For weeks, the health status of Nollywood Actress, Chacha Eke was a center of discuss.
The Actress was said to have suffered from Bipolar Disorder, which made her mentally unstable.
Some alleged that she was into drugs, through the influence of her husband, which made her mentally unstable.
However, the Actress took to her Social Media pages after several months of absence, announcing and declaring that she is now okay, mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Chacha disclosed that she had to come to inform her Fans of her health status because her fans and loved ones had inquired to know about her state of mind.
Taking to her Instagram page, she disclosed that she has been metamorphosing like the butterfly and has been healing her mind.
SHE SAID; “I HAVE RECEIVED MANY PHONE CALLS, READ LOTS OF DMS’, TEXT MESSAGES AND EMAILS FROM MANY CONCERNED FOLKS THESE PAST MONTHS. 98% OF THEM INQUIRING, “CHACHA, ARE YOU OKAY? CHACHA, I HOPE YOU’RE FINE NOW?”
“BELOVED, LIKE THE BUTTERFLY I HAVE BEEN METAMORPHOSING. HEALING MY MIND BEFORE MY BODY CAN MAKE IT OUT HERE. JOIN ME THANK MY “CHI” WHO HAS GLORIOUSLY RENEWED MY SPIRIT AND RESTORED MY BODY.”
“I HAVE SEEN THE LIGHT; EVERY DARKNESS IN MY PATH HAVE DISAPPEARED. I AM HAPPY TO BE BACK. I AM OKAY. I AM DOING SO GREAT.”
“MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY 💯. THANK YOU FOR LOVING CHACHA EKE FAANI.”
During the time she was mentally unstable, the actress attributed that stage to her being pregnant.
She had further revealed that anytime she is pregnant something in her just erupt that makes her act crazy.
The carnage which greeted the bye election to the vacant seat at Ekiti state House of Assembly has been given much publicity by various segments of the media and stakeholders.
Nobody has, however, rejoiced over the loss of life of three persons during the March 20 bye election at Omuo Ekiti constituency two, which became vacant following the death of a member, Hon Oluwajuwon representing the constituency last year.
But unlike other killings and political carnages that had been experienced in the state in the past, the recent gruesome killings of innocent persons during the Omuo bye election, including a woman police, has again exposed the humane and caring nature of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
From available report, Dr Fayemi, who was far away in Abuja had to rush down to Omuo as the news filtered out about the incident. Even before his arrival, he had sent his words that all those that are found Culpable in the incident should be made to face the wrath of the law.
As the Chief Security Officer of the state, the Governor had directed the state commissioner of police to make sure that the culprits no matter highly placed or their political affiliation, should be dealt with according to the law.
Despite accusations by opposition political parties that he knows and familiarises with some of the suspects, Dr Fayemi on his arrival at Omuo held meetings with political leaders including senator Biodun Olujinmi and the traditional ruler, Oba Noah Omonigbeyin of the community to enable him know the kernel of the matter.
He did not stop there, he went further to visit some of those injured during the incident on their hospital bed urging that they should be given adequate care to safe their life at the expense of the state.
However, one of them, a woman police gave up the ghost as efforts by medical personnel at the federal medical centre, Ido Ekiti could not save her life.
Still displaying the human feeling in him, the governor visited relations of the deceased woman police and others during which he promised state government intervention in their situation, as well as doing everything possible to assist the deceased dependants.
During the visit, Dr. Fayemi Commiserated with the family of the Police woman, Bukola Olawoye shot by suspected thugs during the bye election in Omuo Ekiti.
The Police woman, according Ekiti State Police Command, died Monday evening at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti where she was receiving treatment from gunshots.
Governor Fayemi, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, said it was very pathetic for somebody to die in active service and at a very tender age.
The Governor’s delegation which also included the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Mobayo, State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Barr Paul Omotoso, and other government officials visited the mother of the deceased and her widower.
“We are saddened by the development. It is quite unfortunate that she would be gunned down while going about her professional duty diligently.
“We have been to the mother’s place and we are here to commiserate with the husband whom we learnt is also a police Officer.”
The Governor explained further that though the police woman was gone but the kind of empathy that is being shown the family shows the value that the administration places on the sanctity of life particularly of people who have devoted their life to serve humanity.
“It is our hope that her death will not be in vain to the Police force and to her immediate family. Our prayer is that God will grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Also. the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Tunde Mobayo said that the news of Olawoye’s death was very disturbing to the command.
“it was very shocking when we heard about the news of the demise yesterday, immediately I communicated with the force headquarters about the development and when I told his Excellency the Governor of Ekiti State he sent a very powerful delegation to come and meet me and sympathize with us on the ugly incident.”
And true to his declaration to bring the culprits to face the wrath of the law, three suspects were on Monday 22nd March arraigned before a Chief gtrate Court in Ado Ekiti in connection with the incident.
They are currently been remanded in prison while investigation still continues.
Governor Fayemi is doing all these without taking into consideration political leaning of deceased persons or the suspects that are being tried in connection with the killing. The paramount interest here is human life, which is valuable and should be held sacred.
Several killings of similar nature had happened before in the state and state apparatus was used to suppress investigation, while suspects were given state protection. With Dr Fayemi’s interest and commitment not to give undue cover to lawbreakers, there is hope that next year’s Governorship election and subsequent general elections will be devoid of thuggery and arson.
President Muhammadu Buhari has continued his cold war with former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite recent effort by Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu to downplay suggestions that the issue of who to succeed the president has put a wedge between the former allies.
Shehu, on Tuesday, debunked reports that the two politicians are no longer in good terms, with the 2023 presidential election at the center of the feud. Recall that Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere Acting Leader and prominent Yoruba Elder, last week, said Buhari is deceiving Tinubu that he will hand over to him in three years time when he leaves office.
Adebanjo said Buhari does not trust Tinubu to be his successor, despite reports that an unwritten agreement exists between the ACN and CPC( now defunct), the two major blocks that formed the alliance that wrestled power from the PDP in 2015, that Tinubu will be the next candidate of the ruling party when Buhari completes his term.
South West Agenda, SWAGA, (a group promoting Tinubu’s presidential ambition) Vice Chairman, Senator Adesoji, also on Tuesday, said there was indeed an agreement that Buhari will hand-over to the former Lagos helmsman, even though watchers of the Presidency said the two politicians are not in good terms, and that it will be impossible for Buhari to handover to someone he does not trust, more so when their relationship was said to have broken down as soon as President Buhari came to power six years ago.
But Shehu debunked suggestions that the politician are no longer in good terms, when he spoke to journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
He said “To President Buhari, Bola Tinubu remains one of the most respected political leaders in the country who has stuck to his principles in the face of all adversities. He was instrumental in the formation, growth and development of the APC into a formidable political party and the political alliance is waxing even stronger.
“If Tinubu is not a frequent face in the Aso Rock Villa, it is on account of the fact that he is not a cabinet member of this government. The fact that he is not every day around the villa does not make him less of a friend to the president and this administration.
“The president and Tinubu have a very strong commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC) towards bringing change and this is a commitment they have made to the Nigerian people.”
In spite of the presidency’s efforts to clear the air on the prolonged feud Tinubu, close watchers of events in the country insist that Aso Rock’s is just trying to downplay the matter, when it’s obvious that a deep-seated disagreement exist between the APC stalwarts over who should lead the country from May 29, 2023 when Buhari is expected to handover to a successor.
“It’s very easy for the Presidency to maintain a stone face just to show that things are alright, so that their followers will think that the APC has no problem. But those close to the two leaders know that things have fallen apart for them, and that they have refused to patch up the broken fence,” said Augustine Boladale, a member of APC in Ekiti state.
According to him “everybody can see that Asiwaju has being gradually edged out of the APC by agents close to the president. Some example will suffice to prove this point. First the APC Caretaker Committee led by Governor Mala Buni of Yobe state set up a membership revalidation exercise which Asiwaju said did not go down well with him. To further reinforce this, Tinubu’s alter Ego, former Governor Bisi Akande also said the same thing to drive home the point that Asiwaju’s camps is not at ease with the exercise. If no other thing proves that the president and Tinubu are no longer working together, the appointment of former Governor Akinwumi Ambode into the Contact/Strategy Committee of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, CECPC, set up by the ruling party is a warning to the APC National Leader that those close to the president, and indeed, Aso Rock do not like him or want him around the president,” Boladale said.
The former Lagos Governor, believed to have been instrumental to the emergence of President Buhari in 2015 has distanced himself from the seat of power since the former came to power, except on few occasions when he visited Aso Rock “to consult with the president whenever he felt he had problems with government,” a Presidency source said.
Therefore, analysts insist that what the presidential spokesperson said is just a mere window shopping that does not amount to anything, that the former Lagos helmsman is not fooled by it, knowing that he cannot afford to keep his guard down at this time despite attempts to fool him that things remain th same with him and the president.
The case of the missing Grace of God Pastor appears not to have neared resolution as intrigues and denials still dog it after it was taken over by the Force Headquarters Abuja.
Recall that this magazine broke the story of a missing Pastor of Grace of God Mission, Ikenna Nnadi, who was reported to have drowned after attending a meeting with others in the riverine community of Utchi, Ugboma, in Ndokwa North of Delta State. There were reservations on the role of the Church authorities on his disappearance, since they made no effort to contact the Family after the incident, but were more concerned with stopping the family from reporting to Law enforcement agents.
The case was officially taken over by Force Headquarters Abuja after there were indications of palpable fears of unwillingness to prosecute by the state Police.
Since the entrance of the Force Headquarters into the case, the arrested people who were released by the State CID Asaba have been re-arrested, including the boat driver and others.
This Magazine was informed that the Church has allegedly already written a counter Petition to the Zonal headquarters in Benin accusing the Family of masterminding the disappearance of Pastor Ikenna and accusing the Church, but that has been overruled by the intervention of the Force Headquarters Abuja. Branches of the Church in Delta State have been closing down with Pastors being on the run to avoid answering questions “on what they know nothing about”, as one source disclosed. This was after the arrest of one of the Pastors that was involved in the said meeting.
The investigating authorities, it is pressure is being mounted on the investigating officers to drop the case. In fact, there are rumors of top security personnel trying to intervene on his behalf.
The Bishop of Grace of God Church is no stranger to controversies. Unconfirmed reports from the Riverine community of Okpai indicate that there is a case involving the Bishopric and the community, which they claim resulted in litigation.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that local government administration must be fixed to meet its expectations.
Speaking at the 2021 General Assembly of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), in Abuja, the Speaker assured the readiness of the House to assist in making the local governments in Nigeria better through the instrument of the law.
“The local government administrations in Nigeria are the closest to the people. They should be responsible for making decisions and providing services that ensure the quality of life for the Nigerian people.
“Until we fix local government administration in Nigeria, we will not be able to fully deliver on the promise of democratic governance in a way that allows us to achieve our country’s full potential.
“Local government leaders must at all times strive towards a culture of service and the practice of excellence.
“You must respect the rule of law. Part of that means ensuring that the legislative arm of local government administration performs its separate functions without undue executive interference.
“For too long, we have avoided the hard conversations about our nation’s future. We cannot afford to do that anymore.
“I assure you all that the 9th House of Representatives will not waiver from our commitment to take whatever legislative actions that are necessary to achieve the highest ambitions we have for Nigeria.
“I assure you also that we are ready to work with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) and all stakeholders to fix local government administration in Nigeria once and for all.”
In recent times, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed N1.487 trillion to pursue its numerous agricultural programs aimed at boosting food security in the country.
According to the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, the apex bank disbursed N107.60 billion to 548,109 farmers cultivating 703,619 hectares of land between the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 to boost dry season output.
Emefiele disclosed this in a communiqué on the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting Monday and Tuesday, which took place in Abuja.
“Total disbursements as at end-February 2021 amounted to N1.487 trillion under the various agricultural programs, of which N686.59 billion was disbursed under the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme (CACS)”, he said.
“The bank also disbursed N601.75 billion under the Anchor Borrowers Program (ABP) to 3,038,649 farmers to support food supply and dampen inflationary pressures.
“Under the Targeted Credit Facility, the bank has disbursed N218.16 billion to 475,376 beneficiaries, of which 34 percent of beneficiaries are SMEs.
“Under the Agri-Business/Small and Medium Enterprise Investment Scheme (AGSMEIS), N111.62 billion has been disbursed to 28,961 beneficiaries, 70 percent of which are in the agricultural sector.’’
The CBN has invested in youth development through the creative industry-both music and the pretending runway. They have also invested in efforts to boost electricity supply and health.
“Under the Creative Industry Financing Initiatives mainly targeted at youth, N3.19 billion has been disbursed to 341 beneficiaries, of which 53 percent is to the movie industry.
“Under the National Mass Metering Programme, N33.45 billion has been disbursed to nine distribution companies for the procurement of 605,852 meters.
“N89.89 billion has been disbursed under the Nigeria Electricity Market Stabilisation Facility (NEMSF 2) to 11 distribution companies to improve the electricity supply industry in Nigeria.
“Under the N100 billion Health Care Intervention Fund; the bank has disbursed N94.34 billion and is willing to expand the facility, to 85 projects in the pharmaceutical industry.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has carpeted Governor Mai Mala Buni, the Chairman, Caretaker Committee of the APC, over his statement that APC will remain in the saddle as the Party ruling the nation for the next 32 years to further consolidate and make Nigerians enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Replying the APC for such unworthy and unacceptable statement, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, described the statement as a direct confrontation to the generality of Nigerians, the bragging by APC to remain “in its misrule for the next 26 years, after spending six years in the saddle already.
Ologbondiyan said Nigerians had already reached a national consensus to kick them out of office, come 2023 and the statement by Buni,merely figment of imagination and fantasy.
“The PDP also describes APC’s claim of registering 36 million Nigerians in their failed fictitious registration exercise as another political hoax and empty claim, which cannot sway Nigerians in any way.
“The PDP is aware that the APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Governor Mai Mala Buni made such a garrulous statement in the belief that APC’s intimidation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the judiciary and security agencies as well as deployment of thugs from neighboring countries, will help them to subvert the will of Nigerians in future elections.
“In Buni’s whims and thoughtlessness, Nigerians should make themselves ready for another 26 years of anguish, pains, hunger and starvation, insecurity and limitless suffering. This is the height of recklessness, insensitivity and affront to the sensibilities of Nigerians.
“The PDP counsels the fizzling APC to end its pipe dreams and arrogant boasting and wake up to the reality that its tenure in office as well as its life as a political party will meet an inevitable end in 2023.
“Governor Buni and his co-travelers in the illegal APC National Caretaker Committee must note that Nigeria is not their personal estate or the vassal of any group of power mongers.
“The APC ought to know that Nigerians have never been and will never be suppressed or conquered by any political interest. In fact, Nigerians are now, more than ever before, ready, willing and prepared to resists the APC in its plots to use manipulations to perpetuate itself in power.
“It is incontrovertible that if our nation goes into a midterm election, the APC will not get up to 20 percent of the votes cast. They should therefore stop addressing Nigerians like a conquered people with no voice, will and aspirations.
“The party asserts that Nigerians are already set to deal the APC a death blow at the polls in 2023, as they have since reached a definite conclusion that there is no way our nation can survive if the APC is allowed to remain in power beyond 2023.
“The PDP therefore counsels the APC to know that its Contact and Strategy Committee is of no moment as Nigerians have suffered under its rule and cannot afford to allow it to be in power a day beyond May 29, 2023″, the statement reads.
Buni had, Tuesday, boasted that the APC will be in power for the next 32 years.
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has just had a great escape from a bunch of scalywags who meant to kill him like a common criminal.
If the hate-dripping statement from the Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM, which claimed responsibility for the attack on Ortom’s life is anything to go by, to the members, the Governor is a common criminal. They hate him, and they hate his guts with a passion for, according to them, daring to mess around with the lives of their cows. Because of cows, Governor Ortom is a murderer. Which must be why they chose to make an attempt on his life, at a most undignifying venue – a farm, which he has vehemently refused that their cows ravage.
This will be Governor Ortom’s third escape from, perhaps, same assassins. But this has to be the most dramatic. And the most brazen. Just picture the Governor running away from rampaging assassins. Thank God he dressed appropriately that day. Our big men have a habit of dressing inappropriately to occasions. They wear babariga to construction sites, to visit the wounded in hospitals, to IDP camps, to inspect roads.
The race for dear life is sweet. Ortom said he ran the whole of 1.5km to save his life. He did not tell us how long it took him to cover that distance. But a guess is in order. His speed would have made Usain Bolt green with envy. At that point in time, he probably forgot his status.
I don’t blame him. The men after him were serious. They meant business. They were well prepared. Otherwise, how could they have dared a Governor. With the retinue of security men usually attached to Governors, especially Governors of violence-prone states, like Benue, it is surprising they dared Ortom. It must have been a suicidal squad.
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State
Yet, they were lucky. They got away easily, unbelievably easily.
I don’t know how the Governor, or those with him were able to count the number of the attackers. At that point in time, it must have been: “To Your Tents O! Israel.” But apparently, somebody must have been in a state of mind to do a head count of the attackers. They were 15 in number, the Governor disclosed at a Press Conference he addressed in a pungent, punchy, defiant voice which, at once, drew sympathy and outrage.
Did the Governor go to his farm with less number of security aides than usual? Did they run with him? Or did he run alone? Which direction did he run to? Further into the farm/bush or towards the main road?
Governor Ortom, while narrating his escape, thanked his Security aides for repelling the attack. So, was there an exchange of gunfire? If there was, were there casualties? Was anybody injured? It is surprising that, on both sides, everybody shot off- target. None of the attackers was killed. None was injured. All of them got away. It doesn’t help much.
Whatever, we must thank God for little mercies. The Governor seems like the proverbial cat with nine lives. This is the third time he would be attacked, according to him. He is lucky. And so is Nigeria.
Given the anger and uproar which have greeted Ortom’s story of his great escape, a war could have broken out by now. From history, Benue people are a hard nut to crack. They are tough. And they can fight. From their reaction, they are already beating drums of war.
The powerful Middle Belt Forum, says the attack on Ortom is a declaration of war (on the Zone). Former Senate President, David Mark, sounded same. He said people would be pushed to resort to self-defence. Benue youths spoke no differently. They will take up arms in self defence. More reactions, came like claps of thunder.
From Rivers State, tough-talking Governor Nyesom Wike, warned that if anything happens to Ortom, it would trigger the end of one Nigeria. PDP Governor’s Forum did not sound less furious. From President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Progressive Governors Forum, to Northern Governors’ they all have spoken, strongly. The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, concluded, already, there is a killer squad within the Miyetti Allah, and called for immediate action against the squad. But, as they say, “all na talk.”
Only the Inspector General of Police reacted swiftly. He ordered the strengthening of security around Ortom. He has also assembled a special squad to investigate, thoroughly, the attack on Ortom.
For the records, Ortom is not the first Benue State Governor whose life an attempt has been made on. George Akume, a former two time Governor of the State, now Minister for Special Duties, ( Is he still there, by the way?) was once a target while in office as Governor. Akume was on his way to Abuja when his convoy was ambushed. His official car was the target. In Akume’s company, sitted by him, was Augustine Agom, a former Managing Director of the defunct Nigeria Airways. The bullet missed Akume, hit Agom, and killed him instantly. Till date, each time I remember Agom’s bloodied dead body, bent sideways a little, still sitting at the back seat of Akume’s official car, I shudder. Agom, urbane, was a senior friend of mine, and I never quite forgave the newspaper which made the blood-curdling photograph a front page story.
I now don’t remember if the criminals who ambushed Akume were caught or not, but the story was that on hearing the blaring siren, the hoodlums jumped out from the bush and opened fire.
Nor is Ortom the only Governor under the Buhari Government who has been attacked.
A few months ago, it was the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum. His convoy came under a heavy ambush in the hands of Boko Haram insurgents. The video of the attack which went viral was scary. Zulum was saved by security aides who pushed him into a Police Armoured vehicle. The Governor absolved Boko Haram insurgents, and pointed accusing fingers at soldiers. Zulum has a penchant for criticising them. The Military has since warned him. But I digressed.
Ortom also says he knows his attackers. He wasted no time in identifying them. He said they came from the Miyetti Allah. The plan to kill him was hatched in Yola, Adamawa State, after a meeting of the Miyetti Allah, and an order given to the effect, he disclosed.He has, as usual, asked for the arrest and prosecution of the Leadership of Miyetti Allah.
Given Ortom’s lead, the job of the IGP Ortom seems easy. The first is to sit down with Ortom and debrief him. For instance, the details of the venue of the meeting in Yola where the decision to kill him was given; those present, and in confidence, the person who leaked the information to Ortom. Some people can be mischievous. Their mischief can cause a civil war.
Yet, Ortom’s case seems complicated. The way he talks, he is very passionate about his people. Their safety and security are uppermost in his thoughts.
For years, he has been fighting against the open grazing of cattle. He says the herders have destroyed farmlands. He says they are killing his people and raping their mothers, wives and daughters. He says they have become an army of occupation; that they have taken over their land, and reduced the owners of the land to refugees. Ortom has been in the forefront of the fight against all these. Some people say he is that vocal for his political survival.
Whatever, the Miyetti Allah see him as a threat. Politically, he has paid for his stand on the Miyetti Allah issue.
It is one of the reasons he decamped from the APC to the PDP, less than four years after he defected from the PDP to the APC. He felt the APC Federal Government was incapable of protecting his people. The FG was neither comfortable with his utterances nor position on the rampaging herdsmen. He was neither diplomatic, nor gubernatorial, they felt. The ruling party at the centre felt he had become divisive. The punishment was the plan to deny him a return ticket. He sensed that, and beat the party to it.
Ortom defected to the PDP, and won a second ticket. He banned open grazing, and endorsed ranching. Ortom says his strong opposition to open grazing and the occupation of his people’s land are the reasons a death sentence was passed on him.
In the instant case, not everybody believes Ortom was actually attacked. Could it have been stage-managed? Why would he do that? What point would he want to make?
A group is asking Ortom to prove he was attacked. It is asking for evidence. It cites the case of the attack on Zulum, and says everybody saw the evidence. Where is the evidence?, they ask. In this age of technology, they are asking for a video evidence, as was the case in Zulum’s case. They want to watch the video of an Ortom running in an undignified manner, just as they watched a scared-stiff Zulum being pushed into an armoured car. Funny people.
Miyetti Allah denies any involvement in the attack on Ortom. Its Chairman asked Ortom to look inwards. He said the attack came from Ortom’s people, and insisted the Miyetti Allah would never be involved as none of their members is presently in Benue. The Governor has sent all of them packing, the group claims.
The question is: Does their absence in Benue mean Miyetti Allah cannot plan any such mischief if it so decides? Of course, it can. Criminals stay in jail, plan worse crimes, and carry them out.
However, the Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM, has exonerated Miyetti Allah by claiming responsibility for the attack on Ortom. FUNAM in a statement claim the attack is a consequence of the Governor’s many negative actions against the Fulani. It also swears Ortom would be eventually hunted down and killed.
Does this group exist? I doubted its existence until Femi Fani- Kayode confirmed it does. In a statement, he disclosed that FUNAM is closely associated with ISWAP. Has the IGP started a manhunt for the person who signed the FUNAM statement?
It is a shame Nigeria has degenerated to this unbelievable level.The alleged brazen attack on Governor Ortom has raised the ante of the worst in us. To think that a Governor could be so easily targeted!
What if he had been killed?
How would it have been explained away? Business as usual? Huge joke!
This attack, also, came at a wrong time, a time the United States of America warned its citizens off Nigeria. Nigeria is on its worst, and on in its knees.
The Ortom incident caused this uproar because it happened to a Governor. Otherwise, this is our everyday life. The number of Nigerians killed, cheaply, everyday is horrifying. It is unprecedented in the history of the country.
Any sense of security felt when the new Sheriff arrived in town has since evaporated. And the questions that reverberate are: Where is the Sheriff? And whatever happened to him and his swagger?
Finally, an unsolicited advice for Governor Ortom. Keep off your farms. You have told everybody you go to there on Saturdays. Not good enough. Be security conscious. Nobody will give you a price for surviving such attacks three times. Don’t make yourself vulnerable. You may also look inwards to check. Perhaps, you have saboteurs within. It beats me how the attackers knew the exact time you were in the farm – unless they were tipped off, and thus, lay in waiting. Check if one of your own is selling you out. As is now said, I wish you the new normal. Stay safe.
Just like Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who had boasted that PDP would rule Nigeria for 60 years when his Party was in office, Governor Mallam Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who is the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has joined the bandwagon.
Buni boasted that for the APC to achieve all its vision for the nation and its people, the Party needs to be in the saddle for another eight terms, amounting to 32 years in power.
Speaking at the inauguration of the strategy committee of the party chaired by Jigawa State Governor, you Muhammad, Governor Buni said APC would be able to “effectively” improve the lives of Nigerians if it has more than eight terms in office.
“The constitution of the strategy and contact committee therefore, is to consolidate the achievements we are making in building a strong party with a solid structure that would accomplish APC to stand the test of time,” he said.
“Our vision is to provide a wheel that will drive the party to go beyond sixth, seventh and even eighth term of office to effectively implement the party manifesto, improve the lives of Nigerians and, to remain Nigeria’s leading political party.
“This committee is therefore very key to our process of transition towards successful congresses and national convention and, to establish a very solid, reputable and reliable future for the party.
Buni said the party’s efforts at attracting new members to the party have been successful, and with the Party having spent just Six years at the center, It needs another 26 years to further consolidate and give it’s citizens the needed dividends of Democratic rule that has eluded the nation since the emergence of Democratic rule from 1999 till date.
Narrating the successes his committee has achieved so far, Buni said, “On the other hand, our efforts in wooing members of other political parties into APC has recorded remarkable and unprecedented successes,” he said.
“Another major milestone we have recorded as a party is the membership registration and revalidation exercise which has given every member of our party a true sense of belonging.
“The membership registration would provide us with the numerical strength of the party and to serve as a guide towards planning for a better and effective Governance, with the dividends of democracy circulated and enjoyed my the governed”.
For over a decade, the loot taken out of Nigeria, by former Military dictator, Late General Sani Abacha during his regime to Western Countries and frozen has continued to be repatriated and given back to the Nigerian Government.
Recently, the British Government agreed to refund the sum of £4.2m looted by former Delta State Governor, Jame Ibori and confiscated by the United Kingdom Government back to the Nigeria Government.
There seems to be more.
Anti-Corruption Group, Transparency International, TI, has revealed that an estimated $5 billion has been stolen from Nigeria, and presently frozen in accounts in foreign countries.
TI made this disclosure in Abuja, the Nation’s Capital during a media workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), local Chapter of Transparency International in Nigeria.
CISLAC Policy Advisor, Vaclav Prusa said Nigeria is responsible for the highest illicit financial flow in Africa, adding that the estimated amount lost annually in Nigeria is between $18 to $25 billion.
He added that should the $5 billion, frozen in foreign accounts, is returned to Nigeria, it will cover 20 percent of the country’s 2021 budget for three months.
“In the case of Nigeria, it is estimated that $5 billion stolen assets are frozen. What does this mean? It means this is money sitting somewhere in Switzerland or somewhere waiting for repatriation.
“It means even though some money have been repatriated from New Jersey, Switzerland back to Nigeria, there is a lot of money still out there. I think it’s important to rely on the media to push for these assets.”
In the same vein, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, revealed that lack of transparency with regards to recovered funds in the country creates room for re-looting and mismanagement of the funds.
“Currently, various institutions like the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau, Nigeria Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria police, and other agencies recover assets without synergy.
Rafsanjani said that lack of transparency in respect of recovered assets in Nigeria creates room for re-looting and mismanagement which has made the nation remain stagnant and presently in a fix, with nothing working out positively.
He added that the much awaited Proceeds of Crime Management Bill has not yet been signed into law, supposedly because of the power struggle within agencies about economically and politically lucrative mandate to confiscate and manage stolen assets.
“CISLAC plans to work with the media to uncover national and international cases of stolen corrupt assets with links to politically exposed persons. These assets need to be recovered, better utilised for a post COVID-19 economic recovery.”
