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Ondo: Kinsman Alleges Plan To Frustrate Acting Governor

June 23, 2023

Lucky Aiyedatiwa - Deputy Governor of Ondo State

By Ayodele Oni

A legal practitioner, Allen Sowore, has alleged that there are moves to frustrate the Acting Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa by some people within the State Cabinet.

Aiyedatiwa became the Acting Governor early this month following Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s request to proceed on medical leave to enable him attend to his health challenges.

Aiyedatiwa’s status as Acting Governor came barely three weeks during which the whereabout of the Governor was unknown and opposition parties were condemning the unnecessary vacuum.

Sowore, a kinsman of the Acting Governor, in a statement entitled, “Akeredolu’s Medical Leave: Before Ondo State Skids Into Full Anarchy And Mobocracy,” said that the activities of the cabals have been frustrating the Acting Governor’s smooth running of Government since the governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, transmitted power to him.

According to Sowore ”Section 190 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is apposite:’Whenever the Governor transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration that he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office until he transmits to the Speaker of the House of Assembly a written declaration to the contrary such functions shall be discharged by the Deputy Governor as Acting Governor.”

“Therefore, it is instructive and behoves all the State Government officials – political and civil servants – to report and take orders from the Acting Governor the manner and way they would have done to Mr Governor. Anything to the contrary is tantamount to an act of insubordination.

“This surreptitious sponsored blackmails to smear and besmirch the reputation of the Acting Governor in some sections of the media should not be allowed a breath in a sane society.

“Not even a State prided as the intellectual plinth of South Western Nigeria.

”Its a sharp contradiction, to accuse an Acting Governor of “undermining the authority of the governor’s office”. How can the Acting Governor undermine the authority he is exercising?

“Ridiculously, as expected though, the Cabal complained bitterly in their infamous write up about the functions of the Acting Governor.

”They don’t want the Acting Governor to feature, attend or even appear at any serious State function outside the State. They want to cage him so that he will not have national connection and recognition as the Acting Governor.

“Truly, I will not advise or counsel the Acting Governor to sack or terminate the appointment of any public office holder in the state like the then Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo did to the former Director General of State Security Service, Lawal Daura. He will be playing at the gallery.

“Appropriately, a cabinet reshuffle and rejig of the state cabinet may be desirable to ensure the requisite unity of command in the instant circumstance.

“As critical stakeholders, we simply can not afford to look away while the state skid into full anarchy and mobocracy.”

Commissioner-Nominees Must Face Thorough Screening; Ekiti Gov Oyebanji Charges Assembly

Ayodele Oni

June 23, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has charged the State House of Assembly to screen and access Commissioner- nominees whose list is expected to be forwarded before the end of next week.

Oyebanji gave the charge in Ado Ekiti when he received members of the Seventh Assembly.

The meeting is coming against the back drop of rumour that since majority of the legislators are nominees of former Governor Kayode Fayemi, they may not be loyal to the incumbent Governor.

He told the Lawmakers that the list of his Commissioners would be forwarded to the Assembly next week for screening and confirmation.

He, however, urged the Lawmakers to ensure a thorough screening of the Commissioner designates, stressing that asking them to “ take a bow and go” would not bring out the best from the exercise.

Governor Oyebanji also noted that legislature is critical to the ability of any government to deliver on its promises and enjoined members to be above board and discharge their duties without fear, favour or interference and avoid unnecessary disputes that could affect their legislative assignments.

“I have listened to Mr Speaker and I agree with you that this is one government and I share your legislative agenda of responsive and responsible legislature and that speaks to our own mantra of shared prosperity.

“And I keep telling people this is one government and graciously we are all Ekiti and our people brought us here for a purpose and for that purpose to be realized we just have to work together in the interest of the people”.

“I am not unmindful of the fact that there could be moment of strains and stresses and that is the beauty of democracy.

“It is not every time that we are going to agree like this and the beauty of democracy is in the period of strains and stresses, if it offers a platform for discussion, we will still come back like this, we will argue, we will shout and we will resolve.

“The assurance I can give to you from the Executive Council that I lead, I can assure you of our readiness to partner with you, to give you necessary support without impinging in your freedom.

“We will give absolute respect to the legislature as a different arm of government.”

Oyebanji charged the newly inaugurated Ekiti State House of Assembly members to always prioritize the interest of the people of the state while discharging their duties as lawmakers.

Earlier in his remark, the Speaker, Adeoye Aribasoye said the purpose of the meeting was to familiarize themselves with the Governor and members of the State Executive Council and to inform the Governor of their readiness to collaborate with the Executive arm of Government.

Aribasoye assured the Governor that the 7th assembly is fully prepared to have a responsive and responsible legislature in order to keep Ekiti working towards shared prosperity.

Presidential Election Petition: Atiku Says Tinubu Gained Admission To Chicago University As Female Student

Ayodele Oni

June 23, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

A document indicating that President Bola Tinubu gained admission to Chicago State University as a female student, was on Friday admitted by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in Abuja.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and his party tendered the document along with others to prove the allegations in their joint petition challenging Tinubu’s declaration as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.

Other documents tendered and in evidence by the petitioners and admitted as exhibits by the Court are a certified true copy of a certificate supposedly issued to Tinubu by the Chicago State University, a certificate of service by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) issued in the name of Tinubu Bola Adekunle, Party membership card and certificate of service from Mobile Oil Nigeria Plc.

Other documents tendered by the petitioners, in urging the Court to nullify Tinubu’s election are, a notarized judgment of the USA Court for criminal forfeiture of asset of Tinubu, as well as a print out of the Guinea passport belonging to Tinubu.

PEPC also admitted a certificate of compliance, a witness statement on oath, along with other documents to prove the allegations contained in their petition.

The lead counsel to the petitioners, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), while leading the 27th witness of the petitioners, Mr. Mike Enahoro-Eba, subpoenaed to come and testify in court, tendered the documents through the witness, who is an Abuja based human rights activist and public interest lawyer.

In a surprised. move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu vehemently objected against the admission of his Chicago State University Degree as exhibit by the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja.

He also kicked against tendering and admission as exhibit, his Republic of Guinea International passport.

Similarly, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) joined in kicking against admission of the documents.

However, inspite of the stiff opposition, the Chairman of the Court, Justice Haruna Simon Tsammani admitted all the documents as exhibits.

IGP EGBETOKUN: Tiger, Lion, Super-cop

The Source

June 23, 2023

By Steve Osuji

ON THE SPUR OF THE MOMENT: The new super-cop was exhilarated no doubt. Very much so. He spoke on the spur of the moment and he jived. He would be tiger and lion to criminals and bad boys, he enthused as he was being donned with his new epaulets as the acting Inspector-General of Police.

Apparently, Kayode Egbetokun never dreamed he would make it to the pinnacle of his noble profession, but here he is hoisted at the very peak. It’s ok, anyone would indeed babble if confronted with such good fortune.

When IGP Egbetokun came to, he began to make the right sound bites and with due respect, the usual baloney this column has heard from fresh IGPs for over three decades.

Hear him: “We will work with the rank and file. Together, we will build a police force the nation will be proud of.

Accountability will be the hallmark of my administration. I will work to regain the confidence of Nigerians in our internal investigative system and ensure the highest standards of professionalism.”

If you be a journalist or a keen watcher of the goings and comings in our blighted police institution, you would have heard versions of this same jazz so many times that you would only laugh at Egbetokun and his blah, blah. One is particularly pissed at the new helmsman’s talk because of close encounters with his men on the highways recently.

PROBABLY THE WORST POLICE IN THE WORLD:

Travelling from Owerri towards Okigwe a few days ago, a police roadblock generated a long traffic snarl. The scruffy cop in half mufty and disagreeable footwear was casually picking N100.00 each from commercial buses. He just stretched out his hand a note was shoved into it, he stuffed it into his already bulging side pocket. He didn’t care who was watching, it didn’t seem to matter to him. I watched him extort about three bus drivers ahead of me. I could have filmed this obscenity. I could have been a CNN correspondent or even the new IGP for all he cared.

This ugly spectacle was again replicated on Mbaise-Umuahia road last Wednesday afternoon. This perfidious policing had been a long time practise for sure but they used to be coy about it. They tried to cover their crime a bit but not anymore. It’s now in your, this is what Nigeria police is, they seem to say. This is why it’s more annoying!

ROAD TO HELL: But this is child’s play compared to the bizarre spectacle on the major roads. This column would recommend that IGP Egbetokun do a road trip incognito from Lagos to Port Harcourt.

The journey must be so coded and surreptitious that even his orderly must not know his destination. This singular trip, should he take it, would give Mr. Egbetokun the best, first hand picture of the nature, status and the crass and perhaps, irredeemable state of the Nigeria Police Force.

Littered all through this over 600 kilometres stretch are police ‘checkpoints’, read tollgates. The police Egbetokun has just taken over spreads its ugliest face on this highway with unabashed impunity. The IGP will count no fewer that 200 ‘checkpoints’ on this road. These barricades are eyesores made of logs of wood, used tyres, sandbags and all sorts of unsightly bric-a-brac that deface the road architecture and eventually degrade our highways.

These checkpoints cause undue traffic jam making road travel in Nigeria prolonged and wearisome. But most distressing is that the police are not checking anything. All this hundreds of ‘checkpoints’ are mere EXTORTION POINTS where innocent motorist and commuters are dispossessed of their hard earned money and perhaps other valuables – at gunpoint. It’s worse, indeed a nightmare for commercial drivers on this highway. Drivers are stopped practically at every pole of the way, delayed and fleeced.

This horrific policing has been on for long and this column has written about this over half a dozen times. Yet the situation gets worse especially with coming of each new IGP.

LUCRATIVE POSTING:

The story is that these are ‘special’ (lucrative) postings that officers and men pay huge amounts to secure. Nigerians say that the huge daily collection on this highway go all the way up to the IGP’s office that’s why the evil continues to exacerbate. The posting now seem more like a franchise purchased from the police headquarters in Abuja whereby franchise holders are allotted a section of the highway to go and occupy and recoup their ‘investment’.

POLICE AT WAR WITH NIGERIANS:

Travelling disguised, (assuming he is not aware of the madness) Egbetokun will not only experience the torture his so-called police force put Nigerians through, he will notice that there are probably more policemen, rifles and Hilux trucks on this stretch of road than in actively violent terror zones of Borno and Niger States put together. A foreigner traveling by road from Lagos to Port Harcourt would conclude Nigeria is at war. But the truth is that the Nigeria Police is at war with the Nigerian people on the highway.

And the most crucial point is that Egbetokun’s police is doing everything else but securing Nigerians. In fact, these policemen on this highway seem to have forgotten everything they learnt about policing and security. Their head is overflowing with bribery, corruption and extortion.

The situation out there is better experienced. This is why this column recommends a secret trip by the IGP as a first course if he is truly serious about the reform of the force.

But this column wagers that Egbetokun is just jiving, or catching cruise, as they say it today. We know he knows all the ills of the police; he’s probably part of the problem so he won’t do jack. In any case, he has a short time to be IGP so we already see him parking his (Ghana must go bags) for his retirement.

Egbetokun has less than two years to go – either by year of service or age.

AN OFFICER AND AN ACADEMIC:

He is a well read officer with degrees in diverse areas such as Mathematics, Engineering and Economics; earning a doctorate degree in Peace and Security Studies. He has an MBA as well. He is a core operations officer having headed the Mobile Police (Mopol) and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

It is remarkable that he is also a politically exposed cop having served as Chief Security Officer (CSO) in 1999 to then Governor Bola Tinubu of Lagos State, now President of Nigeria.

This must explain his initial tiger and lion metaphor. However knowing the force deeply as he seems, he just might be the man to clean the augean stable, especially if he phases the reform, kick-start and do his bit so the man after him would continue where he stops.

If he is serious about change, he doesn’t need this column to teach him what to do or how to go about it. Improved recruitment standards, reorientation and reacculturation, improved training and professionalism, improved welfare, more discipline and most of all, curb systemic corruption, (most IGPs are seen to be crassly corrupt by Nigerians). These are some of the things Nigerians talk about and the changes they expect.

It is not about tiger and lions.

Osuji, an accomplished Journalist, Columnist, was Media Adviser to former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha.

Edo Moves To Utilize Forest Resources, Signs Pact With FAO

Ayodele Oni

June 23, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

As part of measures to tackle deforestation, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the government is partnering with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and three other States in the Country on biodiversity and forest conservation.

Obaseki, who said this while briefing journalists in Benin City, said the project is worth $3million.

The governor disclosed that government is taking deliberate steps to tackle deforestation and forest degradation and enhance the conservation and development of the State’s forest assets.

According to Obaseki, “The forestry sector is attracting a lot of Investors both locally and internationally, and development partners have been quite kind to us by opening their doors and we are working with them especially in the areas of plantation establishment.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) wrote to us a couple of months ago to be part of a project for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of lowland forests.

“The project is between Edo State and three other States and is worth slightly over $3million.”

While urging for increased collaboration among stakeholders to safeguard the environment, ensuring sustainable practices to preserve the ecosystem and prevent the loss of biodiversity, Obaseki said the State’s forest resources can boost its economy if properly harnessed and conserved.

“We were exporting timbers in the time past before the advent of crude oil resulted in the loss of the culture of sustainability. So, if we are to progress, develop, and diversify our economy, then we must go back to those things that made us great before.

“We will intensify actions at conserving our forests. We are working with our security forces and other stakeholders to smoke out all those people who are not supposed to be in our forest.”

Edo shares boundaries with Ondo, Delta and Kogi states. Vast areas of the forest have been turned to kidnappers den as a result of under exploitation.

Ag IGP Names Tunde Disu As PSO

Ayodele Oni

June 23, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

As the new Acting Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, settles down, he has appointed Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, as his Principal Staff Officer, (PSO).

A police bulletin released on Friday, confirmed the new appointment.

Before this appointment, Disu had been the Commander of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) where he distinguished himself and performed exceptionally.

Before that, he was the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), an anti-crime outfit set up by the Lagos State Government.The appointment is with immediate effect.

Born on April 13, 1966, Disu is a graduate of English Education from Lagos State University (LASU) and the holder of two master’s degrees: one in Administration from Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State; and the other in Criminology, Security, and Legal Psychology from Lagos State University.

Skit Maker, Trinity Guy, Honours Police Invitation Over His Productions

Ayodele Oni

June 23, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Skit Maker, Abdullahi Adisa, popularly known as Trinity Guy, has honoured the invitation of the Oyo State Police Command.

Oyo State Police Command disclosed this in a post on its Twitter page on Friday.

The Command had invited the prankster after Civil Society Organisations, (CSO) and social media users slammed him for sexualizing a female minor in a trending video clip.

The Command tweeted, “Good Morning Fans! Abdullahi Maruf Adisa AKA Trinity reported at the Oyo State Police Command at exactly 1000hrs today.

“Recall he was invited on Thursday, over a video depicting the sexualization of a female minor. Updates would follow in sequence, please.”

Sharing a photo of the skit maker, the command added, “Trinity would be meeting with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department for his invitation.”

Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigeria Police Public Relations Officer, has reacted to a prank video of a popular skit maker, Abdullahi Maruf, also known as Trinity Guy.

The PRO, who had previously warned skit makers who use pranks for a living, to regulate them because they endanger the lives of Nigerians, posted the video on his Instagram account on Monday, calling for Trinity Guy’s arrest.

In the video, Trinity Guy, was kneeling down on the road and was praying when he suddenly fell, two men walking on the same route, where the skit maker fainted took to their heels. One had to jump a high fence out of fear of the unknown.

The prankster also pranked some women in the video.

Stating further about the video, Adejobi urged people who have been affected by the skitmakers’ pranks to report them to the authorities.

“This doesn’t make any sense. I think the guy should have been arrested. Those individuals who feel the heat and fear of the pranks should be reporting the pranksters.

“Many of their pranks are criminals, immoral, and evil. These women have a good case against him.”

Obi’s Brain Drain Theory Receives Global Backing

The Source

June 23, 2023

The Neo Africana Centre has commended Mr Peter Obi for his innovative position on brain drain which has just received the backing and endorsement of the American billionaire and founder of Microsoft, Mr Bill Gates.

Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, 2023 presidential elections has, contrary to the position of many, held that brain drain as it affects Nigeria could be a positive development in future if the government of the country can put the right policies in place.

Even though Obi’s position on the gains of brain drain dates back to 2021 when he opposed the move by federal lawmakers to stop Nigerian doctors from relocating abroad through legislation, his position on the phenomenon was amplified during the last presidential campaigns in which he was a candidate. Obi had maintained at several fora, including those in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and Germany, that “our brain drain today will be our brain gain tomorrow.” Obi had further argued that Nigerians leaving the country may look like a loss today, but when we start doing the right things and taking the governance of our country more seriously, the knowledge and resources from them will be critical in the building of the new Nigeria of our dreams as was the case in China, India, Ireland and other developing countries of the world.

In a statement by its Director of Public Affairs, the Centre said:

“As a public policy think tank with interest in matters of public policy, democracy and good governance, we are delighted that Obi’s position which many in Nigeria received with cynical reservations, is now receiving global acclaim. This is what Bill Gates’s backing of Obi’s position amounts to.”

Gates who is currently visiting Nigeria had said a few days ago at an interactive session with innovators:

“In a sense, people leaving is a good thing, if you up the amount of training you are doing. Having a big diaspora that includes people coming back into business, into government- that’s a very healthy thing.” According to the co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, it is not healthy to insist that people should not go away or be blocked from doing so, pointing out the similarities Nigeria shares with countries like India and China in the export of talent. He maintains further that many innovative immigrant doctors had spent some time in the UK and the US as part of their training.

The statement by the Centre reads in part:

“ It is delightful to note that Nigeria is gradually walking out of the pit of darkness where backward thinking has been the order of the day. While our past and present leaders have been agonizing over the phenomenon of brain brain, Obi has stepped forward to tell a different and uncommon story. When he said that brain drain could become brain gain, it sounded inchoate and confusing to many. Now, his postulation is beginning to make sense.

“As Obi noted, the onus is on the leadership of the country. Nigeria needs a government that will turn the country around with innovative policies. Such a government will create the right atmosphere that will encourage Nigerian professionals in the diaspora to return home with a view to contributing their own quota to the economic, social and political advancement of the country.

“We are confident that Nigeria will, sooner or later, be blessed with a government driven by ideas and not nepotism and other primordial tendencies.

We believe that the likes of Peter Obi with his creative position on national issues represents that hope that we need in the area of instituting and installing a government that will take Nigeria to the promised land.”

Insecurity: Odinkalu, Ojukwu, Other Stakeholders Speak On Insecurity In South East

Akinwale Kasali

June 23, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

The insecurity bedeviling the South East has been a major concern for stakeholders in the region, prompting Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, Chairman, Anambra State Truth, Justice, Peace and Reconciliation Commission, to call on other stakeholders in the South-East to fashion out better ways of achieving maximum security in the zone.

At a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Justice Commission in Awka, Anambra State Capital, Odinkalu said the security of lives and properties should be placed on top priority at all times, adding that everyone must be actively involved in the quest for adequate security in the region.

The Commission which was established by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, in the wake of the insecurity crisis in the State and within the South-East region was mandated to uncover the truth, provide justice, and promote peace and security.

The Chairman of the Commission while addressing the Stakeholders stressed that the meeting was aimed at creating a platform for open dialogue on ways to restore normalcy and consistency in the South East while acknowledging that peace and stability in the region are paramount to promoting trade and commerce.

He said, “We have serious problems to deal with. The commission will be looking at attacks on public facilities. There is a need to restore peace and normalcy back to the South-East, due to different agitations, human blood is no longer sacred in the South-East as killings have become very rampant and hundreds of people have died in the region.

“That is why this stakeholder engagement is very important and we cannot take it for granted. But particularly, we are looking at certain communities that have been ravaged by insecurity and these include Ukpor, Ihiala, Okija, Orsumoghu, Lilu, Obosi, Umunze, among others.

“Our goal is not to indict anybody or abuse anyone, our goal is to restore the stolen normalcy in the South-East and the enterprise base of Nigeria and in doing so, advance our collective development so that our sons and daughters can return home.”

On her part, Secretary to the Commission, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, wife of the Late Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu expressed optimism about the outcome of the stakeholders’ engagement, noting that the Commission is dedicated to ensuring transparency, impartiality, and inclusivity.

She said, “I am assuring participants that their inputs and suggestions will be duly considered in the development of future policies and programmes.

“The Commission was created to restore peace and normalcy in the South-East and heal the wounds caused by agitations from different groups.”

Jonathan Arrives Freetown, Leads WAEF Election Mission To Sierra Leone

The Source

June 22, 2023

The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) 2023 Election Mission to Sierra Leone has arrived in Freetown to encourage and support a peaceful democratic transition ahead of the country’s general election scheduled for this weekend, June 24.

Former Nigerian President and Chair of the Forum, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, is the head of the mission. The team also has former Burkinabe prime minister and one-time president of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Kadre Ouedraogo and staff from the WAEF secretariat as members.

In an arrival statement, Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, host of the WAEF secretariat, quoted the head of mission as saying:

“The mission urges citizens of Sierra Leone to approach the election with utmost patriotism by prioritizing the nation’s peace and stability and refrain from acts capable of undermining the nation’s democracy.”

The statement also noted that the “team will have a series of consultative engagements with different political actors and key stakeholders in Sierra Leone, including leadership of the political parties, the candidates, the Election Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), security agencies, the diplomatic community, civil society groups, and the media.

“Since its establishment in 2020, WAEF, an initiative of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, has undertaken missions to different countries in the sub-region, including Gambia and Nigeria, in line with the Forum’s mission of preventive diplomacy to reduce electoral-related tension and violence in West Africa.

Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation

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