Buhari fires own Chief Security Officer

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday fired his Chief Security Officer, Abdulrahman Mani, and requested the State Security Service to redeploy him out of the presidential villa, sources in the presidential villa and the State Security Service have told PREMIUM TIMES.

The presidency has yet to officially announce the development, but PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr. Mani has since been replaced by Bashir Abubakar, who, until his appointment was an assistant director in the Bayelsa state command of the SSS.

Mr. Mani has in turn been redeployed to the Ebonyi state command of the SSS, our sources said.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, directed all enquiries on the matter to the State Security Service.

“I don’t speak on security matters, so you may have to ask the SSS,” Mr. Adesina told PREMIUM TIMES.

The spokesperson for the SSS could however not be reached for comments.

Sources familiar with the matter however told PREMIUM TIMES that the president ordered Mr. Mani removed following repeated complaints that he was blocking people with genuine appointments from having access to the President.

“He was becoming excessively overzealous and overbearing,” one source said.

PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr. Mani first angered Mr. Buhari when he engaged the president’s aide-de-camp, Mohammed Abubakar, in what appeared a power struggle.

Mr. Abubakar, a Lieutenant Colonel, had issued a memo ordering personnel of the State Security Service out of inner Aso Rock and restricting them to guarding the “outer perimeter” of the presidential villa, saying personnel of the Armed Forces and the police, trained as Presidential Body Guards (PBGs), are to “provide close/immediate protection for Mr. President henceforth”.

Mr. Abubakar said SSS operatives should steer clear of areas such as “Admin Reception, Service Chiefs Gate, Residence Reception, Rear Resident, Resident Gate, Office Reception, C-In-C Control Office, ACADE Gate, C-IN-C Control Gate and Panama”.

“However, the personnel of the DSS in conjunction with other security forces are to man other duty beats/locations located within the immediate outer perimeter of the Presidential Villa,” he said, without providing reasons for the action.

But in a June 26 response to Mr. Abubakar, Mr. Mani, rejected the directive and gave a counter order asking his colleagues to disregard the spirit, intent and content of Mr. Abubakar’s circular.

Mr. Mani, who pointedly accused the ADC of grandstanding, overzealousness, limited knowledge and outright display of ignorance, insisted that Mr. Abubakar’s circular “grossly misrepresents” President Buhari’s directive.

He however did not say what the President’s exact directive is.

Mr. Mani, a personnel of the SSS himself, continued, “Though further actions have been initiated in this regard, including routine redeployment of close body guards out of the villa, and deployment of new ones, it is important to state that the duties hitherto performed by the personnel of the DSS (SSS) in the Presidential Villa and/or any other Key Vulnerable Points (KVPs) are backed by relevant Statutes and Gazetted Instruments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Among others, these roles include close body protection of the President in line with standard operational procedures and international best practices.

He added, “For the avoidance of doubt, Section 2 (1) (ii) of Instrument No. SSS 1 of 23rd May, 1999, made pursuant to Section 6 of the National Security Agencies (NSA) decree of 1986 which has been re-enacted as Section 6 of NSA Act CAP N74 LFN 2004, empowers personnel of the DSS to provide protective security for designated principal government functionaries including, but not limited to the President and Vice President as well as members of their immediate families.

“It also mandates the DSS to provide protective security for sensitive installations such as the Presidential Villa and visiting foreign dignitaries. For this reason, personnel of the DSS who are on this schedule are carefully selected and properly trained both locally and abroad. Furthermore, continued background checks are maintained on them to confirm suitability and loyalty.

“In fact, the issues raised in the aforementioned circular tend to suggest that the author may have ventured into a not-too-familiar terrain. The extant practice, the world over, is that VIP protection, which is a specialised field, is usually handled by the Secret Service, under whatever nomenclature. They usually constitute the inner core security ring around every principal. The police and the military by training and mandate, are often required to provide secondary and tertiary cordons around venues and routes.

“However, all over other security agencies including the army, the police and others have their roles to play. It is on this note that heads of all security agencies currently in the Presidential Villa and their subordinates are enjoined to key into the existing command and control structure. They are to work in harmony with each other in full and strict compliance with the demands of their statutory prescribed responsibilities.

“Meanwhile, joint training programmes and other incentives will be worked out in the days ahead to ensure that all security at the Presidential Villa are properly educated to understand their statutory roles and responsibilities. This is with a view to avoiding obvious grandstanding, overzealousness, limited knowledge or outright display of ignorance in future.”

Kano state: Christians not banned from attending Church

The Kano State Government, north west Nigeria, on Saturday described as false the report in some national dailies and online media that Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has banned Christians resident in the state from going to church on Sundays.

The state Commissioner for Information, Mallam Muhammad Garba, who made the remark while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Kano, said the report was false and unfounded.

“Our attention has been drawn to the rumour making the round, particularly in the online media, regarding the restriction of movement of people, Christians or Muslims to attend places of worship in the name of a direct policy or under the guise of any other policy.

“I want to state here categorically that the story is a complete lie, false and lacks any iota of truth and substance,’’ he said.
He said that the state government was very much aware and mindful of the freedom of religion as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We in Kano State as a people and a government cherish and respect our religious differences and therefore will never introduce any policy that will be inimical to our peaceful co-existence and mutual respect,’’ he said.

He then called on journalists to always check facts and balance their stories and report with high sense of fairness and responsibility.

Garba said that the government extended the monthly sanitation exercise up to Sunday but only for the staff of the Refuse Management Board to enable them clear up the heap of refuse in the state.

The commissioner expressed the determination of the state government to implement people’s oriented programmes.
He emphasised government’s determination to develop infrastructure in the state as part of the initiatives to improve the welfare of the people.

We May Negotiate With Boko Haram, Says Presidency

The Federal Government has said that it is open to negotiations with the Boko Haram sect in order to find a lasting solution to the security crisis in the country, if the group is willing.

This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, on Friday, in an interview with the BBC.

In the interview, which was monitored by our correspondent, Adesina said the Federal Government was not ruling out negotiations with the sect if it would put an end to the activities of the group. He lamented that the insurgents had attacked so many villages and killed scores of people.

“These were very vicious attacks. People were killed in scores and it’s so sad,” he said.

The President had during his inauguration speech said he had launched a strategy to deal with the sect by relocating the military headquarters to Maiduguri, Borno State.

When asked whether this would work, Adesina replied, “This is going to work. There are machineries being put in place. It’s going to work. The recent killings by the sect were meant to break our resolve, to weaken it, but that will stop. It remains a priority to him (Buhari) to deal with the group.

“You will notice that his first two weeks of administration were dedicated to tackling the insurgency. He visited Chad and Niger Republics and the following week, the Presidents of those countries also visited him in Abuja.

“The President of Benin Republic and the Defence Minister of Cameroon visited him; machinery is being put in place and once we’re through, we will see the end of the group. The target time for the deployment of the multinational force is July ending; that is in a couple of weeks.”

When the BBC also asked if the Federal Government was considering negotiations with the insurgent group, Adesina replied in the affirmative.

He said, “If they are willing, why not? You know attempts have been made for negotiations in the past and they didn’t work. Every reasonable person would want to see the end to this insurgency. So if they are willing, why not? You can’t rule that out.”

Nigerian troops recover vehicle loaded with bomb

Nigerian army searching for missing Chibok school girls

The Nigerian military on Saturday said a jeep full of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) was among the weapons recovered by troops conducting cordon and search operations after suicide bomb attacks on Zabarmari Muna, near Maiduguri.

The spokesperson for the military, Chris Olukolade, a major general, said the jeep, was recovered along with two Hilux vehicles used by terrorists.

He said the terrorists were trying to escape after simultaneous attacks on targets in the communities on Thursday and Friday.

“A total of six suicide bombers had detonated themselves around the garage, killing scores of people while some people were also wounded. A soldier also died.

“Military Explosives Ordinance experts, backed by Police Bomb Disposal Units, are continuing with vigorous search for any bombs that might have been hidden or left unexploded in the area,” he said.

Mr. Olukolade said all other operations of counter terrorism campaign against terrorists, were continuing in various fronts.

He said additional deployment of men and equipment to enhance the scope of the mission, both within the country and at borders, was also continuing.

(NAN)

Buhari Warns on Injustice, Political Harassment by Any Nigerian

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday assured that his administration would ensure that all cases of political assassinations, intimidation and kidnappings in the country are thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators speedily brought to justice irrespective of their political affiliations.

Addressing state chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at a parley at the Presidential Villa, Buhari declared that he remained fully committed to providing a level playing field for all Nigerians to get on with their daily lives or participate in electing their leaders, without fear of intimidation.

He said his administration would continuously strengthen Nigeria’s criminal justice system to curb the reign of injustice and impunity in the country.

“At every point, the law must be supreme and everyone must respect the law if our democratic system is to survive.

“Injustice cannot survive for long.  Justice will ultimately prevail. We will make sure that those saddled with the responsibility of ensuring justice and equity do not rest on their oars.

“The only way we can sustain our democracy is to ensure that the law remains supreme at all times. If the law is upheld, people will have confidence that they can vote for who they want to vote for, without intimidation or threats. People must have protection to exercise their rights freely or we could be headed for anarchy.

“The police and the judiciary must ensure that justice is done in the country. We won’t allow impunity to continue in certain states where the rights of the people are being violated.

“I have a personal commitment to fair play and respect of personal rights. This government will do all that is possible to enforce that.”

BOKO HARAM FAST FACTS AND TIMELINE

 Here's a look at Boko Haram, a militant Islamic group working out of Nigeria, whose purpose is to institute Sharia, or Islamic law.

Facts:

In the local Hausa dialect, Boko Haram means "Western education is forbidden."

The group also refers to itself as Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati Wal-Jihad, meaning "People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad."

Boko Haram militants mainly inhabit areas in the northern states of Nigeria, specifically Yobe, Kano, Bauchi, Borno and Kaduna.

Originally, Boko Haram was referred to locally as the Nigerian Taliban because of their religious similarities to the Taliban.

Boko Haram does not engage in Nigeria's political system out of an adherence to a fundamentalist form of Islam, which forbids participation unless the system is based on Sharia, or Islamic law.

Boko Haram militants targeted and robbed banks in 2011.

Timeline:
2002 - The group, which may have existed since the late 1990s, organizes under the Muslim cleric Mohammed Yusuf. It is centered in Maiduguri, the capital of the northeastern state of Borno.

December 2003 - The first known attack by Boko Haram includes roughly 200 militants, who attack multiple police stations in the state of Yobe, near the Niger border.

July 2009 - The Boko Haram uprising begins in Bauchi and spreads to the states of Borno, Kano and Yobe. The militant group kills scores of police officers. A joint military task force responds, leaving more than 700 Boko Haram members dead and its operational mosque destroyed. The uprising ends when police capture the group's leader, Mohammed Yusuf. His deputy, Abubakar Shekau, reportedly dies in the uprising. Yusuf later dies in police custody; police say he is shot during an attempted escape, but Boko Haram claims it is an extrajudicial execution.

August 2009 - Senior Boko Haram militant, Sanni Umaru, releases a statement claiming to be the new leader.

July 2010 - Boko Haram releases a video statement in which Yusuf's deputy who allegedly died the previous year, Abubakar Shekau, claims to be the leader of the group.

September 7, 2010 - In the state of Bauchi, 50 Boko Haram militants attack a prison, killing five people and releasing more than 700 inmates.

May 29, 2011 - The day of President Goodluck Jonathan's inauguration, Boko Haram detonates three IEDs near a military barracks in the city of Bauchi in Bauchi State. At least 10 people die in the attack.

July 7, 2011 - Boko Haram warns Muslims to avoid Christians, public servants and public buildings, and anything related to politics, "This is a government that is not Islamic. Therefore, all its employees - Muslims or non-Muslims - are infidels."

August 25, 2011 - Twelve people die after Boko Haram militants attack a police station and two banks in the city of Gombi in Adamawa.

August 26, 2011 - Boko Haram attacks the United Nations compound in Abuja. A car bomb kills 23 people and injures more than 75 others.

November 4, 2011 - More than 100 die in multiple attacks in Yobo, Damaturu and Borno states. Boko Haram militants utilize IEDs and vehicle-borne IEDs to target security forces and their offices, markets and 11 churches.

January 2012 - A newly formed splinter group, known as Ansaru, announces Abu Usmatul Al-Ansari as its leader.

January 20, 2012 - More than 200 people are killed when Boko Haram launches coordinated attacks targeting police, military, a prison and other targets in the city of Kano in Kano State.

August 23, 2012 - Unverified media reports claim that Boko Haram has begun peace talks with the Nigerian government. Boko Haram spokesman Abu Qa Qa warns the media against making any more claims, "We are telling the government to understand that if it is not ready to embrace Sharia and the Quran as the guiding book from which the laws of the land derive, there shall be no peace... [and media agencies] should understand that for us there is no difference between those fighting with guns and with the pen."

February 19, 2013 - Militants alleging to be Boko Haram kidnap a French family of seven in a national park in northern Cameroon; however, the affiliation with Boko Haram can not be verified. The family is later released.

April 2013 - President Goodluck Jonathan states he has appointed a team to explore the possibility of amnesty for Islamist militants. Shekau responds in an audio statement: "Surprisingly the Nigerian government is talking about granting us amnesty. What wrong have we done? On the contrary, it is we that should grant you pardon."

April 19, 2013 - Boko Haram battles with multinational security forces from Niger, Nigeria and Chad in the city of Baga in Borno State, leaving nearly 200 people dead, including many civilians. Shekau releases a video in May saying Boko Haram is not responsible for the civilian deaths.

May 15, 2013 - Nigeria's Ministry of Defence announces a military offensive has begun in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe to "rid the nation's border territories of terrorist bases and activities."

June 4, 2013 - President Jonathan approves the proscription of Boko Haram and splinter group Ansaru as terrorist organizations.

June 2013 - Boko Haram targets churches in various states on three Sundays in a row, leaving more than 50 people dead.

August 14, 2013 - The Ministry of Defence announces the death of Boko Haram's second-in-command, Momodu Baba (known as Abu Saad).

August 19, 2013 - Nigeria's chief army spokesperson claims Shekau may have died after an attack on June 30, but the claim is never verified.

September 17, 2013 - Boko Haram gunmen dress in military uniforms and stage a fake checkpoint near Benisheik in Borno, executing travelers and burning vehicles, leaving at least 143 people dead.

September 25, 2013 - A man claiming to be Shekau appears in a video and says that he is, in fact, alive and well. However, his identity is not verified.

November 13, 2013 - The U.S. State Department adds Boko Haram and Ansaru to its list of terrorist organizations.

January 26, 2014 - At least 45 are killed in a market in Kawuri in Borno after Boko Haram militants open fire.

February 11, 2014 - At least 23 people are killed when suspected Boko Haram militants torch houses in the village of Konduga, according to the governor of Borno state.

April 14, 2014 - Boko Haram militants kidnap approximately 276 teenage girls from a boarding school in Chibok in Borno. Officials there say some of the girls were able to escape.

May 5, 2014 - In a video statement, a man claiming to be Shekau says, "I abducted your girls. I will sell them in the market, by Allah...there is a market for selling humans. Allah says I should sell. He commands me to sell. I will sell women. I sell women."

May 13, 2014 - Hundreds of Boko Haram militants storm three villages in the state of Borno. Villagers resist, killing more than 200 Boko Haram fighters.

May 20, 2014 - Twin blasts in the city of Jos kill 118 people at a market. Nigerian authorities decline to say who is responsible.

May 21, 2014 - The White House announces that the United States has sent 80 troops to Chad to help search for the kidnapped schoolgirls.

May 22, 2014 - The U.N. Security Council adds Boko Haram to its sanctions list.

June 3-4, 2014 - Hundreds of people are killed in raids by Boko Haram Islamic militants in the state of Borno, with some sources putting the death toll at 400 to 500.

June 7-8, 2014 - Suspected Boko Haram militants kidnap at least 20 young women over a weekend in the northeastern Nigeria village of Garkin Fulani, 8 kilometers from a town where more than 200 schoolgirls were taken nearly two months earlier.

June 18-22, 2014 - Boko Haram militants hold the village of Kummabza in Borno state, northeastern Nigeria, hostage for four days. They abduct more than 60 females, including children, and kill 30 men in the raid.

July 7, 2014 - Sources say sixty-three women and girls kidnapped by Boko Haram last month from the Kummabza village in northern Borno state, have escaped from their captors and returned to their village. Boko Haram is still believed to be holding about 200 schoolgirls abducted April 14 from a boarding school in the town of Chibok.

July 17-20, 2014 - Boko Haram raids the Nigerian town of Damboa. By the time the raid ends, 66 residents have been killed and more than 15,000 have fled.

October 16, 2014 - The Nigerian government announces they've reached a ceasefire agreement with the Islamist terror group that includes the promised release of more than 200 kidnapped schoolgirls.

November 1, 2014 - In a video, the group's leader denies the Nigerian government's claim of a ceasefire.

January 3, 2015 - A multi-day raid begins, where hundreds of Boko Haram gunmen seize the town of Baga and neighboring villages in northern Nigeria, as well as a multinational military base, leaving bodies scattered everywhere and as many as 2,000 people feared dead.

January 10-11, 2015 - At least 20 are killed and 18 injured in Maiduguri after explosives strapped to a girl are detonated at a marketplace screening checkpoint. At least three are dead and 43 injured after two suicide bombs, strapped to girls, detonate in a mobile phone market in Potiskum. Boko Haram is suspected as being behind the attacks.

March 2, 2015 - Boko Haram releases a video showing the apparent beheadings of two men they suspected of being spies.

March 7, 2015 - In an audio message purportedly from leader Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram pledges allegiance to ISIS, the Islamic militant group which controls areas of Iraq and Syria, and is known for its gruesome executions.

March 12, 2015 - In an audio message, a speaker purportedly identified ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammed al Adnani, claims the caliphate has expanded to western Africa and that ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has accepted Boko Haram's the pledge of allegiance. On the same day, ISIS blows up the Iraqi army headquarters north of Ramadi, killing at least 40 Iraqi soldiers.

April 25-26, 2015 - The decomposed corpses of at least 400 men, women and children are found in shallow, mass graves and on the streets of Damasak in northeastern Nigeria. Due to a joint Nigerian-Chadian military operation, the town has recently been freed of Boko Haram, which seized the town in November.

April 28-April 30, 2015 - Nigerian troops rescue about 450 women and girls in the Sambisa Forest during a military operation centered around destroying Boko Haram camps and rescuing civilians. According to the military, none of the rescued have been identified as the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped last April.

July 1, 2015 - Boko Haram militants raid three villages in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno, killing at least 145 people, according to witnesses.

APC state chairmen endorse Buhari’s leadership style

State Chairmen of All Progressive Congress (APC) on Saturday in Abuja, passed a vote of confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari, endorsing his leadership style.

The spokesman of the 37 state chairmen of the APC, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Umar Doruwa, confirmed this development to State House correspondents in Abuja.

He said the chairmen passed the vote of confidence at a meeting between them and the President, held at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

According to him, the decision of the chairmen was informed by the President’s leadership style which respects the rule of law, saying such virtue would further strengthen institutional structures and entrench genuine democratic culture in the country.

Doguwa, who is the Kano State APC Chairman, said in less than 100 days of the Buhari Administration, Nigerians had witnessed noticeable positive changes.

He said President Buhari assured them of his commitment to resuscitate the economy, safeguard lives and property, as well as create employment opportunities for youths across the country.

On the position of APC on the leadership structure of the National Assembly, Doguwa stated that the matter had been resolved amicably.

Why Tinubu, Akande boycotted APC NEC meeting

A national Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, and the party’s immediate past interim National Chairman, Bisi Akande, boycotted a meeting of the National Executive Committee, NEC of the party which held on Friday due to lack of proper communication from the party’s leadership, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

Both leaders were conspicoulsy absent at Friday’s meeting. The APC spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, did not exactly explain why they were not present.

Mr. Mohammed had, while responding to inquiries on the absence of the two leaders, said that Messrs. Tinubu and Akande were not members of NEC and that it was the prerogative of the party leaders to invite those who were not NEC members to the meeting.

President Muhammadu Buhari had, while making his comments at the opening session of the NEC, paid encomiums on Mr. Akande as the first chairman of the party and how he worked with “dexterity” to put the party on a strong pedestal, which gave it success.

Mr. Buhari thanked Mr. Akande on behalf of all APC members and said, “it’s a pity he is not here with us”.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered Mr. Tinubu actually made plans to attend the meeting and, indeed, was in Abuja for that purpose.

“ Asiwaju called Papa Akande on Thursday and asked him if he was attended the NEC meeting and Akande asked him if he received any invitation himself, to which Tinubu said no.

“Papa said why should you go to a meeting you have not been invited?” a source close to the two leaders told PREMIUM TIMES.

The decision by the two leaders to stay away from Friday’s meting was the clearest indidcation yet that they were not happy with recent events within the APC.

It has been widely reported that the former Lagos Governor was strongly supporting the candidature of Messrs. Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila to emerge as Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

Mr. Akande, a longstanding political ally of Mr. Tinubu, recently wrote an open letter in which he said that Messrs. Saraki and Yakubu Dogara who defied the party to emerge as Senate president Speaker of the House respectively were sponsored by some oil barons and “some elements in the north”.

Our source informed us Saturday that although Mr. Akande eventually received his invitation to the NEC meeting “around 9pm on Thursday, it was too late in the day for him to attend”.

He also said Mr. Akande did not get back to Mr. Tinubu to let him know that he had received his invitation late.

Indications that Mr. Tinubu was invited for the meeting was that a seat was reserved for him with a name tag in front, which remained empty throughout the duration of the meeting.

Messrs. Tinubu and Akande could not be reached for comments for this report

My Friend Sold Me To Ritualists For N150,000 – Victim

Hearing the story of kidnapped people for ritual purposes or for a ransom is disturbing and many just thank God it isn’t them and pray against it. The truth however is that with dangerous elements that carry out these dastardly acts roaming freely amongst us, everyone is at risk. Here is the story of a young man, Timothy Lawani, 25, a trader at Suleja roundabout area, who was kidnapped for ritual purpose but survived the ordeal.

Lawani, in an interview withLEADERSHIP Weekend,said it was God that saved him after he was kidnapped, tied up and was to be sacrificed in Kano. The incident happened at about 4am on January 14, 2015.

 Lawani went outside his family house at Old Barracks, Suleja to ease himself, when suddenly he heard someone call his name. Walking towards a red Volkswagen Golf parked behind his house, he was surprised to see an old friend, Friday, comfortably seated in the car beckoning on him with two hefty men.

Narrating his story, Lawani said, “In my confused state, I greeted them. One of them held me and the other sprayed a powder on my face. 

That was the last thing I could remember. I later saw myself in a very large hall with other young men who were tied up. 

The kidnappers kept bringing other people to join us. Sometimes, they even offered us food to eat which we all refused. They then said, whether we ate or not, we would die after all. “After two days, we were made to put on white apparels and join a queue. I noticed that anyone who goes out never comes back; I was so scared. 

When it was my turn, I went outside, saw a large pool of water like swimming pool and a man standing by the side chanting incantations. He later ordered the guards to take me inside that they were not in need of someone like me.”

Continuing, Lawani said, “In my presence, the man called on Friday who came about 40 minutes later. After telling him that I was not acceptable for their rituals, Friday started flogging me mercilessly. 

He then ordered the men to take me out, but not before the ritualist got angry, and ordered the hefty men to bring Friday for sacrifice in my place. I heard him beg them to give him just 30 minutes to enable him bring another person, but the man said there was no time. “With Friday’s hands and legs tied, the man began chanting incantations again. 

This time, I saw crocodiles coming out of the water. Friday was then thrown inside, the reptiles feasted on him. I was not myself because of the sight of blood and how such large reptiles ate up a whole human being. The man later ordered the men to throw me out, that I was useless to them. They sprayed a powder on my face again and I became unconscious

Ekit PDP Chief Rejects Fayose's Appointment

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Chief Dayo Okondo, has turned down his appointment as a member of the Governing Council of the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti by Governor Ayo Fayose.

 

“Making me a board member falls short of what he should do. And if I have to take care of myself very well and take care of my health, I don’t know what membership of the college’s board would do for me.

“I can’t see how somebody who had served as a PDP Board of Trustees member will now be appointed a college’s board member. I was shocked by the appointment with my status and level of work that I did.

“I brought the party to the state and I brought Fayose into the party. I supported him wholeheartedly when others refused to support him and I ensured that he won the primaries and the election (in 2003).

“He has not visited me and he has not done anything about my health. I have been trying to see him and talk to him about my health but I have not succeeded.

“If I will reject it in totality, I want to see the governor first and I want him to reason with me that this appointment does not befit my status as a founding father of the party and as someone who contributed immensely to his political rise.

“I have been abandoned by the party. One of my sons, Tope Okondo, who was Obasanjo’s bodyguard, fell sick in Abuja and the situation I met him was very terrible.

“I tried to see if I could take him to India. I contacted (former Governor) Fayemi and he offered to assist. We took him to India where he spent two to three days and I thank him (Fayemi) for the gesture.

“If my own party (PDP) can treat me like this, it is unfortunate”

Source: Daily Post

If subsidy is removed, a dollar might be N500′, says Dangote

One of Africa’s biggest businessman, Aliko Dangote  said Nigerians should  invest at home and create jobs stating that 5 to 10 people can make Nigeria a great economy.

According to the Source, Dangote, who said this in an interview also said Nigeria will not have meaningful development until power problems in the country is sorted.

Here are 10 things we learnt form his interview;

1. Dangote says subsidy should not be removed as it will affect foreign exchange. 

“The issue with subsidy is that government needs to block all loopholes. If there’s no subsidy, it will affect our foreign exchange, we’ll end up buying a dollar at N500 because there’s no VAT on petroleum products. That’s why the import of petroleum products is taking about 30 per cent of our foreign reserve. We just need to make sure that there’s no siphoning of money.”

2. He states that if subsidy is removed, something must be put in place for the masses.

“It’s good enough if they remove the subsidy, but you can check with neighboring countries like Senegal. If a poor person in Senegal can afford to pay subsidy, why can’t a poor person in Nigeria afford to pay. I think there must be something for the masses, which should be in terms of power, social insurance, good education system, good roads etc.”

3. He said investing in Nigeria is a big risk and does require determination and seriousness.

“These things are humanly possible and we should be able to do them. It’s not really the work of the government to make a country prosperous, it’s the work of individuals because the duty of the government is to facilitate, but government will not have the money to invest.”

4. The government is to develop the country but individuals must contribute in sustaining the country and making it prosperous.

“That’s why it’s shameful that some Nigerians go and keep their money abroad. It is very difficult when we have a huge chunk of our money abroad and we want foreigners to come and invest. They won’t believe that the environment is good. It won’t work that way.”

5. People should pay tax to contribute to the country. Tax helps the country develop.

“People don’t pay taxes because they don’t see what they are being used for. Initially, Lagosians were upset about tax payment, but they realised that it’s important to pay taxes because they started seeing that the money is being used judiciously. The issue of not paying taxes is really reckless.”

6. People go into business blindly. One should know about the business one is delving into.

“That’s the only way you can succeed. That’s the biggest mistake most people are making. I don’t think that most of the people that have invested in power really understand what it is. It involves three things; generation, transmission and distribution and all the three require heavy investment. There are a lot of issues that we have to resolve and I think with seriousness, we’ll be able to do them.”

7. Nigeria should diversify the power generating sector and look into other things that can generate power.

“We have gas, but we shouldn’t use gas alone. We took the decision that by the end of the year, all our cement plants will be using coal. The coal is there and Nigeria will not be competitive in exporting it because we don’t have the infrastructure to take these coal for export. We’ve started using coal and there’s no emission, not a single dust anywhere. Technology has changed, 38% of power being generated in America is by coal. In our own operations, we’ve discovered that running on coal is cheaper than gas. We need to see how we can build a lot of infrastructure because that would help to open up the economy and make us independent. The government has to sit down and find a solution to power.”

8. The government has to sit down and find a solution to power.

“We will not have any meaningful development till we are able to sort out the power issue. We won’t have an inclusive GDPA unless we tackle power. The power issue is a great one and it’s preventing everyone from progressing. In Uganda, they increased the power to 230 Megawatts and the next year, their GDP grew by additional 4%.”

9. Time management is very important

“The biggest problem we have in Nigeria is that we don’t quantify time. That’s why people will sit in traffic from here to Ikeja for two to three hours. If you invite me to a place and if I’m totally free and available, I’ll look at how many hours it will cost me. If it will take five hours of my day, I won’t go except I’m going for business purposes. That’s my policy. I put a lot into consideration and do some calculations, if I’ll need to send someone to represent me, I do that.”

10. Nigeria should diversify into agriculture.

“I think there will not be an improvement in job creation unless people go into Agriculture. I know even in Agriculture, there’s money. there’s so much land and water here. God has given us these things and we have to use them. Today, Ethiopia is growing rapidly, but the mainstay of their economy is agriculture.”

Buhari Is Running A Northern Government - Southern Groups

Prominent groups in the south east and south west of Nigeria have criticised what they all described as the lopsided appointments of President Muhmammadu Buhari so far, which seem to favour the northern parts of the country. 

In the south west, the groups that have expressed their worries so far are the Afenifere, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) and the Movement for Oodua Republic (MOR), while in the South east the groups that have spoken out so far are Ohaneze Ndigbo, The Igbo World Union, Njiko Igbo Group and the Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC).

They claimed that these kinds of lopsided appointments had never happened in the political history of the country.

The YUF secretary general, Senator Anthony Adefuye, warned that the earlier the situation was reversed, the better, so as not to give the impression that the north is marginalising the south.

He said: “The fact that the President, Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives are from the North is worrisome. There is no way the North can take all the principal offices and leave the deputy to us. It has never happened before and the earlier it is reverted, the better.

“There is no way that can continue because the South is not subordinate to the North. The think tank committee of the YUF will meet soon to look at the issue and see how it affects the Yoruba people. However, the development is a wrong signal that must be corrected.

“What is more worrisome is that the immediate past INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, handed over to a Southerner but the Presidency changed it to a Northerner. We are watching and waiting to see what comes out of this new government.”

“Southerners are always careful and concerned not to marginalise the North. Therefore, I will not expect the North to marginalise the South now that the Presidency is shifted to the region.”

On his own part, the national publicity secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, said the group was closely monitoring Buhari’s actions and taking note of them.

He told The Punch: “We have taken a position in Afenifere to watch the President’s actions before we begin to make comments. By the time we have a clearer picture of what is happening in the first 100 days of the President in office, we are certainly going to make a comprehensive statement.”

George Akinola, leader of MOR, warned that Nigeria is heading towards total conflict should the situation continue.

According to him: “The country has already been divided along religious lines. The fault lines are there and will always be there. This will continue until a time when one way or the other a conference or a referendum happens. There is no option that is not on the table but at least we will prefer the path of peace.”

Meanwhile, the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, advised Buhari to respect the principle of federal character when making appointments.

He said, “We expect the President to recognise other nationalities that make up Nigeria. Elections are over, it is time for governance. We expect that the principle of federal character, which is constitutional, should be respected.

“It is important that in making his appointments, the President should recognise that there are six geo-political zones in the country and it is imperative that he carries all of them along in the spirit of nation building and as a statesman.”

The Igbo World Union and the Ohanaeze Youth Council described the president’s actions as a threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

The OYC national president, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said: “Buhari should not abuse his privileged position as the President of Nigeria for the moment. He should not forget our federal system but reflect the federal character in his appointments.

“We are warning him to drop the Northern agenda and govern Nigeria in line with the constitution which he sworn to protect. We will hold him by his statement that ‘he is for nobody and for everybody ‘ except he now wants to tell us that he is the President of the North alone.”

He continued:“Jonathan appointed Northerners as his National Security Adviser, Defence Minister, Inspector-General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff etc. But so far, Buhari has shown us that he has no regard for other parts of the country.”

In the same vein, the president general of Igbo World Union, Dr. Mishak Nnanta, advised Buhari not to give in to any ill-advice from individuals with parochial interests.

On his part, the national president of the Njiko Igbo Forum, Reverend Okechukwu Obioha, warned the president against running what he described as a “Northern government.”

He said, “Buhari is simply running a Northern government. He is making his appointments as if he is angry with other sections of the country. The appointments are lopsided in favour of the North and that is not acceptable.”

President Buhari has so far appointed nine individuals into different positions since assuming office. Eight of the nine appointees are from the northern part of the country.