Home Blog Page 2500

Ondo: Chief Judge Urges More Training For NSCDC Investigating Officers

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Ondo Chief Judge and NSCDC

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Chief Judge, Justice O. O Akeredolu, has harped on the need for officers of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) to be well grounded in handling investigations.

Justice Akeredolu maintained that NSCDC officers, especially those handling investigations, should undergo intensive and continuous training and re-training courses to sharpen their knowledge.

A statement by the NSCDC spokesman in the state, Mr Olufemi Omole, stated that the Chief Judge was speaking while receiving the new State Commandant of the Corps, Mr Hammed Abodunrin in Akure.

The Chief Judge pointed out that most people have  confidence in the ability of NSCDC in handling cases and complaints and hence the need for training and re-training for investigating officers to enhance their capacity for equitable Service delivery.

According to her, “The importance of thorough investigation is a pre-requisite for any process of prosecution; leaving no stone unturned, the officers need to be well acquainted with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), which would consequently make the Investigators well seasoned, I mean specifically trained, solely devoted and properly refined Investigators.”

Justice Akeredolu further reiterated the need for proper enlightenment, not only for students or Communities, but parents and the electorate of their voting rights under a violent-free election process.

She said, there were no justifiable reasons to engage in crime, as many capitalized on the rate of inflation and exorbitant cost of living thereby engaging in Internet fraud, rape and sexual violence.

She added that some religious leaders also get involved in voodoo to get more congregations amongst others.

The Chief Judge, however, enjoined  the NSCDC new helmsman to strengthen the existing collaborations with the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Correctional Service and other sister agencies in order to combat crimes in the State.

She was of the view that this woukd also build the confidence of the people and create an atmosphere for robust relationship without competition.

In his response, Mr Abodunrin said it is high time the general public understand the strategies and tactics of insecurity in their respective environment.

He emphasised that this would in turn enhance their confidence in the security agencies, thereby enabling the provision of credible Intelligence and information that would assist in curbing crimes.

Matawalle: PDP Says Defection An Unpardonable Betrayal

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has declared the defection of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as an unpardonable betrayal.

It would be recalled that Matawalle defected to the ruling APC on Tuesday, last week, after several months of speculation.

However, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary and Spokesman, Kola Ologbodiyan, described the Governor’s defection as an “unpardonable act of betrayal”, and said from Matawalle’s statement, it is clear that he joined the ruling party out of intimidation.

According to  Ologbodiyan, “The statement by Governor Matawalle further confirms that the APC has been promoting insecurity, particularly terrorism and kidnapping for ransom, in various parts of the country as a way to create an emergency situation to cover their atrocities, siphon public funds as well as intimidate and coerce state Governors elected on the platform of other political parties to join their fold.

“PDP holds that by this confession, it is therefore clear that Governor Matawalle did not defect to the APC because the Party has any democratic credential as erroneously claimed by the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, but only surrendered to intimidation and cowardly joined those behind the killings and acts of violence in Nigeria.

“Of course, the APC, as a party of political bandits, does not have any democratic credential to attract well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians. Governor Matawalle must however note that joining such individuals, who have brought so much anguish and pain to his people, is an unpardonable act of betrayal which will continue to act as an albatross particularly against the backdrop of his own vows.

“On the reclaiming of the governorship mandate, the PDP described Matawalle’s boast as the feeble kick of a disoriented and confused deserter, stressing that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is clear on the responsibilities of a deputy governor that finds himself under an absconding governor like Matawalle”, the statement reads.

Adams Oshiomhole, immediate past National Chairman of APC, showered encomium on the decision of Matawalle to take the bold step of joining the party at the center, saying that it takes a man of courage, conscience, principles and honour to make a long-awaited move as done by Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle.

Oshiomhole insisted that not many politicians in this clime would have the audacity to undertake such move from PDP to the APC.

In a letter by the former Edo State Governor, which he personally signed and made available to the media in Benin City, Edo State Capital by his media aide, Victor Oshioke, welcomed Matawalle to the APC family.

Oshiomhole noted that it was with great pleasure, relief and deep sense of personal satisfaction that he welcomed Matawalle to the governing party. He stated that he had absolute confidence that all APC stakeholders in Zamfara state would welcome the governor with open arms and accord him his well-earned respect that he richly deserved.

Oshiomhole: “It is with great pleasure, relief and deep sense of personal satisfaction that I welcome you to our party, the APC. I have for long looked forward to this day, when you will reunite with the APC, your original party. So that the good works and impressive performance which the people of Zamfara State enjoy under your administration, will be accurately documented as legacies of APC.

“I am delighted that your coming to the APC with your legion of supporters is not only a boost for our great party in terms of numbers, but brings on board our platform, a sound mind, accomplished administrator and proven performer, who has won the admiration of the Zamfara people by virtue of your exceptional leadership.”

DSS Attack: Igboho Demands ₦500 Million Compensation Over Invasion Of Residence

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

Sunday Adeyemo, aka, Sunday Igboho, Yoruba Nation activist has demanded the sum of ₦500 million from the President Muhammadu Buhari led Administration over the invasion of his residence in Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State Capital by Security Agents of the  Department of State Security, DSS.

The DSS had in the early hours of last week Friday invaded the residence of the Yoruba Activist. Igboho escaped the onslaught, but during an exchange of gun fire, two fatalities were recorded, and about 13 people, including, allegedly, Igboho’s wife were arrested. Igboho who is currently in hiding,, has been declared wanted by the DSS.

However, Igboho’s lawyer, Yomi Alliyu, who wrote on behalf of his client disclosed that the amount would be used to replace his client’s exotic cars which were damaged during the raid.

Igboho’s arrested aides who spoke to journalists after the incident said the men of the secret police allegedly killed two persons and made away with his three million Naira, jewellery, iPhones and other valuables.

The lawyer’s letter titled, *“Illegal, grossly, unconstitutional, invasion of Sunday Igboho’s residence,’’ signed by his lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN,  demanded the sum of  N500 million as reparation for damage done by the DSS’ officers.

The money, according to the lawyer, would be used to replace his client’s exotic cars which included Mercedes Benz G-Class and 2019 Lexus car.

He added: “We hereby demand that the Federal Government orders an investigation into the actions of the various security operatives led by DSS that raided Chief Sunday Adeyemo’s house with a view to sanctioning them and release all the innocent people arrested and compensate the families of those murdered.

“Our client should also be paid N500 million as reparation for damage to his exotic cars that include Mercedes Benz G-Class and 2019 Lexus Car. We also demand a public apology.

“No demand to enter was made but rather they shot their way into the house, allegedly killing seven people, though DSS spokesman admitted killing two people which involved an old Imam that used to lead Muslim occupants in prayers and observing Tahjud at the time of the barbaric raid. A lady among the invaders was allegedly shouting, “If you get him, gun him down.” he added.

Despite the attack on Igboho’s residence which forced him to rescind his decision to stage a peaceful Rally on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021, for the succession of the Yoruba from Nigeria, the event held.  Protesters stormed the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos, and staged a peaceful protest, demanding for a Yoruba Nation.

The protest, however, led to the death of a 14-Year old girl, identified as Jumoke, who was alleged to have been hit by a stray bullet.

The Police denies it fired live bullets during the rally.

Ijaw Nation To Declare A Republic If Pushed To The Wall

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Ijaw Nation says it is set to leave the Federal Republic of Nigeria. By saying this, it is only following  the bandwagon of  a couple of other groups agitating for succession from Nigeria.

The President of Ijaw National Congress, INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, said that if they were pushed to the wall, the Ijaw Republic would be declared, stressing that their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari has not in any way compromised their agitations, unless the present Government consider true federalism, Justice, equity and fairness in the country.

The President of INC in an interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, said during their meeting with President Buhari, they gave him the minimum conditions that could guarantee their continued existence in Nigeria.

The INC president spoke against the backdrop of insinuations by some aggrieved Ijaw leaders, including a prominent activist, Ms Annkio Briggs, that the INC executives that visited Buhari betrayed and misrepresented the Ijaw cause.

Okaba stated: “I think we are all one, so I would not want to take issues with Ankio Briggs. She has been a comrade in the struggle. I would rather say there was a little gap in communication. The reality is that we spoke the Ijaw cause and Ijaw agenda, which is self-determination. Our speech was fully published on that. I challenge anybody to go through it.

“The whole insinuation is a clear issue of misunderstanding by some persons. Maybe by the time Briggs made the press statement, she had not read the speech, or maybe she only relied on extract that was made public by the Media to the Federal Government. Thereafter, we have been able to address the issues, and I think we are on the same page.”

“We know what is happening in other tribes. The majority of the Ijaw believe that the way to go now is through negotiation. That is why we are placing emphasis on peaceful and legal strategies to self-determination.

“We gave minimum conditions to Mr President that until the conditions of true federalism, non-balkanisation of Ijaw nation and the creation of additional states and others are met, we no longer feel safe and happy with the Nigeria project.

“We respect the integrity, the interests of other people, we sympathise with many persons that wish to do so but don’t make Ijaw part of it”.

Oduduwa Republic and Biafra Republic, have for years, been agitating for a Nation following the spate of insecurity in the Nation and the recent attacks on its people by bandits, kidnappers, alleged Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram attacks.

International friendly: Shame, As Mexico Humiliates Nigeria

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Super Eagles

By Akinwale Kasali

It was a shameful, disastrous outing for the Coach Paul Aigbogun Home Based Super Eagles Team.

The team was disgraced by a more experienced and determined El Tri of Mexico  in the early hours of Sunday at the El Paso Stadium in Texas, USA.

The handwriting was boldly written on the wall, as soon as the Center referee signalled the commencement of the International friendly between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and their Mexican Counterparts.

As early as the Second minute of the one sided encounter, Atletico Madrid Football Club of Spain midfielder, Hector Herrera, slammed home a corner kick, having been left unmarked at the far post to give the North American country an early lead.

Just two minutes later, Mexico doubled their lead as Funes Mori finished off a cross from the right with his left foot.

Mexico continued to control the match and almost extended their lead within 25 minutes but Jesus Tecatito’s effort missed the target.

In the 29th minute, it was the turn of Hirving Lozano to try his luck, but Stanley Nwabali got down well and parried for a corner.

Mori almost got his second goal on 38 minutes but sent his left-footed volley just over the bar.

The home based Super Eagles were on the defensive side all through the first 45 minute, failing to have a shot on goal.

The Mexicans resumed their dominance of the game in the second half, and had a chance to go 3-0 up following a dangerous shot by Lozano which Nwabali punched away for a corner.

But in the 51st minute Mexico went 3-0 up thanks to Herrera who grabbed his second of the game.

In the 57th minute the Eagles made a double change with Stephen Jude and Sunday Adetunji replacing Adekunle Adeleke and Charles Atshimene.

The Eagles went close to getting on the score sheet but Alfredo Tala made a good save.

And in the 77th minute, Mexico got their fourth goal through Dos Santos who finished with a superb strike after Erick Gutierrez sent a pass behind the Eagles’ defence.

The Super Eagles, mostly home-based, were roundly humiliated, throughout the match. They were no match for their opponents who outplayed them in all departments.

The Super Eagles starting lineup featured mainly players from the Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, except for Ibrahim Sunusi, who plies his trade with CF Montreal football Club in the Major Soccer League in the United States of America.

However, the gap in quality between the two teams on parade showed as Mexico dominated from start to finish to claim a resounding win.

The Eagles defence could not find answers to the rampaging Mexicans while their strikers were also poor going forward.

The Coach of the  National Team, Gernot Rohr was at the stands watching the match as Aigbogun took charge of the home based team.

It would be recalled that there was brickbats among the Super Eagles Technical Team on who would handle the team for the friendly against the Mexicans. Rohr said it was not his responsibility to handle the Home Based team, passing the baton to Aigbogun to take charge.

The defeat was the second the Super Eagles will suffer in the hands of the Mexicans in over a decade, as previous encounters had ended in a stalemate.

The Super Eagles is gearing up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers commencing later in the year, with the team grouped alongside Cape Verde, Liberia and Central African Republic.

CBN: Group Drags Buhari To Court For Borrowing $25bn From Apex Bank

By
Bayo Bernard
-
0
Muhammadu Buhari

 

By Fola James


The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP has asked a federal high court, Abuja to compel President Muhammadu Buhari to explain to Nigerians how his government spent the $25 billion it borrowed from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN.

Buhari has received knocks from not a few Nigerians for borrowing from CBN, beyond the threshold allowed by the CBN Act. The law specifies that the federal government should borrow from the apex bank, not beyond five per cent of the total Gross Domestic Product, GDP.

Such borrowing must be repaid within the budgetary year, the Act said. The administration seems to have violated these provisions, by borrowing beyond the level allowed by the law, and refusing to offset such overdraft from the apex regulatory authority known as Ways and Means, since Buhari came to power in 2015.

The minister of Transport, Chibuike Ameachi said recently that the Buhari’s government has been borrowing from CBN since 2015.

The central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele said it’s normal for the government to borrow from the apex bank as the lender of last resort.

But SERAP says the borrowing has not been accounted for, asking the court to compel the president to declare the actual amount his administration has borrowed from the apex bank since it came to power six years ago.

SERAP is also seeking an order to compel the president to “explain and clarify whether the $25bn (N9.7trn) overdraft reportedly obtained from the CBN is within the five-percent limit of the actual revenue of the government for 2020.”

The suit followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information (FoI) request to President Buhari, stating that: “Disclosing details of overdrafts and repayments would enable Nigerians to hold the government to account for its fiscal management and ensure that public funds are not mismanaged or diverted.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/559/2021 filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is also seeking: “an order directing and compelling President Buhari to disclose details of overdrafts taken from the CBN by successive governments between 1999 and 2015.”

SERAP argues that: “Secrecy and the lack of public scrutiny of the details of CBN overdrafts and repayments is antithetical to the public interest, the common good, the country’s international legal obligations, and a fundamental breach of constitutional oath of office.”

Joined in the suit as respondents are the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN; the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and the Governor of CBN, Godwin Emefiele.

SERAP also stated that: “Ensuring transparency and accountability in the spending of CBN overdrafts and loans would promote prudence in debt management, reduce any risks of corruption and mismanagement, and help the government to avoid the pitfalls of excessive debt.”

The rights group said “By the combined reading of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Freedom of Information Act, the UN Convention against Corruption, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on the government to disclose information to the public concerning details of CBN overdrafts, loans and repayments to date.

“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and these treaties rest on the basic principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their government’s activities.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Ms Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “Transparency and accountability in the spending of CBN overdrafts would also ensure that public funds are properly spent, reduce the level of public debt, and improve the ability of the government to invest in essential public goods and services, such as quality education, healthcare, and clean water.

“It is the primary responsibility of the government to ensure public access to these services in order to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

“Transparency and accountability in the spending of CBN overdrafts and loans would also improve the ability of the government to effectively respond to the COVID-19 crisis. This means that the government would not have to choose between saving lives or making debt payments.

“The recent overdraft of $25.6bn (about N9.7trn) reportedly obtained from the CBN would appear to be above the five-percent limit of the actual revenue of the Federal Government for 2020, that is, N3.9trn, prescribed by Section 38(2) of the CBN Act 2007. SERAP notes that five-percent of N3.9trn is N197bn.

“While Section 38(1) of the CBN Act allows the Bank to grant overdrafts to the Federal Government to address any temporary deficiency of budget revenue, sub-section 2 provides that any outstanding overdraft ‘shall not exceed five-percent of the previous year’s actual revenue of the Federal Government.

“Similarly, Section 38(3) requires all overdrafts to ‘be repaid as soon as possible and by the end of the financial year in which the overdrafts are granted.’”

“The CBN is prohibited from granting any further overdrafts until all outstanding overdrafts have been fully repaid. Under the CBN Act, ‘no repayment shall take the form of a promising note or such other promise to pay at a future date, treasury bills, bonds or other forms of security which is required to be underwritten by the Bank.

“Similarly, the Fiscal Responsibility Act provides in section 41 that the government ‘shall only borrow for capital expenditure and human development.’ Under the Act, the government ‘shall ensure that the level of public debt as a proportion of national income is held at a sustainable level.

“Section 44 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act requires the government to specify the purpose of any borrowing, which must be applied towards capital expenditures, and to carry out cost-benefit analysis, including the economic and social benefits of any borrowing. Any borrowing should serve the public good, and be guided by human rights principles.

“SERAP has consistently recommended to the Federal Government to reduce its level of borrowing and to look at other options of how to finance its budget, such as reducing the costs of governance, and addressing systemic and widespread corruption in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that have been documented by the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.

“Our requests are brought in the public interest, and in keeping with the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution; the Freedom of Information Act; the Fiscal Responsibility Act; the Central Bank Act; the Debt Management Office Act; and the country’s international legal obligations.

“There is a statutory obligation on the respondents, being public officers in their respective public offices, to proactively keep, organize and maintain all information or records about CBN overdrafts, loans, and repayments in a manner that facilitates public access to such information or records.

“Mandamus lies to secure the performance of a public duty in the performance in which the applicant has a sufficient legal interest.

“Unless the reliefs sought by SERAP are granted, the respondents will not provide SERAP with the information requested and will continue to be in breach of their constitutional responsibilities and the country’s international legal obligations and commitments.”

University Of Ibadan Cancels Previous Efforts, Announces New Process To Appoint VC

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

Again, the race for the emergence of a substantive 13th Vice Chancellor for the  University of Ibadan, (UI) has hit the rock.

This follows the decision of the new governing council of the university, headed by former Governor of Edo state, Chief John Oyegun, to start the process afresh.

It was learnt that the new UI Council, after its meeting last week Friday, resolved that the process of UI VC race which started since May 2020, should be cancelled.

It also agreed that apart from the cancellation, the stained process should be  re-advertised for the VC position.

It will be recalled that prior to the appointment of the new  Governing Council, serious crisis engulfed the selection process which led to the inability of the previous council, led by Mr Joshua Waklek, to get a substantive VC.

The selection process was suspended in October, last year, following the inability of the immediate past Governing Council to agree on an acceptable candidate for the plum job.

Prof. Adebola Ekanola, was, thereafter, named an acting VC in December, 2020, and was expected to be in the saddle for six months.

The Acting VC tenure has been extended due to the continued delay to appoint a substantive candidate.

The National Universities Commission, (NUC) has, earlier, announced the suspension of the process, before the new Council was named.

The immediate past VC of the institution, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, once remarked in an interview that the process of appointing a VC at the UI had always been marred with conflicts of interest that had made the process tough and competitive from time immemorial.

Prof Okayinka has been fingered as one of those behind the current stalemate, as he was reported to have placed some hurdles for his successor.

According to him, “The situation is very unfortunate and we are optimistic that the matter would be resolved amicably eventually.

“The current situation is not entirely new to those of us who are familiar with this institution although the bad blood in the present circumstances has been taken to perhaps unprecedented levels,” the ex VC was quoted in the interview.

Lai Mohammed Says Past Government In Kwara Better Than Now

By
Adesina Soyooye
-
0
Lai Mohammed

By Adesina Soyooye

In a pronouncement comparable to dog eating dog, and likely to shock not a few people, the Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, publicly  said that the past Government in Kwara  State is better than the present Government.

The immediate past Government was that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. The present is Minister  Mohammed’s party, the All Progressives Cogress, APC.

Mohammed made the assertion when he dragged the Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, in the mud.

Mohammed: …”despite all the warnings from concerned party leaders and others who had reservations about his choice, our reaction then was that no matter what, his choice was better than where we were coming from. But we were wrong.”

The Minister is from Kwara State. Both men, along with a number of others, including Gbemi Saraki, the Minister for State, Ministry of Transport, pulled  an unbelievable feat in Kwara State in 2019 during the Governorship election.

Between them, they ended the decades-old stranglehold the Saraki family held on Kwara politics.

For years, seemingly unending, the Saraki family, thanks to their late patriach, Olusola Saraki, was the ultimate Kwara politics.

Nobody became anything without the endorsement of the Saraki family. He installed and “deinstalled” Kwara Governors. When he got tired of all of them, he installed his own son, Bukola, who, like him, is a Medical Doctor. Bukola was a two-time Governor of the State.

Olusola Saraki was  one-time Senate Leader. Big deal. But he so arranged it that his two children, Bukola  and Gbemi surpassed him.

Two of them had been Senators, one after the other. Bukola was also the Senate President.

Things went awry for the Saraki family when the Senior Saraki wanted his daughter, Gbemi, to succeed his son, Bukola, as the Governor. The junior Saraki resisted that, calling it morally wrong. He chose somebody else to succeed him and, for the first time, Saraki senior was given a bloody nose. He never recovered from that shock of defeat until he died.

Having learnt from that defeat that the Saraki family   is “defeatable”, Lai Mohammed, Abdulrazaq and a few others pulled together a coalition which swept the Saraki political family out of power. The coalition had the backing of Gbemi, who never forgave his brother, Bukola, for denying her the Governorship seat.

For the first time, the Saraki political family lost power in Kwara State. But the family must be having a good laugh now.

The coalition which drove it out of power is in tatters. The members are at one another’s throat.

Between the Governor and the two Ministers in Abuja – Lai Mohammed and Gbemi Saraki – and a number of other stakeholders, there is no love lost. They hardly agree on anything.

The result: the APC in Kwara is factionised – the Governor’s faction and the Lai Mohammed’s faction.

Lamenting the situation on Saturday, Minister Mohammed said it was a huge mistake to have made Abdulrazaq Governor in 2019. He said by making him Governor, the State entered a “one chance bus.”

The Minister spoke in Illorin while commissioning a new Secretariat of his own faction of the party, led by Bashir Bolarinwa.

Regretting the Government of Abdulrazaq, Minister Mohammed said:

“It has gotten to the point where we have to speak out. We have been pushed to the wall, and we have no choice than to come out and expose their lies and pretensions.”

Mohammed disclosed they were warned that Abdulrazaq was not a product to take to the market.  They did not listen. They were told it was a mistake. They did not agree until it was late.

Mohammed: “It was immediately after the Governor emerged as the party’s candidate that it dawned on us that we have entered one chance.

“But despite all the warnings from concerned party leaders and others who had reservations  about his choice, our reaction then was that no matter what, his choice was better than where we were coming from. But we were wrong.”

With the situation in the State, the likelihood of Governor Abdulrazaq securing a second term ticket seems remote. If he does, the likelihood of his winning is remote, unless the APC at the National level  weighs in to make peace between the two waring factions. Otherwise?

The toppled PDP looks good to get back to office.

Bandits Defeat El-Rufai, Finally Send His Children Out of School

By
Adesina Soyooye
-
0
El-Rufai and his Son

By Adesina Soyooye

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, presents the face of a hard- nut. A face of indifference to the State of the Nation. A face that everything is okay. A face that he is stone-hearted;

Not moved by emotions or public opinion. Once he believes in something, good or bad, he sticks to his opinion and beliefs.

If you are in doubt, consider how he handled the abduction of the students and staff of Greenfield University by bandits.

From the minute the Governor was told of the abduction of the students, his first reaction was that his  Government would never pay a kobo in ransome money to the abductors.

Not a few people thought he was joking. They had a reason to think so.

Afterall, was it not the same El-Rufai who slammed the Government of former President Goodluck Jonathan for its alleged reluctance to pay ransome to the abductors of Chibok girls. He had said, then, that any responsible Government  would pay.

But it seems, now, to be a different El-Rufai. He has changed his views on so many issues, including his very negative views on the then candidate Major General Muhammadu Buhari.

But not many people thought he would play the hard nut with the lives and safety of abducted students.

When the abductors killed three of the students, the Governor was not moved to negotiate for ransome. Two days later, they killed two more of the students, yet ke was not moved. He simply sent condolence messages to their parents.

Then he worsened the case for the abducted students by publicly saying they had been located, and he had plans to storm the location using the Military. On the effect such a move could have on the students, he undiplomatically, some say heartlessly,  said that some would be lost, and some lost.

Most Nigerians accused him of not speaking like a parent. They said that for a parent, he had no feelings at all.

Well, not true.

Apparently, when it comes to his own children and family, there is a different El-Rufai.

Forget the assertion by one of his wives that even if she, El-Rufai’s wife, is kidnapped,  her husband will not pay ransome.

Not true.

She was just talking. She knows she is not vulnerable. She does not go where she could be kidnapped. She is safe, with maximum protection.

To prove that El-Rufai would give an arm to save any member of his family from being kidnapped, look at what he has just done.

In 2019 or early 2020, Governor El-Rufai had made a dance and song of sending one of his sons, then six-year old Abubakar-Sadiq, to a public school in Kaduna.

Deserved applause.

At that level, they don’t send their children to public schools. They send them to private schools or schools outside Nigeria. Public schools in Nigeria are so run down that they are no inspiration to any child or parent. The environment is worse than a pig’s sty. And the teachers are not inspired. They are owed several months of salaries and allowances.

So, the photograph of the Governor accompanying his son on his first day in school to register him at the Kaduna Capital School made news. But Capital School is not just any Public school, thanks to the Governor.

Before El-Rufai sent his son there, he had spent hundreds of millions of Naira, to make it a Grade A school.

But now, El-Rufai has pulled Sadiq out of Kaduna Capital School. He also stopped Sadiq’s younger sister, Nasrine, who just turned six, from resuming classes there.

Here’s why?

El-Rufai is afraid of bandits.

He doesn’t want his children abducted like the children are other parents.

So, he withdrew them from school.

Speaking to the BBC Hausa Service, the Governor said he withdrew his son, and stopped his younger sister from joining him at Capital School for fear of bandits, for fear of abduction.

He said credible security information point to the fact that, at least, three different sets of bandits had planned to storm the school, and abduct his son from there. He didn’t want to take chances. He took a preemptive action, which was to withdraw his son, and stop the registration of his daughter.

Now, he said, his son is being taught at home – in the secured environment of Government House – and only goes to the school to take examinations. He says the kid and his sister would resume normal classes when things normalise. When that will be, nobody knows.

But, it will be good to know how many security agents accompany young Sadiq to the school for exams. And it would be good to know what the Governor could have done just if, God forbid, his children were kidnapped from school.

Will El-Rufai refuse to pay ransome, and leave them at the mercy of dangerous criminals? Or, ask the Military to storm their location, and tell  their mother: If they are rescued fine, if they are killed in the process, fine?

For now, the score is: Bandits – one. El-Rufai- zero.

APC Congresses: Ondo, Ekiti Party Leaders Seek Peaceful Method Of Consensus

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
APC Party
APC Party

By Ayodele Oni

As the All Progressive Congress, (APC) prepares for its congresses at the various  levels, party leaders have been meeting to devise means of ensuring a peaceful and rancour free process.

In Ondo State, leaders have opted for a consensus method of choosing officials of the party at the July 24 ward congress.

According to them, the method will further cement the unity in the party and make it more formidable than ever before.

The State Governor and leader of the party in the state, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, who spoke during a Stakeholders’ Meeting on Friday, said a significant percentage of youths and women must be considered in the distribution of party positions.

In Ekiti state where a stakeholders’ meeting was also held, no agreement was reached as to whether election or consensus arrangement would be adopted.

A former Chairman of the APC in the state, Chief Jide Awe, had flayed the consensus arrangement, which he said was undemocratic.

Chief Awe was once a beneficiary of consensus arrangement which allowed him to head the party for ten years.

Speaking at the stakeholders meeting held in Ado Ekiti on Friday, former Governor Niyi Adebayo, towed the line of Governor Akeredolu of Ondo state as he made a case for a generational shift in politics and governance to allow for the greater participation of younger people.

Otunba Adebayo, who was Governor of Ekiti state at the age of 41, said that at his age, fatigue sometimes sets in because of the grueling long hours of meetings and travels associated with politics and governance.

Otunba Adebayo, who is currently Minister for Trade and Investment, used the opportunity of the meeting to refute insinuations of a rift between him and Governor Fayemi, saying “Kayode Fayemi and I are one.

“There is no division between us. We always work together and are in constant consultation on matters relating to politics and governance in the state and nationally.”

Otunba Adebayo also denied ever nursing a second term ambition as Governor, saying  Governor Fayemi’s first term was his own second term, and that he is now in his third term through Governor Fayemi’s current tenure.

He emphasized the need for continuity and consolidation, when he said that by the time he and Governor Fayemi, with the support of the party elders and members, successfully install a successor in the 2022 gubernatorial election, he would commence his fourth term in office.

In his remarks, Governor Kayode Fayemi explained that there is only one APC structure in Ekiti, and admonished party members to go back to the grassroots and be more inclusive and participatory in politics across the state, and eschew greed and the imposition of the will of a few over the majority.

Dr Fayemi has been consistently very vocal and unapologetic about the need for young people to step up to the plate and organize towards deepening their participation in politics and governance in the country.

He however admonished young people not to approach politics with a sense of entitlement, but rather leverage their numerical strength, ideas, and energy, to bring about change.

1...2,4992,5002,501...3,079Page 2,500 of 3,079