The Deputy President of Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, asked those who are agitating for the creation of Biafran Republic from Nigeria under the auspices of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to shield their swords even though they are on good course.
According to Senator Ekweremadu, circumstances that gave birth to agitations for Biafra 50 years ago have returned in full force, but appealed to Ndigbo not to be provoked into “armed struggle no matter the intimidation, harassment and marginalization.”
The deputy senate President, who spoke today, Saturday at the World Igbo Congress (WIC) Summit, stressed the need for fair and equitable treatment of Ndigbo as bonafide and important component of the Nigerian federation, saying that Ndigbo have become endangered species in a country where they ought to be equal partners.
At the occasion, which held without any of the governors and leadership of the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in attendance, the leaders insisted that redressing appointments and projects skewed against Ndigbo by the present administration would check rising agitations.
Ekweremadu said that the National Assembly would always uphold the rights of every part of the nation to equity and fairness, adding that it is worrisome that no Igbo man exists in the commanding heights of the security sector of the country. [myad]
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the greatest reason of optimism for the bright future for Africa is in the incredible energy, talent and creativity of our young people, male and female who are completely undeterred by the failures of the past and are daily taking advantage of innovation and technology bringing about the Africa of our dreams,
Speaking today, Saturday at the G7 Summit special outreach forum on Africa with selected African nations and leaders including Nigeria, Guinea, Tunisia, Niger, Ethiopia and Kenya, made it clear that Africa is not deterred by the failures of the past.
According to him, the continent is motivated by the incredible energy and talent of its bustling youthful population, saying: “Africa is confident of the future because we have learnt…we are investing more in education, insisting on good governance and holding ourselves to account.”
Professor Osinbajo, who assured the G7 countries of Africa’s increasing collaboration as never before in trade, counter terrorism and strengthening democracy, commended the seven most industrialized nations of world for their support in the fight against Boko Haram terrorism, especially the US, France and the United Kingdom as effective partners in the Lake Chad basin, citing the successes of “our joint intelligent unit which has provided useful and timely intelligence in the war against terrorism.”
The acting President said that in Nigeria today, there is massive increase in rice yield over the past two years, and that distribution of fertilizer subsidies is ongoing to farmers who had also benefited from an e-wallet system that guaranteed that the subsidies actually gets to the farmers.
He said that the N-Power programme which has started engaging some of the up to five hundred thousand young previously unemployed graduates instalmentally as teachers, agricultural extension workers and public health professionals “is a breakthrough in mass post-tertiary education.”
He said the participants were recruited online in all states in the nation mostly using mobile phones, adding that participants were soon to receive their electronic tablet devices and can access an N-Power portal that contain required training materials for acquisition of more skills to carry out their duties.
Other world leaders attending the Summit are Chairman of the African Union, United Nations, OECD, IMF, AfDB and World Bank as well as leaders of the G7 countries.
On the entourage of the Acting President are minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema, Special Adviser on Economic Matters, Dr. Yemi Dipeolu; the Nigeria Charge d’ Affairs in Italy, Mrs. Bisi Meshioye.
The Acting President has since returned to Nigeria. [myad]
Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Alhaji Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu has asked children to embrace the message of peace in their interaction with the larger part of Nigeria.
The security agency boss, who spoke today in Abuja, to mark the Children’s Day, an annual event which comes up every 27th of May and observed across the globe, encouraged children to shun violence.
“Thuggery, vandalism, malpractices, violence are inimical to the growth of the nation and they are against the law of the land. Therefore, children should shun all these vices and embrace peace for peace. The law is no respecter of anybody.”
Abdullahi Gana called on parents, guardians, political actors and gladiators to embrace peace for the purpose of nation-building, saying that they are models to children.
The Commandant General advised parents to caution their children against anything that could lead to the breakdown of law and order in the society.
He said that the security personnel will continue to ensure peaceful conduct of citizens and protect critical infrastructure and national assets. [myad]
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has described the Kaduna State Governor, Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai as a man who has “an incurable knack for lying.”
Jonathan was reacting to El-Rufai’s allegation that he (Jonathan), gave N2 Billion ecological fund to state under the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and turned back on states not controlled by the party.The fund, which is for solving emergency problems like natural disasters, is statutory.
Jonathan said that he was not surprised at governor El-Rufai’s recent claim, saying: “it is false that non-PDP states did not get monies from the fund.”
In a statement by his media adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan said: “it is so easy to expose Malam Nasir El-rufai as a liar being that Akwa-Ibom, a PDP state governed by the then Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and a close confidante and major supporter of the then President, Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, did not get the monies alluded to by Malam El-rufai from the Ecological Fund as did multiple other PDP states including Ekiti state, a state governed by a thoroughbred patriot and Jonathan supporter, Ayo Fayose.
“Nemesis catches up faster with liars than any other agent of evil. El-rufai was probably led by the gods against his own sinister plot to confess in another breathe that States under non-PDP parties like APGA and Labour party also benefitted.
“The fact remains that the Ecological Fund is a specialized fund with certain constitutional requirements which must be met before a state can access the funds.
“Every state benefitted from the fund under President Jonathan who bent over backwards to accommodate states that had difficulty meeting the criteria for accessing the fund.”
Jonathan said that El-Rufai was intentionally silent on the over N10 billion specially deployed to fund the Great Green Wall (GGW) project in some northern states, in view of the need to work with the rest of Africa on the African initiative to check desert encroachment in the Sahelian states.
“These states included Zamfara, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Adamawa. Others are Yobe, Borno and Kano which belong to Mallam El-rufai’s class of ‘non-friendly’ states that he alleged never benefitted from any discretionary fund.
“Similar principle applies to the conditions for accessing the Universal basic Education fund where some states have not had access to what is due them, because they are yet to fulfill the mandatory criteria for allocation.
“Would it then be right in the name of El-rufai’s position on equity to blame the failure of those states to access their UBEC funds on Jonathan?
“Nigerians may recall that this is not the first time that El-rufai has vented his known passion for lying against the former President,” he continued.
“The public will recall that in October 2015 he falsely alleged that former President Jonathan spent a whopping N64 billion on Independence Day celebrations, during his tenure when in fact only N333 million was spent.
“Nigerians may also recall that this same El-rufai falsely accused former President Jonathan and former CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor of founding and funding Boko Haram to the tune of N50 billion.
“We can only wonder what new false accusation El-rufai may come up with tomorrow, as with him it is a case of one day, one lie.
“We therefore urge Nigerians to ‘be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath’ whenever this notorious liar opens his mouth.” [myad]
The Nigeria Police Force has put its men and officers on red alert in the South East over the planned protest on May 30, by some groups, in commemoration of the Nigerian-Biafran war that ended in 1970.
The police authority said that the Inspector General had directed the Commissioners of Police in the affected States and their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police, to be strict, polite, civil and firm in dealing with the situation and put all the Police Personnel and Police Anti-Riot equipments on red alert to deal decisively in accordance with the law with any eventuality from these groups, that can disrupt commercial activities, vehicular movements and safety of lives and properties in some States of the Federation considered to be flash/vulnerable points which have witnessed the unfortunate disturbance of public peace by these groups in the recent past.
The position of the police authorities was contained in a statement issued today, Friday, by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh O. Moshood, naming the groups that are calling for protests as the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the Biafran Independence Movement (BIM), the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other affiliated groups.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force has been drawn to publications in the media on the planned protests and order of market closure in the South Eastern states on the 30th May, 2017 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) and other like groups.”
The statement said that the Police Force is deeply concerned with the security implications with regards to the renewed hostilities and subversive propagandas aimed at undermining law and order in some States of the Federation by these groups, their associates, sponsors, apologists and sympathizers.
“Consequently, the Commissioners of Police in the affected States and their supervising Assistant Inspectors General of Police, have been directed by the Inspector General of Police to be strict, polite, civil and firm in dealing with the situation and put all the Police Personnel and Police Anti-Riot equipments on red alert to deal decisively in accordance with the law with any eventuality from these groups, that can disrupt commercial activities, vehicular movements and safety of lives and properties in some States of the Federation considered to be flash/vulnerable points which have witnessed the unfortunate disturbance of public peace by these groups in the recent past.
“The Force sees the activities of these groups as not only unlawful but highly provocative and capable of causing breach of the peace currently being enjoyed in the South East States and other States of the Federation. The planned protests and orders of Market closure and illegal unilateral self imposed restrictions of vehicular movements by these groups in the affected States should be disregarded by all well meaning Nigerians. The Nigeria Police Force, hereby advised the members of the public to go about their lawful duties and other responsibilities without any fear or apprehension as adequate security arrangements have been put in place for the safety of every Nigerian throughout the Country by Nigeria Police Force and other Security agencies.”
The statement said that the Police Force is not unaware of the rights of every Nigerian to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association and freedom of movement, as essentials of democracy provided by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended particularly sections 38, 39, 40 and 41.
It said that however, such rights must be observed with decorum, in good faith and without violating the rights of other millions of Nigerians to free movements and access to public/private facilities and their means of livelihood on daily basis.
“The Nigeria Police while observing the rights of all Nigerians as stated above is equally conscious of the fact that these rights are not absolute as section 45 of the same Constitution provide for derogations to these rights. Consequently, the Police will resist the action(s) of any person or group of persons for whatever course that is against the interest of public defence, public safety, public order, public morality and a threat to the rights and freedom of other Nigerians.
“The Force will continue to Police the Country based on international core values and best practices and operate within the Principles of Democratic Policing but will not succumb and tolerate criminal activities of any group(s) under any guise to cause disturbance of public peace and unleash mayhem on innocent Nigerians anywhere in the country.
“As a result, the Police Force is hereby calling on the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), the Biafran Independence Movement (BIM), the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to consider the consequences of their actions and activities and without delay and call themselves to order in the interest of National Security, and safety of lives and properties of every Nigerian across the Nation as the full weight of the law will be made to bear on violators of the laws.
“The Nigeria Police Force will not hesitate to deal decisively with any group(s) and their sponsors that attempt to cause disturbance of the peace or carry out any unlawful demonstration, unlawful assembly/procession or gathering and public disobedience that can jeopardise law and order and harmonious co-existence within and amongst Nigerians throughout the country. The fact that freedom of expression as one of the dictates of democracy is being observed by the Police, should not be misconstrued as liberty by any group(s) for sectional or group interest to violate the laws and cause mayhem, confusion and apprehension in the minds of more than about one hundred and seventy Millions Nigerians.
“The Force will continue to carry out its Constitutional duties and other statutory responsibilities in accordance with the law of the land and for the utmost protection of lives and properties of all Nigerians across the Country.” [myad]
Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West in the Senate has described the alleged double voter registration by Governor Yahaya Bello of the state as reckless, even as he asked the governor to resign.
Melaye, who spoke at a news briefing in Abuja, on behalf of some stakeholders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, said that the people of Kogi State and the party were dissociating themselves from the act and called on the governor to resign immediately or risk impeachment.
“This executive recklessness and impunity is what we are reacting to. We are saying that as stakeholders in Kogi politics and the All Progressives Congress, we condemn in its entirety the fraudulent behaviour of Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State.”
“Kogi people are responsible people and we expect to have a responsible governor. As at the time he was contesting that election, it showed that he was not a registered voter in Kogi state.
“Since he knew he was not registered in the state, why did he in the first place accept the candidacy of the party?
“So, on this note, we are calling immediately for the resignation of the governor.
“If he has integrity, he should honourably resign and if the governor refuses to resign, we are going to mobilize our members in the House of Assembly to start an impeachment process against him.
“We will do this because we have a valid point as expressed by INEC..”
Melaye said that besides the move for impeachment, Kogi citizens would be mobilized to stage a peaceful protest in strategic locations across the country should he refuse to resign.
He stressed that the people would be mobilized to INEC’s head office, the National Secretariat of APC and strategic locations in Lokoja to protest, adding that power belonged to the people.
The Chairman of APC in Kogi, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo, agreed with Melaye, adding that it was the position of the party.
“We know the law and INEC says it is criminal. We will abide by what Melaye has just said. That is our position.’’
The call for the governor’s resignation came on the heels of a statement from the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying Bello registered twice to vote.
INEC, in a statement issued in Abuja yesterday, Thursday, accused Yahaya Bello of double registration for Permanent Voter Card in contravention of the Electoral Act.
The statement was issued by Prince Solomon Soyebi, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
The statement noted that Bello had his first registration on Jan. 30, 2011 in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja and the second registration on Tuesday, May 23, at the Government House, Lokoja.
It further noted that the Government House was outside the designated centre for the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration.
The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo has felicitated with Nigerian Muslims who would be joining their counterparts across the world to begin a 30-day fasting, beginning from tomorrow, Saturday.
Professor Osinbajo appealed to the Muslims and Nigerians to use the opportunity to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently on a medical vacation in London.
A statement by Osinbajo’s senior special assistant, Laolu Akande, quoted the acting Pt=resident as asking the Muslims to use the holy month to remember the less privileged in the society.
He urged them to seek maximum benefits from the Ramadan period by replicating the teachings of the Holy Prophet in all their engagements.
The statement read: “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, felicitates with the entire Muslim community in Nigeria as they join other faithfuls across the world to commence Ramadan – the holy month of fasting and prayer.
“The Acting President implores Muslims to seek maximum benefits from the Ramadan period by replicating the teachings of the Holy Prophet in all their engagements; private and public.
“Prof. Osinbajo appeals to all Nigerians especially Muslims to also use the period of Ramadan for reflection on our national challenges and join forces with the Buhari administration to overcome them.” [myad]
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has named a baby, delivered by a widow, Regina Patrick, after his wife, Rachel Umahi David.
The naming event came at the time the governor hosted luncheon party for elders and widows at the Abakaliki Township Stadium, Abakaliki, the state capital yesterday.
A statement today by Emma Anya, Chief Press Secretary to the governor said that governor Umahi also gave out the sum of one million naira to the mother of the baby
The governor was quoted as advising the mother of the baby to also add the name of her late husband as the surname of the baby.
The statement said that an account has been opened for the baby.
It said that Regina Patrick,who was one of the 1,710 widows drawn from all the political wards in the state, lost her husband six months ago.
It quoted the governor as saying: “there is a woman whom I was told gave birth in this celebration ground and as I was deliberating with my wife on how Jesus wife should be pregnant, they said she took in before her husband died six months ago.
“We will give that child a name. Her name will be four: Rachel Mgborie David plus her late dad’s name. Rev Father Nwali will use the sum of N1 million to open an account for the child.”
The governor also offered scholarship to her from secondary school to university levels, saying, “If it pleases God that we are in power after her schooling, wherever we are, we will make her enjoy scholarship for secondary and university.” [myad]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State registered as a voter twice.
In a statement in Abuja, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Solomon Soyebi, said that the staff who registered Governor Yahaya Bello for the second time in Government House, Lokoja, would be punished.
He said that Yahaya Bello’s first registered in Abuja on January 30, 2011 and registered for the second time at government house, Lokoja, on May 23, 2017.
Solomon Soyebi said that the registration was done outside the designated centre for the ongoing nationwide continuous voter registration (CVR).
A group, Kogi for Change, had first raised the alarm over Bello’s double registration, threatening to sue him.
“It has come to the attention of INEC that Governor Bello of Kogi state registered as a voter for the second time, on Tuesday, May 23, 2017 in Government House, Lokoja, the state capital.
“His first registration was on January 30, 2011, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.
“The governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres are both illegal.
“For the on-going continuous voter registration [CVR) exercise, INEC has designated a centre in each of the country’s 774 local government areas, including FCT’s six area councils.”
The commission dissociated itself from the governor’s action while it also pledged to take disciplinary action against its staff who did the second registration for Bello.
“We wish to make it clear that no INEC staff was authorised by the commission to re-register him or any citizen or to do so outside our designated CVR centres.
“The commission is taking disciplinary action against the INEC staff involved.
“As for the state governor, section 308 (l) (a) of the 1999 constitution (as amended], precludes lNEC from prosecuting him while in office.
“However, the commission wishes to state that it has cancelled his second and illegal registration, forthwith.”
INEC said the second registration would be cancelled as electoral law and the commission’s guidelines make no exception for anyone to register more than once, and to register outside the designated centres.
An Abuja-based media practitioner, Adewole Kehinde, has taken the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to court, demanding the sum of N100 million damages for alleged illegal disconnection of his electricity.
This is even as he also petitioned the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the Minister of Power, Works and Housing.
Kehinde, who is the Publisher of Swift Reporters online daily, narrated how the AEDC officials came to his house on Friday, May 19, 2017 to cut off the cable over outstanding debt he owed the company.
In a statement, the Journalist said: “I went to their office to pay the N10,000 outstanding with N2,000 reconnection fees on Friday, 19th May, 2017. I was told by one of the AEDC Engineer in the office to give them a copy of my payment slip with my phone number so that they will call me to reconnect me back immediately.
“I went back home waiting for them to reconnect but unfortunately, what the office did was what I called 419 by collecting reconnection fees without connecting me back till now.
“I put several calls to the AEDC Customer Care but they became helpless as they couldn’t even get across to the Karu Area Office Manager to prevail on him to reconnect me back.
“It is high time we consumers rise up to the challenge to sue Abuja Electricity Distribution Company for fraud because they obtained money without rendering the services paid for hence my decision to sue them for N100 million damages caused family.
“This will make the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company enlighten their staff that they don’t have any right to cut away customers cable without notifying them in any form of their debt.
“Electricity consumers are the most cheated on the country and I am using my case to put a stop to their fraud once and for all.” [myad]
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