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FG Bows To Protesters, Sets Up Panel, Okays All Demands |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

In one of the fastest actions taken by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration since its inception in 2015, the Federal Government, has set up a Panel to look into the grievances of protesting Nigerian youths.

The youths in their thousands, nationwide, in the  past six days, have been protesting the brutalities and humiliation against them by the Police Federal Special Armed Robbery Squad, popular as  SARS.

To stem the protest, the FG ordered the Inspector General of Police, IGP Mohammed Adamu to dissolve  SARS. He did. In the statement dissolving it, the IGP promised to set up a new outfit in its place.

But the protests did not abate. The protesters wanted more. On Sunday, the President promised that no SARS operative found culpable of any infringement  would escape justice.

In a statement on Tuesday, Femi Adesina, Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, said that a Presidential Panel has approved all the five-point requests by the youths.

It is not known if the approval of the requests will take the youths off the streets, but a few of them spoken to by the magazine say they will await for the immediate implementation of their requests before they get off the streets. But, following is the press release by Adesina after the meeting of the Panel members.

“Following directives by President Muhammadu Buhari on dissolution of Special Anti-Robbery Squad and immediate response to yearnings of citizens, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, convened a meeting with stakeholders, agreeing to meet demands, which include halting use of force against protesters and unconditional release of arrested citizens.

“The meeting, organized by the Office of the Inspector General of Police and National Human Rights Commission, was a multi-stakeholders’ forum attended by leaders and representatives of civil society organisations in Nigeria, activists from the entertainment industry and the ENDSARS movement and development partners.

“The Ministry of Police Affairs and Police Service Commission were also present at the meeting that affirmed that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government.

“A communiqué of Stakeholders’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) said:

“Following the public protests regarding various forms of human rights violations by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and the consequent disbandment of the unit by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, there arose the need for stakeholder engagement to build trust and restore public confidence in law enforcement.

“The agitations also brought to the fore, the need to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

“The Forum was addressed by the Inspector General of Police and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission.

“The Forum collectively: welcomed the dissolution of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu; Reaffirmed the constitutional rights of Nigerians to peaceful assembly and protest; Further affirmed the sanctity of life of every Nigerian and the role of the Police in protecting this right; Affirms that the five-point demands of the protesters and the ENDSARS movement are genuine concerns and will be addressed by the Government.’’

“According to the communiqué signed by the Inspector General of Police and Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Tony Ojukwu, Esq, the Forum noted that the dissolution of SARS presents an opportunity to embark on comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning the Nigerian Police Force as a modern, responsive and citizens-centred law enforcement organisation.

“The Forum further notes that the proposed reforms should be anchored under the basis of the White Paper on the Report of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad which was jointly authored by the National Human Rights Commission, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police Force.

“The Forum affirms that reform proposals for the Nigerian Police Force will be based on Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and existing legislations such as the Nigeria Police Act, 2020, the Nigeria Police Trust Fund Act, 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015 the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the National Human Rights Commission Act, 2010 amongst others.

“Following the dissolution of SARS, the Forum calls for the following immediate steps to be taken in restoring public confidence and trust in the Police: An order by the Inspector General of Police to all State Commands to halt the use of force against protesters; Unconditional release of arrested protesters and citizens; Open communication and outreach to citizens to establish trust and confidence and a roadmap for the implementation of the White Paper of the Presidential Panel on the Reform of the SARS.

“The Forum welcomed the proposal to set up an Independent Investigation Panel to look into the violations of human rights by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Nigerian Police. The Forum agrees to the setting up of this Independent Panel by the National Human Rights Commission within the next one week. An open call for Memoranda from members of the public whose rights have been violated by the defunct SARS and other segments of the Police will be released by the Commission within one week.

“The Forum recommends the psychological evaluation, training and retraining of disbanded SARS officials prior to re-deployment. The Forum resolves to set up the following Technical Sub-Committees to design an implementation roadmap and work plan for the implementation of the White Paper: Training, Capacity and Re-orientation; Logistics: Infrastructure, Communications and Technology; Arrest, Detention, and Investigations; Regulations, Oversight and Accountability and Financing and Partnerships.’’

“The communiqué stated that sub-Committees will be supported by the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organisations.

Those who attended the meeting are: Dr Kole Shettima- MAC Arthur Foundation; Innocent Chukwuma – Ford Foundation; Jude Ilo- of OSIWA;  Segun Awosanya(segalinks) – End Sars Movement;  Yemi Adamolekun- Enough is Enough; Clément Nwankwo- PLAC; Rafsanjani- CISLAC; Kemi Okonyedo-  PWAN; YZ – CITAD; Folarin Falana Falz; Prof Deji Adekunle –NIALS;  Chris Ngwodo, SSA to President Research & Policy;  Dr Fatima Waziri – Rule of Law Adviser OVP and Abdulrahman Yakubu – NHRC Secretariat.

“Others are: Hilary Ogbonna- NHRC secretariat; Halilu Adamu – NHRC Secretariat; Ben Aguh – NHRC secretariat; Dr Uju Agomuoh – PRAWA and Onyinye Ndubuisi – UNDP.”

Five Policemen On Election Duty In Ondo Die In Crash |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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Police Road Accident

By Ayodele Oni

The Joy of five Mobile Policemen returning home to join their relations was truncated as they lost their life in a ghastly road accident on Tuesday.

They were killed in an accident, which happened along the Oba Ile/airport road, Akure.

Report said they were part of the 32,000 policemen deployed to Ondo state for the Governorship election, which was held last Saturday.

An eye witness account explained that the victims were in a Toyota Hilux, and were heading towards the airport when the accident happened.

The cause of the midday accident could not be ascertained, but excessive speeding could not be ruled out.

The State Police Command has been informed about the incident as the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr Tee-Leo Ikoro, could only confirm the incident, saying he would still have to find out the exact number of the victims.

Breaking: Professor of Literature, J.P Clark, Dies |The Source

By
The Source
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Professor John Pepper Clark

By Charles Igbo

Nigeria lost one of its prominent sons Tuesday morning.

Professor John Pepper Clark, renowned Poet, and Emeritus  Professor of Literature, passed on at the age 85 years.

An unconfirmed source informed this magazine that the Professor died of  COVID-19.

A statement, announcing his passing, signed by his brother, Professor C.C Clark on behalf of the family, and Ilaye Clark, on behalf of the children, said:

“The Clark-Fuludu Bekederemo family of Kiagbodo Town, Delta State, wishes to announce that Emeritus Professor of Literature, and renowned  writer, Professor  John Pepper Clark, has finally dropped his pen in the early hours of today, Tuesday, 13 October, 2020.

“Prof. J.P. Clark has paddled on to the great beyond in comfort of his wife, children and sibling around him.

“The family appreciates your prayers at this time. Other details will be announced later by the family.

The late Professor comes from a renowned family, and was a younger sibling of Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin K Clark.

A family friend described his passing as sad and sudden, considering that he was in good health a few weeks ago. “We thought he would live till age 100. But, now, this”, he bemoaned.

Professor Clark hailed from Kiagbodo, Burutu Local Government  Area, Delta State.

Insecurity: Borno Youths Decry The End of SARS |The Source

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Pro-SARS Protest in Borno

By Adesina Soyooye

In the case of the recent dissolution of the Federal Special Armed Robbery Squad, FSARS, by the Federal Government, it is different strikes for different people. In Borno State, the youths say they want the outfit which has helped in protecting them from the hands of criminals.

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu. had. on Sunday, October 11, dissolved, nationwide, the Police crime-fighting branch,   popularly known by its acronym, SARS.

The dissolution was triggered by  the #EndSARS protests embarked upon by Nigerian youths against SARS, over what they term the brutalities and humiliation and extortion of innocent Nigerians, especially, the youths.

There have been a number of killings of youths, most of them, innocent by the outfit. Many of them had been labelled criminals  just on the basis of their mode of dressing, hairstyles, owning an I-phone, or a laptop.

For six days, and counting, the youths have shut-down and grounded states. The President’s daughter, Zahra Buhari-Indimi, and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s  daughter, Kiki, and many celebrities joined the protests. Osinbajo, himself, expressed worry, over the activities of SARS.

A number of fatalities on both the sides- Police and the youths – have been recorded.

The climax was the dissolution of SARS, the redeployment of its personnel, and the promise by the IGP to set up another outfit to take over the important job SARS was doing before it deviated.

The actions taken so far have not stopped the protests.

However, in Borno State, it is a different kind of protest. The youths are protesting the dissolution of SARS, insisting that their situation in Borno state was not taken into consideration before the dissolution of SARS.

In a peaceful march to the office of the Governor, they said they no longer felt safe without the presence of SARS personnel, and appealed to the FG and the FHQ, to urgently put together the new outfit that would replace SARS to ensure their safety.

They were received in audience by the Deputy Governor of the State. Borno  is one of the states in the North, which has been under intense insecurity for years.

It is, however, not known yet when the new outfit will be put together, but Vice President Osinbajo promises it would meet the expectations of the people, while President Buhari promised the prosecution of SARS operatives who took part in the brutalities against  innocent Nigerians.

The protests continue.

INEC Presents Certificate Of Return To Gov Akeredolu, Deputy |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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INEC presents Certificate of Return to Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)  on Tuesday, officially completed the process of the Governorship election in Ondo state with the presentation of Certificates of Return to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and the Deputy Governor-Elect, Lucky Ayedatiwa.

The brief ceremony was held at the conference room of the Commission in Akure, with few guests, including the spouses of the recipients, in attendance.

At the presentation ceremony, INEC Resident Commissioner, Mr Rufus Akeju, told Governor Akeredolu that his reelection was a challenge for him to do more for the people.

Governor Akeredolu, used the occasion to commend INEC for the successful conduct of the election.

The governor restated that his second coming would bring more dividends of democracy to the people stressing that all nooks and crannies of the state would be touched.

He, also, commended security agents and the electorate for the success of the election, and dedicated his victory and the certificates to God and the people of Ondo State.

Akeredolu won the Governorship election of October 10, defeating his closest competitor, Eyitola Jegede of the PDP, with a vote margin of 93,000. Jegede is yet to congratulate him. He is still studying the results, he said.

State Of The Nation: Ezekwesili Spits Fire, Says Buhari Lacks Ideas |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Minister for Education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili has come down hard on President Muhammadu Buhari over what she described as Buhari’s lack of experience and needed temperament to lead a diverse nation like Nigeria out of its current challenges.

Between 2012 and 2015, Ezekwesili was a great fan of Buhari, and using as a peg, the unfortunate, controversial kidnapping of the students of Chibok Girls’ Secondary School by the Boko Haram, pushed and campaigned against the Goodluck Jonathan Presidency. The campaign which she led, tagged “#Bring Back Our Girls”, helped paint Jonathan  in unflattering colours before the International Community,  and ultimately his defeat in 2015.

In a first of its kind in Nigeria, the candidate of an opposition party, in the instant case, Muhammadu Buhari won the Presidential election.

But it was not long before Ezekwesili turned against the Buhari administration and, in 2019, was a Presidential Candidate in.a bid to sack Buhari from office. She failed, quitting the field before the election took place.

Recently, she was one of those who launched a new initiative called ‘#FixPolitics’.

Speaking on the state of the Nation, Ezekwesili said Nigeria’s religious divide and dif­ferences have become deeper now than ever due to what she described as the “irresponsi­ble, clannish, provincial, in­competent, and ineffectual management of our diversity by President Buhari”.

According to her, while countries like Botswana, Singapore, and South Korea that gained independence in the 1960s like Nigeria have successfully transformed their societies, Nigeria is still groping in the dark due to the fact that the citizens are not bound by common aspirations and shared principles.

She said: “As a result of those failures to build consensus, Nigeria has hobbled along as a country of people who are not unified around common aspirations and shared principles.

“How different the out­comes would be if we were a country guided by aspirations like equal opportunity, inclusive growth and pros­perity, social cohesion and stability.

“These are proven from our #FixPolitics research as some of the building blocks on which other countries transformed their societies.

“We found countries like Botswana, Singapore, and South Korea to have priori­tised human development, merit, productivity and healthy competition among constituent parts, as well as their citizens.

Muhammad Buhari
President Muhammad Buhari

“The results show up in their economic performance and the vastly improved wellbeing of their citizens in contrast to Nigeria – all three countries gained independence in the 1960s from Britain.

“However, reality is set­ting in now. For after many decades of ignoring the obvious, it is becoming clearer to all discerning and reasonable compatriots that our union is facing the severest threat to its existence now.

“All is simply not well with Nigeria and Nigerians. Our country, Nigeria, is on the brink of a break-up despite the delusional protestations of Federal Government officials and their sycophants.

“Our ethnic and religious divides and differences have never been sharper and deeper than now.

“And this is all because of the irresponsible, clannish, provincial, incompetent, and ineffectual management of our diversity by President Buhari who simply does not know how to nor have the temperament to learn how to lead a diverse society like Nigeria.

“The totality of factors that threaten the existence of Nigeria are expressed in the consistent and unabashed ethnic bigotry of President Buhari.”

In an about- turn, Ezekwesili said comparing Buhari and his predecessor, Jonathan, is a huge mistake, as  Jonathan was far better than Buhari in Governance.

Ezekwesili stressed that Buhari is worse in Governance than Jonathan.

She added: “That President Buhari – who was elected by a representative section of the Nigerian people in a pro­test vote against his failed predecessor – has, in turn, dug Nigeria deeper into the trenches of humongous failure, will remain a wonder of historical proportion.

“Nigeria’s failures under President Buhari have become profoundly unsustainable.

“It is perplexing to watch our political leaders carrying on with their pretense that Nigeria is currently being governed.

“How can the political leadership of a country which is practically insolvent, terribly brittle on all fronts of national security and lost its diplomatic leadership and influence even in West Africa keep acting as if everything is normal?”

Ezekwesili, who said that there was no difference be­tween the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), added that politicians in both parties were like Siamese twins who placed their selfish interests over, and above the wellbeing of the people they govern.

“Such imperiousness was the same attitude exhibited by the previous government of the current opposition party.

“Most Nigerians are fed up with the Siamese Twins-type syndrome of our politicians, regardless of whether they belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peo­ples Democratic Party (PDP).

“Their party acronyms may differ, but the people in our politics today are of one embryo and exhibit a common and dominant po­litical culture that places the narrow interests of our pol­iticians over and above the wellbeing of the people they govern.

“Nigerians have experienced and now openly express frustration at the ‘hand-down’ and ‘turn-by-turn failure’ of the political leadership class in Nigeria at the federal, state or local government levels.

“They are designed by the environment that enables them to act without conse­quences and the incentive they respond to, to govern in ways that do not produce results for citizens.”

It is not known, yet, if Ezekwesili will contest for the Presidency in 2023.

Speaker Obasa Debunks Impeachment Rumour, As Lagos House Passes Vote Of Confidence On Him |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Mudashiru Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State House of Assembly has passed a Vote of Confidence on the troubled Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa. The Speaker has also debunked the rumour that there are moves to impeach him.

35 members of the Assembly present at the Plenary of Monday, October 12, 2020, passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker for his exemplary leadership.

The rumour making the round in social media that 26 of them have signed an impeachment notice on the Speaker, was quashed, with members showing solidarity to the Speaker.

The motion for the vote of confidence was moved by Hon Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 1) and was seconded by Hon Kehinde Joseph( Alimosho 2), after which all the members in the hallowed Chamber raised their hands in support of the motion.

Before pledging their unflinching loyalty, all members took turns to pay glowing tributes to the speaker for being proactive in state matters and for his exemplary leadership, particularly, in legislative matters both in the state and Nigeria as a whole.

The Speaker in his response thanked members for their unalloyed support and confidence reposed in him.

He said he was initially against the idea of passing a vote of confidence on him when it was first mooted but had to succumb when many members supported the idea.

According to him, “I don’t think it necessary because I do not entertain any fear. I strongly believe that my becoming speaker was by divine intervention. It was not something planned. It happened through the will of Allah. Being here today as speaker is still by the grace of Almighty Allah. So, if one believes this, he would have peace of mind.”

The Speaker said the House is one and would continue to remain one.

“This House will never be divided. If there is anybody that is not pleased let him adjust himself. Let us see this House as our responsibility.

“I have been here for a while, Speaker had been removed, deputy speaker had been removed. So, if anybody is removed, he should take it as part of the process of the House. Nobody, including me, can say that without him the House cannot progress. We should desist from that.”

He said everything that had been going on since March about the Assembly was political.

“The interest is to get the Speaker out of the way. Not because of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa. There have been allegations upon allegations and we challenged them to bring evidence of awarding contracts to family members, nobody has been able to bring any. We have challenged them to bring approvals that we have not implemented, nothing.

“They have taken me to EFCC. I have been invited and I have honored their invitation. The invitation continues. So, it is nothing but desperation to get the Speaker out of the way. I just hope EFCC would not allow itself to be dragged into political matters.

“Let us continue to work together in the interest of our people. Those who are chasing shadows will get tired.

“Muyiwa Jimoh was calling America asking for Obasa’s house number in so so place. We have the evidence. We have the recording and this is a colleague. We just ignored so many things. But when it gets to a stage we cannot bear it anymore we will show those who are not ready to abide by the rules of the House the way out. So that they will  not disturb the peace of this House.

“We thank God for all the members in the House today and we heard what they all said. It shows that the House is one and peaceful. We will continue to be so and not allow anybody to distract us from doing what we are here for.

“Once again, I pray that Almighty Allah will continue to support each  one of you as you have always supported me in this assignment.”Obasa concluded.

The Speaker has been having a running battle with the EFCC over corruption allegations.  Three of his bank accounts have been frozen by the EFCC.

#EndSARS: Protests Continue As Protesters Demand Visa Ban, Prosecution |The Source

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
EndSARS Protest in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

The dissolving of the Special Armed Robbery Squad, SARS, nationwide on Sunday, by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu, has not put an end to the street protests.

Monday morning, protesters in Lagos took the streets, again, blocking strategic streets in Ikeja and the Lekki tollgate, and triggered a monstrous traffic gridlock.

Thousands of exasperated Nigerian youths had taken to the streets, nationwide, in protest against the brutalities, humiliation and brazen extortion meted out to mostly innocent Nigerians, especially, youths, by SARS operatives.

The #EndSARS protesters were joined and supported by many Nigerian Celebrities, including two daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Zahra and Kiki.

A couple of days into the protests, the IGP stripped SARS of most of the functions its personnel appropriated to themselves, ordered them off the roads, barred them from scrolling people’s phones, and asked them to wear uniforms so Nigerians can differentiate between them and criminals.

The steps taken by the IGP were not enough for them. Nor was  the order given  to the IGP by Buhari to look into the excesses of SARS, as presented by the protesters.

On Sunday, the Nigerian Government bowed to the protesters whose main goal was the ending of SARS.

At a Press Conference he addressed in Abuja, IGP Adamu scrapped SARS nationwide, and ordered the immediate redeployment of its personnel.

But the protesters are not pacified. They are asking for more.  They say a Presidential Executive Order is needed to back the dissolution of SARS, if it is going to carry any weight.

They insist that this same IGP had banned SARS a couple of times before. But the outfit came back stronger and worse than before.

They are also asking for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all SARS operatives who brutalised, extorted and killed innocent Nigerians.

During the recent #EndSARS protests, a couple of youths, and, at least, one police personnel were killed.

The protesters are, also, asking the Governments of the USA, United Kingdom, and the European Union, to impose Visa restrictions on the IGP, his Deputies and his Assistants.

The call for Visa restrictions on them was first made on Sunday by a former

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank. Frank said the the appeal to the “Governments of the United States of America (USA), United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) to impose VISA restrictions on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, his deputies and assistants over SARS, was necessary to teach them a lesson for condoning  the atrocities for too long.

Frank in a statement in Abuja. Sunday, said the call became imperative to restore civility and decorum to the activities of the Nigeria Police in their dealings with innocent citizens.

“Just like the visa restrictions on election riggers in Kogi and Bayelsa States helped to ensure a free, fair and credible election in Edo State recently, we are convinced that a similar action from members of the international community” will clean up the NPF.

He, also, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry  where victims of SARS’ torture, extortion, and the family of those killed extra-judicially can seek redress and SARS operatives found culpable punished according to law.

He condemned the Senate President Ahmad Lawan for saying SARS should not be banned despite their manifest impunity towards Nigerians, and urged the 9th National Assembly to rise up and defend the rights of Nigerians who voted them into office.

“Lawan, apparently, has lost touch with reality to think that his sentimental cum window dressing solution is enough to tame the heinousness of the SARS’ operatives who appear to have sold their souls to the devil. The Senate President’s suggested reform of SARS  is delusional at best.

“The intervention of the National Assembly must go beyond rhetoric and half-hearted gyrations in their chambers. The lives of the people that elected them are in grave danger of greedy SARS’ operatives.

“They cannot afford to engage in delay tactics through bogus probes. Nigerians need to see true and passionate action to disband SARS and all other tactical outfits of the police whose activities are inimical to the peace and security of the people,” Frank said.

He also called on the Minister of Police Affairs, Muhammad Maigari Dingyadi and the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Musiliu Smith, “to wake up from their slumber in the face of egregious acts” by the now dissolved SARS of the police against members of the public.

On Monday in Lagos, it was business, as usual, for the #EndSARS protesters. They insist the dissolution of SARS was no longer enough. They want to see the bad eggs who killed and maimed innocent citizens prosecuted. The protests continued unabated.

Edo: More Trouble After Impeachment of Speaker |The Source

By
Bayo Bernard
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0
Godwin Obaseki

By Tosin Olatokunbo

The political atmosphere in Edo state seems to have calmed after Governor Godwin Obaseki won a re-election four weeks ago. But with the impeachment of the Speaker of the state house of Assembly, Henry Okiye, few hours ago, another battle line may have been drawn by the political actors in the state.

The former Speaker is one of the close allies of Governor Obaseki who backed the governor against his predecessor and former governor of the state, Adams Oshiomhole over the control of the soul of politics of the state.

Even though the magazine was told that the impeachment is part of the realignment of forces in the state after the keenly contested election was won by the incumbent, it’s not really clear why Okiye became the first casualty after the gubernatorial election has been won and lost.

But one source told the magazine that the hawks in Governor Obaseki’s government moved against the former Speaker over what he described as ‘his decision to remain in APC after the governor and his deputy moved to PDP after dumping APC to realise their ambitions.”

When journalist asked the former speaker in July why he chose to remain in APC after Obaseki and his deputy, Phillip Shuaibu had moved to PDP, he said he had not made up his mind to defect.

he said then that the decision to leave the party was purely his and would decide on the issue with the passage of time. He never did.

Okiye’s impeachment, the magazine learnt came after the majority leadr of the assembly, Henry Okhurobo, raised a motion to that effect, and was later approved by nine other members who were present at a briefing in Benin, the state’s capital.

Marcus Onobun, representing Esan West constituency has been elected the speaker of the assembly

Heavy Security Presence Pervaded Ondo Gov Election |The Source

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Nigeria Police

By Ayodele Oni

The just concluded Governorship election in Ondo state won the award of the most policed election in the history of Nigeria.

Investigations revealed that virtually all arms of security network in Nigeria such as Directorate of State Service, (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, (NPF), Customs, Army, Navy, Air force, EFCC and NSCDC among others were involved in security arrangement during the election.

There was no reported case of security personnel brutalizing voters or preventing them from excercising their rights throughout the election period.

Apart from one or two spots within Akure metropolis where incidents of shooting by suspected thugs were recorded, no other serious security breach was recorded during the election.

From our investigations, it was gathered that NCDC contributed 7000 officers, police, 36,000; army 10,000; road safety,10,000; custom, 5,000; navy, 5,000; DSS, 10,000; EFCC, 10,000.

A Deputy Inspector General of Police, two Assistant Inspectors General and Eleven Commissioners of Police were among the team of policemen deployed for the election.

Apart from this, heavy and sophisticated security equipment were moved to the state in an apparent bid to nip, in the bud, any breakdown of law and order.

Stakeholders were of the view that the heavy security presence during the poll was as a result of the gale of violence in all parts of the state that preceded the election which was beyond control of the state police command.

According to opinions, heavy security presence was also possible because Ondo was the only state where election took place, which facilitated security deployment from virtually all formations in the country.

Director of YIAGA Africa, one of the Civil Societies Groups that monitored the election, Mrs Aisha Abdullahi, confirmed the heavy presence during the election but said the officers were civil and friendly to voters.

Incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, candidate of the APC, won the election with a majority margin of over 90,000 votes, beating Eyitayo Jegede to a second place. He won in 15 out of 18 LGAs to secure a second term in office.

Neither Jegede, nor the incumbent Deputy Governor/ candidate of the ZLP, Agboola Ajayi, has congratulated Akeredolu since his decisive victory.

Jegede, alleging widespread  vote-buying and violence, said he was still studying the result. But President Muhammadu Buhari, while congratulating Akeredolu described his victory as one good turn, deserving another, saying that he served his state well during his first term.

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