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INEC Strikes Out APC From Bayelsa Senatorial Bye- Election |The Source

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The Source
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INEC Logo
INEC Logo

The Independent National Electoral Commission has struck out the All Progressive Congress and its candidate, Chief Peremobowei Ebebi, from the Bayelsa West Senatorial election.

The election which was earlier scheduled for October 31, 2020, was rescheduled for December 5, 2020 as a result of the #EndSARS protest and disturbances

The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in Bayelsa State, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said in a statement issued, on behalf of the Resident Electoral Commissioner, that the Commission had taken a decision to strike out the APC and its candidate.

Ifogah said that the INEC decision was in compliance with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Yenagoa which restrained the Commission from including the logo and name of the APC and its candidate on the ballot.

Ifogah explained that only 12 political parties would participate in the rescheduled election on December 5, 2020.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission wishes to inform the good people of Bayelsa State especially the electorates and stakeholders in Bayelsa West Senatorial District that the conduct of the election into the vacant  Seat which was initially scheduled on 31 October, 2020 has been rescheduled to hold on December 5, 2020 with only twelve political parties qualified to participate.

“The above reduction in parties participating is in compliance to the Federal High judgments in suit number FHC/YNG/CS 60/2020 and FHC/YNG/CS/66/2020 which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from including the name and logo of the candidate of the All Progressive Congress for Bayelsa West Senatorial District Peremobowei Ebebi,” the statement read Ebebi, a former Bayelsa Bayelsa Speaker, Deputy Governor and former Acting Governor, was disqualified by the Courts for alleged forgery in some of his documents.

All things being equal, political pundits believe the immediate past Governor of the State, Chief Seriake Dickson, is favoured to win the seat.

FHQ Redeem Image; Rescue Nine Kidnapped Officers |The Source

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The Source
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Nigeria Police Force

The Nigeria Police finally redeemed its image, when it  successfully rescued Nine Police Officers kidnapped since  8th November, 2020 between Kankara town and Sheme in Katsina State after the night commercial bus they were traveling in came under attack by heavily armed men, all dressed in Military Camouflage, but suspected to be bandits.

The officers, all Assistant Superintendents of Police (ASPs), were on their way to Gusau in Zamfara State from Maiduguri at the time of the incident.

According to a Press Release by Force Spokesperson, DCP Frank Mba,  two of the officers are currently receiving medical attention in a hospital, while the remaining seven are being debriefed.

Covert operation to locate and rescue the officers commenced immediately they were discovered missing en-route to their destination. Mbah said the apparent delay in commenting on the unfortunate incident was a deliberate decision aimed at protecting the integrity and confidentiality of the rescue operation and the concomitant safety of the officers.

“It is also important to state that preliminary investigation has shown that the attack on the vehicle was an opportunistic crime as the officers were all traveling in mufti, unarmed and alongside other private citizens in the commercial vehicle.

“The total number of officers involved in the incident is nine (9) and not twelve (12) as previously, wrongly reported in some sections of the media.”

Investigation into the incident is still ongoing.

The kidnap of the officers had shocked the nation. Their abductors had asked for  the sum of N100m. It is not known if any ransom was paid or not.

GEJ@63: Goodluck Jonathan, A Man For All Seasons |The Source

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The Source
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Goodluck Jonathan

By Wealth Ominabo Dickson

Five years after leaving office as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has continued to shine bright as a distinguished African statesman, peacemaker, and nation builder. He has been actively engaged in many international assignments, including leading peace missions and different Election Observer Missions to various African nations including Tanzania, Zambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Africa and Mozambique.

His story is compelling, intriguing, yet a complex tale full of moral lessons and footnotes. Lessons of patience, democracy, hope, faith, unity, love, peace and tolerance. Indeed, there are no limits to the lessons which the character and persona of Dr Jonathan espouses to Nigerians, Africans and the rest of the world. Every aspect of his life is an unfolding plot of humanitarian lessons.

From being born without a silver spoon, to his meteoric rise to power as deputy governor, acting governor, governor, vice president, acting president and president to the solemnity of his exit from the presidency speaks volume of Jonathan as a man of many lessons, and a man for all seasons.

“I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, would one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“My story holds out the promise of a new Nigeria. My story is the story of a young Nigerian whose access to education opened up vast opportunities that enabled me to attain my present position.” Jonathan said in one of his testaments.

No doubt, his story is that of hope, unity, faith and progress. In and out of power, Jonathan continues to represent these virtues. He wields great influence among great patriots and statesmen; not through might but through the overflowing luxury of his character: his obsession to the pursuit of peace and his predilection to nurture and grow Africa democracy makes him a man for many seasons.

Recently, he undertook the assignment to serve as ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali, to mediate between the different stakeholders and return the country to the paths of peace and stability following weeks of nationwide unrest that led to military takeover in the country. His choice for the assignment according to the President of ECOWAS Commission Jean-Claude Kassi Brou was based on his  “position as the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the great role and contributions your tenure offered to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in our region.”

True to the expectation of Africans and ECOWAS people, Jonathan and his team after, months of mediation and engagement with the different stakeholders, were able to procure peace on the table of mediation with the successful inauguration of a transitional government headed by Mr. Bah N’daw

Commenting on the commitment of Dr Jonathan and his team for their role in resolving the political stalemate in the country, the Malian leader Mr. Bah N’daw was full of gratitude to ECOWAS and Jonathan.

He said : “My gratitude goes to ECOWAS for its constant concern for our country. I also thank ECOWAS mediator, former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan for the wise advice he has been giving to his Malian brothers and sisters since June this year. He is one of us now.

“I welcome his presence and I would like to assure him of the determination of the Malians to lead a stable, peaceful and successful transition, under the agreed conditions and deadlines.”

“I assure him (Jonathan) and ECOWAS that I am ready to make any sacrifice that will bring peace to Mali and make my country recover from its challenges. I will organize the election on schedule and will not go outside the letters of the Transition charter.” This is the second time that Dr Jonathan has been involved in resolving political tension in Mali, the first was in 2012, when he was a serving president.

As chairman of the International Summit Council of peace Africa, Dr Jonathan has been mobilising serving and past African leaders towards peace unity and progress of the African continent.

“Africa must do something radical to tackle the challenges occasioned by this pandemic. We can’t continue to wait for other nations to come build our lands. So, Africans, it is time to build a newer world, “Jonathan said in a dialogue forum organised by ISCP to proffer solutions to the debilitating effects occasioned by the pandemic.

As a thought leader in the continent, Jonathan is not reticent to forge alliances with other global leaders and organisations with a view to advancing the course of humanity. This informed his choice to accept the responsibility to serve as a member of the Kofi Annan Elections Integrity Panel of Senior Figures with members such as Madeleine Albright, former U.S Secretary of State and Chair of the National Democratic Institute, Joe Clark- Former Prime Minister of Canada, Laura Chinchilla, Former President Costa Rica.  Part of his initial task was to join the league of global personalities to write an open letter on why democracy should not be a silent victim of the pandemic.

Through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, Dr Jonathan has set in motion mechanisms on how to minimize and resolve elections related crises in West Africa as a way of stabilizing the region’s democracy, through the establishment of the West African Elders forum.

The forum will involve eminent personalities and past leaders in the region who will be saddled with the responsibility of advocating and mediating with different political stakeholders in various countries in order to build consensus, hope, peace as well ensure democratic justice and legitimacy in the region.

Jonathan’s charismatic qualities have continued to attract him local and international honours.  The Igbinedion University Okada(IUO) and Edwin Clark University   awarded him with honorary doctorate degrees last year.  Their reasons? Jonathan is a political icon that deserves to be celebrated. They say they want to change the culture where a prophet is without honour in his land. For IUO they went a step further to rename the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences after Jonathan in a bid to   preserve and instill the values of humility, peace, justice and truth to the students. Just last week Nigeria in Diaspora Organisation, Europe Chapter (NIDOE), bestowed on Jonathan Leadership Service Award, this is the latest of numerous awards that Jonathan has received since living power.

Born in the rustic community of Otuoke 63 years ago, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has become a totemic figure in contemporary African politics. Not through might or celestial power but through grace. Through the pursuit of peace and happiness, through service, patience and love Jonathan has become the face of modern democracy in Africa.

Today, many who misunderstood his meekness and peaceful democratic disposition as weakness have come to know better; that the strength of man lies in his humanity- the ability to subdue his ego, and align with the will of the people.  While some have openly apologized, others regret in the shadow of their conscience, admitting in unison that the Jonathan era was indeed an era of hope, love and freedom. The memories of this era Nigeria, Africa and the world celebrate today as we celebrate the life and person of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is 63 years old today.

Jonathan’s sojourn on earth is “a life of service that has brought honour and goodwill to the country” President Muhammadu  Buhari says  in his goodwill message to him. At 63 we can boldly say Dr Jonathan is a man for all season, a political Melchizedek  with no limit to his glory, honour and reign.

Happy birthday Your Excellency.

* Ominabo is the Communications Officer at Goodluck Jonathan Foundation

Lekki Toll Gate: Lai Mohammed’s Son, Folajimi, Counters Father, Says People Were Killed |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali
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Folajinmi Lai Mohammed

By Akinwale Kasali

It is a parent’s worst nightmare, being publicly contradicted by his/her child. But that is the fate that has befallen the Minister for Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Barely hours after he addressed a Media Conference, insisting that no youth was killed at the October 20 Lekki Toll Gate alleged shooting of #EndSARS protesters, comments by his  son, Folajimi, a member of the Lagos House of Assembly, surfaced  countering him.

Folajimi Lai Mohammed, representing Ikeja 2 Constituency, said the contrary was the case. He said the Youths were attacked.

Folajimi was outed by political analyst and Human Rights Activist, Ndi Kato for allegedly admitting that #EndSARS protesters were attacked at Lekki Toll Gate.

In tweets shared shortly after the Minister of Information and Culture accused CNN of being irresponsible with their documentary, and  calling for a sanction against the international medium, Ndi Kato also attached a screenshot of an October 21 post in which Folajimi admitted that #EndSARS protesters were attacked by “yet-to-be identified gunmen”.

Folajimi wrote in the post; “Protests of varying forms have been witnessed throughout the history of mankind and the onus has always been on the concerned authorities to address the causes of such protests all in a bid to foster a peaceful coexistence between the leadership and the followership of the society.

“Historical peaceful protests such as that led by Mahatma Ghandi against forces of imperialism in India have since become the template for aggrieved citizens to make their requests known to the authorities.

“In the last two weeks, a coalition of Nigerian youths have assembled in several locations across the country to demand an end to police brutality and other human rights violations which have become a prominent and conspicuous tendency among the security personnel.

“This #EndSARS protest has largely been peaceful despite the occasional incursion and hijack by hoodlums and criminal elements whose activities are in sharp contrast to the mandate and objectives of the protesters. Notable among these groups of protesters are the Lekki Tollgate protesters who have been identified as one of the most peaceful, diverse, and yet organised groups in Lagos state and the country at large.

“It is shocking to wake up to the news that this set of peaceful protesters were attacked in a crude fashion by yet-to-be identified gunmen on Tuesday evening. This incident is reminiscent of the 1989 Tiananmen Square attack of Chinese youths who rightfully protested against the inadequacies of their time just as the young and promising Lekki Tollgate protesters did.

“As a Nigerian youth and a concerned member of society, I strongly criticize and condemn the aforementioned incident which has generated widespread denunciation both locally and internationally.

“I believe that this group of young, diverse, and vibrant Nigerians should have been better engaged by the security forces in as much as they have remained resolute but peaceful in pressing for their demands which is a desire for a better Nigeria.

“I therefore appeal to the youths in the state to continue to be peaceful, law-abiding and civil in their subsequent agitations for a country that we will all be proud of. God bless you All.

Ndi Kato (@YarKafanchan) Tweeted: Ladies and gents, meet Honorable Folajimi Lai Mohammed;a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Folajimi is Lai Mohammed’s son.

Group Demands Justice For EndSARS Victims |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation, CAPPA, through its Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, has condemned the October 20, 2020, Lekki Toll Gate, alleged, killings of #EndSARS protesters by Soldiers.

The Group frowned at the insincerity and conflicting stories by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Nigeria Army and the Federal Government on the issue, which has made a mockery of the nation at large, following the Investigative Reportage of International News Medium, Cable News Network, CNN, which has led to denial of the Government.

CAPPA, however, demanded Justice for victims of the brutality and extra judicial Killings of innocent Nigerians by petitioning the International Criminal Court, ICC and the United Nations, UN.

On Friday, November 20, 2020, the petition was delivered to the ICC and the UN High Commissioner, with over 10,026 signing the petition, as well as over 150 Organizations from over 75 countries around the World, including two former United Nations Special rapporteurs, several members of the United States Congress, Cornell and Harvard University Professors.

The Group stressed that the #EndSARS protesters and those arrested unjustly are neither  Criminals nor terrorists as has been portrayed by the Government, but were only exercising their Civic and Constitutional Rights, by demanding better Police and a better Nigeria.

It added that Contrary to Governor Sanwo-Olu’s tales that no lives were lost at the Lekki Toll Gate, Four #EndSARS Protesters,  Perpetual Kamsiyuchukwu, Dabiraoluwa Adeyinka, Honey Ayuku and Samuel Isah, testifying at the Judicial Panel of Inquiry in Lagos, provided a list of 22 Protesters who died because of the Lekki Toll Gate Shooting.

“The happenings presently in the Nation  is unacceptable, and Nigerians are waking up to the reality that the Civic space is shrinking, while the Federal Government claims it is waving the olive branch with the left hand, while it is using the right hand to muzzle the right to free speech and peaceful Protest, which is the right of every Nigerian guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We, however, demand Justice for all the #EndSARS Victims, calling for the ICC and the UN to wade in this issue for the Justice to trigger supreme”.

Corroborating CAPPA, Debo Adeniran, the Executive Director of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, said  that the Nigerian Government lacks civility.

He stressed that if the Government had attended to the demands of the Protesters, it wouldn’t have escalated to the situation we find ourselves.

“The Nigerian Government have failed the people, and it is necessary for Justice to take its cause. We, however, demand Justice for the Victims of the #EndSARS protest.

“Also, the Government should stop terrorising the people and trampling on their fundamental human rights of association. It saddens one that the Government has been sealing places where meetings are meant to be held for the protest. We call on the UN and the ICC to come to our aid”.

Who Will Rescue The North? |The Source

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The Source
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By  Bulama  Bukarti

It’s indisputable that Northern Nigeria is today one of the most dangerous places on earth. While Boko Haram continues its rampage, launching deadly attacks in the Northeast, literally every day, criminal gangs in the Northwest are operating with impunity.

Attacks have become so frequent that the massacre of dozens no longer makes the headlines, much less capture the attention of those in authority. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, another incident proves you wrong. The slide into anarchy now seems inevitable. And very few of those who claim to speak for the North seem to care.

The past fortnight has recorded many different incidents that is, even in this era that seems not to view human life with any sanctity, unique. It started with a report by BBC Hausa that bandits have imposed ‘harvest fees’ of between N300,000 to N900,000 on farmers in some communities of Zamfara State. Those who are unable to pay are prevented from harvesting their crops, which spoil in the bush while they struggle to feed their families.

It then emerged that these charges are also imposed by criminal gangs in Katsina, Kaduna and Niger states. Farmers in these states were forced to pay at the onset of the season to access and cultivate their farms. Now, their crops are ripe and they’re starving, but they can’t harvest until they incur more debts to settle the same gangs. If this isn’t a sign of a failing country, I don’t know what is.

Next came the devastating story of what 26 seized women and girls went through at the hands of the bandits. The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle,  published a photo of himself with the victims on Twitter, claiming that they had been “rescued” after only one week in captivity, indicating that no ransom had been paid and that the victims were unharmed.

Thanks to the investigative journalism of this paper, the truth emerged: the victims spent over three weeks in captivity. They were serially beaten and raped, including the children.  Their relatives paid N6.6 million to get them released. Parents said they sold everything they had, including their unharvested crops, and incurred debts to raise the money.

That a governor will use this tragedy as a photo opportunity, drawing praise for his inaction, is a monumental national disgrace.

But the climax came last Tuesday when BBC Hausa revealed that 12 Assistant Superintendents of police deployed from Borno to Zamfara, have been abducted by bandits in the northwest. Yes, you read it right: a dozen police officers were kidnapped on duty at once. The wife of one of the officers told the BBC that her husband had called from the kidnappers’ den and instructed her to sell off their house for ransom payment. She said she knows eight other police families working to raise N800,000 each to pay the abductors.

The situation is so ugly that the police can’t even defend themselves even in a convoy. If 12 senior police officers,  with their training, experience and presumably weapons, could be kidnapped on a highway, what more of ordinary Nigerians living in remote villages? Worse still, the captives know very well that their institution is incapable of rescuing them. That is why they asked their families to ransom them.

Amidst all of this, the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Dingyadi, insulted us by asking us to ignore the facts and fall for their propaganda.

Responding to criticisms and concerns, including in this newspaper, he claimed that the bandits have been “degraded”. This is even as they hold a dozen police officers captive! His statement came on the same day 16 people, including the district head of Zangon Kataf, were killed in different spots in Kaduna.

Two days earlier, nine French language students of ABU Zaria were abducted on the Kaduna-Abuja road. Dingyadi, who is himself a Northerner, said all these attacks are “small” and “normal”, an indication that Government isn’t bothered, and we should expect more.

One is left to wonder if the Minister’s opinion would’ve been the same if the victims were his family. I would bet my bottom naira that Dingyadi can’t drive from Abuja through Kaduna, Katsina and Zamfara to his native Sokoto.

But the Minister is only following the example of other Northern “leaders”.

Earlier this month, the Northern Governors’ Forum hosted Northern political and traditional leaders, including the Senate President, Ministers and the Chairmen of Northern State Traditional Rulers, led by the Sultan of Sokoto. They dedicated more than half of their 20-paragraph communique to condemning the #EndSARS protests, praising the Government for its use of live bullets against unarmed protesters, and calling for the censoring of the social media.

The “leaders” of the North did not spare a single sentence for the bandits’ and terrorists’ depredations in the North. There was not one word of even the usual ceremonial sympathises for the victims, nor any encouragement of the government to do more to help. This speaks volumes on their priorities: they are more perturbed by well-founded protests against police brutality and Nigerians’ freedom of expression than the wanton destruction of the lives and livelihoods of their supposed constituents.

That is because the former threatens their power and wealth while the latter affects ordinary Northerners whose lives are worth nothing in their eyes.

But the facts and data don’t lie. They show that the bandits continue to get more lethal and sophisticated by the day. They have raised and continue to launder huge sums from ransoms which they use to stockpile weapons and supplies; they have effectively taken control of swathes of land in the Northwest where they levy taxes and impose their law(lessness). From Benue to Borno, from Kaduna to Kebbi, the North is bleeding so badly. Northerners are killed like rats. Women and children are captured and violated freely.

A presidency dominated by Northerners keeps paying lip service. Our security agencies are clearly overwhelmed. Our political leaders are more concerned with their personal parochial interests; our Emirs, Imams, and intellectuals are silent; most of our youths are uneducated and many of those educated have been brainwashed, blackmailed or bullied into acquiescence.

In this perfect conspiracy of silence, who will rescue the north from its dangerous descend?

Bukarti is a Barrister-at- Law

Breaking: Newspaper Vendors Shut Down Abuja, Protest Against Killing Of Colleague By Gbajabiamila’s Aide |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Breaking News

By Akinwale Kasali

The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja is presently shut down as Newspaper Vendors  have taken over the streets to protest the killing of their colleague, Ifeanyi Okereke  He was shot by a trigger happy Police Officer attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila.

The Abuja branch of  the Newspapers Vendors Association shut down operations demanding Justice for their colleague.

thesourceng.com had reported earlier that a member of the Newspaper Vendors Association identified as Ifeanyi Okereke was killed by a security aide to Speaker The Newspaper Vendors are currently at the popular Area 1, Garki Newspaper distribution centre to protest and mourn the late Okereke.

Etim Eteng, the Chairman of the Newspaper Vendors Association, while addressing the vendors amidst pool of tears, said the deceased member, did not commit any offence, yet he was “killed by an over-zealous security aide to the Speaker.”

Eteng however vowed that the vendors would take every necessary action to get justice for their slain member. He also noted that distribution of newspapers to the public would be suspended till further notice.

Okereke was carelessly and accidentally killed on Thursday by an aide to the Speaker .

Breaking: Senator Ndoma-Egba Loses Wife, Amaka |The Source

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Adesina Soyooye
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Victor Ndoma- Egba

By Adesina Soyooye

When Senator Victor Ndoma  Egba, SAN,  and his lovely wife,  Amaka, renewed their marriage vows at the Vatican, after 23 years of marriage, on January 7, 2018, both were looking forward to more celebrations in their beautiful union.

No longer.

Amaka  Ndoma  Egba is dead. She died on Thursday in a motor vehicle crash.

Details of the crash are still sketchy, but this is a tragedy too many for the urbane Senator.

In October, while he was out of the country, the  #EndSARS protesters looted and razed his residential house in Calabar, capital of his home state.

He took the incident and his losses philosophically, saying he knew his house was a target, but expressed disappointment that neither the leadership of the Police, nor Military, was of help even when he gave them notice of what was afoot.

Mrs Ndoma Egba was an educationist, and was the founder of one of the high profile schools in Abuja,

More details, later.

Outrage Greets Killing Of Vendor By Speaker’s Aide; Colleagues Contradict Speaker’s Story |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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A Newspaper Vendor Shot by Gbajabiamila Convoy

By Akinwale Kasali

There is outrage over the killing of an Abuja Newspaper Vendor by a Policeman attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

This is as the Chairman of Vendors’ Association, FCT, Etim Eteng, contracdicted the Speaker’s account of how the Vendor, Ifeanyi Okereke, was killed.

Okereke was killed a few hours after his wife put to bed a new baby.

Gbajabiamila had, in a series of tweets said his   convoy was driving off after he had stopped to exchange greetings with the vendors, but that one of his security aides fired shots in the air to disperse a group of young men who were blocking the convoy.

But eye witnesses tell a different story.

They said that  as the convoy of the Speaker drove by, the late Okereke ran after the car, hailing the Speaker, before the trigger happy Aide, shot at him.

Okereke was said to be gasping for breath as his colleagues ran to him and tried to resuscitate him.

He was rushed to the National Hospital by his brother, colleagues and some Policemen before he gave up the ghost.

Said one one of the Vendors in tears, ” His wife just gave bjrth to a baby  a few hours ago, now, he has been shot dead.

The incident was said to have occurred at the around 3 pm.

Explaining what happened,  the Chairman of the Newspapers Vendors Association in FCT, Etim Eteng, said, “The speaker called to give vendors money and the security aide just shot him (Okereke) in the head. He was rushed to the National Hospital where he died some hours later.”

The Aide of the Speaker that carried out the dastardly act is yet to be known.

According to one of the Newspaper Vendors, “The vendors and other hawkers usually run after VIPs and lawmakers whenever they see them. In fact, they can identify the big men by their vehicles. So, the vendors flocked around the speaker’s convoy and he gave them some money but a gunshot just went off.

“The bullet hit Ifeanyi on the head, and he fell down. The officer who fired the gun said he wanted to fire in the air,” Seidu said.

Dr Tayo Haastrup, the spokesperson of the National Hospital confirmed that Okereke died of gunshot injuries.

Haastrup said, “He died of gunshot injuries and would be moved from the Trauma Centre to the mortuary shortly.”

He has since been deposited in the mortuary.

The condition of his wife who just put to bed is not known.

Lagos Read Riot Acts To Defiant Okada Riders, Tricyclists, Others |The Source

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Akinwale Kasali
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Okada Riders and Task Force

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Government has reacted strongly to the continuing face off between its Task Force on one hand, and motor- cyclists and tricyclists on the other hand. The Government it will no longer tolerate the unruliness.

For days there have been a series of face-off between Lagos State Government Task Force and defiant Motorcyclists, who have continued to ply on restricted roads, mainly the highway. The face-off has resulted in the seizure of the tricycles and motor cycles.

At a Press Conference held by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation to address the flagrant violation of the traffic laws and other anomalies on the roads, on Thursday, the Government  read the riot act to motorcycle and tricycle operators, noting that the restriction on them from plying 10 major highways, 40 bridges and roads within six local governments and nine Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the State is still in force.

The State Government also expressed government’s displeasure at the disobedience to the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018, which restricts the operations of commercial motorcycles riders known as Okada from driving against traffic, known as one way driving.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederick Oladeinde, said the game is over for traffic offenders, especially the menace and impunity of commercial motorcycles and tricycles’ operators in the State.

The Commissioner said all commercial transport operators must carry out their daily activities within the approved routes in Lagos State, adding that any motorist caught driving against traffic will face the maximum penalty and will equally be charged to a court of law under the transport sector reform law of Lagos 2018.

He said: “Our Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has since his assumption of office prioritized his administration’s development agenda encapsulated as THEMES. The T stands for Traffic Management and Transportation. In the last one and a half years, Mr. Governor has demonstrated his affirmed commitment to our roads, reform complex junctions to promote better traffic flow, invested in water and land transportation through the provision of ferries and high capacity buses.

“In spite of all the efforts of Mr. Governor to reform our transport sector, it is therefore disheartening to note a lot of our people are still going against the extant law of the state on transport operation and safe driving on our roads and in our communities. The State Government prioritises the safety and security of the people. As a government, we cannot continue to watch this lawlessness develop into an uncontrollable situation.

“I say the game is over because in the last few months, we have witnessed a lot of security and safety challenges apparently as a result of the activities of unscrupulous ‘Okada riders.’ These operators do not only violate the provisions of the Transport Sector Reform Law of Lagos State, 2018 with respect to restriction of areas of operations, but perpetrate crime using their motorcycles.”

Oladeinde while stressing the need for sanity on the roads within Lagos, said the restriction of motorcycles on certain routes in Lagos State is still in force and failure to comply with the law will attract sanctions as stipulated in the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL) 2018, with penalties ranging from N20,000 to three months imprisonment.

He said: “In line with this Administration’s plan to build Lagos that works for all, we are determined to continue to engage with the various transport unions and associations of tricycle and okada operator to ensure their members cooperate with us in the process of ensuring public safety by abiding with the TSRL 2018 at all time.

“With the upsurge in the number of commercial motorcycle operators, we shall intensify our enforcement strategy. This we intend to carry out along with the various transport union leaders. We will set up a joint enforcement team to ensure that our roads are sanitised from the menace of okada riders.

“We hereby direct all law enforcement agencies; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Taskforce and the Nigerian Police to immediately and continuously embark on enforcement on all restricted routes.”

The Commissioner also urged the media to do more by enlightening drivers on the dangers of one way driving. “Obedience to the law was paramount if we must build a state of our dreams. We all have joint responsibilities to make the state work for all,” he said.

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to Governor Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka, implored all road users, especially commercial transport operators to be law abiding.

He urged transport unions to wake up and caution their members who flout traffic rules, saying the government had directed law enforcement agencies to clampdown on them.

The Deputy Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Sulyman Ojora, during the press conference assured Lagos State Government of the support and cooperation of the union in ensuring that traffic offenders are brought to book.

He also advised law enforcement agencies not to trouble the law abiding members of the union, saying that NURTW members are law abiding and they are fully ready to discipline any members whenever they violate any traffic laws.

Also speaking, the representative of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN),  Ayinde Runmokun said that most erring riders were alien to the union, saying that the union was concerned about flagrant disregard of law by some motorists and riders.

He also urged the government to carry the transport union along in the constitution of the task force for the enforcement of the law.

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