2023: Tinubu’s Ambition Tears APC Apart

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May 8, 2019

By Uche Mbah

The Lion of Bourdillon, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has been under fire recently for pushing his alleged 2023 presidential ambition with desperate gusto, and planning to install his henchmen in strategic positions in preparations for the final onslaught when the chips are down.

Tinubu, who, this Magazine gathered, have relocated to Abuja to keep an eye on the game, has suddenly become a persona-non-grata among the Northern elites, who see him as overtly ambitious in trying to position himself for the presidency. Initially, before the elections, he was touted as the next president after Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 despite the fact that the Northern power brokers also promised the Southeast the same thing. That, of course, appears to have been a vote buying strategy.

Immediately after the elections, the Mietti Allah, the Umbrella body of Cattle rearers, came out openly to declare that it is a pipe dream for any Southerner to dream of becoming the president in 2023 as the position is not to be vacated by the North. Miyetti Allah has most prominent Northern leaders as Patrons, and Buhari as their Grand Patron, which gives them a pride of place in the decision making in the northern part of the country particularly in this current government dominated by Northern elites. Then followed other Northern leaders singing the same refrain, like, for example, Junaid Mohamed, effectively bringing the news home to the Jagaban of Bogu Kningdom.

With all these, Tinubu appears undaunted. But it appears that his detractors have been able to co-opt the presidency in their dirty war. Tinubu is currently regarded in some quarters as being too powerful to be entrusted with the power at the center, “Which the North has worked very hard to return back to the region”, according to one source who, incidentally is from the core north.

This appears to mirror the average Northern sentiment-except that many believe that current regime of President Buhari has done so mush to create obstacles in the realization of their long term Northern domination agenda. Part of the Northern fear is that the ruling party, APC, is on the verge of total collapse and is only held together by one single name: Muhammadu Buhari. “Remove that name and the party collapses like a pack of cards”, the magazine was informed over the weekend. There is also rumors of plans to pull out the Congress of Progressive Change, CPC part of the party leaving the carcass of ACN to Tinubu and company. Buhari’s name will continue to dominate the party even if the rumor is true.

That name is now the anchor name for the next level agenda, which is said to have excluded Jagaban. “The Afonja scenario is loading, and it is a disaster foretold”, the magazine was told by the same source.

Tinubu has planned to impose his acolytes in 2015, but was outsmarted by Bukola Saraki and the Peoples democratic Party, PDP game players. This time around he is determined not to lose. For this he was even determined to do away with the wife’s ambition-the deputy Senate Presidency-not to upset the apple cart. And he also relies on the support of Northerners like Umar Ganduje, the governor of Kano state, who used his Lagos template to win the Kano governorship election.( And ganduje is also using the template of his fellow governor who is his in-law from the South west to deal with the Emir Sanusi threat-break the Emirate into pieces.) But the Northern elites are not relenting in the game of thrones. The agenda is to raise an opposition at his own doorsteps, apart from the two empowered people-the Minister for Power, Tunde Fashola, and Ekiti Governor, Kayode Fayemi. Now, the new kid in the block is Akinwumi Ambode, simply because Tinubu Ignored the Presidential Plea for Ambode to go for a second term. During the commissioning of both the completed and uncompleted projects by Ambode in Lagos, Buhari was full of praises for the governor without recourse to Tinubu, who was conspicuously absent. Also absent was his right hand man Rauf Aregbesola and his protege, Adams Oshiomhole, whom he used to push away John Oyegun to hold a firmer grip on the party. Tinubu later claimed he was in London for a previous engagement with Jide Sanwolu, the governor elect. His handlers even uploaded pictures of him and Sanwolu in London, forgetting that Sanwolu was at the Airport to receive Buhari on the faithful day. This Magazine gathered that Tinubu was in Lagos on that day.

In the Southwest, Tinubu is having a running battle with the Afenifere, who are the voice of the opposition to him. In recent times, he has been making serious efforts to reconcile with his estranged south west governors, giving concessions where necessary. But the Northern elites are tracking his every move. Nigerians are waiting to see how it will end.

Can El-Rufai bring down the Wall of Bourdillon?

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The Source

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May 7, 2019

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By Gwiyi Solomon

To the residents and inhabitants of the Federal capital Territory, FCT, Gov. Nasir El-Rufai’s name remains an anathema; it sends jitters to their spines as his destructive tendency, callously demonstrated during his implementation of the Abuja master plan, as FCT minister, remains a major scar on his victims.

To the non-Muslim communities across the nation, particularly the Christian group, and to the defenseless indigenous people of Southern Kaduna, “El-Rufai is a religious bigot, a terror in the day, ethnic extremist at night and bloody chief executive of all time.”

Gov. Nasir El-Rufai is a man that needs no introduction in the Nation’s political atmosphere any longer. His name rings a bell in the minds of Nigerians for every sinister motive.

He is a man sold to controversy. And he stires same at will and gets away with it unhurt. Reason: whenever the diminutive.

Governor speaks, his speeches only reveal a bigger plan, hatched by the elites – probably his religious community, his Northern block or the Presidency.

This time around, it is “battle royale” as Gov. El-Rufai has taken up the daunting task and new assignment of retiring the largest landlord in the entire African continent, the Asiwaju of Lagos and his national leader. He has dared the lion of Bourdillon, Ahmed Bola Tinubu right inside the Lion’s den.

The day was Saturday, 4th day of May 2019; and the event was organised by the Bridge Club in Ikoyi, Lagos State; with the tag, “An evening with His Excellency Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.”

Speaking during the program, Gov. El-Rufai had sold a dummy to his Host – Lagosians – on how to be freed and liberated from the clutches of his national leader, the godfather of Lagos, Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The free talking chief executive had narrated how he defeated and retired about four godfathers in Kaduna state; and even boasted that Lagos can borrow a leaf from him and send Tinubu home as godfather.

“Godfatherism. This is Lagos. Let me tell you something Sir; you know, Kaduna State used to be like that. There were three or four politicians in Kaduna that you could not become anything unless you had them on your side,” Premium Times quoted Mr El-Rufai as saying.

”Those were the godfathers of Kaduna politics and you had to carry them along and you know, the three words, ‘carry them along’ mean paying them regularly.

“But we chose a different path and the long and short of it now is that after this election in 2019, we have retired all of them; we had to,” he added.

“The card reader and the biometric register have given us the tools to connect directly with the people. I assure you if you do that for the next four years, connecting with the people; the tin godfather, you will retire him or her permanently,” he concluded.

Recall that at the berth of the present democracy in the country some years back, many analysts had compared Ahmed Bola Tinubu to the late Chief Olusola Saraki, the strong man of Kwara politics and late Chief Adedibu, the political godfather of Oyo state. But he has surpassed the duo’s achievements politically.

Then came his comparism with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, former president of the country, and late chief Obafemi Awolowo, former premier of the western region, in terms of their command of influence among the people; yet Asiwaju has remained unbent.

At Bourdillion where he lives, strategically quartered in Ikoyi, Lagos state, the only language discernible to the ears crested on the walls and prowling the power house is game; wriggling, outwitting and political horse-trading.

It is the very reason for the gargantuan edifice. And the very essence for which it has existed. Inside the Bourdillon, destinies and fortunes of individuals have been incubated, nurtured to maturity and even harvested; yet inside the same edifice, many blooming fortunes have been truncated, stolen, killed and destroyed by the inhabitants, led by their lion.

Put succinctly: Asiwaju, known and addressed as “the lion of bourdillon” has removed governors from their places of honor, and goaded others to same places of influence even beyond the west; he has installed Senators, as well as uninstalled many without hitches; he has shipped members of the House of Representatives, in their numbers across the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the National Assembly as well as derobbed others.

He has equally dethroned a president (with reference to 2015), and twice enthroned another.

In the APC fold where he reigns supreme, he is like that biblical rock of ages: “whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”

The governor Ambode’s humiliation and national embarrassment can best attest to the infinite possession of power by this Lion. His nomination and elevation of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to the Vice president of the country is yet another confirmation that inside Bourdillon, everything is possible.

The Rochas Okorocha’s travails, the Governor Amosun’s political impasse and many more are the footages of Bourdllon.

In the South western region and across the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Asiwaju of Lagos, has remained one looming and overbearingly embossing image over every other political creature therein.

But the big question remains: Can El-Rufai upstage the Asiwaju of Lagos and bring down the Wall of Bourdillon? The stage has been set. And Nigeria is the theatre. Let us wait and see.

*Gwiyi Solomon writes from Uzo Uwani LGA, Enugu State.

House Speaker: How Bago’s Deft Moves May Diminish Gbajabiamilia

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The Source

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May 7, 2019

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By Chidiebere Onyemaizu

The fate of Femi Gbajabiamilia, APC’s official candidate for the position of ninth House of Representatives Speaker hangs in the balance. Except miracle happens, Umaru Muhammad Bago, a ranking House of Representatives Member representing Chachanga (Niger state) Federal Constituency is inches away from emerging Speaker of the incoming ninth House of Representatives. Dramatic trade offs that will see Bago’s ambition effortlessly sail through are also in the offing.

All House members- returning and new- and a section of the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, opposed to the hawkish stand of the the party’s national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, and National Leader, Bola Tinubu, regarding the zoning of the topmost offices in the ninth National Assembly have teamed up to deliver Bago, The Source has gathered.

Femi Gbajabiamilia: Facing another round of defeat?

National Assembly and party insiders reveal that dovish elements in the party are opposed to APC hardliners’ scorch earth plot against the South East as regard Senate and House’s top positions.

Hawks in the party are reportedly primed to ensuring that the zone is denied any meaningful position in the coming ninth National Assembly as punishment for APC’s dismal performance there in the last general elections.
But Bago’s supporters, comprising over 200 old and newly elected members, are opposed to this. They insist that a total exclusion of the South east from the National Assembly power calculus in the next dispensation is unjustifiable and does not augur well for national cohesion.

To this end, the only female aspirant to the position of Speaker, Nkiruka Onyejeocha, representing Umunneochi/ Isikwuato Federal Constituency, may end up dropping from the race at the eleventh hour. It has been gathered that this was part of the trade offs aimed at accommodating the South East in the incoming National Assembly leadership.

Under the deal,Onyejeocha who has been in the House since 2007, on the day of inauguration of, and shortly before the election of new Speaker, will make a moving speech outlying her vision for the House, the need for gender balance in the National Assembly, and the injustice of denying the South East a representation in the three arms of government.

This will then be followed by her nomination of Bago for Speaker and announcement of her withdrawal from the race to support the Niger lawmaker’s cause. The Abia lawmaker will, thereafter, ask her supporters to queue behind Bago.

Bago’s eventual emergence, according to the deal, will be followed by the nomination and subsequent election of Onyejeocha as Deputy Speaker.

Credible sources informed the magazine that across party line, all South East, South South and North central House members, and some members from North West, and North east states of Kaduna, Jigawa, Sokoto, Taraba, Bauchi and Adamawa respectively ,including new members, are on the side of Bago, and have been meeting to strategize on ways to clinically diminish Gbajabiamilia, believed by many of them to be fronting for Tinubu.

Nkiruka Onyejeocha: To sacrifice ambition for Bago?

Several Northern members who spoke to this Magazine on the condition of anonymity vowed that they will use their numerical strength in the lower chamber of the National Assembly to frustrate any imposition of Speaker.

“We cannot allow one man to install the Senate President and the Speaker. We say no to a puppet as Speaker. We don’t want a Speaker who will be remote-controlled from Burdillon Road, Ikoyi. So, we have mobilised and Bago will be installed by us, and Nkiru will be his Deputy. We have the numbers to achieve our goals. There must be equity and fairness”, one of the Northern House members told The Source.

A South East member warned that Gbajabiamila has concluded plans to work for the election of Deputy Speaker from Kano in the event of victory. “If this plan is allowed, we will have in our hands, a National Assembly leadership exclusively controlled by the North and South West because Tinubu and Oshiomhole are also plotting to install their stooge as Deputy Senate President. South East must have a voice and representation in national leadership and that is why we are pairing Nkiru with Bago”, he said.

Meanwhile, Gbajabiamilia is leaving nothing to chance in his drive to succeed the incumbent Speaker, Yakubu Dogara. Apart from allegedly, sharing Andriod phones to some House members to buy their support, the House Leader also allegedly doled out #200,000 each recently to some members.

He has also resorted to the ethnic and religious sentiments to avoid the pitfalls of his crashed ambition in 2015.To buy the vast Moslem members from the North, the Lagos lawmaker is increasingly becoming visible at Islamic events. He was recently pictured leading an Islamic prayer.He also recently travelled to Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj. But many allege he is also an elder in a Pentecostal Church.

Gbajabiamilia’s supporters have, however, come to his defence.They inform that the Lawmaker is a product of the liberal religious leaning of the South West as one of his parents is a moslem and the other a Christian. “If you see him in the Church, I don’t think it should bother anyone. In Yorubaland, religion is a personal thing.We don’t practise religious extremism here”, a middle aged man, an Osun state indigene who assured that his principal will eventually emerge Speaker, said.

In 2015, some Northern Moslem House members opposed to Gbajabiamilia’s Speakership candidacy accused him of concealing his Christian background while masquerading as a moslem. But in an ironic twist, a Christian, Dogora Yakubu from Bauchi was to defeat him (Gbajabiamilia) in the ensuing contest.

Gbajabiamilia is also allegedly appealing to his Southern colleagues to vote him so as to avoid a situation where-by all leaders of the three arms of government-the president, the Senate President, Speaker of House of Reps and Chief Justice of Nigeria will all come from the North. Its not however clear, at press time, whether, his religious and ethnic sentiments are striking the right chord in the ears of House members who are resolute in one thing: To frustrate the imposition of a Speaker who will be remote-controlled and answerable to a godfather.

Buhari Back from London To Face Escalating Insecurity Amid N100 billion Controversy

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Uche Mbah

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May 6, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

President Buhari arrived from London Sunday to face escalating security crisis in the Northern and western part of the country after the Presidency came under fire for allegedly agreeing to pay the bandits N100 million to stop them from continuing attacks on the populace. If the reports are correct, it raises issues of who approved the payment since Vice President Osinbajo could not have signed for the money as the Vice president. Only the President or Acting President could have signed that. Besides, such amount of money ought to pass through the National Assembly for appropriation.

Reports were rife that the Presidency held a closed door meeting with Miyetti Allah Cattle rearers who demanded for N160 billion for settlement, but that the Presidency agreed to pay them N100 billion. The presidency has been under fire negotiating with bandits while killing the Indiginous Peeople Of Biafra and branding them terrorists.

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has been particularly piqued by the allegation.

In a release made available to this magazine, Huriwa insisted that it was wrong to appease “these mass killers” with “the challenging whole of N100 billion from the citizens under the pretense of setting up dairy cattle farms for their independent organizations of herders. For what reason do we have laws and for what purpose do we have organizations of law requirement?” they asked. “This dishonorable bit of awful updates on looking to pay off bandits and psychological militants by this administration must be seen for what it is. It is a conspiracy that must be viewed as a quick impeachable offense. Each one of the individuals who spoke with desperados and fugitives must be captured and indicted for high conspiracy because the laws must not be a respecter of any individual.”

Within the last seven days, bandits-formally known as Fulani Herdsmen, have killed 41 people in Zamfara state alone. On may 5, 2019, Prof Olayinka Adegbehingbe an orthopedic surgeon at the OAUTHC, was kidnapped at Ikire when hoodlums laid siege on the road.

With the backlash from the social media, the Army coincidentally came out with the allegation that foreign bodies are planning to stop the May 29 handing over, with the collaboration of local opposition units-a statement the opposition Peoples Democratic party, PDP, has insisted is a ploy to begin clampdown on opposition leaders. The opposition PDP has alleged that Buhari decided to run away in the face of mounting security issues. The ruling All Progressives Congress, however, used the opportunity of his return to taunt the Opposition PDP on that position.

With the arrival of Buhari, when asked about the security situation, he replied that the Inspector General of Police has lost weight, and hence it shows he is working very hard.

The Tragedy of The Nigerian Woman

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The Source

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May 6, 2019

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By Comfort Obi

You will, please, excuse me if the title above does no justice to the subject matter here. Getting a title was difficult for me. And that is because I am, at once, overwhelmed and dumbfounded by the subject.

I am not addicted to the social media, which explains why one is not likely to find me on most platforms. In my house, they call me old school. And my standard, if weak, response is: How did we survive before this “mad” era? Being old school can be comfortable in some circumstances. Yet, there are times too, I had caught myself asking no one in particular: What could we have done or known without the social media?

The story which triggered this write-up is thanks to the social media. Accompanied by an outrageous video image, and, forwarded to me by an angry female High Court Judge, it is one the most nauseating images I have watched in all my adult life.

You know, some of these WhatsApp messages, even when they had been read before, have a way of resurfacing, to grab the headline. So, I will not be surprised if this absolutely revolting story and video had been seen by many much earlier than now.

Meaning, you may have seen it. But I just read the story a few days ago, and watched the nauseating video. So, even if you had seen it, for the purpose of this write-up, a brief re-cap is necessary.

Entitled ‘To be forewarned is to be forearmed’, it has an ominous rider, ‘Sad But True’.

The hair-raising story and video came in form of an advisory from a Travel Agency, *Azariah Travel and Tours* which gave its WhatsApp/call number as *0705 508 3708.* It was meant to warn, especially, girls and young women of the dangers inherent in travelling to some countries. It listed the questions they should ask themselves before embarking on such trips. Such questions include, but not limited to:

“Why do I want to travel to Dubai or Abu Dhabi? How much is my flight ticket? What am I buying to sell? Shoes and clothes? What’s the profit margin? Where will I lodge? How much do I have?”

The advisory calculated that it would cost such travellers between the sum of three thousand and five thousand US Dollars, each, for such a trip. And the verdict: If you don’t have it, and cannot answer those questions appropriately, don’t dare. Why?

The Agency says your life might be in great danger. For, you may be heading to be a prostitute. But, that is even the mild aspect of it. You may be slept with in a most brutal manner. Still mild. Here is the worse: You may be turned into a pit toilet, and your tongue, the equivalent of a toilet roll/tissue paper.

Why?

Some of the men there, very rich, very weird, hearts sold to the devil, are no longer satisfied with sleeping with the helpless/koboless girls and young women. They now derive joy in emptying their bowels, through the anus, by force, into the mouths of such girls and young women. Thereafter, they use their tongues as toilet roll to clean the men up. That was the story I read. And that was the video I watched.

In doubt? Azariah Travel and Tours felt we might be doubting Thomases. So, it backed the story up with the video of a young woman going through the ordeal. As I watched, I prayed to be woken up from the nightmare.

Feel like throwing up? Why not? My stomach churned, and I threw up after watching it. Bad for your appetite? Sure. For hours, I couldn’t even drink water. My tongue felt like it got stuck to the floor of my mouth.

Shocked? Sure. I was too, to the point of numbness.

Angry? Definitely. I was. So much so it boiled to high heavens. I was suffocating in rage, almost. I was angry with my country, Nigeria. I was angry at a system which has made us loose our self esteem that our girls, future mothers and leaders, have been this debased, and reduced to this level of depravity.

It is the shame of a country. It is the tragic story of a country so debased it stinks.

I belong to one WhatsApp group created by one of the most responsible and serious-minded First Ladies any Nigerian state could be blessed with. She is on top of the game when it concerns women issues – health, personal hygiene, self esteem, education, ICT, financial independence, the girl-child education, and more. So, I posted the advisory and the haunting video to the platform. It triggered a storm.

Reactions came like claps of thunder. A number of those on the forum hit the roof. They were upset with me, for daring to post it, not with the tragedy that has become our lives. They dismissed the posting as disgusting and unfit for the platform. One said such materials should have no place on the platform. I disagree.

What better forum is there, than that, for such posts which concern, deeply, the lives of girls and young women? One said I had so spoilt her day that she might not be able to eat that day. For just that day? Big deal. If not eating for one day would help save our daughters, and keep their self-esteem and dignity, why not?

I know I should not have, but in my utter surprise at their reaction, I apologised to them for spoiling their day. For making them uncomfortable. But know what? They were in self-denial. Like an ostrich, they were hiding, while their torso was stuck-up for public view. My conclusion:

They may not have understood, fully, the power of the forum they belong to. Or the seriousness of the post. Or, what damage the story, and the act have done to us as women, as mothers. It stole our dignity. It stole our self-esteem. It diminished us as women and, as human beings. And it stole our pride as a country.

This platform, to which I am proud to belong, is a movement to guide our young people. It should be, and it is, their moral compass. It is not for frivolous talks. It is not for show, or shaku-shaku. And, surely, a post that exposed the dehumanization and the humiliation of our girls, and young women, in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, cannot be dismissed as: no use. A post that seeks to educate our young ones on the dangers of some trips abroad cannot be dismissed as not important. We should face our shame, and pull back. We should face it, headlong, and get back our dignity.

The good thing: the First Lady on whose behest the platform was set up, and a couple of others, hit the right cord. Their anger was not how their meals had been spoilt. It was what to do about a morally broken society. They were not in self denial. They accepted the ugly story and the disgusting video as the reality of a debased world and a deranged people. And, they put their thinking caps on.

Their concerns: What can we, as women, do to save our daughters and sisters? What can we do to enlighten them of the wickedness and dangers that lie ahead in such not very thought-out trips. What can Nigeria do, as a country, to stem this shame that is fast engulfing our young girls and women? What can we do so they can keep their self-esteem and dignity? What can we do to let them know that their future may well lie in their country, difficult as things are, and not in such countries? What can we do to give them hope? What can we do to create jobs for thousands of our youths who have lost hope in our country, and so, endanger their lives in foreign lands?

Azariah Travel and Tours revealed that some unscrupulous Travel and Tours Agencies are in connivance with cartels in those countries to debase our women and their counterparts from a couple of African countries. Just for 250 US Dollars, the Agency reveals, they get them visas and promise them jobs and accommodation, and more. Not true. They give them out for prostitution and other weird activities.

Relevant Nigerian authorities cannot feign ignorance of the offending video. It went viral. Question is: What steps have been taken to nab and investigate such Travel agencies? Azariah Travel and Tours, which blew the whistle, put its phone number there. Which government official has called Azariah for more information and debriefing?

So what can be done? We need a complete re-orientation programme for our girls and young women. A rebirth. Incidentally, we have a National Orientation Agency which seems to exist only in name. There is no relevant and/or serious enlightenment of our youths that come from them. There is no engagement. Just nothing. And, do we still have a Ministry of Women Affairs? What’s The name of the Minister?

I know there is freedom of movement. But how come nobody is checking the movement of our girls and young women trooping to these countries? What are the Immigration Service and other such relevant agencies doing? Who checks who at our airports and other borders?

In Kigali, Rwanda, young women are continuously profiled at the country’s international airport, and those of them with no satisfactory reason to travel out are stopped from their trips. Here is why:

The authorities allege that they embark on such trips for prostitution, you better believe this, to countries such as Nigeria. One may accuse them of discrimination, by asking, what about the boys? Yes, but they are, at least, doing something to save their country’s image.

Here in Nigeria, we pursue rats while our house is on fire. Isn’t that why we are obsessed with embarrassingly going after alleged prostitutes in Abuja, while our girls pass through our noses to be debased outside our country? Isn’t that why we cannot differentiate between clubbing and prostitution? Isn’t it why we are deliberately shutting down night clubs, just like the Kano state government, and its Hisbah (Sharia Police) are deliberately destroying people’s businesses by destroying thousands of beer bottles? Yet, Kano shares in the VAT from that industry every month. Now, this same Kano state government says it will arrest anybody seen eating outside during the Ramadan fast. Does this include non-moslems too? What is our country descending to?

Meanwhile, those that are arresting the alleged prostitutes are doing so in an annoyingly, discriminatory manner. They derive joy in parading the women. But, where are the men who patronise them? It takes two to tango. Those men are prostitutes as well. Why arrest women only?

For the records, those who arrest them, and rape them thereafter, are not only plying same trade, they are in addition, rapists, and should be treated as such. Rape is a crime like no other. It is a criminal violation of women.

From all angles, and everywhere, young Nigerians are under siege. In South Africa, they kill them while South Africans thrive here. In India, Libya, Malaysia, China and other such countries, they enslave them, and harvest their organs. Yet, their people thrive here. Indeed, in our own country, most Chinese and Indian companies treat Nigerians like slaves. They even boast about it. And our government and security agencies feign ignorance. They even do so in the presence of our security details attached to them, atimes, illegally.

But back to our girls and young women that are being debased in most horrifyingly manner in Dubai and other such countries. The time for action is now. It should start from our homes. Mothers should take the front seat. Ask your daughters questions. Talk to them. Yes, money matters, it is good. But let’s tell them that their dignity, self esteem, and lives are more important than money. They are a priority. They don’t need to be reduced to pit toilets and toilet rolls for those who have sold their souls to the devil.

The government and all its relevant agencies should be at alert. They should embark on massive enlightenment programmes. Create jobs for our youths. Teach them that there is dignity in labour.

And, most important: Invite Azariah Travel and Tours to a session. De-brief them. You will learn more, especially, about the cartel involved in this hair-raising business.

Give us our pride back. Give us back our self esteem. Give us a sense of belonging. And tell us that we matter. We deserve no less. Our girls and young women are our future. The would-be mothers of a new Nigeria. And should be protected.

Obi is the Editor-in-Chief/CEO of The Source (Magazine), https://thesourceng.com. Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Buhari Disappears in London

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Uche Mbah

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May 3, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Since President Muhammadu Buhari travelled to the United Kingdom for what his aids described as a private visit, he has all but disappeared from the radar, and nobody seems to know exactly where he is.

For over one week, Buhari has been out of the country without transmitting any letter to the National Assembly for the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take over as Acting President. He is currently acting as the vice president. His handlers claimed that he can rule Nigeria from anywhere.

The trip has had its own share of controversies.

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has condemned the trip, accusing the President of trying to escape from his responsibilities in relation to the security crisis currently engulfing the country. Since Buhari left, the country has experienced escalating security crisis, with Fulani Herdsmen-with their new baptismal name of bandits-overworking on steroid overdrive. Kidnappers have been having a field day, and Boko Haram has been on rampage, claiming and reclaiming towns with attendant military casualties.

Reports indicate that since Buhari arrived London, he has virtually disappeared. Abuja house, where he always stays, has been reportedly devoid of the usual hustle and bustle associated with the presence of a president. And there appears to be no signs he is at his usual hospital either.

The British Press are having a total blackout on the visit of a president from another country. From The Mail to The Guardian, Sun to Telegraph, there has been a total media blackout. The trending results about Nigeria appear to be insecurity, particularly about the foreign Aid workers killed in Nigeria.

The usual influx of influential people to London when he travels is conspicuously absent, as most political Gladiators appear to be in the country.

President Buhari is expected to be back after ten days.

Nigeria Under Siege As kidnappers Target Presidency

By

Uche Mbah

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May 2, 2019

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By Uche Mbah

Security in recent times has taken a dive as kidnappers move up towards what analysts have described as the ultimate humiliation of the Presidency: the kidnapping of the close members of President Muhammadu Buhari’s immediate family.

The latest of these kidnaps has been the kidnap of Musa Umar, an in-law to President Buhari and a District Head of Daura, the President’s home town . Umar, is said to be married to the daughter of Buhari’s sister, Hajiya Bilki.Umar, and doubles as the father of Fatima Musa, wife of Colonel Mohammed Abubakar, the Aide de Camp (ADC) to the President.He is a former customs officer.

Gunmen were said to have stormed his house after the evening muslim prayers, shooting sporadically in the air. They allegedly dragged him into their waiting car and drove away.

Already Kaduna-Abuja road has been taken over by these kidnappers with the security agencies looking on in apparent helplessness. In fact, some senior police officers abducted recently were released by the alleged payment of N60 million ransom. Reports indicate that the Kaduna-Abuja road was earlier in the week cordoned off by kidnappers, with motorists stranded and trying to escape from the route.

As it stands now, the trains plying Abuja-Kaduna route are always overbooked, with top executives preferring to stand in the train to Abuja than travel on road. Only recently, the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Adamu Mohamed, had to redeploy senior police officers in a bid to inject new blood to the security war but it appears not to be yielding results.

In the midst of these, President Buhari jetted out to London on what his Aids called a private visit without transmitting any letter to the senate to officially hand over to Vice president Yemi Osinbajo. His aids are allegedly issuing orders on his behalf, like,For example, the current massive redeployment of staff and personnel in Aso rock in what some analysts regard as weeding out disloyal elements in his vicinity.

He was said to have become jittery because he lost to Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, in his own ward in Aso Villa. . Therefore, the current shake up among the staff is borne out of the fear. many are being deployed to the office of the Chief of staff, Aba kyari, who is expected to keep an eye on them.

Besides kidnapping, the activities of Bandits and Fulani herdsmen-it is becoming difficult to separate the two groups-is also on the rise. and Boko Haram continues to sack more cities despite presidential assurance that they have been decimated.

Ekiti: Supreme Court Fallout, APC expels Oni

By

Bayo Bernard

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May 1, 2019

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By Ayodele Oni, Ado Ekiti

Few weeks after the Supreme Court dismissed the eligibility suit filed against Governor Kayode Fayemi by Segun Oni a former chieftain of the All Progressives Party, APC the party has wielded the big stick on the ex-helmsman of Ekiti state by expelling him from the party.

Chief Oni had following the apex court judgment announced his retirement from active politics, but sources said he was expelled as punishment for failure to withdraw the case against the incumbent.

Chief Oni, popularly called CSO by his followers got the surprise package from APC for his refusal to yield to pressure to withdraw a suit he instituted against the party and Governor Fayemi as part of the fallout of 2018 governorship primary of the party, sources told the magazine.

The former governor, who ruled the state between 2009 and 2011, was a former member of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, (PDP). He was removed from office by a court of appeal judgement, which nullified his election and brought into office Dr Fayemi.

Oni was later elected as a deputy national chairman of PDP but also booted out by a court judgement as part of the fallout of the crisis which engulfed the PDP after the eight years regime of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Still in search of relevance, chief Oni joined the APC in 2014 and became its deputy national chairman, south, a position he was holding until last year when he resigned to contest in the governorship primary of the APC.

He came second after Dr Fayemi and dissatisfied with the outcome of the election, he decided to challenge the outcome in court. Despite attempts to prevail on him to drop the suit up to the point that he was offered the senatorial ticket for ekiti north, he insisted on pursuing the case to the end.

He stated in the suit that Dr Fayemi ought to have resigned his appointment in line with the APC constitution before he contested for the governorship primary last year but he refused. The supreme court had since dismissed the case.

Immediately the case was dismissed by the supreme court, chief Oni announced his decision to quit partisan politics insisting that he has no regret challenging the outcome of the governorship primary in court.

It was gathered that the national leadership of the APC has conveyed the decision to expel chief Oni to him through the state chapter of the party, which was confirmed by a member of the state working committee of the party in Ado Ekiti, but some close associates described it as a belated decision since he has resigned from partisan politics.

It was also learnt that a former senator and an ex member of the House of Representatives fingered to be the arrow heads of the court case will equally be sanctioned for their roles.

Customs: Trouble In Customs As Ali Accuses Controllers of Corruption

By

Bayo Bernard

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May 1, 2019

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By Bayo Bernard

From extreme obscurity, the fortunes of Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Kirawa has changed so rapidly that he has now become the most powerful officer in the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS only next to the Comptroller General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd).

You will not be surprised to now find him in his classy-furnished office at the Customs College in Lagos, drinking expensive champagne as importers besiege daily to curry his favour.

He has taken the shine off the Federal Operation Unit, FOU, Zone A, which used to be a beehive of activity for who’s who in the cargo and containerized business.

Not a few has disavowed Joseph Attah, the NCS spokesman’s view that the new sheriff in town will exercise his power with equanimity and grace.

“The Coordinator of the Strike Force DC Abdullahi Kirawa is aware of his limitation and will not attempt to go beyond his brief,” Attah said. Indeed.

The customs officer is the head of the Strike Force created not long ago by the CG to monitor the movement of cargo in and out of the country.

But his meteoric rise to power has started upsetting the apple’s cart in the NCS as other officers appears not happy with the CG’s decision to concentrate enormous authority in the hands of a most junior officer.

“Every officer now wants to relate with Kirawa because they think he has the CG ears,” one officer said.

Kirawa brilliant elevation to stardom started with a memo the Customs High command recently sent to all customs command across the country detailing them to ‘answer to” Kirawa in the effort if the NCS to clean the Augean stable of corruption in the Service.

In the memo signed by the Deputy Comptroller General of Customs, DCG(E,I&I), A Chidi, the CG accused customs controllers at the ports of compromising cargo examination.

Expert told the magazine that what the CG meant is that all the controllers at the ports are badly corrupt and that they have been collecting bribes from importers to make sure that cargo are not properly examined.

The implication of this, critics say, is that the CG is blaming his subordinate for insecurity in the country because most weapons now being used by insurgents and other criminals are believed to have come in through the seaports.

He’s also holding the controllers responsible for loss of huge revenue by the federal government at the ports, others told the magazine.

According to the memo dated April 25, 2019 and titled “100% Examination of Cargo At The Seaports” the CG said that he has “observed that 100% examination of cargo at the ports are not are not done properly by the officers assigned to do so.”

As a result, the NCS will not fold its arms in the face of deliberate compromise by the controllers and “consequently, the following instruction must be carried out with immediate effect and Area Controllers will personally be held responsible for non-compliance.”

The CG said the controller should now defer Kirawa in the matter of cargo examination. “ Henceforth, every Area Controller must respond accordingly to Strike Force intervention alerts.

The Strike Force team has been authorized henceforth to intervene right in the port and possibly make seizures where necessary without hindrance,” the CG said warning that any resistance on the part of the resident officers will attract severe sanctions.

Obviously, the resident controllers are not taking the issue with a pinch of salt even though they have clearly restrained themselves from making an open condemnation on the CG’s directive.

For instance, some officers at both Apapa and Tincan commands told the magazine that the memo will cause a lot of problems because what the CG has done is very inappropriate particularly in a para-military organisation where seniority is very key.

“A controller cannot defer to a deputy controller, this is very wrong and it tends to rubbish the chain of command in the service.

This is the same thing that happened under a former CG, Abdullahi Dikko Nde when many junior officers were given so much power to the extent that they no longer respect their superiors.

The ignoble act received trenchant condemnation at the time, though it has done severe damage to the Service,” one controller who requested to remain anonymous, told the magazine on Monday.

Also an ACG told the magazine that “the Gestapo-like administrative style of the CG does not sit well with many senior officers. But there’s nothing anybody can do because it’s obvious that the president has given him powers to do as he pleases with the service.”

No fewer than five controllers who spoke with the magazine said they disapprove of the CG’s directive.

Meanwhile, the directive appears not to have been well received by other stakeholders operation in the ports across the country.

The National President of the Association of Nigeria Licensed Customs Agents, ANLCA, Tony Iju said the directive has put a question mark on the trust the CG has for the resident officers or controllers to be able to carry out their duties without being compromised.

“Does it mean you don’t trust your resident officers? Or do you want to put checks and balances on the resident officers? He must have a reason for that. So that reason I don’t know and the reason is what we want to know,” Iju said.

Many Actresses Marry ‘Yahoo’ Boys – Tonto Dikeh

By

The Source

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May 1, 2019

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Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, says she is a shameless person and therefore will not be cowed by the expectations of people.

Dikeh, while chatting with radio presenter, Daddy Freeze, said she would continue to fight dirty with her ex-husband and father of her son, Olakunle Churchill, because “she has no shame”.

The actress said most actresses marry ‘Yahoo’ boys (Internet fraudsters) in a desperate search for love only to realise their mistake afterward.

She said, “This is the thing most of our actresses go through but nobody says anything. We get so lonely and when we need somebody to hold onto, we get into the wrong hands. Half of us have married ‘Yahoo’ boys.

“Most of them are just walking away because it is too shameful for them but I am shameless; I will talk because I don’t have any shame in my life. I don’t because if this man is arrested tomorrow, they will link him to me because I was once married to him.”

Dikeh claimed she was the one who paid for the wedding ceremony with her husband in 2015.

She said even the hotel rooms booked for the wedding were paid for by one of her male friends.

The actress also said she did no wrong by changing her son’s surname from her husband’s to her own.

She said she was the one that had been paying the school fees of her son, King, and therefore had the right to change his name.

Dikeh said contrary to reports, her former husband did not buy her a house but they all lived in a rented apartment.

When asked if there was anything good about her short marriage to Churchill, Dikeh said there was nothing good about the relationship because it was built on lies. (Punch)