Home Blog Page 2446

Dickson Visits IGP, Says Attacks On Police Personnel Devilish |The Source

By
The Source
-
0

The immediate past Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson, on Friday,  May 14, 2021, condemned, in very strong words, the recent attacks on Police personnel and Police facilities in parts of the country. 

In the past couple of months, they have been victims of violent attacks, which have resulted in the killing of many policemen and the torching of Police facilities, especially, in the South-east and South-south. 

The two Zones have become graveyards for Police personnel, to the extent that many of them no longer wear their uniforms.

As a step to curb it,  the NPF high command has banned the escort by Police, of any Politician or VIP to the South-east, so such Policemen don’t become targets.

Condemning the grave situation, Dickson, who started his early life as a Policeman, asked for an immediate cessation.

The former two-time Governor of Bayelsa State, and now,  the Senator representing Bayelsa West,  stated these when  the  Inspector-General of Police, Ag. IGP Usman Alkali Baba, received him at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

According to a release by Force Spokesperson, CP Frank Mba, the Senator said  he was at the Force Headquarters to solidarize with the IGP and the entire police family “on the account of the dastardly and criminal acts of terrorism, unprovoked and coordinated attacks on Police, murder of innocent police officers and malicious damage of security assets and other Government infrastructure in some parts of the country.”

Dickson, unequivocally, condemned the attacks and called for “a cessation of all such criminal acts.” 

He asserted that the Police is not the problem of the nation and should not be seen as the enemy of the people.    

The Senator, while congratulating the IGP on his appointment as the 21st indigenous Inspector General of Police, called for proper funding of the Police to enhance its operational efficiency. He commended Police men and women for doing their best in the face of daunting welfare and operational challenges.

The IGP, in his response, thanked the Senator for his visit. He assured him and the Nigerian people that “in spite of the numerous challenges the Nigeria Police is facing, it would remain committed and unwavering in its task of protecting lives and property.”

CNPP Says Senate President, Reps Speaker, Worst in History of Nigeria; Wants Past Confab Documents Dusted Now |The Source

By
The Source
-
0
Chief Willy Ezugwu

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has described “the current leadership of the National Assembly, particularly the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan,  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, as the worst performing Principal  Officers of the National Assembly in the history of Nigeria.”

While reacting to a recent call by legal luminary, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), who faulted 17 southern governors’ demand for a constitutional conference and said the 415 Senators and Reps members are a waste of resources, the CNPP said “the national lawmakers have remained the worst disappointment to the Nigerian electorates.”

According to the umbrella  body of all registered Political Parties and Political Associations in Nigeria in a statement signed by the CNPP Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, “the Southern Governors’ ban on open grazing is the right way in the right direction but there has to be in place a domesticated legal framework for enforcement rather than a mere mouthed ban, which amounts to political statement.
“However, their call for a National  Confab is faulty as the recommendations from past National  dialogues are accumulating dusts and should be put to use by the National Assembly as there are no new issues in the country that have not been discussed at earlier national confabs.

“But, unfortunately, the current leadership of the National Assembly has remained the worst rubber stamp principal officers ever.
“We agree with Mike Ozekhome (SAN) who spoke in Anambra State on Thursday, as a keynote speaker at the 25th Law Week of the Awka branch of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where he described the Southern Governors’ suggestion for another confab as unnecessary.
“Like the Human Rights Lawyer asked , what is wrong with previous confab resolutions and recommendations?

“Recommendation from the Obasanjo’s national dialogue, the PRONACO people’s confab by late Chief Anthony Enahoro, and the Jonathan’s 2014 confab all have recommendations, which addressed our current challenges, among others.

“If Nigeria had implemented the recommendations of the 2014 confab, there would have been a state police today and we would have had a part-time legislature, among others, that would have nipped in the bud current restiveness and agitations across the country, including the ongoing deafening insecurity.

“Since 2015, the All Progressives Congress (APC) led administration has carried on as if all is well with the country and have continued to avoid burning issues of national interests, sacrificing the future of our youths on the alter of  party loyalty.

“Why have Nigerian political elites continued to postpone the doomsday?

“The gloomy future we failed to work against is now our current reality and insecurity has reached the highest level under the current APC led federal government.

“The earlier we wake up and confront our fears, the better to for us all”, the CNPP warned.

Ondo:Deji Of Akure Defies Govt, Spits Fire, Insists He Remains Paramount Ruler Of Akureland |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi

By Ayodele Oni

There is palpable tension in Akure the Ondo State capital, as the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, has called the bluff of the Ondo State Government.

The Government had, in letter to the Deji a couple of days ago, watered down his authority over some areas in Akureland

But he insists that he remains the  authority in .the  two Local Governments – Akure North and South.

A reaction from the Palace on Friday flayed the letter from the Ministry of Local  Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, describing the Permanent Secretary as ignorant of the existing law.

The statement, signed by the Chief Secretary to the Deji, Mr Michael Adeyeye, reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to set the record straight.

“We received a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs signed by its Permanent Secretary and dated 7/4/2021.

“He enumerated some communities where there are purported disputes over chieftaincy related issues and requested to investigate.

“The letter was written barely a month after the resumption of the permanent secretary who had little or no knowledge of an already existing judgment which had settled the case(s) upon which the letter was premised.

“Upon the receipt of the letter, the Deji through his counsel replied the Ministry to inform her of an existing court judgment in respect of the matter.

“It is imperative to state that the permanent secretary acted erroneously with the matter and it had since be settled.

“Equally, it is worthy to state that the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was equally a co-defendant in the suit number AK/28/2017 filed at the Ondo State High Court by the Akure North Monarchs in which Judgment had been given wherein all the claims of the Obas of Akure North Local Government against the Deji were dismissed.

“It is laughable that those who are claimants in the case will claim ignorance of the judgment and still go ahead to misinform the Ministry on the status-quo.

“Interestingly, all the Communities enumerated in the said letter were rightly adjudged in favour of the Deji of Akure Kingdom to be under his control.

“The Communities include, but not limited to Eleyowo, Isinigbo, Ayetoro and many others. The extant position, therefore, remains that;

“From time immemorial, the entire Akure Land has been under the hegemony of the Deji of Akure. By virtue of his said position, the Deji was the paramount ruler over the entire Akure land as well as being the consenting authority over all minor Chiefs, Olus and Baales under him.

“That prior to the bifurcation of Akure Local Government, the Deji of Akure by virtue of his position is the prescribed authority, was empowered traditionally and in law to appoint and consent the appointment of minor chiefs within the land not minding the bifurcation of the old Local Government into Akure North and South.

“It is on record that soon after the Judgment of the High Court, the Akure North Monarchs apparently dissatisfied with the judgment decided to appeal the judgment which is pending before the Akure Judicial Division of the Court of Appeal.

“It is important to alert the public that the Monarchs had abandoned the case they instituted at the appeal court but rather chose to bamboozle the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs into taking an uninformed decision.

“Ironically, the Ministry is also a defendant in the case instituted by the Obas in Akure North which was dismissed.

“It is important to emphasize that he who wants equity must come with clean hands. We urge those who have pending cases to pursue them rather than resorting to self-help through peddling of falsehood.

“We urge the good people of Akure Kingdom both at home and in diaspora and the general public to disregard the content of the misleading story being circulated by some resentful individuals with perverse mind in its entirety.

“We equally appeal to the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to enlighten the general public, the Obas in Akure North and those concerned of the errors contained in its said letter of 7/4/2021 and 19/4/2021.

“We wish to also appreciate the Ondo State Governor for his understanding and his unrelenting efforts at uniting all communities and forestalling any form of ill feelings that could trigger crises in all communities across the State.”

Herdsmen invade Lagos, take over Ancestral Lands |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
-
0

By Uche Mbah

Reports indicate that herdsmen have now taken over some parts of  Lagos depriving villagers of their means of livelihood.

They have reportedly taken over ancestral land owned by the Ali Moibi Balogun family of Ele, generally known as Iganke Farmland. This is at Egiri town in Eredo Council Development LCDA.

The family claims  the herdsmen are already erecting permanent structures on their ancestral land which has been handed over to them through inheritance.

In a letter dated May 20, 2021, written through their lawyer,   Adeyemi Adegbite, they urged the State Governor, Babajide Sanwolu, to begin discrete inquiries into the case.

“We hereby urge Your Excellency to deploy your very good office to  intervene in this matter, cause a very discrete investigation to be conducted and esdure that our Society is not turned into a lawless one, where might is right and power can be hijacked by a few powerful individuals or groups of individuals to the detriment of the common and law abiding citizens” the petition said.

Lagos recently has been in the eyes of the storm since rumors of alleged pending attacks by both Yoruba militant groups and IPOB.

Nothing was said about herdsmen though the Government has proposed the banning of motorcycles (Okada) and Tricyles (Keke) to replace them with buses.

Most of the operators are from the North.

Insecurity: Gbajabiamila Says All Nigerians Guilty |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that all Nigerians should be held responsible for the unprecedented insecurity in the country.

He said the absence of unity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence led to the sorry state the nation finds itself  insecurity-wise.

Speaking at the Presidential Villa Abuja, Gbajabiamila said, “God even puts you through challenges so that you can come out of it stronger, no one should be exonerated from being culpable in whatever challenges Nigeria is facing”.

He noted that the Eid El Fitri celebration is a period of sacrifice, love and worship amid the challenges in the country.

All Nigerians, he added, should share in the blame of whatever travails are confronting the country, insisting that this was not the time for name calling, and urged Nigerians to be united.

“This is not the time for name calling or blaming one another. If truth be told, we all have equal share in the blame in whatever challenges we have. We all must come together. The same way we all have equal shares, we must all come together to make sure that we resolve whatever issues there are,” he said.

He, expressed optimism concerning Nigeria’s ability to overcome the present security challenges.

“Like I said earlier, the greatest nations have gone through even worse challenges than this and I believe that it’s that’s spirit of oneness, it is that spirit of togetherness, unity, and love that will get us through this.

“There are many things that people have said here and there. You never know where these things are coming from. Sometimes, God even puts you through challenges so that you can come out of it stronger, bigger, better bolder. And that’s what I believe is going to happen to Nigeria.”

Don’t Pit Yoruba Against Igbo, Ohaneze Warns |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
-
0
Professor George Obiozor

By Uche Mbah

The Socio cultural Igbo group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, has asked the Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwolu, to ignore the report which alleged a plot by Igbo Secessionist group, the Indigenous people Of Biafra, IPOB, to attack Lagos. Ohaneze insists the allegation is a ploy to put a political wedge between the Yoruba and the Igbo.

This allegation of a planned attack by IPOB was, for the records, first made by an Igbo man, Joe Igbokwe, an aide to Governor Sanwo-Olu.

The stong allegation against IPOB by Igbokwe which he recorded in Igbo language, came as a sort of advisory asking IPOB to keep off Lagos, and concentrate their alleged attacks on the South-east Zone, only.

Outraged by Mr Igbokwe’s unsubstantiated allegations, Ndigbo Lagos, the umbrella body of all Igbo Associations in Lagos, accused Igbokwe of deliberately inciting the Yoruba against the Igbo.

Meanwhile in Lagos, the Commissioner of Police had, during a security summit, insisted that IPOB and some Yoruba separatist groups are planning attacks in Lagos.

But the President General of Ohaneze Prof George Obiozor, has denied any such plans by IPOB.

The President General, who lived a greater part of his life in Lagos and rose to be the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, said the rumor was a ploy to pit the Yoruba against the Igbo.

“The dangerous rumor is aimed at causing division, crisis and conflict among us,” he said.

Obiozor made the statement when he led the group on a courtesy call on Lagos State

Governor, Babajide Sanwolu.

Obiozor said:

“The leadership of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, in the company of Igbo Elders and Leaders in Lagos, are here to reassure you that Ndigbo are not violent, neither are we known for acts of violence anywhere we live.

“The dangerous insinuations, rumour, gossips and callous statements that Ndigbo in Lagos, or any part of Yoruba land, is contemplating violence in Lagos or any part of Yoruba land, are false.

“We state clearly that anywhere this dangerous rumor or statement is emanating from is aimed to cause division, crises and conflict among us.

“We believe this rumor is intended to distract the governor from providing good governance for all and cause disaffection between Ndigbo who live in Lagos and their host community which is the second home of several Ndigbo.

“The quick denial of this rumour by members of IPOB and Yoruba groups in Lagos and across the Southwest was a source of relief.”

In his response, Sanwolu assured the group that Igbos are a great people, and he would continue, through good governance, to protect all residents in the state.

Babcock University Makes History;Graduates 17 Church Administrators |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Backock University Church Administrators

By Akinwale Kasali

It sounds a little odd, but Babcock University has graduated the first set of students in Nigeria to read Church Administration as a Course of study. It has just graduated 17 of them.

In doing this, the University, founded by the Seventh Day Adventist, has confirmed that running a Church is big business as has been proved in Nigeria.

Nigeria not only boasts of more number of Churches than any other country, it has some of the biggest Pentecostal Churches in the world, whose founders rank as  some of the richest in the world.

Not only do they own private jets, they own Universities, Hospitals, financial institutions and hundreds of properties. They are, at once, businessmen, entrepreneurs  and investors.

The 17 pioneer graduates, many Nigerians say are, therefore, not likely to look for jobs. They either get employed by the existing Churches, or they found their own.

Lauding the University for what he sees as a feat, , the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Tayo Ademola, said the graduands are the first fruits of the University in its collaboration with the Church Administration Society of Nigeria (CASON).

In his address at the Graduation ceremony held in Babcock’s Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State campus, Ademola said, “I wish to congratulate the graduands for sticking to the battle to the end. They are the first fruits of our relationship with CASON in their bid to foster greater professionalism in the administration of Churches in Nigeria.”

He further affirmed, “If there is a need for Church workers to get or receive more training, the time is now. The world is getting more sophisticated and so are the members of our different Churches.”

In his own remarks, CASON President, Pastor Seyi Oladimeji said, “By providence, our partnership with Babcock University was birthed in August 2017, followed by two years of intense preparation and today, we witness the graduation ceremony of the first set of University diplomates in Church Administration; a first in the history of the Church in Nigeria.”

Oladimeji concluded by saying, “The Church is a critical stakeholder in the building and development of a Nation; to give direction towards peace and progress. Therefore, the Nigerian Church must rise to the challenges of our country. Hence the need for the upscaled training of Church workers and stakeholders.”

The 17 diplomates, sourced by CASON, comprise of General Overseers, Pastors and Career-minded Church Administrators.

Already the second stream of candidates have been admitted for the 2021 Executive Diploma in Church Administration with registration ongoing, while the partners, CASON and Babcock Hope plan to institute an Executive MBA in Church Administration in future.

Fraud: Buhari’s Son-in-Law Declared Wanted

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By Tosin Olatokunbo

Gimba Kumo, a son-in-law to President Muhammadu Buhari has been declared wanted for fraud by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, ICPC. He’s wanted in alongside two other accomplices for allegedly misappropriating $65 million National Housing Funds.

Kumo, a former managing director of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, had in 2016 married Fatima, the president’s daughter, in Daura, Katsina State.

The ICPC in its list of wanted persons declared Kumo wanted alongside Tarry Rufus and Bola Ogunsola over the alleged fraud.

In the notice signed by the Commission’s spokesperson Azuka Ogugua, the ICPC urged the public to provide information about the whereabouts of the wanted persons.

“The persons whose pictures appear above, Mr Tarry Rufus, Mr Gimba Yau Kumo and Mr. Bola Ogunsola, are hereby declared WANTED by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in connection with issues bordering on misappropriation of National Housing Funds and diversion of the sum of Sixty Five Million dollars ($65,000,000).

“Anyone who has useful information on their whereabouts should report to ICPC Headquarters Abuja, any of the ICPC State Offices or the nearest police station, or call ICPC toll-free lines: 0803-123-0280, 0803-123-0281, 0803-123-0282, 0705-699-0190, 0705-699-0191 and 0800-CALL-ICPC (0800-2255-4272) or send an email to [email protected],” the notice read.

Buhari's Inlaw Gimba Kumo
Kumo and Fatima At their Wedding Ceremony

Gimba who got married to the president’s daughter on October 28 was born on November 5, 1959 in Gombe, Gombe State. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1983 and a Master’s degree in Business Administration and Management, MBA from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi in 1999.

He is a member, Nigeria institute of Management (NIM), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (FCITN), Fellow of the African Business School (ABS), Fellow of the Institute of Research & Leadership Technology (IRLT), Member of the Institute of Management Executive & Administration of Nigeria (MIMEA), Member of the Nigeria Institute of Certified Credit Administrators (AICCA).

He was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria on the 4th December, 2010. His tenure ended in August 2014.

NIMASA Deploys More Assets To Tackle Piracy

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

By Fola James

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA says more assets are being deployed to tackle the problem of piracy in Nigeria’s waters, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea.

The director General of the agency, Bashir Jamoh disclosed this after taking delivery of a Special Mission Aircraft under the Deep Blue Project designed to secure Nigerian waters up to the Gulf of Guinea.

Jamoh, received the aircraft, in the company of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, and NIMASA’s Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Chudi Offodile.

Addressing journalists at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, during a brief ceremony to mark the arrival of the aircraft, Jamoh said the assets would further improve security in Nigerian waters.

The Director General revealed a drastic reduction in the rate of attacks in the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) with the deployment of the Deep Blue Project assets, saying the goal is to eliminate entirely such incidents.

He said, “There has been a drastic decrease in the rate of security breaches in our waters in recent times. This is a clear indication that we are getting it right with the Deep Blue Project.

“The figures we are getting from the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) are encouraging. We ultimately aim to completely eradicate security hindrances to shipping and business generally in the Nigerian maritime domain.”

NIMASA Piracy Assets
Silva, Jamoh Receive Assets To Tackle Piracy

IMB, a specialised division of the International Chamber of Commerce ICC, has in recently reported a consistent year-on-year drop in the number of attacks on ships in Nigerian waters.

The latest IMB quarterly report of piracy and armed robbery against ships recorded only two incidents in Nigerian waters between January and March this year, compared to 11 attacks within the same period last year, the agency said.

“These figures are a proof that we can make our waters safe and secure, and we are determined to do so,” Jamoh said, adding that “today, we are here to receive the final phase of assets under the Deep Blue Project to further boost our capacity to secure our waters up to the Gulf of Guinea.”

According to the apex maritime agency “The Integrated National Security and Waterways Protection Infrastructure, popularly called the Deep Blue Project, is designed with three categories of platforms to tackle maritime security issues on land, sea, and air.

“The land assets comprise the Command, Control, Communication, Computer, and Intelligence Centre (C4i) for intelligence gathering and data collection; 16 armoured vehicles for coastal patrol; and about 600 specially trained troops for interdiction, known as Maritime Security Unit.

“On air, there are two Special Mission Aircraft for surveillance of the EEZ, one of which was received Wednesday, with the second expected to arrive May 18; three Special Mission Helicopters for search and rescue; and four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The sea assets consist of two Special Mission Vessels and 17 Fast Interceptor Boats,” NIMASA said.

Jamoh had earlier inspected three Special Mission Helicopters at the Naval Base, Apapa, under the project billed for launch on May 21

State of the Nation: PDP, Sultan Issue Buhari Yellow Card

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0

 

Orji Daniels

President Muhammadu Buhari has pleaded for more time to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country, noting that his government has performed well in the face of seeming challenges since it came to power in 2015.

But, the opposition PDP in response, said the president must buckle up and stop making excuses for his failures. The president made the comment on Thursday, in an obvious response to many Nigerians who believe that his government has failed to tackle the problems facing the country.

Also, the Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III yesterday challenged President Buhari and governors to bring insecurity in the country to an end.

The Sultan, who is the spiritual head of Nigerian Muslims as leader of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, NSCIA, said during his  Eid prayer that all the political leaders in the country must wake up to their responsibilities.

Buhari, who spoke when the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Rev. Yakubu Pam, visited him in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa, Abuja, said the economy, infrastructure and security were in a very bad shape by the time he came to power six years ago. He said those criticising him have failed to consider areas where his government has recorded tremendous achievements.

The President said: “Those criticising the administration should be fair in terms of reflecting on where we were before we came, where we are now and what resources are available to us and what we have done with the limited resources.   “We had to struggle paying debts, investing in road repairs and rebuilding, to revamp the rail and try to get power. This is what I hope the elite, when they want to criticise will use to compare notes.”

On the security situation Buhari said “What was the situation when we came? Try and ask people from Borno or from Adamawa for that matter and Yobe. What was the condition before we came and what is the condition now?” He, however, said the government is not unawares of the insecurity in some part of the country, assuring that such will be dealt with.

“Still, there are problems in Borno and Yobe, there are occasional Boko Haram problems, but they know the difference  because a lot of them moved out of their states and moved to Kaduna, Kano and here (in Abuja). We were not spared of the attacks at a time. The government is doing its best and I hope that eventually, our best will be good enough.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP has responded to the president’s plea for understanding, saying that Buhari’s efforts in tackling insecurity have obviously not paid off, considering the current situation in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said this on Thursday, noting that Nigerians are facing the worst situation as a result of government’s failure to tackle problems facing the country.

He said, “We note the appeal by President Muhammadu Buhari for Nigerians to show more understanding for his regime’s lethargic approach to governance. It is obvious his best is so far not enough; Nigerians are hungry and dying.

“We also invite him to also note that Nigerians are getting tired of an endless stream of excuses coming from his regime. He was elected to find solutions to problems not give excuses.

“We urge Mr President to wake up from his lethargy and address problems. Blaming the past has been the favourite sound bite of this regime since 2015. The other day, a minister was blaming the General Murtala Mohammed regime of 1975/’76 for Nigeria’s security problems. We can’t make progress this way.”

The Sultan of Sokoto said:  “We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari, and all the state governors to, as a matter of urgency, bring to an end insecurity across the country.

“As our leaders, you should continue to remain resolute and more committed to your various responsibilities of protecting the society.

“Therefore, you should enhance your commitment toward the restoration of the peaceful nature our country was long known for.”

1...2,4452,4462,447...2,977Page 2,446 of 2,977