Traditional rulers from the Southwest Nigeria, led by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, today, July 31, storm the Presidential Villa, Abuja to confer with President Muhammadu Buhari on how to stem the rising cases of insecurity in the region.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Atiku Abubakar to stop playing alternate President of Nigeria or be made to face felony charge.
The ruling party reminded Atiku that there can only be one democratically elected and legitimate government at a time in Nigeria.
A statement by the APC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, warned Atiku that the laws are clear on all acts of criminalities, in this case, a clear case of felony, adding that the enforcement of relevant laws should apply to every Nigerian, irrespective of class and status.
“The APC strongly condemns the 2019 presidential candidate of the oppositions Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar who has now made it a pastime to make public statements on issues, which constitutionally should be reserved for the duly elected head of government or his designees.
“As a party, we would have thought that Atiku who in the past occupied such high office as the country’s vice president would clearly understand the workings of government, particularly as it bothers on national security, foreign policy and our international engagement.
“We have noted Atiku’s incessant habits of releasing statements on public issues as if he were an alternative President of this country and with a clear intention to undermine President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC-led government.
“In recent times, Atiku has demonstrated lack of regard for the sovereignty of the office of the President and Nigerian government through condescending statements. He has made several of such statements regarding the activities of the Nigerian military, issues of national security, and international relations.
“The latest of such statements is the one he made on the emergence of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister of Britain even when our duly elected President, who has the responsibility of making an official statement on such matter, has made the position of our country known.
“We note with serious concern that Atiku has been throwing himself around as a shadow President of Nigeria. We would like to state clearly that such position could only be found under the parliamentary system; it does not exist under the Presidential system of government that we practice in Nigeria.
“Atiku, like every Nigerian citizen, should understand that being a candidate for an elective office, including that of the President, does not confer on him a sovereign status. Atiku’s continuous portrayal of himself as a shadow President under our system borders on felony and makes him a patent impostor.
“There can only be one democratically elected and legitimate government at a time in this country. That clearly is the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. It is important to remind Atiku that issues of national security, foreign policy and international engagements are not matters to be exploited to achieve mischievous political ends.
“We reiterate that Atiku has lost the 2019 presidential election and it would be unhelpful to him to continue to make a mockery of our country. We expect Atiku to quickly address himself to the stark reality of his loss and move on. Our laws are clear on all acts of criminalities, in this case, a clear case of felony. “Nigerians expect that the enforcement of relevant laws should apply to every Nigerian, irrespective of class and status. This government would not be found wanting where it is required to take decisive actions.”
One of the witnesses in the ongoing hearing on the petition filed by the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar at the Presidential election petition Tribunal, Sule Mai’Adua has said that President Muhammadu Buhari, the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the disputed election was his school mate in Katsina.
Sule Mai’Adua, who is a retired Civil Servant, admitted that he attended the same secondary school with Buhari and that he took photograph with him while they were in class six.
He also told the tribunal that he wrote WASC examination in 1961 with Buhari and that he (Buhari) has two certificates.
When asked to read the army’s statement that Buhari’s certificates were not in his personal file with the military, the witness said he was never in the army and does not know the position of the army, but insisted that Buhari has two certificates.
Earlier, Buhari through his lead counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), had tendered series of documents including newspaper publications, receipts and certified true copies of WASC certificate, confidential result sheet from Provincial Secondary School and copy of Buhari’s CV duly signed by him as exhibits.
Although, both INEC and All Progressives Congress (APC) did not object to the admissibility of the documents, Atiku and PDP registered their opposition to the admissibility of the documents, but reserved reasons to the objection till the final address stage.
According to them, the documents were not pleaded and listed as documents to be tendered, adding that it was shocking to know that the documents were only filed today, July 30.
The trial continues tomorrow, July 31.
File photo of The repentant Boko Haram members | Credit: ChannelsTvThe Presidency has insisted that the government of Muhammadu Buhari has not only degraded Boko Haram terrorism ten years after its members mounted series of attacks on the Nigerian State, but that the terrorists have since been defeated.
“The real Boko Haram we know is defeated. What we have now is a mixture of remnants of the Boko Haram, fugitive criminals and the Islam in Maghreb together with West African terrorists bonding together. This is a fall out of the collapse of the Libyan State, and from farther away, of the Islamic State in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. They are taking advantage of our porous Sahelian borders.”
A statement today, July 30, by the senior special assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu said that as a consequence of these international gangs, “we have seen an increase of trans-border crimes and the proliferation of small arms in the Lake Chad Basin area. Outrages are common in Niger, Mali, Chad and Cameroon.
“Nigeria is a large country covering nearly one million square kilometres. This is roughly equivalent to the size of France and Germany put together. In addition to our porous borders, in the neighbouring Sahel-Sahara region, a lot of ungoverned areas provide haven for terrorists’ occupation and training.”
The Presidency said that without the tremendous efforts of our armed forces and the joint operations by the Nigeria-led Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), formed by the countries of the Lake Chad Basin, this single problem of illegal arms flow would have been much worse.
It said that at the moment, the Nigerian government under President Muhammadu Buhari has made the country safer than it met it, recalling that in 2015 when he took power, Boko Haram terrorism was active in nearly half the number of states in the country.
“They controlled a territory the size of Belgium, with a flag and systems of administration and taxation of their own. Emirs and Chiefs had fled their domains along with hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens. Such is no more; they have been taken from them.
“At present, terrorist activities have been confined to the remote, rural agrarian areas of Borno State and pockets of outrages in Adamawa and Yobe States.
“As the situation develops, our fantastic armed forces are changing their tactics. Just recently, they launched “Super Camps.” The essence of this is to act proactively and respond quickly to the changing nature of terrorism.
“In addition to the additional support the government of Nigeria is receiving from friendly countries across Europe, United States and the Middle East, the Nigerian government is spending large sums of money in weapons procurement to keep our military in good fighting shape.
“While the military arsenal is not something you pay for and get, requiring mostly long-time orders, weapons will come in accordance with the terms of contracts. This country is expecting the commencement of the delivery of Super Tucano fighter jets, very effective in this kind of warfare, beginning next year from the United States.
“The administration has embarked on an ambitious electronic/digital border monitoring scheme to curtail the porosity of the borders and, working with the UN agencies, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, donor agencies and friendly countries, has started providing solutions to backwardness in development and poverty in the sub-region because at the very heart of recruitment schemes of the terrorists lies the issue of poverty.
“A few weeks ago, the administration inaugurated the Northeast Development Commission, to fast track development and poverty eradication in the affected areas.
“The Buhari administration is strongly encouraged by successes recorded so far by our armed forces and the MNJTF, and is optimistic that in the same way as our military defeated the Boko Haram, so would the ISWA terrorism be defeated,”
Exxon Mobil Corp’s plan to accelerate asset sales, a way of delivering needed cash to finance shareholder returns and major projects, is getting off to a slow start as oil companies pull back on big deals.
The largest U.S. oil company is expected to report a 79-cents-a-share profit, down from 92 cents a year earlier, according to data provider, Refinitiv. With little cash from asset sales and a third straight quarter of weaker year-over-year earnings, Exxon cannot resume share buybacks sought by investors this year, said analysts.
Reuters reports that Chief Executive Darren Woods this year set a target of raising $15 billion by trimming its portfolio through 2021, above the average $3.3 billion a year rate between 2017 and 2013. The sales could include more oil-producing properties, compared with prior deals mostly in refining and marketing, he said.
But those goals are proving difficult. In its first quarter, proceeds from sales were just $107 million, the lowest in at least 11 quarters, and analysts expect the second quarter to come in at a similar level. Exxon last quarter agreed to sell a U.S. Gulf of Mexico property for $200 million.
“There´s not enough cash flow for buybacks, which is what people want to see,” said Jennifer Rowland, analyst at Edward Jones, who has a “hold” rating on Exxon. Exxon may have to use debt to help fund its shareholder dividend, she said.
A package of offshore Gulf of Mexico oilfields that Exxon put on the market last autumn has languished, said analysts. More recently, the company has begun to market offshore properties in Nigeria and Norway, according to analysts and people familiar with the matter. Any one could raise several billion dollars in a sale, the people said.
Stephen Greenlee, who oversees divestitures as president of Exxon’s Upstream Business Development group, was not available to address the asset sales, an Exxon spokesman said.
Exxon shares are rated a “buy” by just 23% of analysts, below BP PLC’s at 71%, Chevron Corp’s 74%, Royal Dutch Shell’s 80% and Total SA’s 89%, according to Refinitiv.
“The market is not ready to pay what Exxon thinks these assets are worth,” William Turner, a vice president at researcher Welligence, said of the offshore U.S. properties. “A lot of the recent transactions in the Gulf of Mexico have been going at discounted valuations.”
Exxon’s pitches are not the only going unanswered, said a U.S. merger and acquisition advisor who requested anonymity speaking about M&A matters. “There has been less activity. I’m not sure if it is the bid/ask or something else; but they just aren’t there,” the person said.
There is no doubt Exxon’s cash could use a boost. Analysts slashed earnings forecasts to 79 cents a share from 97 cents after the company disclosed operating unit expectations this month.
“We expect another large funding gap this quarter,” wrote Cowen analyst Jason Gabelman, who estimated Exxon’s organic free cash flow this quarter will not cover the $3.7 billion needed for dividends.
The two areas expected to show improved margins during the period, crude sales and refining, were offset by weaker natural gas prices and higher maintenance costs. The result was “another disappointing quarter,” wrote Biraj Borkhataria, analyst at RBC Capital Markets, in a client note.
Exxon has been investing to boost production in the Permian Basin, the top U.S. shale field, and in offshore Guyana. Exxon “is always countercyclical” and “has to be viewed in the long term,” said John Groton, director of equity research at Thrivent Asset Management, which holds Exxon shares. Exxon’s shares are up less than 1% over the last 10 years.
Vice President, Yemi OsinbajoNigerian Presidency has vowed that it would renew effort in ensuring the effective recovery of over N5 Trillion being outstanding debts owed the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), with the setting up of a new task force.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who gave the indication during a meeting with board members and management of AMCON and selected heads of government agencies, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja yesterday evening, July 29, ordered all the relevant agencies to re-strategize to achieve the desired results.
The special task force/committee is made up of the Heads of AMCON, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and the Ministry of Justice. It will be working to develop and implement new strategies that will ensure that the determination of the FG to recover the money is speedily achieved.
Professor Osinbajo said: “we need a small team comprising these agencies to look at the next steps that we need to take, especially the criminal aspect, forfeiture, and all of that.”
He said that the task force should look at the top 20 AMCON defaulters closely and develop a plan of action that brings results.
It would be recalled that the Vice President had previously in May met with AMCON management to discuss how to resolve the issue.
According to the AMCON Chairman, Muiz Banire, almost 67 per cent of the outstanding N5tn debt is owed by just 20 individuals/entities.
Banire noted that the agency had been “trying its best in its attempt to recover this through the civil judicial process, but had encountered several challenges.”
Also present at the meeting was the Acting Chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu; Chairman, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye; Director/Chief Executive, NFIU, Mr. Modibbo Tukur; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, Sabiu Zakari; and other senior government officials.
Nigeria’s Federal Government has published in its Official Gazette, the court order proscribing the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites. The gazetting was done yesterday, July 29.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, which issued the proscription order on July 26, ordered the Federal Government to publish the order in its gazette and also in two national dailies.
The newspaper publication in the two dailies has since been done.
Source: , The PUNCH.
Acting IGP, Mohammed Abubakar AdamuThe Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu has recounted several atrocities committed by leaders and members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites against the Nigerian State, and their sponsorship by some foreign countries.
Addressing senior police officers at a conference held today, July 30, the Inspector General said that the IMN had shown through itsrecent violent campaigns that it is “clearly designed to destabilise the country.
“The activities of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria led by Sheik Ibrahim El-Zakzaky has over time, evolved to constitute a grave threat to national security, law and order, socio-religious harmony, peace, good governance and the sovereign integrity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The police boss recalled that members of the IMN have engaged in extreme radicalism, series of terror-related activities, violence and other unlawful activities which are inimical to the national security interest, good governance, and the corporate existence of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Some of these nefarious activities include the following:
1. Pledging allegiance to foreign countries from where they are enjoying political, financial and training support with the aim of advancing their destabilizing intents within Nigeria.
2. Unauthorized blocking of public highways, engagement in illegal road blocks, imposition of illegal curfews and checkpoints, raids on security assets, prevention of arrest of their members, invasion of court premises to abort legal proceedings involving IMN members, refusal to submit to ordinary security checks and attacks on security agents which led to the death of several Nigerians.
3. Setting up of a para-military guard known as ‘HURRAS’ through which IMN has been terrorizing local residents. They have also instituted unregistered security outfits and performed paramilitary ceremonies, hoisting of flags, combat exercises, parades and inspection by the IMN leader reminiscent of a State authority;
4. Provocative preaching and hate speeches aimed at inciting members against non-members while working towards its agenda of creating an Islamic State in Nigeria and challenging the legitimacy of the Federal Government in favour of Islamic government, non-recognition of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, non-recognition of State Authority, non-recognition of our democratic values and disrespect for our judicial processes.
5. The IMN has over the years manifested its penchant for launching attacks on Nigerians and the symbols of State authority. Since 2018 till date, the IMN has engaged in coordinated and organized violent protests within the Federal Capital Territory.
6. Two weeks ago, the IMN extended its violent protest on 9th July 2019 to the National Assembly in the course of which they violently attacked and fatally injured security operatives in an attempt to overrun the National Assembly and threaten the nation’s democratic order. The protesters overwhelmed the first gate of the complex, inflicting damage on the security post, and marched on to the second one just before the main complex while the lawmakers were in session. The protesters also damaged a police vehicle and several other vehicles belonging to visitors, lawmakers and staff of the National Assembly who also sustained varying degrees of injuries.
7. On 22nd July 2019, the IMN members again launched another vicious cycle of violent protest around the Federal secretariat during which they set a sub-station of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) containing a truck and ambulance on fire. A Deputy Commissioner of Police, Usman Umar, in charge of Operations at the FCT Police Command and Precious Owolabi, a National Youth Service Corp member in the FCT were killed and several others injured with many properties destroyed by them. The violent activities of IMN under the guise of clamouring for the release of their leader who is being detained on the order of a Court of competent jurisdiction in Kaduna State, has not only confirmed their disdain for due legal processes, but has heightened tension and insecurity in the country in a manner that confirms that their motivation is to destabilise the country.”
Mohammed Adamu said that it is obvious from the foregoing that the activities of IMN constitute glaring defiance and/or rebellion against the Nigerian State, calculated efforts to plunge the nation into an ethno-religious war, intimidation of citizens and security agents, disrespect for Nigerian laws and the authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
“Their activities also clearly and consistently negate Section 1(2)(A)&(B) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013 andSection 2(1)(A)(B)(C) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act of 2013 and hence, justify their proscription in overriding national security interest.
“Although this meeting will review this and other general security situation and emplace appropriate action plans that are targeted at addressing these threats, let me affirm that in relation to the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, in view of their increasing engagement of terror tactics and other violent and subversive activities which contravene the Terrorism Prevention Act 2013, as amended, and vide the judicial pronouncement of the Federal High Court, Abuja on 26th July, 2019, the Federal Government has classified them as a terrorist group and has accordingly, proscribed the El-Zakzaky-led Islamic Movement in Nigeria.
“In consequence, henceforth, any person engaged or associating, in any manner that could advance the activities of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria, shall be treated as a terrorist, enemy of the State, and a subversive element and shall be brought to justice within the context of the Terrorism Act. The import of this is that all forms of procession or protest by IMN is now illegal and thus banned.
“The Police and other security agencies are fully committed to giving full effect to this judicial pronouncement in the interest of our internal security and national cohesion. In this regard, I wish to solicit the support of members of the public, specifically, in the provision of information that will aid in the identification of the locations of the IMN members and their mentors as well as in working with us in apprehending and bringing them to justice. For purpose of clarification, Nigeria is a secular State with constitution provisions guaranteeing the freedom to practice our faiths. This, however, must be exercised in a manner that will not threaten our national security.
“Hence, it is to be emphasised that while all adherents of the Shiite Sect in Nigeria remain free to continue to practice their faith and shall be guaranteed adequate security to so do as the Judicial Order does not stop them, the El-Zakzaky-led Shiite Islamic Movement in Nigeria which does not recognise nor accept the Constitution and Government of the Federation is the sole organisation that has been classified as a terrorist organisation and proscribed.”
The police boss commended all the strategic Commanders and their Officers and men for their dedication to duty and the sacrifices they have to make in the line of duty, even as he particularly recognize and condole the families of late DCP Usman A.K. Umar and Precious Owolabi, the National Youth Service Corp member that lost their lives during the recent violent campaign of members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Abuja on 22nd July, 2019.
He also commiserates with all other police personnel and citizens that were injured or had their valuable assets vandalised during the violence, stressing that the perpetrators of these tragic and unguided acts shall in the fullness of time, be identified and brought to book.
“I have already directed the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) to undertake a detailed investigation into the circumstances of the death of these great citizens and to identify the perpetrators with a view to prosecuting them.”
Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki has given an early indication of possible confrontation with the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, with his government describing the directive by the Senate to re-proclaim the State House of Assembly as unconstitutional and a flagrant disregard for the Principle of Separation of Powers.
Edward OnojaI happen to be in Ayingba, Dekina Local Government of Kogi State on the weekend when it was rumored that Yahaya Bello’s Chief of Staff, Edwad Onoja had been arrested by the DSS. I was in front of Kogi State University trying to buy some fruits when pandemonium suddenly broke out. From afar it looked like a caravan of motorcycle and keke-napep operators who were staging a protest. Could it be that one of their members had been killed? Or they were protesting against the oppressive tendencies of the regulatory bodies.
