence of electoral malpractices.”

Akerele44:
Am a lagosian from eti osa local govt Langbasa area

Akerele44:
How did u know hes not strong to continue?
Na u they control him health ?

OndoFirstBorn:
GOV AKEREDOLU RETURNS FROM MEDICAL VACATION, MEETS STAKEHOLDERS

••• Resumes Official Duties Immediately

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, has returned to the country from his medical vacation.

Governor Akeredolu returned to the country on Thursday, September 7, 2023.

Upon his return, Mr. Governor convened a meeting with key stakeholders from Ondo State in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, where he landed.

Stakeholders present at the meeting included members of the State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide; Members of the State Executive Council, led by the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; National Assembly members; led by Senator Jide Ipinsagba; and Members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Working Committee, led by the Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin.

Other were: Youth groups, led by the Ondo APC Youth Leader, Comrade Olawande Ayo Wisdom; Former Local Government Chairmen, led by Hon. Augustine Ogbesetore; and members of the Foundation of Wives of Ondo State Officials (FOWOSO).

The wife of the Governor, Chief Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, also joined the Governor to receive the FOWOSO members.

During the meeting, Governor Akeredolu formally handed over his resumption letter to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide, and also provided a copy to the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was in attendance.

Governor Akeredolu said:”I came back yesterday, and as you know, it was a long journey. I decided that I must meet with you today. God has answered our prayers, and we give Him all the glory."

"I can assure you that our return is to the glory of God and the prayers of all of you here, and those who wished us well, I thank you very much. God has done what the majority of our people wanted. Majority of our people here knelt down and prayed for our return, and we have returned.

“So, because we had to land here in Ibadan first, I said I have to meet with House of Assembly members here. We are here, and we are back. I am back, and by the grace of God, I will be alive to complete for my full tenure in office.

“I want to tell you that I am back, and I will resume work immediately. This is my letter of resumption."

The Speaker, speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, expressed gratitude for the safe return of the Governor, stating that the Governor’s return to the country is a prayer answered.

Governor Akeredolu, while meeting with members of the State Executive Council, informed them that he had presented his letter of resumption to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.

He thanked the Executive Council members for their prayers and the good work they had carried out while he was away on medical vacation.

The Governor emphasised:”We are now back, and we give God all the glory. I have to let members of the House of Assembly know first that we have returned. As of today, I’m back as Governor of Ondo State. We thank God that I am alive and here. It’s your prayers that have kept us here. The office of the Governor has resumed full work."

Governor Akeredolu also held meetings with members of the National Assembly, including Senator representing Ondo North, Senator Jide Ipinsagba; Members of the House of Representatives representing Owo/Ose, Hon. Timehin Adelegbe; Ilaje/Ese-Odo, Hon. Donald Ojogo, Idanre/Ifedore, Hon. Festus Akingbaso; Okitipupa/Irele, Hon. Jimi Odimayo and Akoko South West/South East, Hon. Gboyega Adefarati.

The Governor thanked the people of Ondo State for their ceaseless prayers and support during his recovery process.

He assured the people of his administration’s unwavering commitment to the progress and development of the state.

Richard Olatunde
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
September 8, 2023.

📸 Olawale Abolade

iwaeda:
They are only holding forth. Typical of APC devilish rule, there are press suppression, the evil is much more than this, but people love evil more than good. They demonised GEJ, yet, Buhari plunged Nigeria into disaster, same path Tinubu is treading without restraints.

iwaeda:
They are only holding forth. Typical of APC devilish rule, there are press suppression, the evil is much more than this, but people love evil more than good. They demonised GEJ, yet, Buhari plunged Nigeria into disaster, same path Tinubu is treading without restraints.

The security of lives and property in the eastern part of Sokoto State appears to have hit an all-time low as undesirable elements now enjoy free reign in killing, kidnapping, and maiming innocent members of the communities.

Consequently, fear of the unknown has gripped the affected communities, especially those in Isa, Sabon Birni, Rabah, Goronyo, and Illela local council areas of the state, whose natives have been forced to resign their fate in the hands of God.

This is because the people are completely at the mercy of bandits and other criminal elements now roaming the areas freely and daring anyone or group to challenge them.

The new wave of uncertainty now pervading Sokoto East has also resulted in many people not visiting or staying in their native communities, especially against the backdrop of the unwarranted arrests of innocent persons by armed men.

In the latest round of attack unleashed on the area, a flourishing young businessman was brutally shot and killed at close range for reasons not known.

It is a negative development that many of the community members view as premeditated assassination.

Perhaps the only known offence that residents can attribute to the deceased is that he funded the election of a top politician from the state who is currently serving in the National Assembly.

Beyond the slain businessman, many have been kidnapped, tortured and brutally wounded by the bandits in the course of trying to eke out a living either on their farms or on their business premises.

With the escalating level of criminality and violence, all – security agents, farmers, locals, and visitors – have become targets for the terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, and armed robbers, who are not even afraid of the security agents.

In some instances, many soldiers, policemen, and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, have also been killed since the deadly gangs took over the five council areas of Sokoto State and have continued to attack anyone in sight. Many communities and hamlets across the eastern part of the state have been set ablaze, forcing residents to flee to urban centres where they feel more secure, thus leading to the emergence of more internally displaced persons centres in Sokoto, the state capital.

The residence of the former governor of the state, Attahiru Bafarawa, was once attacked in Bafarawa when bandits forced their way in with the hope of kidnapping the former governor. They killed a policeman in the process.

Following these repeated attacks by bandits, the Olusegun Obasanjo College of Science and Technology in Bafarawa, which was inaugurated by the former president in 2006, has remained under lock and key and deserted despite the heavy investment made by the state government.

The situation is so bad that in Bafarawa district of Sokoto State, bandits openly wield their weapons without any form of challenge by anyone, either in mufti or in uniform.

The upsurge of displaced persons in the capital has also resulted in the conversion of every available uncompleted structure and building into camps, especially for the underaged and children of school age, who have been forced to stop going to school on account of either the death of their parents or kidnapping of the same.

As a result of the relentless attacks, Sokoto has emerged as one of the worst-hit states in the Northern part of Nigeria in the last two years. Barely a month ago, armed men invaded the immigration checkpoint at Mamman Suka village along Sokoto/Illela Road, shot and killed two immigration officers, and wounded four others. They went away with the brutal murders without any confrontation by any security agents. A resident of Isa Town, Alhaji Yusuf Sada, told Arewa Voice that the town had become a recruitment base for bandits because of the presence of ‘countless informants’.

Sada said: “Isa has become a recruiting centre for bandits with a countless number of informants who give details and movements of people to bandits. I am over 60 years old, but the most unfortunate and annoying thing is that I have to sleep with my mother and her grandchildren in the same room for fear of informers who may likely give information that I am in town.

[quote]Imagine, I have to pass my own house and sleep in my mother’s room with the children when I have my own private apartment, just for the sake of fear of unforeseen marauders. I have since relocated to Sokoto, the state capital.”

Due to the fear of bandits and terrorists, who are constantly on the prowl, the 120-kilometre Marnona/Isa Highway has been deserted for over five years now, with citizens of the area taking the risk of crossing over to Zamfara or passing through Sabon Birni, a neighbouring local government, just to stay alive.

Help on the way

But help appears to be on the way for the besieged towns and villages as a retired military officer, Col. Garba Moyi Isa (retd), has begun to clear the bush and make the road more visible to security agents. Col. Isa, a one-time Sokoto commissioner in charge of security, recently sponsored a bush clearing and stone pitching of the abandoned road with a view to giving a clear vision for soldiers and other security operatives on daily patrol of the once busy road.

A top federal public officer from the area is said to have supported Isa’s gesture with N20 million and three vehicles, all in a bid to clear the road and make it more secure for people to use with confidence when travelling.