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Police Arrest Suspect Linked To Nabeeha’s Death
The Nigerian Police Force has arrested a suspected kidnapper reportedly linked to the abduction and murder of Nabeeha, one of the victims abducted in Abuja.
According to a statement by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Public Relations Officer, Bello Mohammed, 28, of Zamfara state was apprehended on January 20, 2024 in Kaduna with N2.25 million in suspected ransom money.
“The Divisional Police Officer, Tafa Division, acting on intelligence, raided one hotel in Tafa Area, Kaduna, where he arrested Bello, with the sum of #2.25m (Two Million, two hundred and fifty million naira) only, suspected to be proceeds of ransoms collected from kidnapped victims within the area.”
“The suspect, during interrogation, confessed to be part of the gang that kidnapped the family members of one Barrister Ariyo in Bwari, FCT, on 2nd January 2024, and killed some kidnapped victims, including Nabeeha, F, daughter of the legal practitioner, on 13th January, 2024, in a kidnappers camp, in Kaduna State.
‘’The suspect, in a dramatic situation, offered #1,000,000 (one million naira only) to induce the DPO, who rejected the offer and carried out his duty diligently,” the statement said.
Adejobi said the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, had ordered that the suspect, be handed over to the Department of Force Intelligence Tactical Teams (DFI-IRT) in Abuja for discreet investigations.
While commending the DPO Tafa, SP Idris Ibrahim, for the commitment and professionalism displayed in the case, the IGP further assured that the Police would leave no stone unturned in dealing with criminally minded individuals.
Daily Trust had reported how about 19 abductees were taken away by bandits from the Sagwari Estate Layout in the Dutsen-Alhaji area in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The kidnappers had killed four of the hostages, including Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar, a 400-level student of Biological Science, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and 13-year-old Folashade Ariyo.
Nabeeha was abducted alongside six other siblings.
Her siblings were kidnapped with their father, Alhaji Mansoor Al-Kadriyar, from their home at Zuma 1, on the outskirts of Bwari town in Abuja on January 2.
[DailyTrust]
Fubara makes fresh appointments amid fight with lawmakers
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has made four new appointments amid the State House Assembly voting to override him to pass four new bills into law.
The governor on Friday appointed Goodlife Ben as the Acting Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Tonte Davies as the Acting Administrator of New Cities Development Authority, NCDA, and Ine Briggs as the Acting Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP.
In a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Tammy Danagogo, the governor said the appointments take immediate effect.
On Friday, the Martins Amaewhule-led Rivers State House of Assembly voted to override Governor Siminalayi Fubara and pass four new bills into law.
The bills include the Rivers Local Government Amendment Law, the Rivers State Traditional Rulers Amendment Law, the Rivers State Advertisement and Use of State-Owned Property Prohibition repeal law, and the Rivers State Funds Management and Financial Autonomy Law.
The House decided on Friday during plenary after Amaewhule read four letters addressed to him by the governor, wherein he declined his assent to the four new bills which had been sent to him for assent.
According to the House, its decision relies on Section 100 subsection 5 of the constitution, which said the assent of the governor is not required for the passage of the bills into law.
The house stated that where the governor withholds assent and the bill is again passed by two-thirds majority of the House, the bill shall become a law and the assent of the governor shall not be required.
Amaewhule further accused the governor of having no plans of conducting local government elections in the state.
This is coming 24 hours after the Supreme Court upheld the election of Governor Fubara.
The assembly, led by Amaewhule comprises 27 members who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Four members of the State Assembly, formerly led by Edison Ehie, who has now resigned as Speaker and member representing Ahoada East Constituency 2, are loyal to the governor.
President Bola Tinubu had waded into the political crisis in the state, which is predicated on the rift between Fubara and Wike.
The intervention of the President had led the concerned parties in the crisis to sign an eight-point resolution (peace accord) to end the crisis.
[DailyPost]
Body of young man discovered on refuse dump in Makurdi
The body of a young man, hands tied behind his back and bearing signs of brutalization relating to a suspected cult clash, was on the early morning of Sunday, January 28, discovered on a refuse dump in Makurdi, the capital of Benue state.
The victim believed to be between 20 and 25 years old and of black complexion, was found with one ear missing.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of Iorpuu Adai Street, Nyiman Layout, HUDCO quarters, in Makurdi.
His assailants had placed his body in a sack before dumping it.
The discovery was made by worshippers en route to morning service on Sunday.
Police said they are yet to be informed of the ugly incident.
Details later…
[TheNation]
Devil’s messengers: Dubious strategies drug pushers employ in planting cocaine, others on air travellers
VICTOR AYENI writes about the dark art used by drug traffickers to plant illicit drugs on innocent passengers who are unwittingly used as couriers to convey incriminating items to foreign countries
A mild drama ensued on January 16, 2024, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos, when an unnamed traveller accosted an airport worker for allegedly planting an illegal substance on him.
The viral video which captured the employee being manhandled by the passenger who billed to travel to Accra, Ghana, was first posted on Thursday, January 18, by an X information and commentary page named Sabi Radio.
Sunday PUNCH gathered that the traveller caused a scene at the airport alleging that one of the employees, later identified as Ugochukwu, attempted to use him to smuggle what he believed to be illicit drugs hidden in a parcel.
The flyer, it was gathered, was approached by Ugochukwu while at the airport who asked him to deliver a parcel which he claimed was a medication to an individual at his destination.
A caption attached to the 16-second video which garnered over 5.1 million views on Sabi Radio as of Wednesday afternoon, read, “That’s how a stupid FAAN staff (sic) tried to set us up to smuggle drugs, today. A whole (sic) Port Harcourt boy.”
The passenger, in an X post accompanying the video, opined that if he had not raised the alarm and rattled the airport, his picture would have been posted everywhere by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency accusing him of being a drug trafficker.
“That’s how my life would have gone like that. Una for see my picture for everywhere for NDLEA says I smuggle drug for an international airport.
“Innocent people are jailed daily through this method but they jam (sic) their match today. The NDLEA personnel were not acting shocked. Y’all (sic) need to be careful at these airports,” he wrote, in a post interspersed with Pidgin English.
In the video sighted by our correspondent, Ugochukwu could be seen kneeling before the miffed passenger and trying to explain himself to two other onlookers.
“I didn’t even open the drug; I just saw this man and told him to please help me,” he was heard saying as the angry air passenger charged at him.
“Tell me the f***ing content of this drug,” the traveller interrupted, slapping Ugochukwu across the face.
Mixed reactions
Many Nigerians took to social media in response to the video. Some said that such an action could have led to the false accusation of drug trafficking against numerous innocent persons while other netizens argued that it was not a case of drug smuggling since the airport’s screening machine had cleared the passenger’s luggage.
One of them, a travel agent, Lucky Ehiorobo, claimed that a false narrative had been added to the story.
“This happened since Tuesday. He (airport worker) didn’t put the medicine (sic) in the pocket of the passenger, please. The staff (sic) asked the man to help him carry some vitamin supplements to Accra and give them to someone there. The passenger agreed and collected the package.
“The so-called drugs passed through the screening machine and checkpoints all cleared it. It was when the man was boarding and he had the fear of not knowing the content of the medicine (sic) that he started acting up. It was not drug smuggling, please be guided,” Ehiorobo wrote.
Conversely, an X user, @Gidi_Traffic said the incident could be more serious than it looked and a plot to incriminate an innocent traveller.
“According to our sources, in cases like these, there’s a standby corrupt NDLEA operative on the receiving end waiting to arrest the innocent traveller on a low key.
“In some instances, the receiver tracks the luggage and takes the merchandise, either by stealing the entire luggage or in some extreme cases, kidnapping, killing the passenger and making it seem like a robbery!
“If the passenger is not lucky and is stopped by security, well then, passengers are unfortunately criminalised, paraded on national TV and legally sentenced for crimes they didn’t commit. The airport CCTV footage could be having selective amnesia and may not help your case,” the netizen wrote.
Meanwhile, a British lawyer on X, Baron Chymaker, pointed out that he had witnessed a Nigerian face the consequences of illicit substances stuffed into his luggage.
He wrote, “We had a drug case a few years ago, and the defendant, who came from Nigeria, swore and cried profusely that he was not the owner of the drug and sincerely was (not) aware of how that drug got to his luggage, but none of us believed him.
“Since I saw this video, I (have) felt maybe, just maybe, we didn’t do our best for him, and he may have been a victim.”
Another X user and legal practitioner, Usman Shamaki, said the MMIA incident should lead to a review of all drug trafficking arrests made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
“In a sane society, this incident should immediately trigger a review of all arrests and convictions, as well as an investigation into all officials at the airport. But this is Nigeria. We’ll just say, ‘Oh well’ and move on,” he wrote.
FAAN responds
However, in its response to the viral video, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, in a statement signed by its Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Mrs Obiageli Orah, on Thursday, disclosed that Ugochukwu was not an employee of the agency but a private company that worked with airlines.
It also said the item with the name, ‘New Age Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate Complex’ was taken to the NDLEA for further investigation.
The statement read partly, “The Authority wishes to set the records straight by stating that the officer being manhandled in the video is not a staff of FAAN. He has been identified as a member of the staff of Pathfinder Company.
“The employee was said to have approached a passenger to help him convey a parcel through the flight. When the passenger became sceptical, he raised the alarm, alleging that he was being set up for drug trafficking.
“The employee was immediately arrested for questioning by the Crime Investigation and Intelligence Unit of the Aviation Security Services.
“The passenger involved has since departed on Ibom Air to Accra while the medication with the name ‘New Age Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulfate Complex’ has been taken to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency for further investigation.”
Tramadol owner, airline worker arrested
But two later, the spokesperson of the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, revealed that though an investigation was ongoing, the substances had been tested and one of them was found to test positive for tramadol, an opioid pain medication.
“Both the consignment and the suspect are already with the NDLEA. We have tested the two substances and a formal investigation is still going on, but one of the substances tested positive for tramadol and the other one is a supplement. We have arrested a lot of people like that,” he added.
On January 21, Babafemi, in a statement, disclosed that the parcel which Ugochukwu gave to the traveller contained 50 pills of tramadol concealed in the bottle of dietary supplement.
He added that the suspected owner of the opioid medicine was arrested upon his return from Ghana along with Ugochukwu.
“NDLEA operatives on Friday, January 19 arrested one Okosun Paul Punitt, the consignee of a consignment of tramadol concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements, which a staff (member) of Pathfinder International Ltd, Ajuzieogu Mac-Elvis Ugochukwu attempted sending through an intending passenger on Ibom Air to Accra, Ghana at the Lagos airport on Tuesday, January 16.
“A video of the face-off between the passenger and Ajuzieogu later went viral after the vigilant passenger suspected the consignment contained illicit substances.
“Both Ajuzieogu and the exhibit were later transferred to NDLEA on Thursday, January 18 by the FAAN for investigation.
“Preliminary findings by NDLEA showed the parcel contained 50 pills of tramadol 225mg concealed in a bottle of dietary supplements.
“A follow-up operation by the agency led to the arrest of Okosun upon his return from Ghana on Friday. He has in his statement confirmed ownership of the drug,” the statement read in part.
Why is tramadol abused?
According to a fact sheet published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union, tramadol is a prescription medicine used to treat immediate and long-term pain of moderate to moderately severe intensity.
“It is a synthetic (man-made) opioid, which has actions similar to those of morphine. Tramadol is currently the most common non-medically used opioid in Nigeria. In Nigeria, tramadol is available in tablet, capsule or liquid form,” the report added.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH, a clinical pharmacist, James Ucheaga, explained that while tramadol was legal in the country, it was often sought by many drug users and traffickers due to its psychological side effects.
He explained, “Tramadol is mostly taken orally, but sometimes injected. Tramadol is typically prescribed in medical dosages of 50 and 100 milligrammes, both internationally and in Nigeria.
“When taken for non-medical purposes or without a prescription, tramadol frequently surpasses the dosage that is advised by doctors. Tramadol dosages of 200 mg, 225 mg, 300 mg, 400 mg, 500 mg, and higher are available on the black market in Nigeria.
“Many people abuse it because it produces feelings of ‘high,’ intense happiness, and excitement, alters the mood and also alters feelings of fear and pain.
“The medicine also produces increased energy, and decreased alertness and makes people feel relaxed.”
Ucheaga, however, added that the tramadol in the recent incident at the hospital might have been packed together with the Glucosamine supplements because of their pain-relieving effect.
“Glucosamine Chondroitin Sulphates are minerals that are usually found in bones, cartilage, and joint supplements. This medication helps to alleviate pains in the joints and bones.
“But in 2019, the Arthritis Foundation recommended that the medication shouldn’t be used alone for people with osteoarthritis but should be combined with a pain reliever.
“So it is possible that the tramadol was planned to be combined with the GCS supplements, but the use of weak or strong opioids for a long time is not good and there is a strong possibility that the real intention was to traffic the tramadol, the trafficker only used the supplements as a cover-up,” he added.
Drug cartels using passengers as mules
Commenting on the tactic of planting drugs on passengers, an employee of a travel agency, Busayo Ajala, told our correspondent that though some airport workers often asked travellers to help them deliver parcels, travellers ought to be vigilant.
“Passengers just need to be on the alert to know what is in such parcels and I heard this was what happened in this case. It could be dangerous because some drug traffickers use this tactic to convert innocent travellers into drug mules.
“Some of these traffickers will not let you know, they will just use you as a mule. That’s why when travelling, padlock all pockets even if you don’t put any valuables in there.
“Better still, buy luggage without many pockets outside your luggage. Unscrupulous elements can go to great lengths, but we must be vigilant during international flights,” Ajala added.
A YouTube video shared by Roots TV Nigeria illustrated how drug cartels could break the zipper of a piece of luggage and open up the travel bag without breaking the lock.
In the video, the tip of a pen was inserted into the teeth of the zipper and this opened the zipper fully and made the luggage open to the possible introduction of illicit substances by a desperate trafficker.
He said, “Some of these people could tell you that you should help them hold their luggage and that they want to go to the restroom. Don’t ever accept it.
“That’s one trick they can use to divert attention towards you as security personnel will be alerted to you so that they can get away with their real possessions.
“And don’t ever leave your luggage unattended, or only entrust it with someone whom you truly trust. Some of them can approach you with money too.
“The best plan is to go to the security of the airport and say that you’ve found an unknown package in your bag and turn it in. You might be delayed and miss your flight, but it’s better than if they find drugs on you.”
Different shades of dark art
In 2022, the NDLEA arrested a 27-year-old drug trafficker, Opoola Mujidat, who planted illegal drugs concealed in local bowls containing “scary native black soap and sponge” on two Oman-bound male passengers at the departure hall of the MMIA in Lagos.
The passengers, Raji Kazeem and Akinbobola Omoniyi, were reportedly travelling together to Oman on an Ethiopian Airline flight in July when they were intercepted by NDLEA operatives at the airport.
The spokesman for the agency, Femi Babafemi, in a statement, noted that both Kazeem and Omoniyi immediately alerted the anti-narcotic officers that Mujidat, who was still within the vicinity, had given them the bag containing the illicit substance at the airport before she was arrested.
In the same month in 2022, an attempt by a human trafficker, Matthew Bassey, to use an orphan, Gift Eno, to smuggle an illicit drug to Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, was also thwarted by the operatives of the NDLEA.
In a statement, Babafemi disclosed that Bassey who had already recruited Eno for a phantom job in the Arab country was arrested following the interception of Eno at the departure hall of the MMIA in Lagos.
When Eno’s luggage was searched, 50 parcels of cannabis (2.8 kg) concealed in food items were discovered, and there were discrepancies between the age she declared and the date of birth on her international passport.
Bassey, who was said to be lurking around the airport, waiting for Eno’s departure was promptly tracked by the officials and arrested.
Babafemi said it was further discovered that the recruiter leveraged Eno’s naivety and planted the drugs in her bag for onward delivery to his contact in Dubai.
The then chairman of the NDLEA, Col. Muhammad Abdallah (retd.), said the cartel was uncovered after detectives embarked on an investigation of a Nigerian lady identified as Zainab Aliyu, who was accused of entering Saudi Arabia with tramadol.
On December 26, 2018, Zainab was arrested by Saudi Arabia police shortly after she arrived for lesser Hajj, over allegations that a luggage bearing her name tag contained the unlawful substance.
However, while in detention, the NDLEA received a petition from her father, seeking a probe of his daughter’s ordeal.
Consequently, the NDLEA commander launched an investigation, which culminated in the arrest and arraignment of seven staff members of the airport.
The accused were identified as Idris Umar Shehu, Sanni Suleiman, Nuhu Adamu, Rhoda Adetunji, Udosen Itoro Henry and Sanni Hamisu.
The cartel had reportedly planted the tramadol-bearing luggage on Zainab.
It was further established that Zainab, who had only a piece of luggage, was not aware that a second bag had been labelled in her name.
Speaking of Zainab’s case, then-permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mustapha Sulaiman, said, “We piled pressure and there have been discussions at various levels between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Saudi authorities.
“The ministry used all available diplomatic channels to secure her release.”
He explained that an investigation by the Federal Government revealed that a drug cartel in Nigeria placed the drugs in her bag, leading to her arrest in Jeddah.
This discovery by the NDLEA raised concerns that some Nigerians arrested and executed for drug trafficking in Saudi Arabia might have been innocent.
Russian used by Nigerian lover
In 2017, a 30-year-old Russian woman, Maria Dapirka, who was accused of being a cocaine mule faced the death penalty in Vietnam.
But Dapirka stated that she was set up by her Nigerian lover, identified as Nick, also known as ‘Chib Eze’, who posed as a top footballer.
Dapirka, who lived in Thailand, was caught with almost 3kg of cocaine by Vietnamese customs on a flight from Singapore.
She said the cocaine was planted in her luggage by Nick who had a penchant for seducing attractive young women before conning them into becoming drug couriers.
Although Dapirka’s execution was overturned, an online report published on February 7, 2021, and sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday, said she was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Drug cartels also use social media – NDLEA
In 2015, the NDLEA disclosed that it foiled an attempt by a drug trafficking organisation to recruit a 37-year-old lady, Gloria Ezeabata, on Facebook as a drug courier under the guise of a marriage proposal.
The agency stated that after it mounted surveillance, the courier who was recruited and headed for Malaysia was apprehended.
“Some of the tricks to watch out for include marriage proposals to unsuspecting female victims, unsolicited generosity like cash and other gift items as well as offering all-expense paid trips to Asia, Europe, America and South Africa.
“Gloria was arrested during the screening of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline flight on her way to Malaysia at the departure hall.
“Substances that tested positive for methamphetamine weighing 1.325kg were detected in her luggage.
“The drug was concealed in 26 packs of Indomie noodles in a bag of foodstuff containing plantain, pepper, melon and other spices.
“Further investigation led to the arrest of one Mr Philip Maduabuchi Akpaka who allegedly coordinated the travel arrangement for Gloria and gave her the bag containing the drugs,” the agency said in a statement.
Airports need increased monitoring – Experts
Highlighting the need for digital security, a tech consultant, Solomon Nwadike, told Sunday PUNCH called for an increase in the level of monitoring by airline staff members who check passengers’ luggage.
He stated, “It doesn’t help if citizens have to rely on their phones to capture what was about to be done to their luggage.
“These banned substances don’t come from the air, they come from a stored place, by some people, and they even bribe and enlist the aid of airline workers. So, they should be fished out.
“Unfortunately, maybe due to poverty or greed, we have a deeply entrenched culture of bribery which can provide a leeway to criminals.
“But with increased surveillance, both manual and digital, these incidents can be minimised. Citizens should also learn to voice out and alert the relevant agencies whenever they sense a suspicious activity going on.”
[Punch]
[OPINION] Will Buhari ever face the truth about his govt? - Dele Sobowale
“But, the fact in our favour is that nothing was done under the veil of secrecy. We were as transparent and accountable as possible, being aware of the fact that posterity was the ultimate judge” – Ex-President Buhari at the launching of the books chronicling the purported achievements of his administration.
I have not read the books; and for two reasons. One, I was not aware they were coming out until the news reports about the launching. Two, I have my own project requiring a lot of money. Reading a book predictably self-serving about the Buhari government is not top on my list of priorities. However, if anybody is willing to donate a set, then I promise, on my word of honour, to read the entire thing – line by line. After that, I will write a rejoinder – for the sake of posterity.
Meanwhile, I want Buhari and Femi Adesina to remember that journalism – editorials, news reports, commentaries, features, cartoons etc – represent the first rough draft of history. Those of us alive will provide future generations with most of the raw materials which will enable them to judge the present better. That record, on which generations to come will base their assessment, cannot be left to the actors themselves. The dishonesty involved in that approach to history is akin to students seeking to mark their own examination papers. Obviously, nobody would fail any examination. Buhari, Adesina and co-writers of “faction” (a mixture of fiction and fact) are wasting their time – if they assume we are going to fall for an old trick of propagandists.
Even without seeing any of the books, it is easy to know what to expect; after reading the statement credited to Buhari. I am reminded that most heroes, being human, eventually disappoint many of their former followers. Buhari was my hero until he won the election in 2015 and embarked on the most lopsided selection of Federal Government officers till then. The fact that President Tinubu is matching him step-for-step, partially (but not fully) explains why we now read daily about upsurge of banditry, kidnapping and corruption in high places.
Nepotism also explains why cash scarcity persists, exchange rate remains in the range of N1300/US$ and inflation in tending towards 30 per cent. Buhari failed to understand that the team selection of a President largely determines the results – very much like the coach of a football team. He loaded his team with low quality people; and spent eight years blaming his predecessor. When that failed they collectively resorted to lying. The statement above is classic Buharism – government based on avoiding the truth and insisting that the Nigerian people are to blame for not seeing his good legacies. Four examples – out of thousands – will be sufficient to expose the lies in that short sentence he uttered.
WAYS AND MEANS LOANS
“We won’t allow CBN to print money, says Budget Minister” – VANGUARD, January 19, 2023
In an unveiled reference to Buhari government’s lack of transparency and accountability, the Minister of Budget, Atiku Bagudu, announced as follows: “The Central Bank is not going to be printing money for the government anymore.” Then he said: “The law allows that we can borrow but not more than 5% of the previous year’s revenue. What we have been doing wrong is to go beyond that 5% limit.” It was extremely noble of Bagudu to accept responsibility on behalf of the Tinubu government for what was essentially the greatest illegal and unconstitutional abuse of the Ways and Means, W&M, provisions designed to bail governments out of unexpected financial predicaments. It was mandatory that every request for W&M by government should be made known to the National Assembly, NASS – in order to ensure that the 5% limit is not exceeded. Buhari, in eight years, and without recourse to the NASS, accumulated about N30.5 trillion before leaving office. Out of this, N22.7 trillion was only disclosed in his last month in office; additional N7.8 trillion was later discovered.
Yet, the former President shamelessly stood before a gathering of distinguished Nigerians and the media to give his government credit for transparency and accountability. What was transparent about hidden loans taken without NASS approval – especially, when they constituted gross violation of the Constitution; bordering on economic sabotage? Furthermore, where are the reports detailing the accounts of how the N30-plus loans taken under cover of darkness were utilised for the peoples’ benefit? Boxing legend, Mohammed Ali, was credited with saying “the bigger they come, the harder they fall”. That statement aptly describes Buhari; once regarded as the man to clean up corruption in the public service. He has disappointed woefully. He ran a government strongly wedded to falsehood and he was the most vocal person in the group.
MALAMI’S $200M PAYMENT TO WHISTLEBLOWERS
“Crude oil exports: Malami allegedly paid $200m as whistleblower fees – Reps” – Report, APRIL 20, 2023.
From this report, one comes away with the impression that Mr Malami was given a free and illegal hand to dip into the Federation Account without restraint. In this case, the transaction was approved by Buhari, who failed to take three steps. One, to ask if the AGF was empowered by the Constitution to get involved in such payments; two, to ask if the Auditor General’s office had vetted the request; and three, to ask if NASS approval was needed. Buhari signed; the Central Bank paid and until now few people knew the basis for the claim; and who were the owners of the companies paid.
SCHOOL FEEDING DURING COVID
“EFCC uncovers N37bn fraud in humanitarian ministry, indicts Buhari’s minister, contractor” – Report, December 24, 2023
Just as millions of Nigerians were facing a very bleak Christmas, they were jolted by the revelation that one of the remote causes of their poverty was the alleged unbridled corruption perpetrated by Buhari’s appointees at various levels. The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was apparently headed by someone totally inhumane. According to the EFCC, under the cover of darkness, N37bn allegedly developed wings. Funds allocated to feed school children were allegedly siphoned to other ends while the kids were safely tucked under their parents at home.
The interesting thing about this particular example of alleged fraud was the fact that the Ministry reported to the Presidency that it actually fed the kids despite COVID-19 lockdown; Buhari believed it and was proud to claim credit for that feat by his administration. Obviously, there are two options on this: either Buhari failed to read the report, implying mental laziness; or, he read and believed the lies. One thing, however, is clear. There was nothing transparent or accountable about how money meant for feeding children vanished.
NEPOTISM, TRIBALISM AND RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY INSTITUTIONALISED
“Adesina’s book: Your 8-year rule was biased, unjust, nepotistic”, Clark tells Buhari” – VANGUARD, January, 19, 2023.
Here is a portion of what our patriotic leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had to say about the tissue of lies published and presented to the world; as well as Buhari’s statement at the event. Papa Clark will talk first on this issue before I add my own. If the Buhari gang hope they alone will write the history of eight disgraceful years, then I have news for them. We will write our own; it will be shorter but more truthful. Falsehood will not be allowed to overcome truths – supported by evidence e.g Buhari’s appointees now exposed for unprecedented corruption.
Here is what Chief said: “To most of us Nigerians, Buhari failed abysmally…His administration was full of insecurity, economic collapse, injustice, religious bigotry…For instance, he appointed 14 of 17 security chiefs from one section of the country. So, the declaration that he was for everybody was a sham…”
Buhari’s bigotry and ethnic biases were not limited to appointments of heads of security forces. In a nation where there are over 250,000 distinct names, almost fifteen per cent of Buhari’s appointees were named Mohammed, Abubakars, Ibrahims, Ahmed, Idris and Umar. And over 67 percent of top appointments went to Muslims in a nation almost equally divided between Muslims and Christians. People like Femi Adesina were just token Christians in residence.
NDLEA declares ex-beauty queen, Aderinoye wanted for drug dealing
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have declared an ex-beauty queen, Ms. Aderinoye Queen Christmas, also known as Ms. Queen Oluwadamilola Aderinoye wanted over her alleged deals in illicit substances.
According to reports, Aderinoye was declared wanted after she escaped from her Lekki, Lagos residence when NDLEA operatives raided her apartment at Oral Estate, Lekki, on Wednesday 24th, following credible intelligence that she deals in illicit substances.
The suspect was Miss Commonwealth Nigeria Culture 2015/2016 and founder of Queen Christmas Foundation.
Recovered from her home during the search witnessed by the estate officials include 606 grams of Canadian Loud, a synthetic strain of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale, large quantities of drugs packing plastics, a black RAV 4 SUV marked Lagos KSF 872 GQ, and her picture frame among others.
Spokesman of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi who made this known said Operatives also arrested a Brazil returnee, Udechukwu Ekene Theophilus at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos for ingesting 60 big wraps of cocaine.
“The suspect who was arrested during inward clearance of passengers on Ethiopian Airlines flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the D-Arrival Hall of the Lagos airport on Sunday 21st January 2024, initially refused to undergo body scan, raising health concerns in a desperate bid to evade arrest.
“When he was however offered other options, he accepted to be placed on excretion observation and shortly after he was ushered into NDLEA observatory, he excreted the first set of cocaine pellets, after which he expelled a total of 60 wraps of the class A drug weighing 1.279 kilograms in five excretions.
“In his statement, Udechukwu claimed he ingested the consignment in Brazil and was to discharge everything at the airport in Addis Ababa but could only excrete 15 pellets which he handed over to another member of his syndicate before his connecting flight to Nigeria was called.
“In the same vein, NDLEA operatives at the Lagos airport on Tuesday 23rd January recovered a total of twelve (12) cartons of tramadol 225mg containing five hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred (599,900) pills weighing 385.40kg from an overstayed cargo at the SAHCO import shed of the Lagos airport after a joint examination with other agencies.
“The tramadol consignment had come into the country in two batches on KLM Royal Dutch Airline flights from Karachi, Pakistan between 27th July and 1st August 2023.
“They were however placed under watch by NDLEA operatives since then”.
He continued, “Not less than 822 kilograms of cannabis sativa hidden in a fuel station located at Ashipa community along Badagry-Seme road were recovered by operatives of the Seme Special Area Command of NDLEA, while a suspect Sani Audu, 35, was arrested with 111.3kg of same substance at Maigatari town in Jigawa State on Tuesday 23rd January.
In Yobe state, two suspects: Mohammed Usman and Adamu Ma’azu were arrested on Saturday 27th January with 49 blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 50kg at Damaturu motor park, Damaturu.
The duo of Paul Obor, 38, and Dennis Fuokorighe, 48, were arrested on Wednesday 24th Jan. at a Navy check point, Itobe, Ofu LGA, Kogi state with 318 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 190.8kg concealed in a gold colour Honda Accord Car marked RBC 449AE, and were handed over to the Kogi state command of the Agency on Friday 26th Jan. by men of the Nigeria Navy Ship, Lugard, Lokoja.
In Kano, a suspect, Shamwilu Idris, 29, was arrested at Gadar Tamburawa area on Thursday 25th January with 271kg cannabis following the seizure of an abandoned 28.1kg of same substance at Rijiyar Lemo area of the state on Wednesday 24th January.
Another suspect, Abubakar Haruna Salisu, 24, was nabbed at Kotun Wambai, Yan Awaki, area of Kano on Friday 26th January with 600 bottles of codeine-based syrup while a total of 1, 306 blocks of cannabis weighing 886kg seized by the Police at Kwanar Dangora, area of the state were transferred to the Agency on Wednesday 24th January.
A total of 87 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing 73kg as well as 21, 346 pills of tramadol and 3,800 tablets of diazepam were recovered from a suspect, Musa Galadima on Friday 26th January when his DAF truck marked GME 971 XD was intercepted at Lafiyawo, along Gombe – Bauchi road by NDLEA operatives. In Plateau state,
Aminu Ubanta, 35, was nabbed on Saturday 27th January with 5.355kg cannabi at Layin Zana area of Jos.
Two members of an international drug trafficking syndicate: Sunday Michael Owoborode, 52, and Valentine Anene were arrested the next day Thursday 25th January at Edu Orita, Ogun state where Valentine was being prepared to travel with some drugs to Qatar same day on board a Qatar airline flight from Lagos.
At the time of their arrest, 1.8kg of cannabis, an electronic weighing scale and other illicit substances were found on them.
In another interdiction operation by operatives in Lagos, a 50-year-old Sunday Adediran, was arrested on Wednesday 24th January with 20kg cannabis sativa found in one of the rooms in his house at Mushin Olosha.
With the same vigour, the various commands of the Agency across the country continued with the War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign in the past week.
Some of them include WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Government Day Primary and Secondary School, Jiddel Michika, Adamawa State; students of Soltab Comprehensive College, Abeokuta, Ogun state; pupils and teachers of Sangotedo Primary School, Ajah, Lagos State.
Others were pupils and teachers of ADS Basic Primary School 1&2, Ogbomoso, Oyo state; students and teachers of Farfanu Malami community secondary school, Magama Jibia, Katsina state; and WADA advocacy visit to His Royal Highness, Dr. Gibson Nwabueze Nwosu, Eze Uzu 11 of Awka, Anambra State, among others.
Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) commended the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Seme, Kano, Gombe, Kogi, Plateau and Jigawa Commands of the Agency for their outstanding feats in the past week.
He equally applauded their counterparts in all the commands across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures, thus creating a balance between their drug supply reduction and drug demand reduction activities.
[OPINION] War On Banditry Can Never Be Won On Battlefield - Usman Yusuf
Since President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assumption to office, Nigeria has been sleepwalking from one national security disaster to another, perpetuating the bloodbath in the North. The country is now thrown into a frenzy because the danger is closing in on Abuja the seat of power. Security agencies’ fire brigade approaches to these security threats only keep starring the hornets’ nests.
This article is a call for an honest conversation on Nigeria’s security challenges, particularly banditry.
President Tinubu’s words, deeds and body language, have shown beyond any doubt that all he is interested in is to get into power and control the economy where he has brazenly and unapologetically planted his tribesmen in all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that control and appropriate money. He sees national security issues particularly banditry as irritants and distractions to his grand agenda.
There is so much mistrust of this government because of its lack of transparency that people are seeing the recent spike in kidnapping in Abuja and the whole of the North as artificially engineered to justify the president’s clandestine grand agenda of relocating critical MDAs and eventually, the federal capital back to his hometown, Lagos.
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Deteriorating security in Abuja and neighbouring states is being cited as a reason for the planned move of critical MDAs. The Presidency has so far remained tight-lipped in addressing people’s real concerns about these speculations.
Abuja witnessed worse real security threats during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, but as the commander-in-chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, he did not cut and run. So, the Presidency should come clean with Nigerians and tell us the real reasons for wanting to relocate the federal capital to Lagos instead of these embarrassingly sneaky and defeatist ones.
The new military leadership has been singing the same old song that Nigerians have heard over the last eight years without presenting any concrete plan on how they will do things differently to end Nigeria’s multiple security challenges.
It is no secret that the wars on banditry, Boko Haram and Niger Delta militancy have all become fat cash cows for the military, which explains why these conflicts have been allowed to fester for this long. President Tinubu is unlikely to change this culture.
Although there is a very important role for the military, there is not going to be a military solution to banditry in Nigeria, the increasing militarisation of the conflict has so far been disastrous. The honest truth is that the military cannot bring peace between our peoples, to think differently, will be delusional. History has taught us that conflicts like this have never been won on the battlefield.
Banditry is essentially a social problem that has been allowed to fester and mutate into the profit-driven criminal enterprise it has become. All the drivers of these conflicts are local and their solutions must be found locally. Big military plans from Abuja without involving local stakeholders have not worked over the last eight years and will never work. So, things must be done differently to bring an end to this conflict, which in my heart of hearts, I know can be solved with the right approach.
The increasing brazenness of the terrorists, abduction of female students, forced marriages of female captives, the use of explosives and attacks on police and military installations are all the modus operandi of Boko Haram, not bandits. We have for years been raising the alarm on encroachment of Boko Haram and its affiliates into the North West and North Central parts of the country and their unholy alliance with bandits.
Overall, there is a lot more than meets the eye about these flare ups of violence in Abuja and the North in general. We have received several reports of gunmen in military uniforms killing Fulani herders and dumping their corpses around villages of locals populated by mostly Christians, just to incite reprisals. This is obviously not the handiwork of our professional military.
For an enduring peace, the goal should be to demilitarise this conflict and involve all local stakeholders for aggressive nationwide reconciliation between all communities, rehabilitation and disarmament of all warring parties. Otherwise, the war on banditry will be forever.
We will just be going round in cycles if the financiers, collaborators, supporters and the leadership of these terrorists are not identified and prosecuted.
The Nigeria Police Force, a critical arm of law enforcement, has essentially abdicated its primary responsibility of internal policing to the military, reducing it to guarding VIPs or individuals and businesses that can pay. It is the police that are closer to the people, not the military that comes and goes. The Nigeria Police Force is dangerously under-resourced, understaffed, poorly motivated and has lost focus from its primary mandate.
At a time when the country is facing the worst insecurity of our lifetime and citizens are experiencing excruciating daily hardships, it is unfortunate that our elected representatives in the National Assembly are only fixated on their comforts and that of their families, not what matters most to Nigerians.
Equally worrisome is the fact that no two northern state governors are working together on finding lasting solutions to this conflict. Some of these governors have now resorted to forming their own armed militias to fight these terrorists because of the federal government’s failure to meet its primary constitutional responsibility of protecting citizens.
The dangers of these ethnically non inclusive outfits are: there will be worsening of the violence and bloodshed, extrajudicial killings of the innocent by these militias and the real fears that some governors will use these militias to intimidate their political opponents. The federal government should, as a matter of urgency, increase the size of the military and the police.
Dialogue is a legitimate tool in resolving any conflict. Some new governors have declared that they will not negotiate with bandits and criminals, citing the failure of such efforts in the past as reasons. But past efforts cannot truly be considered as sincere dialogues.
For a true and genuine dialogue to succeed, the following steps will need to be taken – The federal government must support and take complete ownership of the process, the process should be led by experts rather than politicians, a comprehensive stakeholder mapping and identification needs to be done to bring in all stakeholders, and there should be a declaration of ceasefire to enable unhindered participation of all parties.
Several federal government security agencies are widely reported to be currently engaged in dialogues with some bandits groups, mostly in the North West. Concerns we are getting from the field that will militate against the success of these dialogues are: There is no coordination among these many groups or a central reporting agency in charge of guarding the process, banditry is being approached in the dialogue as an ethnic Fulani problem rather than the national problem that it is, bus-loads of the Fulani from states in the North East that have no understanding of the culture or terrain of the people in the North West and North Central are transported to solve banditry in these zones, important local stakeholders are excluded, and money is said to be changing hands, mostly to select bandit leaders.
All these mistakes are a recipe for failure, with far-reaching consequences that will be very difficult to fix.
Northern Nigeria needs to wake up to the systematic grand agenda to balkanise the region along ethnic, religious and economic lines. This evil agenda poses an existential threat to the region’s security, economy, social fabric and cohesion of its peoples, a rift that will take generations to heal.
Step 1: The decimation of the North East by Boko Haram insurgency, which has been raging for 15 years with devastating consequences.
Step 2: Banditry in the North West and North Central is perhaps the biggest threat to the peaceful existence of the North because, in addition to the serious security and economic consequences inflicted on the region, a seed of hatred has now been planted between ethnic groups, particularly between the majority the Hausa and Fulani that have lived in peace for generations
Step 3: The North, which is home to 65 per cent of the 133million Nigerians in multidimensional poverty, has the most out-of-school children, highest unemployment and drug abuse among youths.
Step 4: Politics in the region, especially during the 2023 elections cycle, has been more divisive than anywhere else in the country. The ruling APC’s 2023 Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket has widened the divide between Muslims and Christians in the North, which is fueling religious strife not seen elsewhere in the country.
Step 5: The strained relationship with Niger Republic following the military coup on 26 July 2023 that led to ECOWAS sanctions and border closure on Niger is causing severe hardship on Nigerians in the seven northern states bordering the country and will no doubt worsen poverty and insecurity in the North.
As true leaders that live with and see the sufferings of their people, the dignified silence of our traditional rulers in the midst of all the injustices in the land only deepens the feelings of despair and hopelessness amongst people in the region, particularly the restless youths. People need to hear and see our traditional rulers getting more involved, collectively articulating their concerns and advocating them.
In the midst of raging insecurity, hunger, excruciating poverty and sufferings in the land, some northern Muslim clerics have allowed their silence to be bought. Instead of speaking up against these injustices and preaching the true words of the scripture, they remain silent. The most disturbing trend now is that a few vocal ones are fighting each other on the social media on frivolous issues.
We northern elites that have seen and benefitted from a better Nigeria cannot, and should not continue to remain aloof to the state of the nation and the suffering of our people. We need to get positively engaged and give a voice to our voiceless many.
Corruption remains far and away the biggest risk to Nigeria’s national security. Nigeria is a very richly endowed country that has no reason to be poor but the nation’s commonwealth is in the hands of a few. Peace will forever elude any society with as much corruption as there is in Nigeria.
No military, no matter how powerful, can bomb away injustices, grievances, poverty, citizens’ anger, hunger and illiteracy, which are the main drivers of insecurity. The government must invest in addressing these drivers instead of inexpensive military hardware that can never bring an end to this conflict.
Usman Yusuf is a professor of Haematology-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation
[OPINION] OGUNBODEDE: Reminiscences on Akeredolu - Bolanle Bolawole
Today, I yield this space to a bosom friend of mine, Prof. Eyitope Ogunboodede, the immediate past vice-chancellor (2017 – 2022) of my alma mater, the University of Ife, GREAT IFE! (now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife). Titled “Requiem for Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu”, Ogunbodede’s reminiscences on the late governor of Ondo State are as moving as they contain a lot of useful information. Enjoy it!
“It is a harrowing experience writing this piece on Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, who many prefer to call by his alias of "Aketi ". I am united to Aketi not only by his and my membership of the Owo Community or by virtue of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), of which he was a committed alumnus, but also as bosom friends. Oluwarotimi Odunayo
Akeredolu (SAN, CON), born on 21 July, 1956 in Owo to Reverend Jacob Ola Akeredolu and Lady Evangelist Grace Bosede Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese-Odo, in Ondo State, passed on to glory on December 27, 2023 while serving his second term as Governor of Ondo State. He studied Law at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University - OAU), graduating in 1977 and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1978. He served as the Attorney-General of Ondo State from 1997 to 1999. In 1998, he became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He was chairman of the Legal Aid Council from 2005 to 2006. He became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008. In 2012, the Nigerian Bar Association named its new secretariat in Abuja after him for “his selfless service”. He was a Managing Partner at the Law firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, which he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice of Nigeria.
Akeredolu was sworn in as the governor of Ondo State on 24 February, 2017 in Akure, the Ondo State capital, having won as the flag-bearer of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). While at OAU as a student, he served as president of the Law Students Society. He was also an active member of the National Union of Nigerian Students (NUNS), which metamorphosed into the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in 1980. Akeredolu displayed great passion for Obafemi Awolowo University, his alma mater. Their Law firm, Olujinmi & Akeredolu, are External Solicitors to OAU and it handled many cases for the university pro bono. He eruditely delivered the OAU Convocation Lecture at the December 2021 convocation during which Professor Yemi Osinbajo, representing the Visitor, humorously referred to him as “the Commander-in-Chief of Amotekun Forces”!
Akeredolu was an ardent lover and supporter of African culture. During one of his invitations to OAU, he was officially welcomed by the Kegites Club. To the surprise of all that were present, he took the microphone and sang some old Kegites tunes, which were unknown to the current members. He was their “World Songito” and composed many songs for the Kegites during his student days at Great Ife. The Kegites Club, with the motto “Unity in Diversity”, is the first socio-cultural club in the world, founded in 1962 at the Ibadan campus of the then University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) by students. There are now branches nationally, UK, India, USA and others. Akeredolu was, until his death, working on a befitting World Headquarters for the Kegites Club at OAU. I do hope the project will be completed.
A major lesson to learn from Aketi’s life and times is that when we think as mere mortals that it will be long, God in His own mysterious ways may decide to make it gloriously short for His own purpose. Dying at 67 years is untimely and saddens us but it is comprehensible because we are mere mortals that can be called home at any time or age. In the case of Akeredolu, we have every reason to be thankful because, while he has physically departed, his legacy, good deeds, love for humanity and memory will live forever.
Aketi demonstrated very clearly the numerous positive contributions that can emanate from the toils of a genuine patriot, committed leader and political strategist. He was an epitome of humility, commitment, competence, tenacity of purpose and absolute dedication. He was a political leader that refused to play “politics” with his people. When I challenged him on his posture on some trending issues during his campaign for second term, he simply retorted “Tope, I will only promise what I know is possible. If I fail, I will go back to my law practice. It is not a do-or-die matter”.
In the heat of his bid for a second term, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party at a press conference falsely alluded that I was the Returning Officer invited by INEC for the (Ondo State) governorship election. The party further disclosed that it was rejecting my appointment because I was “a known crony of Governor Akeredolu of the All Progressives Congress and hails from Owo, the same hometown as the APC candidate”. The embarrassment to me was mitigated when INEC immediately countered the spurious assertion, informing the public that “the Returning Officer for the Ondo Governorship election is not from Ondo State and not from the university mentioned in the said press conference.”
Aketi called me and asked in his characteristic humorous manner “Tope, what is this falsehood that they are peddling about you? If they truly know you, they will know that you will never accept INEC’s invitation to serve as the Returning Officer for Ondo State where I am one of the candidates. Don’t worry, it is all politics and will soon be over.” I met Governor Seyi Makinde at the book launch of Professor Tope Alonge at Ibadan in March 2021. It was a great surprise to me that he openly apologised for the embarrassment that the misrepresentation must have caused me. I was not expecting any Governor in Nigeria to tender an apology to an “ordinary” citizen. In that rare gesture, Governor Makinde actually deviated from the norms and exemplified humility at its best. His attitude to power is worth emulating and my respect for him has soared since that Ibadan meeting.
All who know Akeredolu will agree that he was not the conventional politician whose main preoccupation is to talk and act in ways that sway the voters and endear them to support him. He not only declined chieftaincy titles but officially adopted the sobriquet “Arakunrin”, the Yoruba equivalent of “Mister”. Even as governor, he refused every opportunity to play to the gallery. An example will suffice. He was at a wedding ceremony on my invitation. At the end of the church service, he pulled me aside and jokingly expressed in Owo dialect his displeasure on the physical condition of the church. Three days later, he called to inform me that he had taken a decision to personally and anonymously complete the construction of the church, and that I should not disclose to the church that he was the benefactor.
When construction materials were deposited in the church, the leadership called me to find out who was the generous donor. I told them the donor said I should not disclose, and they misinterpreted my statement to mean that I must be the one. When I found that the renovation of the church was being arrogated to me, I called Aketi to let him know that I needed to divulge the information to the church. Though he raised a serious objection, I went ahead to let the cat out of the bag! The church members were in utter bewilderment because it came from an angle they never imagined. The church was completely transformed within a few weeks. That is Aketi for you!
It will surprise many to know that in 2019, when the staff of OAU were being kidnapped along the Ife-Ibadan express road, I ran to Aketi in Akure for advice. He listened attentively to me and retorted “Tope, we will find a solution to the problem”. He immediately called the then AIG in charge of Zone II comprising of Ondo, Oyo and Osun States, Adeleye Oyebade (who later
retired as DIG in 2020): “Leye, I want you to please help us look closely into this challenge on Ife-Ibadan road. The VC of OAU is with me now and the university community is worried”. I am aware that DIG Oyebade (rtd.) immediately swung into action and, working assiduously with the then Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Abiodun Ige, they combed the entire landscape and found a solution. The rest, as they say, is history.
At the church service during the burial of his mother, the Bishop in his homily lamented that “life is hard in the country and the poor are getting poorer”. He opined that Nigeria needs a change that will ensure safety and security for all, and called for a government that understands economics. When Akeredolu had the opportunity to speak, the Senior Advocate in him propelled him to query why some of his modest achievements were never mentioned for a balance. In his words, “We have listened to your political sermon. It was wonderful listening to the sermon and I will not contend with you. But I know as politicians we are doing our best. It might not be good enough for everybody. You should also acknowledge those things that we have done. Continue to pray for us that we will do our best”. Such is the man Aketi, genuine and direct, no-holds-barred, no pretence!
Akeredolu has done his best and now leaves the rest for His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa. I had the opportunity of sitting on the same table with Governor Ayedatiwa (then Deputy Governor) for about four hours at the Jacob and Grace Garden, Owo during one of the ceremonies for the burial of Lady Evangelist Akeredolu in November 2022. I had met him before then but never had such close interaction with him. Since that meeting, I have watched him very closely and I admire him for his hardihood, vivacity and zeal. I can say unequivocally that he is committed to the progress of our “Sunshine State” and that he has the experience, temerity and political sagacity to raise the state to higher heights. I wish him well in his new assignment, and pray that the almighty God will guide him to make the right decisions!
Now that Aketi has gone home to rest, we take solace in the fact that he positively touched numerous lives and that his legacies will endure. Until his death, he was the chairman of the Southwest Governors’ Forum. He led the Southwest Governors to establish the Western Nigeria Security Network, otherwise known as Amotekun, at a time the ruling party, to which he belonged, was vehemently opposed to its establishment. Akeredolu will forever be remembered as the Lion-heart of Nigerian politics. He was down-to-earth, extra-ordinarily bold and daring, the architect of Amotekun, and a dominant force in Nation-building.
I cannot agree more with Lasisi Olagunju who wrote in his article “Akeredolu, death desires and 2024” in the Sunday Tribune of January 1, 2024 that: “He did so well as a field commander that, at his death last week at age 67, it was as if he had lived for 100 years.” One project that was very dear to the heart of Arakunrin, which he did not have the opportunity to complete, was the upgrading of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo to a university status. He was initially reluctant but once he got convinced, he wanted it done immediately and he supported the project with all available resources. It, however, suffered a lull when he fell sick. The greatest legacy that the State government can bequeath to Arakunrin is to complete the process, which is at the final stages, and name the university after him.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace!”
And all shall say, AMEN!
Yahaya Bello’s Appointees Return As Ododo Makes First Appointments
Newly inaugurated Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo has announced his first set of appointments, including Secretary to the State Government and Chief of Staff.
Shortly after being sworn-in on Saturday at the Muhammadu Buhari Mini Stadium in Lokoja, Ododo nominated Folashade Ayoade Arike as SSG, Kingsley Fanwo as Chief Press Secretary, and Ali Bello as Chief of Staff.
Other appointees include Hilary Ojoma as Deputy Chief of Staff, Jerry Omodara as Security Adviser, and Deedat Salami Ozigi as Special Adviser on Media.
Some nominees were retained from the previous administration like Bello and Fanwo who served ex-Governor Yahaya Bello.
Governor Ododo has sent the list of nominees to the State House of Assembly for screening, urging swift action to enable them assume duties immediately.
The new appointments are the first major decisions taken by the governor as he takes charge in Kogi. Analysts believe he aims to hit the ground running by ensuring key offices are promptly filled at the start of his tenure.
After Lavish Birthday Party, FCT-IRS Reminds Aisha Achimugu Of Tax Obligations
The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has reminded socialite Aisha Achimugu of her tax obligation following her lavish 50th birthday party hosted in Granada.
Aisha, who is the widow of late oil and gas tycoon, Sulaiman Achimugu, hosted an opulent weeklong birthday party in the Caribbean Islands where she hosted top Nigerian politicians and celebrities.
A special website launched for the birthday celebrations detailed how guests were treated to an eight-day gala in Calivigny Island and Silversand Grenada, a seven-star luxury resort located in Grand Anse beach.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, was said to have attended the posh event, reports Premium Times.
Local and international musicians and entertainers flown in to perform at the party include Kenny G (American saxophonist and composer), Waje, Flavour, Adekunle Gold, Asake and Mr Killa (a Grenada musician).
Mrs Achimugu, who lost her husband to Coronavirus in 2020, was said to have changed clothes at least 30 times, with each dress reported to cost thousands of dollars.
According to the report, Aisha was decked in very expensive diamond jewelry, wore designer shoes and carried Hermes crocodile-leather handbags, each said to cost between $50,000 and $80,000.
Reacting to social media reactions that trailed the event, Aisha said she would give her critics “things to talk about” when she returns to the country.
“I want to congratulate myself for being the most popular person in the entire world, apart from the Gaza and Israeli fight, I guess something that’s most popular on the news globally. I give God the glory, and I thank God for my life. And for those who have genuinely shown concern over the media, I want to assure you that I’m well, I’m in a high spirit
“But I want to assure you all that this girl is moving ahead. I’m having a great time, and I’ll continue to have a great time and have a ball today, tomorrow, and Sunday for those of you who are going to be around. And for those who are genuinely not concerned, I love you all.
“I’ve not been in a media space, but since they’ve made it a duty for me to do that, I promise you’ll see more of my face in the media. So, in a lighter mode, just to let you know, I’m happy and looking forward to today.
“My most exciting moment is my charity ball, ten years of self, and then tomorrow to party and shut Nigeria down again. So I will give them things to talk about for the entire week. Thank you,” she said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Aisha’s party has caught the attention of the FCT Internal Revenue Service.
The tax authority extended their birthday greetings to the socialite while urging her to file her annual tax returns.
“The FCT-Internal Revenue Service extends our warmest birthday wishes to you! May this special day be filled with joy and blessings.
“Remember to fulfill your tax obligations by filing your annual tax returns,” the agency said in a tweet.