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How And Why My Home Was Attacked; A Reflection |The Source

By
The Source
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Victor Ndoma- Egba

By Victor Ndoma-Egba

At about 2 am (local time, as I was abroad) on Saturday 24th. October 2020, I received a text informing me that there were plans by arranged hoodlums to attack my residence in Calabar, that of Senator Gershom Bassey and a hotel owned by Senator John Owan Enor. I promptly forwarded the texts to Senators Bassey and Owan Enoh. I also called the security agencies in Calabar to apprise them of the information.

Calabar from my information was already tense from the previous day’s break-in into warehouses storing COVID 19 palliatives and the subsequent breaching of shops and other businesses. The impending attack on Senators Bassey, Owan Enoh and I was already public knowledge as later that morning I got many calls to that effect.

Thereafter, I kept calling the security agencies by the hour when, in spite of their assurances that they will secure my house, there was no evidence of any security personnel in my vicinity. I understand, the times were indeed confounding for everybody.

At about 2 pm, the intruders broke into my house and looted it to the ground, leaving only the bare floor. All the toilets, baths, pumps and indeed every imaginable fitting were removed as were items of furniture, clothing, a huge collection of mainly rare, out of print books, documents and historic photographs.

They, also, removed all the windows, railings, family pictures and burglary proofs. Even my private chapel was not spared. They set the cars ablaze and parts of the building after more than four hours of interrupted operations in my house. It was methodical.

Among the intruders were obviously electricians, plumbers, carpenters, motor mechanics, panel beaters and other tradesmen. Mercifully, no life was lost. I started building the house in 1991 and moved in in January, 2009.

If the attack is meant to deter me from speaking out on issues of principle, or dampen my spirit in way, I have bad news. It will rather spur me further to speak on justice, rectitude and accountability, especially, in the public space. I had committed myself to the service of the public and so shall it be.

While not prejudging, and without prejudice to the work of the security agencies , I have forgiven the intruders ,and pray fervently for them to find meaning , inner peace ,and fulfilment in their lives. I only plead that they return my late father’s judges robes which they certainly would not be needing for anything and is surely incriminating.

The destruction of my house was clearly premeditated, wanton and unjustifiable but I understand the anger in the land especially amongst our youths. However, if looting and burning my home will better their lives and bring positive change to our land then it is a sacrifice my family and I gladly make.

I am worried, however, that we now have an environment that is breeding armies and possibly generations of understandably frustrated, angry and bitter youths that are often exploited by unscrupulous political jobbers. Given our demographics, our youths can either be a blessing ,if they are educated or skilled, motivated and engaged, or a curse otherwise. We are obviously better as a nation ensuring that they ( our youths) remain our most important and prized resource by fundamentally reforming our society and systems to guarantee them the realization of their innate potentials and that they are engaged.

“It is in our collective best interest to do so, and we can do it and must do it. Every situation reinforces itself and unless, therefore, we break the cycle of hopelessness, anger, hunger and frustration among our young ones the situation will only get worse. This will certainly be to the detriment of all. Let us act, and act immediately.

“The recent vandalism, looting and insecurity in Calabar are unprecedented. Calabar, said to be an acronym for “Come And Live And Be At Rest”, has been historically famous for her allure, peace, security, restfulness, greenery, cleanliness, hospitality and culinary exertions. People from far and wide have retired here after a life of toil and sweat elsewhere, to find quiet and harmony. Our Carnival Calabar and Obudu Mountain Race had become items on the global events calendar attracting multitudes of people from all over the world as did the Obudu Cattle Ranch and creating their own economies.

With the needless loss of our innocence to blood and fury through violence and insecurity we are unwittingly losing ,if we have not already lost, our essential Calabar, all we have gained over generations, and across history, and our place in the world. We are moving from the global stage to the dark recesses of a gangland.

History has always been merciless and unrelenting on her judgement on those who have had the privilege of the public trust. Opportunities have never lasted forever. Even now will pass. We must therefore use now to secure our tomorrow. It is when we assure security for all by providing everyone the basic necessities of life that we guarantee our own security.

May God grant our leaders the wisdom to find us equity, justice, peace, security and prosperity.

For the rampaging bands, it is time to beat a retreat and reflect on whether your actions are helping you or your case in anyway or not as they are certainly not part of the #EndSars campaign.

Tomorrow is yours in-spite of your pain and anguish today. Be wise. Do not destroy it.

While your past may not have been the least it should have been the future remains your nevertheless. It is yours to lose or gain. I pray that you claim it and gain it.

I am humbled by the outpouring of love and solidarity from all and sundry over this incident. I remain ever grateful. I assure you that I have taken it in stride and must move on.

Senator NDOMA-EGBA OFR,CON,SAN was Leader of the 7th. Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Reprieve For Pupils In Ondo As Schools Reopen On Monday |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ondo School

By Ayodele Oni

Reprieve has come for pupils in public and private schools in Ondo state as government gives the nod for them to resume academic activities.

The state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu had10 days ago declared that government was not in a hurry to reopen them, following gale of protests which greeted the clamour to scrap the notorious arm of the Nigeria Police, FSARS.

The protest, which was later hijacked by Miscreants, led to distruction of several public properties and forceful release of inmates at the Correctional Centre at Okitipupa.

Security agencies are still on trail of some of those linked with the looting and destruction of valuable public properties including the Secretariats of the two leading political parties in the state.

The schools had earlier been under lock since March following the outbreak of the global pandemic and were just reopened for a day before their closure.

Royal Fathers, religious leaders and prominent indigenes of the state have rIsen to condemn the arson and that those linked should be prosecuted.

In a statement in Akure on Thursday, the commissioner for education, Mr Femi Agagu announced that the schools can now reopen as from Monday, November.

The statement reads, “Mr Governor has directed that all schools should resume on Monday 2nd November 2020 now that the State has become peaceful. Parents and the public are to note this directive and all schools are to comply.

How Law And Order Collapsed In Nigeria – Femi Adesina |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, on Thursday, admitted a break down of law and order in Nigeria, a result of the #EndSARS protest by thousands of Youths nationwide.

Adesina spoke on a Channels Television interview while responding to Amnesty International’s verdict on the Nigerian situation.

He disagreed with AI over what led to the unprecedented arson and looting, both products of the protest.

AI had attributed them to the shootings at the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, of Youths, which resulted in fatalities by, alleged, soldiers. The Army has denied any involvement in the shootings, but said it was deployed on the request of the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

But in response, Adesina said the break down of law and order had started before the Lekki Toll Gate incident. He said the Benin Prisons had been looted, and prisoners released. He also said a couple of Police Stations had been burnt down before Lekki.

Adesina, also, faulted the claims that those who looted warehouses were angry and  hungry. According to him, they took advantage of the break down of law and order during the protest and not as a result of AI’s conclusion of hunger and anger in the land.

Adesina:” This crowd of people you see going to loot are not necessarily hungry and angry. They are taking advantage of the collapse of law and order that came as a result of protracted protests. Amnesty international is wrong.

“Anarchy had broken loose before even Lekki. The Prisons in Benin and Oko had been broken  before Lekki; Orile Police station had been burnt before Lekki; many policemen had been burnt before Lekki, so you cannot say that Lekki precipitated all those things. Look at the timelines. Check when those things happened, you will see that they had happened before Lekki.”

Adesina also said that Amnesty international neither runs Nigeria, nor have the facts of what happened.

Adesina: “Amnesty international does not have all the facts. They don’t run this country. They shouldn’t know beyond what they have been told. Certain criminal things had happened before Lekki.”

Lagos Toll Gates Should Be Scrapped – Bode George |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

A Chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Chief  Bode George, says that Lagos State is gutted from within and without.

George, who identifies himself as an “original Lagosian”, was reacting to the carnage in Lagos State which followed the  #EndSARS protest in the state. He said the reaction of the youths in Lagos, in particular, was a result of the rot and injustice in the State, witnessed and noted by the youths year after year.

During the protest which recorded fatalities, including  policemen, and the razing and looting of both public and private businesses, Lagos lost trillions of Naira.

In an advertised statement titled, Lagos State: The Anger And The Rage

George said: “For 21 years the state has perfected the crude system of cronyism, nepostistic fixation, and cultish largeness. The godfather is the epochal overlord who rules over this system of greed and prebendal license where Government is reduced  to a mercenary spoil system distributed among relatives, cronies, the favourites of power, and various loafers around the corridors of a mangled state.

“The system is contemptuous of merit or intelligence. The system is distrustful of accountability and the dictates of probity. It is all about blind acquisition of wealth and a grovelling worship at the alter of a tin-god.”

Chief George asked for the dismantling of two Toll Gates in Lagos, especially the Lekki Toll Gate where protesting  youths were, allegedly, shot  at, and dispersed by gun-toting soldiers.

He said: “Let me advise that the two Toll Gates at Lekki be dismantled. The Toll Gates are now sacred grounds where innocent lives were cut-short abruptly. At the Admiralty Circle Toll Gate specifically where bullets rained on that black Tuesday on that black 20-10-2020, a monument should be erected as a permanent memorial to honour the young men and women who stood up in peaceful protests against the ills in the society.”

On the evening of Tuesday, October 20, soldiers stormed the Lekki Toll Gate where #EndSARS youth protesters had camped out for days. They stormed the place after the Lagos State Government imposed a 24-hour curfew in the State.

But there is a controversy over what happened that evening.

While the youths say many of them were shot dead by the soldiers, the Lagos State Government insist two people died in the hospital where they were taken to. There were a number of the injured too.

But the most contentious issue was on who asked for the deployment of the soldiers.

Initially, the Lagos State Governor had denied knowledge of the deployment, insisting that forces beyond him did.

But a couple of days later, the Army, in a press statement, said the it was Governor Sanwo-Olu who asked for the deployment of the army to the state to help restore law and order.

The Army, also, said they neither fired live bullets at the protesters, nor killed anybody.

The disclosure by the Army that it was the Governor who asked for their deployment has put the Governor on a spot.

Only the President has the powers to approve the deployment of soldiers to anywhere. In the instant case, opinion is that the Governor must have cleared with the President before the deployment of the soldiers.

It is not known if George was genuinely, asking for the dismantling of the Toll Gates because of the youths,  or because of his political differences with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

It has strongly been alleged that the Lekki Toll Gate where the shooting took place belong to Tinubu. But Tinubu vehemently denies any interest in the now contentious Toll Gate.

Lekki Killings: Natasha Akpoti Slams Sanwo-Olu, Calls Him A Liar |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Natasha Akpoti, a Governorship Candidate during the 2019 Kogi State Governorship Election has labelled Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State a blatant liar.

Akpoti said Governor Sanwo-Olu has come up with different kinds of stories to exonerate himself and Government from the Lekki Toll Gate on October 20, 2020.

But the Nigeria Army revealed that Sanwo-Olu invited them to restore law and order after he declared a 24-hour curfew following the #EndSARS protest by Youths.

In an interview with Channels Television, Akpoti stated that it is “very clear there were thugs who were sponsored to disrupt the peaceful #EndSARS protest”.

She, also, averred that there are several videos including DJ Switch’s Instalive video which countered the Governor’s several stories of not having a hand in the Lekki toll gate shooting.

Stressing the need for justice, she stated that there’s need to know who gave the orders following the Nigerian army’s disclosure of being invited by the Lagos state government to restore law and order.

Also recounting her personal experience in the hands of SARS officers during her governorship and senatorial campaign, Akpoti pointed out that safeguarding lives and properties is the fourth duty of a Police officer as stipulated in the police act.

She added that that was why most Nigerian policemen are aggressive, and that “there is urgent need for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to reform the Police and put an end to the anomalies and excesses of the Police.”

Gov. Matawalle Asks For FSARS In Zamfara State, Says State Needs It Urgently |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

For weeks now, there has been  #EndSARS campaign across the country over the brutality, harassment and extra judicial killings of Nigerians by the Special Anti Robbery Squad, SARS, a division in the Police Force.

However, Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has says that the scrapped FSARS was vital to the maintenance of peace in the state, calling for its return.

Governor Matawalle made the request  for the SARS operatives when he returned from a meeting of 19 Northern states Governors held in Kaduna Thursday, which centered on security issues and the state of the nation.

The Zamfara State Governor reiterated the commitment of his administration to do the right thing at all times and support those doing right at all times.

“We have recorded tremendous development in the area of peace building the Zamfara date with the commitment and professional contribution and supporf of the FSARS of the Nigeria Police”, Matawalle acknowledged.

He said the unit has helped a lot in bringing down the level of banditry and hooliganism in our communities in the state and described the sudden scrapping of the unit as tantamount to throwing away the baby with the dirty water.

“I will personally seek audience with Mr President on this issue. We need the FSARS or its equivalent in Zamfara state because we have seen their positive impact in spite their alleged excesses”, Matawalle posited.

The Northern Governors meeting which was attended by 12 of them and others represented by their Deputies, reviewed the ongoing endsars agitation across the country and called for peaceful conduct of the agitation.

In a communique read by its Chairman, the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, the Governors urged the agitators not to allow their demand to be hijacked by hoodloons and miscreants.

The meeting reiterated the indivisibility of Nigeria and said its unity was not negotiable and must be protected by all times.

Army Confirms Sanwo-Olu Invited Them; Denies Shooting |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Nigerian Army has  confirmed they were invited by the Governor of Lagos state, Babajiide Sanwolu to control the looting and arson going on in the state.They, however, denied shooting protesters.

The Army had previously  denied being present at the Lekki grounds on the night of the shootings,  questioning the trending videos, saying it may have been photoshopped.

But in a recent interview with CNN, Sanwolu said the shootings were done by the military, but again questioned the reported number of casualties.

There were earlier reports attributed to the army that they were invited by the governor, and that about eight #endsars demonstrators were shot and taken to Bonny camp. This has not been independently verified, and the Army denies it. Sanwolu had blamed the shootings on “forces beyond my direct control”.

But in a statement, Tuesday, Osoba Olaniyi, Acting Director, Army Public Relations, claimed soldiers stayed away from the protests until they were invited by the Lagos government to restore order. But he denied soldiers shot protesters.

Read the statement:

“The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilian protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza. This  allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country.

“At no time did soldiers of the Nigerian Army open fire on any civilian. From the onset of the END SARS protest, there was no time personnel of 81 Division Nigerian Army Lagos were involved.

“However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government (LASG) after a 24- hour curfew was imposed.

“This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away. The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy.

“The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for Internal Security operations and all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security operations.

“Finally, Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army reiterates Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities did not shoot at any civilian as there are glaring and convincing evidence to attest to this fact.

“This allegation is the handwork of mischief makers who will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army. The general public is hereby enjoined to discountenance this allegation as there is no iota of truth therein.”

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has continued with stakeholders.

Buhari Extends Yakubu’s Tenure |The Source

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Mahmood Yakubu, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Chairman, has got his term renewed by President Muhammadu Buhari. With the reappointment, he is expected to be screened and cleared again by the Senate.

With this, Yakubu becomes the first INEC chairman to do a second term.

With the expiration of his tenure on November 9, President Buhari was expected to appoint a replacement, or reappoint him.

The term is for another five years.

Yakubu is a professor of Political History and International Studies. He became INEC’s chairman  on October 21, 2015, after the president submitted his name to the Senate.

His first term tenure will come to an end on 9, November 2020.

#EndSARS Protest: NPO, PDP, SERAP Slam NBC Over Channels TV, Arise TV, AIT |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigeria Press Organisation, NPO, has slammed the Nigeria Broadcasting Commission, NBC, over the fines imposed on three Television Stations for allegedly airing what the NBC called inciting news items during the #EndSARS protest. The Television Stations so fined are Arise Television, AIT and Channels Television.

Nigerian Youths, in their thousands had embarked on a nationwide protest against Police brutality and extra-judicial killings.

But on October 22, the peaceful protest, which was gradually hijacked by hoodlums, went awry. Soldiers had used live bullets on the protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate, injuring many and allegedly, according to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, two fatalities.

But hoodlums had embarked on an unprecedented looting and destruction nationwide. Among the many business places looted and razed were The Nation Newspapers and the TV Continental both, allegedly owned by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, an APC chieftain.

On Monday, the NPO, made up of the Newspapers Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, NPAN, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and the Nigeria Guild of Editors, NGE, paid a solidarity visit to both Media houses.

 

Speaking the President of the NPO, Nduka Obaigbena, who is also the owner of ThisDay Newspapers and Arise Television said the attacks on Media Houses was deliberate, and has been worsened by the fine imposed on the three Television stations. He assured the media houses of the support of the NPO.

In the same manner, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement released via its official Twitter account asked the NBC to rescind this rushed clampdown and handle its regulatory role more professionally.

The PDP condemned, in its entirety, the clampdown on the major broadcast stations over their coverage of the protedrs, alleging it is a witchunt  and a way of gagging the media from from performing its responsibility.

Noted the PDP:“The PDP asserts that the rush to impose monetary fines on the television stations by the National Broadcast Commission (NBC), smacks of a fresh attempt to further gag the media, suppress free speech and Nigerians’ access to information.

“Indeed, this clampdown on broadcast stations, if anything, has heightened widespread public apprehensions of attempts at concealments of details and suppression of material evidence relating to human rights violations during the protest.

“In fact, this display of high-handedness by the NBC has hugely detracted from the efforts being made by well-meaning Nigerians to douse the tension in the land and reassure Nigerians at this critical time

“The NBC should rescind this rushed clampdown and handle its regulatory role more professionally.

“Our party holds that, in the course of information handling, especially in a crisis situation as we witnessed in the last two weeks, where caution is required, draconian measures should not be an option. Rather, all efforts should be towards national healing.

“Instead of seeking to gag the media, Nigerians would rather expect establishments like the NBC to be on the side of the people by urging government agencies to come up with information, particularly, such that contain critical pieces of evidence that would guarantee justice for victims of brutality by unscrupulous security operatives

“While the PDP calls for caution by all Nigerians, especially in the handling of information, we urge agencies of government to be mindful of actions that are capable of acerbating the already precarious situation in which we have found ourselves.

“The PDP restates its call for calm and restrain in the general interest of the unity and stability of our nation,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has condemned NBC’s action.

“This action by NBC is yet another example of Nigerian authorities’ push to silence independent media and voices. NBC should drop the fines and uphold Nigerian constitution and international obligations to respect and protect freedom of expression and media freedom. We will sue NBC if the unconstitutional fines are not rescinded within 48 hours,” a statement by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare read.

“This is a new low in Nigeria’s protection of freedom of expression, and the ability of independent media to function in the country. The fines are detrimental to media freedom, and access to information, and the NBC must immediately withdraw the decision.”

SERAP further said: “President Muhammadu Buhari should caution the NBC to stop intimidating and harassing independent media houses and to respect the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the country’s international human rights obligations, including under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights”

Tanzanian Election: Jonathan Leads Continental Body’s Observer Mission |The Source

By
The Source
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0
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
Ex-President Goodluck Jonathan

 As Tanzania gears up to hold its General elections on Wednesday, 28 October 2020, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for peaceful, inclusive and credible polls.

Former Nigerian President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, is leading African Union’s Elections Experts Mission already deployed to Tanzania for Wednesday’s elections.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Chairperson urged all stakeholders, political parties and their supporters “to participate in the voting process peacefully and to refrain from any acts of violence. He further urged the authorities to ensure a conducive environment to enable citizens to cast their votes in a safe and peaceful manner.”

The Chairperson further recalled “the commendable journey that the United Republic of Tanzania has traversed thus far towards building democratic governance and sustaining peace, and urges that the 28 October 2020 General Elections offer a renewed opportunity to deepen democracy and peace in the country.”

Former President Jonathan is coordinating the activities of the AU team of expert observers who are already in Tanzania for the elections.

It is the third time Dr. Jonathan will be leading the AU election observation mission, and the second consecutive time he will be observing elections in Tanzania, having led the Commonwealth Observer Group to the East African nation’s last general election in 2015.

In a letter of invitation signed by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, the AU commended Dr. Jonathan’s efforts towards democratic consolidation and peacebuilding in Africa

It said: “Given Your Excellency’s vast experience and commitment in promoting democracy and peace on the continent, I would like to invite you to lead the Mission to the United Republic of Tanzania.”

Since leaving office in 2015, Dr. Jonathan has been actively engaged in numerous 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.

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Special Envoy to Mali, the former President has led several mediation missions to Bamako, a commitment that helped restore peace to Mali after a protracted socio-political crisis.

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