The Saraki political hegemony in Kwara state may finally be broken following uncertainty that now surrounds the political future of Senate President, Bukola Saraki’s who’s struggling to retain his seat at Nigeria’s upper legislative house, the Senate.
His position is being threatened by candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ibrahim Oloriegbe.
It was the first time that Saraki will lose election in Kwara state as his family has controlled the politics of the North Central state for decades.
His father, Olusola Saraki, Wazirin of Ilorin was the political leader of the state until his demise few years ago.
Bukola rode on the crest of the family popularity to become governor in 2004.
In 2015, he became the Senate President under the platform of the APC even though his party did not support his bid to the number three positions.
According to initial results posted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Saraki of the PDP has already lost two local governments, Ilorin East and Asa Local governments to his opponent.
Saraki polled 14, 654 votes in Ilorin East while Olotiegbe olled 30, 014.
In Asa local government, the Senate President scored 11, 252 votes while the APC candidate polled 15, 932 votes.
Results are still being awaited in two other local governments that made up the Senatorial district.
It is a story foretold. All the signs were there. Most sane Nigerians were nervous. They were nervous wrecks. Politician were not among them. They talked carelessly. They spoke as if there will be no tomorrow. They were arrogant. Every of their speech was an incitement of the worst order. They beat war drums. And they told lies every inch of the way.
In Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, former PDP two- term governor Godswill Akpabio, who was also the PDP Minority Senate leader, now recently of the APC, threatened that the campaign to win the PDP state for his new party will be like war, or worse. In Rivers state, former PDP two-time governor, now, of the APC, and now, Minister for Transportation, broke every decorum, before the President, Muhammadu Buhari, and other APC leaders, and aroused shocked Nigerians with an Igbo war song. As he sang, he danced it. In Abeokuta, Ogun state, the President and his entourage were booed, and pelted with stones and sachets of pure water.
Their actions were war. Their spoken language was worse. And, there are many more. It is, therefore, no surprise that the Presidential and National Assembly election held on February 23 would go down into Nigeria’s history as the bloodiest. To some extent, it is also the most brazenly disrupted.
In the Southern part of the country the violence was so bad that it caused the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to cancel the exercise in some parts of Lagos, Anambra and Rivers states. Violence and deaths trailed the exercise in those states.
Burnt Ballot papers
In Lagos state, at least, one man, an alleged ballot box snatcher, was beaten to stupor and, finally set ablaze by a mob, consisting of angry voters he and his alleged comrades in crime brazenly burnt the votes they had already cast. In Rivers state, about 15 people were killed including a Lieutenant between Bonny and Akukutori LGAs. The Nigerian army admits to killing six “thugs” who ambushed them, and in the shootout that ensued, killed the Lieutenant. And there were more deaths country-wide.
In Bayelsa state, the official photographer of the Governor, Seriake Dickson, was shot to death. For Dickson, who pointed accusing fingers at his predecessor, Timipre Sylva, it was double jeopardy. His finger print was not authenticated by the Card Reader, the fate which also befell some other people, including Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello and his two wives.
The Card Reader generally was reported to have failed in most areas in the South, with many resorting to incident forms to allow people to vote.
Dickson described acts following the election in the states as “acts of brigandage and terrorism”
Ballot Boxes destroyed.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, while expressing outrage at the violence, lamented the alleged active collision of the Army with the Rivers APC Leadership in the intimidation of voters and ballot box snatchers.
It will be recalled that, prior to the 2015 elections, there was a court ruling that outlawed the use of the army in election issues. Only recently, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, had insisted that the courts has said that the army had no business with elections.
Meanwhile collations are continuing all over the country. As usual, political parties have been busy posting fake results, each trying to give advantage to their candidates.
By Comfort Obi For most of the time, he was not firm. He was aloof, almost, to the affairs of his party. He had a penchant for eating his cake, and still wanting to have it. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari and his party the APC, seem to have lost a grip on, at least, four states.
In Rivers state, the party has been shut out of presenting candidates for any office, except the Presidency. Zamfara remains uncertain. And, in this mismanagement of party affairs, arising from an untidy and commercialised Primaries, he has lost one of his closest allies, Ogun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun.
It is dangerous for one to eat ones cake, and still have it. It back fires, all the time. In almost all the cases at hand, PMB wanted the best of both worlds. I now don’t know how it will work out for him. But he may lose one, or both, if care is not taken. He is walking on egg shells.
Let me confess that I am a fan of his friend, Amosun. And that’s not because of his funny, pointed-to-the-sky caps.
My admiration of him started on the day the former governor of Osun state, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, he too, a man of funny caps, was buried. Tension was high. A number of the mourners were in a fighting mood. They, including his family, were convinced that Adeleke’s death was not ordinary; that he was forcefully sent out of mother-earth by his political opponents who were afraid of his desire to take another shot at the governorship seat, having been sent packing after only one term. Everybody, including state government officials, was suspect.
So, on the day of Adeleke’s funeral, they were vigilant, looking out for anybody suspected of any underhand business, especially, Osun state government sympathisers. Then strolls in this well-dressed woman, identified as an aide to the immediate past governor, Rauf Aregbesola. In addition to that, the blood baiting mob had also been told that she had been penciled down by Aregbesola for the position of a would-be Deputy Governor. So, they pounced on her. They removed her head-tie and wig, thus exposing an unbrushed, hairless head. Tragedy was a-foot. But, steps in Amosun. Courageously using one hand, he clutched the woman by his side, and used the other to intermittently protect her, and at times, stern faced, wagged a warning finger at the mob. He led her out of death zone. When the photographs were published the next day in newspapers, I was impressed.
But this write-up is not about Amosun’s courage. It is about Amosun and President Muhammadu Buhari; it is about a very close relationship, gradually going sour.
President Buhari and Gov. Amosun
It is a fact, well known by not a few, that both men are friends. The governor never misses an opportunity to flaunt it. He revelled in the relationship, and wore it like his underpants. At most functions, you would see him by Buhari’s side. I guess it gave him a sense of fulfilment each time he saw the photographs published. A few others are like that. I remember another Ogun state big man, an ex-governor. One day, months before he went back to his vomit, he had with him, hard copies of photographs he took with Mr President. At a function, he was busy, giving them out to senior journalists one after the other, and seriously begging them to use it for him in their medium. It was preparatory to his jumping ship. I was appalled. But I digress. I was talking about Governor Amosun.
So, his closeness to Mr President was not hidden. But now, I don’t know. It seems the relationship is entering a freezing zone. Things seem to be gradually falling apart. Proof: This day at an emergency caucus meeting of the APC during which the President was present, Amosun was one of the governors absent. Another was Imo state’s Rochas Okorocha. The two who particularly loved nothing more than to be seen with PMB. But, nothing confirms the now shaky relationship better than two incidents which took place in Amosun’s Ogun state in the past few days. To non-politicians, it is like a declaration of war on his party, the APC, and on PMB. Or, perhaps, a deliberate embarrassment of both PMB and the APC. But maybe we are just letting our thoughts roam about idly. With hard-core politicians, one never can draw a conclusion.
But signs that things were beginning to fall apart was unmistakable during the APC controversial governorship primary in Ogun state, Amosun had an anointed successor. Except in Lagos state where Jagaban Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has that exclusive right, in most states, the out-going governors choose their successors. It has not always worked out for them. Their political godsons turn out to become their worst political enemies. Yet it never deters new out-going ones from wanting to choose their own successors.
So, Amosun, using the indirect primary method, since his party approved either the direct or indirect primary, picked Adekunle Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives as his successor. To him, it was a done deal. And why not? Afterall, the President is his best friend and father. So, who would dare? But he forgot that in the animal kingdom, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. To PMB, when it comes to his re-election, there are those that are more relevant to him than Amosun. There are those he cannot afford to offend. Added to that, Buhari’s very loyal, cerebral Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is from Ogun state. Shouldn’t he have a say in who becomes the governor in his state? Did Amosun consult him? Doubtful, a number of people say. Worse, the APC Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, knows where his bread is buttered. He knows who got him into the coveted office he now revels in.
So, while Amosun watched, the rug was pulled from under his feet. While he glowed over Akinlade’s choice, the party leadership had another game plan. They embarked on a Direct Primary, and ignored Amosun’s protests. At the end, Dapo Abiodun, a rich young guy, was picked as the candidate. Amosun threatened fire and brimstone. Nothing. He reported to Buhari, relocated to Abuja, almost. Nothing. Buhari played safe and made no commitment. Amosun pointed accusing fingers at Lagos, specifically, at Asiwaju Tinubu. Big mistake. If Tinubu could pick candidates, why not him, he thundered. Another big mistake. How could he? How did he ever think that anybody would annoy Tinubu in order to please him, Amosun? At a point, some Ogun state women, including Deputy Governor Yetunde Onanuga, threatened to go to Abuja and protest half-naked. That would have been quite a spectacle to behold. They chickened out. In the end, when he knew he had lost, he fell back on his Plan B – a political party which he quickly floated – Allied Peoples Movement, APM. He pushed Akinlade and several others, including his aides to APM. And, Akinlade became the Governorship candidate. Meanwhile, Amosun is clutching the APC Senatorial ticket under his arm. A case of serving two masters. While he funds the APM – a brazen anti-party activity – he remains in the APC. A man of courage or, so I thought, his courage failed him. He does not have enough guts to leave the APC. But, that is because he knows he is also dealing with jellies, and a PMB who wants to eat his cake, and still have it. The APC leadership just barks. It does not have the courage to discipline him. To the extent that the day he took Akinlade before the President, both men were given a red carpet reception. PMB even took a photograph with them, all grinning. PMB seems to have become a master of the game.
But things came to a hilt this other day when Mr President went to the Ogun state capital, Abeokuta, to campaign. Before the APC leadership, which included Osinbajo, Oshiomhole and Tinubu, Amosun’s sympathisers stoned, and threw pure water at them. They accompanied that with boos and shouts of Ole. Nobody was spared. Nothing could have been more disrespectful of the President. Watching it, I was nervous. With PMB’s delicate frame, what if a stone had hit him on the forehead? Amosun’s pleadings with the crowd to not embarrass him before his father, Buhari, fell on deaf ears. As Tinubu left the venue in anger, boos and shouts of Ole, Ole, accompanied him. Amosun was to celebrate it, almost, when he described how Tinubu escaped through a back door.
Thinking of it, he had every reason to celebrate. Afterall, the President did not scold him. Instead, he encouraged him by playing safe. He failed to endorse Abiodun, the APC candidate. The impression he gave to the party faithfuls was to vote for him and, for other offices, vote your conscience. That was demoralising. It was selfish. To quite a large number of people, he meant that only his candidacy mattered. That seemed like a betrayal of his party.
Lest we forget, Mr President played the same game in Imo state, the day he went for his campaign. In a bid to eat his cake, and still have it, he did not endorse the candidacy of Senator Hope Uzodinma as governor. Even though he belatedly raised his hands, the harm had been done. He asked his listeners to vote for him as President, but for other offices, vote their conscience.
Here is the game he is playing. In Imo, he wants votes from both the APC and the governor’s party, the AA, where he shooed in his son-in-law as its governorship candidate. In Ogun state, he wants votes from both the APC and the APM. The difference between the Imo and Ogun state scenario is that nobody booed him and his entourage, or threw stones and pure water sachets at them in Imo, unlike Ogun. Instead, they booed Okorocha because he was undiplomatic in his speech. Yet, I admired him for speaking his mind.
And so, because the President, in the two states, spoke from both sides of the mouth, people are confused as to who he really wants. In Imo, Nwosu and his father-in-law, Okorocha, are making a song and dance of it. The President did not endorse Uzodinma, they chorus. In Ogun state, they are not only celebrating PMB’s double talk, but it has emboldened Amosun and his supporters to go for broke.
On Monday, February 18, distributors of the Trader-moni had gone to the Lafenwa food market in Abeokuta for the distribution of the controversial cash. It is, ordinarily, what Amosun and his supporters should support. Afterall, it is their government. But infuriated, Amosun quickly dispatched some people, led by the Chairman of Abeokuta North west LCDA. The order: scatter them. They not only did that, but they also took into their custody, the Iyalode of the market, and another person, to Amosun’s house. Why? According to the Chairman, the Trader-moni distributors were asking the traders for the PVCs. “Why should they ask them for their PVCs,” he queried. Indeed, why? And does that confirm anything? Sure it does.
For long, opposition parties had alleged that Trader-moni is nothing but vote buying. It does seem that Amosun has finally confirmed that. Big mistake.
But finally, a word for Amosun. It is in his own interest that his plans work for him – which are:
1: That Buhari wins Ogun state comfortably.
2: That he, Amosun, wins the Senatorial seat.
3: That Akinlade wins the governorship seat.
Otherwise, I pity him. He will be so chewed raw that the open harassments the opposition members are alleging had been unleashed on them since 2015, will be like a child’s play to what his lot will be – beginning with an expulsion from the APC. For the President’s friend, that will be a shame. But as you know, these guys have no permanent enemies or friends – only their selfish needs.
Perhaps, exasperated by the thought of the usual snatching of ballot boxes, and the effect it could have on the general elections which begins February 23, with the rescheduled Presidential election, a livid PMB issued a death sentence on anybody who would be stupid enough to try that. It would be the person’s last adventure on earth, he thundered. To achieve that, he issued an order to the Military and the Police that such persons should be met with maximum force, an indirect way of asking them to shoot at sight.
The good thing is that the snatching of ballot boxes is not the exclusive of any political party. It is general in character. And, truth be told, even security agents are not innocent of it. So, who will shoot such security agents caught in the unwholesome business? PMB ought to have addressed that too.
Nigerians are nervous. Only his party people are happy. They even clapped for him as he issued those orders during his party’s emergency caucus meeting to discuss the re-scheduled elections.
Even though PMB did not mention any particular group, or party, many are convinced that the order, (a possible extra-judicial killing), is targeted at members of the opposition. There is the fear that PMB’s order could scare voters. They fear that the lives of innocent citizens could be in danger. Given our experiences in the hands of some overzealous security agents, the fears are genuine. In addition to that, nobody wants to be the recipient of a deliberate accidental discharge.
Both the Army and the Police are not about to disobey their Commander-in-Chief. They have said so. And, they are basking in it. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, has already declared would-be trouble makers and ballot box snatchers, enemies of the State. When one is declared an enemy of the state, one is finished However, I would like to remind the soldiers who will be on duty of a once powerful soldier called Sgt Barnabas Jabila, better known as Sgt Rogers. He is the man who murdered Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 presidential election, who also died in military detention.
Even though Sgt Rogers confessed to killing Kudirat, he said he did so on the orders of his superiors. As a soldier, he obeyed only the last order, he pleaded. But since then, his life has never been the same. Years in detention have taken a toll on him. He is allegedly crippled, and now, confined to a wheel chair, full of regrets and, allegedly begging for survival. His superiors, who gave the alleged order are free and, enjoying themselves, with their feet firmly on ground, and their hands in several pies.
For the Police, during my first tenure as Commissioner on the Police Service Commission, PSC, I used to argue with my Chairman then, the irrepressible Parry Osayande, DIG rtd, on why policemen should be disciplined – dismissed, prosecuted, reduced in rank, or severely disciplined – for obeying the orders given to them by their superiors. Osayande would have a good laugh, and then tell me: “Dame, you are correct. But they are not zombies. They are to obey only lawful orders, not unlawful orders. Once they shoot and kill anybody, they are liable”. In fact, to the extent that when a policeman is arresting an alleged criminal, he is not allowed to shoot and kill the person. It is called extra-judicial killing.
I tell these stories now because of the anger which the President’s order has generated in many circles. To those of the Military, the Police, and para-military agencies who will be on election duties, and, unfortunately, carrying their guns, caution and conscience and the laws of the land, I advice, should be your guide. May God bless Nigeria.
Sometimes ago, Rotimi Amaechi, Nyesom Wike and Magnus Abe were like three legs of a tripod in the Dr. Peter Odili political dynasty. But the umbilical cord that once held the three former allies together has since been broken over who will control the state.
The crisis of confidence among the trio has now worsened following revelations by Senator Magnus Abe that Amaechi anger grew after President Muhammadu Buhari dumped him and picked Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his vice president.
In order not to lose out totally, the senator said the ex-governor resolved to impose his successor so that the state will perpetually be under his control.
Abe also alleged the desperation on the part of minister to control the state, is at the center of the bloody crisis that has left many persons dead in the last few years.
Abe made the revelations on the heels of last week’s threat by Amaechi , during the All Progressives Congress, APC presidential rally where the minister stated that the election will be bloody.
“No election will hold in the state but war,” Amaechi vowed at the campaign attended by President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC stalwarts in Port Harcourt.
If Amaechi want war, I will give him war, Senator Abe seems to be saying, as he has now broken the Pandora box on what strained their relationships.
While responding to a recent statement by Amaechi that Senator Abe and Governor Nyesom Wike were responsible for the bloody violence in the state, the senator disclosed that the inordinate ambition of the minister is responsible for the crisis.
Both Governor Wike and Abe served as chief of staff to Amaechi while he was governor of the state.
The three gladiators also served under Governor Odili administration.
But the relationship was strained when the minister decided to install Dakuku Peterside as governor in 2015.
Abe said he decided to break the ice after a long silence on his part. “It has become imperative that I set the records straight on the issue raised by the minister so that Nigerians will know the truth,” the senator said in a statement.
According to him the minister first became angry when he was denied the Vice Presidential ticket by his party, APC in 2015.
A northern state governor has recently, in an interview confirmed that the minister wanted to be President Buhari’s running mate. Amaechi later served as Director General of APC presidential campaign.
Abe has also alleged that the minister sent thugs to invade the premises of the state High Court last year when the court was about to give judgment in a case to decide which of the two factions of APC led by Amaechi and Abe, is authentic.
He said the judiciary was angry with Amaechi from desecrating the temple of justice with his thugs.
The crisis deepened after APC was barred by the court from fielding candidates for all elective positions in this year’s general election.
You are responsible for APC misfortunes, Abe told Amaechi.
He said “firstly, the minister said the justice of the case today demands that the riverine part of the state should produce the next governor.
Let me again place it on record that it was the same Amaechi who called the entire leadership of the Ogoni nations to several meetings to promise them same governorship for the same reason.”
Abe said the minister later changed his mind when he picked Peterside, now Director General of the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA as APC candidate.
The minister had claimed that Abe became ill on learning that Peterside’s had been picked.
To the contrary, Abe said.
“I did not fall ill. He will recollect that Rivers’ youths almost set the government house on fire , and that I came out to address them and went on air to appeal for calm,” after the selection of Peterside as APC candidate, Abe said.
Amaechi “can also remember that I arranged a meeting of Ogoni leaders who met with him in the aftermath of that decision. No doctor attended to me,” the senator said.
He further explained that the ex-governor was devastated after he learned that he was not picked as Buhari’s running mate.
According to him, Amaechi was placed on drip by his doctors all night in order to stabilize him from the shock.
The minister had last week accused Governor Wike and Abe of working in cahoots to frustrate his party’s effort to field candidates for elective positions in the state.
“Why is wike usingMagnus Abe to avoid elections? It’s not over until it’s over. We are going all on Saturday to vote Buhari. If INEC decides to obey the stay of execution, we are ready to vote on Saturday,” Amaechi vowed.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019, the day many motorists, and generator users expected the new petroleum pump price to take effect, although briefly, nothing happened. From the beginning of Ikorodu Road, Lagos, to Ikorodu town, there is no filling station selling at the new N140 per litre price. Rather, some that had for business purposes earlier reduced their prices to N143 per litre had continued.
Truth be told, Nigerians were not surprised by the directive said to have emanated from the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), directing its members to reduce petroleum pump price by five naira from N145 to N140 from Wednesday, February 20, 2019, to help ease the suffering of Nigerians to their voting centers due to the postponement of the elections by one week. This is because a lot of information have been known to have emanated both from legal/authorised personnel and illegal/ unauthorised people and groups times without number both true or false.
But the group has come out to deny that it gave such directive to its members to reduce the pump price of petrol from N145 to N140 to encourage Nigerians to travel to vote in the rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections.
Speaking on the issue to newsmen on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, the IPMAN National Chairman, Alhaji ABK Aliyu, said the stateme is false, urging the public to disregard it.
Denying that the statement did not emanate from the association, he said that some people used the union’s logo to issue unauthorised statements. According to him, the association does not have the powers to reduce pump price of petroleum products. He advised members of the public to disregard it as it a mere political gimmick by some people who want to cause mischief.
It would be recalled that some people claiming to be IPMAN officials had on Sunday, February 17, 2019, issued a statement directing its members to reduce pump price of petrol from N145 to N140 between February 20 and 25 for the purpose of the forthcoming general elections.
This was announced in a statement said to have been signed by the National President of the association, Chinedu Okoronkwo, and made available to journalists on Sunday
In the statement which was issued through the Chairman, IPMAN, Kano state chapter, Bashir Dan-Malam, Okoronkwo said the marketers were expected to comply with the directive from February 20 to February 25.
He said the decision followed Saturday’s last-minute postponement of presidential and National Assembly elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to him, Nigerians travelled to different places across the country to cast their votes. But to their dismay, the election was shifted to February 23.
“IPMAN was prompted to slash N5 from the N145 per litre official Petroleum pump price in a bid to motivate Nigerians to return to vote again on February 23. We urge all our members across Nigeria to immediately reduce the fuel pump price from N145 per litre to N140 per litre.
“This is because of the political situation that hit the country after INEC suddenly announced the postponement of presidential and National Assembly elections after Nigerians were fully prepared.
“We are all aware how Nigerians travelled to different parts of the country in order to exercise their civic duty; unfortunately, they heard a sad news of postponement of the polls. This made us deem it fit to reduce the pump price in order to ease their suffering, and to also motivate them to travel again to exercise their franchise on Feb. 23.”
He, therefore, urged his members nationwide to immediately comply with the directive to enable Nigerians to travel to exercise their civic responsibility.
If this directive was not from IPMAN, from where did it emanate? On the other hand, is IPMAN really wrong by such directive which is aimed at encouraging a good number of discouraged Nigerians to vote in the 2019 election?
Speaking to the Magazine in a chat, Philip Kaliwo, a political analyst said: “ To me, IPMAN is not wrong in offering to make many discouraged voters that had travelled out of their stations to where they registered to vote because of INEC’s inability to do their transfer on time.
“ What they did is an in-house directive which in no way conflicts with the official fuel pump price, because it is aimed to last for few days. Even it was the work of some politicians who do not want their supporters to be disenfranchised by the postponement, it is still not evil. It is only bad to those that want to discourage voters from voting.”
The Magazine’s findings reveal that political parties are doing a house-to-house campaign to encourage discourage voters by the postponement of the elections to still come out en mass and vote for their preferred candidates.
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS has thrown more effort to generating more revenue into the federation account since he was appointed to that post by President Muhammadu Buhari three years ago.
Not less than N1.2 trillion was collected last year alone, said Joseph Attah, a deputy comptroller of customs and the service spokesman. It was the first time so much will be collected by the over 100 year NCS.
But analysts say blood has been left on the trail of desperation on the part of officers to generate revenue for the federal government.
May be more energy should be geared towards the training of its men to stop the incessant cold blooded murder of Nigerians by trigger happy officers, security experts say.
Sometimes, the battle gets bloodier as victims are also left on the side of customs.
“This is what we faced in our efforts to do our jobs and rid Nigeria of smuggling,” an assistant controller in Lagos told the magazine on Monday. May be.
Last Sunday, February 17, a man was shot dead along the Shagamu interchange of the Lagos/ Ibadan highway by some NCS officers who mounted guard on the road.
Destiny Onebamho, an Assistant Superintendent fired the shot that killed the victim.
Argument had ensued between the officers and some travellers, allegedly in possession of contraband goods.
The refusal to pay bribe by the traders led to the argument and eventual death of the victim, named Godwin Onoja, initially thought to be a traveller, but turned out to be one of the touts working for Customs, eyewitnesses told the magazine.
But Attah in a statement said the victim died as a result of accidental discharge.
He also denied allegation that the officers demanded bribes.
“Contrary to some narratives, the young man was not a passenger of the bus but a good citizen who always come to fetch water for Customs Patrol men anytime they return to the base, Attah said in reaction to the killing, adding that “Preliminary finding indicate that it was during the skirmishes and struggle to disarm the Officer that the riffle discharged and hit the friend of the Customs (Godwin) who lost his life.
Four officers have also been detained in connection with the murder, the magazine has learnt.
“Following the unfortunate incident of Sunday, February 17, 2019, at the Sagamu interchange involving operatives of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, which led to the death of a fellow citizen, Mr Godwin Onoja, the Nigeria Customs Service has continued to maintain close contact with the bereaved family.
In line with this directive, the investigation panel headed by the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, ACG Kaycee Ekekezie, has interrogated and detained four members of the patrol team,” Attah said in another statement.
Last year on January 17, men of the service shot and killed a young man in Abule-Egba, a suburb of Lagos State.
The boy, named Toheeb Olayiwola, had woken up that day unknown to him that he will never return home.
Barely few hours after he boarded a public bus to his place of work, he was hit on his head when customs officers fired shots at the bus he boarded.
Two other passengers in the bus were also received fatal wound from the shot fired by the officers, said to be in pursuits of smugglers carrying imported rice and oil.
Few days ago in Katsina, no fewer than five persons were feared dead after a clash between officers and smugglers.
Several others were believed to have received various degrees of injuries in the incident, which took place between Mil Takwas village and Agangaro, the North-West farms along Jibia-Katsina Road.
The service has denied the killings.
Just recently, traditional rulers in Ogun state sent a clarion call to President Buhari and Ali to save their people from trigger happy officers of the service.
The council led by the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewa land, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, alleged that Customs officers in the state’s border towns were fond of killing innocent citizens under the disguise of pursuing smugglers.
The council also claimed that the customs officers have also engaged in harassing royal fathers, accusing them of riding smuggled vehicles.
“We are sad by the spate of harassment, maiming and killings of our people in Yewa communities and Ogun State by men of Nigerian Customs Service under the disguise of pursuing smugglers or raiding of shops where smugglers items are kept,” the council said after a meeting to checkmate further killing of their subjects by Ali’s men.
The service has also become worried lately by the death of its officers on duty.
Just last month, Hamisu Sani, an officer with the Ogun state command was killed by smugglers during a clash.
Apart from Sani, who until his death was a Customs Assistant I, another officer, Tijjani Michel equally sustained injuries from machete cut. He’s currently recuperating, the service said.
Fidelity Bank Plc, strong and reliable tier two lender has clinched the Bank of the Year award.
The Nnandi Okonkwo led bank has also top other banks as the most innovative in agri-business.
The bank received the awards at this year’s edition of the Leadership Awards 2018 held in Abuja recently.
The bank won the prestigious award in staunch recognition of its unparalleled commitment to growing the nation’s economy by supporting the agricultural industry and consistently enhancing the development and competitiveness of Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), the bank said in a statement.
While receiving the award on behalf of the bank at an elaborate presentation ceremony, witnessed by the crème of both financial and private sectors, Deputy Managing Director, Mohammed Balarabe said the award was in recognition of Fidelity Bank’s as the backbone of agribusiness and MSME in Nigeria.
“We are greatly honored to be recognized as the 2018 Bank of the Year as one of the most supportive banks aiding the growth of the agriculture and MSME sectors, which are critical sectors of the economy,” Balarabe said.
He dedicated the award to the Bank’s over 4.2 million customers, promising that the bank will not rest on its oars particularly in relation to boosting Nigeria’s agricultural value-chain through the provision of innovative funding schemes and technical advisory services to MSMEs and Commercial agribusiness projects.
“Agriculture is the highest employer of labour in Nigeria today. We feel proud to be recognised for this feat”, he further stated.
He noted that Nigeria has one of the largest economy in Africa with great potential for agricultural and manufacturing activities, adding that the bank’s will continue to explore fresh opportunities to create wealth for the economy.
He said “We remain at the vanguard of agric and MSME financing. We will continue to support the efforts of the Central Bank by making funds available to individual and corporate entities involved in agribusiness projects.”
Imo State PDP governorship flagbearer for the 2019 general elections, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha has assured that, when elected, his government will create over 50,000 direct and indirect jobs through tourism and entertainment.
He made this known, on Monday, February 18 in Owerri at a town hall meeting with the Imo Arts Community, comprising the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Association of Gospel Artists (AGA), Professional DJ’s Association (PRODJA), National Association Nigerian Theatre Practitioners (NANTAP).
“The Arts Community in any society is a critical institution that drives the society and its conscience. I thought it wise to interact with you on the way forward for our state ahead of the general elections for us to find a common ground of partnership in our Rebuild Imo Project. This is a time to be very careful and serious in the history of our state.
“I had commissioned a far reaching research, in various sectors of our state, in the course of articulating my manifesto for the 2015 election, which I have updated for this year’s election. I can tell you that culture, tourism and entertainment have the capacity to create over 50, 000 direct and indirect jobs and that we shall accomplish when by the grace of God, we assume office.
“I will create a well equipped entertainment village in a large expanse of land for your members to maximize their talents and project the state as well as create a platform for foreign partnership and investment towards making arts and entertainment, a fulltime business in Imo State. The effect of our development plan in tourism will be crime reduction and wealth creation.”
He further assured that he is coming with a different ideology, anchored on the fear of God, passion for service, experience and capacity and track record of achievement. He solicited for their support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubabar, insisting that he is the only man that has a clear plan for Nigeria’s growth and the interest of the Igbo in general.
Earlier in his remarks, the Imo State Chairman of PDP, Barr. Charles Ezekwem thanked the artists for honouring the invitation and assured them that Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha will not let the state down. “We have the most prepared candidate for the governorship of Imo State. I can assure you that he will not fail you. You can also be sure that he will do all that he has promised here”.
Speaking, the Imo State Secretary of PDP Nze Ray Emeana, himself a member of the arts community, expressed appreciation to the group for finding time to interact with them on the way forward for our state. He reiterated the readiness of the party to see to the improvement of the lives of Imolites in all ramifications. He urged them to continue to support Ihedioha and other candidates of the party at all levels ahead of the elections.
The group thanked him for finding the time to interact with them, promised him support, and wished him goodluck in his desires.
Only 11 out of the 22 governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, attended the February 19 caucus meeting of the party held to discuss the botched February 16 Presidential and National Assembly election. Even though they were not the only ones, but absence of governors, Ibukunle Amosu of Ogun State, and Rochas Okorocha of Imo state raised eye brows. The two governors were, because of the way they flaunted it, considered to be very close to President Muhammadu Buhari, who, himself, was present at the meeting. Amosun has always been a core Buhari loyalist. And Okorocha leveraged on his position as the Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum to get close to the President. So, why did the two not attend the meeting, considered the most important since the Presidential campaign began?
Ibikunle Amosun
In the case Amosun, who is currently eying a senatorial seat under his party, the APC, there is a faceoff between the APC national leadership, headed by Adams Oshiomhole, and the state leadership – a fallout from the state primaries. Things came to a head when having been denied his wish, inspite of his closeness to Buhari, Amosun quickly formed a new party where his endorsed governorship candidate, moved to: Allied Peoples Movement.
Adekunle Akinlade, his preferred governorship candidate, decamped from the APC to the APM with 26 House of Assembly aggrieved members and other stakeholders. Amosun himself stayed back in APC where he vowed to “work for Buhari’s reelection”. He later took Akinlade to meet with President Buhari, to assure him of continued loyalty.
During the last APC Presidential campaign rally in Ogun state, aggrieved party members pelted the President, Oshiomhole and Tinubu with stones and sachets of pure water. Embarrassed, the governor was on tape pleading with them state not to disgrace him “because our father is here”. But that rally ended up a disaster. In addition to pelting them with stones and sachets of pure water, they booed them. The president, in his speech, said that the people should vote any candidate of their choice, as long as they vote APC at the Presidential level.
That rally was like the last straw. After the rally, Amosun was said to have gone to Aso rock to see the President, but was allegedly prevented from seeing him. It is likely, therefore, that he kept away from the meeting in order to prevent a faceoff with Oshiomhole, Tinubu and a number of others who had since called for a disciplinary action against him.
Rochas Okorocha
For Okorocha, his story is not much different from Amosun’s. His preferred governorship candidate lost out in the Primary. So, he is now fighting a battle of relevance in the party he played a big role in placing on the map of the south east. He has been rendered irrelevant in the state APC. But, he is still doggedly believing that he will ride on the back of the party to the red chambers. And he has been fighting a difficult battle to enthrone his son in law, Uche Nwosu, as the next governor.
His argument appears to be that if the President is steeped in cronyism, why should his own be different? That much was reported to have been revealed when he faced off with Nasiru el- Rufai during an APC caucus meeting, where he was said to have pointedly asked the party to endorse Nwosu. El -Rufai had allegedly asked him whether he was afraid that he would be probed if another person took up the governorship seat. Okorocha was said to have exploded in anger asking why his should be different.
Since then, his relationship with the inner caucus of the APC has degenerated. Worse still, the entrance of Senator Hope Uzodinma in the race, backed by the central committee of the ruling party, did not go down well with him. The same scenario, like that of Oogun state, had presented itself in Imo state, where Buhari took a non-committal position on the campaign ground at Owerri.
It is no longer news that the governor and the Party chairman do not see eye to eye.
Conclusion
It is now clear that the APC primaries created more problems for the party than it solved. Amosun, who is being accused of trying to create a parallel godfather in the South west, different from Jagaban Tinubu, may be seeking for a secret alliance with the opposition PDP in order to actualize his ambition. If rumors of last minute shift of alliance are to be believed, both Amosun and Okorocha may be headed for a difficult time. The postponement of the election may have been a blessing in disguise.
