Contrary to speculations in Ekiti State that the outgoing Governor of the State, Kayode Fayemi, has chosen his successor to enable him continue from where he will stop, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has debunked such claims.
Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District at the Senate stated that Governor Fayemi has not endorsed any aspirant in the All Progressives Congress, APC, for Ekiti 2022 Governorship election, appealing to Ekiti people to ignore such talks.
He made this remarks while addressing APC Local Government Executive, elders and members in Otun-Ekiti, the Headquarters of Moba Local Government Area.
In his words, “if they are deceiving you, don’t deceive yourself . Governor Kayode Fayemi has not endorsed anybody. I have right to drop Governor Fayemi’s name because I have been his friend for 40 years. But I don’t want to tarnish his good name because it will look as if he wants to impose on the people of Ekiti state. I am here to appeal for your votes during the party’s primary in January.” he explained.
Eulogising Governor Fayemi, Senator Bamidele said God has anointed him (Fayemi) to turn around the fortune of Ekiti State for good through developmental programmes and policies.
Bamidele explained that he understands the feelings of the common man on the streets of Ekiti State.
His words: ”I have seen a lot in life , I understand what the common man feels on the streets because I have been in that condition before.
“I have been buying cars for people since 2001, there is no local government in Ekiti state that I have not bought car for anybody, with what I have achieved in lif , God has done well for me the only thing I am pursuing in life is the kingdom of God. Because of my experience in life, I have touched many lives in Ekiti land and I promise to do more when i become the Governor of the State in 2022.”
Bamidele also visited Ilejemeje, Oye and Ikole local governments to solicit support ahead of APC’s primary election for Ekiti 2022.
After spending four years in the captivity of Boko Haram, there is no hope that Leah Sharibu with regain her freedom, her parents have said.
ah Sharibu was one of the 110 female students of the Government Girls’ Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, who were abducted on February 19, 2018, by Boko Haram terrorists.
While others were released by the terrorists following negotiations, Leah, then 14 year-old, is still being held captive because she refused to renounce her Christian faith.
The Buhari administration said it has not given up hope that the abductee can still be rescued.
But her parents Nathan and Rebecca Sharibu, told The Punch they have lost hope after all legitimate efforts to free her from her abductors failed.
The parents spoke through the spokesperson for and Executive Director of the Leah Foundation, Dr Gloria Puldu.
According to Puldu , “Thank you very much for your concern. Let me tell you how the family has agreed to spend this Christmas. They said they were tired of speaking, crying and pleading with the government of Buhari, which is deaf to every call.
“So, it is agreed that they should remain silent and just call for continued prayers. They said they were tired of routine calls, which hurt so much that they had to just call on anyone who wished to stand with them to do so only in prayers.“We wish to respect the family’s wishes. We have only sent out Christmas greetings by calling for prayers.”
Meanwhile, the Gideon and Funmi Para-Mallam Peace Foundation, on Sunday, released a video calling for the release of Leah.
A renowned peace advocate and Executive Director of the organisation, Rev Gideon Para-Mallam, appealed to Buhari to facilitate the release of Leah.
He said, “Celebrating her fourth Christmas in captivity, I decided as I have always done every Christmas since 2018, to release a video appealing to all in Nigeria and the world to work assiduously for her release and the release of more young girls and women who remain in captivity.
“Silence is no answer to this present challenge! Leah is not just a citizen of this nation. She belongs to a family! Oh what pain her parents, father Nathan, mum Rebecca, and brother Nathan, other siblings and the entire family!
“Their hearts must be bleeding as Leah’s has bled all these years because of this involuntary separation. Oh God, my Ebenezer, arise with healing and deliverance in your wings and set your daughters, Leah, Alice Ngaddah, Grace Tuka, Lilian Gyang Daniel, Praise, Mwanret, Hauwa, Jamaba, Caroline, Christiana, Jummai, the three other Graces, and others too numerous to mention by name, free.”
Governor Dapo Abiodun-led of Ogun state has revealed how disagreement between Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote and a former governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun cost the gateway state a whopping $16 billion investment.
The investment, the governor said is the multi billion dollar petrochemical refinery that has now been cited in Lagos, and billed to take off anytime from now with the potential to employ thousands of skilled, semi- skilled Nigerians.
Dangote had earlier disclosed that the refinery would start production in 2021, but the timeline was later moved forward to 2024 after agreement with creditor banks.
Amosun was the governor of the state between 2011 and 2019. His failure to agree with Dangote, the modalities for establishing the refinery was said to have been the reason for relocating the industry.
Abiodun- said the Amosun-led administration should have been resolved the differences with the investor in the interest of the state.
The refinery, the governor said was conceived with the aim of refining petroleum products, as well as awarding mining lease with the state.
Abiodun spoke during the Convocation Lecture he delivered at thethe Mountain Top University with the topic, ‘Quest for Excellence: The Nexus of Faith, Knowledge and Resilience’.
The governor said he and his team as the chairman of the Olokola Free Trade Zone at a time worked tirelessly to ensure that the refinery was cited in the Gateway state as the state is well known.
According to him, “I worked as chairman of Olokola Free Trade Zone that was meant to have the Dangote refinery sited in Ogun Waterside, however, discussion broke down between Dangote and the then administration which led to the loss of that project to Lagos State; a $16 billion refinery was lost to another state.
“That project was conceived with the aim of not just refining petroleum in Ogun, but also take advantage of the mining lease that had been awarded around that corridor that has even not begun to be exploited.”
Going forward, Abiodun said, his government is working to ensure that the state become an oil producing state, as “we are working assiduously on that, so, I accept this challenge, we will further strengthen our resolve to ensure that we bring Ogun State to oil producing status in the very near future.”
“Ogun state is situated in the Dahomey Basin, which stands for the Niger Delta that goes all the way to Ghana.”
“Everyone of the states in that corridor are oil producing today, even Ondo and Lagos states,” the governor stated.
Meanwhile, watchers of the state said Governor Abiodun allegation is the latest in the squabble between him and his predecessor, since he came to office in 2019. Both politicians are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC
The Federal Government plans to up the National debt to beyond the N50 trillion mark by 2023, according to the National Development plan 2021-2025.
There has already been reservations among Nigerians who believe that Government is enslaving future generation to the creditors who, like Chinese Government, do not have a benign history of debt recovery.
Government borrowing plan is to raise money through domestic bonds and concessional external loans where domestic debt will increase by N28.75tn and external debt by N21.47tn.
Government is already indebted to the tune of N38 trillion as at the end of the third quarter of 2021, according to the Debt Management office.
By extrapolation, a fresh debt of N12 trillion is expected in two years if the projection is carried through.
President Muhammadu Buhari intends to borrow N39.59tn for 2021, N46.63tn for 2022, N50.22tn for 2023, N50.53tn for 2024, and N45.96tn by 2025.
To finance this projection, which brings the plan to N348.1tn, Government needs to finance it to the tune of 45 per cent each for both foreign and domestic borrowing.
“The plan will require an investment of about N348.1tn to achieve the plan objectives within the period of 2021-2025. It is estimated that the government capital expenditure during the period will be N49.7tn (14 per cent) while the balance of N298.3tn (86 per cent) will be incurred by the Private Sector. Of the 14 per cent, government contribution, FGN capital expenditure will be N29.6tn (9 per cent) while the sub-national governments’ capita” the plan read in part.
“The borrowing framework in the plan is 45 per cent each for both foreign and domestic borrowing while the other financing sources account for 10 per cent. Domestic bonds and concessional external loan financing, amongst others, will account for the borrowing strategies for the plan. Thus, the government will improve on current debt management strategies to ensure sustainability.”
Nigerians have been asked by Civil Society groups to revolt against the Government’s planned fuel price hike this New Year, as, according to them, this would worsen the poverty level within the country.
The group, People’s Alternative Political Movement, TPAP-M, is made up of the Coalition NGO Networks in Northern Nigeria, Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Campaign for Transformative Governance, CFTG, representatives of Informal Sector Workers, Women formations, and youth and young persons, including those who continue to play front line roles in the #EndSARS movement-arguably the greatest coalition of civil society groups-urged Nigerians to brace up for the battle ahead.
At a meeting on the “deteriorating state of the Nation in general, the unacceptable evolving developments with regards to rising energy costs, and the impending unconscionable hikes in fuel price and electricity tariff being proposed by the anti-people regime currently superintending over the Nigerian state on behalf of the failed and ruining Ruling Class,” the group warned that the impoverishment of the masses is the target of all the expected hikes- the rising gas prices, and the threatened hikes in fuel prices. Small and medium scale businesses will struggle to survive and will lay off staff and many will even close shop.
In a communique by Omotoye Olorode and Jaye Gaskia (TPAP-M Secretariat), among others, the group said: “We reject in its totality the hike in the price of Gas, and the impending hikes in the price of fuel and electricity tariff. We insist that Nigerians cannot and must not be punished for the failures and incompetence of the ruling class and this regime in ensuring access to affordable energy and adequate security and protection.
“We demand that past and present managements of the NNPC and the four moribund refineries should be indicted, prosecuted and brought to book for their crass incompetence that has resulted into the failure since 2012 to have to turn around the fortunes of the refineries and make them work at optimum capacity, thus contributing significantly to Nigeria’s ability to acquire adequate domestic refining capacity.
“We demand that all political office holders who have had responsibility for oversighting – in executive or legislative capacity, the petroleum sector should be investigated, indicted and prosecuted.
“We demand the complete reversal of the power sector privatisation, and the re-nationalisation of the power sector, bringing it under the control and management of key stakeholders, including workers, and electricity consumers. We demand the recovery of all looted and misappropriated public funds pumped into the petroleum and power sectors (towards improving domestic refining capacity, increasing domestic production of LPG, or towards improving service delivery in the privatised power firms), etc.
“The recovered funds should be utilised to build new public refineries, improve domestic LPG production, and improve service delivery in the renationalised power sector. We insist that any government that is unable to build public refineries and enable adequate domestic refining capacity for refined petroleum products should resign immediately.
“In a similar vein, we call on all Nigerians to ensure that they reject any political party and their candidates who do not have any practical, fundable and believable program to resolve the energy crisis, and ensure adequate domestic refining capacity for refined petroleum products, adequate domestic production capacity for LPG, and improved services and coverage for electricity across the country.”
“TPAP-M and her allies will organise a week of mobilisations and awareness raising at the beginning of January 2022 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Occupy Nigeria – the January Uprising of 2012; and as well to build up momentum towards generalised mass protests across the country to resist the impending hikes in fuel price and electricity tariff, and the unfolding hike in the price of Gas. We demand a plan and a timeline to meet our demands. In view of the above, an expanded Coordinating Committee to wage the struggle against Hikes in Energy Prices would be established immediately.”
An economic think tank, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, CPPE has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN to reduce the Cash Reserve Requirement, CRR imposed on Nigerian bank because of its negative impacts on the banks.
The body disclosed this in its economic and business environment review for 2021 and agenda for 2022, also urging the CBN to review its forex policy.
For instance, the centre said the 27.5 per cent statutory cash requirement has limited the ability of commercial banks in the country to lend to the public for productive purposes.
The Godwin Emefiele-led CBN has maintained the ratio, despite complaints by banks in the country that the policy is having a serious toll on their ability to expand credit to their customers.
CPPE said the CRR must be reviewed in favour of the banks, adding that some banks in the country have more than 50 per cent of depositors’ funds deposited with the apex bank.
It said CBN’s efforts must be geared towards deepening investment in the country rather than stiffening it.
According to the centre,“financial intermediation is supposed to be the major function and essence of the banking system. The high CRR has made it difficult for the banks to play their primary role of financial intermediation.
“Their profitability is also adversely impacted because of limited room for credit creation activities. “Indeed, the ways and means finances of the apex bank pose greater liquidity risk to the economy than bank deposits. We therefore seek a reduction in CRR so that the banks can be better placed to play their primary role of financial intermediation in the economy.”
On the CBN forex policy, the body said, “our proposition is that we should adopt a flexible exchange rate policy regime. We would like to clarify that this is not a devaluation proposition.
“Rather, it is a pricing mechanism that reflects the demand and supply fundamentals in the foreign exchange market. It is a model that is sustainable, predictable and transparent. It is a policy regime that would reduce uncertainty and inspire the confidence of investors.
“It is a policy framework that would minimise discretion and arbitrage in the foreign exchange allocation mechanism. A flexible exchange rate regime is a policy choice adopted to cope with changing demand and supply conditions in the forex market.”
At the last Monetary Policy Meeting, MPC for the year, held in November the members agreed to maintain all monetary parameters including the CRR. To do otherwise, Emefiele said at the end of the meeting, would mean to pull the country back from the path of recovery.
MPC said “On the other hand, whereas loosening will lower policy rates, ease liquidity pressures, and stimulate additional credit creation which will boost output growth, MPC also thinks that loosening will further widen the negative real interest rate gap and compound the price distortions in the money markets which could fuel inflationary pressures.
“As for whether to hold its existing stance, MPC believes that the existing monetary policy stance has supported the growth recovery and should be allowed to continue for a little longer for consolidation to achieve the MPC mandate of price stability that is conducive for sustainable growth. The Committee also feels that a hold stance will enable it to carefully appraise the implications of the unfolding global development around policy tapering and normalisation by advanced economies.”
The dominant story in today’s Nigeria is the fate of the nation’s latest electoral bill. The decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to return the bill to the National Assembly un-assented to, on account of the provision on compulsory direct mode of party primaries, has continued to elicit diverse reactions. While a few people are rationalizing the President’s reasoning, very many are quite upset by the high degree of political uncertainty which the subject has created for the country. At about the same time, there has been a spark in the level of vicious killings in different parts of the country particularly the Northern Region. Considering the primacy of the right to life among all freedoms, one would have thought that Nigerians would not bother much about the electoral act. But that has not been the case because our politicians have over the years successfully made politics the main agenda of the nation; nothing else appears to matter. As a result, the electoral bill diverted attention from the more profound latest killings of 47 people in Kaduna, North-West, Nigeria among others.
The intriguing thing is that many Nigerians are bothered about elections even though they know that there is hardly any politician in the country that is sincerely interested in elections let alone those that are free and fair. They just want to get into office. Under the circumstance, what is the real value of our electoral law? Many of those in support of or against the President’s failure to assent to the electoral bill are merely motivated by self-interest. As events have shown, the initial belief that state governors were against direct primaries can no longer be sustained in view of the posture of governors such as Kayode Fayemi (APC, Ekiti) and Samuel Ortom (PDP, Benue). Yet, many governors are vehemently opposed to direct primaries. As for law makers, the situation is the same. Although the bill emanated from the legislature, not all members are truly in support of direct primaries. Those who saw it as an opportunity to reduce the power and influence of their governors and thereby led the support group have fizzled away within the twinkle of an eye. Indeed, the threat to collect signatures to override the President’s veto which on the first day of the threat reportedly rose above 70 was merely theoretical.
In truth, the problem with the electoral bill is not the mode of primary elections, the real fear as some people have observed has since 2015 remained the electronic transmission of election results. With it, rigging is made more difficult to achieve, hence whatever can be done to keep it away would be strongly canvassed or surreptitiously inserted in a law. The argument that direct primaries would expand participation and give ownership of the voting process to the people is misconceived because the mode like its indirect counterpart, can be subjected to manipulation and used to achieve ignoble goals. As we saw in the recent Anambra governorship election, the mode was ‘used’ by the ruling All Progressive Congress APC, to select flag bearers for the contest which at the end produced contentious results that the judiciary has now invalidated.
It can therefore be argued that the last minute smuggling of a compulsory mode of direct primaries into the electoral bill was done with the understanding that its controversial nature will make it impossible for the bill to see the light of day. The schemers appeared to have done some deep forecasting. One of the arguments that direct primaries would be expensive to handle was expected to be countered by the explanation that no matter the cost, it is well if it is successfully rigged. It was however forgotten that it is the parties that would bear the cost. They and not INEC are the ones to select and secure venues, print ballot papers and other logistics while INEC is only to monitor the primaries. But why will legislators who are themselves politicians deliberately weaken their parties by dictating how they should be subverted? Does that not run counter to the wishes of the same politicians that parties should be allowed to manage their internal affairs? This contradiction suggests that many politicians are not really interested in any form of control or indeed, any electoral law. They only want to rig elections which explains why they always scheme to destabilize INEC.
Politicians have continued to give the impression that there is no law which empowers INEC to transmit results electronically; whereas, on March 26, 2015, President Goodluck Jonathan signed into law an amendment to the Electoral Act which stated that “Voting at an election under this Act shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission.” What is the difference between this amendment by Jonathan and all the pretensions by legislators since 2015 of working on a bill that can empower INEC to transmit results in any particular manner? This is why we have argued that Nigerian legislators have always taken the Nigerian people for a ride without consequences. They do not even want an independent electoral commission that would handle an election as a game that is played by its rules. Our premise therefore is that, if the main contention in Nigeria today is transparency of the conduct of elections in which the votes of the electorate are allowed to count, we do not need any amendment to the 2015 provision stated above.
Besides, why should Nigerians continue to tolerate politicians who scheme to control the nation’s electoral body notwithstanding its constitutionally guaranteed independence? At first, the struggle was to foist on INEC, an election time table determined by the legislature. It failed. The next scheme which also failed was the attempt to subordinate INEC to some communication entity. Now that the people have overwhelmingly demanded the electronic transmission of results, the schemers are trying to kill the Electoral Act as a whole so that what they detest the most, does not survive. There are at least two therapies here. First, there is nothing in the Nigerian Constitution which empowers anybody to supervise INEC. Consequently, any attempt to make a law purportedly for the good governance of the country but which in any way seeks to direct INEC is illegal. Second, the current INEC led by Professor Mahmood Yakubu has courageously declared, close to a dozen times this year, that nothing can stop her from electronic transmission of election results. Instead, Yakubu insists that INEC will “continue to deepen the use of technology in the conduct of elections, especially the electronic transmission of polls results and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).”
The cost of handling the process INEC has designed for elections is quite high. Only a few days ago, the commission put her needs at N305 billion. Many people are already unhappy with expending such huge sums on elections. As observed by the South-West Zone D of the National Association of Nigerian Students NANS, “the country might not be able to manage the implications of such expenditure during a precarious economic climate.” Should we in all honesty push INEC to spend more to monitor primaries? If an election is a game such as football, is it the duty of the referee to guide a team to select its players? Why are we looking forward to mature political parties that can effectively and efficiently handle their internal matters while at the same time insisting on directing them on how to select their flag bearers? Could it be that we are unable to depart from the military’s transition to civil rule political programme of old where the electoral body was made to draw up party manifestos and constitutions? If not, what is this game of allowing candidates whose elections were conducted by INEC into the legislature to later produce bogus instruments in the name of electoral law that obstructs free and fair elections? It is certainly time to talk less of electoral law in Nigeria.
Seyi Makinde, Oyo State governor has assured residents of the state that the IPP embarked on by his administration will provide electricity for state owned assets such as hospital, schools and street lights.
The governor who spoke on Sunday said, the project is not solely meant to provide electricity for the government house, contrary to suggestions in some quarters.
He spoke at the special Thanks Giving Service held at First Baptist Church, Igbojaye, Itesiwaju, Local Government Area of the state,
Accirding to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Taiwo Adisa, the IPP formed parts of Governor Makinde’s election promises to the people of the state.
Critics of the government, Makinde said “have been criticising us. They said the 11megawatts project does not make any sense because it will only power the Government House.
“Let me say here today that they need to do more research. It is not only Government House that it will power but all the street light within 10km radius, hospitals, schools, Judiciary Complex and the stadium will be powered.
“On my way here, I have seen the poles meant for the light-up project in Igbo-ijaye. We will ensure we power the project with gas generators here. And when the light comes, darkness will definitely vanish and that is the essence of the project.”
He said his works are there to speak for him, adding that his government will leverage on the resources of all the zones to develop the state.
According to him, “for us in Oyo State, we are saying you should evaluate us based on what we said we would do and whether we are doing them or not.
“In Oyo State, we have both comparative and competitive advantages in about four areas. One is agribusiness.
“When we went to Brent Farm at Ijio, the owner said that from the survey, the area is the most fertile in Nigeria, and it is the same for most places in Oke-Ogun. So, if we talk about competitive and comparative advantages in agribusiness, Oke-Ogun has a place.
“The second area is solid minerals and Oke-Ogun will also feature when we talk about the development of solid minerals. Another aspect is Tourism. The hanging lake, which is at Ado-Awaye, is a perfect example and the Oke-Ogun zone will feature too.
“Thedeepest Gorge Dam on the entire continent of Africa is at Ikere. So, this zone will also feature as far as tourism is concerned.
“The last is commerce. Oyo State shares an international border, which is between Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axis. So, Oke-Ogun also features in commerce. So, as a government, if we want to lead our people from poverty to prosperity like we mentioned in our roadmap for accelerated development, we have to focus on those areas.
“And what exactly are those things we need to do? We need to develop our infrastructure and that is why, six months into this government, we awarded the Moniya-Iseyin road.
“If we also talk about commerce, Saki is almost the furthermost city in Oyo State, which is closer to the border with the Republic of Benin. That was why we focused on completing the Saki Township road, which is done right now.
“Let me also say that there are other zones that have one or two things they can contribute to the development of our state. Talk of Ogbomoso, Oyo and others. We have started the construction of Oyo-Iseyin road, passing through Fasola. Fasola is our agribusiness hub and the same thing in Ibadan. If you are coming from Lagos and going to North or East or other parts of the South-West, you will pass through Ibadan.
“So, Ibadan is almost the centre of Commerce for the entire South West. That is why we are saying anybody who is passing through Ibadan should have a good experience and want to come back.
“Those are some of the steps that this government has taken to ensure that we are expanding our economy and I’m very sure we are on the path of taking many of our people out of poverty,” Makinde said.
Former Governor of Imo State, and now the Senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, said he suffered the worst humiliation of his adult life on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
His son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, was arrested by dozens of Security Operatives on Sunday while he was at the outing Thanksgiving Service at St Peters Anglican Church of his mother, Mrs Jemimah Nwosu; who was buried on December 22, 2021.
Okorocha said the manner of Nwosu’s arrest was nauseating. He said in the process, they humiliated his whole family.
He lamented that his wife, Nneoma, former First Lady of Imo State, was pushed to the floor while his daughter, Uloma, Nwosu’s wife, was stripped and his clothes torn. He said his son-in-law, Nwosu, was dragged into a bus, his dress torn.
Okorocha holds Governor Hope Uzodimma responsible, and said Uzodimma’s hatred for him stinks to high heavens.
Okorocha, who spoke from his house in Owerri said Uzodimma wants to frame his family over the spate of insecurity in the State, and reminded Imolites that last week, Uzodimma had said he would, on January 3, 2022, name those behind the insecurity in the State.
He wondered what his son-in-law was arrested for, and what he is being framed of.
Even though he said the Commissioner of Police in the State, who he said he had called, confirmed to him that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, knew of the operation, Okorocha insisted Nwosu was arrested without any warrant of arrest. He said he also called the IGP, but that the IGP’s phone was switched off. Nwosu was arrested like a criminal, he lamented.
Nwosu and his wife at the Church Service before his arrest.
Okorocha: “It was the worse humiliation in my life.
“My wife was pushed down and my daughter’s clothes were torn into pieces by the policemen who came into the church to arrest Uche Nwosu without a warrant of arrest.
“I want to know the offence my son in-law has committed that they rough-handled him, because I’m yet to be informed.
“I have called the Inspector-General of Police. His number was switched off. I have called the Commissioner of Police. He said the order came from above.
“Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the Church for an outing service when a group of men in police uniform, while sermon was on-going, started shooting.
“In the course of their activities, they pushed down my wife and they tore my daughter’s clothes. No warrant of arrest. No invitation.
“We suspected kidnapping at first. Many people were injured while running. Uche Nwosu was dragged into a bus carrying Imo State Government number.
“They were identified as Policemen from Imo State Government House by their colleagues attached to Uche for the burial. I got the CP who said that IGP approved his arrest.
“The shock of such arrest without warrant and humiliating members of my family is unfortunate. Most security operatives in Imo know nothing about the arrest.
“I don’t know what they framed him up for. IGP could only do this on a high level misinformation from Hope Uzodimma.
“Over one hundred gunshots to arrest Uche Nwosu. What kind of a ruthless behavior on innocent citizen of Nigeria?
“Hope Uzodimma has shown tremendous hate to me and members of my family. Lawmakers who attended the burial were suspended.
“I am waiting to hear the offence of Uche Nwosu. Recall that Hope Uzodimma said he is going to name sponsors of insecurity in Imo State on January 3.
“I Know he has nothing to offer than to cook up a story. Last time he ordered my arrest and one security officer ordered me to enter the pickup vehicle.
“Uzodimma wants to frame me up by all means. Uzodinma has to answer for most of the activities going on.
“Uzodimma must mention the names of those who are responsible for insecurity in Imo State or he should be held responsible for all the killings in the state.
“Uzodimma has framed up something against Uche Nwosu. Buhari should be informed about what is happening in Imo State. Hundreds of citizens are been killed in this state.
“What is happening in Imo State is under-reported. What is happening in Imo is bad.
“How come it is only Abuja and Imo Government House that know about the arrest? Everybody knows that Uche Nwosu can’t hurt an ant.
“I want to know the reason for the attack on a Church, why Uche Nwosu should be treated like a criminal and Imo Government should provide answers immediately. You can’t be a governor by intimidation.
“Hope Uzodimma deceived Abuja for the arrest of Uche Nwosu. Hope Uzodinma is 1,000 percent responsible for the arrest.
“Using diversion for his non- performance can’t work. It Is either Uzodinma, or is the IGP or the Governor of Imo? I don’t even know the whereabouts of Uche Nwosu.”
But the Imo State Government has accused Okorocha of incoherence and contradiction.
Addressing the Press at the Government House, Owerri, on Sunday, Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, said Okorocha was only whipping up sentiments but said such will not save him. He pointed out that while Okorocha said the IGP knew about Nwosu’s arrest, he still turned round to accuse Uzodimma of being responsible for it. “He is incoherent”, Emelumba said.
He also said that in Okorocha’s shoes, he would wait for Police investigation, pointing out the mayhem in Orsu where many people were killed, including a Traditional Ruler, and their bodies dumped in a pit.
But he quickly added that he was not associating Nwosu’s arrest to it.
Emelumba: “All he wants to do is to whip up sentiment among Imo citizens, but he has failed.
“If Uche Nwosu is arrested, what he (Okorocha) should do is to wait and see why he is arrested.
“But he is talking incoherently, and that will not save him.
“What he should do is to wait for the law to take its course.
“All of you went to Orsu and saw the carnage there. I am not saying he is linked to the incident.
“You also witnessed his statement during his mother-in-law’s burial where he invited the youths to protest.
“All these are evidence of his incitements in the State.
“The Government has no hand in the arrest of Uche Nwosu, but any attempt by Okorocha to use it to cause panic is evidence of guilt and that cannot save him.
“Okorocha has contradicted himself when he said that the Commissioner of Police told him that the order came from the Inspector-General of Police and at the time he said that the arrest was ordered by the Governor.
“This shows that he is speaking inconherently and that cannot save him.”
For now, tension reigns in Imo State and Nwosu’s arrest has taken the centre-stage of discussion.
Tragedy struck the Peter Obi family on Sunday, December 26, 2021.
NEXT Cash and Carry Supermarke, unarguably the biggest Supermarket in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, was razed down by an inexplicable fire incident.
NEXT was originally owned by Peter Obi, two-time Governor of Anambra State and the Vice Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2019 Presidential election. But he sold it to his younger brother when he was elected Anambra Governor. Since then, he has maintained only a passing interest.
As the multi-billion Naira Supermarket burnt, a number of criminally minded Nigerians exhibited the worst in them. They embarked on a looting spree, carting away goods worth millions in Naira. From mattresses, fridges, Ovens, Television sets, all sorts, they looted.
The cause of the fire incident, or from where it started, is yet to be ascertained, but a shocked Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has ordered a thorough investigation into the tragic incident.
In a statement issued on his behalf by his Spokesman, Anthony Ogunleye, the Minister expressed shock and sadness over the incident.
He commended all first responders who tried to help to stop the fire from spreading to other properties around the area.
