The Lagos Police Command, which personnel have been unofficially off duty in anger, since after the #EndSARS protest which saw the looting and razing of several Police stations, and the killing of a number of their colleagues, showed the stuff they are made of Sunday morning.
In an early morning raid of black spots, across all its Area Commands, the Command made a haul, arresting a whopping number of 720 suspects.
The early morning raid took Lagosians by surprise, but it was a pleasant one for a people who have been reeling under the mercy of criminals of all sorts, especially since after the #EndSARS protest.
Confirming the raid in a statement, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the Command did that in “its bid to solidify the security architecture of Lagos State.”
He disclosed that the State Command has just relaunched its Anti-Crime Strategies in order to curb crimes and criminality.
Hakeem Odumosu – Lagos State Police Commissioner
His words:
“The command today, Sunday 15th November, 2020, at about 7am, carried out raids simultaneously on identified black spots, reasonably believed to be harbouring criminals and hoodlums, across the fourteen (14) Area Commamds in Lagos State.
“In the swift operations, Police operatives of the command arrested seven hundred and twenty (720) suspects with incriminating items, including, locally-made guns and life cartridges, charms, weed suspected to be Indian hemp, substances suspected to be cocaine, and some items suspected to have been looted from various shopping outlets within the state during the recent Endsars violence.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, who matched his words with actions, had earlier warned and directed police officers and men to move against lawlessness and criminality in Lagos; he affirmed the zeal of the command to sustain the operations, even, beyond the yuletide season.
“CP Hakeem Odumosu has however directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, panti, to commence discreet investigation on the arrested suspects for immediate prosecution. He also urged those whose items were looted during the recent Endsars violence to come up for claims of their items with prove of ownership.
“The police chief commended the officers and men of the command for the successful operations, while he charged them to be at alert for more operations across the state.”
As various groups and individuals seek solution to youths agitations in Nigeria, the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev. Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, has lent his voice, urging the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, listen to the cries of the youths.
The cleric counselled that youths should not despair, noting that the Federal Government should know that the youths are formidable and they should be catered for.
Ayokunle, who made the remarks Sunday in Akure, Ondo state, at the consecration ceremony of Rev(Dr.) James Bayo Owoyemi, as the President of the United Apostolic Church of Christ(U.A.C.C) worldwide, also, appealed to youths to give the federal government time to plan.
According to him, the youths are now more enlightened and conscious to let our leaders know that they are not appendages to the society.
“I want the government not to trivialize the voice of the youth but to ensure and work assiduously and make concrete plans for them in the developmental programme of the country especially in creating an enabling environment for employment.
“With the way they have spoken, I also want to advise the youth to be patient because Rome was not built in a day. They also need to allow the government to have space to rejigg things and make plans for them.”
Expressing the hope that Nigeria will be better, he, however, encouraged the people of the country to be steadfast in their prayers.
” If any year is good we need to praise him and if otherwise, we need to talk to him the more on the need to make the year better for us.
“The situation of the country has shown to us that power belongs to Him and not to us. Any good we received is not because we merit it. It is because of His grace.
“We need to be humble in our dealings with the Almighty, appreciate him for the little we have so that he can open the doors for the plenty.”
Earlier, the newly consecrated President, Rev(Dr.) Bayo Owoyemi, appealed to the Government to prioritize the welfarism of the youths of the country.
According to him, “The youths had spoken. Let the government listen and rise to its responsibility. What we are expecting after the protest is a positive change in the country.”
The Nigeria Army insists that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, lied when he said he did not ask for the deployment of soldiers to the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20. For that, the Army is angry with him.
Soldiers had stormed the #EndSARS protesters in the evening of October 22, and dispersed them by shooting at them, allegedly, with live bullets, after they had held fort for about two weeks, and grounding Lagos.
Hours after the shooting, Sanwo-Olu had visited a couple of hospitals to see the injured, and later on October 21, addressed Lagosians where he claimed that forces beyond him were responsible for the deployment of the soldiers.
The military had earlier issued a statement denying killing any protester, and saying the soldiers were invited by the Governor.
Not many people believed that, especially, as only the Commander-in-‘Chief, in this case, President Muhammadu Buhari, has the right to call out the Military.
But the Army, finally, hit the nail on its head when it appeared before the Lagos State Judicial Commission of Inquiry set up to probe the Lekki incident on Saturday.
Speaking for the Army, the Commander of the 81 Military Intelligence Brigade, Victoria Island, Lagos, Brigadier-General Ahmed Taiwo, said the Army was angry with the Governor for denying knowledge of the deployment of soldiers.
Brigadier-General Taiwo said the Governor asked for their deployment, but quickly added that the Governor was justified, and had no choice, given the situation in Lagos at the time. He said it became necessary because the Police had been overwhelmed by the protesters, and ran away.
Taiwo, also, said that nobody informed them when the Governor extended the beginning of the curfew from 4.00pm to 9,00pm, hence their presence at Lekki before 9.00pm.
He also said the Army was not carried along by the Governor as far as the lifting of the curfew was concerned. He blamed the calling-off of the curfew for the inability to recover looted items, especially, in the Lekki area. Otherwise, he said, most of the items looted from Shoprite and other shops could have been recovered.
Taiwo disclosed that soldiers evacuated about Two Billion Naira from banks when hoodlums embarked on arson and looting of banks in Lagos. He also denied any killings by Soldiers.
Taiwo’s submission is likely to put Sanwo-Olu in a more embarrassing situation than he already is.
The shooting at Lekki had sparked-off violence and anger. Till date, nobody has confirmed the number of fatalities.
While the Governor says two people died in the hospital, the Youths and Civil Society Organisations claim as much as between 17 and 59. Many term it the Lekki massacre.
It was tales of woe as residents of Ayetoro community, in Ondo state, were visited by heavy ocean surge, midnight Saturday, leaving several thousands of residents homeless.
The surge, from the Atlantic ocean, which has become an annual occurrence, swept through homes, and washed away several household items.
The history of ocean surge in the coastal area of Ondo state is as old as those communities which have no other place to settle than coastline where their major occupation is fishing.
Reports have it that the coastline habitants, who are mainly Ilaje, Ijaw and other non- natives from neighbouring states of Ogun and Delta states have been cohabiting there peacefully until oil exploration commenced in the area.
The Niger/Delta Development Commission, (NDDC) an intervention agency set up by the federal government to oversee development especially in the coastal areas seems to be helpless of the present situation.
A spokesman for Ayetoro community, Mr Emmanuel Aralu recounted that contract for the shoreline protection and dredging of the ocean had been awarded since 2006 with the contractor not been able to do anything tangible.
According to him, the latest surge affected not less than 2,000 residents of the community.
Aralu, who is Secretary of the Ayetoro Youths Congress pointed out apart from the palace of the monarch, which has been taken over by the sea years back, over 100 houses were affected by the latest incident.
On the delay in handling the dredging of the seashore, the community leader said the company has no proper equipment and expertise to handle the shoreline protection project.
“The surge occurred in the middle of the night when many people had retired to bed and before we made moves to start packing, most of the houses had been submerged, we had to evacuate the people from their houses.
“No life was lost but the economy of the community will not be the same again.
The Ondo State government should come to the aid of the community and its residents.
“We want to appeal to the state government and other relevant agencies to immediately come to our aid and give necessary assistance before the surge sacks the whole community.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State has accused some leaders of the party in the South West of anti party activities during the October 10 Governorship election in the state.
The party pointed out that it was unfortunate that some “leaders” who converged in Lagos to review the outcome of the Ondo Gubernatorial Election amongst other issues were part of those that teamed up with the opposition to rig out the PDP in the election.
PDP publicity secretary in the state, Mr Kenedy Peretei, in a statement in Akure at the weekend, stated that “in the first place, it is no news that, our party and candidate at the election, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, have approached the Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Akure, to seek redress.
“To that extent, the final verdict on the Election has not been heard. And it will be therefore, preposterous to gloat over same.
“It is also disheartening that the same characters who received money from All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders to sabotage, openly canvass and distributed money to buy votes for APC to turn round and lament “defeat” of the PDP in Ondo State.
“As a party, we are undaunted by this temporary setback.
We have also put measures in place to appropriately address the anti-party activities of those APC or ZLP members masquerading as PDP leaders in accordance with provisions of our Party Constitution (2017 as Amended)
“There is no need to cry more than the bereaved. We have accepted our challenges and willing to take them on head long as we are convinced of victory at the end of the tunnel.
“The Peoples Democratic Party in Ondo is willing to weed out the bad eggs amongst us and those who have made themselves ready tools in the hands of unpatriotic elements driven by over ambition.
“Our party is organised and peaceful. We shall not allow outsiders to infiltrate our ranks to foment any kind of trouble and bring about crisis that have been managed in the past.
“Those who are responsible for our present challenges should not dare us as we shall bare our fangs if further provoked.”
“It is difficult, if not impossible, to stop Bola Tinubu from being President in 2023. Only God can stop him.”
By Charles Igbo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Igbokwe, has said that without Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari couldn’t have become the President of Nigeria in 2015.
Igbokwe is an aide of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and a former Publicity Secretary of the APC, Lagos.
Igbokwe made these assertions in a write-up in the wake of the #EndSARS protests where he asked the Igbo to keep off “a problem that was not theirs”, and exonerated them from the unbelievable destruction in Lagos.
For three consecutive times, spanning 12 years, Igbokwe recounted, President Buhari tried and failed, until Tinubu threw his weight behind him, and gave him the Presidency.
Bola Tinubu
But Igbokwe regretted that a number of people have been trying to, unsuccessfully, put a wage between Buhari and Tinubu out of fear for Tinubu’s capacity, and reach, and bridge-building ability, coupled with the fear that Tinubu could become the President in 2023.
Igbokwe: “The hatred for Tinubu is so deep that if their wives fail to become pregnant, it is Tinubu.”
But Igbokwe insisted that if it is because of 2023, stopping a Tinubu Presidency is difficult if not impossible because: “While others burnt bridges, he built them, and has developed an unassailable net work in the 36 states of the Federation. Only God can stop him.”
His words:
“Igbo in Lagos do not posses the character and the courage to invade His Royal Majesty OBA Akiolu’s Palace in Lagos Island, TVC, LTV, CHANNELS TV, ORIENTAL HOTEL, GTB, BRT, NATION etc.
“My people will say in an adage that : ‘It is rat inside the house that will tell the rat outside the house that there is something in the house.’
“We have to look inside. I have been in Lagos enough and deeply too close to Asiwaju to know all his enemies in Lagos and Yoruba Nation, and it is political.
“Every PDP member in the South West do not like Asiwaju until they entered AD, AC , ACN and APC.
I was the spoke person of our party for close to 14 yrs and I know what Iam talking about.
“They see Asiwaju as the dominator of the environment and armor bearer of South West politics. They put all their political failures on the doorsteps of Asiawaju BAT.
“If it rains heavily it is Asiwaju that caused it. If there is thunderstorms it is Asiwaju that caused it. If their businesses fail it is Asiwaju that caused it. If their wives cannot get pregnant it is Asiwaju that caused it etc. Success breads envy.
“As you are going up, some people are going down and those going down will not like those going up.
“The political hate for Asiwaju BAT has no boundary even in Nigeria. It goes beyond Nigeria. The PDP Nigeria knows it was Asiwaju that defeated them not President BUHARI.
President Buhari of Nigeria
PMB came in 2003 and did not win, PMB came in 2007 and did not win, PMB came in 2011 and did not win until ASIWAJU’s political sagacity, creativity, and strategy pushed South West ACN to form alliance with CPC, ANPP, and some APGA members to give birth APC. This is root cause of this hate.
“If you are a deep political thinker with great eyes, if you follow political events like I do everyday, if you are a good student of politics and if you have third eyes, you will know at once that Asiwaju BAT has built an intimidating,formidable and unputdownable political networks across Nigeria to the extent that it is difficult now, if not impossible, for anybody to stop him from becoming the President of Nigeria in 2023, all things considered.
“Only God can stop him and this I know very well. The strategic ,well coordinated, clinical attacks on his interests in Lagos is well planned , well structured and clinically delivered to stop him in 2023 at all cost. But will it stop him? No sir!!!
“Asiwaju is not the only Governor that ruled Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. Where are other 35 governors, and why are they not trending like Asiwaju after 13yrs out of power? You cannot stop an idea whose time has come. You cannot cover the sun with bare hands.
“While they are busy burning bridges across Nigeria, Asiwaju BAT has been building bridges across Nigeria since 1999, East, West, North or South. As I speak to you now he has formidable and intimidating networks and groups across the 36 States in Nigeria including Abuja. This is reason they started the war against him.”
Even though Tinubu has not, publicly, expressed interest in the Presidency in 2023, it is common knowledge that many groups are already working for his interest across the country.
Meanwhile, another Yoruba, Pastor Tunde Bakare, insists that he has been assured he would succeed Buhari in 2023. Bakere was Buhari’s running mate in 2011.
But the South-east insists that for justice and equality, the Presidency should come from the zone, being the only zone which has not produced a President.
More problems are afoot for the suspended Ag. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, CP Ibrahim Magu.
Waiting for his fate after being arrested, dragged before a Presidential Judicial Panel of Inquiry, detained for nine days, and suspended from office, he has, now, been dragged before the Code of Conduct Bureau.
It is not known why Magu was summoned, or who petitioned against him, but he has been ordered to appear on November the 17th.
The letter signed by the Bureau’s Director of Intelligence, Investigation and Monitoring, to Magu, inviting him, was dated November the 2nd.
Magu was asked to bring, along with him, acknowledgement slips of “all the asset declarations he made since he joined the public service.” All the documents are to be true certified copies.
Magu was also ordered to produce copies of his appointment letter, acceptance letter, records of service and pay slips from January to May 2020. He is, also, to produce documents that pertains to both his developed and undeveloped landed properties.
It is, however, not known if the invitation is an aftermath of the findings by the Panel set up to investigate his activities at the EFCC.
President Muhammadu Buhari had set up the Panel, headed by a retired President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Ayo Salami, based on a damning petition against Magu to the President by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr Abubarkar Malami, SAN.
Months after the Panel was set up, the report is still being awaited. Magu’s lead Counsel, Wahab Shittu, recently alleged unfairness on the part of Panel Chairman and members, giving notice that he would challenge the outcome at the Court of Appeal if he is found guilty of the allegations.
If Magu is, finally, taken to the Code of Conduct Tribunal, CCT, after his CCB appearance, he will not be the first high profile Government official to go through that route.
Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and former Chief Justice of the Federation, CJN, Walter Onnoghen were both dragged to the CCB/CCT. While Saraki survived, it cost Onnoghen his job.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria surrendered a Four goal lead to the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone for a 4-4 draw.
Coach Gernot Rohr’s side took the lead at the Fourth minute, courtesy of Everton Football Club of England midfielder, Alex Iwobi.
Within 16 minutes, Napoli Football Club of Italy forward, Victor Osimhen, increased the lead to 2-0, before Iwobi added his second of the evening.
Villarreal Football Club of Spain Winger, Samuel Chukwueze added the fourth goal with a solo run, outwitting the Sierra Leone defense before slotting past the Goalkeeper.
Sebastian Quee reduced the tally few minutes to the end of the first 45 minutes to reduce the deficit.
The Keister led Sierra Leone team came back smoking in the second half, firing from all cylinders, with the Super Eagles team wasteful in the front of their opponent post.
El Hadji Kamara scored the second goal for the visitors in the 74 minute, and added another one in the 82nd minute.
The equaliser came for the visitors in the last five minute of the match to give them a surprise draw, and setting a famous record for the West African country.
The match ended 4-4 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, Edo State to the disappointment of the team’s technical crew, with the Super Eagles players looking dejected and full of disappointment.
The national team started the game with Maduka Okoye in goal, Leon Balogun, William Troost Ekong, Kevin Akpoguma and Sanusi Zubair in the defense line.
Oghenekaro Etebo, Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo, Ahmed Musa and Samuel Chukwueze in the midfield, while Osimhen led the attack.
With this draw, the Rohr side still tops the log with Seven Points from three Matches, and will be aiming to consolidate their leadership on the 2022 AFCON qualifying log with a win against Sierra Leone in Freetown in four days time.
The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-olu has disclosed that he will not abandon the Lagos/ Badagry expressway, assuring Lagosians that the ongoing construction of the road will be completed soon.
Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed this at the unveiling of Hyundai Kona, Nigeria’s first locally assembled electric car in Nigeria, adding that the delay of work on the road was based on the government’s plan to build a first-class infrastructure that people would be proud of when completed.
He said when completed completed the expressway will last for about 30 to 40 years.
The governor said “I want to assure you that the Lagos-Badagry Expressway would be completed. The road was just a two-lane way, but the government has turned it into 10 lanes, five on both sides.
“We are doing a complete rebuild of the road, with bridges and interchanges. We are building a road that will last for 30 to 40years for you. And because we know that this is an international gateway, it does not deserve anything less. We are building a first-class road infrastructure that all of you would be proud of.”
Speaking on the Hyundai Kona car, assembled by Stallion Group Automobile at Ojo in Lagos, Nigeria, Governor Sanwo-Olu said with the unveiling of the car, Nigerians can now drive electric cars, noting that Lagos remains the hub for the nation’s economy and a pacesetter in industrialisation.
The Hyundai Kona car is 100 per cent electric and comes with zero emission, 482km driving range and can be charged both at home and workplace.
He said: “We are not just launching Hyundai Kona, Nigeria’s first electric car assembled in Lagos, we are indeed empowering and creating youth employment. We are also creating opportunity for teeming youths of this nation.
“The future that we see is the future of technology and this is the technology that we are talking about. This is 21st Century technology that has been brought into our country. With hardcore manufacturing companies like Stallion Group Automobile, we can begin to see the need to disemphasise mono product, which is oil.
“With the innovation of Hyundai Kona, we do not need to put the pressure on what the pump price of oil is again, what the pump price of petroleum is. All the issues and fights that we are having about prices of petroleum going up and the rest of it will be a thing of the past. This is a way to go and it is the future that we are seeing now.”
Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who was, also, a former two-time Governor of Kwara State, has tackled the Kwara State Governor, Abdulraham Abdulrazaq over his announcement on Friday that the State would discontinue the payment of pensions and other entertainments to former Governors and their Deputies.
Abdulrazaq said it was to avail his Government of more funds to attend to pressing financial needs.
But Saraki has cried foul, dismissing the proposed plan as fake, insisting that the payment of pensions and other entitlement were stopped since 2018 by the Government of Abdulrazaq’s successor.
In a tweet, Governor Abdulrazaq said the State needs all the Resources it can get to improve human capital Development.
“In line with our campaign mantra and the yearnings of our people, next week I will be sending a bill to the State House of Assembly to revoke the law awarding pension packages to former governors and former deputy governors in Kwara State.
“Our state needs all the resources it can get to improve our human capital development”, he tweeted.
A number of States, including Imo, and most recently, Lagos, had stopped the payment of Pensions and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies.
