Igboho Was Thrown Up By Circumstance, Though He Operated Illegally – Ondo Gov

February 16, 2021

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has confessed that Sunday Adeyemi , aka Igboho was operating illegally but that he came as a a child of circumstance.

At n interview on Channels Television, Governor Akeredolu said: “Sunday Igboho is a child of circumstance. We must look at the circumstance that led to each of these interventions. There are things that we do at times that you have to know what led to them. Those circumstances might not be justifiable, might not be legal, but again when you look at it, you’ll know we are a child of circumstance.”

The governor, who was elected for a second term in office in October 2020, however, admitted that he does not support illegality and people taking laws into their hands.

“I for one, I’ve always said that I will not support anyone taking laws into his own hands. That’s why I had to go to Ibadan,” the governor, 64, explained.

“That’s why I will go to every other place in the South-West to preach about illegality and that we are against illegal actions. We are not for it at all.”

Igboho had risen to prominence after he issued a quit notice to criminal herders in Oyo State accused of crimes in the area.

Akeredolu had in the wake of the clash, called for calm, urging residents not to take the laws into their hands.

“We do not support violence and in particular, brigandage, jungle justice and unnecessary self-help,” he said.

“We note with delight, the efforts of our brother Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who has taken very bold steps to stave off the further escalation of the violence by imposing curfew in the affected areas.”

BREAKING: Buhari Picks 40 Year Old Bawa As EFCC Boss, Forwards His Name To Senate

Editorial staff

February 16, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has picked Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and forwarded his name to the Senate for confirmation.

In a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the President said he was acting in accordance with Paragraph 2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of EFCC Act 2004.

Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC investigator with vast experience in the investigation and prosecution of Advance Fee Fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering, and other economic crimes.

He has undergone several specialized trainings in different parts of the world, and was one of the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers in 2005.

Bawa holds a B.Sc degree in Economics, and Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy.

Man Allegedly Kills Wife Over Suspicious Text Message From Her Lover

Editorial staff

February 15, 2021

A 46-year-old Olatunji Sobola has allegedly killed his wife over some suspicious text messages on her phone, from her lover.

Sobola, a staff of Remo North Local Government, was said to have confessed to Ogun State police command that he suspected his wife, whom he married for 20 years of “having extra marital affairs because of some text messages he saw on her phone.”

Spokesman of the command, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said that the suspect confessed that when he challenged his late wife about his suspicions, a fight broke out between them, which eventually led to the death of the 38-year-old mother of three.

Oyeyemi said that the man was nabbed on Saturday, following a complaint by the father of the deceased, one Alhaji Ambali Yinusa, who reported at Owode-Egba divisional headquarters that his son-in-law, Sobola, had a misunderstanding with his wife, Momudat Sobola, which led to a physical fight between them.

The deceased’s father said that in the process, Sobola took a knife and stabbed his wife at the back.

Upon the report, the DPO of Owode-Egba division, CSP, Matthew Ediae, sent his men to the scene where the suspect was apprehended, while the victim was immediately rushed to the hospital, where she later gave up the ghost.

The corpse of the deceased had been deposited at the morgue of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital’s morgue in Sagamu, for autopsy.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Cp Edward A. Ajogun, has ordered the immediate transfer of the case to homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence department for further investigation and prosecution.

Osun Senator Confirms: Fulani Herdsmen Killing In Southwest Are Not From Nigeria

Editorial staff

February 15, 2021

The Senator representing Osun East Senatorial district, Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, has confirmed that Fulani people who have been kidnapping, raping women, committing banditry and all other forms of criminality are not from Nigeria.

Speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja today, February 15, Senator Fadahunsi said: “what is ravaging the Southwest now; they are not the Hausa/Fulani people from Nigeria; not the Fulani who have been living with us for the past 100 years. They have not been killing people.”

He blamed traditional rulers in the region for aiding the foreign Fulani herders, adding: “if a stranger comes to your house, there is a norm, culture. Since the stranger cannot abide by your culture, he becomes an intruder, which is a criminal offence. In the whole Southwest today, you cannot do what these animals are doing in the bush.

He insisted that it is foreign Fulanis that are behind kidnapping, “but were aided by some Obas who eventually employ them as marabouts.”

“They are the people shouting. The one in Niger State, are they not APC? The Fulani herdsmen, particularly the wicked ones from foreign land don’t know who is APC or PDP, Christian or Muslim. The only thing is that it is the government that encourages them.

“If you are arrested as a kidnapper and you are taken to court in Osun, which is 25 years and you are jailed, they will not do it.

“But the Fulani herdsman rearing the cattle up and down, the highest he can sell a cow is N300,000 to N350,000. By the time he sells one and declares N150,000 to the owner, he has nothing.

“Now that he has AK 47, which he brought from either Sudan, Libya, Chad, Niger, or Cameron, and he could come out, carry you, and your people are now begging him with N2 million, he will come back to the road.

“I confronted this problem long ago when this thing was rampant in my area, I summoned the Obas in Ijesha land in my constituency.

“There were about four or five cases of kidnapping and they were begging Fulani with N2 million and anybody who could not pay, they will waste the man. So, I boycotted the protocol and summoned the Obas because I knew it was the Obas that encouraged them in their domains.

“We then had an agreement in a closed-door meeting; if we hear anything, automatically I will use the youth to chase the Oba away.

“That was the agreement; it went down for about 4-5 years. Even during Aregbesola’s time, you won’t hear anything about banditry in Osun State because he had maximum security. He bought bulletproof vehicles as if we were in war. He called the whole place security-wise. Even the case of a rape which he handled, was due to pleading we didn’t jail the Oba.

“So, we found out that it was the Obas who employed the Fulani herdsmen as their herbalists in their domains to oppress their people.

“We even got one or two Obas’ children that were buying food for them and their victims. It was one of them that took us to 84 tents where they were in our area. We had to route them out. They are not the Hausa/Fulani that were living with us. When we asked them they said they don’t know them.”

Senator Fadahunsi was a former Custom officer, and now a Senator.

Source: Daily Post.

Ethnic Conflicts In Oyo: Police Boss Deploys Top Officers, With Helicopter

Editorial staff

February 15, 2021

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar Adamu on Monday ordered the immediate deployment of Police Intervention and Stabilization Forces to Oyo State to reclaim the public space, reinforce security and bolster public confidence in the areas affected by the recent crisis in the state.

According to a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, the deployment, consists largely of intelligence and operational assets of the force include four units of the Police Mobile Force (PMF), seasoned operatives from the Force Intelligence Bureau and one operational/surveillance Police helicopter from the Police Air-wing department.”

The statement said that Intervention Force is charged with the responsibility of reinforcing and stabilizing security in the state, preventing further breakdown of law and order, protecting lives and properties and ultimately enhancing public safety and general security in the state.”

It said that the intervention force is being coordinated by a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), David Folawiyo, who is expected to mobilize all relevant stakeholders towards achieving the mandate of the squad.

The IGP assured that the force is committed to the safety of lives and properties of the citizens in the country and called on the citizens and residents of Oyo State and other Nigerians to embrace peace and cooperate with the police and the security community as they redouble their efforts in ensuring that sustainable peace and security were restored to the affected areas.

Minister Lai Raises Eye-Brow Over Irregularities In Kwara APC Membership Registration

Editorial staff

February 15, 2021

Information Minister, Alhaji Lai Muhammed

Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has raised eye-brow over what he called “several irregularities” in the All Progressives Congress (APC) membership registration and revalidation in Kwara State and called for its cancellation.

The Minister, who spoke today, February 15 in Oro, Kwara State while addressing journalists after his APC membership revalidation at Oro Ward 2 polling unit 006, Ile Onikoyi, said that the registration officials failed to consult with all stakeholders before the commencement of the membership registration.

“The guidelines are also clear on how registration materials are to be handed over and distributed. It says officials for the assignment are prohibited from handing over registration forms, other materials inclusive of registration data in a manner not prescribed by the exercise to unauthorised persons, and that the materials (forms, registers, and others) are to be distributed directly to the Registration Officers, and records of the distribution area to be captured and reported accordingly.”

Lai Mohammed called on officials to put in place a process to ensure the conduct of a credible and fair exercise that will enjoy the support and confidence of all.

He also called for the immediate disbandment of the Senator John Danboyi-led membership registration committee for Kwara State saying a vast majority of the APC stakeholders in the state have lost confidence in the committee.

That was even as the state chairman of APC, Abdullahi Samari said that the registration of the Minister showed that the exercise was peaceful and all-encompassing.

With Me At Helm, World Trade Organization Will Spring To Life Again – Okonjo-Iweala

Editorial staff

February 15, 2021

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who had just been confirmed as new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has made it clear that with her at the helm of affairs, the organization will once more spring to life and play its proper role in reshaping the world economy.

Okonjo-Iweala, in a tweet via her handle today, February 15, emphasized that the organisation would get the global economy running again during her tenure, even as she expressed willingness to make the WTO stronger and adapt to realities of the day.

“I am totally honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General.

“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again.

“Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”

Soldiers Storm Sambisa Forest, Kill 81 Boko Haram Fighters

Editorial staff

February 15, 2021

File photo of Nigerian troops in operation

Nigerian soldiers, today, February 15, stormed the notorious sambisa forest in Borno State, killing 81 Boko Haram fighters, even as they lost one soldier in landmine attack.

A military intelligence source said the soldiers encountered stiff resistance from the terrorists who laid improvised explosive devices along the troops’ axis of advance.

“The relentless troops destroyed the terrorists’ camps and recovered gun trucks and weapons as NAF aircraft continue to provide close air and interdiction support to the ground forces

“Regrettably a soldier paid the supreme sacrifice with four other soldiers wounded in an improvised explosive devices incident,” the intelligence officer said.

The soldiers who carried out the onslaught are from sector 1, comprising troops of 21 and 26 Brigades supported by Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF). They cleared many villages of terrorists in sambisa, including Garin Bello, Kwoche, Lawanti, Alfa Bula Hassan and Alfa Cross among others.

In a message to the soldiers on behalf of the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, the Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Major General Farouk Yahaya praised the gallantry of the soldiers and urged them to sustain it.

Need For Media Practitioners To Fight Battle Inside Them, By Mohammed Auwal Umar

Greenbarge Reporters

February 15, 2021

This picture is used for the illustration of the story

I have noted with serious concern through observation of recent atrocities happening all over the country and I felt that there is an inherent problem in our media practitioners in Nigeria. As media practitioners, who are presumed to be objective in performing their “watchdog” role for the well being and development of the society, it is expected that we drop all our biasness and focus on fair reporting of issues. This, however, should be regardless of who are perpetrators or victims. Over the years, there have been complaints about skewed reporting by Nigerian media. These complaints remained unaddressed. Recently, the challenges facing the country increased, so also the complaints.

What can we now say is the problem of Nigerian media not responding to such complaints of unfair, subjective and bias reporting? Is it a pressure from the owners of such media or inherent biasness of our colleagues in the media practice? In my opinion, the two have impact but the latter seems to be more glaring than the former. I want to state categorically that pretence is killing us in this country. We all pretend to be tolerant and accommodating on the face while our hearts is filled with hatred, divisive, discriminative and devilish agendas.

Until we begin to fight the battle inside us and learn to teach our hearts how to live with one another, we will never know peace. To our colleagues in the newsrooms, you have a huge responsibility. The work you are doing is a work for all. The provisions in the constitution that provides you with freedom to practice, also the same constitution provides that we must work towards safety of all. Whenever we hold the pen or press the keyboard to write or type a story, we must make sure we reasoned well and ask ourselves: what is the impact of what I will write? How would it affect the people? How does it strengthen unity? How does it promote peace?

Let us also remember, the freedom that provides us with privilege to hold the government accountable to the people also suggest that we must be accountable to what we are doing. Imbalance reporting, unfair labeling and profiling, fueling crisis through attracting cheap clicks will do us more harm than good. We must always uphold the spirit of peacebuilding and ensure the content we produce bring us good feedback than backlash.

Mohammed Auwal Umar writes from Maiduguri. Email: muhammadauwal32@gmail.com

Okonjo-Iweala Clinches World Trade Organization’s Top Job: Buhari Jubilates

Greenbarge Reporters

February 15, 2021

Nigeria’s former minister of finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has emerged finally as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), even as President Muhammadu Buhari hailed her.
The WTO, in a statement today, February 16, in Twitter post, confirmed her appointment, saying: “Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General.
“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.
“Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021,” the statement reads.
According to the statement, the WTO members took the decision to appoint Okonjo-Iweala at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world.
Okonjo-Iweala’s path to the role became clear after receiving the backing of the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Her rival, Yoo Myung-hee who is South Korea’s trade minister had earlier withdrew from the race.
This was even as President Buhari said that the appointment of Okonjo-Iweala has brought joy and more honour to Nigeria.
The President noted that her track record of integrity, diligence and passion for development will continue to yield positive results and rewards to mankind.
He described her as Harvard-educated and renowned economist, who is now set to take up another onerous task of service to the world and humanity.
President Buhari said that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, who over the years set major records of economic reforms in Nigeria as Minister of Finance, and later Minister of Foreign Affairs, will excel in her new position and validate the global mandate of repositioning and strengthening the multilateral institution for the greater good of all.
The President joined family, friends and colleagues in wishing Dr. Okonjo-Iweala well in her new endeavour.

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