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Ondo, Ogun Lay Claim To Ownership Of Four Riverine Communities

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Ondo and Ogun, two neighbouring States in the South-west are set for showdown over ownership of four riverine Communities between them.

Ogun State Government had on Wednesday claimed ownership of four Communities of Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi which are among those whose Traditional Rulers were recently upgraded by Ondo state government.

Ondo State Government on Thursday reacted in a statement that the three Communities are under Ilaje Local Government Area of the State.

A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Bamidele Ademola- Olateju, stated that: “The press statement issued by Ogun State Government, based on the recent white paper issued by Ondo State, recognizing the Traditional Institutions of IROKUN , OBINEHIN, IDIGBENGBEN and ARAROMI seaside has been brought to the attention of the Ondo State Government.

“The Government has decided to respond as follows in order to set the records straight.

“Irokun, Obinehin, Idigbengben and Araromi seaside are Communities within Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State. These Communities have a long history of Traditional Institutions within the State.

‘These Communities are not in dispute between Ondo State and Ogun State as the people living therein are indigenes of Ondo State. In addition, the landmass occupied by these Communities falls within the territory of Ondo State of Nigeria.

“The claim that these Communities are in dispute before the National Boundary commission is untrue, as the Communities are within Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State.

“Federal institutions like Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regularly conduct elections in these Communities and votes cast are recorded for Ilaje Local Government of Ondo state.

“The recognized Traditional Institutions in these Communities are integral parts of Traditional Institutions in, and of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State and the Traditional Rulers are indigenes of Ondo State.

“Ondo State Government in the recent Whitepaper issued on Hon. Justice Ajama Commission, avoided consideration of request for recognition of Traditional Institutions from Communities where there are land disputes and communal conflicting claims, pending the resolution of such disputes.

“It should be noted that the Traditional Institutions of these Communities, submitted memoranda and appeared publicly before Ondo state  Hon. Justice C.E.T Ajama commission of Enquiry on Chieftaincy matters, set up by Ondo State as far back as 2015 without any opposition from any quarter, including the Government of Ogun State.

“It is surprising that the Government of Ogun State is trying to claim ownership, after  Ondo State Government has accepted the recommendation of the said Commission.

“While the Government of Ondo State is not averse to discussions on this matter as requested, we,however, urge our brothers in Ogun State to check their records properly on issues raised in their Press Statement.

“It is on record that the Communities in question have been in a festive mood since the announcement by Ondo State Government to recognize their Traditional Institutions.

“There is no threat to peace in these Communities. We urge our people to continue to live harmoniously amongst themselves for the development of our dear Sunshine State.”

Opinion: It’s In Igbo’s Best Interest To Support Tinubu

By
James Orji
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bola tinubu

By Fredrick Nwabufo,

Could Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), be that unifier a sundered Nigeria needs? What are his antecedents as regards respect for diversity and sensitivity to inclusion? Well, as governor of Lagos, Tinubu had a diverse cabinet; in fact, he is reputed to be one of the few governors who appointed non-natives into state cabinets at the time – when it was unsexy to do so.

Tinubu showed his expansiveness as governor of Lagos. And over the years, he has shown an aspect of himself as a Nigerian flag-waver. Tinubu cannot be put on trial for religious or ethnic prejudice. He can be accused of any other character errancy, but not of sectarianism, insularity or dogmatism.

I believe Tinubu’s presidency is the southeast’s best chance at re-centring itself in national politics. At the moment, Tinubu is the only candidate from the south who enjoys plural support across the divide, groups, zones and regions. So, it is only logical that consciences and interests in the south are mobilised behind him.

I thought by now the south-east must have learnt from the perils of political naivety. It is imprudent of a group of Igbo elders under ‘’Igbo Elders Consultative Forum’’ to declare publicly that they are not in support of Tinubu’s presidential bid. This was the same path these elders toed in 2015 against Muhammadu Buhari which resulted in the political blackballing of the zone. I am of the opinion that elders should be temperate and circumspect on matters of this tenor.

I suggest, they should be fair and equitable in their support for Peter Obi. What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander. Scorched-earth politics will only leave the land barren. They could have elected to be neutral or stay aloof. They could have also deployed tact in managing all political interests without publicly showing preference for any.

The south-east must cast its net wide and consider some possible outcomes. The APC and its presidential candidate are options they must explore. Going all head in in politics is injudicious.

We should be wary of repeating the same mistakes of 2015. We must not let our emotions colour our reality. We must not walk starry-eyed into political Siberia. We must not attempt another hara-kiri.

As I said in a previous column, the Labour Party is not a viable vehicle to ride to victory. It is a rustled-up contraption without deep roots across the country. The south-east regaining its place means it must look beyond a solitary party – that is the Labour Party (LP). It must put itself in the thick of things – at the centre — and play realpolitik. To sit at the table, it must wrest itself from the enchantment of the Labour Party and its candidate. We go all in and throw all in but get nothing out.

One Igbo leader who seems to be reading the hieroglyphics of the times right is Orji Uzo Kalu. Kalu is playing realpolitik. He understands the art of the deal. Orji Kalu, despite his reputational flaws, could be the politician that would take the south-east out of political Siberia.

He said in a recent interview: “Presidency is not a regional issue. I asked the political parties to zone the presidency to the south-east. When they didn’t do that, and since the presidency is not a regional issue, I had to withdraw. I have no problem with the Igbo man being president, but we have to do it with other Nigerians. If we don’t do it with other Nigerians, it will not work, no matter how popular you are.

It’s the president of Nigeria, not the president of Igbo land. But for now, our presidential candidate is Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tinubu is strategic. He will make his presidency beneficial to the Igbo. The Igbo will be the biggest beneficiaries of Tinubu’s presidency.’’

I agree, Tinubu’s presidency will be of great benefit to the Igbo. Really, it will be a coup de maître if more Igbo leaders join Orji Kalu in his crusade for Tinubu. Who says the south-east and the south-west cannot work in political consonance?

However, it is important that Tinubu begins now to show the prospects of inclusion and of sensitivity to diversity in his disposition, plans and policy paradigms. It is important he emphasises that there will be no perpetuation of exclusivist proclivities which deepen national strife and insecurity.

Tinubu should reach out to the south-east, traditional rulers, political leaders and everyday citizens with intentions and plans of bringing them into one composite fold where all Nigerians can exist under justice, equity, peace and harmony.

It is in the best interest of the south-east to support Tinubu. I believe Tinubu’s presidency will be for all Nigerians.

Nwabufo is a writer and journalist.

Bode George Bombshell: Atiku Abandoned PDP After 2015, Wike Saved It

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Bode George, a chieftain of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP has accused Atiku Abubakar, the party’s presidential candidate of abandoning the party during its trying moments.

George, a former Deputy Chairman, South of the PDP spoke amidst the rift between Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state over the continued stay in office of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorcha Ayu.

Abubakar has insisted that he will not force Ayu to resign, particularly after the PDP NEC passed a vote of confidence on him two weeks ago.

The crisis is a fallout of the emergence of Abubakar following the PDP presidential primary held in May this year.  The Rivers governor has insisted on the resignation of Ayu over allegations of partisanship during the convention, and the need to balance elected positions in the party.

On Wednesday, Governor Wike and his allies which includes, Governor Seyi Makinde, former Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang; former Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, and some Governorship candidates among others, met in Port Harcourt, where they decided not to be part of the PDP campaign for next year’s election.

Political campaigns for the 2023 elections, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC timetable begins on September 28.

Not a few insist that the crisis in the party will affect its chances in next year’s election except if the feuding parties come together.

While some have blamed the party’s presidential candidate for failure to unite the party, an equal portion of the blame has been apportioned to Governor Wike for taking the issue too personally.

Speaking, George who was also present at the meeting with Wike justified the governor’s anger with the party and its presidential candidate.

According to him, Wike used his resources to hold the party together after PDP lost to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in 2015.

The PDP chieftain said its presidential candidate abandoned the party at the most challenging moment, describing Wike as ‘an asset’ who saved the party from falling apart after it lost power at the center.

He however sued for peace among the warring parties so that PDP can return to power next year.

George said, “Wike is an asset to the party. There was a vacuum, Atiku came back and got the ticket last time, and immediately after that convention, he left the country for about a year or more. Who was the key man supporting the party?”

“We were back in opposition. Did he not spend his time and money making sure, with some other governors, so how can he not be an asset to the party? If you put your time and spend your money and wisdom, ensuring that the party didn’t collapse, would you be an asset or otherwise.

“I have been pleading with all sides that don’t let us turn this party to northern Peoples Democratic Party and southern Peoples Democratic Party. If we do that, the good wishes of the founding fathers would be lost,”

“If we bring about this unnecessary division, we are sending everybody back to the early time, the first republic, the second republic, it would portend evil.

“Wike lost that election. Atiku won. The PDP constitution, section 7 (3C) states that you must adhere to the principle of zoning and rotation, of elective offices and party offices.

“The founding fathers stated that once a presidential candidate is from the north, after eight years, it must go to the south. For our party.”

DMO Begs Investors To Buy FG Bonds

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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The Director General of the Debt Management Office, DMO  Patience Oniha has appealed to Nigerians to invest in federal government securities, saying they are contributing to nation-building by doing so.

She described government securities as risk-free, safe and secure for the investing public.

Such security she stated includes FGN savings bond, FGN Sukuk, the green bond, and treasury bills.

The DMO boss made the call barely 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari wrote the Nigerian Senate to approve the issuance of promissory notes, PM totaling over N402 billion by his government.

Promissory Note is a signed document containing a written promise to pay a stated sum to a specified person or the bearer at a specified date or on demand. Government at all levels use PM as a debt financing instrument.

Oniha who spoke at the Federal government security issuance awareness programme in Yola, Adamawa state, said investing in government security instruments is an act of patriotism.

She was represented at the event by Isiaku Muhammed, the team leader, of the project unit.

According to her, “In carrying out that responsibility, the DMO also has the responsibility of issuing FGN securities which offer good investment opportunities for the citizenry.

“By investing in those securities, citizens are contributing to nation-building.

“Apart from the advantages that investors get, it is also an act of patriotism. It is a way of contributing your quota to the development of Nigeria.

“The federal government, through the DMO, has different ways of generating funds, either from the international market or from the domestic market, and it does that either by raising loans or issuing securities.

“In issuing its securities, the government gives papers to investors as an indication of indebtedness and collects monies from them which it uses for its development agenda.

“Investors are equally rewarded; they receive instalment payments of interests, coupons for rental payment, either bi-annually or quarterly.”

On Tuesday, President Buhari in separate letters to the Senate sought approval for the issuance of promissory notes totaling over N402bn to three states.

The breakdown of the request shows that N375 billion is meant for settling outstanding claims owed to various exporters for the Export Expansion Scheme, EES.

It also includes N6.7 billion and N2.7 billion for Kebbi and Taraba state governments, respectively for the construction of federal roads in their states.

The president also sought the Senate’s approval for the issuance of N18.62 billion for Kebbi State, amongst others.

OPINION: University Teachers’ Strike: Why Nigerian Govt Is Not Perturbed 

By
The Source
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0
Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

Now, let’s face it: there can only be one reason why the industrial action embarked upon by the teachers of Nigeria’s public universities since February 14 has been allowed to waste a whole seven months of the academic pursuit of many youths, and, indeed, their very lives. Truth is, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find the children of key members of the General Muhammadu Buhari regime in any Nigerian public university.

If the reverse was the case, every effort would certainly have been deftly deployed to avert the strike, or, at least, drastically shorten its duration.

And because the children of the ruling elite are far removed from the avoidable lingering crisis distorting and mortgaging the future of hapless Nigerian youths, the Neros at Nigeria’s seat of power are merely looking at the problem with cold, callous detachment.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) settled for the strike option after all peaceful engagements to persuade the federal government to implement an agreement it freely entered with the teachers since 2009 failed to yield any positive results. It is clear that what the Nigerian government finds attractive is the opportunity to be relieved of the responsibility to fund public universities.

If the government eventually achieves its desire, university education will be removed very far from the reach of the masses whose abject impoverishment the same government has since accomplished with its gross mismanagement of the economy and crude corruption. And what about the money that would accrue from such callous abdication? The fat cats in the corridors of power will now have more than enough billions to steal, squander and enroll their own children in Ivy League colleges in better governed lands.

Unfortunately, some naïve and misguided Nigerians are already blaming ASUU for the lingering crisis. Some are harping on the need for ASUU to exploit other revenue sources for funding the universities. While I agree with this suggestion, I do not see how, at this stage, it should translate to stripping the government of its responsibility to adequately fund quality education which they can easily achieve if the bloated cost of governance is deflated and boundless looting by public officers is halted.

For instance, the Accountant-General of the Buhari regime was recently accused of carting away the dizzying sum of 109 billion naira. Indeed, there may be some others in this government who may have stolen more than him, but because they are yet to step on powerful toes, no one is beaming any searchlight on their humongous accumulations.

Imagine the billions said to have been spent on the mysterious school feeding programme during the lockdown when school kids were at home with their parents or several other forms of squandermania reported regularly.

Every day, reports of crude oil theft to which Nigeria loses billions of dollars, are rudely thrown on our faces. But no one ever stops to ask: how is it possible for criminals to move in with gargantuan vessels like barges and ships to steal billions of dollars worth of our crude oil without the collaboration of public officials? Why is the government pretending to be helpless in the face of this heartless bleeding of the country’s resources? If only this organized banditry and other forms of leakages could be halted, a responsible government will have more than enough money to salvage our decaying universities.

Like I said in my opening sentence, education is criminally neglected in Nigeria because many public officers have since lost faith in the sector and buried any hope or plans of ever reviving it. They have instead settled for the easy and odious shortcut of accumulating whatever funds they could either earn or steal (or both) from the public treasury to send their children and wards abroad to receive quality education.

But the solution to this mindless prodigality is simple: the people of Nigeria must now demand with one strong voice that a law should be made prohibiting public officers from enrolling their children in foreign or local private institutions. Once such a law comes into place today, Nigerians will see how easily our public schools and colleges will receive amazing transformations.

Yes, if anyone wants to run for public office but is unwilling to withdraw his or her children from foreign or local private institutions, then the person should perish the thought! We don’t need his or her services!

Indeed, this should be the minimum requirement for aspirants to public office.

When Tony Blair was the British Prime Minister and his wife, Cherry, wanted to have a baby, she went to a public hospital. As a top-drawer lawyer, Mrs. Blair had enough personal funds to patronize the best health institutions in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. But she chose to stay in an open ward with the wives of “ordinary” Britons to reinforce faith in public hospitals during her husband’s tenure.

Also, when Nelson Mandela was sick, he was never treated outside South Africa. Yet, the Nigerian economy was once rated higher than that of South Africa.

If not that Nigeria is always stuck with wayward and profligate leaders who derive sickening animation from seeing their country perennially trapped in the pond of mediocrity, why should people from other nations not be patronizing our schools and hospitals by now and boosting our foreign earnings? Many years ago, I   collaborated in a research work with a white American professor of economics and he proudly told me that while undertaking his master’s degree at the University of Ibadan, he lived in Kuti Hall. Can any American boy do that today?  Can this professor today allow any of his grandchildren near that same Kuti Hall he spoke so glowingly about when he talked with me?

In 2008, I attended a conference at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science of Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. While taking a walk with a friend one evening at about 11. pm, some white students strolled past, chatting and laughing happily as they also savoured the cool evening breeze.

Why is Nigeria no longer able to attract foreign students as the less-endowed Ghana is easily doing today?

Until we make it an impeachable offense for public officers to obtain their health and educational needs from better managed countries, not a finger will be lifted to ensure the reclamation of these very critical sectors in Nigeria.

Nigerians appear exasperatingly helpless in the face of abysmal misgovernance which seems to have become a norm in their country. This   should not be. They must now determine to regain the power they have so naively relinquished to public officers and revive their ability to influence public policies for the good of all.

The legislature is a very strategic arm in a democracy and when its powers are judiciously and patriotically deployed, it can greatly uplift a country and its systems. But a misguided assembly can watch the country sink to the lowest depths and not lift a finger to compel the executive to arrest the decay.

Nigerians must hasten to remember that they possess the power to rouse their lawmakers to action by demonstrating clearly that they can activate their constitutional right to recall any lawmaker who chooses, for some selfish reasons, to passively watch the executive ride roughshod on the people. This is even more effective than denying them votes during elections because greater humiliation goes with a lawmaker’s recall.

How on earth can a people sit passively and watch the government preside over the deaths of their country’s critical sectors? Are public officers untouchable gods? What qualifies our largely unproductive lawmakers and government appointees to cart away millions of naira every month as salaries and allowances while lecturers training our children to secure the future of the country are so shabbily remunerated? Is it not very scandalous that these lawmakers watch indifferently while the foundation of the nation’s progress and development is being wickedly eroded by an irresponsible executive?

It is most disgusting when Nigerian lawmakers behave as if the mere thought of impeaching a president or governor is such a horrendous sacrilege that must never even be nursed in their heart for a minute!

Until Nigerians in different constituencies rise up and bring these lawmakers face-to-face with the stark reality of losing their own seats when they fail to act to compel the executive to do what is right, they will  never sit up to do their jobs.

In other democracies, people take their phones and call their lawmakers to demand that they table and vigorously push for the resolution of certain problems in their constituencies during plenary. And these lawmakers would happily pursue such causes in order to be considered responsible and productive enough for reelection. How many Nigerians can reach their lawmakers today and urge them to take actions on the needs of their constituencies? How long will Nigerians be mired in this debilitating timidity?

Indeed, every Nigerian needs to be brought into this liberating awareness that by just volunteering his or her signature, the meal ticket of that flamboyant but irresponsible lawmaker can easily be withdrawn.

The media, rights groups and anyone reading this article should help to spread and entrench this awareness in Nigerians!

It is time to take back our country, save its sacred institutions and decide its future. The band of locusts dragging us down must be cut to size.

*Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye is a Journalist and Author of the Book, “Nigeria: Why Looting May Not Stop”([email protected])

2023: We Are Working Against Tinubu’s Victory – APC Chieftain, Former SGF, Babachir Lawal

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Even though he is a chieftain  of the All Progressives Congress, APC, former Secretary to the Government  of Federation, Babachir Lawal, said he is working against the victory of the Party’s candidate, Bola Tinubu, in the upcoming 2023 Presidential Election.

Lawal, an otherwise close friend of the candidate disclosed that he and a group of others would partner with any of the leading political parties, to make sure that Tinubu does not become the President in 2023.

Lawal has been against the decision of the Party and its candidate, to present a Muslim-Muslim ticket in 2023. He described it as wicked and demonic.

Before the choice of Senator Kashim Shettima, a former Governor of Borno State by Tinubu as his running mate, Lawal and most Christians and Christian organisations, had urged the APC and Tinubu to pick a Christian from the North as his running in order not to stoke divisiveness and religious crisis in the country.

Since after Tinubu’s choice of Shettima, a fellow Muslim, Lawal and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, have led the battle against it. Both men, incidentally are of the APC.

A number of other APC high profile members left the Party over the same-faith ticket.

Speaking on an Arise Television interview on Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Lawal said he and 40 Christian Leaders are working against the APC ticket. He said the Muslim-Muslim ticket has created divisions in the North.

His words: “The introduction of a Muslim-Muslim ticket by the APC,  or same-faith ticket is a wicked plan to further create divisions within the North. We try as leaders of societies to live as brothers and sisters, but this demonic proposition just came out of the blues.

“For all lovers of unity in this country, in the North in particular where we are most affected, this ticket must never succeed. We will make sure we defeat it in such a resounding manner that nobody in his right senses will think about it again, at least, in the near future for our political journey in Nigeria. So, we are set on it and we are determined to kill it. Our people are mobilised, and our people are ready for the election.

“I and Dogara alone aren’t the only ones involved in this. Indeed we are leaders of groups of about 40 leading Christian politicians in the North. We started work on this years back when we suspected that if a Muslim emerges from the South as the candidate of any political parties, there is a risk that what has happened will happen.

“So, while we plan that same-faith ticket of APC should fail, we also believe we should align with one of the leading political parties that has the chance of winning. Our strategy is that we will not just waste our votes because we want to protest against the same-faith ticket of the APC, we will like to partner with another group that is more sensible of the Nigerian situation and realise that Nigeria needs harmony, unity and peace.”

Lawal and Dogara, in their crusade had visited Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike. They had, also, visited both former Nigerian Leaders, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsakami Abubakar.

It is speculated that both men and others would, sooner than later, quit the APC, team up with either the  Peoples Democratic Party or the Labour Party.

Why Governor Wike Cannot Have His Way – Atiku Abubakar

By
The Source
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By Atiku Abubakar

Early this morning (Wednesday, 21st September, 2022), my attention was drawn to a news clip in which several very senior and influential members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), addressed the press and, amongst other things, declared that they are withdrawing, forthwith, from the Presidential Campaign Council set up by our party to judiciously plan and prosecute the general elections set to hold in February and March 2023, on the one hand; and reiterated their earlier calls for the resignation or removal from office of the national chairman of our party, Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, on the other hand.

The people that addressed the press must have their reasons for withdrawing from the Presidential Campaign Council, and I will not speculate as to what those reasons may be. Personally, I am quite surprised with this withdrawal because, as I have been informed by officials of our party, apart from the  Rivers State chapter of the PDP, all the remaining states of the federation submitted names of people who they wanted included in the Presidential Campaign Council.

On the calls for the resignation or removal from office of our national chairman, however, I must reiterate what I have said severally in public and in private;  the decision for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign from office is personal to Dr. Ayu and, neither I nor anyone else can make that decision for him.  As to the calls for the removal of Dr. Ayu from office, however, I will state that, as a committed democrat and firm believer in the rule of law and democratic tenets, and our party being one set up, organized and regulated by law and our constitution, it is my absolute belief that every thing that we do in our party must be done in accordance with, and conformity to, the law and our constitution. If Dr. Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal. In any event, you will all recall that the very body that is empowered by law to initiate this removal from office, has already passed a vote of confidence in him.

Now, our nation is currently in the throes of a multidimensional crisis encompassing insecurity, economic meltdown, disunity and mutual mistrust and educational dislocations, to mention a few. I have a plan to address these issues and I have, graciously, been given the ticket to lead our great party in next year’s presidential elections, with the singular mandate to come and lead the efforts to cure these ills. It is in this light that I have reached out to every single member of our great party to join me in the massive undertaking required to reset the ship of state, and help rebuild our country. Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every member of the PDP. And it is my fervent hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rebuild and reposition our beloved country. In this light, therefore, I will urge those members of our party that have stated their resolve to withdraw from the Presidential Campaign Council to have a rethink, retrace their steps, and join us in these efforts.

The above notwithstanding, and for the sake of our country, our children, and those yet unborn, we must not, for one minute, shirk in our responsibilities to rebuild this beloved country of ours.

Accordingly, we must forge on with the task and the mandate that we have been bestowed with.  It is time, therefore, to move on with the formidable tasks of nation building ahead of us.

May God guide us all, and may God soothe our great party, and our dear country.

Atiku, GCON, is a former Vice President of Nigeria, and the Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the oncoming 2023 Presidential election

Imo: Why Eke Ututu Market was burnt – Uzodimma; Says It Was Centre For Production Of Explosives

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has given reasons why the popular Eke Ututu market in Orsu, Ihitte Ukwa Local Government Area, was burnt, saying the place was discovered by security agencies as a haven for the production of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by bandits and other criminal elements.

Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Government House, Owerri, the Governor called on all Imo indigenes –  leaders, men, women, youths, both those resident in the State and those visiting, who have information that can lead to where bandits are hiding or operating within the State to avail government of such information in the interest of all.

Governor Uzodimma said security report revealed that Eke Ututu was turned into a hiding place for bandits and kidnappers who, not only compelled the traders to pay taxes to them before they could open their shops for business, but also use the market to manufacture IEDs with which they operate within and outside  the area.

According to the Governor, report indicated that an Army Major working in the State recently fell victim to the IED planted at Eke Ututu as he was killed instantly after stepping on the locally manufactured explosive unknowingly.

But luckily enough, one of the bandits arrested at their Camp at Orsu Ihitte Ukwa gave the military hint about their mode of operation within the vicinity, including where they maintain shops for fertiliser and other gadgets at Eke Ututu where they manufacture the IEDs.

Unfortunately, on the day the military went to the market with the arrrested bandit, the Captain who led the team also mistakingly stepped on an IED that was carefully hidden at the place and in the process he was badly injured that he had to be admitted at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Centre Owerri.

Angered by these developments, particularly the loss of their senior officer and the wounding of another, the Armed Forces authorised a combined operation involving their men from Imo and Anambra States at Orsu Ihitte Ukwa, mainly the Eke Ututu axis and its neighbouring state of Anambra. 

The Governor said that it was in the process that the security agencies razed the market.

The Governor emphasized that his Government will stop at nothing in the fight against terrorism, banditry and kidnapping in Imo State and that it will be pursued to a conclusive end. 

“This is not politics, it is about the security of lives and property of our people.  And anybody who wants to play politics with this should be ready to face history that will judge all of us.”

He regretted that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party and their members have been trying to make a political capital of the incident, howbeit ignorant of what transpired, noting that it is not in doubt they have a hand in the spate of banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in Imo State.

The Governor said from the behaviour of the PDP members in Imo State they want to frustrate the conduct of elections in Imo State.

Governor Uzodimma however pledged to continue to support the security agencies to do their work, notwithstanding the collateral damage that may go with it.

The Governor explained in details how Eke Ututu at Orsu Local Government Area Imo State was burnt last Saturday.

His words: “Last month soldiers on duty around Orsu, Awo Idemili area lost an Army Major to illegal and locally manufactured explosives.

“Only last Saturday the Joint Security Forces who arrested one of the bandits took him to where they operate from to go and visit where the local explosives are manufactured.  It turned out to be at Eke Ututu market where four shops were stocked with fertilizers, ammonia sulphate and other electrical gadgets used in manufacturing explosives were packed.

“Unfortunately, the Army Captain that led the operation to the market is now lying critically at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Federal Medical Centre Owerri as a result of attack he sustained in the operation.

“Consequent upon the above, the soldiers were able to recover all the weapons and the fertilizers meant to manufacture the local Improvised Explosive Device.  In the process of this operation the Military burnt down the shops as this is consistent with their policies.  

“The Good news, however, is that they were careful and so tactical that no life was lost.  They were only able to destroy the shops where they met these items and came back.

“It pleased some citizens of the State, most of them who are candidates running for elections in some political parties, to condemn the activities of the security agencies, some others are brazenly blackmailing the security agencies asking why they should go there at all, when none of them made any attempt to visit the scene (Eke Ututu).  

“These are Imo people, some are at Abuja speaking to the Media while others are in Owerri ranting while Imo State is bleeding.

“In the same Eke Ututu market, some natives and traders cannot go to the market without paying illegal taxes to the bandits and unknown gunmen to enable them open their shops.  This,  unfortunately, is what government had been fighting all through.”

Governor Uzodimma promised that “Government is in a position to deal with any collateral damage that may go with the security agencies operations as it concerns the destruction of shops and historical significance of Eke Ututu market, but lives lost can never be recovered.”

He added: “When Eke Ututu is destroyed to give Imo people peace, Imo Government can rebuild the market and if in the process properties and items are lost Government can work out compensation, but Government has the responsibility to fight crime.”

The Governor recalled how insecurity had tried to envelop Imo State for nearly three years now and how Government has made efforts to contain the situation in addition to the clarion call on communities and Local Governments to support the security agencies in their efforts to contain the level of insecurity.

He equally recalled Government’s call on the bandits and the unknown gunmen to seize fire, surrender and lay down their arms, discuss with government so that government can work with them in terms of rehabilitation and empowerment.

“Why some answered the call, surrendered and are talking with government, the adamant ones continued visiting mayhem and destroying properties of innocent Imo citizens.

“It is now a clarion call for all Imolites, both those residents and those visiting to volunteer information that will lead to managing insecurity in Imo State.”

“My Pain, My Agony”- The Lamentations Of Father Of 16-Year Student Of FGC Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State, Married Off By Terrorists

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Dogo - the Bandit and Farida

By Adesina Soyooye

Sani Kaoje, a retired Civil Servant thought his 16-year old daughter, Farida Kaoje, was safe. And what better place to feel safe than a Federal Government College.

She is a student of the Federal Government College Yauri, Kebbi. His father was relaxed. His daughter was secured even though terrorists and bandits have taken over Nigeria – kidnapping, maiming and wreaking havoc.

But on June 17, 2021, the feeling of security Kaoje always felt about his daughter was shattered.

A terrorist gang which leader is Dogo Gide, invaded  the College and took about 90 of the students hostage. Farida was one of them.

Nigerians have since become shock-absorbers. But each time terrorists attacked any school and take students hostages, the pain, the helplessness is infectious.

Terrorist leader Gide is not hiding himself. He is not denying responsibility. He boasts about it. He freely discusses with the parents of the victims. And has been negotiating with the Kebbi State Government. The State Government has allegedly paid Gide ransom money to the tune of millions for the release of the students.

Between the Military which gave the terrorists a hot chase, and the Kebbi State Government which has been negotiating with Gide, quite a number of the students have been released.

But 11 of them, all females, have suffered a worse fate. Not only have they been in captivity for over one year, they have been married off by the terrorists.

The news of their heart-breaking forced marriage was broken by no other than Gide. He called their broken parents to tell them. He had earlier warned them and inspite of the appeals to him, and the pleadings to save the girls a horrifying life, and their families a life of pain and agony and hopelessness and helplessness, Gide still married them off.

In an emotional and heart-breaking interview he granted Premium Times, Farida’s father speaks of the horror he has been through. He speaks of his agony and pain. He also paints the dreary picture of the lives of the other 10 parents whose lives will never be the same.

His words:

“Farida is one of my children. She is now 16 years (she was 15 when she was abducted). She was in JSS three. I’ve 19 children alive including her. Farida is the 15th of my children. I’ve three wives,” he said.

“I was having my breakfast in the morning when Farida’s mother ran into my room shouting. She said she heard that FGC Birnin Yauri has been attacked and pupils abducted. I rushed to the school and met other parents there. At first, the school management and security people denied us entry but they later let us in after confirming we had children in the school

“An hour after the abduction, Farida called me with her friend’s phone. She told me that ‘Baba, we’ve been abducted and they said they’re taking us to a forest in Zamfara state.’  I calmed her down. I told her that God would save them from all evil. That was the end of our conversation at the time.”

The abduction, Kaoje revealed, was not sudden. He said it did not take the College Authorities by surprise. The Terrorists warned them of the imminent attack. They wrote to the school. But nobody did anything to prevent it, or to evacuate the students.

His words: “Even Dogo Gide himself told me that he wrote to the school twice before he attacked it. They were just not serious about it. But he said he alerted them. The school, I was told, said the letters were written by some students. I don’t actually know how they handled it since I was not a party to it.

“But this school is obviously vulnerable to attack. These bandits follow behind the school’s walls to perpetrate violence on other communities. The signs were there. The authority should have known that the school would soon be attacked.

According to reports, “some of the pupils were rescued by security agents while others were returned after payment of ransom or other agreements with the state government.”

Kaoje could not explain to Premium Times while his daughter was not released.

He said: “I don’t understand the way this Government does things. I thought when they were doing the rescue operations, they would emphasise saving girls first because of their vulnerability. They should have negotiated and got the girls first but they didn’t.

“What I know is anyone that you’ve seen now was rescued by the Government. The Governor did his best immediately after the abduction. He tried his best and the first set was brought back and he did it the second time

“We waited to hope that they would rescue our child but we heard nothing. No one is telling us anything anymore. Even when we tried to reach them, they would tell us that the Governor has gone to Abuja. Sometimes when we call them they won’t answer their phones

“I don’t know if some others were invited or were allowed to go see them, especially the Secretary to the State Government. I don’t know if there was anything like that. But as for me, I’ve not met anyone of them.

Kaoje revealed how his knew Farida has been married off. He said Gide was the one who broke the devastating news to him.

“He is the one who said it to me directly through the phone. Dogo Gide knows Yauri very well because he once lived here and he told me that he married Farida himself though he was not very direct about it. But he used some techniques to tell me that he has married off the 10 girls to others but as for Farida, she is being taken care of by him. He didn’t say it straight but he said ‘even if I die, there are people that can inherit Farida from my house’. He was just telling me that he had married her off

“I can’t count the number of times I spoke with him since the abduction. He kept threatening that he would marry the remaining eleven girls if the State Government refused to pay him. He called me several times with the same threat. He called other parents too. He pretended that he was sympathetic to us but he kept our children, innocent girls, with him. If he has such sympathy as he keeps saying, he should release our children back to us.

“The Government didn’t do well too because this issue should have been over by now. If it were to be the children of the privileged, they must have saved them by now. The Governor needs to listen to us directly and not through some people. I’m serious. I’m in pain.

“Everyone in my house is in pain because Farida is like a light in the house.

“I know several parents who have fallen ill because of this issue. We’re talking of children, all teenage girls. Innocent children for that matter

“You can’t imagine the situation we’re in. Farida’s mother has been sick. There was a day she fell down and had to be taken to the hospital. Some parents have lost their lives. Others are now battling high blood pressure and other related illnesses.

“I know one of the parents, Mr John, he can’t even count money now because he is depressed. His business has crumbled. He is my friend and this abduction has taken a toll on him. His daughter, Rebecca, is Farida’s friend and she is also there. We go to bed and wake up in misery thinking of the unknown.

“I can’t even concentrate on my business. We can’t now concentrate on our family members because we’re always thinking of how to get the children out. My fish farming has been the worse hit because I can’t concentrate. On the other farms, I didn’t even bother to know whether we’re working on it this year because the tension is too much

“Nobody is taken us seriously. This is a Federal Government school but what did the Education Minister do or even say? They have just left us to our fate as if nothing has happened and our children are still with us.

“In fact, we pleaded with him, Gide,  to allow us to negotiate the ransom but he said he would not collect our money and insisted that he would only collect the Government’s money.

“The first time he told me that if the Government failed to give him N100 million, he would marry off the girls, I pleaded with him to let parents and relatives negotiate with him, but he refused. Whenever he called, I would plead with him to let us pay but he always refuses.

“Once, he reduced the ransom to N50 million and some motorcycles, but he still said the intermediaries with the government didn’t respond to them hence they decided to marry off our children.

“As I told you earlier, we speak with him a lot and he said he has reduced the ransom to N50m and 30 motorcycles but they still refused to give the bandits so they could release our daughters for us. I’ve nothing to say because this democracy has failed us. What would the Government now say to us since they can’t protect our daughters?

“He (Gide) said he has a problem with the Government and that the Government is not responsible, and he would only collect ransom from them. If you have a problem with the Government, why abduct innocent children? He should be disturbing Government people and not the poor. The pupils he abducted were all innocent.

Mr Kaoje said he speaks with his daughter, who has confirmed  she has been married off. “Yes. And it breaks my heart to even remember her voice. We spoke with her a lot. And I cry every day he ( Gide) called and let us speak with her. In one of such calls, she said ‘Baba, there is a problem because some of my friends have been married off’. After that, Dogo Gide himself confirmed to us that they had been married off since the Government has refused to pay them.

“We’ve just resorted to praying for Allah to intervene. It’s no longer in our control because they said since the Government has refused to pay them they would marry them off for good. But we want our children back home and we’ll continue to pray because it’s the only way out.”

Atiku Reacts, Says Those That Withdrew From Campaign Council Are State Nominees

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Presidential candidate of People’s Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar has said members of the Campaign Council were nominated by respective states, except Rivers, which failed to submit nominees.

Reacting to withdrawals from the Council as announced Wednesday by PDP members loyal to Governor Nyesome Wike, they are insisting on the removal of Iyorcha Ayu as National Chairman. Atiku stated that he was surprised by the withdrawal.

 His statement : “Early this morning, my attention was drawn to a news clip in which several very senior and influential members of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), addressed the press and, amongst other things, declared that they are withdrawing, forthwith, from the Presidential Campaign Council set up by our party to judiciously plan and prosecute the general elections set to hold in February and March 2023, on the one hand; and reiterated their earlier calls for the resignation or removal from office of the National Chairman of our party, Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, on the other hand.

“The people that addressed the press must have their reasons for withdrawing from the Presidential Campaign Council, and I will not speculate as to what those reasons may be.

“Personally, I am quite surprised with this withdrawal because, as I have been informed by officials of our party, apart from the Rivers State chapter of the PDP, all the remaining States of the Federation submitted names of people who they wanted included in the Presidential Campaign Council.

“On the calls for the resignation or removal from office of our National Chairman, however, I must reiterate what I have said severally in public and in private. The decision for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to resign from office is personal to Dr. Ayu and, neither I nor anyone else can make that decision for him.

“As to the calls for the removal of Dr. Ayu from office, however, I will state that, as a committed democrat and firm believer in the rule of law and democratic tenets, and our party being one set up, organized and regulated by law and our constitution, it is my absolute belief that every thing that we do in our party must be done in accordance with, and conformity to, the law and our constitution.

“If Dr. Ayu is to be removed from office, it must be done in accordance with the laws that set out the basis for such removal.

“In any event, you will all recall that the very body that is empowered by law to initiate this removal from office, has already passed a vote of confidence in him.

“Now, our Nation is currently in the throes of a multidimensional crisis encompassing insecurity, economic meltdown, disunity and mutual mistrust and educational dislocations, to mention a few.

“I have a plan to address these issues and I have, graciously, been given the ticket to lead our great party in next year’s presidential elections, with the singular mandate to come and lead the efforts to cure these ills.

“It is in this light that I have reached out to every single member of our great party to join me in the massive undertaking required to reset the ship of state, and help rebuild our country.

“Every single person who loves this country, as I do, is needed for the arduous tasks that face us ahead as a nation, and this includes every member of the PDP.

“And it is my fervent hope and prayer that every man and woman of goodwill will join hands with us to help rebuild and reposition our beloved country. In this light, therefore, I will urge those members of our party that have stated their resolve to withdraw from the Presidential Campaign Council to have a rethink, retrace their steps, and join us in these efforts.

“The above notwithstanding, and for the sake of our country, our children, and those yet unborn, we must not, for one minute, shirk in our responsibilities to rebuild this beloved country of ours.

“Accordingly, we must forge on with the task and the mandate that we have been bestowed with. It is time, therefore, to move on with the formidable tasks of nation building ahead of us.

“May God guide us all, and may God soothe our great party, and our dear country.”

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