Constitutional Lawyer, Tunji Abayomi, has joined admirers of the All Progressive Congress, (APC) chieftain, Bola Tinubu by urging Nigerians to give him a trial by voting for him as President in 2023.
Abayomi, in his opinion, made known in his Facebook account, said the two-time Lagos State Governor has paid his dues in Nigeria’s political scene and deserves to rule the country.
Describing him as “a dogged fighter for true democracy,” he stated that Tinubu has capacity to reposition Nigeria.
The Human Rights Activist, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, in Ondo state, was of the view that the APC stalwart actively took part in the fight to restore democratic rule to Nigeria.
According to him, Asiwaju Tinubu as an accountant, knows his responsibility to the people because he has passion for the country.
Abayomi said “Bola Tinubu is one of the few rewards of freedom struggle, our toil, our detentions, our tearful days.
“What is the basis of the unrelenting demand for the source of Bola Tinubu’s wealth? We have had four Presidents since democracy began, two of whom belong to the Military that usurped our wealth, freedom and future. No one asked for the source of their wealth before or thereafter.
“How about the pitiless politicians and their allies, that amassed wealth, politicians whom the freedom fighters like Bola Tinubu gave a path to increase and improve us but end up looting our commonwealth? How many of them are queried about source of their abnormal and sinful wealth.
“As an accountant, he knows his responsibility to the people. That was why he improved Lagos and lagosians.
“I’m afraid you have no right to ask him questions you did not ask your tormentors unless your father fought like him, like a few of us for the freedom and democracy that we enjoy today.”
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, still to put behind him the altercations with his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike, is confronted with another attack, this time, from the home front.
A Benin Group has engaged the Governor over his new bill on open grazing, which is seen as a ploy to mortgage the future of Edo people.
The Edo Development Forum (EDF), accused Obaseki, of a plot to cede communal lands in the State to “marauding herdsmen.”
The itinerant Herdsmen have been in forefront of killings and violent displacement of local owners of farmlands across the State, particularly in rural communities.
The Governor’s move is said to be hinged on a controversial clause contained in the Anti-Open Grazing Bill transmitted to the House of Assembly.
According to the EDF, in clause 5(7) of the disputed Bill, the Edo State Government granted the allocation of 20 percent of lands across the state to the pastoral herdsmen under the guise of a ranching system.
The bill, if passed, by the Assembly, which is under the control of the Governor, Edo State will become the first southern state in the country to make law ceding lands to herders.
This will also be at variance with the position of the Southern Governors Forum, (SGF) which has strongly objected to land concession, under any guise to the Herdsmen.
In a statement on Monday, signed by Barrister Felix Isere and Mr. Baron Mike, the Executive Director and Director of Media and Publicity of EDF respectively, the group claimed that the Governor plans to trade lands in the state in exchange for favors with his “Fulani friends.”
“Edo State is now faced with the existential threat of losing ownership of at least 20 percent of her land in all the districts of the state to marauding herdsmen who have killed, raped, and maimed our people with impunity.
“This is because Governor Godwin Obaseki, in his usual and outrageous political calculation, has ranked his friendship with his Fulani backers over and above the safety, well-being, and future of Edo citizens, including our women and children.
“Whereas other southern states have stood solidly in their rejection of any plan to cede even an inch of their lands to herdsmen or any foreign group under any arrangement, be it ranching or whatsoever,.
“We now have hard proof that Mr. Godwin Obaseki is yet again traveling in the opposite direction with the transmission of his Anti-Open Grazing Bill to his partial Assembly, which contains a clause that mandates the gazette of 20 percent of lands to herdsmen under the pretext of establishing ranching system.
“In effect, Governor Godwin Obaseki is attempting to legitimize the reign of terror of these herdsmen who have shown blatant disregard for the territorial integrity of our state and the rights of our people to assert their ownership of their communal and ancestral lands.
“In communities such as Okokhuo, Agemokpae, Iguhoro, Ugbokuli, Agekpanu, Okoghohon, Abumwenre II, Ugboke, Ariyan, Okokodo, Oshodin, Iguogho, Ofitebe, and Igolo, the death toll continues to rise as our people are butchered by these herdsmen, who march their cows into people’s farms, destroy their crops, and lay siege to hunt human beings for sport.
“Instead of ensuring justice and committing resources, including the nearly one billion naira monthly security vote he receives, to the stamping out of these criminals, who have refused to obey existing laws on property rights and business operations, Governor Godwin Obaseki has decided to reward their murderous campaigns with a concession that will imperil the safety of our communities, and leave our unborn sons and daughters at the risk of being landless and second-class citizens in the lands of their forefathers.
“If herdsmen wish to finally embrace reason and heed the sensible advice shouted across the southern region for them to halt their violent invasions into people’s farmlands and instead adopt the modern, peaceful ranching approach, then they must set aside funds to lease lands from owners so willing, instead of a forceful conscription through outrageous legislations sponsored by their elites.
“Governor Obaseki’s Bill and acquiescence to these Fulani invaders is an affront to all free-born citizens of Edo State, and an act of political desperation taken too far.
“To add salt to injury, we are aware that the Governor has enlisted highly-paid propagandists to sell this treacherous and unfortunate Bill as a “solution” to the herdsmen crisis.
“What kind of solution rewards suspected criminals with lands to carry out a private business? How many businesses enjoy such a law-backed concession in Edo State?
“We wish to state in no uncertain terms to Governor Godwin Obaseki that we will not fold our arms and let him carve out our state and sell it in bit and pieces to his Fulani friends.
“As citizens concerned with the future of the state, we are mobilizing Edos in their thousands across all the senatorial districts to resist this systemic dispossession and treacherous act.
“His appendages in the House of Assembly should note, too, that the passage of such a Bill will mark the end of their political journey in Edo State.
“We have historically resisted plot by foreign invaders, who find willing collaborators in traitors within our ranks, to seize our lands and appropriate our ancestral possessions at any cost.
“That has not changed. We remain ever committed to defending lands bequeathed to us by our forebears. Governor Obaseki is advised not to test the resolve of the people on this issue.”
Barring last-minute political brinkmanship, Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Betta Edu will emerge as the new National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC at the party’s national convention scheduled for this Saturday, March 26.
The position is zoned to the South-south by the party.
Party insiders told this magazine that Dr Edu who is a member of APC’s reconciliation committee is backed by leaders of the party within and outside the South-South, including the state Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, who, as the only APC governor in the zone, is the leader of the party there.
Last week, state chairman of the APC, Barrister Alphonsus Ogar Eba unveiled Dr Edu in Calabar as Cross River APC’s consensus candidate for the position of National Women leader.
“Those of us rooting for Dr Edu see in her robust qualities required of any woman desirous of the exalted office of the National Women leader of our great party”, a female party chieftain from Akwa Ibom state told the magazine.
According to her, “Dr Edu is young, vibrant and energetic; she is a great grassroots mobiliser, one blessed with oratory skills and sound education”
One of the young commissioners in the Ayade cabinet, Dr Edu, a former student union leader at the University of Calabar where she studied Medicine, hails from Ibalebo in Abi local government area, the central senatorial district of Cross River.
Before she was appointed Health Commissioner in 2019, Edu was the Director-General of the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), and Special Technical Adviser, Cross River state Privatization Council to the Governor.
Apart from her medical degree from the University of Calabar, the APC National Women leader hopeful has a Post Graduate Diploma in Public Health for Developing Countries from London School Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, Master of Science Public Health in Developing Countries from London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and Doctor of Public Health from Texila American University.
The present challenges facing the Buhari administration arose from the failure of past leaders to the tackle social, economic problems in the past, Mohammad Badaru, Jigawa state governor has said.
Governor Badaru spoke barely a week after President Muhammadu Buhari apologized to Nigerians on the collapse of the National Grid resulting in power failure in the country, with many business owners lamenting.
The president had also begged Nigerians to be patient with his administration as it tackled the fuel scarcity in the country which has lasted for more than a month.
In a statement issued last by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the president expressed regrets for the inconvenience caused to the citizens by the prolonged shortage of petroleum products in many parts of the country. He urged Nigerians to be patient as relief was coming their way soon.
Buhari said: “The administration knows the fuel shortage and power outage have placed a strain on Nigerian citizens and businesses, but relief is on the way. I especially apologize to all sections of society for this.
“The government is working round the clock to attend to this issue. An action plan agreed upon earlier this month is being implemented to address the scarcity.
“Working together with the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), this plan is now bearing fruit.
“Sufficient fuel supply has returned to a handful of states, with the queues at stations falling. In the coming days, we expect this to be the case across the rest of the country.
“Looking to the longer term, funds are being targeted toward keeping fuel availability affordable for the country. The international energy markets have surged drastically in recent months, the government will, however, ensure that consumers are protected against these price spikes.”
On the nationwide blackouts being experienced across the country, Buhari said, “the blackouts seen in the national grid are also being addressed. A dip in hydroelectric generation due to seasonal pressures has coincided with technical and supply problems at thermal stations.
“On this, the government is also working tirelessly to resolve the issues at the latter to guarantee sufficient power flows into the national grid.
“The government’s attention to these problems will bear fruit very soon.”
Before President Muhammadu Buhari swept tom power in 2015, those that had ruled the country included former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.
Even though each leader has been applauded by leaving one or more legacies, Governor Bdaru said they did not perform enough, to the extent that the Buhari administration is now left to tackle the problems.
Many Nigerians have slammed the administration for performing below expectations, particularly in key areas where it promised to effect a turn around.
But the governor said things would have been easier for the administration if past leaders had done their parts, especially in the area of infrastructure.
Badaru who spoke on Sunday at the 60th anniversary of Radio Request Presenters Association of Nigeria in Dutse, implored Nigerians to be patient and prayerful to end the social and economic challenges bedeviling the nation.
According to him, “despite the numerous challenges facing the country, President Buhari has done a lot, especially in infrastructure.
“Many roads and projects abandoned by past governments were completed by this administration, while others are nearing completion.
“Nigeria is in a trying moment and it is God the Almighty that promises to try us. However, when we become patient and prayerful, then He (God), will bring the best for us.
“So, I urge you to be patient and pray fervently and soon Nigeria will be great again.
“And even though the country may not have fared well in some area, but it has made remarkable strides, especially in infrastructure. This is because even road from Kwanar Huguma – Shuwarin – Azare – Damaturu was completed by Buhari’s administration.
“And all these challenges, including that of security and what have you, were inherited by this administration, but we’re doing our best and would continue to do so until Nigeria becomes great and great again. But this needs patience and prayer,” Badaru said.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as an insensitive, absentee, President.
In the face of the unprecedented fuel crisis which has crippled all facets of the economy, and brought untold hardship to Nigerians, the PDP said it is shocked that Mr President has remained aloof, especially, as he also doubles as the substantive Minister for Petroleum Resources.
In a statement released Sunday, signed by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the Party warned that: “There is a limit to what the people can bear under an administration that remains arrogant, inhumane, unconcerned and insensitive to their plights occasioned by its misrule.”
They wondered why Buhari who, from the United Kingdom where he went for medicals, intervened in the crisis that engulfed his Party, the APC, has failed to do the same to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.
Said the PDP: “If President Buhari could personally communicate on issues that concern his fizzling party, the APC, while in England, it is inconceivable that he failed and neglected, as always, to attend to life- discounting experiences and pains encountered by Nigerians daily by the thoughtless and inhumane policies of his government.”
Following is the full text of the PDP statement.
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to note that its unrelenting culture of arrogance, impunity and criminal pillaging of our national resources is akin to kneeling on the necks of Nigerians.
“The PDP warns that there is a limit to what the people can bear under an administration that remains arrogant, inhumane, unconcerned and insensitive to their plights occasioned by its misrule.
“Is it not an unpardonable dereliction of duty that while the nation is in turmoil and agonizing under a collapsed national grid, protracted fuel crisis, distressed aviation sector, plummeting currency, crippled production and commercial activities, President Muhammadu Buhari remains aloof and “absent” as always?
“The failure by President Buhari, who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources to take immediate action, other than the snobbish stance by his Presidency that ‘heavens will not fall’ because of fuel scarcity amounts to daring Nigerians to do their worse.
“It is often said that when a government abdicates its responsibility to the citizens at whose pleasure it should serve, then that government is complicit in the suffering of its people and a beneficiary of their woes.
“Sadly today, thousands of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises; the drivers of the economy are folding up daily, industries are relocating to neighboring countries, universities are on strike, the aviation sector is on the brink of collapse, our Railway is tottering to a halt due to lack of diesel, police are threatening to go on strike, insecurity is on the rise due to the collapse of the informal economic sector, yet Mr. President had time to holiday in England!
“If President Buhari could personally communicate on issues that concern his fizzling party, the APC, while in England, it is inconceivable that he failed and neglected, as always, to attend to life discounting experiences and pains encountered by Nigerians daily by the thoughtless and inhumane policies of his government.
“President Buhari needs to be reminded of his duty to Nigerians, to in the least, show some empathy, competence and concern as our country rapidly drifts towards a looming precipice. The frustration in the country is already degenerating into a nationwide restiveness that may result to the breakdown of Law and Order if allowed to fester.
”With petrol now selling between N400 to N500 per liter, diesel at over N800 per liter, kerosine at over N750 and aviation fuel at N670 per liter, millions of businesses, employments and sources of livelihood have collapsed in both urban and rural areas resulting in acute hardship and widespread social tension across the country.
“Our Party fears that the situation is getting to a boiling point and can trigger a nationwide agitation that might be worse than the October 2020 EndSARS if not addressed immediately.
“President Buhari must take responsibility for the criminal racketeering in his government by APC leaders which has led to the crippling of the economy under his watch. He should stop abdicating his duties by sending his aides to issue wild claims, fake promises and noncommittal apologies on the abysmal failures of his administration.”
A socio political Group in Benue State, Benue Rebirth Organization, (BRO), has kicked against an alleged plot by some Governorship aspirants under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) to stop a co-aspirant, Arc. Joe Kyaagba, from the race.
Reports from the State indicate that the social media has been awash with result of a purported pruning down of aspirants for the 2023 PDP Governorship primary wherein, four candidates were reportedly selected by a Caucus.
According to political pundits in the State, this is to allow for an easier ride for a politician from Kunav tribe in Vandeikya Local Government Area during the party’s primary.
But BRO, in a statement on Sunday, signed by Comrade Joshua Ikyange, its spokesman, condemned the pruning down of aspirants, noting that it was a plot meant to stop eminently qualified aspirants like Kyaagba.
The Group insisted that the exercise didn’t receive the blessing and authorization of the state governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, leader of the party in Zone A, Senator Gabriel Suswam, as well as the party’s State Working Committee.
The Group maintained that the exercise will jeopardize the chance of the party in next year’s general election.
The statement reads: “The masterminded results of the Vandeikya PDP caucus towards the pruning down of governorship aspirants, if allowed by the state party machinery, paints a very poor credibility for the party.
“Such sponsored mischief to discontenance credible PDP aspirants in an undemocratic and non transperent approach that throws up poor leadership will only shoot the PDP in the foot as the public is watching anxiously for the quality of emerging party candidates to decide direction of voting.
”From the round of consultations being made by aspirants across the state, the pedigree, performance antecedents and blue prints presented by Arc Joe Kyaagba and Dr Paul Angya, give much hope to the Benue electorate and PDP stakeholders.
“The gang up by some people to force the exit of Joe Kyaagba from the Ortom government, was obviously a calculated attempt at frustrating his interest in 2023 Governorship.
“This is yet another miscalculated attempt at casting doubts about his popularity. The attempted muscling of Joe Kyaagba known to all in the state as an astute stricker for the party with very high ratings across the state, will cast a low morale among the electorate.
“The more the efforts at preventing the PDP from putting its best forward, while the APC is tinkering with the likes of Prof. Terhemba Shija and the renowned Catholic priest, Fr Hyacinth Alia, the ruling party in Benue State is unwittingly itching for its death.
“Are they afraid of Joe Kyaagba or what? Joe Kyaagba is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), a member of the national institute (mni), and a member of the Catholic order of the Knights of St Mulumba (KSM).
“A former Benue State Commissioner of works and Housing; Former Special Duties Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom; a doctoral student in security and strategic studies who successfully executed the Benue Amnesty program between 2015-2016 under Gov Ortom’s first tenure.”
Public campaigns by political parties jostling for the Governorship of Ekiti state kicks off on Sunday in line with programme schedule of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
The commission has fixed June 18 for the poll which will elect a new Governor for the state.
The newly elected will be taking over from incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, whose second term tenure terminates on October 17, 2022.
INEC had released names of candidates for the poll last week after participating political parties concluded their primaries.
According to the commission, 16 candidates representing the parties are expected to slug it out at the election.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, explained that out of the 16 names on the list, 14 are men, while two are women.
Okoye stated that “On Wednesday 16th February 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) for the Ekiti State Governorship election in our State and Local Government offices as required by law.
“In compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates for the election, following the close of nominations by political parties.
“The Commission wishes to remind political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list ‘shall notify the Commission in writing, signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election.’
“Furthermore, the attention of parties is drawn to Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to notify the Commission ‘shall not be ground to invalidate the election’
“The final list is published in our State and Local Government offices in Ekiti State as well as our website and social media platforms for public information as required by law.
“Political parties are enjoined to note the provision of the law for compliance.”
African Democratic Party, (ADP) has a woman in person of Kemi Elebute as its flagbearer while the All Progressive Congress, (APC) has Mrs Moni Afuye, as deputy Governorship candidate among others
Political parties and their candidates are expected to tranverse the 16 local government areas and 177 wards of the state to canvass for votes from electorate.
INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu, had projected a budget of N7 billion for Ekiti and Osun polls before the national assembly.
“We budgeted N7bn for the conduct of Ekiti and Osun governorship election, including the possibility of runoffs.
“We made a provision of N2.6bn for Ekiti State with a population of over one million registered voters and N4.4bn for Osun with 30 local government areas.”
Despite denials, The Source (Magazine) can authoritatively confirm that a faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC aligned to one of the Party’s Leaders and former Lagos State Governor, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is readying one of the fringe parties as an alternative platform for his Presidential ambition. This is if, as is being strongly speculated, he does not get his Party’s ticket for the 2023 Presidential election.
LEFT IN THE LURCH
Tinubu, in January, declared his intention to run for the Presidential seat next year on the platform of the APC. But there are indications that critical stakeholders in the party, including President Muhammadu Buhari, several APC Governors, and the powerful cabal in Aso Rock, are not enthusiastic about his Presidential project.
Asked by a panel of Channels TV reporters during a live interview in January about anointing a successor, President Buhari affirmed he has indeed pencilled down one, but would not mention his name on the grounds that doing so may put him ( the anointed successor) in harm’s way.
A Party chieftain from the Southwest, who didn’t want his name mentioned told the magazine: “As far as Asiwaju’s presidential ambition is concerned, I can confirm to you that those who he helped to power have now left him in the lurch. They are not buying into his ambition. And this is betrayal. The man gave APC his all, he gave APC life, he gave APC valve. Without him, the party wouldn’t have dislodged the PDP in 2015”
Perhaps. It was Tinubu who delivered the South-West to the APC but the North has consistently been for Buhari since he began his Presidential aspirations. Tinubu only helped to add to the bulk, solid votes that has consistently been Buhari’s.
Buhari: Not looking in the Tinubu direction.
“He cannot, therefore, claim to have installed Buhari alone, otherwise, why did he not install Nuhu Ribadu or Atiku Abubakar when his former Party, ACN, used them?”, an angry Northerner who said he had become tired of “the Tinubu myth” told this medium.
WITH OR WITHOUT APC
Dependable Aso Rock and APC sources swore that the former Lagos state governor was not the person Buhari was referring to in that Channels TV interview.
Said one of the sources: “That TV interview greatly unsettled Tinubu. After Buhari made that declaration in the Channels TV interview, Tinubu was jolted; it dawned on him that he is not in the President’s calculations for the APC Presidential ticket”
An APC source told the magazine that the decision of the party’s National Leader to declare his Presidential ambition a few days after the President’s interview “was to keep hope alive and to maintain his grit-determination to pursue the Presidential ambition to its logical conclusion with or without the APC”
“Take this to the bank: Tinubu will be on the ballot paper as a candidate for the 2023 presidential election but not on the platform of APC. Buhari will ensure that APC chooses its candidate through consensus and that consensus candidate will not be Tinubu”, he further told the magazine.
ALTERNATIVE PLATFORM
Though the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has denied a possible Tinubu take over of the party with the view to fly its flag in the 2023 Presidential election, findings show that in the coming days, foot soldiers of the former Governor will start emptying into the party to prepare the ground for his eventual grand entry.
It was gathered that the SDP was decided upon for several reasons.
First, it was reasoned that having existed with the same name during the ill-fated transition programme of former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, SDP is a party Nigerians can easily connect with.
Secondly, as the party (the old SDP) on which platform the late MKO Abiola contested and won the annulled June I9 1993 Presidential election, SDP still strikes a chord in the consciousness of the Yoruba of the Southwest, the home region of Tinubu and the late politician.
Thirdly, since forming a new Party will be impossible, given the tight timetable of the 2023 elections, SDP approximates to the “progressive” bend of the APC and Tinubu’s former party, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which merged with others to form the APC.
APC WILL PAY A HEAVY PRICE
This Magazine was told that Tinubu’s camp is determined to inflict unforgettable injury on the APC should the party decide to treat his Presidential aspirant shabbily.
The game plan, it was gathered, is to deny the APC Southwest votes by steering the region towards the SDP.
A Tinubu loyalist who is in the know of the highwire plots asks rhetorically: “Tell me how the APC will win the election with Southwest votes going to the SDP, Southeast and South-South headed to the PDP and Northcentral and Northeast a battleground between the APC and PDP”?
“The APC still has the opportunity to save itself from death, otherwise it will pay a heavy price for mistreating Asiwaju”, he further said.
APC MAY HAVE NO GUBER CANDIDATE IN LAGOS
The APC risks having no gubernatorial candidate in Lagos for next year’s election. As part of the planned fatal blow on the party by the Tinubu camp, Governor Samwo-Olu, it was gathered, will be supported to clinch the APC ticket but will later dramatically emerge as SDP’s substituted candidate on the final date parties are allowed by INEC to substitute their gubernatorial candidates thus, leaving the APC with no opportunity to replace him.
MUSLIM -MUSLIM TICKET
To appeal to the religious sensibilities of the core Muslim Northern states like Kano, Kebbi, Kastina and Jigawa and to divide APC’s vote in that axis, Tinubu, the Magazine was informed is, allegedly, mulling a Muslim running mate to replicate Abiola’s winning strategy in the North in the 1993 Presidential election. But it is not all smooth for Tinubu, even in the South-west.
GROWING OPPOSITION AT THE HOME FRONT
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s Presidential ambition has continued to receive cold shoulders from some Yoruba elites.
Apart from Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olabode George, Senator Babafemi Ojodu is the latest of such elites that have publicly rejected the former governor’s presidential bid.
Describing Tinubu’s Presidential bid as a huge joke and an insult on Nigerians, George who was a former Military Governor of Ondo State and ex-Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, vowed to go into exile if he (Tinubu) emerges President.
On his part, Ojodu said he would rather return to his farm than support Tinubu’s Presidential chase, saying he does not believe in him. His words: “Never! I’ll never support it. Write it down I’ll go back to the farm.If I don’t believe in you, I’ll not work with you or for you.”
Adebanjo had, shortly after the former Lagos State Governor made his Presidential ambition known, declared neither he nor Afenifere would support him.
In a March 19, 2022, post, a stunned Abuja parent, tells the horrifying story of how his son, Almin Bature, a serving National Youth Service Corps member, a graduate of Information Commuuications Technologies, University of Cape Coast, Ghana, was kidnapped from the high profile Maitama Amusement Park, Abuja.
Date was March 16, 2022.
By Saich Bature (Father)
Like the previous days of the week, Wednesday, March 16th, 2022, started like any normal day for my son, Alamin Saleh Bature, a National Youth Service Corps member and graduate of Information Communications Technology from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.
His mother revealed the news of his Kidnapping to me at a time I was about to retire to bed by 9:30pm. It was like a dream. How my wife came into the room, her countenance and the way she was breathing, holding a cellphone to her ear, showed that there was something amiss about that telephone conversation.
Visibly disturbed and disoriented, she looked at me and said, ‘’Alamin has been abducted, but thankfully, the man I have spoken with told me he is safe at Garki police station and one kidnapper was arrested.’’
Ordinarily, Maitama Amusement Park (MAP) should be the last place to expect a kidnapping operation in Abuja. The Park is a bustling resort full of family fun, excitement and an array of activities and eateries. Unfortunately, it was at this spot that the three young men who were camouflaged as Policemen abducted him. The incident occurred around 7:30 pm.
The kidnappers accosted him and accused him of thievery and dope-pedaling. They handcuffed him and forced him into a waiting Toyota Corolla car. As soon as they sped off, and out of the sight of the people at the Park, they asked their captive to give them N100,000 to bail himself and go scot-free.
They stopped at the Access Bank branch at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 where they forced him to empty his account by withdrawing the last N30,000 in the account.
To frighten and compel him to succumb to their demand, they took him to a dark spot near the former SARS office, a notorious Nigerian Police detention cell, equivalent to the former USSR prison camp at Serbaria. It was at this point that the urgency to scape and save his life from the captivity of those wolves dawned on him.
He told them that the transfer he was expecting must have entered his account. Unknown to the greedy and wicked criminals, it was this attempt to get more money from their abductor that led to freedom for my son and the arrest of one kidnapper who, incidentally, own the vehicle with which they committed the crime.
At the Zenith Bank branch on Lagos Crescent, he ran away to save his life. They pursued him until he fell to the ground because of exhaustion. A commotion broke out when Alamin told the crowd about what had transpired and showed the receipt of the N30,000 they forced him to withdraw from his account and give them. As the commotion ensured, an ‘’ambush team’’ of Security men arrived the scene. Two of the kidnappers escaped with the vehicle but one was arrested.
On reaching the Garki Divisional Police station on Lagos Crescent, Garki II, two armed Police officers at the gate showed me to a parking space and led me to the office where my son was writing his statement. On the floor near the entrance to the office, I saw a young man, light in complexion, handcuffed to a steel column (who was obviously the kidnapper), some armed Police officers in uniform, two men in traditional Hausa attire and a light-skinned, well-built, man with a thick and full moustache in a jeans trouser and a T-shirt who was later introduced to me as Godpower Chinaechrem.
Godpower, a Christian of Igbo extraction, and the other 2 Hausa men I mentioned earlier were the good Samaritans God used to rescue my son.
When one kidnapper showed his fake police identity card and were about to go with Alamin, he held Godpower’s hand firmly and said, ‘’I am not a thief. Don’t allow them to go with me, please.’’ Like a revelation from above, Godpower felt that the victim was innocent of the spurious charges against him.
Godpower said, he saw the innocence in the eyes of the hapless and helpless young man, and he empathized with him immediately. He questioned why they did not detain their alleged criminal at the Maitama Police station? He, therefore, insisted that the boy must be taken to the Garki police station which was not more than 100 meters away from them.
It was at this point the security men arrived the spot and God helped them to arrest one of the three kidnappers.
It is important to share this unpleasant experience for people to know that there is now no safe place in Nigeria. We should not take our personal security for granted. Kidnappers can operate with ease and impunity anywhere in Nigeria.
They have changed tactics with which they can easily deceive gullible people. They have the audacity to move around with handcuffs, pepper spray, fake ID cards, uniforms, guns, duty belt, badges and other Police officer’s equipment and accessories to deceive and arrest innocent bystanders in public places.
It has happened to my son. It is really a traumatizing experience and trial that could happen to anybody at an anytime.
May the Supreme Lord of the world, who has power over all things, protect us from the evils of kidnappers. May He also expose and punish them for their crime.
The story sounds, and reads, stranger than fiction. But reports say Honourable Arthur Egwim, Member, Imo House of Assembly is missing.
He reportedly missed in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, since Thursday, March 17, 2022.
Egwim is the Member representing Ideato North Constituency in the State House of Assembly. And, until he was suspended by the Assembly, under the Leadership of Speaker Ken Ibe, along with six others, he was the Chief Whip of the All Progressives Congress, APC – controlled Assembly.
He was replaced with Honourable Obinna Okwara, representing Nkwerre State Constituency.
Egwim had according to an alert raised by Collins Opurozor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State, arrived Abuja from London by 6.00am, and checked into Immaculate Hotel, Wuse 2, at about 7.00 am.
By 8.00am, he went down to the restaurant for breakfast.
Thereafter, he went back to his room.
But, at about, 9.00am, he came down again and spoke with the Hotel Receptionist. He then went outside and met somebody, who, according to Opurozor’s alert, wore an all- white attire. The man (driver of the vehicle), ushered him to the back seat of the car – owner’s seat. And they drove off. The car was identified as a black Prado Jeep. A CCTV camera watched by this Reporter confirms this.
Honourable Egwim was seen as he walked towards the car, entered it, and they drove off.
However, since that Thursday, nobody has been able to see Egwim. He has not come back to his Hotel room.
Some questions remain unanswered. Was the Prado a car hire service in the Hotel? What did Egwim discuss with the Hotel Receptionist before he stepped out to enter the vehicle? Did he tell the Receptionist where he was headed to? Or, is the owner of the vehicle an acquaintance of Egwim’s and/or his friend? Or, did Egwim simply pick any vehicle he saw as some people are wont to do thinking it was a car hire service? Who would use a Prado SUV as a car hire service?
At the time of writing this, it was not confirmed if a report of a missing person has been made to any Police Station in Abuja or not.
