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IPOB Indicts Simon Ekpa As Architect Of Unrest In South East; Distances Itself

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Spokesman for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Emma Powerful, has indicted Simon Ekpa and group called, “Autopilot” as the brain, allegedly, behind unrest in the South-east.

Powerful claimed that the self-proclaimed disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, Ekpa and his gang are responsible for the criminal activities across the South-east region, distancing IPOB from the illicit act.

He informed the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, who recently decided to give amnesty to the Group, that the IPOB is not responsible for the criminal activities in the region.

The Separatist Group in a statement said, “We, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to tell Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State that IPOB is not responsible for the criminality in the Southeast, including Anambra State. The Governor should know that our enemies are committing atrocities using our name in their desperation to blackmail IPOB.

Simon Ekpa - IPOB Leader
Simon Ekpa

“It is a certain Simon Ekpa and his criminal gang called Autopilots that are carrying out threats against people’s lives because of non-existent Monday sit-at-home. They are criminals, kidnappers and robbers. These people disturbing the peace of our people are not IPOB members. They should be treated as criminals. IPOB doesn’t shed blood. We are a peaceful movement.

“We wish to reiterate once again that IPOB has cancelled Monday sit- at-home order and anybody or group enforcing the relaxed order is neither from IPOB nor from IPOB volunteer group. Any Governor in the region who deemed it fit to stop non-existent Monday sit-at-home order in the region is free to do so.

“Anyone caught adding to the pain of our people in the name of enforcing Monday sit-at-home order will be treated like the enemy that he or she is.

“We, therefore, warn these agents of darkness using the name of IPOB to enforce a non-existent sit-at-home to desist because if we lay hold on them.

“Why should such unpatriotic elements be inflicting pain on our people and dragging our image to the mud?

IPOB remains a non-violent movement and our peaceful approach for Biafra restoration has not changed.

“It will be recalled that IPOB leadership called for the Monday sit-at-home, and the same IPOB leadership has cancelled it.

“Nobody was given the mandate to enforce the same suspended sit-at-home using the name of IPOB.

“The only day sit-at-home will be observed in Biafraland is when our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is appearing in court, and we shall as usual make it public for all to know.”

The group added: “We hereby direct community leaders, market leaders, church leaders, and other institutions of authority in Biafra land to arrest any hoodlum trying to enforce any sit-at-home on Mondays and hand them over to IPOB.

“Such criminal elements must be treated in a language they understand.

“Again it has become imperative to state that IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has nothing whatsoever to do with the recent attack on Nnewi South Headquarters/Secretariat”, the statement reads.

Tundun Abiola Slams Sister, Hafsat Abiola, For “Odious Comparison” Of Father To Yahaya Bello

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Tundun Abiola

By Akinwale Kasali

The anger was unmistakable. And most people agree, justified. It was sister against sister. Or, okay, half sister against half sister. But it was all in the family. The late Chief MKO Abiola’s family.

Hafsat Abiola-Costello, many agree, looked for trouble, her half sister’s trouble, and the trouble of many Nigerians.

Hafsat is the Director General of the Presidential Campaign of Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State.

Bello is aspiring to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari when the President’s tenure expires on May 29, 2023.

Neither the Abiola family nor anybody bothers with that. A  brilliant, capable woman, Hafsat is free to work for anybody. But in her first public outing on the job, Hafsat seems to have put the wrong foot forward. She committed what many see as a sacrilege.

Hafsat Abiola Costello
Hafsat Abiola Costello

Speaking on why she accepted to lead Bello’s Presidential aspiration campaign, Hafsat said she did because Bello has same character as his late father, MKO Abiola.

The obvious lie, according to people, outraged not a few people. They were shocked, and since then, condemnation against Hafsat’s comparison has been coming like claps of thunder. They say she mis-spoke. They say she has insulted her father’s name and memory. They say she owes the entire Abiola family and Nigerians who appreciate what her father stood for an unreserved apology.

But, perhaps, none was as outraged as Hafsat’s half sister, Tudun Abiola.

A lawyer, Tudun is a presenter at Arise Television. A daughter of Mrs Bisi Abiola, MKO Abiola’s third wife, Bisi, Tudun was stung that Hafsat  equated their father to Bello.

Hafsat is the daughter of Abiola’s second wife, Kudirat, who was murdered while fighting for the actualisation of her husband’s Presidential mandate, and his release from an unjustified jail.

Speaking on Arise Television, she could barely contain her shock and anger. She said her half sister has run their late father under the bus. And abused his name and legacy. She spoke of her heartbreak and disappointment that Hafsat could dare such comparison. She reminded Hafsat that she had no permission to denigrate the Abiola name and legacy as that name does not belong to her alone. “It is our name”, she fired.

Following, some of what Tudun said about Hafsat’s comparison of their father with Bello.

“Dr. Abati, ( a co-presenter on Arise Tv) you did warn me that all kinds of characters would be coming on here, that I should brace myself. But I was quite dismayed with your interview yesterday.

“I have come to expect certain things  from that Individual, but just because it is not surprising, does not  mean it was not staggeringly inappropriate.

“I am referring to  my half sister, Hafsat, who is the DG of Yahaya Bello’s campaign, and her making comparison to my dad.

“There were a lot of political players in his team, and not one of them decided to throw their father under the bus for the sake of their principal.

“Come out and talk about your principal, his antecedents and stands for the future of Nigeria and leave daddy out of this.

“It is not her right, because it is not her name. It is our name.

“It is the name of future Abiolas yet unborn who should be proud of the legacy. My father was tortured because according to the United Nations, it sees solitary confinement as torture. He was tortured and then, he was murdered and has left his legacy only for it to be abused  in this fashion.

“And I did say that I was quite consistent because we had another gentleman on the show talking about another person he was campaigning for, and using my dad to score point. For me, it is  unfortunate, being his child, everybody should just leave his name out of this.

“This is dishonesty. False equivalent, expuntation of a genuine struggle.”

Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 1993 Presidential election was locked up by the Military regime of the late General Sani Abacha after the election was cancelled by the Regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

2023 Blunder: Yahaya Bello Forgets Wife’s Name While Declaring For Office Of President

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Yahaya Bello Presidential Declaration

By Adesina Soyooye

It is a humiliation no woman prays to be given by her own husband, especially, in public. But the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, gave it to his wife on Saturday while declaring his ambition on Saturday, April 2, 2022, to run for the office of the President in 2023.

The Presidential aspirant forgot the name of his wife.

A man of many wives, the youthful Bello didn’t need to mention the names of his wives while declaring his ambition. But he chose to. And, in doing so, committed a blunder, shamed himself, and one of his wives.

As he reeled out their names, he got stuck when he got to wife number three.

Confused, he had to be reminded of the name of his own wife – Hadiza – by one obviously embarrassed supporter.

Since the incident, many are wondering and asking questions. They are asking if he has the capacity to, just in case, rule Nigeria. They say that he has given an inkling into what he would have in stock for Nigeria if he ever realises his ambition. They are asking how he would remember the  million problems Nigeria has. They are asking if he would even remember the names of his Cabinet members. Or the names of States, their capitals or their Governors.

In the game of Football, what happened  to Bello is called “own goal.” In his first public appearance as a Presidential aspirant, Yahaya Bello scored a goal against himself.

One cheeky fellow insists Hadiza, wife number three, whose name he forgot,  should demand for a public apology, or “keep him out of the odzer room for sometime as punishment.”

In more civilised climes though, women would regard that as an insult, and force him to withdraw from the Presidential race – even before it starts.

Knocks For Hafsat Abiola For Comparing Governor Bello With Her Father

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Hafsat Abiola Costello

By Akinwale Kasali

Hafsat Abiola Costello, the daughter of late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whose election in 1993 was annulled by the Military Junta of Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida has come under strong criticism.

The Convener and Director General of Kudirat Initiative For Democracy, KIND, received knocks and jabs following her submission in an interview session. This follows her appointment as the Director General of Governor Yahaya Bello’s presidential ambition. She said her Principal possesses the same qualities like her late Father.

Several Nigerians have described this statement as unpleasant considering the status Abiola attained while he was alive compared to what Yahaya Bello has done in Kogi state.

Several reactions have trailed her submission with former Senator Representing Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Sani Shehu, saying; “The profile of Sister Hafsat in the struggle to sustain the legacies of her father is unquestionable; but comparing Bello to Abiola is oddly unconscionable and Bogus.

Another Twitter user said, “I agree. MKO Abiola the coup financier was a “hero of democracy” the same way Murtala Mohammed the genocidaire was a “founding father.”

For David Hundeyin, he said, “It’s death that has sanitised and deodorised the stench surrounding these execrable men from Nigeria’s past”.

Aminu Ibn Massaga, who was surprised at the statements of Hafsat said, “MKO Abiola’s daughter really said that Yahaya Bello has same qualities with her father? Maybe we should send our gratitude to IBB for annulling that election.

Another Social Media User said the Standards are so low we have people now comparing MKO Abiola with Yahaya Bello. Is Yahaya Bello ready to die for his priniciples – assuming he has any?

For Ayo Sogunro, the campaign marriage between Hafsat Abiola, a Harvard Graduate and Yaya Bello reminds him of the Chude-Debola rebranding for President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Politics is such a beautiful thing because it pays little attention to morals but interests.

Where your heart is, so shall your pocket be also. Hafsat Abiola disrespected the late MKO Abiola by comparing her dad to the Kogi thief!”

Other comments are below;

…must you drag your late dad to your greedy-selfish-poverty-Pocket filled mission???

Hafsat why?

The only place left for Yahaya Bello is prison to answer all the corruption charges.

— Otunba GCFRN  (@beninghone) April 3, 2022

Seeing Harvard and Cambridge trained children of MKO Abiola and Chief Remi Fani Kayode doing hatchet job for someone like Yahaya Bello will always be awkward to me.

— Odun Ola (@abbide) April 3, 2022

Hafsat Abiola, MKO Abiola’s daughter says she’s leading Yaya Bello’s presidential campaign because Bello shares some similarities with her late father. And to think that some of us have been looking at Bello with ordinary eyes fah. Issorite

— Unknown Lawmaker (@pitad_rock) April 4, 2022

NIN: Buhari Orders MTN, Glo To Block Unlinked SIM Cards

By
James Orji
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0

By James Orji

President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered all telephone service providers in the country to block subscribers who have failed to link their telephones line to the National Identification Number, NIN.

The federal government said it took the decision after shifting the deadlines for the linkage several times. It said the government could no longer wait for the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed.

In a statement released on Monday by the Issa Pantami-led Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy, the administration said the blocking of the registered SIM cards should take effect from April 4, 2022.

According to the statement, “It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, gave the directive for the implementation and commencement of the exercise in December 2020, as part of the administration’s security and social policies.

“The deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to freely comply with the Policy. The FG also took into consideration the passionate appeals by several bodies – Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies and a host of others for the extension of the deadlines in the past.

“Accordingly, Mr. President graciously approved the many requests to extend deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage. At this point however, Government has determined that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents.

“The implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria. Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022.

“Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines. Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.”

“Professor Pantami especially appreciates President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) for his tremendous support. He also commends the Executive Vice-Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Dambatta, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Engr. Aliyu Azeez Abubakar along with their Management and Staff, as well as other notable bodies whose efforts have seen to the monumental success of the exercise.

“The Minister also extends his thanks to the telecommunication operators for their support towards the success recorded.

“The Honourable Minister also emphasized that enrolment for the NIN is a continuous exercise and NIN is a precondition for service in Telcos, banks, Nigerian Immigration Service, and for several other government services. He also encouraged Nigerians and legal residents to visit NIN registration centres for the enrollment and issuance of valid NINs.

Anambra: Soludo Offers IPOB Amnesty For Guns

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra state has pleaded with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB militants to lay down their arms in exchange for pardon.

Since he became governor last month Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Governor has sued for peace from the militants, who last week agreed to end the weekly sit-at-home in all the five states in the south east.

As part of the governors’ efforts to stop people from observing the sit-at-home order, Soludo had recently threatened the state civil servants with sack if they continued to abandon their offices.

None of the threats seemed to have worked so far in Anambra and other south east states where residents have continued to observe IPOB’s order not to leave their homes.

For instance, violence has continued in neighbouring Imo state where suspected members of IPOB and its militant arm the Eastern Security Network, ESN have continued to unleash mayhem on their communities.

Last week, the Imo state Police Command successfully repelled a deadly attack by suspected members of the proscribed IPOB, on the Mbieri Police Division, barely few days after the militants burnt down the home of a commissioner in the state.

Governor Soludo said he’s now prepared to offer amnesty to the aggrieved militants who are demanding for the State of Biafra, in exchange for their weapons. Surrender your guns, Governor Soludo, who promised last week to lead other four other governors from the region to President Muhammadu Buhari to demand the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu said.

The governor disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Sunday, while speaking on the spate of violent attacks in the five states in the region.

The governor said there is need to harmonise peace initiatives among all the factions of the agitators.

He stated further that, “Within the agitation movement, we have to agree that there are now factions. There is the one led by one guy in Finland called Simon Ekpa. IPOB has come out to accuse that group of being behind much of the criminality in the South-East,” Soludo said.

“A lot of them in the bush out there are having camps here and there. They come out to kidnap and kill. Once we isolate all the groups that are not involved in this, then we can focus on the criminals.

The only way out of the problem, the former CBN Governor said is to pursue peace with the militants, noting that violent attack on the agitators by government forces cannot lead to peace.

He explained that the agitation for a separate state of Biafra from Nigeria cannot be killed through the barrel of the gun.

According to him, “We have also offered them some kind of amnesty. Come out, give us your guns, we are prepared to give you training in whatever skills, even if we have to raise resources to empower you to become useful partners in the development of society.”

“A time comes when you realise that you cannot shoot an ideology with a gun. When you see it exclusively as a law enforcement matter, then you miss the point. You’ve got to engage them.

“We are taking it very seriously with an open manner to engage everyone and believing that everyone has some contribution to make. To the criminals, we are offering them an olive branch to repent,” the governor said.

Fidelity Bank Profit Grows To N38bn

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Lender Proposes 35k Kobo dividend Per Share

Lagos, Nigeria, April 1, 2022:  Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has recorded 35.7 per cent growth in Profit Before Tax for its 2021 financial year to close the year at N38.1bn according to the bank’s recently issued financial result.

The result indicates that the bank grew Gross Earnings by 21.6 per cent year-on-year, YoY (23.2 per cent QoQ) to N250.8bn driven by a combination of 60.3 per cent growth in non-interest revenue (NIR) and 15.2 per cent increase in interest and similar income.

The growth in NIR reflects the significant increase in customer transactions resulting in 84.9 per cent growth in trade income, 48.1 per cent in account maintenance charge, and 47.2 per cent increase in digital banking income.

Commenting on the Bank’s impressive performance, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc noted, “We closed the financial year with strong double-digit growth in profit and across key balance-sheet lines, which reflects the disciplined execution of our strategy and capacity to deliver superior returns to shareholders. Profit before tax grew by 35.7 per cent to N38.1bn from N28.1bn in 2020FY, which translates to an increase in RoAE to 12.5 per cent from 10.5 per cent in 2020FY.”

N5bn Drug Haul: Marwa Lauds Synergy Amongst Security Agencies

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Gen Buba Marwa (rtd), the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has commended the synergy between officers of the anti-drug agency and other security agencies in the country. The NDELEA chief executive stated this following the seizure of tramadol, Opoid and Exol worth over N5 billion at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Edo state by operatives of the anti-drug agency.

Of the figure, 214 cartons of Tramadol 225 under 10 different brand names, which translate to 9, 219, 400 tablets weighing 6, 384.5kg, with an estimated street value of N4, 609, 700, 000 were transferred on Tuesday 29th March alongside 85 cartons of dried Khat leaves with a total weight of 1, 327.35kg by the Nigerian Customs to the MMIA Command of NDLEA as a symbol of the synergy between the two law enforcement agencies.

In Abuja, about 228,740 tablets and capsules of Tramadol and Exol 5 were intercepted on Friday 1st April at Abaji area of the FCT. The truck conveying the drugs was loaded in Lagos heading to Kano. Though the truck driver escaped into the bush during the search of the vehicle, two of his assistants; Usman Abdulmumini, 23 and Aminu Ahmad, 22, were arrested.

At the Port Harcourt International Airport, PHIA, a Brazilian returnee Nnanna Anayo Michael, 39, was arrested during the inward screening of passengers on board Qatar Airline flight QR1433 from Doha to Port Harcourt on Tuesday, 29th March. Nnanna who hails from Ekwusigo, Anambra State was arrested with 73 sachets weighing 8.15 kilograms of cocaine, which is the largest seizure of such at the airport, since it began international flight operations years ago.

During preliminary interview, Nnanna said he departed Sao Paulo, Brazil on Sunday midnight en route Qatar to Port Harcourt. He claimed an unidentified person in Sao Paulo gave him six bed sheets in which the drug was concealed to deliver to another unidentified person at Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa. The 73 cocaine sachets were hidden in 4×1 feet factory sewn colourful bed sheets. Five of the bed sheets contain 12 sachets each, while the sixth bed sheet contains 13 sachets.

An immediate follow up operation led to the arrest of 50-year-old Monday Alaisu, who travelled from Lagos to pick the drug from Nnenna. He was arrested at the airports carpark where he was waiting to receive Nnenna with the latters photograph taken at the Brazilian airport and his international passports Data Page in his hand.

In Oyo state, 17.6kg cannabis was transferred along with a suspect, Ramon Dauda, 40, to the state command of NDLEA by the Oyo/Osun Area Command of Nigerian Customs Service, just as narcotic officers on patrol along Lagos-Ibadan expressway on Thursday 31st March intercepted a consignment of 10kg cannabis and 12.1grams of amphetamine in a commercial bus. A follow up operation in Ilesa, Osun state led to the arrest of the owner of the drug exhibits, Mrs Remi Aluko, 44.

Three drug joints were raided at Wire road, Benin City and Uromi town in Esan Central LGA where 188 pinches of Cocaine and Heroin were recovered with five suspects arrested. In another raid in Okada town, a patent medicine dealer, Harrison Odion was arrested with 70 bottles of codeine based cough syrup; 9,638 Tramadol capsules; 16,843 tablets of Exol-5; 80 tablets of Diazepam and 62 ampules of Diazepam injection. In the same vein, operatives in the state destroyed seven clusters of dry season Cannabis Sativa farms in Okpuje Forest along the banks of River Ose totalling 3.124998 hectares.

At least, seven drug dealers were arrested in raids in parts of Kano with 80 kilograms of codeine and pentazocine injection seized from them. Those picked in Rijiyar Zaki, Brigade, Yan-Kaba, Tudun Wada, Karfi, Ungogo and Nassarawa areas of the state include: Muhammad Adamu; Abba Sani; and Auwalu Muhammad, among others.

Foreign Mercenaries: PDP Tackles El-Rufai, Asks Him To Shut-Up; Reminds Him Of Role

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has tackled Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State over his threat to bring in mercenaries to fight terrorists.

El-Rufai had in the wake of the fatal bombing of an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train on March 28,  threatened to bring in foreign mercenaries, and use them to fight terrorism in the State if the Federal Government refuses to tackle, headlong, the cankerworm. He accused the Security Agents of reluctance to tackle the terrorists, even though they know exactly where they are.

But in a statement on Sunday by the PDP, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the Party asked El-Rufai to shut up. They reminded him of the roles he and a couple of others in the All Progressives Congress, APC, including President Muhammadu Buhari and almost all Northern Governors, played in fueling terrorism in Nigeria. The PDP accused them of fueling and “aiding insecurity which degenerated to acts of terrorism ravaging our nation today.”

Said the PDP: “Nigerians can still recall how, in July 2021, Governor el-Rufai, when asked why the Federal Government was lethargic in going after bandits, (terrorists) stated that the bandits (terrorists) are collections of independent criminals for whom banditry is a business.”

Chiding him for threatening to use foreign mercenaries, the PDP said: “Nigerians can also recall how ahead of the 2019 general elections, Governor el-Rufai threatened that ‘those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the persons that will come and intervene. They will go back in body bags.’

The PDP, also recalled how President Buhari rationalized the beheading of 43 rice farmers in Borno State by terrorists.

PDP: “Nigerians have not forgotten how, in November 2020, the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency, through its spokesperson, Shehu Garba, rationalized the beheading of 43 rice farmers in Borno State by terrorists and blamed the farmers for not obtaining clearance before going to their farms.”

Following is the full text of the PDP statement.

Foreign Mercenaries: APC Leaders Fueled Terrorism, PDP Tells el-Rufai

“The expression of frustration and threats by Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State to invite foreign mercenaries to fight terrorists in Nigeria is a further confirmation and admission of the failure of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in which he is a key player.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) however insists that Governor el-Rufai cannot distance himself from those responsible for fueling and aiding insecurity which degenerated to acts of terrorism ravaging our nation today.

“The alarming insecurity situation in Nigeria that has led to the killing and maiming of tens of thousands of our compatriots since the APC took office in 2015 is the result of the actions and comments by APC leaders and government officials who encouraged acts of terrorism in the name of politics.

“Nigerians can still recall how in July 2021, Governor el-Rufai, when asked why the Federal Government was lethargic in going after bandits (terrorists) stated that the bandits (terrorists) are collections of independent criminals for whom banditry is a business.

“Nigerians can also recall how ahead of the 2019 general elections, Governor el-Rufai threatened that ‘those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the persons that will come and intervene, they will go back in body bags’.

“The media was also awash with reports of how Governors of APC-controlled States, especially in the North West region of the country publicly romanced and empowered terrorists by paying them billions of naira of public funds in various hurried, uncoordinated and hazy negotiations.

“Nigerians have not forgotten how in November 2020 the Muhammadu Buhari Presidency through its spokesperson, Shehu Garba, rationalized the beheading of 43 rice farmers in Borno State by terrorists and blamed the farmers for not obtaining clearance before going to their farms.

“Such comments and actions by Governor el-Rufai, the Buhari Presidency and other APC leaders have the propensity to embolden terrorists to unleash violence on innocent people, the result of which are now apparent and living with us.

“Our Party challenges Governor el-Rufai and other APC leaders to speak out on the confession by a former APC leader that the terrorists pillaging our nation were brought in by APC leaders to rig the 2019 general elections but had remained in the country following the failure by the APC to pay them for the heinous ‘services’ they were contracted to provide against the Nigerian people.

“Governor el-Rufai should know that he and other APC leaders cannot under any circumstance distance themselves from blame in the worsening insecurity, pain, horror, social dislocation of families and life-discounting experiences being encountered daily by Nigerians under the APC.

“The PDP however wants Governor el-Rufai to know that his suggestion or threats to import foreign mercenaries is counter-productive and capable of compounding the already dire security situation in our country.

“The PDP believes in the competence and capability of our gallant Armed Forces to defend our nation. They are only being encumbered by manifest complicity, conspiracy, incompetence and failure of the Security Command and Control Coordination structure of the APC administration.”

APC National Chairman. Adamu, Rebukes El-Rufai, Amaechi

By
The Source
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0
Senator Abdullahi Adamu

By Gideon Njoku

Newly elected National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has warned both the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, and the Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, to be mindful of what they say about the insecurity in the country.

Adamu, a former Governor of Nasarawa State gave the warning in the wake of the comments made by the two after the fatal bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna bound Train on March 28, 2022.

Terrorists had planted bombs along the rail track which exploded on impact with the bombs. As the Train screeched to a halt, the Terrorists appeared in their numbers, invaded the Train, and embarked on a shooting and kidnapping spree.

Figures from the Government say that there were eight fatalities and 26 injured passengers. Nobody is sure of the number of kidnapped passengers, but speculations say about 136 passengers  remain unaccounted for.

An angry and embarrassed El-Rufai has been talking tough since then. He accused the Military of reluctance to confronting and killing the terrorists, even though they know exactly where they are. He said every forest should be bombed to eliminate the terrorists, and acknowledged that some innocent people may die, but quickly added that only criminals live in forests.

He, then, upped the ante.

The Governor threatened to hire mercenaries to fight terrorism in the State if the Federal Government wouldn’t fight it, lamenting the situation. Kaduna State has become the centre of terrorism in the country.

In Amaechi’s case, as the supervising Minister of the Nigerian Railways Corporation, NRC, he said the tragedy could have been avoided if the sum of three billion Naira his Ministry had requested for the installation of security equipment along the rail track was approved. But he said it was shot down, and was responsible for the attack on the train for, according to him, he foresaw it.

However, Adamu, Chairman of their party felt they had “talked too much.” In deed, the opposition PDP had, since, used what El-Rufai and Amaechi said as a peg, and in a statement, held the President Muhammadu Buhari Federal Government responsible for the Train attack and the escalation of insecurity in the North, especially.

So, in a rebuke, Adamu told both men to mind what they say. Speaking in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored by Vanguard in Kaduna, Adamu said he didn’t quite know what the Governor and the Minister think about the insecurity in the country, but warned them: “You don’t take a knife and rip open your belly.” Doing that, he said would be wrong.

El-Rufai has come under the slammer for talking about the use of mercenaries with people reminding him that only President Buhari could give such an order.

Buhari has, also, been criticized for not only delaying in commenting on the tragedy, but for, till date, not visiting Kaduna to commiserate with the people and Government.

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