Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB rarely agrees with governors from the southeast on matters affecting the zone. But the need to stop cattle grazing and curtail the incessant killings by Fulani herdsmen appears to have brought the warring leaders together.
Barely 48 hours after Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi state announced the decision of all the south east governors to ban cattle grazing, Kanu in a statement, on Monday, said he has directed the Eastern Security Network, ESN to enforce the anti-grazing order across the five states.
Umahi said “Governors of South East have been calling on our leaders to speak out on the security of the zone and unity of Nigeria. I read on paper where someone said he was giving governors of South East 7-days to ban open grazing.
“The governors of southeast had banned open grazing and movement of cows by foot into South East in each of states of the zone. We are managing ourselves well. What we discuss with the herdsmen is the system in place for a long time”
Recall that the militant group had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum to south-east governors to enforce the anti-grazing law.
The IPOB leader said enough of killing and crimes committed by criminally minded Fulani herdsmen, noting that he has given the ESN a marching order to flush them out of the zone.
The statement said “We won’t tolerate any iota of killer Fulani herdsmen menace in the East. You may be comfortable with your wretched Fulanised existence where you are but we won’t live with that rubbish in the land of the Rising Sun. Where were you when our people were being slaughtered, raped and kidnapped in Isiukwuato?
“In less than two weeks, #ESN will commence the full enforcement of Nigeria’s Anti-Grazing Law in the East. Turn into a cow then and see what shall become of you. You are about to understand how determined we are. You have the temerity to talk about monopoly of violence?
“The era of Biafrans crying and lamenting to EU and UN has come and gone. The Dragon Flag has been raised! If you don’t know what it means, go and ask.
“Yap all you like, there is no going back. You #Zoo animals are about to witness the type of madness you never knew existed.”
The managing Director of Jaiz Bank Hassan Usman has urged muslims planning to visit Saudi Arabia for the Hajj to take advantage of the National Hajj Savings Scheme, initiated by the non-profit bank.
The bank’s CEO disclosed this at the launch of the scheme in Oyo and Kwara states, noting that performing the hajj rites is profitable for adherents of the faith.
“With such a scheme in place, intending pilgrims that do not have the wherewithal can gradually plan and actualise their dream without stress by saving gradually Allah’s infinite mercy receive the reward for hajj because they are pilgrims by bringing intention (niyyat) and action (amal) together,” he said.
Hajiya Halima Jibril who represented the Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, said the scheme encourages those in the low rung of the society to save for the pilgrimage, aside earning profits from their savings.
Kwara State, Sharia Court of Appeal, Khadi Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen, advised that it is not easy carrying people along “but with sincerity of mind and physical commitments, the success and accomplishment will be achieved.
”On his part, the Secretary to Kwara State Government, Professor Mammah Saba Jibril, said the scheme is a laudable one that allow prospective pilgrim to Saudi Arabia to plan ahead, adding that the initiative is Sharia compliant. The scheme will “rraise the hope of less privileged Muslims ummahs to participate in the Hajj exercise by gradual deposit for Hajj,” he said.
The Chairman of Oyo state Muslims Welfare Board Prof. Sayed Tunde Malik said the scheme has the potential of bringing about financial inclusion and urged every Muslims to key into the programme
Chief Of Staff (COS) to the Oyo state governor Bisi Alaka, said the scheme “is an initiative that would ensure discipline and teach pilgrims financial inclusion. We will continue to implement policies that would promote the welfare of the people of the state. I therefore urge all Muslims in the state to subscribe to the scheme.”
Ismaila Mustapha, popularly known as Mompha, a Social Media sensation, has again been indicted and named as a defendant in the amended N157.1million fraud charge filed against an auto dealer, Sarumi Babafemi, alias 606.
Mompha alongside his company, Ismalob Ventures is currently standing trial over an alleged N32.9 billion internet fraud for close to two years now, was named in the amended nine-count charge of January 22, 2021 brought against Babafemi and Mompha before Justice Chukwujeku Aneke on Monday February 1, 2021.
The two suspects identified as Ridwan Momodu Allison, a.k.a. Osama (said to be at large) and Richard Ogbah were also listed as defendants.
Babafemi, Mompha, Ridwan and Richard were accused of laundering N157.1 million for Omojadesola Shittu Allison; Olandewaju Oriyomi; Abiola Kayode Ayorinde; Bartholomew Oluchukwu Ezeudoka and Amobi Uchenna E. who reportedly received the sums of N37.6 million; N93 million; N1.5 million and N25 million respectively.
Babafemi and his firms; 606 Autos Ltd, 606 Music Ltd and Splash Off Entertainment Ltd were also accused of concealing and disguising the origins of the funds he allegedly laundered for Mompha and others, an offence which contravened sections 15(2)(b) and 15(3)(a) and were punishable under section 15(3) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended).
The scheduled re-arraignment and trial of Babafemi and his firms on the fresh charge could, however, not go on after EFCC’s counsel, Ayanfe Ogunshina prayed the court to allow the charge to be read to the defendants so they could take their plea. He also disclosed that one of the witnesses was in court.
The defence counsel, Muiz Banire (SAN) however opposed this on grounds of being served the amended charge in court. He pleaded for time to study the new charges.
Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke who presided over the case, thereafter adjourned it till April 21, 22 and 23 2021.
Following the influx of Fulani Herdsmen and their heinous Activities on residents of their host communities, the Southeast governors have announced the ban on open grazing and the movement of cows by foot in the region in an effort to tackle the security challenges confronting the zone.
The Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, said that during while addressing the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abakaliki, the State Capital.
“The Governors of the southeast had banned not only open grazing, but we have also banned the movement of cows by foot into the southeast,” he said.
“In each of the five states of the southeast, we are managing ourselves very well. We have also stopped the movement of cows across communities.
“What we discussed in the southeast with the herdsmen, with the farmers is the method that has been in place for a long time before now.”
Umahi, who recently joined the APC from the Peoples Democratic Parttly, PDP, also cautioned the easterners against instigating crisis in the country through the dissemination of fake videos alleging the killing of Fulanis by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-East.
While noting that security is not an issue that should be politicised, Governor Umahi called on leaders of the region to create a framework that will secure the lives and properties of the people.
“What our people must know is that security is not political, what is demanded of the leaders is to put up programs that favour the people and foster national unity.
“There is a new dimension that is taking place in the southeast which is very dangerous. It is when the communities use the name of IPOB, the video and upload it to the social media and say it is IPOB that is burning the houses of herdsmen.
“It is not IPOB, it is the communities that are doing this and this is very dangerous for the Igbo man. I am talking to us as leaders,” he added.
The decision of the South East Governors to ban open grazing is coming days after Nnamdi Kanu, the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), gave the Governors a 14-day ultimatum to ban all forms of open grazing in the region in compliance with the 1969 statutory law of Nigeria.
The Abia State Government has condemned, in strong terms, the activities of some criminal herdsmen in the state who have embarked on destruction of farmlands and the maiming, kidnapping and killing of innocent people.
The Government spoke in reaction to the activities of the herdsmen in Abia North Senatorial zone, where rampant kidnappings have held sway, no thanks to some criminal herdsmen.
The Government also frowned at the killing of cows in the area, saying it is aimed at worsening the situation.
A release signed by the Commissioner for Information, John Okiyi Kalu, warned the herdsmen of consequences, reminding them that open grazing remain banned in the state.
The State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, he said, has ordered security agents to go after the criminals.
Following is the full text of the release, dated 1st February, 2021.
“Abia State Government wishes to condemn in its entirety the recent destruction of farmlands by cows grazing openly in violation of extant laws of the state and Nigeria.
“It also condemns, without reservations, the activities of criminal herdsmen suspected to have masterminded recent brazen kidnap of innocent citizens around Abia North Senatorial Zone of the State.
“Consequently, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed security agents in the state to bring to justice all those involved in the criminal activities.
“Government also frowns seriously at the wanton destruction of cows by yet to be identified individuals whose aim is to exacerbate already existing tensions.
“Government has fully activated all relevant components of the state security architecture to ensure the safety of lives and property of law abiding citizens, residents and visitors to the state.
“We therefore call on the people to go about their legitimate businesses without fear as government is on top of the situation and will spare nothing in protecting Abians.”
The Eastern Security Network, ESN, set up by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has threatened to flush criminal herdsmen out of the South-east, if the Governors don’t arrest the situation.
Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has reportedly been out of the country since September 2020. She has not been around her home in Aso Villa, Abuja, and is reported to be living in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, UAE.
The situation has fuelled rumours that she is uncomfortable over a number things in the Villa and Nigeria.
Her action has shocked many Nigerians who insist that she may have opted to stay in Dubai to avoid speaking on a number of things so as not to be seen as criticising her husband’s Government, a passion she is noted for.
Neither the Presidency nor the First Lady has given reasons for her long absence from the Villa and Nigeria. But before her trip out of the country, four months ago, the wife of the President had a serious spat with Sabiu Tunde Yusuf, an aide to President Buhari in June, which led to suggestions, in many quarters, that she was frustrated by power brokers in the presidency.
Aisha was said to have been so angry by that incident, in which gun shots were fired, that she made up her mind to leave Aso Villa.Those close to the villa alleged that she had considered moving out of the villa immediately, after feeling unprotected against the President’s powerful aide, more so when the confrontation happened right within the villa, but had to wait to conclude the wedding ceremony of her daughter, Hanan, in September.
For more than two decades, the ambience of Aso Villa, Nigeria’s presidential seat of power served as home to many presidents and their wives, the First Ladies.
Therefore, it was not difficult for President Buhari and his wife, Aisha, to settle in the luxurious villa after he took power from President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
The posh presidential villa officially became the abode of Nigeria’s first families after former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, moved the presidential seat from Dodan Barracks in Lagos, to Abuja in 1991, at the tail end of his eight year dictatorship. Since then, the Villa has been home to many First Ladies such as Mayam Babangida, Mayam Abacha, Justice Fati Lami Abubakar, Stella Obasanjo, Turai Yar, Adua and Patience Jonathan.
Aso Rock
Apart from the President and the Vice President whose offices are located in the villa, the First Lady’s office is also located within the heart of the presidential mansion, making it a Mecca of sorts for politicians and hangers on who seek to curry favour from the Government through the powerful First Lady’s office.
This was the situation that Aisha Buhari inherited when she moved in with the President alongside her five children in 2015.
But things began to change after President Buhari embarked on his first medical trip to London in June 6, 2016.
The president spent months in London which many believed derailed his administration, but his immediate family suffered was the most hit, as peace was shattered as a result of some powerful Presidential aides and close family relations, such as Mamman Daura, late Abba Kyari, President Buhari’s Chief of Staff, and others who capitalized on the President’s absence to control the presidency. Buhari has travelled to London 10 times on medical trips since he came to office.
The situation became worse after Aisha accused some presidency officials of hijacking power from her husband due to his ill-health. She blamed the said officials for the economic hardship in the country, and they,in turn, used their closeness with the ailing leader to further undermine her position, Aso Villa sources told the magazine.
To express her frustration, Aisha in, 2016, said she would not support her husband for re-election in 2019 except things changed for the better.
The President “is yet to tell me,” that he will contest in 2019 “but I have decided as his wife, that if things continue like this up to 2019, I will not go out and campaign again and ask any woman to vote like I did before. I will never do it again.” Aisha, however, campaigned, even heading a group, and her husband went on to win the Presidential election in 2019 despite controversy over his performance.
The statement was said to have riled top aides of the President and some close family members who believed she was portraying the administration in bad light. “ Therefore, the angry Aso Rock cabal had drawn a battle line with the first Lady and was only waiting for President Buhari to secure a second term in office to bare their fangs on her,” one of her close aides told the magazine at the week end.
“The President did not help matters, as his body language indicates that he’s in tune with suggestion by some cabinet officials that Aisha’s action is causing untold damage to his administration aside from opening the flanks for the opposition elements to attack the ruling APC government,” the source further said.
The crisis in Aso Villa, however, got to a head last June, when Sabiu Tunde Yusuf said to be very influential with the President, refused to isolate after a trip to London as the country battled with the corona virus pandemic. Fracas ensued after some security agents, allegedly, the order of the First Lady tried to arrest him, and gun shots were fired in the villa.
Those close to the First Lady say she was shocked that the said aide was not punished for his action by the President, which further made her to believe that she’s not given the respect normally accorded her office. She even got angrier after the President failed to sack Yusuf despite her entreaties, according to other sources.
“Nothing like this had ever happened in the villa which points to one thing: the President has lost control to a powerful cabal in the presidency, who has become so influential that they now disrespect the First Lady. Could you imagine any aide doing this to Mayam Babangida or lately, Patience Jonathan?”
President Muhammadu Buhari
Before that incident, the wife of the President also had a confrontation with Fatima, a daughter of Mamman Daura, the President’s nephew who os believed to be the most influential person in Buhari’s government.
Aisha had always accused the former Managing Director of New Nigerian Newspaper of forming a shadowy but powerful kitchen cabinet in the presidency alongside some Ministers. But the matter got bad in October 2019 after Daura’s daughter allegedly prevented the First Lady from gaining entrance into an apartment in the Villa, which had been allocated to her son, Yusuf by the president. The building, House Seven, was initially allocated to the Dauras before they were told to vacate for another building that the President’s son could stay there and recover from the motorbike accident that he had.
“They did that because my husband sacked them from the house. He told them to get all their belongings and leave the house for my son (Yusuf) to occupy. I left them and wanted to get to one of the rooms but they prevented me from getting through, I left them and took another way yet I met the store locked,” Aisha cried out after Fatima allegedly attacked her.
Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity has also been mentioned in the crisis that has rocked Buhari’s presidency for over four years.
In December 2019, Aisha issued a statement where she accused Shehu of meddling in her family’s affair. In the statement entitled ‘Garba Shehu Has Gone Beyond His Boundaries’ the First Lady accused Shehu of abandoning his job and conniving with the cabal in the presidency to malign her.
Aisha had told Shehu to steer clear of her family business because “As spokesperson of the President, he has the onerous responsibility of managing the image of the president and all the good works that he is executing in the country. Rather than face this responsibility squarely, he has shifted his loyalty from the president to others who have no stake in the compact that the President signed with Nigerians on May 29, 2015 and 2019.
Mallam Garba Shehu
“To make matters worse, Mr. Shehu has presented himself to these people as a willing tool and executioner of their antics, from the corridors of power even to the level of interfering with the family affairs of the president. This should not be so. The blatant meddling in the affairs of a First Lady of a country is a continuation of the prodigal actions of those that he serves.”
She said in saner climes, Shehu would have been forced to resign after waging “a war on the First Family through an orchestrated media campaign of calumny by sponsoring pseudo accounts to write and defame my children and myself.”
“The many problems in Buhari’s presidency have become unbearable for the First Lady. It is bad, to say the least, because she has no control over what’s happening. She would have loved to make input like any wife who loves her husband would want to, but apparently she has been shut out totally by those who now control the presidency,” another presidency source said.
According to the source, Aisha “has done everything on her part to draw the President’s attention to what is happening. it’s like all her attempts hit a brick wall.”
The First Lady has not returned to the country since after the marriage ceremony between her daughter, Hanan, to the step son of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, NDLEA Chairman and former Lagos military administrator, Buba Marwa, last September. And Nigerians are asking why.
Cautions officers to respect rights of citizens while urging voluntary compliance
The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni has ordered the Assistant Inspectors General of Police in the seventeen (17) zonal commands and their constituent Commissioners of Police in the thirty-six (36) States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, to carry out full enforcement of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021 signed into law by His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR on 26th January, 2021. They are to ensure full compliance with the Regulations in their respective Areas of Responsibilities (AoR).
A release by Force Spokesperson, CP Frank Mba, said the IGP gave the order to the Strategic Police Managers following the directives by the President as contained in the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Health Protection Regulations 2021 which mandates the Nigeria Police Force and other agencies of Government mentioned therein to ensure full enforcement of the Regulations in public places – places of worship, workplace and schools, banks, public transport vehicles, hostels, boarding houses, detention centres, etc – and general restrictions on gatherings as well as the use of face mask.
The IGP, while noting that the uncertainty and risks engendered by the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic have placed additional responsibilities on the general public, calls on citizens to voluntarily comply with the provisions of the Regulations for the safety of all. The IGP further cautions officers enforcing the Regulations to show tact, compassion and empathy with the citizens. He reiterates that the officers must be firm and professional and at the same time remain polite, civil and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has charged the committee in-charge of the membership registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) to give preference to people who are really interested in joining the APC.
According to Governor Akeredolu, there is the need to attract only quality people and not quantity into the party, stressing that commitment to the party is crucial.
The Governor spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting with leaders of the APC in the state and the committee in-charge of the registration exercise in the state led by Mr Murphy Lawal and the secretary, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun.
He declared that “the important thing for me is that we should not register people who are not ready to show commitment to the party. To be a member of this party, we need commitment, and that commitment is about finance.
“Let us be concerned about quality and not quantity. People who can make a strong case for the party. There must be a point where we put the interest of the party first. Go after people who really have the interest to be members of this party.”
The Governor used the occasion to announce that the foundation laying ceremony for a befitting party secretariat for the state chapter of the party would be held on Saturday.
He noted that before the APC secretariat was burnt down by hoodlums during the #ENDSARS protest, the party had been planning on building a befitting party secretariat in the state.
Governor Akeredolu called on members and leaders of the party to contribute to the building project, adding that the building must be completed and occupy this year.
“What we are here to do is essentially a party matter. We have said that we will get this place for your use throughout your period since our party secretariat has been burnt.
“We will be doing that as a party member and not as government. The government is not involved in this at all.”
The Committee’s chairman and secretary, Murphy Lawal and Taiwo Olatunbosun commended the Governor for representing the party by delivering dividends of good governance to the people.
Prince Tony Momoh is dead. He died on Monday at age 81.
Prince Momoh, was a veteran journalist, politician and a former Minister of Information and Culture between1986 and 1990 during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He was a former Managing Director of Daily Times.
An Auchi , Edo State, Prince, Tony Momoh will be remembered for his critical writings and informed commentaries.
During his sojourn as Minister, he authored several letters to his counrty men, one of his strategies to propagate the programmes of the IBB regime.
More than five months after their election, over 180 Local Government Councillors-elect in Ondo state are still waiting for Inauguration.
The Local Government election was held in all the 18 Local Government Areas of the state on August 20, 2020, after suffering two postponements.
Council chairmen were sworn in four days after the conduct of the polls, but the Councillors-elect are still waiting for a green light for their inauguration from Governor Rotimi Akeredolu.
Investigations revealed that paucity of funds in the Local govern6ments in the State, coupled with the need to amend some sections in the Local Governments law have been adduced for the delay.
Despite not being sworn in, the Councillors-elect are reported, allegedly, to be drawing salaries from Councils’ coffers.
A top government official explained that “they would have been Inaugurated immediately after the Chairmen were sworn-in. But it was discovered that the law regulating Local Governments in the state needed to be amended to correct some errors.
“The amendment has since been done by the Ondo State House of Assembly. It is not clear to me what has been delaying the inauguration since then.”
Another source said: “Governor Akeredolu is conscious of the problem of low revenue in the Councils.
“What is coming from the federation account is not enough to pay salaries of council workers.
“This is because Covid-19 has seriously dealt with the country’s economy.
“If the legislative councils in all the 18 Local Governments have been inaugurated, those looking for appointments as supervisors, advisers and others would be putting pressure. Where is the money to pay them?”
Workers in the state, including those from the Local Governments Service are expected to receive 50 percent of their November salary this week.
Unions in the State Public Service threatened twice in December, 2020, to go on strike due to non payment of salaries and non remittance of deductions but had to be stopped by Government which hurriedly paid a month salary.
