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Stop Working With PDP For A Southern Presidency, PGF Warns APC Chieftains

By
Uche Mbah
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Salihu Lukman

By Uche Mbah

Director-General of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Salihu  Lukman has cried out that some All Progressives Congress, APC chieftains, are working in tandem with their cohorts in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to cede its presidential ticket to the South in  2023.

Recently, after playing some cat and mouse games waiting for APC to zone the Presidency first, the PDP finally zoned the Chairmanship slot to the North, indicating that its Presidential Candidate would likely go to the South.

Speculations are, however, rife that some Northern APC legislators are rooting for a Southern Presidency come 2023, with many backing former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu is said to be keying into the expectations by sending a message to the lawmakers: ” I will soon be back”, he allegedly boasted.

A viral video showed Tinubu entering a car and one of his loyalists called out to him, “Mr. President, see you soon”.

But in a statement from Lukman, Sunday, titled “APC and Struggle for New Nigeria” he said excessive politicization of issues on the ground by the PDP is pushing the APC lawmakers to tow this line. An example was how the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC aligned with the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike of the PDP to fight the APC-led Federal Government over a collection of the Value Added Tax VAT.

According to him, it is scandalous for an APC member to sue the Federal Government as was done in the case of VAT.

“Part of the challenges of excessive politicization is that it also threatens internal unity of APC members and leaders. For instance, excessive politicization in the country is influencing the decision of some APC leaders to push negotiations for the emergence of the party’s Presidential Candidate for 2023 elections outside the structures of the APC. This is now threatening the unity of the leaders of APC.

“Around the whole question of power shift, some leaders of the APC have gone outside the structures of the party to mobilize support for the party to zone its Presidential candidate for 2023 to the Southern part of the country.

“In a worrisome way, the loose partnership is being contracted with a section of leaders from other opposition political parties, notably PDP.

“It is important that all APC leaders are reminded that the campaign for power shift is about writing or respecting the rules of our party. This should be handled within the structures of the APC.

“It is belittling for APC leaders who are statutory members of all the relevant structures of the party that are competent to take a final decision on the matter to go outside the structures of the party and forge a partnership with PDP leaders to compel a decision, one way or the other, on the matter.

“It simply means a loss of confidence in the structures of the party, which in this matter couldn’t have been the case.

“It is, therefore, important that a strong appeal is made to all APC leaders to develop more confidence to negotiate every matter, including the issue of power shift, within the structures of APC.

“The current trend, which appears to create divisions among APC leaders must be halted. The question of unity among APC leaders is a fundamental precondition for being able to continue to win the support of Nigerians, which is what can guarantee any electoral victory.

“The confidence of PDP and their supporters is only stronger in campaigning against APC and President Buhari’s led Federal Government, using the false narrative of failure, because unity among the ranks of APC leaders and member is increasingly being broken. Even the reality of reactive and passive communication of APC-led government initiatives is further becoming a dominant attribute because unity among APC leaders is getting weaker”…

“All APC members must strongly appeal to all APC leaders to rebuild confidence and ensure that every issue that should be addressed within the structures of the party are treated so. Perhaps, also about the question of the unity of leaders within the party, all governments produced by the party should be able to strengthen internal relations.

“Internal consultative processes should be functionally made stronger such that disputes between governments are well managed, negotiated and any possible agreement respected. The recent partnership between Lagos and Rivers States about the legal dispute on Value Added Tax against the Federal Government is, to say the least very disturbing.

“All party members and leaders should without prejudice to the grievances of Lagos State Government appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to initiate processes of direct engagement with the Federal Government to resolve all issues.

“It is politically scandalous for APC state to sue APC Federal Government. Everything taken together – mobilizing for power shift outside APC and the legal case between Lagos State and Federal Government – require that our leaders should be open to themselves. Beyond being open, APC leaders should have both discipline and respect for each other. Unity of leaders will be meaningless, if not impossible, without discipline and respect for one another.

“Leaders will be unable to unite party members and Nigerians if they don’t have the required discipline and respect for one another.

“It is not by accident that public debate in Nigeria is very offensive. Citizens treat each other with disrespect and easily abuse each other in unprintable languages.

“This may perhaps be the true reflection of the quality of relationships among leaders.

“The APC Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee need to take up the issue of uniting all APC leaders and ensure that relevant structures of the party are being used to facilitate negotiation on all emerging issues, including the question of power shift. All leaders of the party should be reminded that the fundamental issue of changing Nigeria will remain a dream so long as leaders failed to work for the development of the structures of the party.

“Building a party is beyond winning an election, important as it is. Building the party is specifically about ensuring that the structures of the party are competent in facilitating negotiations among members and leaders on every issue.

“Every negotiation should produce an agreement that must be respected by every leader and member.

“For APC to achieve the goal of producing a new Nigeria, first thing first, it must be a party with a leadership that is united, disciplined, and respectful. The process of re-organizing the structures of APC must make the party functionally active in facilitating negotiations among leaders at all levels and all agreements reached must be respected by all.

“It is the process of negotiation and implementing agreements reached, which should be respected by all that can produce a New Nigeria!

“At this point, it is also important to appeal to the APC Caretaker Committee to conclude the work being done to amend the constitution of the party. Strengthening processes of disciplinary hearings and enforcement of decisions shoulprioritizedtised. The capacity of the party to regulate the conduct of members and leaders should be strengthened”, he added.

State Of The Nation: Ozekhome Laments, Says Buhari Has Failed

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Human Rights and Constitutional lawyer, Mike Ozekhome has lamented the state of the nation, saying  President Muhammadu Buhari has failed in his tripodal policies through which he campaigned and won election in 2015 which are: Economy, security and anti-corruption.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, is saddened by the deplorable state the nation has found itself.

He brought this to bare at the Human Rights lecture organized by the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, with the theme: “Nigerian School Children; Insecurity and Human Rights”, held in Abuja, the nation’s Capital over the weekend.

Speaking on insecurity he said, “Is that a country? Does any of you who have children living in hostels and dormitories sleep with your two eyes closed? Not knowing of when next they’ll strike?, he queried.

“When President Muhammadu Buhari was campaigning for this office…I like my President but I do not like his governance style and policies.

“Policies that have impoverished Nigeria. Policies that have made Nigeria the poverty capital of the world, overtaking India. Policies that have made Nigeria that was until 2015 the biggest economy in Africa overtaking South Africa and one of the seven fastest growing economy in the world”.

Hammering on the tripodal policies of economy, security and anti-corruption, Ozekhome said Buhari has dismally failed in all of them.  “Security is worse right now…Boko Haram we used to have that time at least people were able to vote for him in 2015 and he won in the North East, showing that though Boko Haram existed, they were not so rampant to prevent people from voting.

Boko Haram has since graduated, strutting around like a proud peacock. Armed banditry has escalated, kidnapping is the order of the day. In security, he has failed.

“In economy, I have already told you, we’re now the poverty capital of the world. What of anti-corruption? Go and check, we’re 168 out of 180 covered by Transparency International.

“In West Africa, we’re the 3rd most corrupt country. So where have the President and the government helped Nigeria? I had on television and in my write-up challenged Nigerians that anyone who can carry the Holy Quran or take up the Holy Bible or if you’re an atheist, pick up a piece of Sango Iron and say your life is better off today than you were in 2015.

“I challenge the person for a national debate but until now no one has taken up the challenge because everybody knows things are not right. The deaf can hear it; the dumb can speak it; the blind can see it and even the numb can feel it.

“So it’s not a question of whether you are in APC, PDP, APGA, Labour, Zenith or PPA. Hunger knows no strike, religion or nationality. The fact is that things are bad for everyone whether Muslims or Christian, atheist, old men, women, youth and children.

“Things are bad and it could be worse except Nigerians come together and go back to the drawing board. Some people are saying that Nigeria is a failing state and I say no. I don’t agree.

“If you asked me, with all due respect, I’ll say Nigeria is a failed state. Do you know why? It is because one of the greatest indices of a failed state is when non-state actors like Boko Haram, kidnappers, armed bandits have efficient and commensurate powers to match state actors like security forces. That’s a failed state.

“When Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers begin to tell the government, ‘this is what we want.’ Taking over lands and planting their flags as Governor Zulum of Borno State and Bello of Niger State have cried out that in some lands in their States, they have planted flags; they’re demanding for taxation; they issue identity cards and give pass to people to pass.

“We don’t need any other evidence of a failed state. It’s not about liking or not liking a government, it’s about saying the reality on the ground. Please Nigerians, let’s go back to the drawing board. If you like, bring all the helicopters and fighter jets you can, the truth is that the problem is more endemic than you can see.

“Because on the surface, it looks insecurity but beneath it is what we call social injustice and lack of egalitarianism…Nigeria is wobbly, gobbling and fumbling because it was not neatly packaged on the 1st of January, 1848 by Lord Lugard.

“It started with Lady Flora Louise Shaw on the 8th of January, 1897 in an article she wrote on Economic Times where she gave Nigeria her name “Niger Area”. And we agreed to live together. And if we agreed, let us live together in peace and unity. Let’s not always say ‘Nigeria is indivisible; it’s indestructible.’

“We don’t say that by words of the mouth, we nurture it. Pakistan and India used to be one country; Eritrea and Ethiopia used to be one country as well as Sudan and Southern Sudan. So it’s not by merely saying it, you have to nurture it.

“We must have peace and social justice… we are talking about the kind of peace and social justice Chief M.K.O Abiola preached…Let us reformat and reengineer Nigeria. Let’s make a new constitution for ourselves. A constitution that will be… Indigenous, owned by the people and respected by all and legitimate.

“Not a constitution that was imposed by the General Abdusalam Abubakar government when they were going back to the barracks. How many of you know that Nigeria actually contested the 1999 elections without a constitution? Nigerians never made the constitution by themselves but even if we’re to manage it, Section 14 of that constitution said that the primary purpose of the government is to provide welfare and security for the people, are we having it?”

Twitter Ban: SERAP Demands Withdrawal Of Impermissible Conditions On Twitter By FG

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Twitter Logo

By Akinwale Kasali

Less than 48 hours after President Muhammadu Buhari announced that the Ban on Twitter, a Social Media Networking Platform, will be lifted if the demands and conditions put forward by the Federal Government are met, Human Rights Group, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP regards those conditions as impermissible.

SERAP demanded that President Buhari should, as a matter of urgency, withdraw the conditions imposed on Twitter pending the final determination of the suit at the Economic Council of West African States, ECOWAS, Court of Justice in Abuja.

The Group had sued the FG, challenging the legality of the suspension of Twitter, however, calling on the FG to allow the court to render a decision on the central issues in the case, and protect the plaintiffs’ rights and interests.”

President Buhari had during his national address on October 1st, Nigeria’s 61st Independence anniversary, given conditions for the ban on Twitter to be lifted. They include that concerns around national security are met, and that even when the suspension is lifted, Nigerians will only be allowed to use Twitter “for business and positive engagements.”

In this vein, in a statement and an open letter dated 2nd October 2021 and signed by SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization said: “The conditions imposed on Twitter while the ECOWAS case is pending constitute an interference with the right of SERAP and other plaintiffs to fairly and effectively pursue a judicial challenge to the decision by your government to suspend Twitter in Nigeria.

“The conditions make a mockery of the case pending before the ECOWAS court, and create a risk that the course of justice will be seriously impeded or prejudiced in this case. Protecting the right to a judicial recourse and due administration of justice is of utmost importance, being the cornerstone of an ordered society.”

According to SERAP: “Imposing impermissible conditions on Twitter would undermine the rights and interests of the Plaintiffs in the ECOWAS Court case filed against your government, as the conditions directly touch on the central issues of freedom of expression and access to information, which the court is set to determine and rule upon.”

The letter, read in part: “Pushing conditions on Twitter while the ECOWAS case is pending would prejudice the interests of the Plaintiffs, undermine the ability of ECOWAS court to do justice in the case, damage public confidence in the court, and prejudice the outcome of the case.

“It is in the public interest to keep the streams of justice clear and pure, and to maintain the authority of the ECOWAS court in the case. If not immediately withdrawn, the conditions would seriously undermine Nigeria’s international human rights obligations including under ECOWAS treaties and protocols, and have serious consequences for the public interest.”

“Given that the only way in which SERAP and other plaintiffs can have a fair and effective access to justice is to allow the court to decide on the merits of the case before it, fairness and justice must, on the facts of the ECOWAS case, outweigh any stated national security conditions.”

“Your government should allow the ECOWAS Court to decide these issues, especially as the Federal Government has made the arguments on national security before the court.”

“The core of the principle of judicial independence is the complete liberty of the judge to hear and decide the cases before them on the basis of facts and in accordance with the law, without any improper interference, direct or indirect.”

“The principle of the independence of the judiciary has also been enshrined in the Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary, endorsed by the General Assembly in 1985.”

“The principles provide, inter alia, that it is the duty of all governmental and other institutions to respect and observe the independence of the judiciary (principle 1); that judges shall decide matters before them impartially without any restrictions or interferences, direct or indirect, from any quarter or for any reason (principle 2); and that there shall not be any inappropriate or unwarranted interference with the judicial process (principle 4).”

“SERAP, therefore, urges you to urgently withdraw the conditions imposed on Twitter, and to allow the ECOWAS court to decide on the suit brought by SERAP and other plaintiffs challenging the legality of the suspension of Twitter in Nigeria. Judgment in the suit is fixed for 20 January, 2022.”

African Bar Association To Honour Nigeria’s Former President, Two Governors

By
Ayodele Oni
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Goodluck Jonathan

By Ayodele Oni

Three prominent Nigerians have been nominated for the award of the African Bar Association, (AFBA) during its annual conference coming up later this month in Niger Republic.

They are former President, Dr Goodluck Ebere Jonathan, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state and his Rivers state counterpart, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.

Both Governors Tambuwal and Wike are Life Members of the AfBA.

The event is billed to hold in Niamey. Former Presidents of Niger Republic, Muhammadou Issoufou, Sierra Leone, Dr Ernest Bai Koroma and Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf are among nominees to be decorated.

Other nominees of the medal are: the Chairman of BUA Group of Companies, Abdussamad Isyaku Rabiu and first Tamil-Indian female appointed as a Judge of the High Court of South Africa in 1995, Justice Navanethem Pillay,.

A statement by the Special Adviser, Media to the Governor, Mohammed Bello, stated that the President of AfBA, Mr Hannibal Uwaifo, disclosed this when he visited Governor Tambuwal in Sokoto.

The visitor was taken round to inspect some ongoing and completed projects in Sokoto by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Suleiman Usman (SAN).

According to Mr Uwaifo, AfBA, which wants its members in the government to excel, is really proud of Governor Tambuwal, who has executed many developmental projects in his state.

Along with members of his entourage, the AfBA President  inspected the ultra modern Diagnostic Center at Farfaru, the state High Court complex renovated by the incumbent administration, the 950-bed Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital (SOSUTH) under construction and the Girls Science Academy also under construction.

In his remarks, Mr Uwaifo said “I think the Federal Government and its agencies have to learn from Sokoto state government.

“We must not do substandard project and we must not play politics in executing projects and we must face the divident of democracy.”

MURIC Alleges Plot To Destroy Islamic Education In South West

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Islamic Rights Group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, has condemned the shortfall of Islamic Religion Knowledge, IRK, taught in both Public and Privates Primary and Secondary Schools in Nigeria.  It says the subject is gradually going into extinction.

The Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, raised the alarm over what he called:the neglect and unimaginable state of the subject,” stressing that it poses danger in the South West States.

Akintola said those behind the shortfall of Islamic Religion knowledge, IRK teachers in the Southwest are creating a trap for the future generations.

In a statement issued by the Group on Saturday October 2nd, 2021, it said: “The teaching of Arabic language and Islamic Studies (IRK) is gradually disappearing in both primary and secondary schools in the South West. Most of these schools have no subject teachers for the two subjects and no effort is being made to recruit teachers for them. Most of these states only employ teachers of other subjects when they recruit any teacher at all.

“The tab given to teachers in some of these states has notes on Bible Knowledge (BK) fully loaded whereas what is found under IRK is: ‘This period is designated for IRS specialist to teach pupils’.

“The IRK period is often wasted without the pupils learning anything about the subject due to lack of teachers, scheme, guide, or textbooks but BK or CRK content for teaching is readily available.

“We urge the Ministries of Education in the Yoruba States of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti to urgently address this gross imbalance. Religious education is important to inculcate the right values and the fear of Allah in the citizenry from childhood.

“However , the purpose may be defeated if attention is paid to only one religion at the expense of another. It should be noted that criminals do not discriminate between one faith or the other when they pick their victims. The current spate of insecurity which is affecting people of all faiths should be a lesson to all.

“Whoever thinks this is a problem for Muslims alone has missed the point. We are interwoven in all facets of life. Neither will teaching BK to Muslim children solve the problem because square pegs will never fit into round holes. A stitch in time saves nine.

“Those behind the artificial shortage of teachers of Arabic and IRK are simply setting a booby trap for future generations of people of all faiths in Yorubaland. The South West cannot afford to cut its nose to spite its face. We, therefore, advise the relevant authorities to investigate the imbalance in the availability of teachers of IRK, Arabic and BK as well as the lack of teaching aids for IRK while CRK is over-pampered.”

Buhari Jets Out To Ethiopia

By
Uche Mbah
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President Muhammadu Buhari

By Uche Mbah

President Muhammadu Buhari will, on Sunday,  jet out to Ethiopia to attend the inauguration of the country’s Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Monday, in Addis Ababa.

Ahmed is going for a second five-year term in office.

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said Buhari will deliver a goodwill message to the President of Ethiopia

“The President, who will depart Abuja for the Ethiopian capital on Sunday, is scheduled to deliver a goodwill message at the inauguration ceremony, after which he will attend a State Banquet in honor of visiting Heads of State and Government”, Adesina said.

According to him, President Buhari will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

He will be back in Abuja on Tuesday.

Ahmed secured another term in office in following his party’s, Prosperity Party, victory in the country’s parliamentary election last June.

Buhari had earlier congratulated him.

‘‘On behalf of the Nigerian people, I send you and the people of Ethiopia our good wishes for your courage and commitment to the democratic process and urge you to continue with the good policies of your government that endeared you to the people,’’ the President said in the congratulatory message to the Prime Minister.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chieftain Narrates Encounter With Gun Wielding IPOB Members

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

Fabian Onwughalu, a lawyer and former chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos branch, has narrated his encounter with gunmen who are supporters of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Onwughalu, who narrated how he was trailed by the men in Nnewi, Anambra state, said they were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons.

“As I concluded my case at high court 3 Nnewi, Anambra state today, I drove to the New Spare Parts Market to buy engine oil for my generator. Thereafter, I quickly proceeded to my country home to meet one of my errand boys, Mr. Anayo, who had been waiting at the gate since 4 pm to see me for some allowance,” he stated.

“After the traffic light junction, I decided to increase my speed to 80 kph, but lo and behold, a black Toyota Rav 4 suddenly appeared behind, trailing me.

“When I noticed that the car though old despite the model, 2010, had no number plate, I became very curious and suspicious. My first line of thought was that they could be either armed robbers who trailed me from the Access Bank ATM where I withdrew N20,000, out of which I had used 6k and 2k to buy PMS and engine oil, respectively or some exuberant youths on an alcoholic and drug spree. Whichever was the case, I decided to speed off far away from them since I trusted my turbocharged ride called “Terrorist Kid” a new model 2018 model.

“In a twinkle of an eye I had cruised to 100kph, but the vehicle kept following up with a gap of less than 5 yards. I thought of driving into the Otolo police station but quickly remembered that they had relocated to the CPS due to the fear of the unknown gunmen.

“As I was contemplating what to do, the worst happened. As I slowed down to avoid the potholes at Orizu petrol station, their car overtook me in a Gestapo style as in a James Bond movie and blocked both my car and an oncoming Range Rover sports 2020 model.

“I then said my last prayers and asked God to have mercy on me and accept my soul in paradise. One came to me and barked, “Oga Judge, what are you doing to bring Nnamdi Kanu out?”

“I told him that I just came back from Abuja last week where I joined his defence team free of charge. He told me to continue and that God will bless me. While two of them were interrogating the driver of the Range the other two were chanting “no Biafra, no election”.

The lawyer said the boys also threatened to blow up political meeting venues henceforth if the government does not stop “wasting the lives of innocent youths who throng their meetings.”

“After about ten minutes, he retreated to the Range and ordered the driver who introduced himself as a son of Igwe Orizu, Igwe Nnewi and the owner of the petrol station, out of the car and returned his two phones to him,” he continued.

“As this was going on another team arrived with a Honda Pilot. The second group shouted that they were the backup squad. “Meanwhile as their eyes concentrated on the vehicles, I quietly reversed into the Obindu petrol station, left my keys in the ignition and scaled the dwarf fence into the cassava farmland nearby.

“They later left with the four cars and the owner of the last car which they commandeered. Thank God they did not see any political party insignia on me and my car. Moreover, they thought I was a security agent trying to escape from them, but when they saw me in my lawyer’s apparel, they became friendly.

“I am still in shock after so many hours as my BP which shot up to 180 is yet to subside. Only the almighty God can intervene on this imbroglio.

‘Today, I confirm that these boys are armed to the teeth as I saw them ‘korokoro’ wielding AK 49, machine guns, antiaircraft missiles Russian made SMG, LA rifle and pistols. One particular boy of about 30 years who seems to be the leader had the ammunition belt rolled round his body like wrapper with two pistols by his trousers side pockets.”

Curled From The Cable

Boko Haram has Taken Over Niger State, Says LGA Chairman

By
Uche Mbah
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0

By Uche Mbah

Eight Wards in Niger state, comprising of 500 communities, have been taken over by Boko Haram terrorist Organisation, says Suleiman Chukuba, Chairman of Shiroro LGA in Niger state.

It has been gathered that in these communities, Boko Haram now impose tax on indigens, to the helpless chagrin of the State Government, thereby indicating a parallel Government.

Last April, they hoisted their flag in the State, making it officially a conquered territory.

During his speech at the United Nations, President Buhari had claimed that Boko Haram has been reduced to a small band attacking soft targets.

But speaking with journalists Friday, Chukuba said the occupied areas are Manta, Gurmana, Bassa-Kokki, Allawi, Kurebe, Kushaka, Kwasi, Chukuba, and Galadima Kogo.

“They incorporate the people of those communities by telling them they have arms and money to give them so they can assist them in fighting the Government,” he said.

“Shiroro Local Government has an uncountable number of Boko Haram fighters.

“I have the proof being that I am the Executive Chairman, the Chief Security Officer of the Local Government.

When they go to the various communities, what they tell them is that ‘We don’t want primary, secondary schools. We only want Islamiyya schools.’”

He appealed to the Federal Government to deploy more security operatives to the affected area to fight the terrorists.

Controversies have trailed Boko Haram activities in the country in the last twenty years.

While the Military claim they have been technically defeated, they continue to wax stronger in the Northeast. Over the years, they have spread their activities to other parts of the North, with the ambition to drift to the South.

Over 3,000 indigenes are now quartered at the camp for Internally displaced persons.

NANS Flays Hurried Closure Of OAU Over Student’s Death; Asks For VC’s Sack

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Following what it described as a hurried closure of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, the National Association of Nigerian Students, (NANS) has berated the Vice Chancellor and called for his removal.

OAU was shut down on Friday following protests by the students as a result of the death of one of them, Adesina Omowumi Aishat.

Aishat, a Part 4 student of the Department of Foreign Languages reportedly died as a result of negligence by health workers at the University Health Centre.

A statement by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, subsequently announced the immediate closure of the university and asked the students to vacate their hall of residence before 12 pm on Saturday.

The Management, also, put on hold the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials, pending review of the situation.

“However, Management condemns in strong terms the continuous and uncontrolled protests by the students culminating in unbridled brigandage, blocking the Ife/Ibadan and Ife/Ede highways and other adjoining roads that could be used as alternative routes, and engaging in other acts that are detrimental to their health and the safety of the generality of the people.

“Therefore, having exhausted all necessary avenues to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the campus and its environs, the authorities of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have accordingly closed down the school until further notice. This is to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“In view of this, all students are hereby directed to vacate their halls of residence and the campus latest by 12:00 noon on Saturday, October 2, 2021.

“Consequently, the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials has been put on hold, pending a review of the situation. In the meantime, the University management has put in place the machinery to unravel the circumstances surrounding the immediate and remote cause(s) of the crisis.”

However, NANS Zone D, condemned the ‘reckless’ closure of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State by the Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede-led Management and demanded, as a matter of urgency and necessity, the re-opening of the institution for students to continue their examinations.

The NANS Zone D also threatened to call for the removal of the University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede even as it disclosed that its Zonal leadership will relocate its secretariat to the University campus gate until the VC reverses the decision.

They also called on the students of the University and all Student Union bodies across the South West to mobilise in numbers for a showdown until the Management rescinds its decision, adding that it shall be calling for the removal of the University Vice-Chancellor at that spot and they shall be mobilised in their numbers.

NANS coordinator in the zone, Kowe Amos, and secretary, Giwa Temitope, in a statement, described the directive by the institution management to close down the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State as extremely infantile and primitive.

This is even as it demanded an immediate reversal of the decision by the management which it claimed was draconian, hasty and unnecessary.

“As an association, we find it appalling that the University management could go to the extent of twisting the narrative by saying that she was adequately treated. Meanwhile, reverse was the case.

“It is on good record that the helpless student was abandoned and was certified brought-in-dead at Seventh Day Hospital, Mayfair for treatment where she gave up the ghost.

“But the management in their characteristic manner had to lie that she was promptly treated of severe infection (which they could not even name). The fact that the management could not name the ‘severe infection’ is a testament to the fact that they lied.

“As against the content of the 4th paragraph of the circular that was issued by the University management, there was no attempt by the University Management “to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the campus and its environs.”

Abducted AVM Smith Released

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Retired Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith

By Adesina Soyooye

After five days in  kidnappers den, abducted Air Vice Marshal Sikiru Smith has regained his freedom. He was released early Saturday, October 2, 2021.

The circumstances behind his release are not yet public. For instance, it is not known if any ransome was paid before his release or not. But the Spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, has confirmed his release.

The AVM, who is the Chairman of Double Wealth Ventures, was kidnapped from the site of a project he was overseeing in the Ajah area of Lagos on Monday by masked men. He was taken away in a flying boat after they subdued him in a struggle. His eye glasses was picked on the site.

In a desperate voice recording, his driver, Corporal Odiji, raised an alarm which alerted the general public and security agencies.

Both the Military and the Police mounted a frantic search fir him.

The retired AVM is a cousin to retired IGP M. Smith, currently, the Chairman of the Police Service Commission.

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