Terror group, Boko Haram, was alleged to have burnt some children to death when the militants overran Dalori, a village four kilometres outside Maiduguri, where about 80 residents of the community were killed on Saturday night.
The Area Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency in Borno State, Mohammed Kanar, said 86 bodies were picked up in the village on Sunday.
Hospital sources added that no fewer than 70 persons were receiving treatment in hospitals around the area.
A resident who managed to escape the attack, claimed that screams of children could be heard from burning houses as the embattled villagers ran in confusion to exit the village as the destruction raged.
Also, a survivor, who said he hid on a tree, stated that he watched Boko Haram extremists firebomb huts and heard the screams of children burning to death, AP reports.
On Sunday, while some residents had managed to return to their houses which had been razed, one of our correspondents observed that some burnt bodies and others, riddled with bullets, littered the streets and some burnt houses in the town.
One of those who had returned to the village on Sunday told one of our correspondents that insurgents including suicide bombers attacked the town, which also spilled over to the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps around the village.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, he added that the suicide bombers mingled with fleeing villagers and detonated the explosives on them at the neighbouring Gamori village, killing several of the villagers.
The villagers told newsmen on Sunday that troops did not arrive in time to stop the rampaging sect fighters from unleashing maximum havoc on the community.
Military authorities confirmed that one of the places targeted by the insurgents was the Dalori Internally Displaced Persons’ camp housing over 15,000 people, who are mostly women and children from Bama.
A member of the youth vigilance group in the town, who spoke on condition of anonymity to one of our correspondents on the telephone on Sunday, said not less than 65 persons were killed with over 100 others injured in the attack on Dalori.
One of the residents of the community, who fled to Maiduguri, Yusuf Ibrahim, told one of our correspondents that the attack on the village started around 6.50pm and lasted for hours.
He lamented that the insurgents, who operated undeterred, stormed the village in Hilux vans and motorcycles dressed in army camouflage and set the houses in the village ablaze.
He said livestock were not spared as the insurgents set them on fire but looted foodstuffs.
A rescue worker, who participated in the evacuation of the victims, said 50 corpses were taken to the Borno State Specialist Hospital in Maiduguri and 15 others corpses deposited at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Narrating his ordeal, a resident of the village, Mallam Abba Dalori, told The PUNCH, “We were helpless as no one came to our aid when the insurgents struck on Saturday night. I am still mourning as I lost 11 persons in the siege. At present, I am still looking for five of my children, who went missing during the attack.”
Another resident of Dalori, Imam Ibrahim, who could not hold back his tears as he spoke to one of our correspondents, said the insurgents “dressed like military personnel and opened fire on everybody.’’
He added, ‘‘All our wives and children were brutally killed; our livestock were equally consumed in a great inferno that engulfed the village.”
A statement, the spokesman for the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Mustapha Anka, while confirming the attack, however, failed to give the casualty figure.
The statement added, “In their desperate efforts for attacks on strong, determined and committed members of the Civilian Joint Task Force and innocent citizens yesterday (Saturday), 30 January, 2016, Boko Haram terrorists (insurgents) launched an attack on Dalori through Yale from (rear of Dalori village).
“An eyewitness said that the insurgents who came in two Golf cars, motorcycles, started opening fire and burning houses. Their motive was to cause rancour and penetrate the crowd with suicide bombers.
“Similarly, while people were running for their dear lives to Gomari Kerkeri village, three female suicide bombers attempted to make their way into the crowd but were intercepted and subsequently got blown off.
“During the incident, lives were lost while some people sustained injuries. The insurgents also attempted to penetrate Dalori IDP camp, but the attempt was resisted by troops, which resulted into the detonation of IEDs by suicide bombers.”
Anka added that the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Hassan Umaru, had sent a condolence message to the District Head of Dalori, Alhaji Lawal Bashir, and the residents over the unfortunate incident.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said having lost the war to the nation’s armed forces, insurgents were desperately seeking ways of returning to wreak havoc on the society.
Buhari therefore called on all Nigerians, especially those who resided in areas previously ravaged by terrorists, to be more vigilant and ready to work with security operatives in ending the war against insurgency.
This was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, on Sunday.
Buhari said this while reacting to the spate of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Persons’ camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State.
He stated that the insurgents’ gradual return was meant to embarrass his government, pointing out that that was why they chose isolated communities and markets as their targets.
Buhari said the insurgents had suffered immensely from the sustained bombardments of their camps and hideouts by the Nigerian military and had resorted to using desperate measures to gain cheap media attention.
The President added, “Having lost the war, they (the insurgents) are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society.
“They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets.”
Buhari noted that the materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices were locally sourced by the insurgents.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said as far his administration’s ongoing anti-corruption fight was concerned, the nation’s judiciary remained his major headache.
Buhari
He said the fight against corruption in Nigeria could only be effectively tackled with the strong support of the judiciary.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke in Addis Ababa at a town hall meeting he held with Nigerians living in Ethiopia.
He said far-reaching reforms of the judiciary remained a key priority for the present administration.
Buhari said his travails in courts during his failed bid for the nation’s Presidency on three occasions, which took him to the Supreme Court three times, were clear indications that the judiciary needed urgent reforms.
The President stated, “On the fight against corruption vis-à-vis the judiciary, Nigerians will be right to say that is my main headache for now.
“If you reflect on what I went through for 12 years, when I wanted to be the President, I attempted three times and on the fourth attempt, through God and the use of technology, it was possible for Nigerians to elect an APC candidate as President.
“In my first attempt in 2003, I ended up at the Supreme Court and for 13 months, I was in court. The second attempt in 2007, I was in court close to 20 months and in 2011, my third attempt, I was also in court for nine months.
“All these cases went up to the Supreme Court until the fourth time in 2015, when God agreed that I would be President of Nigeria.”
The President, however, assured members of the Nigerian community that with the support of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, he would continue to do his best to improve on the nation’s judicial administration system.
On urban development and infrastructure, Buhari explained that the Federal Government had ordered a review of several railway projects signed by the previous administration with the Chinese government.
“The Chinese government was very generous to Nigeria on the projects signed with the previous government because they agreed to pay 85 per cent of the project.
“But the Nigerian government was unable to meet up with its counterpart funding of 15 per cent; so, the Chinese government was unable to make any impact on the project,” he said.
Buhari also said he had directed the ministers of Transportation, Finance as well as Power, Works and Housing to revisit the agreements and explore ways of re-approaching the Chinese government for assistance.
He added that the Chinese government had indicated interest to assist Nigeria on project financing through its Export-Import Bank
Commenting on the proposed N6.077tn 2016 budget, which is currently before the National Assembly, the President said for the first time in Nigeria, the budget would be largely financed from non-oil revenues.
He identified the slump in the international oil market price and oil theft in the Niger Delta as main reasons for projecting more revenues to fund the budget from the non-oil sector.
The President said those of them, who participated in the nation’s 30-month civil war that left millions of Nigerians dead, found the belief of Nigerians, who lived in oil-rich areas that the natural resources belonged to them, very irritating.
“The theft of oil by some Nigerians that happen to live there, who feel that the oil belongs to them and not the country, is an irritating thing for those of us, who participated in the civil war for 30 months in which at least two million Nigerians were killed,” Buhari stressed.
The President also said the proposed budget would focus on increasing efficiency and transparency in government operations and the blocking of leakages from revenue generating agencies.
He added that the recovered assets of the country would also be used to reduce the budget deficit.
A 49-year-old pastor, identified only as Bassey, has reportedly slashed his throat after he was accused by his church members of diverting funds for personal use.
It was learnt that the incident happened last Monday around 5am on Abari Street in the Mulero, Dopemu area of Lagos.
PUNCH Metro gathered that the suicide was reported to the police at the Dopemu divison, and policemen deposited his remains in a morgue, while his wife, called Iya Emmanuel, and son, Emmanuel, were arrested in connection with the incident.
It was learnt that the pastor had written a short note, stating that his family was not complicit in his death.
A police source told our correspondent that preliminary investigation revealed that the pastor was frustrated after he was accused by the church of diverting the undisclosed sum.
“The knife used by the pastor to kill himself has been recovered. He also wrote that he killed himself. We learnt that he was accused by his church of diverting money. He was probably frustrated because his neighbours described him as a God-fearing and honest person. We are still trying to find out the actual amount involved,” the source said.
A neighbour, who identified herself as Seun Oladimeji, said the pastor had been awake in the night, walking around the passage. She said a note, which read, “I, myself, not my wife”, was found in the family’s room after his death.
“I don’t know whether he (pastor) did it because of the money issue, but he and his wife were very friendly. He woke up around 3am that day. I learnt his wife and son, Emmanuel, later begged him to go back to bed. At about 5am, the woman screamed for help. We all gathered in their room and saw blood gushing out of the pastor’s neck.
“Unknown to the woman, he hid a knife which he used to slash his throat. Before he died, he wrote on a piece of paper ‘I, myself, not my wife’. I can say it anywhere that it was not his wife who killed him. The son was just crying; he was not himself. Both of them were arrested.”
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the pastor and his wife had a good relationship with each other, adding that she did not believe his family members had a hand in his death.
He said, “Pastor helped his wife with her hair before the incident. They really loved each other. Most times, while the wife washed clothes, he would be spreading it on the line.”
Another resident, Mr. Olatunde Olasunbo, said the pastor moved to the area with his family two years ago.
“I did not know his church, but he was God-fearing and very nice. He was always with his bible. Even if he diverted the church funds, suicide is not the solution. He and his wife related like siblings. They moved to this area two years ago,” he added.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident via a text message, adding that the case had been transferred to the State Department of Criminal Investigation, Yaba.
“Case transferred to the SDCI for further investigation,” she stated in the text.
The police in Lagos have arrested a business consultant, Mr. Kingsley Uzoaru, for allegedly having “incriminating documents” in his laptop.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Uzoaru, who was arrested on Friday, January 22, was bailed on Saturday after his wife, Oluchi, paid N100,000 allegedly demanded by the policemen who were attached to the Security and Criminal Intelligence Bureau, Ikeja.
Our correspondent gathered that at about 10am on the Friday, Uzoaru entered a cybercafe on Bestford Avenue in the Oke-Afa, Isolo area of the state, and the policemen, identified as Mike, Austin and Chilaka, also walked into the centre and arrested him.
The policemen, who were reportedly not in uniform, drove Uzoaru away in a commercial bus to the Ago-Okota Police Division where they interrogated him over the laptop.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the policemen thereafter allegedly asked Uzoaru to pay N250,000 to regain his freedom, but when he could not raise the amount, he was detained overnight.
Our correspondent learnt that on Saturday, Oluchi brought N100,000 which was given to Chilaka to secure the bail of her husband.
It was learnt that the police withheld the laptop since the day of the incident, on the allegation that Uzoaru had suspicious documents.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, the business consultant, who said he wrote business proposals for individuals and companies for a living, claimed that his wife borrowed the N100,000 from her friends and relations, adding that she needed to settle her creditors.
Uzoaru stated that the police had not found anything incriminating so far in his laptop, saying he should be given his tool to continue his work.
He said, “They were not in uniform when they walked into the centre. They asked me to follow them to the bus, and they drove off. I was wondering what my offence was. Then they asked me what I did for a living.
“I told them if they were looking for Yahoo Yahoo boys at the café, I was not one of them. I told them that I used my laptop to write business proposals for individuals and companies. When we got to the Ago-Okota division, they searched my computer, and they saw some business documents and asked me questions about them.
“I answered them, but it seemed it was not my explanation that they needed. When we got to the station, they collected my phone, saying that I should not record the conversation. I asked them what would happen, and they said if I wanted the matter settled, I should bring N250,000.
“I told them that I did not have that amount, so, they detained me. My offence was that I had some supposed fraudulent documents on my laptop with which I defraud people.”
Our correspondent gathered that Uzoaru’s wife and her elder brother brought N100,000 on Saturday before he was released.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Gregory, Oluchi’s elder brother, who gave the money to the policemen, said they pleaded that they would bring the remaining N150,000 before Uzoaru was released.
He said, “I was the one who counted the money and gave it to the policeman. The amount demanded was N250,000. The policeman cannot deny that he collected N100,000 from me.”
PUNCH Metro learnt that a human rights lawyer, Emeka Ugwuoye, had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police via the platform, stopthebribes.net, to investigate the conduct of the three SCIB policemen.
His petition read partly, “After meeting Kingsley and reviewing his story, I am convinced that the policemen have acted unlawfully and illegally. I, therefore, placed a call from my office to the police. I made it clear to them that they should either charge Kingsley to court or release his computer and return the N100,000 they took from him. I gave them 24 hours to do so.”
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said no such incident was reported.
She said, “No such reported incident. Meanwhile, the command requires the complainant to come forward with evidence, if there is any, so as to give us a lead into the case.”
Details have emerged about what the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, allegedly wrote in the torn statement which he made under caution while in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on January 5.
Olisah Metuh
The statements of the operatives who were said to have witnessed the incident and the “incidence record book” which gives details of the occurrence were part of the documents filed along with the charges of destruction of evidence preferred against him by the EFCC before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja.
The court papers obtained by our correspondent on Sunday indicate that five operatives of the commission witnessed the incident which was said to have happened on January 5, 2016, the day the PDP spokesperson was arrested.
Metuh allegedly tore his statement on January 5, 2016 while being investigated for an alleged fraudulent receipt of N400m from the Office of the National Security Adviser and money laundering allegation involving a separate sum of $2m.
The court documents indicate that the pieces of the torn statement have been kept with the commission’s exhibit keeper.
The entry number 049 in the incident duty log which was recorded at 4.30pm by an EFCC detective, Junaid Sa’id, on January 5, 2016, reads, “Destruction OF Written Statement: I have booked the incident of tearing into pieces of statement by Mr. Olisa Metuh, who was given his statement to endorse after volunteering his statement and he decided to tear into pieces the third page of his four-page statement.
“The torn statement has however been registered with the Exhibit Keeper. Entry made by Det. Junaid Sa’id.”
The document gives the timeline and details of how Metuh’s arrest was effected at about 10.55am in his residence at Prince and Princess Estate in Gudu, Abuja, on January 5, up till when he allegedly tore part of the statement at about.4.25pm on the same day.
It also indicates that Metuh had stated in the part of the torn statement that the account in which the N400m was paid was requested for by former President Goodluck Jonathan, for payments to be made to settle some debts owed by the PDP.
It reads in part, “12.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa began to volunteer his statement under words of caution.
“15.30 hours: Mr. Metuh Olisa concluded his statement which was of four pages. I passed the statements to the team leader, CSP Ibrahim Musa, to read over and endorse accordingly but in the process of reading and after endorsing pages one and two, he swiftly tore into pieces page three of his statement which read that former President Jonathan had asked him to make available, account details owed by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, and the debts owed him personally and some media houses.
“He further stated that he gave the account details of Destra Investments Ltd. to the President and thereafter he received the payment of N400m into his company’s accounts which he used for specific assignments given to him by the President of which he was not willing to disclose for what purpose.
“I thereafter refused to give him page four of his statement for endorsement because I did not want him to tear it as well. This incidence (sic) happened in the presence of the following officers: Mr. Ibrahim Musa, Mr. Wetkas Michael, Mr. Bello Umar, Ms. Ibrahim, who were all carrying out their various assignments.
“16.30 hours: The torn page of the statement which is in pieces was registered with the exhibit keeper and the incident recorded in the incidence record book of the commission.”
Embattled Secretary of the Ekiti state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party Dr. Temitope Aluko, has alleged that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, $37m cash to prosecute the June 21, 2014, governorship election in the state.
Fayemi, Fayose shake hands in public
Aluko said the money was effectively used to defeat the then Governor of the State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who was the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress.
He spoke with reporters in Abuja on Sunday.
Aluko, who said he was part of the team that prosecuted the election and also added that he was the chairman of the Intelligence, security committee for the campaign.
Beside, he said he handled the waiver Fayose got from the PDP at the national level to enable him qualify to take part in the governorship primary.
To further buttress important roles he played in the emergence of Fayose, Aluko also said he delivered the congresses that produced Fayose and was also the governor’s principal witness at the Election Petition Tribunal.
He said Jonathan initially gave Fayose $2m in March 2014 for the primary election and that this money was collected at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.
Aluko said, “It was about $35m dollars which is about N4.7bn he gave us for the real election and for the primaries, he released 2 million dollars to Fayose.
“I have details for all I am saying and I was present when they brought the money and it was Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro that brought the money, the 35 million dollars which he delivered to Fayose at Spotless Hotel.
“I can name eight people that were there. We were all there because he said he will want us to take delivery so that there will be transparency and accountability.
ABUJA-President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday said that Boko Haram sect was embarrassing his government with their renewed onslaught against the people of the north-east.
President Buhari
Speaking against the backdrop of plethora of suicide bombings in Chibok market, Dolari Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP) camp in Borno State and the Gombi market in Adamawa State in the passing week, president Buhari said that the insurgents had become more desperate, saying that the recent bombings were attempts to gain public sympathy and attention having suffered terribly in the hands of Nigerian military.
President Buhari said the terrorists had been rendered weak, confused and homeless after repeated bombings and ravaging of their camps and hide outs by the military, forcing them to find their way back into the society to wreak havoc, like the case of the Dolari IDP.
The President also noted that the materials for the Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were locally sourced by the insurgents.
He therefore urged Nigerians especially residents of the north-east region to be more vigilant and circumspect.
“Having lost the war, they are seeking ways and means to gradually find their way back into society. They are not returning to contribute but to cause more havoc. They are so desperate to embarrass the government and the people that they have no qualms attacking isolated communities and markets.
“I urge all citizens wherever they live to own the war against terror and to be part of the fight because it is the only way we can finish the remaining work that needs to be done to make our country safe again,” the President said.
A statement by the senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu stated that President Buhari “extended his condolences to all the people of Chibok, Gombi and Dolari who lost loved ones in the recent attacks and prayed that the Almighty God will comfort them and grant the injured persons quick recovery.”
Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has described the expelled former State Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr TKO Aluko as a new distraction from the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ekiti State, saying he does not deserve response from sane minds.
Fayose vows to lead opposition against APC
Olayinka said Aluko was already beclouded by his desperation to seek revenge against Governor Ayodele Fayose because of the governor’s refusal to make him his Chief of Staff, such that he (Aluko) was not mindful of committing the criminal offence of perjury.
The governor’s aide who said it was shameful that the APC have refused to accept a scandalous electoral defeat they suffered 19 months ago, asked whether it was also soldiers that rigged the 2015 presidential, senatorial, house of representatives and State House of Assembly elections that the party lost woefully in Ekiti.
He said; “For Aluko to be taken seriously, he must first have to report himself to the police to be tried for perjury and committed to prison for three years, since what he is now saying is different from what he said under oath at the Election Tribunal being the only witness called by the PDP and Governor Fayose.
“If after giving evidence under oath at the tribunal that the Election was free, fair and credible and that security agents, including soldiers performed their duties creditably well, saying something else more than one year after is an admittance by Aluko himself that he is not a stable character.
“It is also a demonstration of the fact that giving the right offer tomorrow, the same Aluko can also address the press tomorrow to deny all what he said today. He can even deny his own existence since he can deny what he said under oath just because he was not made Chief of Staff.
“Therefore, we won’t bother ourselves, responding to what a political parasite chooses to say because he wouldn’t have said what he is now saying today if he had been made Chief of Staff to Governor Fayose and it is sure that if he is called today, and given the right offer, he will begin to sing another song.
“Also, the APC bad losers in Ekiti State should know that it will take more than recruiting and paying a disgruntled TKO Aluko to discredit an election adjudged by both local and international observers, including the United States government as free, fair and credible. They will probably need to pay INEC to tell Nigerians that an election it conducted, in which an incumbent governor lost in his own local government was not credible.
“As per his claim that $37 million was given to the governor for the election,
the governor got financial support from various sources as it is usual of anyone contesting election and it is not for us to begin to advertise in the media the level of support the governor received from individuals, corporate organizations or groups.
However, if money belonging to the APC is missing and they suspect that the money was stolen by Dr Goodluck Jonathan to fund Ekiti State governorship election, they can approach the EFCC.”
We cannot compare Oshiomhole with PDP 8yrs in Edo – Senator Roland Owie
Never Again Shall we deal with Imposition – Prince Edobor
By Ehi Ekhator.
All is not well in the camp of Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the choice of candidate in the next coming governorship election.
Just as there is a problem over an alleged imposition of candidate in the state All Progressives Congress, NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that the PDP aspirants are equally fighting the some cabals planning to impose their anointed candidate.
dan orbih
According to investigation, Edo State Party Chairman, Chief Dan Orbih invited some leaders to Abuja for a meeting at Chief Tony Anenih’s residence. Those in attendance were reported to be loyal associates of one of the aspirants, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.
Discussion concerning the upcoming governorship election and state congress were top on the agenda in the meeting.
The leaders who were in support of other Aspirants other than those for Pastor Iyamu were not invited. For example, Senator Rowland Owie and Chief Ben Edo, two very top members of the Edo South curcus as number two and three respectively were not invited, a move that did not augur well with the other aspirants and their supporters.
NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that those projecting their candidate are Chief Tony Anenih, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, Dan Orbih and host of others.
Our correspondent gathered that upon their return a week later, Chief Tom Ikimi as Chairman of a special committee and one of those solidly behind the secret anointed aspirant, sent a text message to all aspirants and a meeting was held at his GRA residence in Benin.
The list of those invited for this Special Committee meeting includes:
Edo North:-
(1) Alhaji Kassim Ozeto
(2) Chief Mike Oghiadomhe
(3) Col. Tunde Akogun
(4) Hon. Henry Tenebe
(5) Hon Pascal Ogbome
(6) Chief Dan Orbih (State Chairman)
Edo Central.
(1) Arch. Mike Onolumeme
(2) Sen. Odion Ugbesia
(4) Sen. Cliff Odia.
(5) Hon. Joe Edionwele
(6) Hon. Sergies
(7) Dr. Prince Tony Omoghae
(8) Hon Giwa Agbonmelere.
(9) Chief Tom Ikimi (Committee Chairman)
Edo South
(1) Chief Gabriel Igbinedion (Esama.)
(2) Dr. Oni Edigin
(3) Owerri Dickson Imasogie
(4) Barr. Ahimien
(5) Hon EJ Abonayima
(6)Hon. Omosede Igbinedion
(7) Hon. Omoregie Ihama
(8) Sen. Matt Ughrohide
Aspirants present in the meeting were:
(1) Chief Solomon Iyobosa Edebiri (ISE)
(2) Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu (POI)
(3) Hon Mathew Iduyokemwen (MAI)
Aspirants who shunned the said meeting or took excuses not to attend were:
(1) Senator Uzamere
(2) Osaro Onaiwu
Tony Anenih
NAIJA CENTER NEWS gathered that the meeting almost ended in chaos when the aspirants were told that the committee was saddled with the primary responsibility of scaling down the number of aspirants to an initial two and finally one as time goes on.
The meeting tensed all the aspirants except one aspirant who said a level playing field be provided.
The leaders of the meeting, according to NAIJA CENTER NEWS finding advised the aspirants to discuss within themselves with a possibility of arriving at some stepping down for another which they all rejected.
Uncomfortable at the turn of the event, the Committee Chairman stated that the party will dictate what happens and not the aspirants, again a statement that resulted in complaints.
However, the Edo South curcuss Chairman Chief Gabriel Igbinedion who was absent came just as his Daughter, Hon Omosede Igbinedion was stepping out to catch her scheduled flight back to Abuja alongside other elected PDP National Assembly members who were all invited to the botched meeting.
He (Chief Igbinedion) pleaded for calmed nerves and asked to be given time to consult and submit two names to the committee for consideration. Two of the aspirants except one again rejected the suggestion.
The Aspirants again protested that anyone who continue to show interest be allowed to see his ambition to a logical conclusion; the Primaries. The meeting thus closed without any concrete resolution. The committee Chairman and Party Chairman gave him (Chief Igbinedion) two weeks to come out with these names.
Tom Ikimi
NAIJA CENTER NEWS investigation revealed that the plot continued in Chief Igbinedion’s residence where he invited five persons per Local Government including the Party L.G. A Chairmen over the burning issue. Again nothing concrete came out as those against the plot to impose a candidate successfully thwarted the move.
Majority of the Party Leaders who may have learned from the Presidential election are said to be in favour of a true and transparent primaries nothing that the party failed at the National level as a result of the same imposition; a scenario they are no longer willing to see repeat itself in Edo State, therefore raise posers:
What is the role of National PDP in State chapters if the state chapter does anything that is unconstitutional?
What will be the role of the people if a few persons are allowed to determine their destiny?
After the imposition by these persons (assuming they even succeed), will the general election also be by consensus?
Lucky Igbinedion
Is the party not at risk of incurring the people’s wrath considering the fact that the Igbinedion dynasty is frantically trying to foist one of their own through the back door?
Senator Roland Owie who spoke with NAIJA CENTER NEWS on the issue confirmed the plans.
The Senator stressed that they would not succeed in hatching it, insisting that though they may plan but they can’t as it will go against the tenet of the party.
On the secret meeting that took place in Abuja, the Senator said he challenged Tom Ikimi’s right to be in the meeting knowing fully well that he is supporting a specific candidate.
Some of us have told them it is illegal and they cannot try it. They were trying to do that nonsense and we told them it is not possible.
I told Tom Ikimi that he doesn’t have moral right to be there because he has a candidate he is supporting, how will you then chair such a committee. The PDP constitution is very clear, only NEC, PDP at national level that can constitute the committee at the appropriate time.
They were just wasting their time with what they were doing, it is unnecessary and they do not have the authority to do that.
Ikimi has his own aspirant which everybody has right to have but certainly my own arguments have been that the governorship election is not on party level but who is fielded.
I have said it that any aspirant that has close link with PDP eight years in Edo State cannot be the governor because that regime did not do too well. Everybody is free to choose candidates, but Edo people will choose their candidate. If they choose a candidate that is not salable or not, we wish them luck.
Oshiomhole may not have done to the extent that is expected to be but you cannot compare the governor’s achievement on ground to that of Lucky Igbinedion because if a man is not objective and as a Catholic Knight i am bound to say the truth in public and private.
There are some achievement Oshiomhole has made which PDP in Edo State did not do. All we should do is to tell the people that we would do better than what Oshiomhole had done by bringing a credible candidate, but if they bring a candidate within the system that failed (Lucky Igbinedion administration), we will distance ourselves throughout the campaign.
So they won’t try it, and if they dare, it will be aborted.
Revealing Oshiomhole’s plan, Senator Owie said the governor’s plan is to roll out a big board of Pastor Ize-Iyamu with Lucky Igbinedion to warn Edo people if he emerged as the party flag bearer.
Quoting the governor, the Senator said: “If Pastor Ize-Iyamu emerge as PDP candidate, he would roll out big board from Ofusu to Okpila with picture of Lucky Igbinedion and the Pastor with an inscription “don’t draw Edo State back again”, and during campaign we will be defending ourselves.
Speaking on the issue, another chieftain of the PDP, Prince Edobor Eghosa said “We must not forget where we are coming from as a political party. First we are guided by the provision of our constitution. The founding father of this party have in mind when they postulated the motto of this party that there must be justice, unity and progress and the law two is not attainable without the first one.
“The slogan of PDP is that power must be to the people. We say no to imposition, and the selection of candidate must be through free, credible and democratic process. That is how in the end, there will be unity and progress because justice has been served.
“Making reference to what happened at the federal level, Prince Eghosa said i think our people have learned from their mistakes. The problem of the general election in 2015 has become an opener to the people.
“We drifted from the primary constitution of the party and that was why we lost the election. Not again shall we now deal with imposition and cabals who are bent on destroying this party.
Enugu Catholic priest, and founder, Adoration Ministry, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka, has said he is going to suffer in his new parish.
Father Mbaka
Mbaka made this statement while handing over to his successor on Saturday.
He said, “I know we are going to suffer, between now and few months to come, I am going to suffer.
“I am going to suffer because I have no place to lay my head; I am going to suffer because I have no place to keep the (Adoration) Ministry’s assets.
“The Adoration Ministry is passing through suffering right now.
“Even though I have accepted it as the will of God – it is the will of God through suffering – it is a mega suffering.
“But however, the grace of God will carry us all – even though some of you may pray that God should remove this thorn from us, the scripture says ‘His grace is sufficient for us, for it it even in your weakness that the power of God is demonstrated.”
It was gathered that Mbaka would move from a duplex, which served as his residence in the old parish, to just a room in the new posting.
The said room is only equipped with a small toilet and a bathroom, as well as a small table and a bed, it was learnt.
Mbaka was moved from the Christ the King Parish, G.R.A, in Enugu metropolis, which he presided over as parish priest for over 20 years, to Our Lady Parish, in Emene, a suburb of the Coal City.
It was learnt that Mbaka, who was the parish priest-in-charge at the CKC Parish, G.R.A, will serve as an assistant parish priest in the new parish.
Our correspondent learnt that Mbaka’s transfer was part of a general redeployment of priests by Enugu Catholic Diocese, headed by His Lordship, Bishop Calistus Onaga.
It was equally gathered that the diocese routinely redeploys priests every six years.
But Mbaka, and his massive followers, have linked the development to the anger reportedly expressed by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church over his role in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election, when he condemned former President Goodluck Jonathan in a message entitled ‘From Good Luck to Bad Luck’.
In the message, Mbaka prophesied that Muhammadu Buhari would win the election, and urged his followers and other Nigerians to vote for him.
Buhari eventually won the poll.
Following the election, Mbaka has been accused of engaging in partisan politics after he visited Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and went ahead to allege, in a New Year message, that the President’s opponents were plotting to kill him.
It is widely believed that the leadership of the Catholic Church in Enugu was not comfortable with Mbaka’s activities.
Residents of the Idumuje-Ugboko Community in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State were pensive on Saturday following a revelation by the queen mother, Okwukwe Nwoko, that she was sent away from the palace two years ago over allegation of infidelity.
Okwukwe accused the crown prince and his loyalists of sending her out of the palace so the former could achieve his desire of succeeding the 90-year old monarch.
She also threatened court action to reclaim her position in the palace.
The monarch, Obi Agbogidi Nwoko III, reportedly married four wives but divorced two while one is dead, leaving Okwukwe as the only recognised wife staying with him before the development.
Okwukwe, 37, in an interview with newsmen said she was unjustly accused of infidelity and sent out of the palace with seven-month-old pregnancy belonging to the monarch.She said trouble started after a failed plan to reconcile one of the Obi’s former wives with the palace and some persons vowed that no wife of the Obi would remain in the palace since the move failed.
The queen mother claimed that when she was accused of infidelity, she agreed to a DNA test or be allowed to take the traditional oath to prove her innocence.
She added that her accusers, working on speculations, refused and drove her out despite the unproven case of infidelity.
Okwukwe claimed that while the matter was being addressed, she was stopped from entering the palace.
According to her, she lived peacefully with the monarch before the incident. She stated that the pregnancy she was accused of getting through infidelity produced a baby who is now about three years old.
She also said the baby had neither been seen nor touched by her father since her birth.
Okwukwe appealed to the Obi-in-Council, opinion leaders and the royal family to intervene in the matter, adding that she “wants to go back to the palace and take care” of her husband.
When contacted, the Iyase of Idumuje-Ugboko, Chief Chris Ogwu, said the Obi-in-Council had yet to address the issue, noting that the traditional ruler was not happy with the expulsion of his wife from the palace.
Our correspondent, who visited the palace, was unable to speak with either the monarch or the crown prince on the matter.
However, a member of the royal family, who identified himself as Prince Obi Nwoko, alleging that Okwukwe committed infidelity and sent out of the palace by the royal family according to tradition.
A Delta State group Foundation for Human Rights and Anti-CORRUPTION Crusade (FHRACC) has raised alarm over an alleged plans by the Nigerian military to cause mayhem in Gbaramatu Kingdom in the name of searching for the culprits who are responsible for the bombing of oil pipelines.
Minmah, Soldier
According to a statement issued by the group National President, Alaowei Cleric Esq, the group said that the military has issued an evacuation warning to the members of the community or face a hostile invasion.
Alaowei also noted that the soldiers shoot sporadically every night from Warri Naval Base to the direction of these communities.
The group President said ” The military attempt to unearth the perpetrators of the recent pipeline bombings in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West LGA of Delta State has taken a different dimension.
“What the military Joint Task Force is doing to the riverine communities is a demonstration of military prowess to its enemies in order to coerce them into doing its biddings.
“We are disturbed or rather appalled by the military belligerent attitudes towards the riverine Ijaw communities over the pipeline destruction by hoodlums.
“If the military refuses to retrace its aggressive steps towards these defenseless Ijaw communities then we may be forced to believe that the military has an ulterior motive against the Ijaw communities beyond looking for the culprits of the dastardly act.
“Our attention has been drawn to the activities of the Nigerian armed forces to the inhabitants of Sandfield 1 & 2, Ogbogbene, Hotel and Fenegbene in Warri South West LGA of Delta State.
“We’re reliably informed by members of these communities that the military has send a warning to them that they should evacuate theirs ancestral lands.
“They also said the military send a stern warning to them that should they refuse to heed to its warning, it’ll invade the communities in the name of searching for the culprits of the pipeline bombings.
“In a manner apparently to manifest its plan, the military is shooting sporadic gun shorts almost in every night from the Warri Naval Base into the direction the of these communities.
“The people cannot sleep with their two eyes close, while several others have deserted the communities as a result of the threatening gun shorts. Even up till this moment they are still running for their dear lives.
FHRACC agreed to the constitutional responsibility of the soldiers to fish out culprits but warned that it sh ouldn’t be used as an avenue to infringe on peoples’ right.
“We are quite aware that the military has the constitutional responsibility to apprehend the culprits at anywhere, it should not use its sacred duties to invade other people’s rights without any justification.
“These communities are far from the place where the said acts were alleged to have been carried out. What is happening to these communities has crumbled the business of the area. The people cannot go about their lawful business since the military threatened to attack them.”
The concerned group of the Nigerians in Diaspora on security in the United Kingdom has pledged to work with the Nigerian military through intelligence gathering and development of software needed in its operations in the North East. The group, led by the Chairperson House of Representative Committee on Diaspora matters, Honourable Barrister Rita Orji made this pledge at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, during the presentation of an award to the Chief of Defence Staff General Gabriel Olonisakin.
Honourable Barrister Orji stated that the award was given to the CDS in appreciation of the gallantry and doggedness of the military in keeping the nation united despite predictions of a break-up Nigeria before the 2015 general election. She noted that Nigerians in Diaspora acknowledged the sacrifices the members of Armed Forces are rendering towards keeping Nigeria safe from insurgency and insecurity. The award of gallantry presented to the Chief of Defence Staff, according to Honourable Barrister Orji, was to say thank you to the members of Armed Forces through the CDS so as to spur the military to do more in this noble endeavour.
Receiving the award, General Olonisakin expressed appreciation to the group for identifying with the military, especially at this trying period in our nation’s history. He stated that the award was for the Nigerian military, both the dead and the living, as well as members of their families who also bear the brunt of the insecurity in the North East and other parts of the country.
General Olonisakin noted that terrorism is a global phenomenon and therefore urged Nigerians in diaspora and international community to rise up to challenges and join hands to wage war against insurgency and terrorism. Present at the occasion, apart from the group of Nigerians in diaspora, are some members of the House of Rep Committee on diaspora and Principal Staff Officers of the Defence Headquarters.
The Nigerian military has issued a warning to the general public on the new tactics being employed by the Islamic terrorists, Boko Haram to infiltrate the public for their evil act.
Suicide Bomber, Boko Haram
According to a statement issued by the Defence Headquarters, Boko Haram new tactics is to dress its suicide bombers like mad persons to gain access to crowded places before detonating bombs.
It could be recalled that two male suicide bombers dressed like mad women and carried out suicide bomb attack in Gombi, Adamawa State where five people lost their lives and several others were wounded.
In its statement, the DH said ” It has come to the notice of the Defence Headquarters that Boko Haram, in their desperation to cause colossal havoc, have now devised a new method where they dress like mad persons to gain unsuspecting access to public areas to detonate bombs.
“The 2 male suicide bombers, dressed like mad women and carried out suicide bomb attack in Gombi, Adamawa State, is instructive in this direction. Five people lost their lives and several others were wounded in the heinous attack by these ungodly people.
“The Defence Headquarters therefore urges our fellow good citizens across the country to be wary of mad persons approaching markets, public places or crowded areas so as to nip this ugly trend in the bud. Nigerians are also enjoined to be security conscious at all times and should endeavour to report any suspicious person or object to security agencies for prompt action.”
Nigerians have expressed outrage at the Economist for labeling the country’s past president, Goodluck Jonathan, as an ‘ineffectual buffoon.’
In an article titled “Crude Tactics: Cheap oil is causing a currency crisis in Nigeria. Banning imports is no solution”, published in The Economist last Thursday, the magazine, while analysing the economic policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, had written that “In the eight months since Mr. Buhari arrived at Aso Rock, the presidential digs, the homicidal jihadists of Boko Haram have been pushed back into the bush along Nigeria’s borders.
President Jonathan
“The government has cracked down on corruption, which had flourished under the previous president, Goodluck Jonathan, an ineffectual buffoon who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity.”
In angry reactions on social media, majority of Nigerians expressed their displeasure with the tag on a former president of Africa’s most populous nation.
Writing on her Twitter handle, Nigerian author, Molara Wood stated, “Marvelled at the verbal buffoonery of @TheEconomist. It’s almost like it’s personal. I thought you people had style guides.#Inappropriate.”
Also, writing on his Twitter handle, @Olumicome2, a Nigerian, Obamide, said, “I think it’s wrong that the economist described Jonathan as an ineffectual Buffon. It’s so wrong to call our ex-president that
In another reaction, A Twitter user, Ogbiji Nyiam, said, “The Economist reference of Jonathan as “an ineffectual Buffon” is uncalled and saucy.”
Similarly, writing on his Facebook page, one Ismail Aniemu said every Nigerian should be worried about any derogatory description of our leaders by the western media.
“Describing Jonathan as an ‘Ineffectual Buffoon’ is not a good testimonial for us coming from an influential publication, The Economist. Nigerians should jointly seek ways of avoiding embarrassments of this sort in future. How did we get a GEJ to lead us in the first place?” he wrote.
Another Nigerian, Adedayo Adesoji, also expressed his reservations on his Facebook page.
He wrote, “Despite the fact that I have never for once fancied the kind of President Jonathan’s style of leadership, I take exception to the Economist’s position referring to the Nigerian immediate past President as an ineffectual buffoon! It is the height of disrespect to the personality of our former President! If truly the Economist condescended so low to spew out this insult, then the above globally respected news platform has lowered its professional standard and brought international journalism to a state of disrepute! I am awfully disappointed in the Economist if truly it authored such a publication!”
Also, in his Facebook post, a Nigerian, Ugo Chikezie, said the label by The Economist was abusive.
“For me, I completely agree that GEJ was ineffectual, but I don’t quite agree that he is a buffoon. We all know GEJ failed woefully as president, but I think calling him a buffoon is unnecessary. People should learn to criticize without being abusive,” He wrote on his Facebook page.
However, Aliyu Abubakar Zaria said, “So while Jonathan was busy buying awards in USA and Switzerland, trying to perfume his smelly years as president, the Economist described him as an “ineffectual Buffon, who let politicians and their cronies fill their pockets with impunity”. Some Nigerians are already angry, describing the description of ‘a former president of a country’ as an “ineffectual buffoon” as ‘racism’. Is the Economist wrong in this assertion or they are just stating the obvious?”
Several people have been reportedly killed as the military engaged militants suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect in a fierce gun battle that reportedly lasted for hours on Saturday.
Mercenaries to fight Boko Haram
The insurgents were said to have attacked Dalori and Walori villages, on outskirts of Maiduguri, at around some minutes past 7pm on Saturday night.
Dalori village is a few kilometres away from an Internally Displaced Persons camp, which is said to be the most populous IDP camp in the country.
Sources said Boko Haram insurgents usually mounted surprise attacks at that hour of the day, as they had studied the movement of the military.
Residents, including students of the University of Maiduguri, were said to have scampered for safety while the gunfire lasted and explosion rocked the area.
Sources in Maiduguri told our correspondent that fighting was still on going at the time of this report at 10pm. “The fighting started at around 7.30pm but we don’t know how many people have been killed or injured,” the source said.
Another source said, ‘No it is not Dalori camp, there is a village behind the camp called Dalori gari; that is the one which is being attacked by Boko Haram. They have killed many and razed the village.”
The recent attack in Maiduguri comes a day after at least 15 persons were killed, and many others injured, in a twin bomb blast that rocked the Gombi Grain Market in Adamawa State last Friday.
Also, last Wednesday, twin bomb blasts had rocked the Chibok community in Borno State, killing 11 persons and injuring 35 others.
The bomb blasts reportedly went off at a military checkpoint and a market simultaneously, shattering the fragile security situation in the town where about 219 school girls were abducted by the Boko Haram sect in 2014. The girls have yet to be rescued.d
The Adamawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected Alhaji Ahmed Gulak as the national chairman of the party.
Ahmed Gulak
Gulak, who hails from the state, had on Wednesday stormed the national secretariat of the party in Abuja, where he declared himself as the national chairman of the former ruling party.
The former presidential aide, who arrived the secretariat with his supporter, said he had taken over the leadership of the party from its Acting National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
A day after Gulak pronounced himself as the substantive chairman, governors of the party also met in Abuja and asked Secondus to hand over to the National Secretary, Prof. Wale Oladipo.
Secondus however said he would not handover as demanded by the governors, saying that their (governors) demand had no backing in the party’s constitution.
But the Adamawa State chapter of the party said that after the meeting of its National Working Committee, it decided to support Amb. Wilberforce Juta for the exalted position.
A letter signed by the Chairman of the party in the state, Chief Joel Madaki, and addressed to Secondus said that Juta was capable of using his experience to resuscitate the party.
The letter reads in part, “The State Working Committee of the PDP, Adamawa State Chapter after due consultation with party stakeholders in the state and beyond, and having thoroughly deliberated intensively on the issue of the position of the National Chairman of the party has resolved as follows:
“That, it is imperative the PDP resuscitates itself as a key political party for the purpose of both proffering effective opposition and an alternative platform to ruling All Progressives Congress government.
Palpable fear gripped the residents of coastal communities of Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State following explosion that rocked oil pipelines belonging to the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.
The explosion, which was said to have been triggered by dynamite attacks allegedly launched by suspected militants affected pipelines located in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities of Brass.
The development, it was learnt had led to many residents of the riverside communities scampering for safety.
It was learnt that the attacks were launched on Thursday night and had led to massive spillage of crude from the Agip pipeline into the sea and fishing camps.
Confirming the incident, member representing Brass Constituency 1 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mr. Israel Sunny-Goli, condemned the attack on Agip pipelines.
Sunny-Goli, in a statement on Saturday, said, “Preliminary investigations indicate that the bombing of the pipeline was an act of sabotage carried out to hurt the economic interests of Bayelsa state and Nigeria.
“The latest explosion coming after bombing of pipelines recently in the same area is worrisome as it is capable of forcing oil companies out of operation which would have adverse effect on Nigeria’s economy.”
Sunny-Goli called on security agencies to beef up security around oil facilities to ensure they prevent future attack by economic saboteurs bent on crippling Nigeria’s economy.
The lawmaker added, “I want to condemn the latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri. This is a clear sabotage by economic saboteurs. Recently, they blasted pipeline at Orukari and Golubokiri.
” I condemn this latest attack on Agip pipeline at Kpongbokiri in its entirety. It is sabotage against Nigeria in a bid to cripple the economy at a time the nation is struggling with decline in revenue due to the fall in oil prices.
“It is common knowledge that because of the low price of oil which is our main source of revenue, many states can hardly pay workers’ salaries. This sabotage is capable of crippling the economy if not urgently curbed. If these attacks are not checked and the perpetrators brought to book and Agip decides to pull out of Bayelsa, it would be disastrous for us as a people.”
He urged Bayelsans, especially those that have oil facilities around them to be be vigilant and report any suspicious movement to security agencies to prevent further attacks.
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, on Saturday in Yenagoa, threw his weight behind the embattled Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, saying he (Secondus) remains the party’s national chairman.
Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson
He, therefore, condemned the decision by former presidential aide, Ahmed Gulak, to forcefully declare himself as chairman of the party.
According to the Governor, contrary to the reports in the media, there are no three chairmen in PDP but only one in the person of acting national chairman and that is Uche Secondus.
Dickson in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, clarified the position of PDP Governors Forum, saying Secondus was still the Deputy National Chairman of the party.
He added that in the absence of a substantive national chairman, he (Secondus) remained in acting capacity until a new chairman emerges.
The governor denied reports of any division in PDP Governors Forum or change in the current leadership of the party.
He said there were modalities for the emergence of chairman of the party as stated in its constitution and therefore there could not have been any reason to have three chairmen running the party at the same time.
Dickson was categorical that at no time did the forum nominate anyone as chairman, insisting that Uche Secondus as Deputy National Chairman, going by the law and the party’s constitution, was still in acting capacity until a new chairman emerges.
He said, “There can’t be a vacuum and as servants of the law, we must be seen at all times to be people who are duty bound to uphold the law and to do the right things at all times in the eyes of the law.”
Una Good afternoon Edo State Government, I take time from my leave take write this open letter because, so many things they way they pain me and so many Edo people for mind and I use PIGIN ENGLISH take write because, na only through this medium I go fit take talk am way every body go hear. Na few month Oga Comrade Governor get for office now to serve our people, but e clear say all the agreement and campaign promise way Oga Comrade promise to give Edo people him nor gree fulfill any one of them oh, I go try remember Oga Comrade Governor one After the other.
(1) BYE BYE TO POVERTY
We remember say one of Oga Comrade Governor key manifesto for him 2007 campaign na Bye Bye to poverty. As we speak so, Edo people never see the kind poverty way we they see now under this Government before oh, our people they suffer they work like lion they receive money like atete. Even pensioneers way done serve the state with all their power for life hardly recieve their money when month End, Oga governor u sure say this ur own action against the people resemble person way ready put an end to poverty?
(2) 10000 ANUAL EMPLOYMENT FOR EDO PEOPLE.
The same 2007, Oga Comrade Governor promise Edo people say him go provide 10000 job annually for Edo people and if u multiple 10000×8 u go get 80000 jobs and as we speak today, even one job we nor see. Elections don they come again, we don they see advert for employment. Oga Comrade Governor, u like to employ us, abi u one decieve us with the employment make we for vote for ur party again?
Waiting come pain me pass be say, Oga Comrade Governor come last year November 11/ 2015 during 7th anniversary celebration, Oga governor come talk am say him nor promise to build industries for Edo people. Oga that word pain me oh, ok if u nor promise to build industries as u talk, where u one for provide the 80000 jobs way u promise to provide for Edo people?
(3) NO MORE TICKETING
Oga the music way u play to get our market women, bus drivers, Okada men and many others na “NO MORE TICKETING” but as we they see today, na under ur Government we for come see the multiple taxation way every responsible government around the world see like fraud sotay, our people don run comot for business because of multiple taxation, Oga all this kind thing good so?
(4) AGBERO IS HISTORY IN EDO STATE
When u promise to wipe Agbero from Edo State Oga Comrade Governor, I nor go lie u oh, Edo people happy well well oh. But today matter change oh and water self pass gari, the Agbero way come they today, fit shoot gun for front of police and them go, go freely. If these Agbero they collect money for ticket, u need to see how them they beat our market women, bus driver and others for street. We know how many accident Oshiomhole police and the new group don cause for our state. When this Agbero they flight, Edo they turn upside down. Sometime last year when Agbero flight for Ikpoba hill market, if nor be soldiers way kill two, u go think say federal Government don legalized gun for Nigeria, na wa oo.
The one way come pain pass be say, the same Agbero way we expect to be history in Edo State, Nai come be the most paid job in Edo State, so Tay all the graduate way nor get jobs they see where Agbero they celebrate 1billion Naira in cash and assets, while graduates don turn bigger for street. Many people way never enter schools now don they discouraged to go school, them they join cultism now make them for strong well to join the must lucrative job of Agbero in Edo State, Oga na this kind one u promise us in 2007?
(5) ONE MAN ONE VOTE
When Oga Comrade Governor enter government gidigba, our people they happy say we don get Ogbonge government. The Government come bring one man one vote come, as the concept come sweet reach, the enter nation come carry am. When e reach the time to conduct local Government elections in Edo State, we come see one man 50 vote and so Tay, cow self they vote, waiting be the brain behind that action, na hypocrisy or what?
(6) EDO SAY NO TO GODFATHERISM
When Oga Comrade Governor enter power, him fight the Godfatherism way they this state, when the Oga start to they function as Governor, even ur own commissioners nor they fit talk, not to even talk of Edo people. Na talk I talk way u spoil my Ex mass and wedding anniversary for my hand. As if that one nor reach, even people for ur own party don see am say u one imposed candidates on them, Oga Comrade Governor u nor see am say ur action they different from what u preach? To be Continued
Several people were killed in a twin bomb blast that rocked the Gombi Grain Market in Adamawa State on Friday.
An eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent said that the blast occurred around 2pm when the market was filled to the brim.
It was stated that several people are looking for their loved ones who went to the market to buy grains.
The sources said that two male suicide bombers carried out the attacks.
It was further gathered that the youths of the community arrested one of the attackers with unexploded bomb strapped to his body.
He was said to have confessed to his interrogators that five suicide bombers were deployed in the market for the operation, confessing that only two of the suicide attackers detonated their bombers, while two others were still hiding in the locality.
The source said that about 15 people were killed in the attack with several others injured.
The source said, “There was a bomb attack in Gombi Grain Market. The attack took place around 2pm when the market was filled with people.
“The casualty figure is between 12 to 15 people while several others sustained injuries. Several people are looking for their loved ones who went to the market.”
The Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig. Rabe Abubakar, who confirmed the unfortunate incident, urged Nigerians to be vigilant and pay attention to the presence of mad persons in crowded areas and markets.
He said that the insurgents had devised a new means of disguising as mad people to detonate their dangerous weapons in crowded places and markets.
He said, “It is true that the incident happened. The general public should be aware of the new tactics of the Boko Haram members who have devised another strange method of disguising as mad people in order to carry out their heinous acts against the citizens. Nigeria should be wary of mad persons in markets and crowded places.”
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not relent in his war against corruption until the scourge is destroyed in the country.
Lai Mohammed
He also called on Nigerians to join the battle against corruption in the country.
“This is not Buhari’s war; this is not the All Progressives Congress’ war. This is a war for all Nigerians and we must all join hands in waging the war,’’ Mohammed said while delivering a lecture on Friday at the Faculty of Arts, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He claimed that once the people were determined to fight corruption, they were assured of victory.
The minister said, ‘’No power has ever been great enough to defeat a people who are determined to win. Let us all form what I call citizens’ coalition against corruption by speaking up against the crime, refusing to glorify or support looters, irrespective of how much dirty cash they dangle before us, and refusing to be divided along religious or ethnic lines.”
While listing the effects of corruption in the nation, the minister said Nigeria lost $400bn in the oil sector alone, adding that so much money was stolen by corrupt leaders from the health, education, security and other sectors.
According to him, atrocities committed by the Boko Haram insurgents continued for many years because the funds allocated to buy weapons for the military were shared by some corrupt persons.
Apart from massive loss of lives and property, Mohammed stated that corruption in public office had caused endemic poverty, poor infrastructure and lack of qualitative health care, among other effects.
The minister, however, claimed that corruption had started fighting back, saying some of the corrupt persons had started hiring hack writers, pseudo analysts to attack the President’s war against corruption in the media.
He said, “On the part of government, let me reiterate what I said earlier that there is no stopping this fight. Those who doubt the resolve of this administration to successfully wage this battle will learn a tough lesson, a lesson of their lives.
“Failure is not an option in this fight. In the days ahead, we plan a road show of sorts on corruption sensitisation efforts.”
Mohammed decried the use of ethno-religious sentiment to weaken the anti-corruption war, but asked Nigerians to ignore the trick “because poverty and other effects of corruption did not discriminate between people according to ethnicity or religious beliefs.”
Two-term governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa, was among the top politicians who were recently questioned by the EFCC for collecting money from the office of the NSA. But unlike others who are angry over their invitation by the anti-graft agency, the former governor in this interview says he holds no grudge against the government for fighting corruption. Bafarawa asks all Nigerians to team up with President Muhammadu Buhari to stamp out corruption from the polity so as to give Nigerians a new lease of life.
The former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa
Why are you talking about fighting corruption after being arrested and detained by EFCC along with some other top politicians over money-related matters?
Well, from my analysis, corruption in Nigeria is not a thing that one man can fight. I believe fighting corruption is the responsibility of every Nigerian. Don’t forget that I served for eight years from 1999 – 2007, I served for eight years. When we took over from the military in 1999 the crude oil was $9 per barrel and in 2007 it had gotten up to $30 – $40 and then we left a lot of legacies in our various states during that period. When I left office, I left behind N12 billion in the treasury. You can see the fortune that came the way of the nation between 2007 and 2015 when the price of oil rose to over $100 per barrel. One begins to wonder why those who enjoyed the huge oil revenue should be asking for bailout from the Federal Government.
I can say that I left behind legacies that generations yet unborn will be very proud of. We had a good leader, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who was committed to fighting corruption and he created many institutions like the EFCC and the ICPC to handle the job. Whatever name you want to give him; whether he did it for fighting corruption or for witch-hunting, at least, it assisted in fighting corruption. He laid a foundation, he realised there was corruption and he fought it. After he left, his successors -YarÁdua and Jonathan-did not do much to fight corruption and that exacerbated the monster in the land.
Today, one can say that up to 90 percent of Nigerians are corrupt because when you go to the grassroots level, that is where corruption starts. The electorate will demand money before they elect you into office no matter how good you are, no matter the kind of ideology you have and intend to bring for their own good. If you don’t give them money, they would not support you. The game is that anyone who comes and shares money to them gets the support and nothing more.
Is that why you are supporting Buhari’s anti-corruption war?
Certainly. My support for him stems from the fact that it is a blessing for Nigerians that Buhari’s administration is fighting corruption. We shouldn’t see it as Buhari fighting corruption but something that all of us must join and ensure that it succeeds because Buhari can’t do it alone. It would also be dangerous if we ignore the fight against corruption because it will swallow the country.
As I have said earlier when a huge amount of about $100 a barrel for crude oil is spent and all the money vanishes and government has to bail states out it shows clearly that something has gone wrong somewhere. Giving that bailout to state without the federal Government investigating what they did with their huge oil earnings was a bit hasty. I would have expected the President to raise a committee to probe how the states incurred their debts and how they arrived at seeking bailout and how they want to use the bailout funds.
For this administration to succeed in fighting corruption, the government must involve not just the EFCC and ICPC but also other Nigerians. The government must open an office for public awareness for fighting corruption.
Special office should be open to campaign for the common man to see the dangers of corruption. We have to consider preventive measures before prosecuting those who are corrupt. We must adopt the two methods if we must succeed. Nigeria is in serious problem because it appears to me that loan which the Obasanjo’s administration managed to pay up, we are going back to incur more debts for the nation. We seem to be back to square one by borrowing, borrowing and borrowing and heading to nowhere. No matter what we are talking about, we will not succeed if we don’t fight corruption. I want Nigerians to take the fight against corruption as a project and not just Buhari’s.
Let’s take it as a collective project otherwise we will continue to sink and our children who are not yet born will not forgive us. In 2012 when Jonathan wanted to remove fuel subsidy, Nigerians came out and protested but he had seen it coming that was why he decided to remove subsidy but it wasn’t supported by Nigerians. More than four years later, people have seen the need to do so. If oil subsidy had been removed when Jonathan wanted to do so, President Buhari would have gotten an easy ride to continue.
If we don’t help Buhari to fight corruption, the person who will succeed him will have many issues to contend with and the nation would suffer the more for it. I believe we don’t have any country than Nigeria and we have to tell ourselves the truth about the situation of this country. It is only in Nigeria that you will see a person looking for government office for them to amass public funds for their own selfish interest. It is only in Nigeria that when a man who had no house gets into public office and in few months after taking over office, he can afford to buy over the whole community because of illicit public funds.
Are you not afraid that you may be accused of supporting Buhari because of your recent arrest and detention by the EFCC?
This arrest issue was best known to the EFCC. I wasn’t in the country when they came looking for me and then I got in touch with them. I got my lawyer to write to them that I was not in the country and that when I am back I would report to their office. Five days later when I arrived I went there myself. When I went there I was told that my invitation was in connection with the N100 million which a former minister gave to me. I accepted that he gave me the money and I gave it to those it was meant for. I told them that the money was paid to the beneficiaries through cheques. The matter is already in court and I don’t want to say more than that for now.
It doesn’t mean that when you come to court you are corrupt. The investigators can do it rightly or wrongly but what they are trying to do is find out the facts whether what they are told or what has been seen in the books is true or not. It is left to the person to go and explain himself. So I am not going to accuse or blame EFCC for inviting me because they are investigating me. I know that in the course of investigation anything can happen. EFCC investigators are not judges but are merely trying to get to know the truth from those who have been mentioned or accused of doing certain things. So, we should all cooperate with the anti-corruption agencies to get to know the truth about the corruption cases they are investigating.
Are you not worried that the fight against corruption may defy the laws of Nigeria leading to extended arrest and detention of innocent people?
I am one of the victims. I was detained in prison for three weeks and then taken to court but thank God today the FCT Chief Judge has given them an order barring magistrate from granting EFCC holding orders. That means that we are making progress in this country. So, no more court orders from Magistrate courts to arrest and detain people without charging them to court within the stipulated time. We are the first victims and those who are coming will not be affected but at least, we are learning and moving forward.
So are you satisfied with the way corruption is being fought by EFCC at the moment?
I am saying that they are trying and when they make mistakes, they should be corrected for the overall interest of the country. What they need is to get more experienced persons into the system and adopt a more civilised way of handling corruption investigation so as to win the war.
So does it mean that you didn’t collect any money directly from the former NSA?
As I have said before, I am saying it again and again that I didn’t collect anything directly from the former NSA but let’s not go to that because I said the matter is still in court. Let the matter be decided by the court before I talk on it.
The government appears to be putting all its efforts in fighting corruption, leaving other vital sectors to suffer. What do you think about that?
You see, that is the danger of corruption. That is the problem Mr. President finds himself in. For this country to move forward we must have our resources. The government of the day is broke. The problem we are facing now has to do with massive corruption, security and economic issues begging for urgent answers. First, we should pity Buhari and do all we can to assist him to win the fight against corruption and terrorism staring this nation on the face.
I am not a member of APC but I am a Nigerian and President Muhammadu Buhari is my president. When he joined politics in 2003 he must have come with his own ideology. He has tried over the years to win the Presidency and use his leadership to change the country for the good of all. You can see his strident attempts from 2003 to date when he finally won the election last year and it is our strong belief that Buhari is going to turn around Nigeria’s fortune. The country was already in a bad shape by the time he was sworn in about seven months ago and I know that he needs to take his time to put things right.
Are you surprised to know now that the huge part of money which PDP used during the last general elections was meant for arms to fight Boko Haram?
I don’t believe any politician who received that money knew it was arms money. How would one know what the money was meant for by the time they were being paid? Absolutely impossible. How would you know the source having not been given a contract? But when we go to court everyone will explain himself.
Are you regretting supporting Jonathan in the last election?
I am not regretting. I have never been a member of PDP since the creation in 1999 up till 2014. I have never been a member of PDP because my ideology is different from theirs otherwise I would have joined them. I found myself in PDP by accident. What I mean by accident is that I was part and parcel of the APC. I am a founding member of the APC. I was forced to leave APC because of corruption in politics in my state when PDP governors defected to the APC. Corruption came into the system along the formation of the party when they said that the PDP governors were going to join APC and I happened to be a victim. We were forced to hand over the party to my governor, who was a PDP member. So my followers insisted we must remain in PDP and I had to work with them.
I had to work with them. I joined PDP at the state level with my people without coming to Abuja or anybody enabling me. Even the top shots in PDP, including former President Jonathan did not believe that I had indeed joined the PDP when he was told. He could not believe that because during the days of Obasanjo, I had a lot of pressure to join the PDP but I refused.
Mind you I am a professional politician; I have ideology so I have to protect my profession. I started as a local government counsellor in 1976 so this is my profession. So I still stand on what I believe. That was why I had to join PDP just to get my people to have a place where they can contest election. The same way Buhari finds himself in this system is the way I found myself in the PDP.
So how long are you going to stay in PDP?
I will remain in PDP for as long as it is convenient. The APC is the same with PDP. I used to call them PDP 1 and PDP 2 because almost many of the people in PDP are now in APC and vice versa. For instance, the Number 2 man in PDP who ruled this country for eight years as a vice president is now in APC. If you count all the governors in APC, most of them were at one time or the other were in PDP. You can say so of at least two National Chairmen of PDP now in APC.
You joined politics in 1976 and that idea has still been with you. What exactly is that idea?
My idea is to work for the people. That is the ideology of being a politician to help the needy. When you join politics, you are just like the human rights fighter; you fight for the common man not yourself. So this is my own ideology to help people. When I was a counsellor in 1976, we did not pay much attention to what we could get from the government. In fact, we did not know much about money and acquisition of wealth.
I was only 22 years when I was elected into local government council and I later became the deputy chairman of the local government. Our major concern was how to make the people happy by providing service.
At that time we weren’t looking for money but popularity. We were more interested in doing something for people in the society and to please the people. It was during that time Obasanjo created UBE scheme and I was one of the counsellors in charge of education and we were building primary schools and health centres in the villages. At that time we used to return money allocated to us by the state government at the end of the year because we could not make use of the entire amount allocated to us.
When I was a governor I left almost N12 billion in the treasury. So if I was looking for money at that time when a billion Naira meant a lot of money, I would have stolen that money.
If you were to look back at your tenure of eight years, what would you point out as the most outstanding achievement and what really excites you about that tenure?
A lot. If you go to Sokoto, you can see the over 1000 kilometres of roads which I constructed and the numerous educational and health institutions which were done by my administration. When I took over the leadership of the state we had only 30 indigenes that where medical doctors but before I left I produced more than 100 medical doctors. I trained them locally and abroad before leaving office and today they are proud and rendering quality services to Nigerians in Sokoto State.
The people of Sokoto State really love and respect me and that is what gives me joy today. Recently, when they heard that I had been released on bail, they took over the airport to receive me back home. It took me more than an hour to reach home from the airport because of the large number of people who had assembled to receive me.
People came on their own to receive me. When I reached home I met thousands of people waiting to see me. So if I look back to the time when I left office and the love that my people continue to show me, I have enough reasons to thank God.
How best will you advise Mr. President to fight corruption?
Buhari has started well and should be encouraged to do more. He cannot stop the war half way. But he should set up public communication centres to educate or enlighten Nigerians on the dangers of corruption so as to elicit their support, goodwill and understanding for the fight.
Some Nigerians particularly, the opposition, claim that President Buhari is selective in his corruption fight. Wht do you think about that?
What I am saying is that Buhari has just started the fight against corruption and we should give him time and maximum cooperation to win the war and save Nigeria from stagnation and poverty induced by graft. These arrests being made in connection with corruption just started like a month or two ago. We need to give him time for us to see if indeed he is selective or not. It is too early to say that Buhari is selective in the fight against corruption.
The explosion, which was said to have been triggered by dynamite attacks allegedly launched by suspected militants affected pipelines located in Orukari, Golubokiri and Kpongbokiri communities of Brass.
An eyewitness who spoke to our correspondent said that the blast occurred around 2pm when the market was filled to the brim.
