SEPT 28- SEPT 30 NEWS

September 28

Aisha Buhari Away From Nigeria For 2 Months In Protest -

Daily Trust
*Not at events with president
*Moves to London after hajj in Saudi Arabia

First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has been out of the country for about two months now, raising concerns at the
Presidential Villa, Daily Trust findings have shown.

Multiple sources at the presidential villa said the president’s wife left the country in protest against
“certain developments” at the presidency.

It was reliably gathered that the first lady, who left the country early August to Saudi Arabia to perform
hajj (Muslim pilgrimage), has not returned to the country.

Muslims who participated in the hajj exercise have since returned home, but credible sources at the
Villa said the president’s wife has since left Saudi Arabia for London.

“Mama (first lady) is in London. It was from Saudi Arabia that she went to London,” one source said.

Asked when she is likely to return, the source said, “I don’t know. All I know is that she is in London”
Her absence became obvious after she did not appear alongside her husband at some recent official
functions.

Our correspondent reports that she was conspicuously absent during the Eid-El-Kabir celebration in
Daura, Katsina State. The president hosted many dignitaries including Guinean president, Alpha
Conde, during the Sallah celebrations.

In early July, the first lady supported her husband to host the Ambassador Extraordinary for Nigeria-
Niger Cooperation, together with his wife, Fatima at the State House.

Our correspondent observed that recently, at public events, Dr. Hajo Sani, the Senior Special Assistant
to the president on administration, has been representing the president’s wife.

For instance, on September 25, she was represented at an event of the Organization of African First
Ladies for Development (OAFLAD), on the sidelines of the 74th United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA), New York by Dr. Hajo.

According to a statement from the Director of Information to Aisha Buhari, the event was attended by
first ladies of Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Uganda and Niger Republic.

President Buhari was one of the world leaders that attended the 74th UNGA.
However, checks on her Twitter handle @aishabuhari showed that she has remained active on the
social media platform, as only six days ago she retweeted a post on the war against corruption.

Efforts to get the reaction of her media aide, Suleiman Haruna, yielded no result. A text message that
reads: “In months, her excellency has been out of public glare, locally and abroad. She’s being
represented by aides. Where is she?” was sent to him twice. It was first sent on Tuesday and yesterday.

The same text message was sent to a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, yesterday. He replied
that her spokesperson should be contacted.

Daily Trust Saturday reports that in June this year, she announced the change of the title of her office
from Wife of the President to First Lady. Throughout her husband’s first tenure, her title was Wife of
the President.

Earlier, Aisha had raised the alarm over the deteriorating security situation in the country. During a visit
to the home state of the president, Aisha, who hails from Adamawa State, said it would be unfortunate
for people who voted wholeheartedly for her husband to be allowed to be killed unnecessarily by
bandits.

She said people must speak out as the killings were worrisome and that if not tackled they could end up
consuming everyone.

“When the Katsina SSG spoke out, I sent it to all security outfits in the country. I told them it’s either
they go and help out or allow us all to be killed. It is a must for people to come out and speak. Anything
that is not right, people should say it, no matter what,” she said.

Four days to the swearing in of her husband for a second, the first lady faulted the implementation of
the federal government’s Social Investment Programmes (SIP).

At an interactive program for women at the State House, Abuja, she said the program which had gulped
N470.8bn, had failed in the North.

The SIPs are the N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and
Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes (GEEP).

Annually, the federal government budgets N500bn for social investment. However, in 2016, only
N79.98bn was released, 2017 N140bn and in 2018, N250.4bn was released.

Previously, she had attacked her husband’s administration. She drew worldwide attention when she
criticised him in an October 2016 interview with the BBC, saying she feared his administration was
veering off from its mandate to the people.

She also expressed doubt that she would support him if he sought re-election unless he implemented
immediate changes in personnel and policies.

But on the eve of this year’s general elections, she constituted a campaign team for Buhari despite her
threats. The team, with about 700 members drawn from across the country, was inaugurated by
President Buhari and played a key role in his re-election.
UNGA: Aisha Buhari Missing As First Ladies Protest Against
Rape, Child Marriage
Aisha, the wife of Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, was conspicuously absent as Africa’s First
Ladies, led by Sierra Leone’s Fatima Maada Bio, brought their campaign to ban early child marriage
and sexual violence against women and girls before the UN General Assembly.

The First Ladies, including Jeanette Kagame (Rwanda), Clar Weah (Liberia), Antoinette Sassou
Nguesso (Democratic Republic of Congo) and Auxilla Mnangagwa (Zimbabwe), continued their
passionate appeal for the world to support their “Hands Off Our Girls! Campaign.

Nigeria is one of the countries with an alarming rate of challenges women and the girl child face.

Mrs. Aisha has not attended public functions in recent weeks but she’s usually represented by her
Senior Special Assistant on Administration, Dr Hajo Sani.
Why the president’s wife did not attend the UNGA event said “she was represented”.

According to Girls Not Brides, a global partnership of more than 1300 civil society organisations
working towards ending child marriage and enabling girls to fulfill their potential, 44% of girls in
Nigeria are married before their 18th birthday and 18% are married before the age of 15.

It quoted a UNICEF report that “Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of child brides in the
world – 3,538,000 – and the 11th highest prevalence rate of child marriage globally.

“Child marriage is most common in the North West and North East of Nigeria, where 68% and 57% of
women aged 20-49 were married before their 18th birthday. Child marriage is particularly common
among Nigeria’s poorest, rural households and the Hausa ethnic group.

“A 2017 World Bank study estimates that child marriage costs Nigeria USD7.6 billion in lost earnings
and productivity every year.

“Child marriage is driven by gender inequality and the belief that girls are somehow inferior to boys. In
Nigeria, child marriage is also driven by level of education.

“73% of Nigerian women with no formal education were married before 18, compared to only 9% who
had completed higher education. Further education is almost impossible for some girls, who have little
choice but to depend on their husbands for the rest of their lives.”

At the sidelines of the UNGA, Bio flanked by her husband President Julius Bio, spoke to “lift the lid of
silence” taboo and stigma surrounding rape and early marriage in Sierra Leone and other parts of the
continent.
Aided by an older sister, she took a flight out of her native Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom –
without her father’s knowledge or permission. “I come from a family where girls are married at 12
years,” she recalled.

President Bio, responding to a question on how deeply set cultural mindsets could be changed, said it
would take patience and persistence. “We have to leave some aspects of culture behind. We have to
establish institutions and cascade our campaigns down across the entire country.”
Speaking, Clar Weah stressed that it was time to collectively say no to abuse. “We renew our
commitment to create a safe world for our girls in Africa. We entreat all presidents and heads of states
to join us,” she appealed.

Ermine Erdogan, First Lady of Turkey, who made a special appearance to support the event, said the
key to the empowerment of women was education.

“There is no excuse for early marriage. The place for a school-going child is school,” she declared.

In his remarks, African Development Bank (ADB) President, Akinwumi Adesina, spoke out against all
forms of early marriage and said the economic empowerment of women is a critical tool to end the
vicious cycle of marginalization and gender imbalance.

“That’s why the Bank is raising $3 billion to support women,” Adesina said, referring to the Bank’s
Affirmative Finance Action for Women In Africa (AFAWA) initiative.

“Early marriage is not only a human rights abuse it is an economic issue,” Rachel Yates, Executive
Director of Girls Not Brides, said.

Other voices in support of the First Ladies included Djereje Wordofa, UNFA Deputy Executive
Director, who said protection of girls and women and preventing abuse must become a national
priority.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation, disclosed that it
was a subject he dreaded but had to talk about. “Child marriage reinforces poverty. It is totally
unacceptable. We must speak out against political, religious and social practices,” he said.

36 Dead Cows: Leave Yorubaland Now, Gani Adams Tells

Herders
…or there’ll be more trouble

° Urges monarchs to fulfill traditional obligations

By Isioma Madike and Tosin Makanjuola

“They should move out of the South-West immediately because they don’t have anywhere
to stay in the zone. The South-West will not be convenient for them”. Those were the words
of the Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, while speaking on the recent
tragedy, in which 36 cows were killed in Ijare community, Ifedore Local Government Area
of Ondo State.

He added: “We thank God that the Inspector General of Police and the federal government
have taken the security of south west more seriously because they understand the economic
and political implication of it. So, I think from the IGP response they are not living any
stone untouched so the collaboration will start practically maybe next week or in two
weeks.
“I spoke with the CP and they said they would not leave any stone untouched because they
are more serious about the matter.

They have bought vehicles and machine to start their own arrangement too, so by the time
we harmonize the two, definitely the criminals will not have a place to live, and we are
serving them notice to leave south west even Nigeria because I know that what we are
doing in South West will be a good example for other regions to follow.”

Warning that the sad oc- currence is just a tip of the iceberg and a caution to herdsmen and
other livestock shepherds, who are in the habit of straying into farmlands in the South West,
the generalissimo of the Yoruba nation said there are bound to be more of such
consequences if ‘foreigners’ do not desist from desecrating sacred land. Explaining that the
mysterious death of the cows shows that the deities in Yorubaland are still alive to their
responsibilities, Iba Adams said it is quite unfortunate that many people had forgotten their
tradition.

“Because we have abandoned out traditions, that is one of the reasons we are having the
problems we are facing in Yorubaland. During the Oyo Empire, we normally use our deities
to conquer wars but it is quite unfortunate that our people did not know the difference
between tradition, culture and religion”, he said. Insisting that the recent calamity that
befell a cattlerearing group in the agrarian community was as a result of the desecration of a
sacred place, Aare Adams argued that thunder and lightning are part of the secret powers of
the Yoruba race, and that their efficacies are still very potent.

He also warned communities that refuse to practice their traditional faith and fail to worship
their deities that they may not have the same instant reaction as that of Ijare because the
divinities in such areas may be slow in reacting to desecrations, owing to their neglect by
the people. However, he agreed that such powers are not limited to the Yoruba race, noting
that there are many of such places, with such mysterious powers all over the world, giving
examples of Brazil, Mexico, and countries in the Caribbean, Africa and elsewhere.

“What happen there was as a result of the sacred place, which must not be touched, unless
by the kings of that community and some members of spiritual groups in the community.
When the cows passed, the thunder struck and killed the cows.

So, it is part of the secret powers in Yorubaland. “But for communities that do not grease its
own, they may not react at the right time. We have many sacred places in Yorubaland that
our community leaders and the rulers have abandoned.

In the whole world, God give every human being and each community, the power to react
at the right time. “It is not peculiar to Yoruba race only and you have seen different things
that happened all over the world. Even the hurricane, they investigated it and said that some
were caused spiritually by human beings. A lot has happened in Yorubaland, when you
want to write what has happened, Yoruba is enriched and it has been in existence for the
past 8500 years.
 He further advised Yoruba monarchs and the masses to pursue their tradition beliefs
irrespective of the religion they practice so as to forestall problems in the near future, even
as he noted that tradition could be used in fighting crime and reduce ills of the society.

“I will just advise our royal fathers and the people that no matter how we practice
Christianity and Islam, we should not overlook our tradition. What binds Yorubas together
is our tradition; the only respected sector of the Yoruba now is the tradition. If Yoruba stop
our tradition, definitely there would be problem. “We will have more recog-nition and more
prosperity if we uphold our tradition and cherish it.

We can use tradition to fight crime, if you consult what you have in your community and
pray against crime, I can tell you authoritatively that if it is not totally eradicated, it will
reduce. “As it is said, Heaven helps those who help themselves. If the deities and their
intermediaries are in a Yoruba palace, they will intercede between man and God.

In Christianity, they pray through Jesus Christ to God but in Yoruba tradition, they believe
that you pray through the deities to God.

“Since 8500 years ago, they have existed, before the coming of Christianity in 1864 to
Yorubaland, so, Yoruba believe that if they have a security threat, they will go through all
the deities in the community and report the incident to them. Once the necessary rites are
performed, I can assure you that, if not 100 per cent, at least 86 per cent of the situation
would be under control”, he noted.

Buhari Sacks Siaka Isiah Idoko-Akoh, Chairman Of Investment,

Securities Tribunal
President Muhammadu Buhari has sacked the Chairman, Investment and Securities Tribunal, Mr. Siaka
Isiah Idoko-Akoh, Igberetv reports.

This was made known to him through a memo from the Permanent Secretary Federal
Ministry of Finance, Dr. Mahmoud Isa-Dutse.

The memo reads:

“I write to convey the approval of Mr. President for your removal from office as the Chairman of the
Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST) with immediate effect. Accordingly, you are required to hand
over the office of the Chairman including all property(ies) of the IST in your custody to Mr. J. I.
Udunni, a full-time member of the Tribunal, who by this same letter from the State House has been
appointed as Acting Chairman of the IST".

Igberetv gathered from a report that It became obvious that the IST was being mismanaged by the
current chairman which necessitated his removal. The chairman's corrupt activities had already been
reported by his ministry. The EFCC and ICPC are currently making investigating about that.
Oluremi Tinubu: Lazy Lagos Youths Are Always In My House
For Free Money
Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District and wife of a former
Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said youths of today are lazy and not ready to work.

According to her, most of the youths in Lagos would come to her husband’s house, claiming “they want
to enjoy Asiwaju’s money.”

She, however, expressed displeasure that “most of these youths don’t want to work”, adding that “the
moment you give them work to do, they fall sick.”

Sen. Tinubu added that youths of nowadays are interested in making quick money, “but they don’t want
to work before making the money.”

She added that, “our youths are very rude because they want to be like all those people abroad.”

Speaking on a Lagos Television programme on Saturday morning, Tinubu said her New Era
Foundation Patience Home had concluded plans to empower youths in her senatorial district.

Tinubu disclosed that 10 youths each from all the local governments under Lagos CentraI would
benefit from the empowerment initiative.

The Lagos Senator enjoined youths in her senatorial district to contact their local government chairmen
and avail themselves of the opportunities provided by the foundation.

Supo Ayokunle: Osinbajo Is Innocent Of N90b Allegations –

CAN President
Rev Supo Ayokunle, the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has declared
support for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo over a N90 billion allegation against him.

The CAN president made this declaration while speaking during a visit to the Vice President in Abuja
on Friday.

Ayokunle, who spoke with reporters at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, where he met with top
members of CAN declared Osinbajo innocent.

He said that he would mobilise Christians against any act to destroy the works of the Vice President.

Former Bauchi Gov, Isa Yuguda Goes Bankrupt: Debtors

Impound Landed Properties
Information available to 247ureports.com obtained from competent sources knowledgeable of the
goings on inside the Isa Yuguda circle of operation indicates all is not settled with the one-time
Governor of Bauchi State. Former Governor Isa Yuguda is reported to have gone bankrupt and in dire
need of liquidity. His financial condition has resulted to his frantic sell of properties in Bauchi and
Abuja.

Isa Yuguda’s priced home in the highbrow area of Abuja [Asokoro] reportedly worth over N3billion
which the former governor purchased while he was the Governor of Bauchi State was recently taken
over by one of the many people he owned money. According to our source, Mohammed Umar Gololo
[Air Commodore] recently commandeered ownership of the said home belonging to Isa Yuguda.

Edo State Governor Obaseki Disgraced In New York

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yC6LF86_31Y

FG To Drag Judge Before NJC For Granting Sowore Bail

Activist remains in DSS custody

by Augustine Ehikioya, Abuja

There were indications last night that the federal government was contemplating reporting
Justice Taiwo Taiwo, to the National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of his decision to
grant bail to the convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore.

Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja admitted Sowore to bail on Tuesday and
dismissed the objection raised by the Department of State Security (DSS) to the bail.

The Nation gathered last night that a shocked Nigerian security and intelligence community
met on the matter yesterday and resolved to appeal the judgement.

It also decided to petition the NJC on the issue.

A top government source, who spoke to The Nation, on the condition of anonymity, said
that anyone standing trial for treasonable felony is not entitled to bail.

He said :”Sowore’s bail is likely to bring trouble for that judge. A report has been prepared
to report him to NJC in view of the fact that, as far as this country, it is known that a person
charged treasonable felony has no bail option.

“So, the security and intelligence community in the country is shocked by the judgement.

“And there is a consensus that the judgement should not only be appealed, but that the NJC
should be petitioned about the conduct and abuse of power by the judge.”

Sowore was arrested and kept in the custody of the DSS since 3rd of August, 2019, for
allegedly calling for “revolution” through the group’s protest fixed for 5th of September
2019.

Sowore on Thursday, commenced a contempt suit against the Director-General of the

DSS,Yusuf Bichi, for allegedly disobeying the order granting him bail.
 On Wednesday his lawyers submitted his passport to a Deputy Chief Registrar of the court.
Meanwhile Sowore remained in the custody of the Department of Security Service (SSS)
last night, 72 hours after a Federal High Court granted him bail.

His lawyers claimed yesterday that the DSS refused to comply with the court order even
after his bail conditions had been met.

It was gathered that a court bailiff bearing the documents confirming that the bail
conditions had been met was not allowed into the DSS premises Abuja yesterday morning.

He was asked to come back at 12 noon which he did.

This time,the document was collected from him and Sowore’s lawyers at the gate,yet he
was not released.

Sowore is facing trial for treaons -related charges.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo ordered the release the convener of #RevolutionNow protest on
Tuesday on the condition that his lawyer , Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), will produce him for
arraignment whenever he is required.

Sowore Still In DSS Custody, Agency Set to Arraign Him Again

Next Week
• Adegboruwa, Schiffrin, Others Decry His Continued Detention

The Department of State Service (DSS) is still holding activist and Convener of the botched
RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore, in its custody four days after the Federal High
Court in Abuja ordered his release.

The Guardian learnt yesterday from sources within the secret Police that the agency was not
in a hurry to release the activist, saying: “We are aware of the court order, but we are still
keeping him to be arraigned next week on charges that Nigerians will know of when he gets
to court.”

Meanwhile, investigative journalists around the world yesterday joined the call for
Sowore’s immediate release, just as the human rights lawyer, Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa
(SAN) has declared his continued detention by the DSS illegal.

In her speech delivered at the on-going Global Investigative Journalism Conference in

Hamburg, Germany, the Director, Media, Technology and Advocacy Specialisation,
Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Anya Schiffrin, lamented
Sowore’s continued detention by the DSS even after reportedly meeting his bail conditions.

Schiffrin said: “Mr. Sowore is a world-renowned journalist. He has pioneered new and
important avenues in the field of investigative journalism.
“In addition, he is the founder of the well-known online investigative news outlet, Sahara
Reporters, that focuses on corruption and political misconduct.

“Many colleagues in the worlds of journalism and academia hold Mr. Sowore in great
esteem for his life-long effort in speaking truth to power.“After Sowore had spent more
than six weeks in jail, on September 24, a Federal High Court Judge, Justice Taiwo Taiwo,
granted Sowore bail and asked Sowore to surrender his passport pending his trial.”

Justice Taiwo of the Federal High Court had last Tuesday ordered the release of Sowore,
who has been in the DSS custody since August 2, this year, when he was arrested in Lagos
by the Service.

While ordering his release, Justice Taiwo noted that the detention order he issued to the
DSS on August 8 expired last Saturday, September 21.The Judge had observed that he took
cognizance of the fact that the DSS initially filed an ex-parte motion for extension of the
detention order for another 20 days, but later withdrew the application through its lawyer,
Godwin Abadua, and it was accordingly struck out.He held that the application having been
struck out, there was nothing before the court to warrant Sowore’s continued stay in
detention, noting: “The constitutional right to liberty of the high and the low, as well as the
poor and the rich is guaranteed under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“I am of the view that the Respondent ought to be released forthwith in view of the fact that
there is no extant order of this court for his continued detention.”

But the DSS appears to have ignored the court order, as frantic attempts by Sowore’s
lawyers to secure his freedom had hit a brick wall. A member of his legal team disclosed
that the agency blatantly refused to release him, feigning ignorance of the
order.Spokesperson of the DSS had claimed that the agency had yet to receive a copy of the
court order, contrary to insistence of Sowore’s lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), that it was duly
received on September 24, the same day it was made, by one Ayuba Adam of the Legal
Department of the DSS.

The agency made the denial few hours after Sowore’s lawyer commenced a process to
commit its DSS Director General, Yusuf Bichi, to prison for flouting a subsisting court
order after the detained activist had met all the conditions for his release. Falana decried the
refusal by the DSS to comply with the court order even after it was duly served with an
affidavit of compliance and consequently filed a Form-48, which is ‘Notice of
Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order,’ for Bichi to adduce reasons why he should
not be jailed for disobeying the court order.

Despite its denial of receiving the court order, the DSS, yesterday, blocked an attempt by a
Bailiff of the court to re-serve it with the order. The Bailiff, who arrived at the DSS
headquarters in Abuja about 9:30a.m yesterday, was asked to return by 12noon when Bichi
would be around.

However, upon his return at 12.40p.m, the Bailiff was denied access into the DSS
premises.Adegboruwa, in an interview with The Guardian said if Sowore has met his bail
conditions as claimed by his lawyers, his continued detention was in flagrant violation of
 the express order of the court. According to him, Nigeria is running a constitutional
democracy, founded upon the concept of the rule of law, which prescribes unconditional
respect for all orders of the court.

Adegboruwa said: “The DSS has not appealed against the order of the Federal High Court
admitting Sowore on bail pending his trial, if any. That imposed on it a compulsory
obligation to comply with the said order, willy-nilly.

“Indeed, it was upon the order of court that the DSS kept Sowore in custody in the first
place and if the same court has now ordered his release, there can be no justification for his
continued detention. When government and its agencies refuse to obey lawful orders of
court, society descends into the Hobbesian state where life becomes brutish and short, and
this encourages citizens to resort to lawlessness.

“Under and by virtue of section 287 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, ‘the decisions of the
Federal High Court shall be enforced in any part of the federation by all authorities and
persons.’“To that extent, there can be no justification whatsoever, for the continued
detention of Sowore by the DSS, especially as it is not contesting the order of court. This is
why the continued detention of Mr Sowore by the DSS is illegal.”

Months After Condemning Ajimobi’s Model Schools,

Makinde To Construct 5 More
The administration of Governor Seyi Makinde has revealed that it would construct five new
Model schools across the three senatorial districts.

Though it said this is in line with the 2018 intervention project in conjunction with Federal
Government-Universal Basic Education Board, OYOINSIGHT.COM recalls that Makinde had
condemned the idea of model schools last year.

This was stated today by the Chairman of Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board
(OyoSUBEB), Dr. Nureni Aderemi Adeniran during a prequalification exercise for the 2018
FGN-UBEC/OYOSUBEB intervention projects held in Ibadan.

Makinde had, while accepting his nomination as governorship candidate of the Peoples
Democratic Party, PDP, candidate on September 30th, 2018, said bemoaned the dismal state of
education in the state.

Condemning Oyo’s 26th position in the 2018 WASSCE Results, Makinde said “It is clear for all
to see that building a few so called model schools when all the schools should, in fact, be model
or asking the international community for meaningless solar systems for secondary schools only
magnifies the obvious failure of the present administration. It is a pointer to the systemic failure
to stem the uncontrolled free fall in the sector in terms of infrastructural decline, inadequate
staffing and learning materials and motivation of both staff and pupils. Our well thought out
alternative plans will be in the public domain very soon.”

Adeniran added that the projects would be awarded to qualified contractors among the 76
applicants who applied for the pre-qualification exercise.

The beneficiary schools, Adeniran further explained, would be Methodist Primary School,
Bodija, in Ibadan North Local Government Area; St. Paul’s Primary school, Yanbule, in Ibadan
North East Local Government Area.

Others are Methodist Primary School, Arowomole, Ogbomosho South; Community Primary
School, Airport, Ona-Ara LGA and Muslim Grammar (Jnr) School, Odinjo, Oluyole Local
Government Area.

Adeniran affirmed that the present administration would ensure equity, fairness and objectivity in
the award of these contracts.
“The anomalies observed in the award of contracts by the last administration through awards of
64 and 72 projects to a single contractor is a thing of the past, as our administration is guided by
fairness, equity, transparency and accountability”, he said.

He commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his bid to enhance education delivery and access to
basic education in the state.

Dr. Adeniran noted that this is made manifest through the Governor’s immediate intervention in
the education sector through budgetary increment of the sector.

He also reiterated Government’s determination to terminate payment of legal and illegal fees in
public schools, adding that the newly introduced extra-mural classes for JSS3 and SS3 students
would improve the academic performances of the students tremendously.
The event was witnessed by the State coordinator, UBEC, Dr. Lydia Gbagi, representatives of
Oyo State’s Due Process office, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Civil societies and
contractors.

BREAKING: Udom's Government To Collapse Akwa

Savings And Loans Ltd
AKWA SAVINGS AND LOANS LTD AT THE THRESHOLD OF TOTAL COLLAPSE AND
GOVERNOR UDOM EMMANUEL'S INDUSTRIALIZATION PROGRAM.

It is a universally acknowledge truth that industrialization is successful where there is a strong

financial institution.

Unfortunately, the reverse is the case in Akwa Ibom State as our Governor Udom Emmanuel is
very busy with his industrialization program when our state government owned bank, Akwa
Savings and Loans Ltd is at the threshold of total collapse.

Akwa Savings and Loans Ltd has a very low capital base and the bank is burdened with high
profile debts from politicians who are very close friends with the governor and other top
government functionaries. These debtors' relationship with the government has made them
untouchable hence incapacitates debts recovery efforts by the bank.
Recently, staffers and retired staff of the bank protested non payment of salaries and pensions of
two years.

As its name implies, Akwa Savings and Loans Ltd is supposed to offer both credit facility and
expert advice to industrialists in Akwa Ibom State.

The question therefore is, how the Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel will address and reconcile the
hard realities in Akwa Savings and Loans Ltd with his industrialization agenda. The governor
worked and served at the apex management level of Zenith Bank and he should know the roles
banks play in the success of industries.

Furthermore, it is the highest level of disservice and insincerity to Akwa Ibom State that her one
and only bank, Akwa Savings and Loans Ltd is not allowed to partake and contribute her quota in
the Akwa Ibom industrialization project due to her travails sanctioned by the government of the
day.

Mr. Bassey Mfon Awah is Publicity Secretary, Akwa Ibom APC Youth Congress.

Ahmad Lawan, Sultan, Others Attend Independence Jumat

Prayer
Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Friday led Nigerian officials to the Jumat prayers to mark the
nation’s 59th independence anniversary at the National Mosque in Abuja.

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Muhammadu Musa-Bello, represented President

Muhammadu Buhari at the prayer ground, Igbere TV reports.

Also in attendance were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Tanko Muhammad; Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad
Abubakar; and Senator Ibrahim Shekarau among others.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to lead another powerful delegation of government
officials to the National Christian Centre on Sunday for the church service of the National
Independence Day prayers.

Expected at that event are some serving ministers, service chiefs and other dignitaries.

Ex-Northern Governor Desperate For Babatunde Fowler’s

Job - The Nation
People who say that politicians without political offices are like fish out of water surely know
what they are talking about if the case of an immediate past governor of one of the northern states
is anything to go by.

Since he lost his bid for a second term in the 2019 general elections, he has been angling for juicy
positions in the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
One of the positions he is eyeing desperately,
SENTRY gathered, is that of the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service
(FIRS) currently occupied by a former Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Internal
Revenue Service, Dr. Babatunde Fowler.

Although many expect that the former governor would take his scanty academic qualifications
into consideration in angling for the juicy office, he is driven by his belief that he could get
anything he wants by pulling the right strings.

He is busy pulling the strings in Abuja at the moment and even telling whoever cares to listen that
he would succeed Fowler. Some of his close pals were said to have drawn his attention to his
limited academic qualifications but he reportedly told them it is a political battle and not an
academic one, hence he would fight it to the last point.

Ironically, the former governor was said to have failed woefully to grow the internally generated
revenue of his state while he held sway as the state’s chief executive.

Timi Frank To Olasupo Ayokunle, CAN President: Stop

Aiding Corruption
A political activist and former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives
Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank yesterday called on the President of the Christian
Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle to stop denigrating Christians in
Nigeria.

Frank in a statement in Abuja also urged Dr. Ayokunle to face his priestly duties instead of using
his sacred office to aid and abet corruption.

He said it was a mortal sin for the CAN head to portray the highly reverred Christian body in the
country as being pro-Corruption through his recent comments.

It could be recalled that Ayokunle, visited Osinbajo in Abuja on Friday and later spoke with
reporters at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, where he met with top members of CAN.

He declared Osinbajo innocent of the N90billion allegation against him without proof and vowed
to mobilise Christians against any act to destroy the works of the Vice President.

Frank said: “As a Christian, I am ashamed of the attitude and character of this present CAN
president in the person of Rev. Samson Olasupo Ayokunle.

“CAN in its original form represents the body of Christ and Ayokunle ought to have known that it
owes the citizenry or at least God, an obligation to win souls, be good ambassadors of the church
and crusade for good governance.

“As a supposed shepherd of the nation’s Christian body, if two of your sheep have a
misunderstanding, I think you ought to have heard from both parties before taking a position.
“I am however not surprised because like pregnancy evil cannot be hidden under tainted cassocks
and collars.

“I have heard from not a few reliable quarters that he often goes cap in hand before politicians in
the name of praying for them.

“It is shameful that the CAN President has turned the body of Christ into a political pressure
group.

“At least, even if it is now a political party, he ought to have allowed its spokesman to speak on
behalf of the organization.

“A President of CAN who could not get to interview the COZA pastor in view of the yet to be
proved rape allegations against him, now deemed it expedient to defend fraud allegations against
the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo,” he said.

He added: “I have not seen the CAN president visit Plateau or Benue States and other cities in
Nigeria where a lot of Christians and innocent Nigerians are being gruesomely murdered by
herders.

“Let the CAN President visit grieving Christian families in affected villages or for once speak out
against oppression and bad governance in the country instead of banding himself together with
queer characters to grant press conferences in support of corruption.

“The CAN president ought to know that it is utterly reprehensible to turn a sacred priestly body
into a partisan vehicle for alms solicitations.

“People like Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Patience Jonathan have been falsely accused in this
country but CAN never interfered in any manner.

“Also, where was Ayokunle when Prof. Yemi Osinbajo accused ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
of sharing N150billion within two weeks prior to the 2015 general elections - an allegation that
was widely reported by the media?

“Could it be that Mr. CAN President, sorry, Chairman of CAN Political Party (CANPP) took part
in the illegal disbursements of taxpayers’ funds at FIRS?

“Let him tell Christian leaders who elected him how much Osinbajo and Fowler gave him to
organize such an ignominious press conference.

“These are men of doubtful character that must be urgently tamed before they inflict further harm
on the reputation of Christians in this country.

“The character of this man is highly suspect but I apologize on behalf of all well-meaning
Christians and their leaders for this attempt by Ayokunle to stain their garments.

“Late Martin Luther King jr. was a religious leader, who used his position to fight for the
oppressed and downtrodden in society.
“Let Ayokunle learn from such noble men how to be a voice for the voiceless in Christendom.

He called on CAN to immediately take steps to bring on board a leadership that truly embodies
the aims and objectives of the body.

“This CAN president is a no show and I urge the governing body of CAN to act swiftly to correct
the evil impression or else the present CAN leadership would henceforth be regarded as the
servants of mammon rather than servants of God.

“Very soon, God would expose him and every other person that is bent on giving CAN and by
extension Nigerian Christians a bad name,” he said.

He called on Osinbajo to steer clear of Mr. Ayokunle and his band as they are only out to benefit
from his predicament.

“As a learned gentleman, I humbly advise Prof. Osinbajo, not to take the intervention from CAN
as an endorsement. Let him be wary of characters who are out to drag him into further trouble,”
he said.

END
Signed

Comrade Timi Frank

Political activist
Abuja

Markets In Asaba To Shut Down To Honor Civil War

Massacre Victims
Markets in Asaba, the Delta State capital, will shut down on October 7 as natives of the town
mark the 52nd year anniversary of a mass killing in 1967 during the Nigerian Civil War.

Over 500 natives of the town were said to have be congregated in one place and murdered in cold
blood by troops of the Nigerian Army in their onslaught against Biafran rebels in eastern Nigeria.

Addressing reporters Saturday on activities in remembrance of the victims, President-General of

Asaba Development Union (ADU) worldwide, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, said over 400 names of
the victims have been engraved at the site of the mass killing at Ogbe-Osewe.

Azinge, who was flanked by members of the memorial organising committee, said both
traditional and political approvals have been secured for the popular Ogbegonogo Market to be
shut during a candle light procession that will commence from Ogbe-Osewe through the market
to the Oshimili Arcade for other rituals.

He called on Asaba indigenes in the diaspora to, as a mark of respect for the victims of the
massacre, observe a minute silence by 12 noon on October 7.
Describing the 1967 action of the Nigerian military as heinous, Prof. Azinge urged the Federal
Government to tender an official apology and pay adequate compensation to families of the
victims of the mass killing.

He said that genuine reparation and compensation from the government will go a long way in
assuaging the feelings of the people of Asaba people, adding however that it will not completely
obliterate the horrible experience from their minds.

“Somewhere along the line, General Yakubu Gowon offered an apology but we demand an
official apology to be made with a contrite heart from the government of the day,” Azinge said.
“The issue of compensation can help us do many things, like having a much more befitting
resting place for our departed ones. But that is not to say that we will stop the rituals of
commemorating that day, October 7.

“The respect we have for our departed ones is way beyond money, the annual rituals will
continue, it is not going to abate. People killed in the first and second World Wars are still being
remembered, let alone the ones who were criminally massacred in 1967. We cannot stop the
rituals irrespective of any reparation or compensation,” he said.

Fashola, Fayemi May Replace Osinbajo As VP - Daily

Independent
Rather than settle, the dust generated by the alleged plot to remove Vice President Yemi Osinbajo
by some powerful forces in the presidency, otherwise known as ‘members of the cabal’,
continues to rise with reports on Tuesday that two possible replacements had already been
pencilled down if the embattled VP throws in the towel.

A credible source in the presidency told Daily Independent that Governor Kayode Fayemi of
Ekiti State, who is the current chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and Babatunde
Fashola, Minister of Works and Housing, are two top contenders for the number two position.

According to him, it has been agreed that the South-West will still retain the position but unlike in
2015 when Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s camp produced Osinbajo, the would-be vice president this
time around would be “someone approved by the Buhari camp”.

He said Fayemi was one of the favourites in the Buhari camp having served as the Chairman of
the Presidential Convention Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which organised
the primary that produced Buhari as the APC flag bearer in 2015.

After President Buhari assumed office in 2015, he appointed Fayemi as Minister of Mines and
Steel Development, a position he held before resigning to contest the 2018 governorship election
in Ekiti, which he won.

Speaking further, our source said: “The president is also very comfortable with Fashola and
would have picked him as his running mate in 2015 but for the outcry against a Muslim-Muslim
ticket which also jeopardised Tinubu’s chances.
“If you remember, that was why the president appointed Fashola as the Minister of Power, Works
and Housing in 2015, making him the most important minister in his cabinet or super-minister as
many called it.

“As it stands, these two are the likely choices as replacement for Osinbajo, but it remains to be
seen how this will materialise as the vice president will also not want to go down without a
fight.”

Also on Tuesday, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee
Against Corruption (PACAC), described Vice President Osinbajo as “an incorruptible man of
God who is as clean as a whistle”.

Speaking in with our correspondent on the corruption allegations levelled against Osinbajo,
Sagay said his committee did not receive any report indicting Osinbajo in any way.

He accused the opposition of being the brain behind the malicious rumour, adding that having
failed at the courts, they were desperately trying to cause disaffection in the presidency.

He said: “Our committee received no report indicting the vice president in any way. Absolutely
nothing! The vice president is an incorruptible man of God, a man of high moral standing who is
as clean as a whistle. He will not appropriate any money that doesn’t belong to him to himself.

“The vice president is not having any issue with President Buhari. All these malicious reports and
fake news are being sponsored by the opposition and enemies of the government, and it should be
disregarded.”

Kogi Guber: Miyetti Allah Endorses Bello For Second Term

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has adopted Gov. Yahaya
Bello as its candidate for the forthcoming Nov. 16 governorship election in the state.

The National Organising Secretary of the group, Alhaji Aliyu Saleh, who made the declaration at
a news conference in Lokoja on Saturday, directed Fulanis in the state to immediately embark on
Ruga-to-Ruga campaign for the re-election of Bello.

Saleh said that the group decided to support the governor for providing a secure environment for
Fulanis to operate in the state.

“We are also supporting the governor for approving free Contagious Bovine Plurol Pheneumonia
(CBPP) vaccination for over 23, 000 cows belonging to our members in the state ,” he said.

The group also commended Bello for putting in place measures which had led to a reduction in
clashes between farmers and herders in the state.

It also stated that the governor had given its members a sense of belonging by appointing one of
them into his cabinet and by making their leaders members of the traditional councils at the state
and local government levels.
The national organising secretary, who was flanked by the state Chairman of MACBAN, Alhaji
Umaru Jaido, also said that they decided to endorse Bello’s candidature because of their love for
President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Abubakar Ohere,
who received the endorsement document on behalf of the governor, thanked the group for
adopting Bello as its candidate.

Ohere described Gov. Bello as a leader with a large heart, saying that his priority had always been
to provide security for all, irrespective of tribe and religion.

He said that Bello decided to include Fulani leaders in the traditional council to reduce communal
clash, especially between farmers and herders.

While thanking the association for the endorsement, the commissioner said the gesture would
propel Bello to do more for the people of the state.

FIRS: Tunde Fowler Dragged To Court, Asked To Vacate

Office, Return Salaries
A Federal High Court sitting in Kano State has ordered the appearance of the Chairman Federal
Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mr Babatunde Fowler before it on October 7, 2019 to show
cause why he should not be sacked for overstaying his tenure which expired on August 18, 2019.

The presiding judge of the High Court, Justice Lewis Allago, after hearing a plaintiff’s counsel,
ordered that the defendant should be served in Abuja and filed their defence within five days.

In court documents obtained on Saturday by PRNigeria with Suit No FHC/KN/CS/141/2019, the

FIRS Boss was dragged to Court over his continued stay in office after the expiration of tenure.

The Plaintiff, Mr. Stanley Okwara, in a suit filed on September 18, 2019 and obtained, also joined
the Attorney General of the Federation as the second defendant.

In the originating summon, the two defendants were given 30 days to explain why Fowler who
was appointed on the 20th August, 2015, has not ceased to hold office as the Chairman of FIRS
after the 20th August, 2019 in accordance with the “decision of the Supreme Court…and having
regard to the combined provisions of Sections 3(2) (a), Section 4(a) and Section 11 (a)” of the
agency.

The Plaintiffs also sought to know whether the continuous stay of Fowler in the office “is not
illegal in view of the decision of the Supreme Court in Ogbuinyinya & Ors. vs. Obi Okudo &
Ors. (1979) All N.L.R. 105 and having regard to the combined provisions of Sections of the FIRS
[Establishment] Act, 2007.

In the same vein, Okwara in the suit filed through Johnmary C. Jideobi & Co, sought other reliefs
including: “A declaration that the 1st Defendant has ceased to hold office as the Chairman of the
Federal Inland Revenue Service after the 20th of August, 2019”; and that his continuous stay in
the office is illegal.

He further sought “an order barring the 1st Defendant from further holding himself out as, laying
claim to or exercising the powers and functions of, the Executive Chairman of Federal Inland
Revenue Service unless he is re-appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“An order directing the 1st Defendant to return forthwith to the Treasury Single Account of the
Federation all the salaries, emoluments and such other kindred monetary benefits he has been
drawing on the purse of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and file an affidavit of compliance
within 14 days after the delivery of judgment in this suit.”

The Plaintiff also asked that Fowler be caused to obey any other decision that the Court may
deem fit to make in the entire circumstances of the case

Buhari explains why he didn’t hand over to

Osinbajo when he travelled in April
The president said he made the decision because there was no constitutional requirement for him
to do so.
He also explained that the only time he considers handing over power to the vice president is when he’s
going on leave or when he wants to be out of the country for more than 21 days. 
President Buhari offered this explanation in a six-paragraph counter-affidavit deposed to on his behalf
by a litigation officer in the Civil Litigation Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Friday
Atu, Punch reports.
President Muhammadu Buhari says the time he considers handing over power to the vice
president is when he’s going on leave or when he wants to be out of the country for more than 21
days. (Presidency)
Earlier, a Lagos-based lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, had sued he President and the Attorney-General of the
Federation over the Buhari's failure to hand over power to Osinbajo in April.
The lawyer asked the court to determine whether Buhari could go on vacation for any length of time
without transmitting a written declaration to the National Assembly to enable the Vice President
function as President in acting capacity.
Responding to this, President Buhari said it is not constitutionally compulsory for him to transmit a
written declaration to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to
empower the Vice President to act as President except when his vacation exceeds 21 days.
The affidavit reads in part: “It is a fact that the 1999 Constitution (as amended) regulates the
performance of the duties of the President of the federal Republic of Nigeria in situations where the
President is proceeding on vacation or is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of office.
“That it is a fact that where the President embarks on a vacation or otherwise is unable to discharge
the functions of his office and fails to transmit a written declaration to that effect, he will be considered
not to have complied with the constitution (as amended).
“That the time within which the President has to transmit a written letter to the President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is 21 days.
“That the President’s foreign trip lasted for nine days from April 25, 2019 to May 5, 2019. The
President did not exceed the 21-day period required by the constitution. It is in the interest of justice to
dismiss the claims of the plaintiff.”
Buhari also asked the court to strike out the suit because the lawyer lacks the locus standi to institute
the case.
According to Punch, the case, which is before Justice A. O. Faji of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi,
Lagos has been fixed for Monday, October 7, 2019 for further hearing.

Apartheid May Return To South Africa If AU, Others Don’t

Address Xenophobia Now
South Africans might experience once again, the pangs of the dreaded Apartheid rule if the South
African government and the African Union (AU) fail to address the issue of Xenophobic attacks
on foreigners, professionals have warned.

They stated that jobs are being taken away from black South Africans by white South Africans
who own multinational corporations but employ cheap labour and non-unionised labour brought
by other Africans.

One of the professionals and Pioneer Chairman of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies,
University of Ibadan, Prof. Isaac Albert, argued that black South Africans are made to think it’s
the black Africans who are taking away these jobs because white South Africans have demonised
black Africans, hence, the attacks.

While speaking at the First Annual Roundtable discussion in honour of Nigeria’s former
ambassador to the Belgium and European Union, Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo at the Lead City
University, Ibadan, Prof. Albert warned that “in the next five years, there might be Apartheid
again in South Africa because the white South Africans are reoccupying the spaces left by black
Africans.”

The event was organised by the African Journal of International Affairs and Development
(AJIAD) in conjunction with the Department of Politics and International Relations, Lead City
University, Ibadan.

Albert who spoke on “Xenophobia or Afrophobia: Causes, Consequences and Corrections,”

warned that a bigger problem looms if the South African government fails to take over their
economy from the whites.

Albert said: “What we are told is that South Africans do not like outsiders and that is why they
are attacking some Nigerians, Zambians, Ethiopians and their properties. That is a simplistic and
monocausal explanation of what is happening in South Africa.

“My first visit to South Africa was after the 1995 election, I could see that mentality to say that
the Vice-Chancellor of this university is white and after the transition, they want a black man to
occupy that position.

“The black men don’t have the qualification and the training but believes that once they’re
blacks, they should automatically replace the whites. And that mentality is what I see every year
in South Africa. The blacks are still waiting for when the whites will vacate the system and the
blacks will take their place.

“MTN, DSTV and Stanbic IBTC belong to the white South Africans and not the blacks. What the
government only gets is tax made from the profits made by these companies, but black political
leaders do not pass this along to the blacks. They get the resources but it does not trickle down to
the people.

“At the University of Witwatersrand, on an annual basis, the blacks are taken out and replaced by
white South Africans because the blacks are not progressing quickly, getting PhD quickly, the
whites are gradually replacing Nigerian, Zambian professors there. In the next five years, you
will have what will look like Apartheid again.

Yellow Fever: Death toll rises to 16 in Bauchi, affected communities reject vaccination
ALSO READ: Xenophobia: Obasanjo applauds South Africa president for apologising to affected
nations

“They call it South Africanisation. To them, they are increasing the participation of South
Africans in the system but the black South Africans are not occupying the space. They are
waiting for when the whites will leave the space and they will occupy it. If the South Africans are
smart, they should put in place structures that will make them take over the economy of South
Africa in the next ten or twenty years.

“Many of the Nigerians who own malls today started from the streets selling groundnuts and
whatever but the problem of the South African man is that he does not want to work hard from
the streets but that won’t happen. The black Africans in South African now have worked to a
stage where they can buy shares in the big enterprises in South Africa but the black South
Africans are still waiting for these opportunities to be given to them.

“I engaged some street boys while Mandela was still alive, and they told us then they were not
getting anything from the transition. They said at that time that they were going to react. I
concluded at the end of my academic analysis that they were going to attack the whites. But now,
they are attacking the foreign blacks in South Africa.

“This is because outsiders have been demonised as the people creating problems for the blacks.
The problem now is Xenophobia is open, while Afrophobia is hidden. What we are witnessing
will negatively affect South Africa. The stock market is already going down. Investors are now
afraid.

“These people have come to invest in your country but you are setting their enterprises on fire.
You are discouraging investments in your country. Shares in South Africa now has fallen and that
is the beginning of the economic crisis in that country.

“AU Agenda 2063 is trying to promote integrated development and borderless Africa. Nigeria
and South Africa are the two leading giants of Africa but South Africa is gradually knocking itself
from that.

“It is difficult to reverse the damages that have been done and African governments are not
addressing the problems. Why is AU silent? This is a problem that is affecting the whole
continent and we are still waiting for Africa Union.”

Vice-Chairman, Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, Prof Tunji Olaopa, on his part,
berated the South African government for not forcing border controls because they wanted low-
income workforce and non-unionised labour.

He further said the failure of the government to create jobs and policies to help the reorientation
of South Africans will lead to high unemployment and lack of entrepreneurial skills of South
Africans.

While also blaming the attacks on lack of South African legislation against xenophobia leading to
impunity by the perpetrators, he urged the government and its people to always uphold the human
rights of foreigners.

Olaopa stated that there is a need for better intelligence gathering to help map out hot spots of
possible attacks and the use of technology-based initiatives to stem these attacks on foreigners.

Prof Akeem Amodu, a former commissioner in Oyo State, restated the need for a framework
where there is mutual intercultural understanding where the African man sees and loves fellow
Africans.

“AU should engender peace, love and unity among Africans. Xenophobia is a result of the failure
of African leadership. The leaders should not only think of present generations but also future
generations within the framework of sustainable Africa.”

Dr Olubunmi Akande of the Durban University of Technology, South Africa noted that there is
high pressure on the economy and also scarce resources in South Africa as a result of high
immigration into South Africa.

She said: “The local population feels deprived of the promises that came with liberation in 1994.
There is anger. And they carry these out on people. But why black people? It is because they are
close to them.”

She, however, said economic revitalisation and infrastructure development in other African
countries and increased commitment of the South Africa government to address economic
challenges will help find a solution to the attacks on foreigners.

Earlier at the event, Prof Ayo Olukotun, who is the Chair in Governance at the Olabisi Onabanjo
University (OOU) charged the Nigerian government to make Nigeria liveable so that Nigerians
won’t seek greener pastures where they eventually will fall victims of attacks.
“As we condemn Xenophobia, there are many Nigerian who have driven into crimes in their new
countries of abode. A lot of Nigerians in South Africa are without something meaningful to do.

“Why are so many people leaving Nigeria? It is because the Nigerian state has failed. We are
being driven away from home by afflictions.

“If there was governance and Nigeria is a nicer place, we won’t have many immigrants moving to
relocate to other African countries and beyond. We need to recreate and recalibrate our own
country.”

Also speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Prof. Kabir Adeyemo who
described Ogunsawo as the most hardworking staff member of the institution, said he is being
celebrated for his educational dexterity, hard work and friendliness to the staff and friends of the
university.

Go Back To South Africa, Obasanjo Advises Returnees

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised Nigerians who were evacuated from South
Africa to be ready to go back to the country if a bilateral commission meeting scheduled between
President Muhammadu Buhari and South African President , Cyril Ramaphosa yielded a positive
outcome .

The former President also enjoined the leadership of South Africa and Nigeria to be ready to
compromise and make the right statements that would encourage evacuated Nigerians to go back
to South Africa.

Obasanjo said this on Saturday , at his residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo President
Library , Abeokuta while speaking with journalists on the outcome of his visit to the South
African President .

Nigeria has recently evacuated hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa following xenophobic
attacks in the country .

Obasanjo said “ I took the opportunity of being in South Africa about three or four days ago to
actually pay a courtesy call on President Cyril Ramaphosa and he quickly granted me the
opportunity . One of the major things we discussed was this issue of xenophobia or ‘afrophobia .’

“ One good thing I discovered among many is what the president said to me that ‘There is so
much at stake and whatever mistake we have made, we have to correct it .’ And I think that was a
very good statement and I know that he meant it because , he immediately said ‘Look , what can
we do or should we do ?’”

While advising the South African government , Obasanjo said, “ The idea of thinking or saying
that foreigners are taking your jobs should be killed because most of these foreigners paid ( sic )
something into the country .

“ I met more than two Nigerians who are doing legitimate businesses and the turnover runs into
millions of dollar and they employed 50 to 60 South Africans .

“ All these must be expressed and must be shown that Nigerians in South Africa are not drug
peddlers and criminals . There are many of them that are genuine businessmen and professionals
and who are making meaningful contributions to the economy and the social life of that country .

“ I think that is all we must be doing and be saying and I said my joy is that President Cyril
Ramaphosa is ready to do what needs to be done to stop these incidents and to put the
relationship between Nigeria and South Africa on the right track. ”

Presidency Condemns Kaduna School Rights Abuses

The presidency has condemned alleged child abuse at Ahmad Bn Hambal Islamiyya School in
Rigasa, Igaba Local Government of Kaduna State where over 300 children were evacuated by the
police. Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and
Publicity, in a statement, said free and compulsory education is the panacea to such menace.

Shehu, who hailed the police for their discovery of what he called the “horrific hub and arrest of
suspected operators of the unedifying so-called reform institution”, said the administration of
President Buhari categorically condemned rights abuses whether of adults or of children. He said
to stop “unwanted cultural practices that amounted to the abuse of children”, religious and
traditional authorities must work with the federal, state and local governments to “expose and
stop all types of abuse that were widely known but ignored for many years by the communities”.
“We are glad that Muslim authorities have dismissed the notion of the embarrassing and
horrifying spectacle as Islamic School. “The place has indeed been described as a house of
torture and a place of human slavery.

“The President holds the view that children will be safeguarded from roaming the streets and
protected from all evil influences that assail idle hands and idle minds, when they are sent to
school. “When he inaugurated the National Economic Council for the year 2019/2023 at the
Presidential Villa, in Abuja, President Buhari warned that keeping children away from school is a
criminal offence.

“He also stressed the need to take seriously and enforce the statutory provisions on free and
compulsory basic education, citing Section 18(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which he
says places on all of us ( public leaders and political office holders ) an obligation to eradicate
illiteracy and provide free and compulsory education. “He added that “Section 2 of the
Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act provides that every government in Nigeria shall
provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior
secondary school age.

“It is indeed a crime, he stressed, for any parent to keep his child out of school for this period.
“While the government at the center has introduced a number of programmess, including the
school feeding programme, which is now in 32 states in the country, with 9.8 million children in
its roll to encourage school enrolment and enhance the health and learning capabilities of pupils,
State and local governments are obliged under the law to ensure that every child of school age
goes to school throughout the crucial nine years of basic education,” the statement also read.
Our edition on Saturday had reported a mild drama in front of the Ahmad Bn Hambal Islamiyya
School in Rigasa, Igaba Local Government of Kaduna State on Friday when parents of the over
300 children evacuated by police called for the release of their children from police custody,
saying they see no reason why the police should take their wards away from the school. The
police had, on Thursday, raided the school, and took with them over 300 children in 15 Danfo
buses to the Kaduna Police Command headquarters.

Kwara State House Of Assembly Member Mark 100days In

Office
Hon. Dn. Olayiwola Ojo representing Oke-Ogun constituency of Oyun local government Kwara
state marked 100 days in office in his home town Ipee.

The Honourable popularly known as OJ marked his 100 days in office by empowering youth of
his constituency and petty traders, including educational support for primary school pupils. He
donated Sowing machines, over 5,000 exercise books for all the primary school pupils and
monetary assistance to petty traders in his constituency which consist Ipee ward, Igosun ward,
Ijagbo ward, Ojoku ward and Ikotun ward all located in Oyun local government of Kwara state.

Among dignitaries that graced the occasion are The Speaker of Kwara House of Assembly, Some
members of Kwara state house of Assembly, the Royal Highness of Ipee Land, Oba Muftau
Lawal, Local government APC party chairman, Hon. Taiye Olaniyi, wards party chairmen and
others.

Over 1,000 Ghost Workers Uncovered In Niger State -

Brainnews
Niger State government has uncovered over 1,000 ghost workers following a verification exercise
conducted by a committee set up by the government, Brainnews report.

According the reports, it was discovered that some of the civil servants in the state collect double
salaries while further investigations showed those whose names appear in the payment vouchers
but are not in the nominal roll of the state government.

The Chairman of the Chairman of the Committee on Civil Servants Salary Management and
Verification, Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Panti revealed this to journalists after the submission
of the Committee’s report to the state government.

“The discrepancies discovered in the course of the committee’s work include duplication of Bank
verification number (BVN), multiple bank accounts number of some staff, duplication of civil
servant control and identification numbers as well as some staff names appearing in payment
vouchers but could not be found in the nominal roll with office of the Head of Service.

“The state’s staff strength of over 27,000 people have so far been reduced to about 26,000 while
some few ghost workers have also been discovered by the committee.”
“The committee will not pay October salary to any of the MDAs that refuse to submit theirs on or
before 2nd October.”

Aisha Buhari’s Long Absence Not Due To Infighting In Aso

Villa – Presidency
° ‘President’ s wife has absolute freedom to go anywhere ’

° PMB’ s wife absent from official events , spends second month abroad

JOHN AMEH

The Presidency on Saturday said President Muhammadu Buhari’s wife , Aisha ’ s absence
in the country for about two months was not due to any infighting in Aso Villa .

The Presidency ’ s reaction comes amid the speculations that Aisha is unable to pull her
weight round the Villa lately and uncomfortable with how government affairs were being
run by some powerful people in her husband ’ s cabinet .

The Director of Information to the First Lady , Mr Suleiman Haruna , debunked the
speculations and said the President ’s wife had the freedom to travel to wherever she
wanted , as a free citizen .
Aisha has not been in the country for nearly two months since the completion of the Hajj .
She reportedly jetted out of Saudi Arabia , where she went in company with her husband ,
to London at the completion of the religious pilgrimage in August.

She has not returned to the country since then, fuelling concerns that she deliberately left
the Aso Villa in protest against certain issues at the seat of power.

The First Lady ’s prolonged absence at Aso Villa became pronounced as she did not attend
public functions that she ordinarily would have attended .

She was said to have been absent during the mid - August Eid -el -Kabir celebration in
Daura , Katsina State , even though his husband was around to welcome world leaders such
as the President of Guinea , Alpha Conde.

It was reported that the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Administration , Dr
Hajo Sani, had been representing Aisha on a number of occasions recently , including an
event of the Organisation of African First Ladies for Development, which held on
September 25 , 2019 , on the sidelines of the 74 th United Nations General Assembly in
New York , United States .

The event was said to have been attended by the first ladies of Zimbabwe , Sierra Leone ,
Uganda and Niger Republic .
Although Mrs Buhari’s office confirmed to Sunday PUNCH that she was indeed away from
the country , it said it had nothing to do with issues she had with anyone at the seat of
power in Abuja.

The office said as a free Nigerian who was not a government official , Mrs Buhari could
travel for private engagements both within and outside the country , adding that the reasons
for such trips must not be tied to “ needless speculation or rumours . ”

Speaking to Sunday PUNCH after the case of Aisha ’ s absence from the country was raised
, her spokesperson , Haruna, insisted the President ’s wife had the freedom to be wherever
she wanted to be .

He said, “ It ’s a free world and people have been speculating about everything in this
country and it is allowed .

“ She is a free Nigerian and does not work for the government . So, if she decides to stay
somewhere in her village for two months or to go somewhere and stay for two months ,
why should it become a national issue ?

“ She is a free Nigerian and has absolute freedom to move round for however long she
wants .”

Asked to comment on the speculation that Aisha was no longer comfortable with how the
affairs of government were run and her alleged frequent brushes with some top
administration officials , including the Chief of Staff to the President , Mr Abba Kyari , the
director dismissed them as rumours .

“ I am in shock when I hear all these things . I don’ t believe in all these rumours about the
President ’s wife because they are not true .
“ That is why , most times , the office does not bother to react to these speculations , ”
Haruna added.

Aisha had publicly raised issues with her husband ’s administration , including the one
where she stated that persons who did not contribute to her husband ’ s election victory
were calling the shots at the Presidency .

She had also canvassed more roles for women in government , specifically asking the
leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress to ensure that more women and card-
carrying members of the party were given prominent positions in the government after
Buhari won a re - election in February .

In March 2019 , she hosted a programme in Buhari’ s Daura hometown to thank women for
supporting her husband . She promised them that the President would recognise them more
this time round and also make Nigeria a better place .

The President ’s wife had also criticised some of the administration ’s policies , including
the N 500 bn Social Investment Programme, which she said had failed “ woefully” in the
North in particular .
 Aisha , who hails from Adamawa State , had noted in May this year that the situation in her
home state , as far as the implementation was concerned , was pathetic .

She also cited Kano , a highly -populated northern state, as another example where she
believed the programme failed, despite the huge funds the Federal Government budgeted
for it .

Speaking during an interactive programme she organised for women at the Presidential
Villa , she disclosed that after four years of implementing the programme, the 30 ,000
women who were supposed to benefit from it in Adamawa State had yet to do so.

However, in a reaction to Aisha ’s comments , the Senior Special Assistant to the President
on Social Investment, Mrs Maryam Uwais , said the programme did not work the way the
President ’s wife understood it .

South-East & South-South Excluded From Security

Architecture - Intersociety
•Says development, a threat to peace

By Onwuka Nzeshi Abuja

The Intertnational Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has alleged
“gross lopsidedness” and apparent exclusion of the South East and South South geo-
political zones from the security architecture in Nigeria.

In a report released at the weekend, the human rights group said it was shocking to discover
that despite its population and contributions to nationhood, the South East region has been
completely alienated from the control and command of top military and policing
formations, even within its regional boundaries.
According to the report, out of 26 top military officers currently manning key military
formations in the South East, none of them is from the region.

It stressed that a similar situation obtained in the South-South region, where out of the 22
top military officers manni strategic military formations in the region, only two are from
the South South zone. Intersociety described the situation as a “serious security threat” to
the people of the region, particularly in a country where ethnicity, religion and zonal
identity have been elevated to a national policy.

In a detailed letter addressed to the eleven state governors, 285 elected members of their
State Houses of Assembly, 33 elected Senators and 98 elected members of House of
Representatives from the two regions, Intersociety urged these political leaders to show
more than casual interest in the appointment and posting of top military and policing
officers manning key military and policing formations in the two regions. The eight-page
letter accompanied by six pages of graphic illustrations was dated 26/09/2019.

It was signed by Intersociety Board Chairman, Emeka Umeagbalasi; lawyers Obianuju

Igboeli, Ndidiamaka Bernard, Chidimma Udegbunam and Chinwe Umeche.

The group urged elected leaders of both regions to also prevail on the Police Service
Commission (PSC) and Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to ensure sectional balancing at all
times in the appointment or promotion of Police AIGs, CPs, DCPs and ACPs in the interest
of fairness, equity and unity of the country.

The report contended that whereas the eleven states had contributed not less than N250bn
or $850m through their governors in the past four years (August 2015-August/Sept 2019) in
aid of key military and policing formations and their operations in both regions, they had no
input into security decisions affecting their people.

“The continued domination, command and control of top military and policing formations
in Eastern Nigeria by officers of Hausa- Fulani and Yoruba nationalities and their Islamic
faith and total shutting out from the regional security arrangement or skeletal involvement
of officers of the South-East and the South- South must no longer be tolerated or accepted.
As a matter of fact, security in the midst of official insecurity such as the referenced is an
act of impossibility and a wild goose chase.

“The two regions are shut out or skeletally involved when it comes to appointment and
posting of senior military and policing officers manning such formations. The lopsided
compositions are also found to have fueled corrupt practices and gross rights abuses by the
ethno-religiously lopsided stationed security personnel in the two regions.

These include racial profiling, extra judicial killings, unlawful arrests, long detentions
without trial, torture and enforced disappearances. “It is particularly a clear act of
impossibility and a wild goose chase for security arrangements to be said to have been
made or put in place in the South-South and South East by governors and other public
office holders when top military and policing formations in the two regions are manned by
top officers of Northern and South West (Yoruba) Muslims and few non-Muslims.

“Considering the multi religious and ethnic composition of Nigeria or ethnoreligious

multiplicity of the country recognised in the 1999 Constitution, it remains our unequivocal
position that top public offices in Nigeria including top political, military, policing and
justice positions must be allocated to their statutory occupants in full reflection of the
country’s multi ethno-religious composition as firmly recognised in Section 14 (3) of the
1999 Constitution. Such plum offices must not be sectionalized or ethnoreligiously
dominated, but allocated in accordance with the principle of geopolitical or regional
fairness and balancing,” the group wrote.

The report came on the heels of the announcement by the Nigerian Army of its readiness to
launch another round of military operations code named: ‘Operation Python Dance IV’ for
South- East and ‘Operation Crocodile Smile’ for South-South. The Nigerian Army said the
military operations will kick off simultaneously on October 7 and end on December 24,
2019. Intersociety has however, alleged that the Nigerian Army has been using such
 operations to execute an ethnic agenda, which usually leads to massacre of targeted
unarmed and defenseless citizens of particular ethno-religious nationality.

“Apart from constituting serious security threats to the safety and security of the peoples of
the South East and South-South regions and protection of their properties, lands and
boundaries, there are also widespread feelings among their populations that the current
Armed Forces and Policing agencies are far from being secular,” the group said.

Kogi Election: SDP Candidate, Natasha Akpoti Berates

INEC For Disqualifying Her
The Kogi State Governorship candidate of the social democratic party, Barr. Natasha Akpoti on
Tuesday caused a scene at the entrance to the headquarters of the Independent Electoral
Commission in Abuja for disqualifying her from the contest on the grounds of the age of her
running mate.

It was gathered that INEC equally refused to accept the replacement of Engr Adams Ogbeche
Khalid, who the SDP decided to now be a running mate for Akpoti.

In a video making rounds online, Natasha accused the INEC chairman of corruption,
unprofessionalism and bias for conniving with the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, to edge
them out of the race.

The governorship election in Kogi comes up on November 16, 2019.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/B2-BJsEjEZn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

SERAP Urges Buhari To Implement Report On Financial

Autonomy For Judiciary
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has sent an open letter to President
Muhammadu Buhari urging him to use his good offices and leadership position to “urgently
publish and fully implement the recommendations of the report on financial autonomy of state
legislature and judiciary submitted to you in June 2019.”

SERAP said: “In the context of a growing attack on the country’s judiciary by the authorities and
politicians, the full implementation of the report will contribute to improving judicial
independence, and respect for constitutional principles of separation of powers and systems of
checks and balances designed to prevent political interference and ensure respect for the rule of
law.”

In the letter dated 27 September 2019, and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole
Oluwadare, the organization said: “Equal treatment before the law is a pillar of democratic
societies. But when judicial financial autonomy and by extension, independence and sanctity is
undermined, the scales of justice are tipped, and ordinary Nigerians suffer. In fact, when judicial
autonomy and independence is under siege, everyone loses, as the voice of the innocent goes
unheard, while the guilty continue to act with impunity.”
The letter read in part: “The failure to publish the full recommendations of the report and to begin
to implement them has continued to undermine the country’s judicial systems, and deny citizens’
access to justice and basic human right to a fair and impartial justice system.”

“Ensuring the financial autonomy and independence of the courts would improve the ability of
our judicial systems to deliver justice effectively and efficiently. It would also allow the court to
jealously guard the rights of innocent men and women, and ensure that the guilty receive a fair
and impartial hearing, as well as remove the dangerous possibility of summary justice.”

“We urge you to ensure full respect for the rule of law and due process in words and actions.”

“A financially autonomous judiciary is crucial for the effectiveness and success of your anti-
corruption agenda, and important for the realization of citizens’ human rights. Unless the report is
fully implemented, trust in the court’s impartiality and independence will continue to be eroded,
and the core judicial functions, access to justice, and the broader accountability function of the
judiciary, will continue to be undermined.”

“A weak judiciary would mean that impunity for corrupt officials will remain, as the ability of
your government and anti-corruption agencies to prosecute grand corruption, as well as public
trust and confidence in institutions of government and public officials, will continue to be
undermined.”

“SERAP is extremely concerned about the growing attack on the independence of the judiciary
and the sanctity of our justice system, particularly the repeated failures by your government, state
governments and politicians to respect and comply with court decisions and orders.”

“SERAP notes that you received in June 2019 the Report of the Abubakar Malami-led
Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and
Judiciary. The committee, inaugurated by you on March 22, 2019 was tasked to fashion out
strategies and modalities for implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and
judiciary, in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).”

“When you received the report, you stated that, ‘I went through a terrible time getting here for the
three times I contested elections. That is why I want to stabilise the system so that others will not
pass through the same experience.’”

“This worrying situation threatens to undermine the judiciary’s fragile independence, and the
sacred constitutional principles of separation of powers and systems of checks and balances.”

“Continuing refusal to respect and obey court decisions and orders if not urgently stopped will
lead to increased corruption and impunity. Disobedience of court orders is an implicit
interference in the judicial system, and shows a flagrant disregard for Nigeria’s Constitution of
1999 (as amended) and international obligations. Persistent disobedience of court orders and
decisions threatens any gains in the fight against corruption that your government may have
recorded.”

“SERAP is concerned about the growing list of court orders and decisions that have been
flagrantly disobeyed by your government, the most recent being the order by Justice Taiwo
Taiwo, Federal High Court, Abuja granting bail to the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Mr.
Omoyele Sowore, and the reported attempts by your government to drag Justice Taiwo before
National Judicial Council (NJC) on account of his decision to grant bail to Mr Sowore.”

“Other high-profile judgments your government is refusing to obey include at least three
judgments obtained by SERAP. The first is the judgment by Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari
ordering the government to tell Nigerians about the stolen asset it allegedly recovered, with
details of the amounts recovered. The second judgment, by Justice Mohammed Idris, ordered the
government to publish details on the spending of stolen funds recovered by successive
governments since the return of democracy in 1999.”

“The third judgment, Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor, a Professor of Law, ordered the government
to publish details of payments to all defaulting and allegedly corrupt electricity contractors and
companies by the governments of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former President Umaru
Musa Yar’Adua, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and your government.”

“Another court order that is yet to be complied with is the order for the release of Islamic
Movement of Nigeria leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenah, from unlawful
detention, obtained by human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana.”

FOI: Buhari’s State House Among Most Non-Transparent

Govt Institutions – Survey
Despite his government’s professed commitment to transparency, President Muhammadu
Buhari’s office is still hoarding public information – especially its financial dealings from
Nigerians, a new survey has found.

The State House is the third least responsive public institution in this year’s Freedom of
Information and Compliance ranking.

The annual ranking in its seventh edition was conducted by the Public and Private Development
Centre [PPDC] in collaboration with BudgIT Information Technology Network, Media Rights
Agenda, Connected Development (CODE) and the Basic Rights Watch.

The research ranked 191 public institutions and 12 security agencies based on their level of
disclosure to public finance expenditure information.

The survey was unveiled on Thursday as it is being done every September 28 since 2013.The
State House came 189 out of 191. Only the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS)
and the Federal Ministry of Transportation ranked lower on the the table of all public agencies.

The Federal Ministry of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Service, and Nigeria Immigration
Service are the three most unresponsive security agencies, according to the FOI ranking.

While the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) emerged the most compliant
public institution, the Federal Fire Service came tops in the security agency category.
‘Bad Precedence’
Lanre Suraj, an anti-corruption activist, said the development is “setting a bad precedent for other
lower office holders and ministries”.

Lawyer Asks Court To Sack FIRS Chief Fowler

“When the head which is the State House that is directly involved with the fund usage on behalf
of the president is unwilling to volunteer information then it is already setting bad precedence,”
he noted.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan signed the FOI law in 2011 after it had been stalled in the
National Assembly for 12 years.

President Buhari has since committed to transparency and accountability in government,

and has pledged to full implementation of the principles of the open government.His office,
however, is one of the most non-compliant public institutions since the maiden edition of the
FOI ranking in 2013.

The State House was inducted into the ‘FOI Hall of Shame’, an initiative of Media Rights
Agenda launched in July 2017 to shine a spotlight on public officials and institutions that are
undermining the effectiveness of the anti-corruption war

“This is a major blight to whatever achievement in the fight against corruption the government
can make claim to,” said Mr Suraj.

The State House failed in the five indices of the 2019 ranking. It does not have FOI desk officers
or conduct FOI trainings for staff, the survey indicated.

The president’s office neither published or submitted its annual FOI report to the Attorney
General of the Federation’s office in the year under review as required by law.

The State House was equally flagged for ‘no disclosure’, ‘no proactive disclosure’ and ‘no
response’ in the level of responsiveness to requests for information.

Presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu did not return calls nor respond
to texts seeking responses to the ranking as at the time of filing this report.

Knotty Problem
Nigeria is one of about 120 countries of the world to have enacted laws protecting the right of
citizens to access information and government data.

PREMIUM TIMES in 2017 published how the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office had
complained that Nigerians have been too reluctant to make use of the FoI Act passed into law on
February 24, 2011.

The law mandates public institutions to grant access and reply to a request for public records,
except those on national security, within a time limit of seven days. Any insufficient denial of
such request by an institution or public official attracts a fine of N500,000 payable on conviction
by a court.
Nigerian ministries, departments, and agencies have received very few requests for information
from citizens, the AGF’s office found in the report published in October 2017.

Media advocacy groups, however, argue that many Nigerians are discouraged from making
attempts to assess the law because public institutions are frustrating citizens who file FOI
requests.

‘Condoning Impunity’

In a report titled “unbridled impunity” published in 2018, the MRA accused the federal
government of condoning impunity by hundreds of public institutions failing to implement the
FOI law, a situation it said is making, “a mockery of the administration’s claim that it is
committed to transparency and accountability”.

The publication examined seven annual FOI reports from 2011 to 2017 submitted by the AGF to
the National Assembly. It found that only the AGF’s office has consistently submitted its annual
report in the seven-year period.

This was also indicated in the latest 2019 ranking. Of the 191 public institutions rated, only the
Attorney General’s office and the National Boundary Commission submitted and published their
annual FOI report to the AGF as prescribed by the FOI law.

Media Advocacy Groups react

Mr Suraj, who is the chairman of the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC)
commended the National Electrical Regulation Commission (NERC) and the Nigerian Fire
Service for their outstanding performance respectively in their categories – public intuition and
security agency.

“Those living by the law should be encouraged but it is important we enforce a sanction on those
falling to adhere to the law,” he said.He decried the fact that financial dealings of most public
institutions is still shrouded in secrecy.

“It is the institutions dealing with huge money with potentials of abusing power and resources
that will give least responses,” said Mr Tietie, the executive director of Citizens Advocacy for
Social & Economic Rights (CASER).

“The transport ministry is the second least responsive institution because it controls a lot of
resources. Anywhere you find resources been controlled which is supposed to be used in the
interest of the people; you will find the least responses.

“It is a direct conspiracy by the government against the people,” the media rights activist noted.
September 29

Six Times Buhari Has Disobeyed Court Orders

The refusal of the Department of State Services to release Omoyele Sowore , the publisher of
SaharaReporters, an online news platform from its custody has brought to mind several other
instances where the government ignored court orders.

From unlawful imprisonment to outright refusal to obey court directives , below are some of the
instance where the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has erred.

Omoyele Sowore

Omoyele Sowore , a former presidential candidate and publisher of SaharaReporters , an online

news platform was on August 3 , 2019 arrested by the DSS in Lagos and transferred to Abuja .

The DSS obtained an ex parte order to keep Sowore for 45 days . Barely 24 hours to the
expiration of the 45 days detention order , the Attorney -General of the Federation’ s office filed
charges of treasonable felony , cybercrime offences and money laundering against him before the
Federal High Court in Abuja .

Sowore ’s lawyer , Femi Falana applied for his bail pending his arraignment . Justice Taiwo
Taiwo of the federal high court, Abuja granted the prayer.
Sowore has since filed a case of contempt against the DSS boss , Yusuf Bichi , for failing to
comply with the court order granting him bail.

Ibraheem El -Zakzaky

On December 2 , 2016 , Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court in Abuja ordered the
release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria , Ibraheem El - Zakzaky and his wife ,
Zeenat from the custody of the Department of State Services .

As of the time of that ruling , El -Zakzaky and his wife had been in DSS ’ custody since
December 2015 following an altercation between members of the Nigerian Army and the IMN in
Zaria , Kaduna State .

Aside the order of the court to release them , the court also ordered that the DSS should pay the
couple the sum of N 50 m as compensation.
This court order was disobeyed .

On August 5 , Justice Darius Khobo of Kaduna State High Court, granted El -Zakzaky , leave to
seek medical attention in New Delhi , India .
The couple left for India and within a week were back in the country without receiving medical
attention.

El - Zakzaky and wife are back in the DSS custody as of the time of filing this report .
The IMN leader is standing trial in another court over allegations of culpable homicide , unlawful
assembly and disruption of the public peace among other charges.

Sambo Dasuki

Former National Security Adviser , Col . Sambo Dasuki is also one of the persons, who is still in
custody , despite several courts ordering his release .

On Monday , July 2 , 2018 , the Federal High Court in Abuja granted bail to Dasuki from the
custody of the DSS where he had been detained for two and a half years as of that time.

Delivering judgment in the suit filed by the ex -NSA in March 2019 , Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu
ruled that his detention since December 29 , 2015 , amounted to a violation of his right to liberty.

Ojukwu ruled that the Federal Government ’s contention that Dasuki was being kept in custody
on the grounds of his alleged threat to national security and his alleged ongoing investigation for
money laundering did not warrant “ abrogating his right ” .

The judge also said that should the DSS have any further reason to interrogate him , the security
agency could only invite and interview him between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm on working days
.

Dasuki was picked up by operatives of the State Security Service in December 2015 . He was
accused of illegal possession of firearms and diversion of $ 2 .1 billion from the arms deal
contract .

The Economic Community of West African States Court of Justice on October 4 , 2016 , ordered
his release from the illegal custody ; a judgement which the DSS had not obeyed .

Court order on debt limit

Another judgment, which the Federal Government may have disobeyed was the one made by the
Federal High Court in Abuja directing the Federal Government to set the overall limits for the “
amounts of consolidated debts ” of the nation ’ s federal, state and local governments.

Justice Kolawole gave the judgment on February 20 , 2018 , in a suit filed by the Centre for
Social Justice .

Justice Kolawole said it was mandatory for the government to set the debt limits as provided by
section 42 ( 1 ) of the Fiscal Responsibility Act , 2007 .

He specifically ordered the Federal Government to set the debt limits , which should be approved
by both the Senate and the House of Representatives within 90 days of the judgment .
The judgment has also yet to be obeyed .

Recovered loot
In March 2016 , Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court , Abuja ordered the federal
government to publish details on the spending of recovered stolen funds by successive
governments since 1999 . This order has not been obeyed till date .

Navy Captain Dada Labinjo

Navy Captain Dada Labinjo is allegedly being detained in the underground detention facility of
the Defence Intelligence Agency in Abuja since September 12 , 2018 .

His lawyer , Mr Femi Falana , said though he obtained an order of the Federal High Court for his
release , Labinjo has not been released .
Falana , who said this in an August 15 , 2019 , letter to the Executive Secretary, National Human
Rights Commission , said Labinjo was just one of 67 persons, including foreigners , being
illegally detained without trial by the navy.

Anthony Sani: South Exported Banditry, Kidnapping,

Armed Robbery To The North
•Tells IPoB: North not afraid of Nigeria breaking up

•On community policing: Multiplication of security outfits not helpful.

•On 2023: Southern leaders cannot decide zoning for political parties

By Ben Agande, Kaduna

The Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Anthony Sani, in this interview,
speaks on the state of the nation, saying the North is not afraid of Nigeria breaking up but
prefers a strong, united country.

According to him, those who accuse President Muhammadu Buhari of lack of performance
are not being truthful because if Nigerians had adjudged him as a failure in his first term,
they would not have voted him for second term.

Let’s start with the issue of security on which many Nigerians think government hasn’t
done much because kidnapping and banditry have continued to fester across the country
despite the measures taken by the authorities. Where do you stand?

For proper assessment of efforts by government, it is important to do fact checking on what

was inherited and what obtains now.

There was a time when people feared to gather in churches, in markets and in any
ceremonies out of fear of attacks which transcended northern states and FCT. As a result,
sense of helplessness and hopelessness overwhelmed the people, including residents of
FCT.

The security challenges were so widespread that the United States made a forecast that
Nigeria was at tipping point and would fall off the cliff by 2015.That did not happen.
Thanks to the emergence of this regime. Today, the country is still one because Boko
Haram has been tamed and the activities of the sect have been limited to the fringes of the
North-East by the current regime.

But because corruption has stolen our patrimony, our opportunity and our future for many
decades as well as the introduction of cashless economy which has made armed robbery to
be unattractive, there has been recent resurgence of banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling
as business for some people. The UN Resolution 1966 of 2010 is specific that affected
states must address the underlying causes, which this regime has been trying to address by
way of fighting insurgence and corruption in order to create the enabling environment for
the economy to be diversified away from oil to the exploitation of natural resources. The
government has been trying to deliver on its promises. And it seems there is improvement.

For banditry, kidnapping and cattle rustling to give way, government must enlist the support
of citizens not only in the use of military might but also of the citizens who should exercise
patience and help government overcome the challenges.

The efforts of government alone against the insecurity posed by insurgents, bandits, cattle
rustlers, herders and farmers conflicts, militants activism, cultism, ritual killings and even
baby factories are not enough. One way citizens can support government is through the
community policing and to avoid giving ethnic and religious coloration to purely criminal
activities lest such coloration provide criminals with platform to hide and perpetrate crimes,
knowing it is not possible to prosecute ethnicity and religion.

The fight against corruption should not be left to the Federal Government alone. States and
local governments and the citizens must join the fight against corruption and stigmatize it in
such a way as to discourage the practice of cash-for-peerage in our national life. Those
arraigned for corruption should defend themselves instead of insisting that all corrupt
people must be arraigned at the same time. I say so because the fight against corruption is
work in progress that is expected to outlive the current regime.

Negotiating with bandits and kidnappers is ongoing in Katsina after the exercise proved
successful in Zamfara. But critics say this is amoral. What does ACF think?

I am not the official spokesman for ACF which has a spokesman. I only complement his
efforts. Most of your questions should be directed to the National Publicity Secretary whose
job is to address your concerns please.

As far as I am concerned, negotiation to save lives is not out of place. You will recall that
the Israeli government released 1, 000 members of Hamas held in custody in exchange for
the release of one Israeli soldier held captive by Hamas in 2006. Also in 2014, then-
President Obama negotiated the release of one American soldier held captive by the Taliban
in exchange for five Taliban soldiers held by America in Guantanamo. Also note why the
UN often invites warring parties to Geneva for peace talks. The aim is to avoid further
killings in wars and not because the UN approves killings in wars.

That is why there is an adage that says if you kill one person, you would be charged for
murder; if you kill ten persons, you would be examined for insanity, but if you kill 1,000
people, you would be invited for peace talks in Geneva not because the world likes your
killings but because the world wants to stop further killings. That is the way I see the spirit
of the negotiation by the governors of Katsina and Zamfara states, to wit, stop further
killings in their states by bandits. So those who use Danegeld’s theory of rewarding bad
behaviours and attack the two governors should have realistic appreciation of the situations.

One of the measures being taken by the police to stem insecurity is community policing
under which 40, 000 non-police officers are to be recruited across the country (50 per local
government area).Is it the right step in the right direction?

I understand community policing to mean the involvement of communities to police their

precinct. I do not think those involved have to be recruited formally to become another
security outfit. While not condemning community policing, it is my honest suggestion that
the Federal Government should recruit adequate number of trained and well equipped
police personnel. It is only then we can know whether the Nigeria Police can deliver on the
promise of its mandate or cannot deliver. Multiplication of security outfits may not be
helpful.

So, being a regional body, you are not carried along on the initiative. Right?

I said I do not know the details. But my take has always been that there should be enough
number of trained and well equipped police personnel for the nation. A situation where so
many villages do not have police outposts is never helpful. Therefore, it is unthinking to
conclude that state police will be the magic wand.

Many organisations and individuals, including state governors, Afenifere and Ohanaeze,
have canvassed state police as solution to the issue of insecurity in the country. Where does
community policing leave state police?

I do not have the details of community policing which is not one and the same thing with
the police. I am not for state police because I do not believe in multiplication of security
outfits. If the number of trained and equipped state police personnel are not adequate, state
police would not be the magic wand. What is more, given the way state governors have
used State Electoral Commissions to kill democracy at the local government level,
governors are most likely to abuse state police for wrong purposes. There is another
challenge that state police personnel can take sides during conflicts in those states with
diverse citizens.

The question of one monolithic North has been an issue as the Middle Belt says they are
not part of the North. Are they right?

The agitations by the Middle Belt was more or less the response to the Willink Commission
which brought about Mid Western Region. The late J.S.Tarka wanted Middle Belt Region
reminiscent of the Mid-Western Region. Now that states have been created to allay the fear
of the minorities of domination by the majority in the country, it stands to reason to submit
that the agitation by the Middle Belt Forum is rooted in what no longer exists. If you
consider Benue State where the Tiv have been in power since 1999 to the chagrin of the
Idoma; if you consider what happens in Kogi State where the Igala hold sway against other
minorities; if you consider Borno State where the Kanuri would not allow southern Borno
to produce the governor; and if you consider Plateau State where Muslims cannot produce a
deputy governor and get appointed as VC of UNIJOS and JUTH; and compare same with
what happens in Kaduna and Kebbi states where the Hausa-Fulani hold sway against other
ethnic nationalities, then you can hardly avoid the conclusion that the challenges of
marginalization is not an exclusive preserve of the big three. All groups in Nigeria abuse
their advantages. Furthermore, the Chairman of the Northern States’ Governors Forum is
from Plateau State and a non-Muslim. Generals Gowon, Babangida and Abubakar who are
among the patrons of ACF are from the North-Central geopolitical zone.

The 2023 presidency is already generating controversy even if it is several years away.
Zoning is especially a contentious issue as the South fears power may not go back there
after the North would have done eight years. Do you think this fear is justified? To be clear,
what is the North’s game plan?

I am of the view that it is too early to start the politics of 2023 when the sitting regime is
not up to six months in office. I also do not believe the North has any game plan in a
multiparty democracy.

You will recall that in the first republic, (Alhaji Ahmadu Bello) Sardauna’s NPC contested
not only with (the late Obafemi) Awolowo’s Action Group and (the late Nnamdi Azikiwe)
Zik’s NCNC from the South but also with Aminu Kano’s NEPU and Tarka’s UMBC from
the North.

Under the current dispensation when politics of rotation, power shift and zoning is being
bandied about, Buhari contested against President Obasanjo from the South in 2003 and
President Jonathan in 2011 and 2015. Also in 2019, 76 presidential candidates came from
both the North and the South. This at once suggests that there has been no national
consensus on rotation or zoning that is accepted and binding on political parties which
enjoys the exclusive preserve of presenting candidates for elections.

Southern leaders recently warned against power remaining in the North in 2023 against the
backdrop of statements credited to northern leaders like Governor El-Rufai suggesting that
power may not shift to the South. How do you respond?

That is their personal opinion and not the position of their political parties. All those who
talk of politics of rotation and zoning are not political parties which will present candidates
for election. It is only political parties that can present candidates for elections.

The Federal Government has replaced RUGA with the National Livestock Transformation
Programme. But southerners say they don’t know the difference between the two concepts
and are therefore opposed to any of them. Can you enlighten us?

The same groups opposed to open grazing as panacea to trespasses by nomadic practices
are the ones opposed to any intervention by the Federal Government on ranches despite
knowing that nomads are landless and limited by both expertise and capacity to establish
ranches that can improve security and livestock. They are the same groups who opposed
RUGA and now opposed to the National Livestock Transformation Programme. Since the
banning of nomads in favour of sedentary practice can improve not only security but also
the quality and volume of livestock in the polity and economy, the critics should suggest
how best the management of livestock should be that is acceptable to majority of
stakeholders. It is not enough to condemn by mere declaration laced with threats and
intimidation without any suggestions.

The Fulani have been painted as a difficult race going by the activities of killer herdsmen.
What is ACF doing to address the issue?

Difficult in what ways? Though landless, I have not heard the Fulani talking that farmers
should fence their farms. Mind you, there are Fulani herdsmen and farmers. What ACF
does is to appeal to both herders and farmers not to take the law into their hands and stifle
security which both need for livestock and farming to flourish.

President Buhari is a northerner. But there is this perception that his government hasn’t
performed over the past four and a half years. Is ACF worried?

If his regime did not perform in the last tenure as suggested by you, how come his regime
was not rejected but re-elected in 2019 with larger margin of 3.9m votes compared to the
margin of 3m votes in 2015?

Nigeria at 59, many southerners believe northerners are slowing the country down. How do
you respond?

How is the North slowing them down? Does the North determine how state governments
are run? Does the Federal Government under President Buhari determine the usage of
allocations to their states? It may be fact of history that education arrived in the South a
century earlier than when it reached the North amid stiff resistance by perhaps Islam, a
resistance which Boko Haram sect still echoes. But that has not affected the South in any
way. A man from the South once accused the North of killing agriculture because of oil. But
I told him that Malaysia did not collect the palm oil seedlings from the North. Yet
southerners are the major importers of palm oil from Malaysia.

How has North fared in 59 years given the thinking that northern leaders have ruled for the
most part and that section has been more backward than the South?

But the South has ruled for more years under the nascent democracy. The military junta
who ruled did not do so on behalf of the North. And if we compare the socio-economic
 status of the North by way of number of universities, schools, roads, etc with what obtains
today, however, the pace, majority of northerners count their blessings one-by-one. The
only regret is the insecurity posed by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, etc,
most of which have been exported to the North from the South but which we hope to
overcome. After all, we know that over the long history of nations and long lives of
individuals, the powerful and the powerless, the rich and the poor often switch places. Our
situation is not beyond redemption given purposeful leadership and the best of every
northerner.

What does the North think about the Igbo separatist group IPoB?

The IPOB has the right to agitate for separation. Many nations go through such agitations.
Examples include the state of Alaska where some people want to leave America to join
Russia. We have some people in Xinjiang Province in China who do not want to be part of
China. Some people in Aceh in Indonesia are separatists just like in Quebec in Canada. You
heard what happened in Catalonia in Spain and Scotland in Britain.

So there is nothing exotic or quixotic in hankering for separation by some groups. After all,
the good things of life are not natural order of things but attained through ceaseless hard
work by not only the leaders but also by everyone. But majority in the North do not fear
separation, though are of the view that the certain benefits for one united big Nigeria are
more than the uncertain gains in separation. More so for the Igbo who settle and invest in
other climes than the reverse.

For Buhari’s Sake, So Many Projects Go To Daura

Many projects have been completed with several still ongoing. Some are still being planned as
sites have been allocated for them. Some of the projects include rehabilitation or expansion of
existing ones, re-activation and completion of those abandoned as well as new ones.

Heavy-duty machines and construction sites can be seen at different locations executing different
projects, including road construction, drainages, schools, water projects, etc, depicting an
apparent testimony of benefiting from the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

During a visit to the town, our correspondent discovered that there is hardly any federal ministry
that is not executing a project in the town. Power, Housing, Works, Transport, Health, Education
and other ministries have projects that are classified as Special Projects Unit (SPU) as displayed
in various locations in the town.

Aside the federal projects massively being carried out across the town and neighbouring villages,
friends and associates of the president have undertaken some projects that are adding value to the
people’s lives.

Some key projects

There is an ongoing massive construction of township roads and drainages totaling about 40km
across the city. Four contractors are executing the projects. A ring road of 80-90km is about to
commence. During the first tenure of the Buhari administration, 21km of drainages and
waterways were constructed.

The building of schools for people with special needs has begun at the cost of N500m. The
Federal Polytechnic, Daura is expected to take off in January 2020 at its temporary site. 100
hectares of land has been provided for the permanent site.

The proposed Federal University of Transportation has been alloted 6,000 hectares and the
project is to commence any moment from now.

Already completed and being put to use is the multi-million naira Nigerian Air Force referral
hospital equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The Air Force has set up a response air wing
just as the Nigerian Army has established a base in the town.

Others are the upgrade and expansion of the town’s mini stadium at the cost of N259m and the
National Directorate of Employment (NDE) N84m centre that just graduated its first set of 100
students trained in various trades and skills.
There is also a skills acquisition centre that has been completed but is yet to be commissioned
under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) programme along Zango road.

The first lady, Aisha Buhari, is also supporting her husband’s town to develop. She has built a 50-
bed maternity center at the town’s general hospital, besides setting up empowerment programs
for women and the less privileged.

A helipad was constructed in the town, just as the 27-year-old once abandoned Sabke Dam has
been completed and is presently supplying 1m litres of water to Daura and neighbouring
communities. Many SDG 2018 school projects have been completed and already put to use.

A 73km 132 KVA line was constructed from Katsina to Daura, in addition to the commissioning
of two 30 and 40 MVA transformers to boost power supply in the town.
Projects in the pipeline include the railway line and the dualisation of the 72km Daura-Katsina
road.

The state government is also supporting the town’s infrastructure transformation. To boost
tourism and support the massive influx of guests to the town, the state government-owned Daura
Motel was upgraded and expanded at the cost of about N450m. Roads already constructed
include the 92km Fago-Katsayal-Kwarasawa-Jirdere-Koza to Kawanar Sabke road, and the
Sandamu-Baure road.

Private interventions in the town include the e-library built by Chief Emeka Offor, while the
Jack-Rich Tein Foundation in a joint venture with the NNPC and Belema Oil constructed a
400,000 litres capacity solar-powered water system in the town. Aliko Dangote is also spending
N100m on the town’s mosque.

We want more – residents

Even with the massive transformation, Daura still has challenges such as the large number of
unemployed youths and inadequate power supply. The recent closure of land borders has
compounded its woes as hundreds of youths who were ferrying smuggled items across the border
are now idle and posing security threats to the community.

Power supply has always been a source of concern to residents, though several power projects are
currently going on with some already completed.

Only recently, the residents complained to the president during his sallah visit that they get 24-
hour electricity only when he is around, which they said was crippling economic activities.

A cross-section of residents spoken to believe that in as much as they appreciate the ongoing
developments in the town, there are still areas that when addressed Daura could be better off,
especially the establishment of industries and companies that can engage the teeming
unemployed youths.

Bashar Hassan said: “If you look at the whole town, hardly can you see any industry or a large
company operating, we have vast agricultural lands that such companies can use to further boost
our strength.”

The chairman of Daura Emirate Development Association, Aliyu Daura, said: “As far as we are
concerned, we are grateful with all these developments coming our way, but people’s belief that
they must get cash is uncalled for, it’s development we want and we want these things to spread
to Katsina as well, it’s an opportunity we have.”

On the town’s needs, Aliyu said: “We want a dual carriage way from Daura to Kongolom, it’s a
chance before us, if Buhari leaves, no one will do it for us, we should do away with our personal
interests and seek development.

“The border closure is of two things, people that are smugglers within us will not be happy with
it, but in a situation that some of us that have travelled wide observed that no country allows food
into it. Let’s bear the consequences which is just for a while, there is wisdom in the closure.”

On power, Aliyu said: “I was among those that went to TCN in Abuja, where we met Dr. Guru
and expressed our grievances and concerns, he told us that they were having issues in Kano. This
problem of power is not only in Daura, even Katsina, Sokoto, it’s a national issue.”

Another resident, Buhari Mohammed said: “The poverty level among residents is alarming and
must be looked at holistically. Yes, we have got hospitals and other things coming up like schools
but people should understand that it is not meant only for Daura people, especially appointments
into them.

“We may get an upper hand when lower cadre jobs are open for grabs but the few that will get the
jobs cannot remove the town from the depth of poverty.”

Another resident, Abdullahi Abdulkadir, said, “My worst fear is the rate of crime that may engulf
our town after the youths are out of the smuggling business. They will end up attacking us with
crimes, my take is for government to please as a matter of urgency get them something else to
engage them before they fall on us.”
We’ve Enjoyed Huge Patronage From Buhari
Administration – Innoson
Innoson Group of Companies Nigeria limited on Sunday said it has enjoyed huge patronage and
support from the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

Chairman of the group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma disclosed this in Nnewi, Anambra State in a
press briefing.

He also listed Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Anambra, Gombe, and Bauchi states as well as
Nigeria Military as those patronizing vehicles from the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) of
company.

He however said the company could transform Nigeria into vehicle manufacturing hub in Africa
in no distant time if given more patronage.
He also said his vehicle factory has the capacity to manufacture all brands of vehicle, adding, he
hope to expand soonest.

He said, “I can say that Innoson vehicle manufacturing is doing well especially with the level of
patronage and support the company is enjoying under the present federal government.
“I must equally say that some state governments like; Ekiti, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kogi, Gombe,
Anambra and Bauchi are giving us a great boost.

“As at today, Innoson vehicles are being used in some West African countries like Mali, Sierra
Leone and Ghana and some Nigerians residing abroad return home to purchase our vehicles.”

According to Chukwuma, Innoson Group of Companies produces motorcycle tyres, plastic

containers, ceramic and vehicles presently employing between 7,300 and 7,500 workers.

“With more support and patronage from Nigeria, we hope to expand our vehicle manufacturing
firm to help provide more employment to our youths,” he posited.

Reacting on the performance of the youths from Niger Delta trained by his firm under the
amnesty programme, Chukwuma said most of them had continued to bring their talents to bear
towards the growth and development of the company.

“Some of the youths of the Niger Delta who we trained are very talented and after their training,
we retained some of them and they are part of the success story of Innoson vehicle manufacturing
today”, he said.

On the recent report alleging that Anambra State lawmakers rejected Toyota Prado Jeep and
demanded for Innoson products, Chukwuma denied knowledge of the report.

He said anybody, including the lawmakers were free to buy any brand of vehicle of his choice.
He said he currently enjoyed very warm relationship with the state governor, Willie Obiano and
his government, expressing his willingness to leverage on the relationship to impact positively on
the state.
” As we speak, Anambra State Government ordered for 40 vehicles which they fully paid for and
we hope to deliver them to the state by next week,” he hinted.

Samson Siasia’s Mother Released After 2 Months In

Kidnappers’ Den
Madam Beauty Ogere, the mother of former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia has been
released by her kidnappers, Igbere TV has learnt.

Igbere TV gathered that she was freed two months after she was abducted in her country home in
Adoni community, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Spokesman for the Bayelsa State Police Command, DSP Asinim Butswat, confirmed the incident
on Sunday.

Igbere TV recalls that Samson Siasia had on Tuesday said the police were finding it difficult to
find the kidnappers.

Siasia, who recently said he paid the kidnappers N1.5 million ransom fee, also appealed to the
Government to help bring back his mother.

The kidnappers had also seized

kidnapped two other family members, Madam Florence Dounana, 65 years, and her daughter,
Selekere Dounana, 17 years.

Stay with Igbere TV. Africa's No1 Community TV.

Anambra Lawmakers Asked For Prado, Not Innoson Jeeps,

Says Govt
ANAMBRA State government reacted weekend to the alleged preference of Innoson SUV cars to
Toyota Prado Jeeps by members of the State House of Assembly, saying the lawmakers actually
asked for Prado Jeeps.

The state government’s reaction came on the heels of reports that the lawmakers rejected the
Prado Jeeps because of their enormous cost, as well as the fact that acquiring Innoson Jeeps
would save cost for the state government and promote local industry.

But the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Don Adinuba,
said the reports on the cars for the state lawmakers were false and misleading, accusing the
opposition Peoples Democratic Party ((PDP) in Anambra State of planting such reports to
achieve unmerited political point ahead of the 2021 governorship election in the state.
Adinuba said: “The legislators did not reject Toyota Prados, neither did they request for Innoson
vehicles. It was the House of Assembly members who asked for Prados, to be in line with
vehicles used by legislators in every other state of the federation.

“However, when they saw the huge financial implications of purchasing 30 units of the 2019
model of Toyota Prado vehicles for each honourable member, the 30 lawmakers, who are easily
the most patriotic, productive and considerate of any set of legislators in Nigeria, opted for the
2017 model (of Prado Jeep) .

“They are the only legislators elected in the 2019 general election to have the older model. By so
doing, they have saved for the government and people of Anambra State a fortune.

“For purposes of historical accuracy, let it be stated in the public domain that it is the
executive arm of the Anambra State government which has been leading the campaign to
make the Innoson SUV its official vehicle.

In March, 2018, for example, following the second inauguration of the Obiano administration, an
order for a fleet of Innoson SUVs was placed with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) for
Anambra State Executive Council members.

“The order, however, could not be met early enough, apparently on account of several orders
from even outside the country. The government was consequently constrained to seek another
brand. It settled five months later for Ford because a worthy son of Anambra State, Dr Cosmas
Maduka of Coscharis Group, holds the Ford franchise in Nigeria.”

According to the state government, both the management and staff of Innoson Motors
acknowledge that the Anambra State government “is not only its best customer, but also its
greatest supporter”.

Going down memory lane, Adinuba recalled that on March 29, 2018, the state government
handed over 40 Innoson pickup vans to the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Security,
Anambra Vigilante Group, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Navy and
National Security and Civil Defence Corps to enhance their capabilities in making Anambra
remain the safest state in Nigeria.

He added that the state government would, in November this year, donate 60 Innoson SUVs to
the security and intelligence agencies, adding that it was a well acknowledged fact that “not only
does Governor Obiano patronize Innoson Motors more than any other governor, he has been
marketing the vehicles to fellow governors and executives of corporate organizations across the
nation”.

He said further: “Indeed, the Anambra State government is eminently proud of its relationship
with Innoson Vehicle Motor Manufacturing Company. Its founder, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, is
a role model.
“We are proud that he is a major investor in our state. We are prouder of his genius: he pulled
himself up by the bootstraps. Despite his modest formal education, he has displayed world class
imagination and creativity. He represents the typical Anambra story, which is a determination to
succeed despite all odds.”

Atiku Reacts To Death Of Stanley Nwabia

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the February presidential election, Atiku Abubakar,
has expressed sadness at the death of social commentator, Stanley Nwabia, Igbere TV reports.

Mr Nwabia, 43, reportedly died on Sunday following an unsuccessful blood transfusion

procedure in Lagos State.

He was a supporter of the opposition PDP and unapologetic critic of President Muhammadu
Buhari.

In a tweet on Sunday morning, Atiku said Nwabia’s sudden death is a cause for sobering
emotions.”

He described the deceased as a patriotic Nigerian and forthright supporter of our great party,”
praying that “God Almighty console his family and may his soul rest in peace.”

“It is a cause for sobering emotions to read about the sudden demise of @MrStanleyNwabia.

“A patriotic Nigerian and forthright supporter of our great party.

“God Almighty console his family and may his soul Rest In Peace,” he wrote.

The founder of Igbo news channel, Ikenga TV, Nwabia campaigned vigorously for Atiku before
and after the presidential election.

He was adored by opposition commentators on social media for his unsparing criticism of
President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

A native of Abia State, Nwabia was born and lived in Lagos throughout his life.

He was survived by his wife and four children.

I'm Not Aware That Anambra Lawmakers Rejected Suvs

For My Rides - Innoson Motors
Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies Nigeria Ltd, Innocent Chukwuma, has said that he is
unaware of a report that Anambra lawmakers rejected Toyota Prado SUVs and demanded
Innoson vehicles.

Mr Chukwuma said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in
Nnewi, Anambra State.

“Anybody, including the Anambra lawmakers, is free to buy any brand of vehicle of his or her
choice,” he said.

“As we speak, Anambra government ordered for 40 vehicles which it fully paid for and we hope
to deliver them to the state by next week.”

Chukwuma said he enjoyed a very warm relationship with Anambra State Governor, Willie
Obiano, saying that he was willing to leverage the relationship to impact positively on the state,
Igbere TV reports.

He also named Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Anambra, Gombe, and Bauchi States and the
military as part of those who buy Innoson vehicles.

Chukwuma called for more patronage to enable him transform Nigeria into a vehicle
manufacturing hub in Africa.

“I can say that Innoson vehicle manufacturing is doing well, especially with the level of
patronage and support the company is enjoying under the present federal government,” he said.

“I must equally say that some state governments like Ekiti, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Kogi, Gombe,
Anambra, and Bauchi are giving us a great boost.

“As at today, Innoson vehicles are being used in some West African countries like Mali, Sierra
Leone, and Ghana and some Nigerians residing abroad return home to purchase our vehicles.”

Chukwuma said that his vehicle factory had the capacity to manufacture all brands of vehicle,
adding that he hoped to expand the company soonest.

He also said that apart from doing well in production capacity, the company recently employed
between 7,300 and 7,500 workers to boost production capacity.

In 13 Years, FG Spends N15.3bn On 11 Ex-presidents

THE Federal Government has spent at least N15.3 billion on the upkeep of former Presidents,
Vice Presidents and their families over a period of 13 years.

The figure covers the former leaders’ pension, medicare, yearly foreign vacation, offices and
general maintenance. This is besides the N500,000 each of the former leaders is paid whenever
they attend the council of state meeting, which is held periodically.

THE WELFARE IN TRAJECTORY

Allocations for the former leaders’ welfare began in 2005 when total amount of N140 million was
set at side for them in that year’s budget. Subsequently, the following allocations were made:
N105 million (2006), N24 million (2008, the lowest), N250 million (2009). Although no
allocation was made in the 2007 budget, it may have been integrated into another item under the
office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Funds allocated to entitlements of former presidents/heads of state, former vice presidents or

chiefs of general staff rose rapidly to the peak in 2012, when former President Goodluck
Jonathan’s government budgeted N3.185 billion for the welfare of the ex-leaders — from a
modest N140 million in 2005. Between 2013 and 2017, the allocation was constant at N2.3
billion per year.

Apart from these entitlements, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
has allocated the sum of N986.19 million between 2016 and 2018 for the purchase of cars for the
nation’s seven former presidents/heads of state and four vice presidents.

N500,000 COUNCIL OF STATE MEETING ALLOWANCE

Apart from the N15.3 billion welfare package, each of the former leaders — and they automatic
members of the Council of State — collects N500,000 whenever he attends the meeting, which
holds at least twice yearly and at most six times a year to review and take decisions on crucial
issues affecting the country.

Membership of the council, according to Section 153 of the 1999 constitution as amended,
comprises the President who shall be the Chairman, the Vice President who shall be the Deputy
Chairman, and all former presidents of the federation and former heads of government.

It also includes all former chief justices of Nigeria, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, the 36 states Governors and the Attorney General of the Federation.

The former presidents and heads of state are General Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari,
General Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, General
Olusegun Obasanjo, and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

The former vice presidents and chiefs of general staff are Dr. Alex Ekwueme (late), Commodore
Ebitu Ukiwe, General Oladipupo Diya, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and Alhaji Namadi Sambo.

Rumble in Presidency: We Need To Know

Osibanjo’s Fate – Southern and Middle Belt
Leaders Forum
PRESS STATEMENT
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum(SMBLF) has followed with keen interest developments
in the Presidency as regards the office of the Vice-President in the past few days .
The virtual stripping of the office of the VP of most functions and responsibilities ,even some that are
constitutional,by fiat does not correspond with the declaration of APC governors that all is well at the
seat of power.
The office of the Vice-President today is definitely not what it was two weeks ago.
Something is definitely wrong even when we cannot place our fingers on it yet.
And this because of the opaque handling of affairs of a  supposed constitutional democracy and open
society in a manner reminiscent of a kingdom where things are done according to the whims and
caprice s of the monarch.
We are a  democracy and the people need to know the ways their lives are being run by those they have
hired to do the job.
Moreover ,the multi-ethnic nature of Nigeria and the geo-political balancing of its presidency will
make the kind of actions that have been taken against the office of the Vice-President to attract the
usual suspicion of the experiences of Ebitu Ukiwe and Oladipo Diya if there are no explanations to the
public.
In this dispensation in particular,references would be made to the treatment of Justice Walter
Onoghen,Mrs  Winifred Oyo Ita and now Prof Osinbajo on one hand ,and Mr Abdulrsheed Maina of
Pension Reform Task Force  ,Prof Usman Yusuf of NHIS and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano  on
the other hand .
In order to preserve the unity of the country therefore ,we demand explanation on what is happening to
Osinbajo from the Presidency and if no such is forthcoming ,his functions should be restored  .
We have equally noticed the unusual quiet  from the Presidency on damaging allegations against the
Vice-Present .
In any normal clime,it should not have taken more than a day for the Presidency to dispel the
allegations to maintain the  moral standing of the VP and  the integrity of the administration .
We therefore demand a statement from the government on the weighty  allegations or an investigation
to be caused .
We hold our breath until the public is properly briefed .
Chief E K Clark
South South
Chief Ayo Adebanjo
South West
Chief John Nwodo
South East
Dr Pogu Bitrus
Middle Belt
El-rufai Introduces 2 Jets For Kaduna-abuja Air Shuttle
Services
Kaduna State Government on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Quorum
Aviation Ltd, QAL, to operate air shuttle services to Abuja and Lagos.

According to the MoU, the company would run at least five shuttle flights daily under the trade
name BOKU AIR.

Governor Nasiru El-Rufai said after the signing ceremony that it was an expression of the
company’s confidence in the government.

He believed that the air shuttle service would complement the Kaduna-Abuja rail service.

“I am very confident that it will be viable, hence, I am calling on all the people in Kaduna State,
particularly businessmen and women that are interested in transacting businesses in Abuja to take
advantage of this service which began from road transport, to rail and now air transport.

“We thank QAL for exploring this opportunity and taking up this challenge. We are handing over
our terminal building which we constructed and equipped at our own cost,” he said.

The Managing Director, QAL, Lukman Lawal, said company would deploy two 50-seater
business jets to provide a minimum of five daily shuttle passenger services at an affordable price
specifically between Abuja, Kaduna and Lagos.

Lawal said the air shuttle service will be a great complement to the train service currently running
between Kaduna and Abuja.

He stated that Kaduna government is leasing the lounge at the Kaduna airport to the company for
a period of ten years.

“To enable QAL renovate and fix the terminal to meet regulatory requirements before
commencement of the shuttle services, the lease shall take effect three months after its
execution”.

Osinbajo Will Have The Last Laugh - Tunde Bakare

A senior pastor of the Latter Rain Assembly, Tunde Bakare has said Vice President Yemi
Osinbajo will overcome his present travails in office.

He said Osinbajo will have “the last laugh.”

The Vice President recently denied claims made by a former APC official, Timi Frank, that the
Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) provided N90billion as campaign funds for Mr Osinbajo
during the 2019 elections.

Bakare backed the Vice President, saying he found the allegation difficult to believe.
“Vice President Osinbajo will have the last laugh. You think I am stupid? Except he has violated
his oath…,” he added.

Details later…

North’s 2023 Dream A Big Joke And A Threat To African

Progress!
Nigerian politicians are busy scheming for the 2023 presidency like all that matters in leadership
is occupying the presidential office and personalizing other high places in the political
stratosphere with the sole aim of bleeding the economy into their selfish pockets. Northern
Nigerian politicians as the dominant specie of political Nigeria’s elites have been spitting and
threatening to plant one of their own in Aso Rock after the expiration of Muhammadu Buhari’s
tenure. It is interesting to note that the same ‘Zoning’ which Northern politicians emphasized as
just and legitimate for producing Nigeria’s president is now being regarded by them as an
unreliable formula in the face of the fact that ‘Zoning’ in 2023 will favor the presidency’s shift to
the South, precisely the South-West, South-South and or South-East. Who do they think they are?
Nigeria’s owners?

I advise Northern politicians not to take Maharaj Ji’s simplicity and seemingly silent disposition
to Nigeria’s sustained political ghettorization by them and their littering Southern pones for
granted! Maharaj Ji has been the one guiding and protecting Nigeria spiritually to its present
stage. As the current Supreme Light of Creation, the devious games and criminal plans of
Northern politicians against Nigeria’s progress and existence are all known and it is on the basis
of My unwavering Divine commitment to protect and salvage Nigeria from their satanic agenda,
as co-scripted and approved by Britain and Saudi Arabia, both being their principal external
cohorts, that I have allowed Nigeria to evolve in a way that appears to them as evidence of their
invincibility. Evolution as against revolution stands-out as the appropriate route to guide booty-
trapped Nigeria through to its destined shore of grace and glory. The option of revolution plays
straight into the Annihilation Plan of the Northern political oligarchy against Nigeria!

Now that Nigeria has been successfully guided off the war-trap set by elite never-do-wells of
Northern Nigeria with the ignorant support of neo-colonialist Southerners who are unaware that
their minds are being conditioned and manipulated to go to war to enable the Europeans to re-
colonize the country again. I advise them to stop sniffing the glue and to also stop drinking the
codeine that gets them high into believing that Nigeria is their birthright and leprosy centre!
Enough is enough! How much power do they have over death? Do they know what life is and
what it is truly worth? Is any of them IBB, El-Rufai, Abdulsalam, Tanko Yakassai, Bukola Saraki,
Myetti Allah, El-Zakzaky, Ali Modu Sheriff to mention but few, sure of being alive in 2023?

Instead of focusing on how to reduce Nigeria’s mountainous and disgraceful problems, all they
commit their time and energy to is the presidency – how to occupy it until extinct Mohammed
comes knocking! Our children are suffering and getting increasingly angry! They are taking up
extreme crimes to put food on their tables and to put clothes on their backs! Our workers are
working more for less, unable to fend for their families adequately with the paltry salary they are
paid by a system that feeds politicians increasingly fatter with money meant for public welfare.
Hospitals are insufficient in number. The ones available are under-equipped. People go there for
cure and are swallowed by death! What a tragedy!

Our schools are now brothels where randy men go to shop for prostitutes. Indeed, our daughters
now sell their virtue to buy books and food at school! Our sons are now deadly kidnappers,
desperate and avid subscribers to blood-rituals for money-making! What about the police and
soldiers that politicians use to capriciously maim and kill Nigerians protesting against their
demonic governance? Are they well-catered for?

Patience is running out on all politicians who believe that God is either asleep or is their cohort.
Soon the demonism and witchcraft that drives their spirit against unity, peace, progress and
happiness in Nigeria will be arrested by Maharaj Ji and the world will know who is actually who!
Nigeria will not be raped and ruined forever! The country destined to lead Africa and the world in
the emerging Golden Age of global peace and abundance for all cannot be robbed eternally. No
condition is permanent!

As for serpentine behaviors of certain African leaders and politicians like those who are diverting
public money meant for public utilities and developmental projects for private use and forcing us
on the road for fifteen (15) hours on a journey of 70 Kilometers and who are opposing laws for
the common good of the people for their personal interests, crawling from coven to mosque and
the church in their satanic commitment to keeping us rotten and wretched, I remind them that no
matter how big or poisonous a snake is, it cannot escape ‘disgrace’ when its time of tyrannical
presence in the wrong place expires. I advise politicians of their kind spread across Nigeria and
Africa to leave the people alone before it’s too late for them to cry and beg. A word is enough for
the wise. I have close to a thousand speaking to them here!

My Love and Blessings

SATGURU MAHARAJ JI
(LIVING PERFECT MASTER)

36 Dead Cows: You’re A Warmonger, Arewa Youths Attack

Gani Adams
The Arewa Youths Movement has called the Aare Ona Kankafo of Yorubaland, Chief Gani
Adams a warmonger for asking the cattle herders in Yoruba land to vacate the region.

The group was reacting to a statement credited to Adams and published on Saturday's edition of
the New Telegraph on Saturday where he allegedly demanded that cattle herders leave
Yorubaland.

In a statement issued in Kano by the National Publicity Secretary of Arewa Youths Movement
(AYM), Mallam Abdulrahman Mohammed, and made available to Nigeria Today on Sunday, the
group "condemned the unguarded and uncouth statements credited to Chief Gani Adams".

The group said Adams is beating drums of war and called on President Muhammadu Buhari,
Southwest governors, the Department of Security Service, DSS and the Inspector General of
Police to protect the cattle herders, which the group said, are only going about their legitimate
businesses.

The statement read in part: "Our attention has been drawn to a publication which was
prominently published in the front page of Saturday, September 28th, 2019 of Telegraph
Newspapers, with the headline "36 Dead Cows: 'Leave Yorubaland Now' - Gani Adams Tells
Herders".

"This happened as a result of a recent tragedy in Ijare Community area of Ifedore Local
Government of Ondo State where 36 cows of our people Killed by lightning, which is nothing but
the wish and the will of Almighty Allah.

"In the said statement which was credited to the leader of Oodua People's Congress (OPC), Chief
Gani Adams, he said: "They (the herders) should move out of the South-West immediately
because they don’t have anywhere to stay in the zone. The South-West will not be convenient for
them, warning that the sad occurrence is just a tip of the iceberg and a caution to herdsmen and
other livestock shepherds."

We’ll Transform Our Water Sector Narrative - Gov.

Ugwuanyi
Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has assured the people of the state that his
administration will transform the subsisting water sector narrative in his second tenure in keeping
with the administration’s avowed mandate to optimize supply of potable water to Enugu residents
and beyond.

Gov. Ugwuanyi disclosed his administration has designed interventions in the water sector for
immediate implementation, following the inauguration of the State Executive Council a few days
ago.

The governor added his administration has consequently profiled the sustainable provision of
potable water as a critical mission, “that must be accomplished in this second tenure of our
administration to the glory of God”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi, who made the disclosure during the inauguration of Ezi Omume Water Scheme,
built by Enugu Ngwo General Assembly, Enugu North Local Government Area, for the
community in commonality of purpose with the state government, stated that “the narrative on
our Water Sector is on the threshold of change”.

He pointed out that the planned intervention in water supply by his administration will serve as
stop-gap measure before the French Development Agency supported Fifty Million Dollar 3rd
National Urban Water Sector Reform Project for the state, comes on stream fully.

The governor, who expressed delight with the people of Enugu Ngwo for the successful
execution of the project, noted that it underscores their resourcefulness as “a foremost community
with rich history of republicanism and early contact with western civilization”.

While thanking individuals and groups who played different roles in facilitating the delivery of
the flagship community-based water project, Gov. Ugwuanyi, who observed some contentions
over the project, admonished indigenes of the community to urgently pursue healing of
communal division and peace building.

He stressed that, “it is in their enlightened self-interest to do so, if they desire to keep pace with
modern development and progress”.

In his address, the President of Enugu-Ngwo General Assembly, Nze Bro. John Enwu,
appreciated Gov. Ugwuanyi for his administration’s numerous interventions in the community
such as the reconstruction of the ancient and undulating Milliken Hill Road that spanned through
the community, encouragement of their people in politics and “your visible efforts geared towards
salvaging our community from the threat of erosion”, among others.

Enwu explained that because of the difficult terrain and topography of the community, they had
to sink the boreholes at Ukaka Village, which is three villages away from Enugu-Ngwo, to be
able to source the water and afterwards piped the water to the highest point and many parts of the
community.

He disclosed that Enugu North Local Government Area, under the administration of Hon. Emma
Onoh, partnered the community in the water project by providing the mega 150 KVA Generator
that powers the pump station.

The President revealed that eight staff, including graduates, skilled workers and technicians have
been recruited to operate the scheme, adding: “We shall still employ more people as we continue
to improve” to serve the residents of the area.

Also at the event were the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Hon. Augustine
Nnamani, Member representing Enugu North Constituency, Hon. Ibe Onoh, Bishop of Diocese of
Enugu North (Anglican Communion), Ngwo, Rt. Rev. Sosthenes Eze, among others.

Enugu State is in the hands of God. #amokelouis

Full Blown Dictatorship As DSS Arrests Journalist Chido

Onuma
Mr Onumah, a journalist and author, was arrested at the Abuja airport on Sunday evening, an
associate told PREMIUM TIMES.

The journalist returned to Nigeria from Spain where he recently bagged a doctorate in
communication studies.

He arrived via a Lufthansa airline and was waiting for his luggage at about 5:00 p.m. when SSS
officials accosted him, the associate who was at the airport to receive Mr Onumah told
PREMIUM TIMES.
It is believed that Mr Onumah, at about 5:00 p.m., was taken to the SSS headquarters in Abuja.

Mr Onumah, author of We Are All Biafrans, is a regular columnist and is an editorial board
member of PREMIUM TIMES.

He has, using his writings and his civic whistleblowers’ network, called for good governance and
anti-corruption in Nigeria. He is also an advocate for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation.

The SSS is yet to give any reason for Mr Onumah’s arrest.

Efforts to reach the SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, were not successful on Sunday evening.
He did not pick calls to his phone.

More details to follow…

Lagos Light Rail And The Problem Of Accountability -

Businessday
For a city of over 22 million people, it is inconceivable that the predominant means of
transportation is road. Every day, more than eight million commuters are cramped into a tiny and
often bad network of 9,100 roads.

A study, in 2017, rated Lagos the third most stressful city in the world just after Baghdad and
Kabul. Lagosians spend an average of seven hours twenty minutes daily in traffic. A journey of
less than 50 kilometres from the Murtala International Airport to Ajah could last for eight hours,
as a CNN journalist discovered recently, far more than his six-hour flight from Instanbul to
Lagos. As at 2006, it was estimated that the city’s transport infrastructure and services were at
levels that supported a population of six million some 20 years ago.

The absence of a modern transport infrastructure in Lagos and the consequent heavy traffic
gridlocks on the roads comes with huge costs to the city and its inhabitants, the state, the country
and the economy. The business community alone loses an average of N11 billion monthly to the
traffic. In 2015, the former governor of the state, Tunde Fashola, says the state loses N250 billion
annually to the traffic while the Apapa traffic alone costs the country about $19 billion annually.
The economic as well as health, emotional and relational costs to individuals and families is
colossal and incalculable.

In 2006, the government developed a transportation master plan that will integrate road, water,
rail, and cable-car transportation to provide one of the most efficient systems of transportation in
a megacity. Shortly after, in 2008, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was launched as a stopgap
measure while seven train lines were planned to link all parts of the states and even Ogun state
with light rail.

However, due to paucity of funds, only the contract for the Blue Line (the 27-kilometre Badagry
line running from Okokomaiko to Marina via Iddo) was awarded at the colossal cost of $1.2
billion (compared to similar projects in other parts of Africa awarded for just a fraction of that
amount) to be completed in 2011. It was projected others will be awarded subsequently and the
entire master plan will be completed by 2020.

However, since then, the Blue Line is yet to be completed and there is no indication that the state
government is still interested or working to meet the timeline of the Master Plan.
Meanwhile, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, a similar contract was awarded for a 34 kilometre and 39
station electrified light rail network in 2012. By September 2015, Addis Ababa, a city of only 4
million people, made history by becoming the first sub-Saharan city to have a light rail system.

Unlike Lagos, Ethiopia began its own construction in 2012, four years after Lagos and at the cost
of $475 million but completed it on record time. However, Lagos is still battling with its $1.2
billion 27-kilometre rail system eleven years now with no completion in sight.

There are many questions begging for answers from the Lagos state government. First, why
would a 27-kilometre project cost $1.2 billion when a 34-kilometres project cost only $475
million?

Second, the China Railway Construction Company (CRCC), contractors of the light rail project,
in its 2010 report, put the cost as $182 million. Why is this so?

Third, what is responsible for the endless delays in the completion of the project despite
reassurances from Fashola in 2010 that funding for the project was guaranteed through a loan by
the World Bank?

Fourth, by what magic did the Ethiopians complete a 34-kilometres rail project in a record time
of 3 years while Lagos has been battling with a 27-kilometre rail project unsuccessfully for 11
years?

My search for answers since 2015 has yielded absolutely no result. First, the state government
has refused to release the contract papers for the project and have refused to answer any question
or queries from any quarters on the project.

In 2015, I seized the opportunity of the visit of the then Mayor of London, Alderman Alan
Yarrow, with private sector investors, to inspect the project and explore collaboration to ask Dayo
Mobereola, then MD of the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) about the
discrepancies.

He flatly denied that a loan was secured for the project. He attributed the delays to funding
challenges and the challenge of engaging the right partners to drive the project. He said the state
desperately needed private investor partners who could run the system for a period of 30 years
and hoped the visit by the Mayor of London will open new vistas of opportunity and attract the
right investors.

Of course, seeing the miasma associated with the project, nothing came out of the visit and no
investor indicated interest.

By 2017, the Lagos state government changed tact and abandoned the project, coming up with a
nonsensical idea of flooding the city with buses as its solution to transportation and traffic
gridlock in the state. One Sunday evening, Ambode, former governor of Lagos state invited
senior journalists and editors to his office to sell the new plan to them. He invited questions and
by the time I asked him about the project, he not only refused to answer me, but abruptly ended
the programme and some of my colleagues blamed me for ruining the event.

The current governor, Jide Sanwo-Olu has also adopted the same strategy by conspicuously
refusing to say anything on the Lagos light rail project and the 2006 transport master plan, even
as the traffic gridlock in the city continues to worsen. Instead, to excite people, he has introduced
another nonsensical idea through the new Eko Innovation Centre, purporting to dedicate $5
million to any innovative idea that can solve the traffic situation in Lagos.

The fraud that is the Lagos light rail project in many ways reflects the way governance and public
projects are undertaken in Nigeria. Contracts are usually over-inflated, awarded to party or client
members as rewards for loyalty and are poorly, if at all, executed. It also demonstrates the
bankrupt nature of our political elite who do not even show enlightened self-interest.

If Addis-Ababa, with a population of just 4 million could be so pro-active to provide the

inhabitants of the city with a fast, efficient, and modern transportation system to move
approximately 600,000 people daily and decongest the roads, how much more urgent can the
Lagos light rail system be, in a city with a population of over 22 million and which is
synonymous with killing traffic jams and hold-ups that sometimes lasts 12 hours at a stretch?

Buhari & His Country Want To Put An End To Us - Benin

Republic Traders
Dozens of baskets brimming with newly-picked tomatoes gently rot in the sticky heat, becoming
the latest casualty in a bout of trade tension between Benin and Nigeria.

On August 19, President Muhammadu Buhari unexpectedly closed Nigeria’s borders to goods
trade with Benin and Niger, declaring the time had come to end rampant smuggling from those
countries.

In Benin, Nigeria’s neighbour to the west, traders say the impact has been devastating.

“This is a distressing sight,” Agriculture Minister Gaston Dossouhoui said this month, visiting
markets in the town of Grand Popo, one of the main agricultural communities of southern Benin.

“It’s very difficult for our producers. It’s a disaster.”

“Financially speaking, Benin’s small producers are under water — they’ve already had to run up
millions (of CFA francs) in debt,” said Adjeoda Amoussou, head of Benin’s Chamber of
Agriculture.

Buhari defended the closure by saying Benin and Niger — Nigeria’s neighbour to the northeast
— had failed to police their borders properly, and chronic smuggling was the result.

“The borders will remain closed until our neighbours control what goes through the borders and
comply with the laws,” warned Hameed Ali, comptroller general of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The move immediately caused a shockwave.

Unilateral border closures go against all commercial and freedom of movement treaties signed
under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Kaduna Islamic School Of Torture: Is Outraging, But

Nigerians Are Not Outraged!
This Is Outraging, But Nigerians Are Not Outraged. Why?

KADUNA, Nigeria (Reuters) - When Jibril had tried to escape as a boy from an institution in
Nigeria that called itself a place of Islamic teachings, he said he was hung up by his arms until
bones in his shoulders broke.

Another teenager, one of about 400 men and boys freed in Thursday's police raid, said boys were
often kept in chains and those caught stealing food were whipped until they bled.

"They used car engine belts and electrical cables to flog us," 15-year-old Suleiman told Reuters,
staring at the floor. "Teachers used to sexually harass us ... They tried to loosen my pants once but
I fought them off and was beaten."

Horror stories are emerging about life in a two-storey house in Nigeria's northern city of Kaduna
as the authorities try to find families of the victims who often spent years at the site.

Police arrested seven adults in the raid on the building, which had a sign in Arabic at the entrance
declaring itself "House of Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal for the Application of Islamic Teachings".

Some parents paid fees, believing it was an Islamic school. Some described it as a good
institution and dismissed talk of abuse. Others saw it as a correctional facility. Police and regional
officials said it was not registered as either.

Despite mixed accounts about its role, the abuse reported by victims has thrown a spotlight on
Nigeria's struggle to provide enough school places for its rapidly expanding population, leaving a
gap for unregulated institutions that poor parents sometimes turn to.

The West African nation's population will swell from 190 million to 400 million by 2050,
according to U.N. figures. Primary education is officially free but about 10.5 million Nigerian
children aged five to 14 are not in school.

"Nigeria is facing a demographic tidal wave," said Matthew Page, an associate fellow with the
Africa Programme at Britain's Royal Institute of International Affairs.

"The long-term viability of the Nigerian economy - and the state itself - hinges on the
government, religious, and traditional institutions developing a plan to address this challenge
before it becomes impossible to remedy," he said.
Prior to Thursday's police raid, those who made it out of the Kaduna institution were sometimes
returned by families. Some parents said they needed to discipline wayward children and others
said they were too poor to look after all their kids.

Kaduna state government said there were at least 77 boys under 18 years old held there. The
youngest was five.

Reuters spoke with seven victims and five parents of those who had been inside, withholding
their full names to protect their privacy.

SHACKLED

All the victims said beatings were regular and said children and men were frequently shackled.
Days were dark, long and hungry: food was only served at 10 a.m. and 11 p.m.

Suleiman's elder brother sent him to the institution five months ago for skipping school. He was
signed up to board while he studied Arabic and Islam's holy book, the Quran.

"They beat us everywhere in the house, even in the mosque. If you asked to speak with your
family, they would shackle you," said the 15-year-old, who showed sores, scabs and scars on
back.

When Suleiman and three friends were caught trying to steal some garri - a staple food made
from cassava shavings - they were stripped and whipped, he said.

"When the police raided the school the whole place was in pandemonium, we were so happy," he
said. "What I want now is to return home. I'll be a good boy."Jibril, now 17 and who was hung up
for trying to escape when he was 10, said boys faced a stark choice: submit to regular sexual
assault or be beaten. Jibril chose beatings.

"The teachers and prefects raped boys. Those who were sexually molested were enticed with
canned fish. Those of us who refused were caned," he said, blaming a scar beside his left eye on a
caning. "They used planks of wood to beat us."

He now struggles to raise his arms since his punishment for trying to escape. He was sent home
for six months after that incident. His family returned him when he had healed.

Jibril and Suleiman are now in a safehouse on the edge of Kaduna while the authorities try to find
their relatives. Their temporary home is filled with laughter as boys and teenagers, up to 17 years
old, play together. Those adults who were freed are staying in a neighboring building.

At the Kaduna institution, relatives were not allowed to see boys for three months after admission
and had limited visiting rights after that, parents and children said. Punishment was swift for
those who talked of any abuse, boys said.

"If anyone tried to tell their family, they would be hung up from a wall or put in chains," said 14-
year-old Umar, whose grandfather sent him to the facility two years ago for skipping school.

SEXUAL ABUSE
About 40 police officers finally raided the building, acting on a complaint by an uncle who was
denied access to his nephews.

Police said they found several boys and men in chains. Reuters filmed victims in chains on
Thursday after the raid. Some boys said they were shackled to broken power generators, which
they dragged around, including to bed or the bathroom.

Police said they expected to charge seven people, who they said ran the institution, over physical
and sexual abuse allegations. Those arrested could not be reached for comment.

The building lies in Rigasa, a rundown Muslim district of Kaduna, a city that, like Nigeria, is
evenly split between Muslims and Christians.

Reuters journalists who visited the labyrinthine building saw wheels and generators attached to
metal chains. Floors were strewn with litter and stained sponge mattresses. Flies swarmed.

Children begged in the traffic on the streets outside.

Islamic schools, known as Almajiris, are common across the mostly Muslim north of Nigeria.
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), a local organization, estimates about 10 million children
attend Islamic schools in the north.

President Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim, has sought to encourage school attendance, with
programs that include one offering free school meals that the government says reaches 9.8
million children in 32 of Nigeria's 36 states.

But Nigeria, an oil producing state whose finances by the government's admission have been
drained by corruption, only spends 0.5% of gross domestic product on health and 1.7% on
education, among the lowest worldwide, the International Monetary Fund said.

With few options, some parents defended the Kaduna institution, which charged fees of 35,000
naira ($114) a term.

"There is no problem in this school," said a woman who only gave her name as Zainab, wearing a
Muslim veil and speaking outside the locked gates. She said she had seven children at the
institution where she cooked meals and had not seen any abuse.

Ahmed Balrabe, a tailor who lives next to the site, said two of his children attended the school
and he had never encountered any abuse. "It was good for them, they became calm," he said.
"They showed them how to read the Quran. I liked it."

(Reporting by Alexis Akwagyiram; Additional reporting by Garba Muhammad and Afolabi

Sotunde; Editing by Katharine Houreld and Edmund Blair)
Biafran War Veteran Demonstrating What Happened
During The Biafran Nigeria War
Biafran War Veteran Demonstrates What Happened During The Biafran Nigeria War In 1967.
An elderly Biafran and war veteran was pictured demonstrating what happened during the biafran
Nigeria war in 1967.
According to the video, he lied down on the floor and started demonstrating how he fought in the
biafran war in 1967.
Watch the video below:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3AxoL0FbTY/?utm_source=ig_embed

September 30

Detained Nigerian Activist, Chido Onumah Has Been

Released By DSS
Nigerian activist, Chido Onumah who was arrested on Sunday, September 29th has been
released.

Onumah was arrested by the State Security Service, SSS, at the Abuja airport on Sunday evening
at about 5:00 p.m. He was taken to the SSS office in Abuja and detained for about five hours and
he was eventually released a few minutes past 10 p.m.

Taiwo Adebowale, an associate of Onumah confirmed news of his release to PremiumTimes

adding that the SSS is yet to give any reason for his arrest.

Onumah, author of ‘We Are All Biafrans,’ is a regular columnist and an editorial board member
of Premium Times.

Chido Onumah: DSS Arrested Me For Wearing 'We Are All

Biafrans' T-shirt
Sunday evening said he was told that his arrest was because he wore a shirt with the
inscription: ‘We Are All Biafrans.’

The news of the Arrest Of Journalist , Chido Onumah, by men of the Department of State Service
(DSS) on Sunday unsettled the media space and Vanguard can now confirm the real reason the
author of the book, We Are All Biafrans was arrested and released after hours.

Upon arrival at Abuja airport 4pm on Sunday, Onumah spent sometime clearing his luggage and
was expected to have dinner with a friend. He was waiting to confirm the venue of his
appointment when a DSS official walked up to him, flashed his ID card and told him he was to be
questioned in connection with a planned protest.

Onumah, who was wearing a T-shirt with the inscription, WE ARE ALL BIAFRANS, which
happened to be the title of his new book, was led to the DSS office at Central Abuja.
During interrogation, he was asked why he was holding a Nigerian passport and he
confidently replied that “I am Nigerian.”

The DSS officials queried why he was putting on the vest with the inscription, which he
answered by telling them that was the titled of his new book. Onumah further told the DSS
officials that he had more vests in his bag with the same inscription and won’t hesitate to wear
either of them after leaving.

According to source, while at the DSS office, Onumah was reading a book while the officials ran
a check on his profile. “That was when they discovered that he was more Nigerian as anyone can
be.

“They (DSS) now told him (Onumah) that there was an intel they got about some people who
were trying to cause unrest and he was picked because of the inscription on his shirt. They told
him his shirt’s inscription could trigger an unrest and after much dilly daily, He Was Allowed To
Take His Leave ,” the source said.

Yoruba Race Under Siege...time To Go Our Separate Ways

Bayo Oluwasanmi
As Sowore Goes To Court Today, Yoruba Race Under Siege...Time To Go Our Separate Ways By
Bayo Oluwasanmi

The politics of ethnicity has remarkably slow our national development and has remained the sole
engine that drives our modern history.

Nigeria came into being as a result of the British amalgamation of

Northern and Southern colonial territories in 1914. The amalgamation
was an act of colonial convenience for obvious reasons. The Brits
wanted one country stretching from the desert to the Atlantic Coast.
Northern Nigeria couldn't pay its way while southern Nigeria generated
more than enough revenue for its administrative expenses.

The amalgamation laid the historical bitterness, rivalry, and enmity

between the two colonial territories. The two colonies are quite the
opposite of one another. The North is largely Muslim. It was the
center of the erstwhile Islamic Empire called the Sokoto Caliphate.
The Muslim North looks up to the Middle East and other parts of the
Muslim world for affinity, solidarity, and sociopolitical model. The
South is largely Christian and highly influenced by the sociopolitical
pattern of the West and traditional African societies. This was the
beginning of a precarious foundation of our federalism.
The foundations of true federalism are based on the concerns for the
unity and integrity of a culturally diverse nation like ours. Our
historical experience is a sharp contrast to the important foundations
of federalism. Ours is a disruptive and disintegrative sectarian
forces coupled with political rancor and instability prevailing since
independence.

The lopsided power-sharing arrangement between the federal government

and the states fuels precipitation and intensification of ethnic
conflicts. The politics of ethnicity has remarkably slow our
national development and has remained the sole engine that drives our
modern history. The unjust monopoly of power and resources by the
central government has galvanized the federating states to advocate
for the restructuring of the federal system. The Northerners have
never favored restructuring because the status quo guarantees them a
perpetual hold on power and monopoly of resources at the center.

Of the 58 years of independence, the northerners have been in

political and economic control of the central government for 40 years.
They have always found it compelling to capture the central
government. Indeed, they believe in the self-fulfilling prophecy that
they “are born to rule Nigeria” forever. The arrogation and arrogance
to be in perpetual control of the central government have further
marginalized other federating units in the union.

In all the years they have been in power at the center, the
northerners have used diverse strategies and tactics to maintain and
perpetuate the grip on power at the federal level. For 40 years they
have been responsible for the economic neglect and infrastructural
decay of Nigeria. Full of monumental incompetence, they are the
unrepentant pirates and predators of our economy. Because of their
long hold on power at the center, they, more than any other ethnic
group in Nigeria, hindered the process of national development and
integration.

For all these years, the northerners who headed the central government
are icons of corruption. National funds allocated for developments
never reached the target groups and purpose.

Agreed all the different ethnicities that have served as Nigeria's

Heads of State or Presidents have performed woefully abysmal. However,
the northerners who have been in charge for most of the years are the
most generously deficient in democratic leadership. They lack
sacrifice, courage, initiative, imagination, wisdom, and vision. The
northerners have exhibited crass incompetence more profoundly than any
of the groups because they have no idea of what participatory
leadership, servant leadership, transformation leadership,
super-leadership, and value leadership mean.
They have consistently opposed progressive ideas that would chip away
their hold on the center. The northerners have always fought against
everything progressive and prosperous for true federalism. They oppose
devolution of power (restructure), resource control, derivation
principle, revenue sharing formula, state police, and the development
and exploitation of mineral resources nationwide. In fact, they want
the current 13 percent derivation to be further reduced.

The latest assault from the Fulani hegemonic morons is coming from
Emperor Muhammadu Buhari who has completely dismantled the bedrock of
our democracy: the rule of law. As if under a spell, Nigerians watch
helplessly without putting up any fight, the abrogation of any
semblance of rule of law by Buhari. Framed on trumped-up charges,
Omoyele Sowore, the pro-democracy activist and former presidential
candidate will be arraigned in court today. Sowore is standing trial
on 7-count charge for treason, money laundering, insulting the
president, among others. He has been detained for almost 60 days.
Emperor Buhari, a Sunni Muslim, refused to release Sowore on bail as
ruled by the court. We consider the systemic persecution and
oppression of Sowore as a declaration of war against the Yoruba race.

To Yoruba bastards, prodigals, crumb eaters, backstabbers, traitors,

alatenujes, and akindanidanis and others who hold cabinet positions in
Buhari administration are the willing allies and ready tools in the
hands of Buhari. I have a word for you: Stop selling your birthrights
for a bowl of amala. Stop playing second fiddle to Buhari. Stop
selling your own people to Buhari and Fulani terrorists. Now is the
time for all Yorubas regardless of party persuasion and religious
affiliation to come together and fight the Fulani oppressors and get
out of this doomed nation... It’s Oduduwa or nothing else!

This is it. The battle lines are drawn. Yorubas, consider this: Why
should we continue to elect these political parasites into office
whose agenda is not the Nigerian agenda? Why should we abdicate
leadership of this nation to the narrow-minded, selfish, power-hungry
feudal imperialists? What are we doing with northerners known for
their deformed vision and spineless leadership?
Yoruba Ronu!

DSS: How We Rescued Chido Onumah From Intended Mob

Attack
The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied media reports that it arrested Chido Onumah,
a journalist and activist.

Mr Onumah was reportedly picked up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport on Sunday
evening.
The activist was said to have returned to the country from where he went for an international
engagement when he was arrested.

But in a statement by Peter Afunanya, spokesman of the DSS, the agency said Mr Onumah was
rescued from an intended mob attack on him over to the inscription on his dress.

This has been corroborated by the activist in his narration to Premium Times where he is a
member of the editorial board.

“The DSS wishes to make clarifications regarding media reports that Dr Chido Onumah was
arrested by the Service. To set the records right, Onumah was never arrested by the Service,” the
statement read.

“He was rather engaged in an interaction during which an act of his capable of undermining
public order and national security was explained to him.

“On his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on September 29, 2019, it
was discovered that Onumah wore a T-shirt with WE ARE ALL BIAFRANS inscription on it.

“With credible intelligence that he might be a subject of mob attack if allowed to go into town in
same clothe, the Service invited him and drew his attention to the implications of his probable
(un)intended action.

“It was strongly believed that an attack on Onumah would have sparked ethno-religious reprisals
with dire consequences for law and order and public safety in the country.

“He understood the issues and pledged not to engage in activities that may cause disaffection in
Abuja and the country at large. He subsequently removed the clothe with the inciting symbols
and inscriptions and agreed not to use it.

“The interaction between Onumah and the Service held in a convivial atmosphere. He
appreciated the courtesies extended to him. Afterwards, the Servcie arranged for him to go back
to his accommodation in town.

“It is hoped that this clarification has dispelled the erroneous claims and reportage that he was
arrested. The Service acted within the confines of its mandate and only carried out its routine
security duty that could have been discharged by a similar agency in any part of the world.

“It is not out of place for concerned security agencies to have sought clarification from a traveller
concerning a subject of security interest.

“The DSS reaffirms its avowed commitment to the rule of law and protection of citizens and
national critical assets,” the statement added.
Sowore: I Am Ready For Buhari Regime's Ridiculous
Charges

Omoyele Sowore has expressed his readiness to begin the re-arraignment process of the fresh charges
laid before him by the Department of State Services and the Nigerian government.

Sowore appeared in court for the first time today since he was abducted by the DSS on August 3.

Sowore, who is being arraigned before Justice Ijeoma on a seven-count charge, spoke to journalists
briefly inside the courtroom.

"We are in court, of course to attend to their ridiculous charges and we are ready for them," Sowore
said with a smile on his face.

The DSS has failed to obey a court order by Justice Taiwo Taiwo to release Sowore on bail following
the expiration of the 45-day detention order granted to the DSS.

Oyo State: Churches, Mosques With Revenue-earning

Businesses Will Pay Tax
The Oyo state government says churches and mosques with revenue-generating ventures and
businesses will not be exempted from paying taxes and applicable levies.

John Adeleke, executive chairman of the Oyo state internal revenue service, made this known
while addressing journalists on Sunday in Ibadan.

The taxman said the government is working to capture other areas that had not been explored to
generate more revenue instead of increasing taxes on business enterprises to boost internally
generated revenue (IGR).

On the government’s decision to exempt churches and mosques from paying taxes, Adeleke
clarified that those with revenue-earning ventures and other businesses would pay taxes, levies
and other fees as applicable.

“A culture of an efficient and leak-proof collection in all areas of revenue would be put in place,”
NAN quoted him to have said.

“Instead of tax increment, we are emphasising the efficient collection of existing revenue and we
are bringing our informal sector into the tax net.

“The good performance of Gov. Makinde has also changed the attitude of the stakeholders toward
tax payment as most of them are responding without any reminder.

“However, the economy is a big challenge for many companies as this has an implication on Pay
As You Earn (PAYE) remittances.”
The chairman further explained that some taxpayers that were reluctant to respond are being
served reminders after which thorough enforcement would follow.

“However, the economy is a big challenge for many companies as this has an implication on Pay
As You Earn (PAYE) remittances.”

The chairman further explained that some taxpayers that were reluctant to respond are being
served reminders after which thorough enforcement would follow.

He. however, assured the people that any step to be taken to enforce the tax drive would be legal.

2023 Presidency: Bashir Tofa 'Zoning Is Dead In Nigeria'

Remember Bashir Othman Tofa? He is a Nigerian politician from Kano State and was the
National Republican Convention (NRC) candidate in the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential
election, won by his rival Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola of the Social Democratic
Party, SDP, but the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida never released the official
results.

In this interview with ABDUL HASSAN, the businessman turned politician declared that zoning
of the highest political office in the country, the presidency, is dead and as such the South should
not expect the North to relinquish power at the end of President Buhari’s second term in 2023. He
said the struggles and power game within the APC and PDP pose grave dangers and threats to the
nation’s democracy. He also said he is not averse to joining the next presidential race if God
permits.

Do you think the North has gotten a fair share in the leadership of this country?

The North hardly complains about any fair share of leadership in Nigeria, unless it becomes
absolutely necessary. Even then, very quietly. The North firmly believes that it is within the right
of any President to appoint people he trusts and deeply believes will execute his agenda. Some
people believe otherwise. The constitution requires however that the President reflects the
makeup of Nigeria in his appointments, with acute consideration for merit in respect to each
appointment he makes. If that is done and, in addition, every part is served equitably in line with
their needs, such complaints will diminish, like it is in almost all developed societies. What you
do and set out to achieve will be more important than the consideration of the racial, ethnic or the
religious make up of who you appoint.

Nigeria has been and remains till date a tribal and fragmented society. We refuse to do what is
required to move us forward and develop the country for the benefit of all. We still see ethnicity
and religion in almost everything we do. We are truly underdeveloped. Unless we cross that line,
we will remain disunited and in fear and suspicion of each other.

One of our (Nigerian) main problem is that we are still just a collection of people in a
geographical area called Nigeria; we are just a country. We have been unwilling and unable to
grow into a Nation State. May be it is because the country was put together, perhaps with the
clear objective of serving the interests of the colonial masters, but not the collective interests of
the people. I often wonder who among our founding fathers negotiated and signed the so-called
1914 amalgamation document. Some of them were toddlers in 1914, and most were not even
born then. I hope some historians will answer this question for us. Who signed it on our behalf,
and who gave them the mandate to do that?

My belief is that this country was put together without the agreement of the people that were
supposed to make it up. Even the various constitutions, those colonial constitutions and the ones
we wrote in 1979 and revised in 1999, were really not agreements between the various groups.
They were laws and guidelines of a general nature. That’s all.

In a 1986 book manuscript (In Search of Unity) which I wrote, and which remains unpublished
till date, but which I keep revising due to changing events in Nigeria, I suggested that the various
groups of ethnicities in Nigeria needed to sit, discuss and agree, within themselves first, as to how
and under what conditions they would want to live in a country such as this, mindful, of course,
of other peoples’ desires and rights. Thereafter, representatives of each of these groups should
come and sit all together in a well organised, authoritative and mandated Conference to make the
necessary compromises and reach binding agreements that will be the basis of amending our
current constitution, or writing a completely new one. I think all the current calls for restructuring
of Nigeria is about this.

Here, a fundamental question may likely arise. What if a section decides that they would come to
the Conference with the sole purpose of negotiating an exit from the Union? A kind of “Nexit”.
However it is perfectly possible that negotiating to remain will be successful.

Nigerians are already looking forward to 2023, do you support zoning or rotational presidency?

I have never supported rotational presidency for the simple fact it is an idea that will never
promote unity amongst Nigerians. It is a very divisive and myopic formula. What Nigeria needs
is a Nigerian President, not a sectional or zonal President, who is there simply because he/she is
from a particular zone or region of the country. For zones to be clamoring for Presidency as a do
or die affair during each election cycle, is certainly one major factor for the utter disunity we
experience in these difficult times. Rotational Presidency is utterly undemocratic and unfair to
qualified people who have ambitions to lead their country, but won’t be availed with the
opportunity because they are from the wrong zone at that material time. The shouts of “it must be
our turn” from one or two zones, and “no, it is not”, are the consequence of rotational presidency,
which are very inimical to the unity of this country.

This rotational blunder is a PDP invention with the intention of settling some political confusion
and dilemma. But even they (PDP) had to break this understanding by using a new sinister term
they invented, known as “the doctrine of necessity”, that allowed a Vice President from a
different zone, not only to complete the term of the deceased President (which he was entitled to
do by the constitution), but to contest the election to become the next President, even though it
was not the turn of his zone, in accordance with the rotational understanding. Had the idea of
rotation was unknown; the “doctrine of necessity” would have been unnecessary. The President
would just go on to contest the election with the permission of his party without any rancour.

The ANPP had never openly or even quietly promoted this idea of rotation. At that party’s
presidential conventions, aspirants from all parts of the country were free to contest. Delegates
were also free to elect anyone they saw fit. President Buhari contested three times (2003, 2007
and 2011) with other aspirants from all parts of the country and emerged the candidate of the APP
and later ANPP, not because he was from the North, but because the delegates thought he was a
better candidate for their party at those times.

Democracy should not be limited and exclusive. It must be an open and transparent affair that is
inclusive and gives everyone a fair chance to seek whatever elective office he/she is qualified to
contest in accordance with the rules.

It is, therefore, easy to see that rotational presidency is diametrically opposed to democracy.
People with ambitions, who are qualified must be allowed to participate, whoever and from
wherever they are. A candidate who lost knows that he is out not because he is from a wrong
zone, but simply because he/she lost the contest in the party primaries. The same thing for the
state and national secondary elections. Allowing for full democracy and fair participation of all is
the best way to safeguard our national cohesion, peace and prosperity.

Unless political parties drop rotational presidency and make announcements to that effect in good
time, the 2023 election will certainly be a bridge too far for this country. The power struggles and
acute, almost sickening ambitions of certain people within the two main parties, juxtaposed with
the determination of certain zones to assume the presidency in 2023, are a clear sign of the
dangers and the threats to democracy that we will be faced with.

Some leaders like Governor Nasiru Ahmed el-Rufai are already asking that North should still
contest the presidency after Buhari, do you agree?

I believe my answer above, is clear on this issue. All parties should forsake rotation right now,
and give everybody the opportunity to contest whatever elective post he/she is qualified to
contest. I know that some section may vote in block, but that is their choice, and they will reap
the consequences for their action. Nonetheless, there are sure to be people who will cross the
divisive lines of ethnicity and religion and cast their votes in favour of the person they believe
will serve their purposes better. We have seen this many times before. If we get used to electing
people based on their records, merit, qualifications and their programmes, then we will be well on
the way to becoming a nation of unity, peace and development.

The biggest dilemma that we may be faced with, in my opinion, is whether these two main
political parties (APC and PDP) will survive the tremors within them. They are like volcanoes
waiting to erupt! It is for this reason that the thought and even the preparations for a new
genuinely national party or parties, populated with credible and dependable people, free of these
rancours, and built with the genuine vision and courage to unite this country again in peace and
national prosperity, may be quite timely.

Would you still aspire to lead Nigeria again if the opportunity arises?

In life, and in good health and available opportunities, one must never say, never again. Every
matter will be as Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) decreed, for He has power over all things. Who
would know what is in store for each of us, except Him, the all knowing?

What I can also tell you is, it is not in my plans, right now, to seek any elective office. But, like I
said, Allah’s plans will prevail over all other plans. If for whatever reason I find myself up there,
my only wish is to serve this country with dedication, fairness and honesty; actively promoting
peace, security, unity and prosperity for all Nigerians without exception. I have this urge in me, to
make all Nigerians feel they are equal, living in a land of know how, not of know who.

If you are the president of this country, what will you do differently from what is being done
now?

I will certainly build on the efforts being made on security, peace, unity and prosperity of all
Nigerians. Another thing I would certainly do with keen determination, is to convince the
members of the National Assembly to accept not more than N2 million a month, based on full
sitting allowance.

Thirdly, I will also plug all wastages, lower taxes and make sure I strengthen all our institutions.
Another important thing I will certainly do is to pay attention to education, employment and
empowerment, especially of our teeming youths all over the country. Any money or jobs
allocated, will be equitably shared among the States, and I will also mandate each State to share it
among qualified people in their State, and in accordance with the guidelines.

How will you assess Buhari’s administration on its campaign planks of economy , security and
corruption war?

President Muhammadu Buhari (may Allah increase him with health and wisdom) has well
meaning intentions for all sections of the Nigerian people. Assessing performances from one who
is looking in from the outside is totally subjective. It is like a spectator watching a football match.
When he moves his foot to the left, and the player moves his to the right, he blames the player.
But the player is the one in whose front is the ball. And he only knows his circumstance. But if
the player also moves his foot to the left and kick the ball but miss the goal, that would be
regarded as bad luck, whereas in the first case, it would be regarded as a mistake. But, let me just
say that, I am sure President Buhari knows he is the player and no one else. He is also well aware
that this is his last term. Therefore, legacy should be very important to him. I hope he will pay
more attention to issues of security, employment and empowerment. Wherever peace resides, he
must go there and seek it, for without it, we are doomed. The society is boiling almost
everywhere, and special attention should be focused on that.

Do you believe a Deputy Governor or Vice President should succeed his boss for continuity like
Osinbajo succeeding Buhari?

That is what the constitution says. Unless it is changed later, that will be the way it is and shall
remain.

Generally, how can you assess Nigerian democracy within the context of development as
compared to military regime?

We are in a democracy now, and hopefully we will continue to be that, despite the difficulties.
But, in whatever situation Nigeria finds herself, we have to do our best to make the best of it.
Bayelsa Election: APC Branded Salts Go Viral As Part Of
Campaign Gifts
A lot has been happening recently as we draw close to the Bayelsa State Governorship elections,
as part of the campaign strategy the flag bearer of APC, branded salts of David Lyon’s and his
Deputy’s image is currently making rounds to the locals within the State as part of gift items.

We’re guessing this

is one of the
strategies employed
to buy the heart of
Bayelsans.

I hope these are the

things Bayelsans
really want right
now.
Zaria Transport Institute Can Design Made-In-Nigeria
Vehicles — Amaechi
Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation says the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology
(NITT) Zaria, has all it takes to design Made-in-Nigeria vehicles.

Amaechi stated this in a statement issued by the Director, Public Affairs, NITT, Mr Paul
Mshelizah, which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Zaria.

Mshelizah said the Minister stated this during a familiarisation and facility tour of the institute in
Zaria, Kaduna State during the repositioning retreat by the institute.

OVER 5,000 NIGERIAN MEN HAVE OVERCOME POOR BEDROOM PERFORMANCE

SYNDROME DUE TO THIS BRILLIANT DISCOVERY

Amaechi said: “NITT has all it takes to design a car, I am sure the institute could convince the
Federal Government that it has what it takes to design a made in Nigeria car.

“From design, to engine, to body, then funding will not be an issue, we can create patency for
NITT.”

The Minister expressed satisfaction with the facilities but called on its management to ensure
proper use and adequate maintenance of the equipment.

Amaechi also advised the NITT to seek accreditation from National Universities Commission
(NUC), to run certain diploma programmes toward metamorphosing into a full-fledged university
of transport and logistics.

The Minister pledged the ministry’s support to help in the creation of more faculties in the
institute.

He, however, called for a holistic perusal of the institute’s enabling law to know the scope of its
mandate.

Bandits Sell 20 Katsina Kidnap Victims To Slave Merchants

In Burkina Faso
The Katsina State government may have traced 20 of its indigenes to Burkina Faso where they
were allegedly sold into slavery by armed bandits.

Reports indicate that “modern day slavery” thrives in Burkina Faso, a former French colony
located in the Sahel region of West Africa, with human merchandise exchanging hands through
various middlemen in parts of northern Nigeria, Benin Republic, Republic of Niger and Chad.

Competent sources hinted at the weekend that identification of the current location of some of the
kidnap victims was part of the fall out of recent efforts by Governor Aminu Bello Masari who led
a team of government officials and security agencies to the dreaded Rugu forest, on a dialogue
mission with a cross section of the bandits and kidnappers.

According to one of the sources, “the victims were kidnapped in Kankara local government area
and  sold to a woman in Cotonou who in turn sold them to another slave marchant in Burkina
Faso.”

Confirming the development, Masari’s Special Adviser on Drugs, Narcotics and Human
Trafficking, Hamza Borodo, declined to give further details but said that, “yes, I will be traveling
to Burkina Faso this weekend to negotiate their release but I won’t give you details until I
return.”

Until the dialogue initiative, eight local government areas of Jibia, Batsari, Safana, Dan-Musa,
Kankara, Faskari, Dandume and Sabuwa had become synonymous with banditry and kidnapping,
along with the slaughter of residents in a number of communities.

Incidentally, the areas share boundaries with the Rugu forest, said to transverse through parts of
the neighbouring Niger Republic, Katsina, Zamfara and Kaduna states.

Police Commission Drags IGP, Adamu Mohammed To Court

Over Recruitment Of 10,000
Following the power tussle between the Nigeria Police Force and the Police Service Commission
(PSC) over the recruitment of 10,000 constables approved by President Mohammadu Buhari, the
commission has dragged the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Adamu Mohammed, to court.

The PSC has also suspended all promotion exercises in the Police. The promotion of the Lagos
State Commissioner for Police, Mu’azu Zubairu, and others are also caught up in the web.

The commission also withdrew all delegated powers to the police, including discipline and
promotion of rank and file up to inspectorate cadre.

A competent source told THISDAY that the commission had filed a law suit seeking a restraining
order barring the IG from usurping the powers of the commission.

The suit is also seeking the interpretation of the powers of the commission to handle recruitment,
promotion, discipline and other constitutional powers of the commission.

Court Remands Sowore, Olawale Bakare, Co-Defendant In

DSS Custody
The Federal Court High Court in Abuja on Thursday ordered the remand of the convener of
#RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, in the
custody of the Department of State Security Service (DSS), pending the hearing of their bail
application.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu fixed Friday for the hearing of their bail application.

Sowore was arraigned on seven counts of treasonable felony and other sundry offences.

They pleaded not guilty to the seven counts when read to them.

DSS Stops Sowore From Addressing The Press, Grabs Him

(Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEIzK9K_Scc

https://twitter.com/SaharaReporters/status/1178631827071868930?s=19

https://mobile.twitter.com/west_obi/status/1178636482904559616

Gunshot In Bayelsa Assembly As Speaker Makes Away With

Mace
Security personnel, including officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the
police, have taken over the Bayelsa House of Assembly.

Before the deployment of heavy security, sporadic gunshots were heard within the premises of
the state legislature.

At least 10 security vehicles with several scores of policemen are in the Assembly premises,
which has now been locked to incoming vehicles and visitors.

Confusion arose following the refusal of the speaker, Emmanuel Isenah, to resign as a result of
pressure from the PDP leadership in the state.

Those who are insisting that he must step down are hinging it on the need to balance the power-
sharing formula in the state because he hails from the same area as the PDP candidate, Douye
Diri.

Isenah insists that he remains speaker, while he was allegedly impeached by his colleagues this
morning , following his refusal to resign.

Watch the video Here;

https://twitter.com/tvcnewsng/status/1178644276403675137
Sowore: Court's Order For Activist's Release No Longer Has
Life
- The Department of State Service (DSS) has said that the Federal High Court's order for the
release of Omoleye Sowore is no longer valid considering the current arraignment
- The DSS also denied claims that it denied Sowore and his co-defendant access to their lawyers
- However, A. Olumide, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who is holding brief for Femi
Falana, Sowore's counsel, said that the defendant was denied access to his lawyer.

The Department of State Service (DSS) has denied claims that the publisher of Sahara Reporters,
Omoyele Sowore, and his co-defendant was not allowed access to their lawyers.
The DSS denial followed an allegation by A. Olumide, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who
is holding brief for Femi Falana, Sowore's counsel, that the defendants were not allowed access
to their lawyers prior to their arraignment on Monday, September 30.

The counsel for the DSS, Hassan Liman, said, contrary to Olumide's claim, the charge sheet was
made available to the defendants on September 20, which is 10 days ago.
- DSS Liman also said that it will be a disservice to the Administration of Criminal Justice Act
(ACJA) to say that the prosecution failed to allow the defendants access to their lawyers prior to
arraignment. He also noted that the judgement of the court which the defence counsel had
referred to in his allegation was made by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, pending arraignment.
Liman said: "With respect to the defendant's arraignment, this order no longer has any life." He
also accused the defence and their counsel of playing to the gallery and using the press against
the DSS.

Furious over Liman's submission, Olumide said his colleague gave wrong information to the
court.
He also said there was no interaction between the defendants and their counsel prior to the
arraignment. He added that orders of the court must be obeyed before anyone can come to the
same court for other benefits.

Olumide said that it was only late Sunday, September 29, that the defence team, through the
pages of newspapers, found out that Sowore has allegedly been served papers for arraignment. "It
was also on the pages of newspapers that my learned colleague, Falana, got to know that his
client has been 'served'. "They are the ones running to the media and playing to the gallery, my
lord," a seemingly angry Olumide told the court.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the DSS on Friday, September 27, stopped Sowore's lawyers
from accessing its Abuja office. The counsels were at the office to present documents showing
that he met the bail conditions for the treason and money laundering charges that were levelled
against him.

Opposition Plotting Trouble Ahead Of 2021 Gov Poll –obiano

The Anambra State Governor , Willie Obiano , on Sunday alleged that the opposition in the state
was plotting to introduce criminality in the state ahead of the 2021 governorship poll.

The governor said the aim was to rubbish his security arrangements that had been adjudged as
one of the best in the country to discredit the All Progressives Grand Alliance in the poll.
This came barely a week after the governor said the Peoples Democratic Party in the state was
plotting to destabilise his government , an allegation the PDP chairman in the state , Ndubuisi
Nwobu , described as laughable .

In a statement by the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, C- Don
Adinuba , on Sunday with the title, ‘ Stop politicising Anambra ’ s security , ’ Obiano insisted that
the opposition was out to discredit him because of the 2021 gov poll in the state .

The statement read in part, “ It is embarrassing that as the people and government of Anambra
State are preparing to launch on October 11 , 2019 , the second phase of Operation Mkpochapu
(Operation Wipeout Crime ) to be led by the Inspector General of Police , Mr Adamu Mohammed
, elements of the so - called opposition in the state have launched a counter campaign to scuttle it,
so that Anambra will return to the days when it was almost overrun by kidnappers , armed
robbers , contract murders and other violent criminals . ”

Ondo Police Arrest, Detain Organiser Of ‘osinbajo For 2023

President’ Campaign
Coordinator of a youth group that organised a political rally for Vice President, Prof Yemi
Osinbajo, last week in Akure, Bamise Akintomide, has been arrested by the police in Ondo State,
SaharaReporters has learnt.

It was learnt that he is currently being detained at the Criminal and Investigation Bureau
Department of the Ondo State Police Command headquarters in Akure, the capital.

A source, who confirmed Akintomide's arrest to our correspondent on Monday, said he must have
been picked up for organising a rally in support of the Vice President.

The source said, “He (Akintomide) was arrested by the police. I cannot really say if he was
directly picked up or invited for questioning.

“But I can confirm to you that he has been at the police headquarters in Akure since weekend and
has been detained over there.

“I know his arrest must be connected with the rally he organised last week for Vice President,
Osinbajo, at the APC secretariat.

“A day after he organised the rally, he received lots of strange calls asking him irrelevant
questions.”

Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Undie Adie, denied the arrest of Akintomide when
contacted on Monday.

However, a police source told SaharaReporters on Monday that, “He is in our detention although
his people are trying to ensure his bail.
“His arrest was an instruction from above and that is all I can tell you for now.”

Akintomide had on Thursday organised a rally for Osinbajo's candidacy by unveiling his 2023
presidential campaign poster and banner on the streets of Akure.

Spokesperson for the APC in Ondo, Alex Kalejaye, said that the party had no link whatsoever to
the group.

Buratai: Spiritual Efforts Needed To Defeat Boko Haram

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has said that terrorism and terrorist groups could
not be eliminated alone by the military unless religious bodies and organisations in the country
come to the “forefront of this spiritual battle.”

The army chief noted that the focus must be religious groups interfacing on addressing the
ideologies which fuelled the Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

Buratai stated these on Monday in Abuja at a spiritual warfare seminar at the Nigerian Army
Resource Centre with the theme, “countering insurgency and violent extremism in Nigeria
through spiritual warfare.”

The army chief, who was represented by the Chief of Administration, Maj Gen Sani Yusuf,
therefore, urges Islamic and Christian clerics across the army formations to join the fight against
terrorism, and reorient the people against negative ideologies.

Buratai said, “It is easier to defeat Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists than their ideology because
while we degrade the terrorists and their havens, the narrative of the ideology grows the group.

“Therefore, communities, families, and groups should join in the fight and narratives to reject and
prevent the ideologies of the terrorists and extremist groups.

“Religious bodies and organisations in particular who interface regularly with the grassroots
should be at the forefront of this spiritual battle and fashion out ways of stepping up their roles.

“The fight against terrorism, Boko Haram and ISWAP, as well as other security threats, cannot be
left to the troops in the battlefield alone. Yes, we will do our duties but the need to tackle groups
through spiritual warfare and reorientating the followers against the ideology is also a necessity.

“It is a well-known fact that terrorism and terrorist groups cannot be totally eliminated by mainly
military actions. This means focusing our efforts on the underlying narratives through ideologies
that are employed by these terrorists to lure innocent citizens to their fold.

“The need to defeat the ideologies of Boko Haram and ISWAP is based on the awareness that it is
the ideologies that enhance their resources and help to recruit new fighters to their fold and as
such; kill their ideology and the terrorist movement withers and dies.”
The army chief added that religious leaders and clerics who regularly interfaced with members of
the society must “fashion out ways of stepping up your roles, remembering that the fight against
terrorism is a collective responsibility.”

Nigeria Army Considers Spiritual Warfare To Counter Boko

Haram - Photo
The Army organizes Seminar to engage Spiritual Warfare in the fight against Boko Haram
Donald Trump’s Congratulatory Message To Buhari On
Nigeria’s 59th Independence
Dear Mr. President:

On behalf of the American people, I extend our warmest greetings and congratulate you on the
59th anniversary of Nigeria’s independence.

Nigeria is among our strongest partners in Africa. We share common goals of expanding trade
and growing our economic relationship. We are allies in the global battle against terrorism, and
we want to see Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa driven out of the region and other insurgencies
like them dismantled. The United States welcomes efforts by your administration to diversify
opportunities for your talented, creative, and hardworking people to the benefit of both our
countries, Africa, and the world.

I am pleased that following our meeting last year, our Vice Presidents are also building on our
longstanding history of cooperation. I wish the people of Nigeria continued success as you mark
another year of independence.

Sincerely,

Donald J. Trump

EFCC Re-arraigns Former Benue Governor, Suswam Over

N3.1bn Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned a former governor of
Benue State, Gabriel Suswam, at the Federal High Court Abuja.

Senator Suswam was re-arraigned on Monday on a nine-count charge bordering on money

laundering alongside a former Benue commissioner of finance, Omadachi Oklobia.

The former governor is being accused of diverting N3.1 billion from the proceeds of the sale of
shares owned by Benue Government since 2015.

They both denied the charges and were granted bail on terms earlier granted by Justice Ahmed
Mohammed after they were arraigned before him in 2015.

Justice Okon Abang asked counsels concerned to cooperate with the court, warning that he would
not entertain any frivolous applications for adjournment.

Abang took over the trial of Suswam, following the withdrawal of Justice Mohammed.

Mohammed had cited a publication by Sahara Reporters which accused him of having been
compromised to give Suswam a soft landing as his reason to withdraw from the case.

Justice Abang adjourned the case until October 29, 30 and 31.
Nigeria's 59 Independence: Goodluck Jonathan’s Message
To Nigerians
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigerians should be inspired by numerous
compatriots.

Mr Jonathan said this on Monday ahead of the nation’s 59th independence anniversary on
October 1.

He said: “In these past decades, we have lived with the mixed reality of abundance and lack,
peace and conflict, hope and despair. Despite the challenges, we have kept faith in the strength of
our unity and stood firmly to uphold Nigeria’s honour and glory.

“It is for this spirit, that we have always emerged stronger in the face of trials.”

The former President called on Nigerians to “honour the memory of those who committed their
lives towards advancing the course of our freedom and wellbeing, which this day signifies.”

He added: “We should also be inspired by the efforts of our numerous compatriots whose
heroism and patriotic endeavours have continued to lift the status of our nation.

“No matter the troubles that challenge our glory, we must not despair. Fellow Nigerians, let us
strengthen faith in our country and work together towards a prosperous nation.”

“I Remain The Speaker” – Hon. Tonye Isenah Speaks On

Impeachment
Hon Tonye Isenah, Speaker of Bayelsa House of Assembly on Monday rejected reports of his
impeachment as false and a nullity as he remains the speaker of the house.

There was heavy shooting at the Bayelsa House of Assembly during a session of the assembly
when hundreds of youths stormed the assembly complex in Yenagoa.

Iseanah deferred the session inconclusively for the house to continue on recess.

In any case, young people who assaulted the meeting promptly raged the House, shooting
sporadically and carried off the mace while a few individuals from the Assembly were still in the
chambers.

Some members who sat back reportedly resumed sitting and allegedly impeached the speaker in
absentia whilst the mace had been removed and elected Monday Obolo representing Southern
Ijaw Constituency 2 as speaker.

A legislator who declined to be named said that there was pressure around the Assembly
unpredictable in the development to the sitting where the Speaker was relied upon to leave.

The legislator said that the PDP leadership had advised Isenah to resign or face impeachment for
the party to realign the balance of power since Isenah hails from the same area as PDP’s
candidate in the forthcoming Nov 16 guber poll.

Isenah had held the view that his resignation was untimely and can only happen after the polls

The legislator said that the gathering accepts that giving the situation to Southern Ijaw, the zone
where the up-and-comer of the opponent All Progressives Congress hails from might influence
voters.

Reacting to the development during a brief interview with channels, Isenah said that he remains
the Speaker as he had earlier adjourned the sitting sine die and only him could re-convene the
house to session..

“I did not resign, neither was I impeached, I presided over the house and I did not preside as an
impeached speaker so as we speak the house is on recess and anything done by anyone is a
nullity.

“The speculation that there was an understanding that I will resign is false, I challenge anyone
canvassing that position to come up with a proof, .” Isenah said.

RIVERS POLITICS: Gov Wike Buys Over Ogoni Oil Field

OML11.
The Governor says it has initiated moves to bid for ownership and acquisition of Shell’s over
40% equity share in the Ogoni oil fields.

He said the Rivers State Government is now in negotiation with a new E&P company to
commence oil production in Ogoniland.

Meanwhile many Ogoni sons and daughters have expressed their dissatisfaction over the new
development.

“Wike couldn’t penetrate Kula Ijaw land to buy OML 25.

Wike has just acquired Ogoni’s OML 11.
Wike, is this how Ogoni is Cheap?”

“If you didn’t succeed in Kula, you will never succeed in Ogoni. No kangaroo court judgment
will give you Ogoni oil.”

More details coming

Police Foil Attempt To Cart Away Property In Okorocha’s
Warehouse Sealed By EFCC
... arrest 12, impound two trailers

by Damian Duruiheoma,

The police in Imo State on Monday foiled an attempt by some people to cart away the
property stocked in one of the warehouses seized by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) in Owerri, the state capital.

The police also impounded two trailers allegedly deployed to evacuate the property stocked
in the warehouse and arrested 12 suspects in connection with the crime.

The warehouse, owned by Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, wife of the immediate past governor of
Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, is situated along Aba Road, Owerri.

According to one of the police officers at the facility, the police acted on tip-off, adding that
12 persons were arrested in the act.

“Following a tip-off last night (Sunday), after two trailers had moved into the warehouse
late in the night, a police team was dispatched to the premises”, said the officer, who spoke
to journalists on condition of anonymity.

He added, “Those inside the premises, however, refused to open the gate. The police team,
therefore, cordoned off the building till this morning (Monday, 30/9/19) when we stormed
the premises. The two trailers were impounded and 12 persons arrested.”

The spokesman of the state police command, ASP Orlando Ikokwu confirmed the incident,
adding that two trailers were impounded and taken to the premises of the command
headquarters, Owerri.

It could be recalled that EFCC had last two months ago sealed some properties traced to the
former Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha, as well as those of his family members and
cronies.

The properties include: Dews of Hope Hospital traced to Dr. Paschal Obi, former Principal
Secretary to Okorocha and current member of the House of Representatives; Market Square
Super Market; All in One Shop; and premises belonging to Imo State Broadcasting
Corporation now housing Rochas Foundation College owned by Senator Okoroacha.

Other properties seized by the EFCC include: East High Academy and East High College,
owned by Okorocha’s daughter, Uloma Okorocha-Nwosu and Royal Spring Palm Hotel and
Apartment, a 16 block cum 96 flats and eight bungalow multi-million naira estate traced to
Okorocha’s wife.
Governor Ugwuanyi Announces Portfolios For Commissioners,
Sas
Enugu State Commissioners and Special Advisers get portfolios...
The governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has assigned portfolios to the
commissioners and special advisers who were sworn-in five days ago.

It will be recalled that Governor Ugwuanyi had sworn-in nineteen commissioners and
seven special advisers last Wednesday with a charge that they should “hit the ground
running.”

In the statement signed by Prof. Simon Ortuanya, the Secretary to the State Government,
Chief Miletus Eze retained his portfolio as the Attorney-General and Commissioner for
Justice. The trio of Engr. Greg Nnaji, Prof. Uchenna Eze and Hon. Peace Nnaji returned to
their first term seats at the Ministries of Works and Infrastructure, Education and Gender
Affairs and Social Development respectively.

Other commissioners who were deployed to various ministries include Hon. Chijioke
Edeoga (Environment), Barr. Chidi Aroh (Information), Prince Emeka Mamah (Rural
Development), Mr. Vitus Okechi (Youth and Sports) and Mr. Solomon Onah (Commerce
and Industry).

Mrs. Adaonah Kene-Uyanwune takes charge at the Finance ministry, while Prof. Anthony
Ugochukwu is the new Health commissioner. The rest are Dr. Charles Egumgbe
(Chieftaincy Matters), Hon. Mathias Ekweremadu (Transport), Mr. Uchechukwu Ogbonna
(Labour and Productivity), Mrs. Mabel Agbo (Special Duties), Barr. Peter Okonkwo (Local
Government Affairs), Mr. Obi Carl Kama (Science and Technology), Mr. Ugonna Ibe
(Culture and Tourism) and Dr. Victor Nnam (Lands and Urban Development).

The seven Special Advisers duly assigned portfolios include Barr. Steve Oruruo
(Information), Mrs. Olangwa Ezekwu (Diaspora), Mr. Uwakwe Azikiwe (Special Duties),
Mr. Uchenna Ogbodo (Human Development and Poverty Reduction), Dr. Kingsley Udeh
(Education), Engr. (Mrs) Obiageli Abba (PDI) and Barr. Paschal Ukwuani (Youth and
Sports).

The release further stated that “the other outstanding commissioners and their ministries
will be announced in due course after screening and confirmation procedures are completed
by the Enugu State House of Assembly.”

Governor Ugwuanyi had told the commissioners and special advisers at the three-day
retreat that “the season of politics is over. Under my watch, the governance mode is fully
activated.” He also enjoined his appointees to work as a team and to complement rather
than compete with each other.
No Going Back On Revolution Wether They Like It Or Not –
Sowore Says After Arrai
Omoyele Sowore, the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters, has said there will be no going
back on revolution across the country.

Mr Sowore stated this after being arraigned on a seven count charge of treasonable felony, fraud
and cyber stalking at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) in the last general election was
arrested early last month for spearheading a revolutionary protest which the government
described as an attempted coup to overthrow the administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari.

He was taken to court by the Department of State Services (DSS) who have continued to detain
the publisher despite a court order that he be released.

Addressing his supporters before being taken back to its custody by operatives of the security
agency, Sowore said there will be no going back on the revolution which is expected across the
country.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please do not worry, we are on top of this,” he said in company of his
legal counsels.

ALSO READ: Mind how you grant requests of those disobeying your orders, Shehu Sani advises
Nigerian courts

“We are going to have a revolution, wether they like it or not,” he added.

Although he was absent on the scheduled day the revolution protest being planned by his group
took off, some of his supporters managed to stage the protest amidst intimidation by security
agencies.

The protest was aimed at drawing the attention of the government to rising cases of kidnappings,
killings among other criminal activities bedeviling the nation.

Judge orders continued detention

Delivering her ruling, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, ordered the continued detention of the publisher by
the DSS.

The judge said the bail earlier granted Sowore was not given on the charges on which he was
arraigned on Monday, that a fresh bail had to be applied for.

She added that if she would have to grant fresh bail, it had to be based on the formal written
application and not oral.
Ojukwu asked the defendants counsel to file a formal bail application, and adjourned the hearing
to Friday.

Pounding Fathers:Nigerians Blast Shehu Sani Over

Independence Tweet
Senator formerly representing Kaduna Central at the Eighth Senate, Shehu Sani, incurred the
wrath of his social media followers when he accused the present crop of politicians of destroying
the dreams of the nation’s founding fathers.

Trouble started when Sani tweeted:

Senator Shehu Sani

✔
@ShehuSani
Nigeria @ 59;
The dreams of our founding fathers was shattered by our pounding fathers.

59th Independence: We Are Better Together – APC

The All Progressives Congress (APC) felicitates with Nigerians on the country’s 59th
Independence Anniversary.

We remember and salute our founding fathers who fought for the independence of our great
country and also members of our Armed Forces, many of whom have paid the supreme sacrifice
to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and keep our country united.

As a nation, we are better together than we are apart. Hence, we must be wary of those who hide
under religion, politics, tribe and sundry groupings to turn us against one another. Despite our
perceived differences, our strength and progress depends on our ability to harness our rich
diversity.

In spite of the inherited and our current challenges, President Muhammadu Buhari administration
has made commendable strides on so many fronts, most significantly the fight against graft,
diversifying and revamping the economy, curbing insurgency and emerging crimes, promoting
positive values in our national life, strengthening our democratic institutions and processes and
achieving a respectable international standing.

Finally, we admonish well meaning Nigerians to engage only in acts that would heal our fault
lines by promoting ethnic and religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, which would
engender Nigeria’s growth and development.

As Africa’s most populous nation, we can do much better, given our natural resources and
potential. The President Buhari administration is committed to building on and affirming our
Giant of Africa status.
Happy 59th Independence Day to all Nigerians.

SIGNED:
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu
National Publicity Secretary
All Progressives Congress (APC)

JUST IN!!! "Nigeria Dying Under Buhari’s Watch" – PDP

Chairman , Secondus
The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, has revealed that
Nigeria is dying under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives
Congress, APC, Igbere TV reports.

Igbere TV reports that Secondus urged the judiciary to stand up courageously and “save Nigeria
now”.

In a statement on Monday to mark Nigeria’s 59 years of independence, Secondus noted that

ordinary Nigerians deserve salute for their dexterity in the face of failed leadership as witnessed
in the last four and a half years.

He recalled that the 58th anniversary was marked with a richly endowed nation like Nigeria being
declared the headquarters of the word poor “due to the inept leadership of the APC
administration.”

Secondus regretted that one year later, the situation has deteriorated from bad to worse with no
clear direction where we are headed.

“What happened in the country last February at the Presidential election remains a sad reminder
of the damage this country has done to our democratic psyche as a nation”, he said.

The PDP chairman appealed to the nation’s judiciary to “guide their independence, refuse to be
intimidated and save this country from the on-going slide”.

He urged Nigerians not to lose hope and assured that the PDP will continue to fight for
democracy in our land even in the face of hostility from the dictatorial regime of the APC.

Secondus while saluting Nigeria’s fallen heroes warned that “what we do or fail to do to save our
beloved country will return to hurt us as we are bound to reap whatever we sow”.
Saudi Arabia finally okays tourist visas for 49
countries, shuns Nigeria
- Saudi Arabia will on Saturday, September 28, open its doors to international tourists
under a new visa system
- The new visa system allows people from 49 countries to apply for e-visas and visas on arrival
- However, no black African nation, including Nigeria, is included in the offer
The chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Ahmad Al-Khateeb, has
said the kingdom will open its doors to international tourists under a new visa system that allows
people from 49 countries to apply for e-visas and visas on arrival.
Al-Khateeb, who made the disclosure on on Friday, September 27, said the move was part of the
kingdom’s efforts to wean its economy off oil.
Legit.ng gathers that no black African nation, including Nigeria, is included in the offer, which take
effect from Saturday, September 28.
He said: “Riyadh aims to increase international and domestic visits to 100 million a year by 2030.
Opening Saudi Arabia to international tourists is a historic moment for our country."
The new system, which accommodates the citizens of Germany, the United States and China among
others, will allow tourists to stay for up to three months per entry but can only spend a maximum of 90
days a year using their one-year multiple-entry visa.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the United States government on Tuesday, August 27,
announced a new visa fee for non-immigrant Nigerians planning to travel to the country.
The US in a statement released on its Nigerian embassy website said Nigerians would be required to
pay a visa issuance fee or reciprocity fee for all non-immigrant under the B, F, H1B, I, L, and R
classifications.
The fee the US said, would be charged in addition to the non-immigrant visa application fee, also
known as the MRV fee.
According to the US embassy, all visa applicants will pay the reciprocity fee at the time of application.
The new policy, however, said that Nigerians who are denied visas will not be charged the new
reciprocity fee even though both reciprocity and MRV fees are non-refundable, and their amounts vary
based on visa classification.
The statement said that the law expects visa fees to be based on the treatment afforded to US citizens
by foreign governments, insofar as possible.
It said the visa issuance fees are implemented under the principle of reciprocity; when a foreign
government imposes additional visa fees on US citizens, the United States will impose reciprocal fees
on citizens of that country for similar types of visas.
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
According to the US government, citizens of some countries across the world are currently required to
pay the reciprocity fee after their non-immigrant visa application has been approved.

Police Arrest Another Critic Of Gov. Ayade, Accuse Him Of

‘terrorism’
The police have arrested a Nigerian lawyer, Joseph Odok, over allegation of ‘terrorism’.

He has been in police detention in Calabar, Cross River State, South-South Nigeria, for four days
now.

Mr Odok, a native of the state, is an avowed critic of Governor Ben Ayade.

He was arrested by two police officers on Thursday in Abuja and taken to Calabar by road,
his wife, Cecelia, told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday evening.

“The police said they have been trailing him for about two weeks; they have been tracking
his phone line,” she said.

She said Mr Ayade was behind her husband’s arrest and detention. “Somebody warned my
husband on Facebook that they will soon give him the same treatment they are giving to Agba
Jalingo,” she said.

Mr Jalingo, a journalist and publisher of CrossRiverWatch, an online newspaper with focus

on Cross River State, is in prison in Calabar, charged with treason, over a report about an
alleged diversion of N500 million by the Cross River governor.

“They (Cross River government) have a hand in my husband’s arrest,” Mrs Odok insisted.

Mr Odok’s counsel, Oliver Osang, corroborated the claim made by the wife to the detained
lawyer.

“From the way the police put it, it is coming from the government of Cross River State,” Mr
Osang said of his client’s arrest.

“As at yesterday (Saturday) when I was at the police station, they said it is terrorism. It’s
frivolous. You know, they want to look for anything possible to charge him,” he told PREMIUM
TIMES, Sunday evening.

“They are yet to provide any evidence. He was still writing his statement at the police station.”

Mr Odok fled Cross River State two years ago after an attempt was made on his life, and
has been in Abuja.

His lawyer said the police were yet to state whether the ‘terrorism’ he is accused of took
place in Calabar or Abuja.
Dennis Ibe, an inspector of police who is investigating Mr Odok’s case, declined to comment
on the case when PREMIUM TIMES contacted him.

Mr Odok’s Facebook page is contains critical remarks on Mr Ayade.

READ ALSO: POLICE ARREST THREE ‘CLERICS’ FOR ALLEGED FRAUD, RAPE

In one of his posts on the social media site in September, the lawyer described the governor as a
“joker”.

“Ayade keep getting it wrong with lofty projects. Why talk of Spaghetti flyover when you have
not maintained or completed a single road project from your first administration.

“A man that can’t complete a single road keeps talking Super High Way, Deep Sea Port and now
Spaghetti flyover. This joke is getting out of hands,” he wrote on Facebook.

Mr Ayade’s spokesperson, Christian Ita, denied the governor’s involvement in the arrest
and detention of Mr Odok.

“It’s wrong for people to describe as the governor’s critic, anyone arrested by the police.
The governor does not know anything about his arrest, the police are in a better position to
tell you why they have arrested him,” Mr Ita told PREMIUM TIMES.

Paul Ifere, another critic of Mr Ayade’s administration who was similarly arrested and
detained last year by the police for criticising Mr Ayade, condemned the incarceration of
Mr Odok.

Mr Ifere said the governor was clamping down on his critics because of his intolerance to
criticisms and opposing views.

“If you criticise Ayade, he will come after you, that’s what he has been doing,” Mr Ifere said.

BREAKING: Igbo Can't Get 2023 Presidency

Except PDP Wins, Says APC Chieftain, Tony
Momoh | DAMMYLINK

Prince Tony Momoh, a former Minister of Information on Monday said there is no hope for the Igbos
to produce the presidency in 2023 under the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Daily Independent in Lagos on why the Igbos have not
produced the President since 1999 and their chances in 2023, Momoh, one of the national leaders of the
APC said the only way the Igbos can produce the President in 2023 is if the opposition Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), the party they have been supporting since 1999 wins the presidential election.
The Igbos seem to have settled for two political parties since 1999. These two parties are PDP and
APGA.

Like I said, PDP had been in power since 1999. I was the Director of Media for Alex Ekwueme
campaign in 1998 and I was with him till 2003. Ekwueme, former Vice-President of Nigeria contested
the primary and lost to the eventual winner, Olusegun Obasanjo, so the Igbos did not get the presidency
in 1999”.

Also, they didn’t get it in 2003 because it still went to the South-West as Obasanjo got reelected. 2007,
it went to the North and late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua became President.
When Yar’Adua passed on, Goodluck Jonathan, his deputy from the South-South became the President
in May 2010 and was in office till May 2015 when power changed hands”.
“Three political parties namely ACN of Bola Tinubu, CPC of Buhari and ANPP of Ogbonnaya Onu and
some other leaders in the North came together and midwifed APC which was populated by the North
and South- West.
Only Imo state in the South- East joined APC then”. “So, if you have APC in government, there is no
way the South- East could have the President without political re-engineering by voting for APC
massively or doing some other things to acquire the sympathy of Nigerians that formed the majority.
So, if PDP won the South- East by and large, how do you expect the Igbos to access power without the
PDP accessing power?” “So, it is very easy for the Igbos to acquire power and access Presidency in
2023 as people are saying if the party they support wins. If APC wins, there is no way they can access
power because power comes through the votes.
There is no sentiment about it. Power is not donated, you fight, work for it and take it. You access
power through struggle. Nobody is going to say ‘come and take power’.
In any case, the Igbos have never said they will secede if they don’t get presidency in 2023. We have
fought a civil war and there is no Igbo man who was 25 years during the civil war that will say ‘let us
fight a war again’ he said