Angered by the incessant prison breaks being experienced nation wide, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregebesola, has declared the Nigerian Correctional Facilities red zones.
Nigerian Prisons, whose name had been changed to Nigerian Correctional Centers by the Buhari Administration under the watch of Aregbesola, has been having its fare share of controversies occasioned by prison breaks under controversial circumstances.
The latest is the liberation of prisoners by, still to be identified gunmen in Imo state.
Though about 200 of the prisoners have either been rearrested or voluntarily returned, it had left a sour taste in the mouth, particularly as it appeared to have followed the script of similar jail breaks at Benin Prisons.
There have been other attacks on other correctional facilities in the country.
But in a tweet via his verified twitter handle, @rauaregbesola, the minister said anyone who attacks a correctional facility “will not live to regret it”.
“Today, I declared all Custodial Facilities in Nigeria a RED ZONE! ‘Anyone or group of persons that decide(s) to attack them should not (sic) live to regret it.’ This is the new order to all Squadron Commanders of the Nigeria Correctional Service who gathered at the NCoS HQ today”, he tweeted Friday.
“In my speech titled, ‘Inviolable Custodial Centers’, I charged the Commanders to note that custodial facilities are a symbol of the authority of the Nigerian State. They are sacred and inviolable institutions.
“They are usually built around military fortresses, to show how important they are. This is to deter would-be attackers from inside or outside. I charged the Commanders to directly guard them and defend their integrity. Their mission is to defend the facilities at all cost.
“Let me repeat again, defend them at all cost. They are empowered by the highest authority in the land to use every means necessary to defend the custodial centers against internal and external aggression”, he said.
Following a frightening increase in cases of Kidnappings and other social vices in Ekiti state, Traditional Rulers have agreed to complement efforts of the State Government by constituting Community-based security mechanisms.
To this end, the Obas resolved to complement the Governor’s efforts by setting up Community Based Security Mechanism in the various Communities throughout the State, which would involve Local hunters, Traditional war Chiefs and Vigilantes.
Chairmen of Local Councils would, also, be involved in the Community-based policPing in the state.
Chairman of the State Traditional Rulers Council, Oba Ajibade Alabi, disclosed these measures while briefing journalists on Friday at the end of the Council’s weekly meeting.
A statement by the Media Adviser to the Monarch, Chief Ajibade Olubunmi, quoted the Oba as saying that “we will also not discountenance other methods employed by our forefathers in ensuring security in our communities in the days of old.”
The Chairman of the Obas Council,also, disclosed that Government has promised that no land would be ceded to strangers in its livestock development programme.
According to Oba Alabi, who is the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, the Special Adviser on Security to Governor Kayode Fayemi, Brigadier General Ebenezer Ogundana Rtd, who briefed the Royal Fathers, gave details of Government’s plan to upgrade the security architecture of the state.
This include increase in the personnel of the Amotekun security outfit, provision of gadgets, logistics and adequate training for members of the outfit to enhance their duties in making the state safe alongside other security agents.
He further assured the monarchs that Government would continue to provide logistic support to the Police in the State.
Ekiti would be third State to invoke, and/or threaten to use traditional methods against perpetrators of kidnapping and other insecurities.
A couple of years back, the revered Oba of Benin, invoked traditional curses on perpetrators of such acts. Sadly, it has not in anyway stemmed the scourge.
A few days back, Traditional Rulers in Imo said they would invoke curses on those behind unprecedented violence in the state. The threat has been largely ignored.
An angry Governor Samuel Ortom has reacted to the statement credited to the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, gor insulting him over his outcry on the murder of about 70 Internally Displaced Persons at Abagana Area of the State. IDPs were allegedly attacked and murdered by Suspected rogue Fulani herdsmen.
Ortom had accused the President of insensitivity to the killings of the people, and said the President was behaving like a President for the Fulani instead of that of Niger. Ortom also called on President Buhari to act and step up the war against insecurity. He called for an urgent Security Summit to find solutions and stem the tide.
This prompted Shehu to say that his Principal does not have time for baseless, reckless and insensitive statements. Garba also accused Ortom of talking about the fault of other people, and ignoring his own many faults.
The Presidency expressed disappointed over Ortom’s statement.
Nut reacting the Benue State Government in a statement released on Friday through the Governor’s spokesman, Terver Akase, said Ortom ought to be commended for his actions by the President.
The statement reads: “We read the statement in which he (Shehu) said President Muhammadu Buhari had expressed “his disappointment and sadness to hear Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State, make a litany of accusations against his person and his Government following the recent unfortunate incidents in the state”.
”Shehu was referring to Governor Ortom’s clarion call on the President to act decisively and in an unbiased manner to end the spate of killings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue and other parts of the country.
“We are convinced that Mr President was not aware that his aide, Shehu, made such a statement on his behalf. The media aide didn’t speak for the President in the said statement. President Buhari wouldn’t have approved such a reckless and insensitive press release.
“What is wrong with Governor Ortom’s call on the President to address the nation, convene a national security summit and declare a state of emergency on security, following the spate of killings taking place in Benue and the remaining states of the federation?
“Governor Ortom is not the only one who is worried by the worsening security situation in the country and has called on the President to rise to his responsibilities by declaring a state of emergency on security and convening a summit to address the numerous security challenges bedevilling the nation. Many other Nigerians of good conscience have at different times made similar calls. What the Governor therefore deserves is commendation and not condemnation.
“If Garba Shehu claims that the President is disappointed in the Benue State Governor for speaking against the sustained attacks on his people, we wonder how he feels about the killings in North East, North West, South East, South West and other parts of the North Central. Are those killings occurring of the comments of Governors of the affected states?
“It is shocking that Shehu would make a statement regarding an attack carried out by Fulani herdsmen and there won’t be a single sentence of reproach directed at the violent Fulani herders. Such a deliberate omission smacks of complicity and tacit support for the killer herders.
“Shehu is aware that Governor Ortom has on several occasions raised alarm against activities of the rampaging herdsmen whose sole aim is to take over the ancestral lands of Benue people and other Nigerians. The Governor has written letters to the Federal Government and made other spirited efforts to have the government at the centre take preventive measures against further attacks on Benue communities.
“The Federal Government has repeatedly ignored such patriotic calls, insisting rather that cattle routes of the 1950s be opened to grant easy passage to the pastoralists and their animals.
“The posture of the Federal Government has made many Nigerians conclude that it is complicit and its inaction has emboldened the armed herdsmen to cause greater havoc across the country.
“The President is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The job of a Governor is to support security agencies to perform their duties, and this, Governor Ortom has done efficiently to the admiration of many Nigerians.
“When President Buhari gave a shoot on sight order to security agencies against persons bearing AK47, Governor Ortom was one of the first to support the presidential directive. The Minister of Defence came out a few weeks later to counter the President’s order and we expected a reaction from the Presidency but till this minute, no such reaction has been heard.
“What Garba Shehu ought to know is that Governor Ortom has no personal grudge against the President. The Governor is only being patriotic by calling for justice, equity, fairness and above all the rule of law. He expects the President to be the leader of every Nigerian and treat all as his people”.
In the past few days, Shehu has signed off three Press Releases on behalf of the Presidency which many people regard as insensitive and not very well thought – out.
In the wake of the exposure of the damning speeches attributed to the Minister for Communications and Digital Economy in support of Osama Bin Laden, his Al Qaeda, and other terrorist groups, Shehu had released a statement in support of the Minister, against the opinion of many Nigerians that he be sacked by President Buhari.
He had, also, in a second statement, said that the offence committed by former Minister for Finance, Kemi Adeosun, for which he resigned, was more grievous than that of Patami. Adeosun had resigned when it was confirmed that his National Youth Service Certificate was forged.
And reacting to the nationwide violent killings of hundreds of innocent Nigerians, including students, Military and Police men, Shehu had said Nigerians were behaving as of there had been no killings in Nigeria before.
Airpeace, Friday, made history as the first airline to land its aircraft at the newly approved Anambra International Cargo Airport at Umuleri, Anambra state.
This was done when the airline landed two aircraft- a Boeing 737 and an Embrear 145-at the newly constructed, and approved airport.
The flights were demonstrations for the unveiling of the Airport in Anambra state.
The Boeing 737 is different from the 737 Max that was grounded worldwide due to computer glitches that resulted in few crashes.
The Aircraft, however, has been given a clean bill of health and has resumed flights.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, thanked the Federal Government for the speedy approval of the project, noting that the Umuleri Cargo airport is one of the ‘fastest airports to be approved, even for a test-flight’.
“What we have here is the widest runway ever and could land a Boeing 777 and an Airbus 380. This is the first time an airport would be doing a test-run with a Boeing 737. It used to be very small planes before”, he said.
Hundreds of excited and happy people were present to welcome the first flights to the Anambra airport.
The Airport is expected to generate lots of jobs for indigenes of the state.
Ondo State Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Thursday, unveiled numerous potentials of the State to the Management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), urging the Commission to partner with the State.
The Governor, while playing host to the Management of the Commission, led by the Interim Administrator, Mr Akwa Effiong, revealed that the State has diverse potentials from which the NDDC could invest and make money.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Richard Olabode, stated that the Governor used the occasion to commission three waste trucks donated to the state by the commission.
Mr Akeredolu urged the NDDC to partner with the state to drive sustainable development which would change the lives of the people positively.
“Ondo State, no doubt, has many potentialities. Not only oil, our potentials are diverse. We want to put them before you. NDDC can make money in Ondo instead of spending money all the time.
“You can buy into our bitumen. It might be that our investment in bitumen will be what we rely on later. We have cassava. We have so many mineral resources. We have the best dimensional stone.
“We have beautiful seaside. We can invest in tourism together. Those are areas of interest for me. We have discussed and suggested so many other areas.
“I can assure you that here in this State, a lot can be done. Let’s drive sustainable development.
“It can be in form of investment partnership. It will change positively the lives of our people.”
The Governor expressed hope in the era of Mr Effiong as the Interim Administrator of NDDC and urged him to see to the setting up of project implementation and monitoring unit for the NDDC projects in the state.
“This is a new era for the NDDC and you have assured me that we will have rapid industrialization in the state.
“It is a new era for quantifiable economic growth, your new era of job creation and skill development in the Niger/Delta.”
Earlier, Mr Effiong commended the various strides of the Akeredolu administration, particularly in the area of road construction and other infrastructure.
He assured the Governor of the continued cooperation and support of the NDDC and promised to look into the issue of abandoned projects of the Commission.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees,(NULGE) has asked former President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene in the move by the National Assembly to scrap the Third Tier of Government.
The Union’s Executives, on Thursday, visited the former President at his country home, Otuoke, Bayelsa state to seek his support.
The NULGE officials were there to seek the former President support against a Bill seeking to delist the local government as a tier of government.
A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Solomon Bob, had, in December, sponsored the bill to remove the third tier of Government from the Constitution.
Receiving the NULGE leaders, Dr Jonathan advised the National Assembly to, instead of scrapping the LG system, make laws that would strengthen it and grant it autonomy.
According to him, if he were a member of the National Assembly, he would mobilise his colleagues to amend sections of the Constitution to allow full democratization at the Local Government levels by allowing the people at the grassroots to decide who leads them, through election.
The former President maintained that Local Councils remain the oldest and globally acclaimed Government which impacts positively on the life of the people at the grassroots.
Dr Jonathan called on State Governors to refrain from interfering in the day-to-day running of Local governments affairs.
“The problem with Nigeria is that our Local Government structure is still very weak. And whatever restructuring we are talking about finally, Nigerians must sit down to discuss and the issue of Local Government autonomy must be considered.
“As long as we have weak Local Governments, we will have difficulty managing this country. The way it is now, the person who runs the state, runs the LGAs and that makes nonsense of the whole concept of the Third Tier of Government.
“The President should manage the Nation, Governors should manage the States and Chairmen should be allowed to run the Local Councils.
“And until we are able to do that, it will be difficult to impact on all the people at the grassroots level.
“It is only through Local Councils that the dividends of democracy can permeate uniformly into society. And all of us must advocate for this right.
“The issue of appointments now make Local Government Councils look like a part of the State’s administrative structure, but that is wrong.
“It is an abuse of democracy. So this appointment system have made Council Chairmen become like aides to the Governors and we must discourage that.”
The People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) has concluded arrangements to embark on fresh registration of members. Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, was named Chairman of the Registration Committee.
This is coming on the heels of the PDP wide condemnation of similar exercise embarked upon by the ruling All Progressives Party,(APC)
The approval is one of the resolutions at the end of the PDP National Executive Committee,(NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Part of the resolutions, as released by the PDP spokesman, Mr Kola Ologbodiyan, announced is that “NEC also received reports on the e-registration of members as the NWC announced the membership of the committee set up to conduct the exercise.
“The Edo State Governor, Chief Godwin Obaseki has been appointed to serve as Chairman, while his Adamawa State counterpart, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, is appointed to serve as Deputy Chairman.
“The statutory members of the committee are the National Organizing Secretary, National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Secretary and the National Publicity Secretary.
Other issues in the communique are “the National Executive Committee (NEC) after its emergency meeting today, Thursday, April 29, 2021, considered crucial issues regarding the programs of the party as well as extensively reviewed the state of the nation, especially the escalated insecurity engulfing all parts of our country and resolved as follow:
“NEC lamented the heightened insecurity pervading all parts of our nation due primarily to the misrule of President Muhammed Buhari and All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as their failure to decisively tackle the menace of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, bloodletting and acts of violence in our country.
“NEC urged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately declare a national state of emergency on security.
“NEC also urged President Buhari to, without delay, convoke a national conference on Security so as to galvanize ideas and options to tackle insecurity in our country.
“NEC further commended the efforts of governors, senators, House of Representatives members and other officials elected on the platform of the PDP in forcefully seeking solutions to the spate of insecurity in our country.
“With regard to the programmes of our party, NEC expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the NWC in preparation for the November 6 Governorship election in Anambra state and asserted its readiness to do everything possible, within the confines of the law, to win the election.
“NEC unanimously passed a vote of confidence on the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus as well as the member of the National Working Committee (NWC).
“NEC further cautioned party members at all levels to be wary of agents of distractions and division while praising the effort of the NWC for being focused and purpose driven in piloting the affairs of the party.”
The recently revealed Global Terrorism Index has seen Nigeria occupy the third position as the most Terrorised country in the World.
Reason for this is not far fetched as the Spate of insecurity in the country has worsened these past weeks.
The rate at which School Pupils and undergraduates are kidnapped on a daily basis has skyrocketed, resulting in the closing of school in some states.
Afghanistan and Iraq are the top countries ahead of Nigeria in the global Terrorism Index ranking.
Syria, Pakistan, Somalia, India, Yemen, Phillipines and Democratic Republic of Congo complete the top 10 list on the ranking table.
It would be recalled that few days back, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State lamented the neglect his people are facing from the President Muhammadu Buhari Administration, as Fulani Herdsmen and Bandits massacred over 70 people in the State within the last two weeks.
Also, in Kaduna State, kidnapping of students have been the order of the day, likewise in Niger State and other Northern States.
The South-West and South-East aren’t left out of the kidnapping menace, as ransoms is been paid by victims family on a daily basis.
The House of Representatives during Plenary over the week called on President Buhari to declare a State of Emergency on the spate of insecurity in Nigeria.
With the disclosure of the Global Terrorism Index, this puts the country in a pathetic State as regards insecurity.
You rarely hear his voice in public when it comes to secular or controversial issues. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. He just faces the work he is doing, and how very well he does it. Gently.
But early this week, Pastor William Folorunsho (popularly known as (WF Kumuyi) came out to speak. He addressed the media as part of a weeklong crusade titled ‘Soaring Above,’ holding electronically in Abuja and the 19 northern states.
What did the simple, self-effacing man say? A lot, which can be distilled into the following points:
*Nigeria is down today, faced by many challenges, but it can still fly again, if only the people can stop hate, killing and divisive utterances.
*God is still interested in Nigeria, but we must eschew utterances that could damage the expected change.
*Don’t give up on Nigeria, but believe things will get better with focus on God.
Pastor Williams Kumuyi
*Love one another and use resources God has blessed the nation with, for the good of the people.
The former university don-turned-preacher declared: “I believe that we will fly again. Things are going to turnaround. We are praying and if we are praying and criticizing, we have hatred for one another, in that environment prayer cannot work in an optimal and maximal way. But if we understand and stop identifying; this person is my enemy and problem, that tribe is the problem, and if we stop all that and just look up to God, and love one another,” then the expected change will come.
What deep, penetrating words from the former Mathematics teacher, who heads one of the largest Pentecostal churches in the country. And how perspicacious, encouraging, comforting, unlike the things we hear from some pulpits, organizations, and preachers today. Those ones have become veritable parts of the problems of the country.
But permit me to digress a little, and we will then return to the subject matter. In October 2018, we had invited Pastor Kumuyi to speak at the Aso Villa chapel to commemorate the Independence anniversary of the country. He came, with his wife. He declared the gospel in his usual simple but powerful way. It was truly a divine visitation for us.
It was my duty to speak to President Muhammadu Buhari that Pastor Kumuyi was in town, and could he please receive him in a courtesy visit? I did, and while I was trying to tell the President who the impending visitor was, the man amazed me when he said: “I know him very well. Is he not the mathematician?”
I was amazed. What else does this President know, that people don’t know about? He received Pastor Kumuyi and his wife in the residence the next day, and it was such an endearing session, concluded with prayers. Bigot? Those who say so should look for another person. Not the Buhari that I know.
Back to Kumuyi and the state of the nation. Nigeria can fly again. There will be a turnaround. But that’s not what we hear from most preachers today. They talk of doomsday, encourage their members to hate the country and its leadership, give negative prophecies that keep falling flat on their faces, because “God is still interested in Nigeria,” as Pastor Kumuyi said.
Do those other preachers read copies of the Holy Bible different from the one Kumuyi reads? I wonder. Why are they then full of bile and ill will against their country and the leadership? Was it because the sluice gate got closed? Did money stop flowing to them unlike in the recent past? Why do they exhibit such hatred, and make outlandish claims in the name of God? Why don’t they preach hope, but rather provoke their members to hate?
There are questions to answer on the Last Day. Judgment will truly begin from the household of God.
Stop hate, killing, use of divisive utterances, Kumuyi said. You hear incendiary utterances all over the place today. On radio, television, social media, and even from the pulpit.
All these eventually boil over, and lead to wanton killings.
Don’t give up on Nigeria, but believe things will get better, the preacher also said. He asked all and sundry to focus on God, and not say this or that ethnic group is the problem.
Really? That is not what they tell us from some pulpits. The gospel of man, as opposed to the gospel of God.
When we have hatred for one another, Kumuyi submits, prayer cannot work in an optimal and maximal way. Bullseye. But that is not what some others tell members of their flock. They encourage hatred, dissenting and civil disobedience. During the last EndSARS campaign, many preachers were seen, egging the protesters on, and giving them tacit support. And when anarchy flared, those preachers went underground. Not a word did you hear from them, suing for peace and end to bloodshed and destruction.
Stop identifying; this person is my enemy and problem, that tribe is the problem, Kumuyi said.
Stigmatization and stereotyping are parts of the problem of the country today. If only we can listen to people like Kumuyi, then we will have a better country. “Let France have good mothers, and she will have good sons,” Napoleon Bonaparte said.
And I extrapolate it to say: let Nigeria have good preachers in the mould of WF Kumuyi, and she will have good citizens.
Nigeria has severe security challenges. It’s like hell has opened against the country, and foul creatures, evil through and through, have been unleashed against the land. But have we ever seen darkness overcome light, and evil hold sway over good? No, and never. We shall overcome. Nigeria shall fly again.
Let us listen to Kumuyi. Let’s hearken to his words. Paul the Apostle said: “Be ye followers of me, even as I am also of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Nigeria shall indeed fly again. But me must first renounce hatred, from the churches, mosques, media houses, everywhere.
Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity
Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, has Lamented the pathetic and frightening State of insecurity in the country.
But the lawmaker expressed optimistimism that the situation is redeemable.
Speaking at the 10th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Umuahia with the theme: “Let us rebuild and end this reproach” the Country’s Capital, Ekweremadu said there are a lot to be done by the Administration to tackle this menace.
Delivering the Synod lecture, with the title, “The Role of the Christian politician in nation-building,” the Senator, ably represented by the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Hon. Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, said the country was at crossroads and it was high time leaders urgently rescued the nation.
“Nigeria is burning, literally and figuratively. Put even more appropriately, we are at that juncture where we must rebuild or risk perishing. But God forbids that we perish,” he stressed.
Ekweremadu regretted reports of bloodletting, mass killing, and that kidnap for ransom had become the daily realities of Nigerians, adding that hunger was on the increase because insecurity had dislodged Nigerians from their legitimate businesses and farms.
He, however, advised that only socio-economic and political justice could effectively address the frustrations and separatist tendencies and rhetoric across the nation.
“The country is as divided and disjointed as never in our history. Ethno-religious conflagrations and killings at the slightest provocations have become a norm rather than an exception.
“Agitations fuelled by palpable social and political injustice pervade the land, as many parts now want out of the union than be slaves and second class citizens in a place that is supposed to be their fatherland.
“We cannot build or rebuild a nation in the absence of social, political, and economic justice. How do you describe a situation where palpable double standard and open marginalisation of the South East has been raised to a state policy?
“We must show every part of the country a sense of justice because the truth is that a man, who is unjustly treated, will never be genuinely interested in peace. The shortest path to peace is justice,” he stated.
The lawmaker said the situation was not irredeemable and urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to decentralise the policing system and seek help from more experienced and resourced nations.
“This is not a time to apportion blames but a time for sober reflection. The Church and the Christian politicians, and all Nigerians must rise and stand in the gap.
“We must take urgent steps to reclaim our land and defend our inheritance because no nation in the world can contain Nigeria.
“This administration must begin to listen, starting by taking urgent steps to decentralise policing to enable every constituent part to take charge of the security of lives and property in its jurisdictions. That is the least we can do, and the most urgent step we must take at the moment,” he said.
