PDP holds solidarity rally for Saraki in Kwara

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BY Unknown Saturday, September 01, 2018 0

PDP holds solidarity rally for Saraki in Kwara

A large members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara on Friday turned out en mass for a solidarity rally for Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The party members marched through all the streets in Kaiama, the Headquarters of the local council.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rally came up a day after Saraki declared his intention to contest 2019 presidential election on the platform of PDP.
All political office holders from the area at both the state and local government levels participated in the rally that lasted for hours.
Mallam Abubakar Abdullahi-Bata, the Chairman of Kaiama Local Government Council said that the rally was staged to express the support of the people of the area to the leadership of Saraki.
According to him, the large turnout has corrected an insinuation that PDP is dead in the community.
“The people of Kaiama are for Saraki because we believe in his leadership.
“We are ready to follow him to any party he wishes to lead us to because we have benefited immensely from him,” he said.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the Senate President to govern Nigeria well and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.
Dr Aminat Ahmed, the state Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, who also took part in the rally, said it was organised to correct the misconception that the people of Kaiama had rejected the leadership of Saraki.
She assured PDP of victory in Kaiama in the forthcoming 2019 general elections.
Mallam Ahmed Ibn-Mohammed, who is representing Kaiama/Kenmaji/Wajibe constituency, noted that Saraki’s belief in the youth was what endeared him into the minds of the people of the area.
“For giving a youth like me an opportunity to represent my people at the state Assembly is a manifestation of his visionary leadership and belief in the youth”, he said.

Not easy to be old

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BY Unknown Tuesday, August 28, 2018 0

Not easy to be old

In the language of aviation, we often say that old people have already collected their boarding passes and are only waiting for their flights to be called.

Ray Ekpu

When you get to age 70, as I did recently, you realise that it is not easy to be old. You can still carry yourself with admirable grace but not with much vigour. You are no longer able to go up the stairs in a lunatic flight as you used to do when you were young. That quickness of foot and body is gone, gone forever and can never be reversed or retrieved or regained. That expressway speed, that vivacious quickness in movement is gone, never to return. You now walk with an economy of effort, you move with glacial slowness and if you have a beer belly in front of you, you walk with a portly waddle. You don’t have anymore the envied body of a dancer.
The irony is that 70 brings a sense of urgency to your thoughts, the urgency to complete projects earlier started, urgency to bring ideas and plans to fruition because you have reached 70, the proverbial three score and ten. Three score and ten seems to be regarded as the dividing line between living and dying, even though many people don’t reach it and some people exceed it. But, ironically, this is no longer the age for urgency because age and its deadly claws have taken urgency away from your steps, your voice and your actions.
Your sense of urgency at 70 is stymied by the drawbacks of age and, if a disease accompanies it, your urgency is broken into small steps. You walk slowly, gingerly, sometimes with a walking stick to stabilise your steps. The swagger is gone, the spring is out. Your feet can step on an ant but may not kill it. There is a reluctant dragging of the feet, an uncoordinated choreography of distressed movement. This is the age of “where are my glasses?” when they are just sitting right there on your nose. I hope I haven’t made life at 70 look very dreadful. This script is basically a generalisation and not an exercise in specificity about ageing.

In the language of the street and aviation, we often say that old people have already collected their boarding passes and are only waiting for their flights to be called. They are at the departure lounge and have no idea whether their flight will depart on time or will be delayed. This flight is never cancelled and will never be cancelled because it is not organised by uncaring and irresponsible Nigerian airlines. It is organised by Someone who is eminently efficient: God. But this is one occasion anyone would be happy to have his flight either cancelled or delayed. It never happens.
At 70, you have lost the fear of 70, the fear that had been gnawing at your vitals as to whether or not you would reach that mythical age of septuagenarianism. If you have brought up your children well, you are assured that those children will lengthen the family tree in a way that brings honour to the family and to themselves.

As you were walking towards 70, you must have had your travails. Travails are everybody’s lot. No one goes through life without going through travails. They are the hurdles we must skip over, the roadblocks we must go through and the thorns we must part in order to reach the roses. Travails are challenges that test our will and bring out the best in all of us. They are not stones on which we must break our heads. They are tunnels through which we must pass in order to reach the silver lining ahead. These travails may be the loss through death of one or two parents, a bad patch at school or at work, a broken friendship, unanticipated enemies, a bad business deal, a road, rail, water or air accident. Or it may be a sudden discovery in your system of an unknown ailment with an unknown cure, which may make it difficult for you to reach your manifest destiny. Such challenges, such travails, such tribulations are part of any person’s historic journey. Those are the fragments that constitute your story and your history and your life’s abiding narrative.

History is a mixed yarn, the good and the bad go together. Your story will never be complete except you also mention your successes, big or small. It may be that quick decision that you took, which saved somebody’s life, or marriage, or relationship or career and turned someone’s trajectory in a different and edifying direction. You may think nothing of it, you don’t count them as one of your blessings but he who gives blessings receives some for himself and his family without knowing. This is one of your success stories. Success stories don’t always have to be big. They only have to be that: success stories. In life, everybody falls down but, according to Avery’s Observation, “it does not matter if you fall down, as long as you pick up something from the floor while you get up.”

If you have not accomplished all your heart’s desires at 70, don’t be despondent. Nobody ever does. You simply need to thank God for the ones you have accomplished for, if they were good deeds, they have added to the betterment of the society and humanity. That is where you could derive fulfillment from as a contributor to the well-being of the community of humanity.
The longevity age in Nigeria is said to be about 53 years. Anyone who has gone past 53 is extremely lucky because, in Nigeria, there are many things that make life brutish and short. A short list: fumes from I-better-pass-my-neighbour generators, petrol tanker fire, a house that collapses like a house of cards, fake drugs from India, expired tyres from China, expired drugs from pharmacies, misdiagnosis by doctors, bullets from hired assassins, armed robbers and kidnappers, accidental discharge from drunken policemen, extra-judicial murder from security personnel, etc, etc. Anyone who survives beyond 53 years in Nigeria, can call himself a cat with nine lives. Ours is a tough country in which to live. No question about it. However, Nigerians are devouring longevity literature and are living long, even though they may be in the minority. Mr. Akintola Williams, Nigeria’s leading accountant, has just marked his 99th year on earth. He still moves about, bent by age, but admirable in his well-cut suits and ties. We look forward to his 100th next year.

Akintola Williams; Emma Morano – world’s oldest person.

Longevity is determined by two factors, namely (a) genes and (b) lifestyle. According to longevity literature, our genes determine 35 percent of our longevity. Since we did not choose our parents and grandparents, we have no control over the 35 percent of our lifespan. That had already been established by the time we were born. However, we can do a lot with the remaining 65 per cent. We are informed that each stick of cigarette can take away seven minutes of our lives. So, it is either you puff it and give away some part of your life or you ignore the “pass jot” invitation of your friends and live a little longer. Alcohol, if it must be taken, must be done in moderation. Soft drinks with high sugar content are dangerous. High sugar consumption can lead to diabetes and severe tooth problems, we are told. Doctors also advise that we reduce calorie intake, cut out red meat, go for fruits, vegetables and plenty water. Besides, regular and vigorous exercise is said to be a long life tonic. Above all these, most people accept that there are some unseen fingers in people’s lives: God. So, fast, pray and give alms and you may live longer than you would have.

In some advanced countries, there are geriatric centres, which take care of old people. These centres are equipped to take care of the many ailments that afflict old people, all at the same time. Experts in various fields of medicine and well-being are on hand to attend to them. In Nigeria, there is only one known geriatric centre established at the University of Ibadan by Chief Tony Anenih a few years ago. That we have only one such facility in a huge country like Nigeria speaks to our pathetic lack of care for aged people, who have given the best part of their adult lives for the betterment of their country. That is also why the neglect or poor treatment of pensioners by some state governments is so abhorrent and heartless. Some private sector organisations give preferential treatment to the young and the aged but there is no such government policy for vulnerable groups generally.
A few months ago, I was at a Zenith Bank branch on Acme Road in Ikeja and I got a pleasant surprise. I was in the queue waiting to present my cheque for encashment. A pretty young official of the bank came to me and said: “Please, sir, come and sit down here. I will get the cheque cashed for you.” She took the cheque from me and returned speedily with the money. I had to ask for her name because she did not know me and I did not know her. She was just helping an old man on a queue. I don’t know if that is the policy of the bank but the young lady, Mrs. Enoho Okpako, impressed me endlessly as a symbol of courtesy and respect and customer-friendly disposition, which you do not find in many Nigerian institutions. Since she did not know me before she did the favour I assumed that that is the way she is. The bank is lucky to have someone like that. That impression that Mrs. Okpako gave me is long-lasting because you get to meet a lot of disrespectful people in offices in Nigeria. It is as if they are saying to old people in their hearts “why doesn’t this one die and stop coming here to bother us?” That may be an uncharitable way to put it, but there is a definite loss of respect for the etiquette of proper public engagement, especially among young people. In this era of cellphonemania, many of them show little interest in listening to the customer. They are more interested in yammering on the phone with their ears blocked.

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We will not accept any election that fails to meet electoral guidelines – INEC

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BY Unknown Monday, August 27, 2018 0

We will not accept any election that fails to meet electoral guidelines – INEC

INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmoud Yakubu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said it would not accept any election that did not meet electoral guidelines.

National Commissioner, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, Mr Adedeji Soyebi, stated this at a voter sensitisation organized by the commission in collaboration with the European Union (EU), Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement and other agencies, at the University of Port Harcourt.
He said that INEC would continue to ensure that elections were determined by votes as it would not tolerate unwholesome acts in the conduct of elections.
Soyebi said that so far the commission had registered no fewer than 33 million people, with youths occupying over 60 per cent on the record breakdown.
He said that the sensitisation, targeted at encouraging more youth participation across the six geo-political zones, had so far covered Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Federal Capital Territory.
“The youths form a very significant figure as regards election, not only are they top by numerical strength but by participation and diligence. We, therefore, urge them to shun electoral violence.
“In the forthcoming 2019 general elections, an estimated 650,000 -700,000 youths drawn from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), tertiary institutions and other youth bodies would be directly engaged by INEC,” he said.
In a contribution, Mr Sobari Loveday, President, Student Union Government (SUG) of the university, thanked INEC and its partners for choosing the institution as contact point to other institutions in the region.
On behalf of students and volunteers he promised to engage positively in the electoral process.
Sobari also urged students who were yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to take advantage of INEC’s one week presence on the university campus to collect their PVCs.
In his remarks, EU Ambassador, Mr Ketil Karlson, charged the youths to shun electoral violence, vote-selling and other vices that threatened the electoral process.
He condemned the high level violence recorded in the suspended Aug. 17 bye-election in Rivers, and urged the youths not to allow themselves to be used to disrupt elections.
“We don’t want the type of violence recorded in the suspended bye-election to repeat in the 2019 general elections.
“The EU shall ensure robust partnership with INEC, security operatives, the media and other organizations to achieve free, fair and credible elections,” he said.

Reformed SARS: New rules of engagement

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BY Unknown Monday, August 27, 2018 0

Reformed SARS: New rules of engagement

1. No FSARS personnel is allowed to interfere in any civil matter.
2. They are not allowed to interfere in cyber crime (yahoo yahoo).
3. No FSARS personnel is allowed to conduct a stop and search exercise unless there is a distress call from victims or members of the public.
4. They are not allowed to be involved in commercial matters (debt recovery, landlord vs Tenant issues).
5. They are also not allowed to interfere in any social/relationship cases (marital matters, boyfriend/girlfriend relationship).
6. They are strictly for armed robbery and kidnapping cases!

Nigerians know your right and lets be great again.

Killings: How does Buhari sleep at night?

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BY Unknown Wednesday, July 18, 2018 0

Killings: How does Buhari sleep at night?

Joel Nwokeoma

Worried, or so it seemed, by the deluge of complaints by workers over unpaid salaries and allowances by many state governors, in spite of the interventions by the Federal Government, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, October 17, 2017, asked a select governors under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, who visited him in Abuja: “How can anyone go to bed and sleep soundly when workers have not been paid their salaries for months?”

As it would appear, that was the “human side of the President” at its fullest as the poser he made to the governors at that august meeting could be said to be one of genuine concern. That notwithstanding, it is not clear, months after that meeting, if the governors lost any sleep at night as workers are still being owed arrears of salaries and allowances in many states till date.

However, what makes this incident important, and worth recalling now, is how much one can pose the same question to the President against the backdrop of the killing of innocent Nigerians in recent times.

So, asked differently, how does the President sleep soundly in the night, when lives of innocent Nigerians, women and children inclusive, are freely wasted across the length and breadth of the country, most especially in the Middle Belt, since January 1 when 73 were killed by suspected Fulani herdsmen in Logo and Guma LGAs in Benue State? How does the President find sleep and comfort in the “other room” knowing, as a former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, said on Monday, “Nigerians are now sleepless; they are watching, they have so many things in their minds whether to go for what they know is safety, security and prosperity or to go for this culture of violence which is now defining Nigeria as a country”?

For all you care, you may wilfully dismiss Lamido’s apt observation as the ranting of a “desperate opposition politician” out to score cheap political goals, or even as the President’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina, said to critics of Buhari’s tepid response to the unsettling orgy of killings in the land, on Monday, what is clear to all is that Buhari is presiding over the ceaseless and systematic killing of Nigerians at a rate, perhaps, never witnessed in the country’s history and in a way that exposes the helplessness of the Nigerian state. According to a Sunday Vanguard report on March 14, 2018, 1,351 Nigerians were killed in various violent incidents across the country “in just about 10 weeks” in the year. These include, 676 in January; 526 in February, and 146 in March. The statistics showed that the North-East remained the killing field with 591 deaths, followed by the North-Central, 270; North-West, 193; South-West, 136; South-South, 131 while the South-East came last with 30. But if the reported cases of killings in recent months are anything to go by, the figures would have become more mind-boggling now.

In the words of Adesina, however, “Securing the length and breadth of the country is a continuing commitment…when the administration emerged, the security situation was in tatters. It pulled up its bootstraps, rolled up its sleeves, set to work, and the Boko Haram insurgency was beaten back. It was eventually degraded…”, but as Lamido simply put it, “You see, today, we are under siege. It means all the key security chiefs appointed by this government have failed to deliver…”

Strikingly, what should worry many is not only that the Buhari Government has so far failed, or neglected, to fulfil its primary purpose for existence, which is the protection of lives and property of Nigerians, given these reckless killings, but also that the Nigerian sovereign has himself resigned to infantile religiosity by resorting to “pray to God” to solve a lingering security challenge he was touted to be capable by reason of his career as a retired General to contend with. This much we can glean from the President’s remark when he visited Plateau State penultimate Tuesday on the heels of the killing, yet again, of over 150 persons by suspected Fulani herdsmen in 11 communities of Barkin-Ladi and Riyom Local Government Areas of the state. According to the Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, “There is nothing I can do to help the situation except to pray to God to help us out of the security challenges. What has happened is a very bad thing.” What? Did I just read the President say he would do, “…nothing except to pray to God…”? Just like that?

 Never in history has any sovereign for that matter openly expressed palpable helplessness in the face of a security challenge anywhere in the world. It is akin to a President Barack Obama, for instance, declaring to Americans he was clueless about handling the al-Qaeda or Osama bin Laden challenge. By the way, the last time I checked, Buhari was not elected to “pray to God” for Nigeria’s security challenges, or any other challenge for that matter, neither did he promise so in 2015. Instead, he promised to take the lead in solving the country’s existential challenges. And that is what leaders do, they don’t throw their arms in the air at the drop of the hat. George Bush Jnr exemplified this in 2011 at the wake of the 9/11 terror attack in the World Trade Centre when he promised Americans he would “bring the perpetrators to justice or take justice to them!” That is the stuff leaders are made of.

As if that was not disheartening enough, Garba Shehu issued a statement last week imploring Nigerians to be “patient” with Mr President in the wake of another killing of 42 people, in some accounts, including a district head, in and around Gandi village in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State while “security teams crack (sic) their brains to put an end to this horrendous violence”. According to The PUNCH, Wednesday, July 11, Shehu said the President “threatened that any attempt to try his government’s will would be met with equal force” and “wondered why murderers would be targeting innocent people for no just cause.” Pray, is it the duty of a responsible government to live in “wonderment” on “why murderers would be targeting innocent people…”? Or, is it just occurring to this government that whatever remains of its “will” has been tried and found wanting, repeatedly, by bands of murderous bandits, terrorists, kidnappers, extortionists and anarchists from Ebonyi to Zamfara leading to the deaths of scores of Nigerians?  Is it unaware that, according to the United Nations, Nigeria has up to 350 million small and light weapons in circulation, in the hands of devious and criminal elements and sundry groups who kill with relish apparently because of the incapacity of the Nigerian state to contain them? We are talking about 70 per cent of the total arms in circulation in West Africa.

It is not enough for the President to resign to fate, or tell us how his security heads are “cracking” their brains to stop the killings in the land. He should no longer be at ease while Nigerians are killed by marauding criminals. Instead, he should begin to lose his own sleep and “crack his brain” himself, as Nigerians can’t afford the luxury of sound sleep anymore.

The starting point should be to do away with the inept security heads who have failed, evidently, to help him perform his primary duty of securing Nigerians unless he approves their ineptitude. Besides, the country’s police structure has proved, time and again, to be anachronistic and can no longer address the country’s extant security challenges. A centralised policing structure, the type the military bequeathed to us, is defective and dysfunctional in a federal state like ours and should be done away with fast. Why the President is not buying into the inevitable imperative of restructuring the country to allow the federating units to meet their security and policing needs and relieve an inefficient and overstretched centre beggars belief.

In fact, I don’t know how President Buhari manages to sleep at night given these endless tales of needless deaths of Nigerians under his watch. He needs to wake up now to the imperative of doing the needful or be woken up to more gory realities.

PDP throughout its 16 yrs borrowed N6trn, but Buhari-led APC in 3 years borrowed N11trn – Tunde Bakare

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BY Unknown Monday, March 05, 2018 0

PDP throughout its 16 yrs borrowed N6trn, but Buhari-led APC in 3 years borrowed N11trn – Tunde Bakare

Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly (LRA) has said that Nigerians will weep should they truly know what President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) Federal Government has done to the country.

Regretting the danger the actions of Buhari’s government portends to the future of Nigeria, Bakare said, “If you truly know the truth, you will weep, if you know how much we are owing as a nation, you will weep. For 16 years of PDP they borrowed N6 trillion, for three years of APC, they borrowed N11 trillion.

“And they are not going to pay the debt. You and I, and our children, and our children’s children will pay the debt, unless they write them off again.”

This was even as the Lagos-based clergy and a onetime running mate to Buhari, lambasted the President for attending the wedding of son of Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the daughter of his counterpart, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje in Kano on Saturday when 110 Dapchi schoolgirls from Yobe State are still in captivity.

Pastor Bakare spoke during a Sunday service in his church in Lagos, saying that he cannot understand what Buhari and other governors were doing at the wedding in Kano with other peoples’ daughters still in the captivity of the terrorists government told Nigerian have been totally defeated.

The Dapchi schoolgirls have remained in the captivity of the Boko Haram terrorists since they were kidnapped from the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe, on February 19, two weeks ago.

Bakare said, “Forgive my ill-mannerism, but I could not comprehend why a governor will celebrate the wedding of his daughter, and another governor of his son, on the front pages of newspapers, flashing it before our eyes, when other peoples’ daughters are in captivity.

“If any of them had lost a daughter in that captivity, would they celebrate that way? I know the Bible says rejoice with them that rejoice, but I do not know what the president of Nigeria was doing there.

“And somebody came to say, let me explain to you, it is Islamic tradition, before this time, about January, they had agreed, that he (Buhari) will be the one to give the bride away and (Bola) Tinubu will be the one to pay the dowry, and present the son, and they agreed long before now.

“I looked at him and said the president of Nigeria wanted to come to my daughter’s wedding, and I said to him, sir, don’t come. That is beneath your office. Face the work of the state and keep serving.

“And 22 governors showed up to mark register, when 110 daughters of citizens of your nation were captured by Boko Haram that you said you have already technically defeated?

“It just shows how insensitive our leaders are. We have gotten to a stage that our president has become a king and a monarch. That his son who rode his pleasurable bike that almost claimed his life, will be returning from an overseas trip, where he had received special healthcare that Nigerians cannot afford, that it took a whole minister of state to go and welcome him, because he has no job.”

Two kids die, 98 injured in school bus accident in Jos

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BY Unknown Monday, March 05, 2018 0

Two kids die, 98 injured in school bus accident in Jos

Two pupils of Our Lady of Fatima School, Kuru, near Jos in Plateau, lost their lives in an accident involving their school bus on Monday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

An official of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) at the site of the incident, told NAN that the early morning accident, which occurred around Mararaba-Jama’a road, was as a result of brake failure.

“A total of 10o children and seven staff were in the bus; two children were killed instantly, while those injured have been taken to hospitals,” the official told NAN, pleading anonymity.

According to the official, one boy and one girl lost their lives.

He added that 18 kids were taken to Our Lady of Fatima Hospital, Jos, 76 to the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos while four others were rushed to Bukuru Specialist Hospital.

Meanwhile, Gov. Simon Lalong has visited some of the injured children taken to Plateau Specialist Hospital.

Lalong, who visited the children on their individual beds, spoke to them in whispers, urging them to be strong.

Mr Yakub Dati, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, later told NAN that the governor had promised to pay the medical bills of those involved in the accident.

There is a plan to attack Taraba in 10 days – Governor

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BY Unknown Friday, February 02, 2018 0

There is a plan to attack Taraba in 10 days – Governor

The Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Darius Ishaku, has said there is a plan to attack the state in the next 10 days.

The governor also said the information had been passed to security agencies, adding that he was not aware that any action had been taken.

Ishaku spoke in Jalingo on Thursday when he received members of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party who paid him a sympathy visit on the death of a member of the state House of Assembly, Mr. Hosea Ibi.

The governor told the PDP delegation, which was led by the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus, that peace had become a scarce commodity in the state.

He said, “When I assumed office, I asked my people to give me peace and that I would give development in return. Peace is elusive in Taraba, but we have development. Here I am as a governor with a crown, but without a sword.

“You call police and security agencies for help, they will tell you they need to clear from Abuja before acting. Before you know it, you have lost 100 people.

“When you call for help, the help takes ages to come. We need to restructure the security architecture of this country. You take one step forward as the governor, the almighty Federal Government takes you back 10 miles.

“The police we have can’t help themselves. In 10 days’ time, we will be attacked. Helicopters dropped arms here at night for hoodlums.

“We will talk because if the Federal Government cannot help us, let those who can help us come to our aid.

“Our farmers cannot travel at night with their goods to neighbouring states to sell again. God gave us good land, but we lack common sense.

“I’m talking now since writing has not produced the desired results. Some of these things are not meant to be said, but we will henceforth be talking.”

The governor said, “We buried 63 people at Lau, the same day that Benue State buried 73 of its people. We are in trouble in this country.

“If our voices are not heard in Abuja, they can be heard in Kano, Niger Republic, United States of America and other places.”

Earlier, Secondus said that he and members of his team were in the state to condole with the people on the death of the lawmaker.

He blamed the Federal Government for the insecurity in the country, saying “the first duty of any government is to provide security for its citizens.”

Secondus appealed to members of the National Assembly to investigate those behind the alleged dropping of arms and expose the perpetrators.

He called on the Federal Government to review the country’s security architecture to curb the senseless killings in the country.

The Defence Headquarters, Abuja, which did not say if it received any information  from the governor, said the step by Ishaku would cause proactive measures to be put in place.

The Director, Defence Information, Brig Gen John Agim, said, “Informing the defence and the security agencies would enable proactive measures to be put in place.

“The military, being the last line of defence, would require the Commander-in-Chief’s directives to act. For the records, the procedure is for His Excellency to bring such information to the immediate attention of Mr. President and the military would move in if the crisis overwhelms the police.”

But a top source at the Ministry of Defence said he was not aware of such information from the governor.

“There is no such information in the ministry. The governor should help with when such letter was written and to who.”

The Taraba State Commissioner of Police, David Akinremi, denied receiving any information from the governor.

He said, “As far as I am concerned, I have not received any letter from the governor. I am not aware that the governor informed us about any impending attack.”

Osinbajo panel forms committee to meet Miyetti Allah

The Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo  committee has set up a sub-committee to interface with members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and other groups with a view to ending killings by herdsmen.

The committee was set up by the National Economic Council to find lasting solutions to increasing cases of killings by herdsmen across the country.

The sub-committee is headed by the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, said this to State House correspondents on Thursday at the end of a meeting of the Osinbajo committee at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Yari, who is the governor of Zamfara State, said the governors of Plateau and Adamawa states were members of the dialogue committee headed by Umahi.

He said some technocrats would be invited to join the sub-committee in visiting states affected by the attacks.

He said, “In our discussion today (Thursday), we set up a committee headed by the governor of Ebonyi State, while Plateau and Adamawa governors are members.

“We are bringing some technocrats that will visit hot spots’ states like Benue, Taraba, Adamawa and Zamfara where there is crisis so that they can interface with the Miyetti Allah and other groups to see how we can reduce this to the barest minimum.

Yari explained why attacks by herdsmen could not end, saying criminals had turned them to money-making ventures.

“Why we cannot say we will put this matter to rest is because some people have taken it as a money-making venture.

“As a government, we have to take all the measures despite the fact that the army, police and other security agents are on the field at the affected places. But we still have to form this committee to interface with the actors so that this matter can be reduced to the barest minimum and possibly be wiped off,” he said.

Apart from Yari and Umahi, others who attended the meeting were Simon Lalong of Plateau State; Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna); Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa); Deputy Governor of Benue State, Benson Abonu; that of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, as well as the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh; and his Interior counterpart, Abdulrahman Dambazau.

Seven killed, others injured in Kaduna attack

Some suspected Fulani herdsmen on Wednesday invaded Kaguru village in the Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing seven persons, while many people sustained injuries.

An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the gunmen invaded the village at about 7pm, shot indiscriminately and set houses ablaze.

He said those that sustained injuries were receiving medical treatment in the General Hospital, Birnin Gwari.

It was learnt that the armed gunmen had left before the arrival of policemen.

The eyewitness said, “Fulani herdsmen attacked Kaguru village and killed seven people. They burnt down many houses in the village. The residents ran away to nearby places.

“Many people, including children were injured and taken to a hospital. Before the police came, the herdsmen had left and nobody could find them again.”

Calls put across to the state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mukhtar Aliyu, rang out. Also, a text message sent to his mobile had yet to be replied to.

However, a police source told our correspondent that contrary to claim of the villagers, four persons were killed while six people got injured.

Five missing in Nasarawa village

No fewer than five persons from Agbara village in Nasarawa State have been reported missing.

Agbara village is close to Kadarko town, where seven persons were killed on Tuesday.

The PUNCH on Thursday reported the Kadarko town attack, which led to the death of seven persons.

Our correspondent also reported that some other communities were razed by the gunmen.

A relative of one of the missing persons, Mr. Justine Wombu, on Thursday told one of our correspondents his elder brother, Felix Wombu, had not returned home since the day of the Kadarko attack.

He said, “My brother and some persons went to Agbara. We learnt that they were attacked on the way by the gunmen that attacked Kadarko.”

He said five out of the 10 men that went to Agbara escaped, leaving other five who had yet to be found.

“Security agents deployed in Kadarko had combed everywhere to no avail,” he added.

The relatives of other missing villagers said they feared for the safety of the missing men.

But, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Kennedy John, said that the command had yet to receive the report of any missing person, adding that investigation into the attack on Kadarko was ongoing.

The names of the missing villagers were given as  William Tija, Peter Oryem, Felix Wombu, Zaber Targule, Gboho Uhugwa.

S’West group warns of famine

A socio-political organisation of professionals in the six South-West states, under the aegis of South-West Think Tank, on Thursday said there was a famine looming in Nigeria.

The group said the destruction of farmlands and the fear of farmers to plant due to activities of Fulani herdsmen could cause the famine.

SWETT added that the activities of herdsmen were also “a clear signal that the 2019 general elections could be in danger.”

The group said it was saddening that despite the fact that Fulani herdsmen wreaked havoc almost on a daily basis, the Federal Government had done nothing to check their destructive activities.

A statement issued by its spokesperson, Femi Davies, said since the beginning of the year, the Fulani herdsmen have killed over 100 persons in the country, with Benue State suffering the biggest casualty.

He said, “This government leaves us with no option but to believe that because they are Fulanis and their own man, President Muhammadu Buhari, is in power, they are untouchable.

“Apart from the human losses, famine could be looming in the country with the burning of farmlands and the refusal of farmers to plant again owing to the fear that the criminal elements operating under the guise of being herdsmen could strike at any time.

“This can only portend famine if urgent action is not taken and the perpetrators of this heinous crime brought to justice.”

SWETT also said that with the proliferation of arms and ammunition, it was becoming obvious that 2019 general elections could be in danger.

It said, “The security agencies in the country must find out how these herdsmen come about the sophisticated guns they are using.”

The group also opposed the proposed cattle colonies across the country.

SWETT said, “Our position on this is very clear: no cattle colony will be accepted in the South-West and the Yoruba-speaking states of Kogi and Kwara.”

Stop arming militia groups, IG warns

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has warned state governments and command Commissioners of Police against arming militia and vigilance groups.

He also directed the CPs to monitor the activities of state governments as the 2019 elections approached.

The IG said this on Thursday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja during the monthly meeting with Commissioners of Police and other senior officers.

Idris said, “Everybody is aware that political issues are coming up to the fore and I believe as officers, we must gear up in our various locations to ensure law and order all over Nigeria.

“Commands should be very careful about arming militia men or vigilance groups because before a vigilance group is established by a government, there must be a bylaw which must be passed by the House of Assembly.”

The police boss admonished the CPs to study the bylaws and see how they conformed to the constitution and other laws, and cautioned against connivance by the police commands with state governments to arm illicit groups in the country.

He said, “No government in this country has the responsibility to approve prohibited firearms to any Nigerian under any guise.

“I think it is the responsibility of CPs of commands to put a close watch on the activities of some of the governments arming individuals which is against the laws of this country.”

Story by: Olusola Fabiyi, Olalekan Adetayo, Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, Olaleye Aluko, Godwin Isenyo, Umar Muhammed and  Justin Tyopuusu

President Buhari nominates Edward Adamu as CBN Deputy Governor

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BY Unknown Friday, February 02, 2018 0

President Buhari nominates Edward Adamu as CBN Deputy Governor

CBN

President Muhammadu Buhari has nominated Mr Edward Lametek Adamu to the Senate for confirmation as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

Adesina stated that the nomination was in accordance with the provisions of Section 8(1) (2) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) (Establishment) Act 2007.
The presidential aide revealed that the nomination of Edward as CBN Deputy Governor by the President was contained in a letter dated Jan. 26, 2018, which was addressed to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki.
According to the statement, Adamu, from Gombe State, replaces Mr Sulaiman Barau, from Zaria, Kaduna State, who retired in December, 2017.
The nominee, who has spent 25 years in the CBN, was appointed in 2012 as Director of Strategy.
He became Director, Human Resources in 2016, from where he was nominated as Deputy Governor.

Nigeria develops herbal drugs for treatment of Ebola, malaria

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BY Unknown Saturday, January 20, 2018 0

Nigeria develops herbal drugs for treatment of Ebola, malaria

The National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) says it has successfully researched and developed six traditional herbal products for the treatment of Ebola, Malaria and other diseases. The NIPRD Director-General, Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, said this while presenting the score card of his eight-year tenure (2009 to 2017) in Abuja on Friday. The programme, organised by NIPRD, aimed to present the products researched and developed by the institute and present staff service awards to deserving worker. He said that ‘NIPRIBOL’, a fixed dose combination drug was developed by the institute for the treatment of Ebola Virus Disease, adding that the institute had completed the Phase I study of the drug. Gamaniel said that the institute had also developed ‘NIPRIMAL’, an anti-malaria for treatment of uncomplicated malaria, stating that the drug was also safe for use by pregnant women. Others are: ‘NIPRIMUNE’ an immunostimulant which can also be used to manage HIV in Nigeria and ‘NIPRIFAN’ for the treatment of fungal skin infection. He said that another product developed by the institute, ‘NIPRD Oil’, could be used as a nasal decongestant, insect repellant, air freshner and an anti-inflammatory agent. He however noted that excessive use of this oil could cause irritation. He said that “the institute has also developed ‘NIPRISAN’ for the management of sickle cell anaemia. We are currently concluding plans to carry out commercial production and distribution of this product. “We have developed and implemented various institutional policies for effective governance, this include the scheme and condition of service, intellectual policy and quality management system. “We have also ensured the introduction of traditional herbal medicine into the national health system and established partnerships with local and international organisations. “The core competence of NIPRD is in the development of phytomedicines from indigenous plants and products, clinical trials, among others; we are a quality assured institute,” Gamaniel said. He said that presenting a report was necessary as it would serve as a baseline for the new leadership and provide an opportunity for new strategies to be introduced. The institute presented awards to over 150 staff for their hard work and dedication to the growth of the institute, and the research and development of traditional herbal products. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Government in 1987 approved the establishment of the institute as a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. It was established with the primary objective of developing drugs, biological products and pharmaceutical raw materials from indigenous resources towards the growth and development of the country. The institute was later moved to the Federal Ministry of Health in 2001.

Man beaten to death in Lagos baale’s palace over motorcycle

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BY Unknown Friday, January 19, 2018 0

Man beaten to death in Lagos baale’s palace over motorcycle

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested one Ikechukwu Ewuji in connection with the killing of a 41-year-old man in the Oshun Egbado, Age-Mowo, Morogbo area of the state.

The police said the victim, Rotimi Thompson, was beaten to death in the palace of the community’s traditional ruler.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Ewuji had accused his housekeeper, Michael Bulete, of stealing his missing motorcycle.

After pestering Bulete, the housekeeper was said to have confessed to the theft and mentioned Thompson as the receiver of the alleged stolen motorcycle.

It was gathered that Ewuji and some of his friends went with Bulete in a car to Thompson’s wife’s shop in the Adadagun area of Mowo on Wednesday.

Our correspondent learnt that Ewuji told the woman to call her husband on the telephone on the pretext that he had a job for him.

Thompson’s line reportedly rang out.

A police source told PUNCH Metro that the men asked the woman to join them in the car and drove her to the baale’s palace.

 “When they got to the palace, they reached the man on the phone and asked him to come to the palace. On getting there, they asked him where the motorcycle was, but he said he did not know anything about it. They tied him and the housekeeper and beat them up.

“At a point, he became weak and slumped. Instead of attending to him, they said he was pretending.  After a while, he opened his eyes and requested water. They gave him the water, but he could not take it,” the source added.

Another source disclosed to our correspondent that Thompson was rushed to two different hospitals, where he was rejected, adding that he was confirmed dead at the third hospital around 1am on Thursday.

“The man was beaten up in the presence of the baale. They also assaulted his wife. The baale is on the run. The housekeeper, the owner of the motorcycle, and two others have been arrested. The motorcycle has yet to be recovered,” the source said.

However, a resident of the area, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on Thursday, said Thompson and Bulete had been beaten up before they were taken to the palace.

He said the baale was making enquiries from the suspects over the allegation when the mob gave Thompson another round of beating.

“They rushed him to a hospital where he died. Baale is not running away from the police, but he is not around as I speak to you and I don’t have his phone number,” the resident, who identified himself simply as Daniel, said.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, who confirmed the incident, said the police had launched a manhunt for the baale.

He said, “One Rotimi Thompson aged 41, of Mosafejo Aradagun area, was reportedly beaten to death in the compound of the baaleof Oshun Egbado, Age-Mowo in Morogbo, by some youths over an allegation of receiving a stolen motorcycle.

“The scene of the incident was visited and photographed by detectives while the corpse was deposited in the Badagry General Hospital morgue for autopsy. One Ikechukwu Iwuji, who owns the motorcycle, his friend and the housekeeper have been arrested, while effort is being made to track down other fleeing suspects, including the baale.

“The Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, has ordered that the baale and the other fleeing suspects be arrested. The command will not tolerate jungle justice in any way.”

Democracy and change

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BY Unknown Friday, January 19, 2018 0

Democracy and change

By Donu Kogbara

MOST folks who have been readers of this column in recent years will recall that I used to be one of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s most vociferous advocates.

I constantly cheered him on when he was the late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s admirably modest Vice (2007-2010); and I continued to be fanatically supportive of him and his wife, Dame Patience, when this Bayelsa/Rivers couple from my massively neglected oil-producing zone quit being regional champions and were propelled onto the national stage as Head of State and First Lady.

Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari

I remember writing an article titled, “Don’t Diss The Dame!” in which I stoutly defended Madame against those who were insulting her because she didn’t sound like a member of the bourgeoisie. I remember being delirious with joy and pride when Jonathan visited the White House and met Barack Obama.

Emotional anguish

It seemed so fitting that the first-ever Black President of the United States should be shaking hands with the first-ever Niger Deltan President of Nigeria. However, not every story has a happy ending; and having lost faith in the Jonathans for various reasons by 2014, I switched my allegiance to Buhari.

I didn’t make this decision lightly. It caused me a lot of emotional anguish because my support for the Jonathans had been a sisterly, sentimental thing. But I concluded, after much soul-searching, that a responsible journalist and citizen should not make political judgements on the basis of sisterly sentiments.

Nigeria, I felt, was bigger than me and more important than my wishful thinking. I had yearned for Dr. Jonathan to be a heroic leader who would do great things for petroleum-scarred areas and the country as a whole; and when I discovered that heroism was not Jonathan’s default setting, I decided to invest my hopes in someone who had a reputation for super-strictness and possessed, I felt, the ability to rescue the Nigerian nation from corruption, indiscipline and terrorism.

Now we have experienced three years of a Buhari presidency. And those who angrily insist that his administration has achieved absolutely nothing are being unfair, if you ask me, because Buhari and his team have made some very positive moves.

There has been significant progress on the agriculture front, for example. Local rice production has soared, while prices are down 30 percent. The number of people facing food insecurity in the terrorised North East has dropped by 50 per cent, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation. And the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative is quietly going from strength to strength.

Meanwhile, thanks to this government’s efforts, we’ve climbed up 24 rungs on the World Bank’s “Ease Of Doing Business” rankings ladder…and we have, I’m told, been acknowledged as one of the Top Ten reforming economies globally.

Other encouraging developments are occurring in various institutions and sectors – Customs, Education, Social Welfare, etc. The new Maritime University, which is based in Okerenkoko in Delta State, deserves a special mention and has now commenced operations and been granted a generous take-off grant.

It has to be said that flawlessness will never be possible within any context that involves mere mortals; that forbearance is crucial when reforms and complex projects – infrastructural and otherwise – are being rolled out; and that anyone who expects perfection or overnight miracles is being unrealistic.

Having said this, we who campaigned for Buhari and urged our compatriots to vote for him in 2015 need to be honest and admit that the overall picture is disappointing…and that Buhari is not the messiah some of us expected him to be.

And the beauty of democracy is that it enables us to achieve change without too much gra-gra; and, sure, Nigeria is not yet a properly advanced democracy; but the 2015 electoral tsunami that unseated an incumbent who had tremendous powers and financial resources proved that Nigerians can no longer be held to ransom by the guys who happen to be running the show at any point in time.

Tremendous powers

The bottom line is that if Buhari’s performance/aura are not impressing enough peeps when polling stations open in 2019, he can be dumped the way Jonathan was dumped. Buhari CAN be outwitted and voted out, even if he flexes his considerable Numero Uno muscles and spends billions and tries to play dirty.

And I really don’t understand the horrible messages I occasionally receive from weird Vanguard readers who bitterly resent me for “abandoning” Jonathan…and carry on as if I could and should have known how Buhari’s regime would pan out.

I am not a fortune teller, for crying out loud! I cannot accurately predict how anyone will behave tomorrow, never mind next week, next month or next year!

I can only decide that I don’t like a particular leader or status quo…and then look for another leader who seems sincere and is offering an alternative scenario that seems attractive…and then pray that the alternative leader/scenario I have chosen to embrace will turn out to be OK or brilliant.

But if my judgement turns out to be wrong, so what?! I can only weep or shrug…and restart my quest for an iconic individual I can confidently follow.

To cut a long story short, NOBODY sane or well-intentioned should feel morally obliged to tolerate a murky status quo that is riddled with disturbing weaknesses and chronic dysfunctions, simply because the status quo in question is being controlled by someone who happens to be from the same village or state or zone. And I will never endorse rigid, perpetual knee-jerk tribalism!

60-year-old herbalist rapes woman with Down’s syndrome

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BY Unknown Friday, January 19, 2018 0

60-year-old herbalist rapes woman with Down’s syndrome

An herbalist, Tajudeen Akintoye, is cooling his heels in a cell at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for taking advantage of a woman with Down’s syndrome, Rachael, in Itele, in the Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Akintoye, a popular herbalist in the community, sneaked into the victim’s parents’ house while her parents had gone to the farm.

He was said to have undressed Rachael and was sleeping with her when her parents arrived and caught him in the act.

The matter was reported at the Itele Police Station as the 23-year-old Anambra State indigene was taken to a hospital for tests.

Rachael’s father, Leonard Onuzulike, said the incident happened around 11am on Monday.

He said, “She developed the problem about 22 years ago when she was an infant. She had gone into convulsion and we took her to a hospital where the doctors said she had the problem. She cannot walk on her own and her speech drawls. But when we talk to her, she understands and responds, though not coherently.

“So, on Monday, my wife and I left her at home to go to the farm. The farm is just a stone’s throw to the house. And within 30 minutes, we were done.

“But on getting home, I was shocked to see him on top of my daughter. He was stark naked and he had removed her dress as well. We apprehended and handed him over to the police, who detained him.”

Onuzulike said his daughter was taken to a medical centre where she was examined before a doctor confirmed that there was penetration.

He, however, lamented that on Wednesday, the police gave him a form to take to the Ota General Hospital for another round of tests.

“When we got to the hospital, the doctor did not conduct any examination. He just asked her some questions and filled in her responses. He didn’t perform any test like the first hospital and I hope it is not a ploy to destroy the case,” he added.

While wondering the reason for the delay in the prosecution of the suspect, Racheal’s father alleged that the police at the Itele division asked him to provide a vehicle to convey the suspect from the station to the command headquarters at Abeokuta.

Onuzulike alleged that the officers threatened to release the suspect if he didn’t make the arrangement on time, saying they feared he could die in custody.

A police source at the Itele division said 60-year-old Akintoye, during interrogation, confessed to the crime, blaming his uncontrollable libido.

“He said he didn’t know what came over him and that he just couldn’t control his sexual urge which pushed him to enter the house and sleep with the girl. I wondered why he couldn’t go to a brothel and why it had to be such a helpless girl. He is a wretched man and the police have been feeding him for the three days he had spent in the cell,” the source said.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police had received the result of the test, adding that the matter had been transferred to the SCIID.

He said, “A case of rape was reported and the suspect was arrested by our men at the Itele division. The victim was taken to a hospital for medical test because we need a doctor’s report to prosecute the suspect. The case is not what can be handled at the divisional level. They had to transfer it to the SCIID and they cannot do that without getting the medical report. That was what the DPO was waiting for yesterday (Wednesday). They got it this morning and the matter has been transferred to the SCIID.

“The incident happened in the interior of Ota. They could have a challenge of getting vehicles to transport them to Abeokuta. But that does not mean they will kill the case over issues of transportation. The police cannot prosecute the case without the complainant being present when it is being transferred because he needs to know where the matter is being transferred to.”

The state Commissioner for Health, Babatunde Ipaye, did not pick his calls.

 He had also yet to respond to a text message on the allegation of medical tests not being carried out on the victim at the Ota General Hospital.

Sultan exonerates Miyetti Allah from killings in Benue

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BY Unknown Friday, January 19, 2018 0

Sultan exonerates Miyetti Allah from killings in Benue

Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III

• Herders demand repeal of anti-grazing law
• Ortom alleges blackmail, Yoruba elders reject cattle colonies
• Court insists IPOB a terrorist organisation, Ohanaeze kicks
The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) is not responsible for the wave of killings by herdsmen across the country, according to the Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III.
The leader faulted calls for the proscription of the group and condemned the killings in Taraba, Benue and other states of the federation.
MACBAN had been in the eye of the storm over massacres by herdsmen, with many Nigerians accusing the group of culpability.
At the first General Assembly of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace in Abuja, yesterday, the Sultan argued that Miyetti Allah had existed purely as a business organisation for more than 32 years, and that a call for its ban was equivalent to demanding the proscription of Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other socio-cultural organisations.
“Anyone carrying arms is not one of us,” he said, urging the Federal Government to go after perpetrators of the killings.
“There are criminal elements in every organisation,” the sultan said, adding: “We will never condone anybody taking up arms to kill innocent citizens. We will never be a part of it, whether it is a Fulani cattle herder, farmer or anybody trying to place himself at a strategic position as we move towards the 2019 general elections.
“The Fulani we know, since we were children, never went about with weapons. Where do these get weapons? How is it possible that they attack villages and disappear without being traced? What are the security agencies doing? We must get to the bottom of this problem”
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, expressed hope that the forum would help to douse tension in the polity. He stressed the need for sincerity among religious leaders.
The Catholic Bishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, called for the building of trust among religions. “We need to know that we are in the same boat on a turbulent sea. If we continue to fight in the boat, it will sink,” he warned.
Yesterday in Kano, the National President of Miyetti Allah, Alhaji Bello Bodejo, called for a repeal of the Benue State anti-open grazing law. He said the crisis between the Tiv and Fulani in the state was aggravated by the enactment. He said the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, should be blamed for innocent lives lost in the clashes.
“The major problem in Benue remains the law enacted by Ortom, preventing our fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution of Nigeria and the Africa Charter that provide freedom of movement anywhere within and outside the country. The law is clearly against the cultural interest and business nature of a Fulani man who is a Nigerian and more concerned about the survival of his cattle,” he said.
“A Fulani man will always want to be on the move, to look for greener pastures and water for his animals anywhere and everywhere, as guaranteed by the constitution. But when you look at the law in Benue, it is clearly dissonant to our interest and survival as Fulani people, especially Article Nine of the law, which says anybody interested in ranching will only be authorised for one year.
“We saw it as a potential danger. And that was why we quickly approached the Federal High Court in Abuja. The case is still pending. But the governor threatened us with security agencies. I have received several threat messages just because we want peace.”
He asked why spotlight had not been cast on killings of herdsmen and their cattle and warned: “Let me caution those attempting to use the Benue incident against the present administration in 2019 to have a rethink because the clash predates Buhari’s administration.”
But Ortom said persons peddling the rumour that he owns armed militias are blackmailers seeking to derail the anti-grazing law.
He stated this, yesterday, when he received members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) who had come to pay him a condolence visit at the Government House, Makurdi.
“These people have now resorted to blackmailing me. I have never sponsored any militia. That is why I am insisting that the Nigerian security should handle the attack by herdsmen in the state. The herdsmen are out there threatening that there will be more bloodshed. But nothing is being done,” the governor said.
He insisted the state would make no land available for cattle colonies, adding that anyone who wished to keep livestock must use ranches.
The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) also kicked against the Federal Government’s proposal to create such colonies, saying no part of the South West would be allowed for the enterprise.
The body condemned what it described as President Muhammadu Buhari’s insensitivity to the security of farmers in Benue, wondering why the killer herdsmen have not been arrested.
The Secretary-General, Dr. Kunle Olajide, who spoke after the group’s 26th National Executive Council meeting in Ibadan, said: “YCE totally rejects cattle colony and anti-grazing law as solutions to Fulani herdsmen brutality. We believe restructuring is the only solution. Once restructuring is done, it will solve all these problems.”
He said: “The Federal Government is encouraging Nigerians to go into farming. If we are promoting agriculture and Fulani herdsmen move about with their cattle destroying the farmlands then that is a paradox. The Federal Government doesn’t have power to acquire our lands. Land belongs to the states.”
He also said: “YCE condemns the ineptitude of the security agencies on the crisis. Three weeks after the gruesome murders, no arrest has been made. YCE is alarmed that the leadership of an association, Miyetti Allah, which had openly been issuing threats, have not been questioned.
“YCE believes that the dysfunctional geo-political structure is the root of the nation’s woes. The situation is further complicated by the wasteful system of government, which is defective and which compels corruption by breeding mental and physical indolence.”
Reacting, yesterday, to the Benue crisis, indigenes of the state resident in Kaduna issued a statement calling on the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to book.
“We urge the Federal Government to act. This is a new form of terrorism. If all other business groups decide to kill and confiscate other people’s lands for their businesses, what will become of the country? The Federal Government has been silent about bringing the perpetrators to justice, thus encouraging the deed.”
The Benue Community Development Association said: “From all indications, the genocide appeared well orchestrated, overpowering even the government security formations as was seen in Logo on January 8, where a police inspector and a sergeant were murdered like animals.”
In the statement by the President, Comrade Paul Wachihi, and Secretary, Chief Agbo Emmanuel, the group noted: “We have been experiencing incessant attacks on communities in Benue State by people masquerading as Fulani herdsmen. These attacks have spread across Guma, Logo, Kwande, Makurdi and Gwer-West. There is also the devastating Agatu episode. Taraba, Plateau, communities in Nasarawa, and the southern part of Kaduna have not been spared.”
The Federal High Court in Abuja, meanwhile, has insisted that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a terrorist organisation.
That was the ruling on an application filed by IPOB through its counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, pleading with the court to set aside its order of September 20, 2017, where it slammed the group with the designation.
Following agitations for self-rule in the South East by members of IPOB, the Federal Government in September, last year, through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, filed an application before the acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdul Kafarati, asking the court to declare IPOB a terrorist group.
Subsequently, IPOB filed a motion on notice, urging the court to invalidate its earlier order.
Ejiofor, leading a five-member team to the court, yesterday, argued that the Federal Government fraudulently procured the ban.
Kafarati held that IPOB’s request “lacked merit.”
On alleged violent activities of IPOB members, the court upheld the submission of the Federal Government that the group had been unleashing mayhem on people.
The court consequently awarded a N500,000 cost against IPOB.
Striking out the application, Kafarati stated: “I found this application unmeritorious and it is hereby struck out.”
Ejiofor vowed to appeal the ruling.  Ohanaeze Ndigbo deplored the judgment. Its President-General, Chief John Nwodo, said: “It is unfortunate that our courts are allowing themselves to be used for unlawful and political ends. IPOB has done nothing to, as defined by international standards, be called a terrorist organisation.
“Sadly, the Attorney General in parochialism, unmitigated bias and calumny has not found it necessary to classify Fulani herdsmen as terrorists, in spite of their classification by the Global Terrorist Index as the fourth deadliest terrorist organisation in the world. Ohanaeze frowns on this nepotism. This a denigration of our judiciary and stigmatisation of our children.”

Three-week-old baby girl hospitalised after father’s slap – Police

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BY Unknown Wednesday, January 17, 2018 0

Three-week-old baby girl hospitalised after father’s slap – Police

A man, Edet Asuquo, has fled his home in the Idi Araba area of Lagos State after he nearly killed his newborn baby, Gift Asuquo.

Little Gift’s offence was that she was a girl, as 32-year-old Edet was alleged to have said he didn’t see her usefulness and threatened to kill her.

PUNCH Metro learnt that Edet and the baby’s mother, Rosemary Kingsley, both indigenes of Calabar, Cross River State, were only dating when the woman became pregnant.

She was reported to have packed into the suspect’s apartment on Ayinla Street after she was delivered of the baby.

However, Edet, a bus conductor, was said to have been angry that his lover gave birth to a girl and not a boy as he expected, which resulted in frequent disagreements between them.

On January 10, 2018, the baby was reported to be hungry and was crying when the father allegedly slapped her.

She was said to have convulsed due to the severity of the assault and was rushed to a medical centre for treatment.

Some of the hospital workers reportedly called the attention of the Lagos State Office of the Public Defender to the matter, and the agency contacted the police at the Itire division.

PUNCH Metro learnt that by the time the police got to the house, the suspect had fled.

A social worker with the OPD told our correspondent that blood spurted out of the baby’s nostrils as a result of the injury she sustained, adding that the mark of the slap was visible on her cheek.

She said, “We gathered that the two lovers were not married. She sold plantain chips, while the man was a bus conductor. They just met on the road and agreed to date each other. She became pregnant a few weeks into the relationship. At the initial stage, the man didn’t want to take responsibility for the pregnancy. But after she was delivered of the baby, he bowed to pressure and allowed both mother and child to move in with him. They lived in a shop.

“According to the woman, the baby was crying that morning while the father carried her. He started abusing the baby and saying a girl would not be useful to him because he wanted a boy. She said he slapped the baby. At that point, the baby started convulsing. It was the neighbours who compelled him to get drugs for the girl’s treatment. She was later taken to a hospital. The mark of the assault is visible on the child.

“When the matter got to our attention, we mobilised policemen to the house. However, we were told that he had escaped. The police have promised to get him arrested for assaulting the innocent baby. Even the mother was being maltreated by Edet; he seized her phone.”

 The Director of the OPD, Mrs. Olubukola Salami, said the agency would ensure that the suspect faced the full wrath of the law.

“The rising trend in child abuse is alarming. Children are vulnerable and should be protected, not pummelled. The Lagos State Government will ensure the rights of children are protected and perpetrators who violate these rights, irrespective of status, are brought to book, no matter how long it takes,” she added.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chike Oti, confirmed the incident, adding that the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, had ordered that the suspect be arrested.

He said, “The case was reported. The man slapped the baby and fled. We are looking for him. In fact, the CP, who detests abuse of children and domestic violence, has ordered the Divisional Police Officer to get him arrested. What he did is highly reprehensible and has no place in a modern society.”

Man stabbed to death over chicken in Calabar

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BY Unknown Tuesday, January 16, 2018 0

Man stabbed to death over chicken in Calabar

CALABAR—A fight over chicken at a political gathering in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, has claimed the life of a young man, Eyo Nsa, who was reportedly stabbed to death by members of a cult —King Crackers.

It was gathered that a councillorship aspirant in Calabar South visited the ward’s secretariat at Gibson to signify his intention to contest and went with refreshment for members.

Knife stab

An eyewitness, Sylvester Effiom, said: “One of the boys was sharing the chicken, but the deceased (Eyo Nsa) didn’t wait for them to get to him before dipping his hand into the tray to take a portion, which infuriated the people at the gathering.

“An argument ensued, which turned into a fight. In the process, the deceased ran into their house and came out with a machete. As he was running towards one of his assailants, he was stabbed on the upper side of his ribs, fell and started bleeding profusely.

“But because it was very late, there was no vehicle to convey him to the hospital so he bled to death on the spot.”

Another source, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the deceased “was a leader in the cult (King Crackers) and has refused to relinquish the position he was occupying.

“The squabble presented a perfect opportunity for them to kill him since he refused to hand over to another person.

“The chicken sharing, which caused the quarrel, was just a smokescreen. The main issue was a leadership position in the cult group; they know better. He was part of them. He was killed because he refused to hand over to someone else.”

When Vanguard visited the area yesterday, residents had deserted their homes for fear of being arrested for questioning.

Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident, saying they were trailing the suspect.

Seven die, many injured in Lagos gas explosions

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BY Unknown Tuesday, January 16, 2018 0

Seven die, many injured in Lagos gas explosions

Fire outbreak at gas filling station in Magodo Area of Lagos …yesterday. PHOTO: NAN

No fewer than seven persons were killed and many others injured yesterday following gas explosions in Magodo and Badagry areas of Lagos.

While the first explosion occurred at a gas company, Second Coming Nigeria Limited, located on CMD Road, Magodo, the second happened a few hours later at a gas retail plant in Badagry.

Three people died and eight others sustained serious injuries in the Magodo explosion.

The Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi and Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), ACP Tunji Disu, who rushed to the scene of the incident, helped to contain the arising inferno.

The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, narrated: “The agency was alerted to a fire outbreak at a gas plant (Second Coming Nigeria Limited) located on CMD Road, Magodo, Ikosi Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) around 7:26 a.m.

“On arrival at the scene, it was discovered that the gas plant was engulfed by the inferno. An eyewitness said the fire outbreak could have been as a result of gas leakage from the plant.

“Preliminary investigation by the agency revealed that three reservoir tanks for the storage of gas and one 33, 000-litre gas truck in the gas station were engulfed by fire, with a secondary explosion occurring within the station.

“Unfortunately, two burnt bodies were recovered behind the fence of the gas station, while eight casualties were also recorded with various degrees of burns and injuries.

“They were attended to by the officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the agency’s paramedics before moving two of the victims, who suffered more degrees of burns to the Trauma Centre at Toll Gate for further medical attention.

“Also, the men of the Lagos State Fire Service with four fire trucks and the Lagos Response Unit (LRU) Fire Unit with two fire trucks were able to curtail the spread to adjourning buildings in the area.

“Other emergency responders on ground include RRS, Federal Road Safety Corps, National Emergency Management Agency, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, Red Cross, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Federal Fire Service.”

He assured that an investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the explosion and to prevent a recurrence.

In the second explosion in Badagry, four persons were confirmed dead with pieces of dismembered bodies littering the scene.

The explosion at a gas retail shop at Iluda Road, Ajara Vetho in Badagry, occurred at about 10:00 a.m.

An anonymous source confirmed to The Guardian that four persons, three men and a woman, died instantly while many others were injured even as fire fighters battled to put out the inferno.

The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital while the bodies of the dead were deposited at the Badagry General Hospital’s morgue.

The unfortunate incidents caused traffic gridlock in the affected areas.