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[PRESS RELEASE] Organised Civil Society Condemns continued use of violence against Peaceful Protesters and Abduction of Protest Leaders by Security Agents
Admin![[PRESS RELEASE] Organised Civil Society Condemns continued use of violence against Peaceful Protesters and Abduction of Protest Leaders by Security Agents](/media/k2/items/cache/4a5a26a59541be233959d2e12d6fb20e_L.jpg)
....... Demands the immediate release of Micheal Lenin and others Protest Leaders currently being detained by Security agents
......Frowns at the use of Thugs to Attack Protesters in Lagos and Abuja
.......Decries the Use of Curfews by State Governors to frustrate Citizens' Nationwide Protests
The United Action Front of Civil Society again, wishes to observe that reports from our Protests field Monitors in Abuja, Lagos and other Cities of Nigeria from our monitors have it that both security agents and politically sponsored thugs have consistently disrupted and dispersed lawful assembly of peaceful protesters at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, the venue designated by the court for the anti Hunger protesters for no reason at all, inspite of insisting earlier that the Abuja protests must be confined to Moshood Abiola Stadium. This use of unwarranted force on civil protesters is high handed and oppressive to law abiding citizens.
Reports also have it that some leaders of the Protests in Abuja, who include Mr Micheal Lenin, among others are still being detained and tortured by the Security agents, who abducted them and at their residences in the dead of the night following their open criticism of President Bola Tinubu's Address to the Nation. For us, it's quite sad that Nigeria is beginning to operate a Police State under a democratic regime as in the dark days of General Sanni Abacha.
In order to avoid further umbrage of the citizens, we call on security agents to immediately release Lenin and others, who still being illegally detained by the State so as not to drive the popular and open protestations of the citizens underground and turn them into violent engagements of the state as history as proven that those who make peaceful protests impossible for Citizens, have always made violent ones inevitable.
Again, our observations of the protests in Lagos, especially in Alausa, Lekki and Ojota axis have shown connivance between security agents and sponsored hoodlums who randomly unleashed mayhem on peaceful Protesters with hard objects and tear gas cannisters, injuring several unarmed and defenceless protesters in the process.
Similarly, as Leaders of the Conscience of our country, we frown heavily at this resort to violence by the Police in most northern states as well as the use of Curfews to frustrate the civil rights of citizens to express their dissatisfaction to government policies in the country contrary to the assurances given to us by the Inspector General of Police, Dr Kayode Egbetokun during our consultative meeting with him last week.
Lastly, we find the growing show of force by security agents and the undemocratic use of state power by sub national authorities unacceptable and subversive of the democratic will of the citizens and therefore call on the President to immediately intervene by calling those involved to order, while initiating dialogue with protest leaders on their key demands as announced in his address to the Nation before the situation get out of hand.
Signed
Olawale Okunniyi
(Veteran Che)
Head, Coordinating Secretariat
United Action Front of Civil Society
The All Progressives Congress (APC) said it has accepted the apology of former Senate Chief Whip Ali Ndume, who was stripped of his position for speaking out against hardship in the country.
The Senate removed Ndume (Borno South) from the position on July 17 for criticising Tinubu’s administration and replaced him with Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North), following a letter from APC national chairman, Dr
Abdullahi Ganduje, and the party’s national secretary, Bashir Ajibola, in that regard.
However, after addressing journalists at a meeting of the APC National Working Committee and the lawmakers, Ganduje said the party’s administrative organ is writing to the Senate about the outcome of the interface so that the Red Chamber can review its earlier position.
He said, “We are pretty satisfied with his apology. Like he said, we invited him, and you know the party is the father of everybody. As a party, we are free to ask legislators, members of the executive, and even all the appointed party members in the government.
So, that is why we decided to come. It is a family issue, and we need to resolve it.
“We are writing to the National Assembly to let you know what has happened between Senator Ndume and the party. You know, he apologised to the party, and we conveyed the same issue to the National Assembly, that we hope they can review their position.”
On his part, Ndume insisted that he did not insult the President or say anything against the party. He only left the party out when expressing his concerns and admitted his mistake of not talking to the party as a last point.
“Yesterday, I was invited to a party, and here I am to discuss family matters. The national chairman is not just a national chairman to me but a father. With what has happened, which you are all aware of, it is not surprising that I am invited to hear my side, and we had family discussions. I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point. I promised the party that all my observations as a senior family member should have terminated or ended with the party.
“I will move forward on that, but whatever I said or did was out of patriotism. Those issues may be said to be strong, but they are true. Then I should have talked to the party at the last bus stop.”The President and the
Senate have nothing to do with this; the President did not take offence, I didn’t insult the President, I didn’t say anything against the party, but I left the party out of reaching on issues, and so, please I think that is all I can say,” Ndume maintained.
He emphasized that he remains the party leader in the state
Former Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has dismissed reports of his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking through his media aide, Terver Akase, Ortom declared the suspension null and void, emphasizing that he remains the party leader in the state.
“Ortom has not been suspended. He is the leader of the party in the state, and any meeting that is called or going on without his consent is null and void,” Akase stated.
Ortom asserted that Benue PDP Chairman, John Ngbede, who announced his suspension, had himself been suspended for one month and therefore had no authority to convene such a meeting.
However, Ngbede, speaking to journalists at the party’s secretariat in Makurdi, confirmed Ortom’s suspension, accusing the former governor of attempting to hijack the party’s leadership and revert to old practices of malpractice.
Ngbede said, “It’s true that the former governor was suspended by the State Working Committee of the party because we will not allow anyone who thinks he can take the leadership of the party by force. The party belongs to the people, and we should allow people to feel the impact of the congress.”
Ngbede insisted that he remains the Benue PDP Chairman, noting that while his tenure technically expires on August 4, he awaits directives from the national secretariat. “It’s only the state executive committee of the party that can suspend me by virtue of my position as a member of the national executive,” he added.
Military commanders authorising shooting of protesters will be prosecuted for crimes against humanity – Atiku
AFOLABI
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has said the shooting of unarmed civilians by security operatives, especially soldiers, is a crime against humanity.
He said this in reaction to the shooting and summary execution of some protesters by security operatives during the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest across the country.
Atiku told the military hierarchy that those sanctioning the use of excessive force against peaceful civilian protesters would not be shielded or exonerated by the passage of time.
He said those culpable of such abhorrent act would be held responsible for committing crimes against humanity even years after they might have left service.
He noted that the right of the citizens to protest is explicitly enshrined in the constitution and it’s the duty of the government to guarantee such rights.
In a statement on Tuesday, Atiku, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate in the last election said, “I wish to convey a stern caution to the distinguished service chiefs and military commanders of Nigeria’s armed forces that those who authorise the use of lethal force against peaceful civilian protesters will be held responsible for committing crimes against humanity, even in the years following their retirement from service.
“The constitutional right to engage in protest is firmly established within our supreme law and reinforced by the judiciary. It is the solemn duty of the government and security agencies to ensure a safe and protected environment for individuals exercising their right to peaceful protest.”
![[PRESS RELEASE] Tinubu Appoints Former Katsina Gov. As TETFUND Chairman](/media/k2/items/cache/6d7b349b104d5662072cc042a6364284_M.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu has appointed former Katsina State Governor Aminu Masari as the Chairman of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) board.
Presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale announced the appointment in a statement.
The newly appointed board also includes Senator Sani Danladi, Sunday Adepoju, Nurudeen Adeyemi, Esther Ukachukwu, Turaki Ibrahim, and Aboh Eduyok.
President Tinubu emphasized the board's crucial role in enhancing the quality of tertiary education in Nigeria and urged members to fully commit to TETFund's mission.
Established in 2011, TETFund ensures equitable fund distribution across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones and monitors project execution to maintain educational standards.
Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) apologised to the All Progressives Congress (APC) for criticising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration on rising hunger and food insecurity without consulting the party.
This comes as the party’s national chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, announced that another letter would be transmitted to the party’s Senate Caucus, potentially paving the way for Ndume’s reinstatement as Chief Whip.
Recently, Ndume was stripped of his position as Chief Whip after the party’s leadership requested his removal due to his critical views on the APC-led government. Senator Tahir Monguno (Borno North) replaced him and also assumed Ndume’s previous role as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Since then, Ndume’s supporters have been protesting and calling on the Senate and the APC to reinstate him as the Chief Whip.
Addressing newsmen after a closed-door meeting at the party’s secretariat, Ndume said, “With what has happened, of which you are all aware, it is not surprising that I am invited to hear my own side. We had family discussions, and I accepted the mistake of not talking to the party as a last point.
“I promised the party that all my observations as a senior member of the family should have terminated or ended with the party. That is something that, moving forward, I would do, but whatever I said or whatever I did was out of patriotism, and those issues may be said strongly, but they are true. But then I should have talked to the party as the last bus stop.”
When asked if he would also apologise to the President and the Senate, Ndume said, “The President and the Senate have nothing to do with this. The president did not take offence. I didn’t insult the President; I didn’t say anything against the party, but I left the party out of reach on issues, and so, please, I think that is all I can say.”
On his part, Ganduje expressed satisfaction with Ndume’s apology.
“We are quite satisfied with his apology. The party is the father of everyone. We are free to invite legislators, members of the executive, and appointed party members in government. It is a family issue; we need to resolve it,” Ganduje stated.
Ganduje added that the party would convey Ndume’s apology to the National Assembly, hoping they would review their position on his removal.
The Nigeria Police Force says protesters flying the Russian flag have committed a capital offence, stating that over 90 persons have already been arrested in that regard.
DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians participating in the ongoing EndBadGovernance protests, were caught with Russian flag, calling for military rule in Nigeria.
In viral video clips, the protesters in Bauchi, Kano, Kaduna and Katsina States were seen calling on the Nigerian army to take over power from President Bola Tinubu.
However, police in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said such actions are categorized as treasonable felonies under Nigerian law.
Adejobi said investigations reveal that protest organizers in the northern states “are luring innocent children into participating in these unpatriotic and criminal acts.
“Over ninety suspects have been arrested, including tailors who sewed the flags and their sponsors. Efforts are underway to apprehend others who sponsored the production of the flags and fuelled these treasonable acts”.
According to the statement, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun directed Deputy Inspectors General of Police for the Northwest and Northeast zones, DIGs Bala Ciroma, psc, and Bello Makwashi, to “take charge of operations in the states within the two geo-political zones where subversive campaigns are ongoing under the guise of protests.
“They are tasked with stabilizing the situation and preventing further violence in the affected states”.
Kamala Harris has announced her running mate for the presidential election.
She named Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, as her running mate ahead of the November election.
The decision ends intense speculation over which candidate Harris would pick to go up against Donald Trump, the Republican nominee and former president, and his choice for vice-president, Ohio senator JD Vance.
Details shortly…
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze has called out President Bola Tinubu while lamenting over hardship and hunger in the country.
He was reacting to President Bola Tinubu’s broadcast on the nationwide protest against hunger and bad governance in Nigeria, describing it as shallow and grossly out of tune with the concerns that triggered the countrywide demonstration.
In a statement made available to the media, the party chieftain said Nigerians would have loved to hear the President outline the policy inclination of his administration in addressing the very genuine concerns of Nigerians, including the flamboyant costs incurred in running public offices and the lavish lifestyle of government functionaries.
“The president, in his broadcast, overlooked critical issues constituting a clog and stunting the growth of our country and her people such as high cost of governance, corruption, judicial rascality, corrupt electoral umpire, hunger, unemployment, harsh impact of fuel subsidy removal, armed banditry and general insecurity, high cost of living and more. So the broadcast seeks to discredit the substance of the ongoing protests and therefore rings hollow.”
Expressing disappointment over the president’s display of levity in handling the volatile situation across the country which is a direct creation of his ineptitude, Eze said Tinubu has isolated himself from the objectives of the APC; a party founded on the ideals of a united, prosperous Nigeria.
Eze maintained that as a one time spokesperson for nPDP and a member of the APC Media Legacy Project Committee, “I must state that what Tinubu is currently superintending is not the vision of APC that most of us risked our lives to bring to be.
According to Eze, “we never brought APC to visit Nigeria and Nigerians with the level of hunger pervading our nation and warranting citizens to resort to suicide as the last resort to escaping the hardship neither did we bring APC to visit Nigeria and Nigerians with the level of insecurity that has enveloped us to such an extent where it becomes suicidal for farmers to go to their farms for whatever purpose.
“We never envisaged that our common effort to bring APC to salvage Nigeria will be so corrupted by the inordinate ambition of Tinubu to foist himself on the country as president and on this footing we owe Nigerians an unreserved apology. Our beloved country has turned to a laughing stock before the international community as most countries now advise their citizens to be wary of traveling to Nigeria.”
Concerned by the hyper level of corruption, Eze queried the justification for spending over 21billion Naira to build a house for the Vice President in the midst of the thriving hardship, as if the VP was homeless, noting that under Tinubu’s nose, corruption is considered a way of life for government officials and they find it right to imprudently indulge in fanfare of squander mania, leaving the ordinary people in squalor without a hint of remorse.
Akpabio: NDDC’s Forensic Report on N81.5bn Spending Can’t Be Found – Niger Delta Minister, Momoh
AFOLABI
The Minister of Niger Delta, Abubakar Momoh, has lamented that the forensic report on the spending of N81.5 billion appropriated to the Niger Delta Development Commission between January and July 2020 is missing.
According to him, the report cannot be found.
Momoh disclosed this Tuesday during a Channels Television interview monitored by the DAILY POST.
“I expected that when I took over office, the report would be at the Ministry. But when I asked the Permanent Secretary, those there said they had not been able to see the report.”
He, however, assured that the report will be found very soon and made available to Nigerians.
Momoh vowed that those indicted by the report would be punished accordingly.
“We will not relent in finding where the report is and bringing it before the government for implementation. All those found culpable will be punished. It is not possible to take government funds and go scot-free. I can assure you that we will do our best to find the report and prosecute those found culpable.
“In a very short time, the report will be obtained. Once we get it, Nigerians will be aware of its contents,” he said.
Recall that in 2020, drama ensued in the National Assembly when the then Minister of Niger Delta, now Senate President Godswill Akpabio, appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta to account for the N81.5 billion spent by the Niger Delta Development Commission in the first half of 2020.
Recall that the then-acting MD, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, fainted during the interrogation.
Similarly, interrogation led to the phrase “honorable minister (Akpabio) off your mic,” which has since gained popularity in the country.
However, aside from the presentation of the forensic report document to former President Muhammadu Buhari in September 2021, little has been heard about its implementation or the content of the report to date.
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A human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, has warned protesters to desist from anything that would jeopardize the objective of the protests.
Falana stated this while fielding questions from newsmen on Monday. He warned Nigerian youths protesting against hunger, hardship and socio-economic policies affecting the country to be wary of thugs and distance themselves from undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for another military coup in the country.
The human rights lawyer said that the act of brandishing Russian flag while protesting in Nigeria is an abuse of constitutional right.
Falana was reacting on the background of violent protests in the Northern parts of the country, where protesters were seen brandishing the Russian flag while chanting “Tinubu must go”.
In his words: “Accordingly, the right to protest is required to be exercised peacefully within the ambit of the law.
“Hence, section 83(4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 has imposed a duty on the Nigeria Police Force to provide adequate security for citizens who may wish to participate in public meetings, rallies and protests. In many parts of the country, the Police provided adequate security for the ##endbadgovernance protesters and in some cases professionalism was glaringly on display.
“Having won the legal battle for the Nigerian people to exercise their constitutional right to protest against unpopular policies of the Government, I have supported the constitutional right from all walks of life to exercise the right to protest.
“While we have supported the right of the #endbadgovernance protesters, we have a patriotic duty to call on them to distance themselves from the undemocratic forces who have taken advantage of the peaceful protests to engage in violence or campaign for another military coup in the country.
“It has become necessary to point out that calling for a military coup or waving the flag of Russia, a country that is noted for supporting unconstitutional change of government in Africa, constitutes a gross abuse of the constitutional right to protest against the Government of Nigeria.
“The legitimate protests against hardship in the land should not be turned into a campaign for unconstitutional change of government.
“Therefore, those who are involved in the illegal campaign for another military rule are advised to stop it forthwith. Otherwise, they may be accused of engaging in the offence of treasonable felony in contravention of section 41 of the Criminal Code Act.
“In order to make any form of unconstitutional change of government unattractive to the people of Nigeria, the Bola Tinubu administration ought to review the neoliberal policies that are promoting poverty and hardship in the land.
‘Ambition driven by greed’ – Two Commissioners resign to run for LG Chairmanship in Akwa Ibom
AFOLABI
AHEAD of the 5 October Local Government (LG) elections in Akwa Ibom State, two serving commissioners have resigned their appointments to contest for the chairmanship seats in their respective Local Government Areas (LGA).
Those who resigned include the Commissioner for Environment and Mineral Resources, Chief Etim Uno from Urueoffong Oruko LGA and Mr Aniefiok Nkom, Commissioner for Labour and Manpower Planning from Ikot Ekpene LGA.
The duo in the statewide Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries held on 2 August secured the party tickets to contest the chairmanship for their respective LGs, emerging
among 31 Chairmanship candidates on the platform of the PDP for the coming polls.
Their decision to contest the local government council chairmanship seats and their subsequent nomination has been generating debates within the political circle in the state.
While some see the development as a smart move to remain active in the system ahead of the alleged looming sack of cabinet members by Governor Umo Eno, others argue that both commissioners were lured to resign by the greed to enjoy increased allocations flowing into council coffers following local government financial autonomy.
A PDP insider and civil servant who spoke on anonymity alleged, “Maybe before the end of the month they would leave office completely. I think they just want to go and enjoy LG’s financial autonomy. They still want to remain in government “
Vanguard gathered from sources privy to what transpired ahead of the PDP nominations that stakeholders from both LGAs had written to the party leadership that they actually wanted the two commissioners to represent them in the coming LG Chairmanship poll.
Aligning with this opinion, State Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Boronno Bassey affirmed, “They are two Commissioners contesting for Chairmanship seats in the forthcoming LG election. They are the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Etim Uno and Aniefiok Nkom from Ikot Ekpene LGA.
“You can quote me on this. It was the people of Ikot Ekpene and Urueoffong Oruko local government areas who wrote calling on the Commissioners to run for the Chairmanship seats.
“The Governor and leader of the party now said if your people are calling on you to come and represent them, please go and ensure you initiate and execute robust development projects at the grassroots as you have done in your respective ministries.
“So it is their people who called them to come and contest. And it was like a carnival on that day of the nomination in both Urueoffong Oruko and Ikot Ekpene LGAs. The people were happy and excited “
Their Ambition Driven By Greed -Sen Enang
Former presidential adviser and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Sen Ita Enang alleged the resigned commissioners were being driven by greed to take over and feast on LG funds.
Enang said, “We’ve seen commissioners resigning to go for LG Chairmanship. As far as my knowledge of governance is concerned, being a commissioner and member of the State Executive Council is higher than being a local government chairman.”
He noted that under the previous administration, LG chairmen were receiving far fewer funds, but “no one can see what they (current LGs) have done with the money”, alleging the commissioners’ move is driven by “greed” as they want to “feast on the increased money that now comes to the LGAs.”
Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) Kemi Nandap says the sponsors of #EndBadGovernance protest in the diaspora are on a watch list and they will be arrested when entering the country.
Nandap made this known on Tuesday in Abuja during a combined news conference by the heads of security agencies and Service Chiefs convened by the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa at the Defence Headquarters.
She said “We have identified some diaspora sponsors, they are on our watch list.
“Any attempt they make to come into the country, we will be notified and they will be picked up and handed to the appropriate authority”.
The immigration boss said the service had, in response to the protest, deployed more officers to borders both land and airports to ensure effective manning of those entry ports.
She said that NIS had also stepped up surveillance to prevent foreign intervention in the country.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, also said that the police had uncovered some sponsors but declined giving further information on them.
Egbetokun said that some accounts of such individuals had been blocked, adding that “many of them reside abroad”.
Also, the Director General, Department of State Services, Mr Yusuf Bichi, represented by the service’s spokesman, Mr Peter Afunanya, said that the service was monitoring those concerned.
He added that the service was also working with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit to identify more persons behind the funding of the protest.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the defence chief led the service chiefs and heads of all the security, intelligence and paramilitary agencies to brief newsmen on the nationwide protest.
The briefing came a day after President Bola Tinubu met with the security chiefs on the security situation following the violence that broke out during the protests across the country.
Protesters in Rivers barricaded the Eleme-Onne section of the east-west road on Monday as a nationwide protest against economic hardship continues.
Nigerians have taken to the streets of major cities since August 1 to rail against bad governance.
The demonstrations have been themed: ’10 Days of Rage’.
The protesters are demanding a lean government, a return of the petrol subsidy regime, food security, and fiscal discipline among others.
NAN reports that protesters blocked the Akpajo axis of the east-west road, a major route linking Port Harcourt to key business hubs, including Onne seaport and Indorama petrochemicals — a move that disrupted vehicular movement.
The protesters, who demonstrated peacefully, waved placards with varying inscriptions.
Walson Idah said they targeted the east-west road to vent their frustration “over hunger, poverty and infrastructure deficit”.
“We need the government to revive the refineries, which have so much employment and empowerment opportunities for us,” NAN quoted Idah as saying.
“In spite of the huge economic potentials in the business area, we are unemployed, hungry and poor. We are not taking any palliatives from politicians.
“We need jobs, good roads, affordable electricity, and basic infrastructure.”
The protesters asked the federal government to address the skyrocketing cost of living and hold state governors accountable for the alleged mismanagement of fuel subsidy funds.