There are indications that the Nigerian Army is headed to sambisa forest, the strong-hold of the Boko Haram for the final push to flush out the terrorists.
Confirming the move to newsmen today, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Yusha’u Abubakar, said: “As I am talking to you, almost the entire troops in the theatre are moving towards the Boko Haram den.
The army has promised to meet the December deadline to wipe out the insurgency in the Northeast given by President Muhammadu Buhari.
General Abubakar stressed that Sambisa forest appears to be the last known den of the insurgents. [myad]
The Borno State Command of Department of State Services (DSS) has announced the capture of a suspected high profile Boko Haram leader, Danladi Abdullahi at Moduganari area of Maiduguri metropolis.
A statement by Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka confirming the arrest said: “although he is still being investigated, it has been positively established that he is suspect number 26 on the list of the declared suspected Boko Haram terrorists issued by the Nigerian Army last month.”
He said that the arrest as a fallout of the release of a poster containing photographs of 100 suspected Boko Haram terrorists .
Army headquarters said that security agencies and the public have since the release of the poster, intensified search for the wanted Boko Haram terrorists.
Colonel Usman said: “The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, personally wishes to commend the DSS, especially Borno State Command, for this singular act, resilience and continued support and cooperation in the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The DSS has over times proven to be dependable and partners in the quest for a secured Nigeria.
“We would also like to reiterate that the fight against this security menace is a collective responsibility, therefore, we shall continue to solicit for public’s support, cooperation and understanding as we finally quench the remaining dying embers of the Boko Haram terrorists in our country. We should all be more vigilant and security conscious to enable us all enjoy a better and more secure Nigeria.” [myad]
I remember when I was in Ikeja, Lagos working for Thisday newspaper. That time, around 1998, there was no mobile telephone. What was in vogue then was table phone, though a negligible number of privileged Nigerians had what was called cellular phones. I remember when I visited a well-established office around Apapa and met a handsome young man behind a sizeable table, with two phones on top of the table. I remember when a call came to one of the phones, the handsome young man picked it, placed it on his ear and before you could say hi, the handsome young man had fallen on his stomach, prostrating and answering yes sir, yes sir more than a dozen times before the next line of conversation. I remember that when the ‘frightening’ phone call ended, the handsome young man was sweating profusely. He sat back on his chair, panting as if he had just climbed zuma rock in absolute haste. I remember when I asked him who was that that called him on the phone and he told me it was his oga, meaning, Managing Director. On many other occasions, I had witnessed the display of unquestionable respect, and even worship of elders, ‘ogas’ and parents by Yoruba people across Nigeria. I had always admired such culture. In my own way, I had tried to imitate them, because, my belief always has been that a small prayer by elder for the younger one has a way of imprinting in the spiritual realm. But I have been seized by surprise and disbelief lately seeing and hearing the way young Yoruba people are openly insulting and cursing their elders and even parents. For instance, the Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, by all standards, a young man, has been in the news lately, insulting former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Olowu of Owu in Ogun state. Of course, when Fayose was disrespectful to Muhammadu Buhari before and during the last campaign, I was not so surprised because, I thought, after all, he did not owe Buhari respect because he was a bloody Fulani man. That was even with my reservation that he, Fayose was missing out something very vital, also in the spiritual realm.
But, for Fayose to throw caution and even the well-respected culture of the Yoruba race into the air in the name of politics and things of this world by constantly abusing Obasanjo is one of the strange things happening at the turn of this century. As a matter of fact, Obasanjo is old enough to born Fayose as a son; meaning that Fayose, by not feeling the guilt of abusing Obasanjo in whatever circumstance, can as well abuse his father. And abusing one’s father amounts to inviting the wrath of the ancestors, and of course, God. For God sake, where is that undiluted respect Yoruba were well-known for? Has wealth, power and other things of this world swept it away, like whirlwind? Or is the world coming to an end? [myad]
Osun State Government has commenced the redistribution of the Computer Tablet otherwise known as Opon-Imo to all the Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3 students across the 30 local government councils of the state.
The distribution of the computer tablet kicked off at Adventist High School, Ede where the beneficiaries collected the electronic device one after the other on the assembly.
It is expected that 29,000 electronic device would be distributed to pupils across the state.
The Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran performed the second phase distribution of the tablet of knowledge with a charge to the principals and beneficiaries to use the device for the purpose it was meant.
While noting that the device was glorious to education sector in the state, Oyeniran congratulated the pupils saying that the device was part of the efforts of the administration in the state to enhance the standard of education in the state.
He warned that the state government will sanction any of the beneficiaries that misuse the device or spoilt it adding that any misuse will attract a fine of N50,000. He noted that the sanction is backed with legislation from the state assembly so as to discourage it misuse.
The Permanent Secretary hinted that the state government has spent over N500million annually on external examinations including WASC and NECO since the advent of the current administration urging the pupils to study well for success in their education.
The Principal Adventist High School 1, Mr. Anthony Ojo expressed appreciation to the state government for the device assuring that teachers would ensure that they are used properly. He assured that teachers would monitor the device
The senior prefect of the Adventist High School 1 and 2, Ebenezer Adeniji commended the state government for returning the pride and honour to the public schools. The move which he said has made students from private schools to look at them with envy.
“We are exceptionally grateful to receive modern device of this status from the government despite the fact that education is free and we do not pay school fees. Our colleagues in private schools that we used to look up to in term of higher educational standard now look at us with envy. [myad]
President Muhammadu Buhari has joined the rest of the world in condemning last Friday’s coordinated attacks in Paris, France, describing it as dastardly.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said the president received the news of the attack with great shock and profound sadness.
Buhari condemned the “dastardly and heinous terrorist attacks on innocent civilians in Paris.”
Terror group, Islamic State had issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attacks.
President Buhari expressed sympathy to President Francois Hollande and the people France on behalf of the government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, even as he extended sincere condolences to the families, relatives and friends of the unfortunate victims of the callous attacks.
He then condemned the barbaric attacks which he said constituted an unacceptable affront to all human values and civilized norms.
“As a country which has borne the terrible human cost of terrorist attacks, Nigeria stands in full solidarity with the government and people of France as they mourn those who have sadly lost their lives in the attack on Paris,”
Buhari called on all peace-loving nations of the world to intensify ongoing multilateral cooperation and collaborative actions aimed at bringing the scourge of international terrorism to a speedy end for the benefit of all nations. [myad]
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has described the former state governor, Lucky Igbinedion a thief operating under the armed robbery Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led federal government.
According to the governor, it took seven years for him to squeal on the illegalities perpetrated by the Igbinedion administration in the state because he knew that the PDP-led Federal Government lacked the moral and political will to fight corruption as the government at the federal level was also committing serious infractions. Oshiomhole, who spoke at a colloquium organised by the state government to interact with the people of Edo State on the topic: “The Edo Project: Defining the Issues and addressing the Challenges-Post 2016,” as part of activities to mark his seventh anniversary in office, said there were things he could not do under the PDP Federal Government. “People asked me: why didn’t you speak all these years. If I say it, reporting thieves to thief, what difference does it make? Now I can talk because I know that the man there, if I can provide evidence, he will act. There was no point reporting a thief to an armed robber.” According to the Governor, the PDP Federal Government acted with a lot of impunity at that time, adding: “A Commissioner of Police came to my office a few years ago and brought an instruction from Abuja signed by the IG on the instructions of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim, that I should be stopped from intruding into the Ovoranwnem Square, that I am vandalizing Federal Government property and violating federal territories. “I told the CP to put me in handcuffs and take me away because it is not difficult to arrest me courtesy of my size. We have been fighting all kinds of forces and I said, the water fountain you call an act of vandalism was what our people celebrate. But in the eyes of the PDP, I was vandalizing it and even as we speak, the matter is in court. “Given the new balance of forces in Abuja, I have directed that they resume rebuilding the water fountain and to re-grass it and I also said that that place should not be turned to a car park. Until we got rid of the PDP, anybody I sent to carry out such task did so at great risk to their freedom.” Speaking on the Land Use Charge law, the governor said: “I am not going to waste my precious time dealing with mercenaries. We are ready to engage with the real civil societies. They have a signature House in Abuja and they know what they pay there. They have a house in Bishop Avenue in London occupying 1300 square meters. Whether the one owned by the father or the son, they have properties in South Africa and they pay land use charge for those properties whether they live there or not. “Do you think when they are fighting us in Edo, it is about enlightenment? It is not about enlightenment. Is it not of interest to you that it is student and Civil Societies who are fighting or purporting to fight against property tax. In other developed countries, it is this group that will be pushing government to increase property tax to the rich. How can a student be fighting for a rich man not to pay tax?” Earlier, the moderator of the colloquium, Femi Falana (SAN), praised Oshiomhole for a job well done in the past seven years as Governor. “The Governor, having been in the terrain of popular struggle and systemic exploitation and corruption, Nigerians were wondering what this social critic was going to do in Edo State. It wasn’t easy, because by the time he assumed leadership of the state, the economy was already grounded. “For eight years before he got there, the governments, particularly of this state, were all smiling to the bank. By the time the Governor took over, the purse had not only been looted, but it had dried up. The Comrade accepted the challenge and looked for water even in the rock and at the end of the day, he has been able to demonstrate even to his greatest critic that there are governors and that there are governors. “For our Comrade, the road has not been easy, the battle has been tough but at the end of the day, all of us who are friends and allies, whenever we are discussing the Governors who have performed in this country, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will certainly rank as one of the best. “Comrade, you still have a year and unlike other governors who hardly perform during their second term, I understand in Edo State you are waxing stronger and I wish you success as you enter the last lap of your glorious tenure in this state. “It is not common to see a building of this nature and when I got here I could not believe that I was in the premises of a secondary school, you can only find a hall of this nature either in Abuja or Lagos. Today is not just a day of intellectual discourse, it is day of stock taking. “I want to congratulate each and every one of his team and the entire Edo people for their contributions to the success of the Comrade Governor. Our people say when your masquerade dances well, you are very proud, Comrade, you are a good masquerade and you are dancing very well.” [myad]
A Federal High Court in Lagos has awarded the King of Juju music Nigerian, King Sunny Ade, the sum of N500 million as damages on copyright violation.
Sunny Ade had sued record manufacturing company, African Songs, and its subsidiary, Take Your Choice Records.
The judge, Justice James Tsoho ordered both companies to pay the damages.
A contract dispute first arose between both parties and the court had then ordered that the master tapes of the original musical works belonging to King Sunny Ade, produced under the label, be returned to him.
The then Chief Executive Officer of both companies, Chief Bolarinwa Abioro, had died before the tapes were returned.
And in 1997, KSA dragged both parties again before a Federal High Court, claiming the unreturned master tapes had been used to reproduce his work and were sold without his permission.
KSA demanded N1 billion in damages, but both companies filed a counter claim, pointing out that he had already been paid royalties and thus had no claims to the master tape and also sought damages.
Justice Tsoho had dismissed the counter claim on the basis of lack of merit and ordered both parties to pay the sum of N500 million to King Sunny Ade and his band and also return the master tapes. [myad]
A Nigerian pastor, one Mr. Chukwudi Okechukwu, who preaches in Tanzania, under the umbrella of the Lord Chosen Church of Nigeria, has been jailed 30 years after being convicted of smuggling cocaine worth Sh3.1 billion.
According to reports, Okechukwu, who Anti-narcotics police allegedly believe is one of the top members of a drug syndicate operating in Tanzania, Nigeria and South Africa, was jailed alongside a South African, one Stan Hycent and Pakistani Shoaib Mohammad Ayazi over the same offence.
High Court Judge, Amir Mruma, reports say has ordered the accused to pay Sh 9 billion in fines.
He and his three accomplices were reportedly hiding in a mansion in Dar es Salaam’s Kuduchi Mtongani suburbs when the police allegedly surrounded the house and arrested them.
Anti-narcotics police had received information about foreigners who were planning to smuggle into the country a huge quantity of cocaine and store it in a house in Kunduchi Mtongani.
However, a surveillance team led by head of Anti-Drugs Unit, ADU, Godfrey Nzowa, was deployed to keep an eye on the mansion that the preacher and his accomplices had rented.
The team had purportedly knocked on the front gate in their bid to arrest the suspected drug dealers.
Soon after the police knocked on the gate and introduced themselves, reports further revealed that the four suspects started running around the house in apparent fear and panic.
There was an alleged cat-and-mouse chase drama inside the compound as the police tried to get hold of one of the suspects as he was attempting to jump over the fence. Three suspects were arrested inside the house.
The Nigerian suspect was reportedly the only one who managed to jump over the wall but was arrested after a chase by the police.
Upon searching the house, anti-drugs police allegedly seized 81 packets of drugs which were later confirmed by a Chief Government chemist to be cocaine hydrochloride.
However, intelligence report revealed he visited Tanzania some years back and had made a name for himself as a pastor at his ‘Kinondoni Biafra’ church and won many followers.
The head of Anti-Drugs Unit, Nzowa, reportedly described their jailing as ‘another great achievement’ in Tanzania’s efforts to fight drug trafficking.
“Unlike a gun or pistol which kills people instantly, drugs are killing the young generation slowly. If we are not aggressive in fighting the illicit trade we may find ourselves losing the young generation,” he said.
Nzowa also added that drug business was a threat to national security especially when foreigners are left to operate in the country.
“The jailing of the Nigerian pastor and his co-conspirators brought to three, the number of high profile drug cases that have been heard and determined by the High Court in the space of three months.
“Early in September, the same court sentenced to 20 years a young Tanzanian, Fred William Chonde, to 20 years in jail after it found him guilty of possessing 180kg worth Sh 5.2 billion and ordered him to pay a Sh 15 billion fine,” Nzowa noted.
“Again last month, the court sentenced a businessman, Kadiria Saidi Kimaro, who attempted to smuggle 91 heroin capsules that he had swallowed, through Julius Nyerere International Airport, JNIA, to 20 years in jail. He was also ordered to pay Sh122 million in fine.”
Nzowa further noted that the speed with which the Judiciary hears and determined the drug cases has renewed hopes by anti-drugs campaigners who had accused courts of mishandling drug cases.
“There has been a concern that the way court handled drug trafficking cases might make it easy for the convicts to later secure freedom or bail in what could be viewed as disregard of the law,” he noted.
“Corruption and influence peddling by highly placed individuals have been cited as one factor that frustrates the war against traffickers.”
However, the judiciary has repeatedly defended itself over the accusations, saying shoddy police investigations and poor prosecution were to blame for the circumstance. [myad]
The national leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has described continuous attack by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as defeat hangover.
According to the APC new National Publicity Secretary, Mai Buni who spoke in a statement on behalf of the party in apparent reaction to the claim by the PDP that the newly sworn-in cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari “does not inspire confidence,” PDP needs to focus its energy and attention on rebranding itself after suffering defeat and not distracting it (APC) from governing Nigeria.
Buni, who just took over from ex-APC’s spokesman, Lai Mohammed, who had just resumed his official duty as Nigeria’s new Minister of Information, said that the argument by PDP was “warped and a product of defeat hangover.”
According to him: ”some ministers appointed under the government of the PDP, were not better than miscreants, thugs and mistresses, adding that the leadership of the APC is very satisfied with the cabinet put in place by President Buhari.
“We endorse all the portfolios, we have absolute faith in the new ministers and we know that the final hour of redemption is here,” he said.
“The meticulous assigning of portfolios on Wednesday was also a signal to Nigerians that their electoral investment in our great party and President Buhari was not a waste.
“The journey to economic recovery, meaningful democracy, and moral revolution in our great country has started.
“For the umpteenth time, APC assures Nigerians of its desire to take them to the Promised Land.
“The APC government will not fail the nation, Buhari will keep his words and salvage Nigeria for the benefit of all.” [myad]
The Kogi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has described as miserable ministry that was allotted to the man representing the state in the federal cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The party saw the allocation of the position of junior minister to the state in a “c-grade, if not d-grade” ministry as humiliating.
The ministerial nominee for the state, Mr. James Ocholi (SAN), was assigned the portfolio of Minister of State in the re-configured Ministry of Labour and Employment, which used to be known as Ministry of Labour and Productivity.
Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, the Publicity Secretary of the PDP in Kogi state, Bode Ogunmola described as “humiliating and condescending” the assigning of junior minister to Kogi State in a, “c-grade, if not d-grade” ministry, stressing that Kogi State never had it so bad under successive PDP administrations.
He said that the APC has demonstrated that the state and its people cannot have a fair deal under its administration, particularly under an APC governor. Going down memory lane, Ogunmola said: “Under former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Kogi State manned the Police Affairs, Industries, Health and Justice Ministries in that order, following the appointments of Gen David Jemibewon, Chief Kola Jamodu, Professor Eyitayo Lambo and Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN), respectively.”
Ogunmola recalled that much as the Yar’Adua/Jonathan administration between 2007 and 2011 could not guarantee senior cabinet ranks for Kogi ministers, Chief Gabriel Aduku and Humphrey Abah, they functioned in the, ‘A-Grade’ portfolio as Health, Interior and Police Affairs ministers at various times. [myad]
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There are indications that the Nigerian Army is headed to sambisa forest, the strong-hold of the Boko Haram for the final push to flush out the terrorists.
