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Post Date : April 6, 2021

Nigeria loses another lawmaker

Rep. Suleiman Lere (APC-Kaduna State) has died at the age of 53. Mr Tukur Maibindiga, his Personal Assistant, disclosed this when he spoke with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday. Maibindiga said that lawmaker who represented Lere Federal Constituency, died at the Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna State after a brief illness. Lere was sworn-in in February after he won his case at the court of Appeal, which reinstated him as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the winner of the Feb. 23, 2019 general elections. The deceased had on March 23 moved a motion on the floor of the House to compel Jos Electricity Distribution Company to restore electricity supply to 28 communities in Southern Kaduna. Lere’s death followed that of Rep. Haruna Maitala, who represented Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau at the National Assembly. Maitala died on April 3 after a car accident on Abuja-Keffi road on his way to Jos. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, six lawmakers at the House of Representatives have so lost their lives since the beginning of the 9th assembly. Reacting, Rep Benjamin Kalu, spokesperson for the House said that the loss of the lawmakers was unfortunate. “Death does not discriminate, it is meant for everyone, this is unfortunate and we are pained by the loss of our members, I pray God keep us all,” he said. He said that the country’s huge investment in the deceased lawmakers had gone once they died, adding that it was necessary for lawmakers to serve the people. “The more we give our services to the people, the better for us,” he said. He said that the deceased lawmakers would be remembered for the service they rendered to their constituencies. (NAN)

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

FREDERICK NWABUFO: Uprising in the east; uproar in the north – but ‘Nigeria go survive’

Nigeria is at a tempestuous crossroads. It will be a failed attempt at casuistry to play down the multi-pronged encumbrances the country is contending with. All is not well. It appears when attention is turned to one problem, another irritation materialises angling for notice. Nigeria has never been this tried and tested by in situ tribulations since the return of democracy in 1999. Troubling times. While the country is still held in solitary grief by the violent pursuits of Boko Haram, bandits and kidnappers, another deadly insurgency rises, like the sun on its most vexed day, in the south-east. Nigeria is at war on all fronts. The country is like the biblical Israel hedged about by hostile neighbours. However, Nigeria’s case is quite peculiar. Those assaulting the nation are not aliens but citizens born and raised in the country. One of the most fragile defence operations to prosecute is that involving the state and its citizens — because in this case the adversary is an insider who blends with the civil population. Also, there are limitations in the application of force in dealing with internal crisis. A government must not be seen to be ruthless against its own people. It is must be seen to be measured in its response to internal threats. An escalation of state force could tick off the alarm of humanitarian agencies and wary citizens. So, it is a tough call dealing with internal conflicts. We cannot excuse our own role in this cataclysm. Years of directionless, insensitive, duplicitous and reactionary leadership from the 1960s to date led us down this primrose path. It will be uncharitable to stack up the blame for the parlous state of things on any single Nigerian leader. All the leaders, past and present, have a sizeable share in the blame pile. For example, we cannot excuse the disingenuity of those who poisoned Nigeria’s federal structure by abrogating regionalism and foisting a unitary system on the country in the 1960s. We cannot obviate the duplicity of those who created states to be unequal and who carved out portions of the country in a quest for vengeance and native politics in the late 60s; 70s, 80s and 90s. States were not created out of economic viability but for concerns by the prevailing insular interests. We cannot also dismiss the underhandedness of those who infected the federal civil service with the virus of corruption and who polluted the political system with the introduction of the presidential system of the government in the 1970s. And of course, we cannot consign to oblivion those who palmed off a military document to the nation as constitution in 1999. It took years of cancerous growth and attrition decay to get us here. There is enough blame to go around. Nigeria is like a beat-up Danfo at which different drivers take turns. Each driver comes with his own manual and cannibalises the vehicle without care for the passengers on it. The drivers leave with a part of the jalopy at every turn until nothing but the carcass is left. The leaderships over the years have butchered and cut up the country so violently that it will take an outlier to do the healing. Really, it is puzzling that some brilliant minds who pontificate on leadership find themselves in government but end up going against everything they once gospelised. And when they are out of government they return to their pastime of attacking another government and retailing ‘’sound ideas’’. There must be something in government that addles the mind. But, Nigeria is not a lost cause. It is salvageable. Like I said earlier it will need an outlier to retool the country. The good news is there are many outliers who can provide leadership for the country. Leaders are not in short supply here. There is a need for mass mobilisation of consciences and citizens’ engagement on electoral choices ahead of the 2023 elections. We end up with mediocre leaders because the followership is equally deficient, divided, corrupt, and vacuous. The task to save Nigeria must not be left to a select group – everyone must put their hands on the wheel. Yes, Nigeria needs leadership. A surgeon-leader to perform life-saving debulking; it needs an architect-leader to redesign the structure; it needs a mechanic-leader to rework the engines, and it needs a physician to heal the divided country. It needs an outlier – not messiah. I recall the song by Veno Marioghae, ‘’Nigeria go survive’’. Growing up in Lagos I would listen to the song boom from the stereos at barber shops and nostalgic corners: ‘’Nigeria go survive, no matter all the trial, Nigeria go survive; my people go survive o, Nigeria go survive’’. Nigeria survived a civil war; it survived militancy; it survived many civil unrests and riots, it will survive this current crisis. Nigeria go survive. Fredrick Nwabufo is a writer and journalist

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

BREAKING: Gunmen kidnap family of five in Ondo

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, on Monday evening, abducted a family of five in Ajowa Akoko community in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State. The victims were kidnapped while returning to Abuja from Ajowa Akoko, on Monday, after Easter break. The victim, Ibrahim Olusa, his wife and three children were abducted at gunpoint by the hoodlums between Ajowa Akoko and Ayere in Kogi State. According to a family source, the kidnappers have contacted the family of the victims demanding N10m as a ransom for the release of all the five people in their custody. Details later…

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

BREAKING: Gunmen burn another police station in Imo

Gunmen on Tuesday razed the Ehime Mbano Local Government Area Divisional Police Headquarters in Imo State, The Punch is reporting. This development came just a day after unknown gunmen attacked Owerri Correctional Centre and the Imo State Police Command headquarters, freeing 1,884 inmates and razing over 50 vehicles. Tuesday’s attack came few hours after the vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, the just sacked Inspector-General of Police, Muhammed Adamu, and other Government functionaries visited the state to inspect the level of damage on the attacked security facilities. On arrival, the gunmen freed all the suspects in detention before setting the Police Divisional headquarters ablaze. Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen operated without any resistance from policemen. A source said, “Gunmen this evening razed Ehime Mbano LGA police divisional headquarters. On arrival, the gunmen freed the suspects before wrecking the havoc.” A police spokesperson in the state, Orlando Ikeokwu, said that he could not confirm the development when he was contacted by our correspondent on Tuesday evening. But a senior police officer who does not want his name in print said that the Command’s hierarchy was saddened by the latest development. The PUNCH reports that gunmen had between February and March razed Obowo, Abo Mbaise, Ihitte/ Uboma and Isiala Mbano Divisional Police Headquarters, killings three cops and injuring others. Credit: The Punch

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

Atiku not a Nigerian by birth, not eligible to vie for Presidency, Malami tells Court

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, has told a Federal High Court in Abuja that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, is not constitutionally eligible to vie for Presidency. The AGF told the court that Atiku is not a Nigerian by birth. He said the former Vice President whose home town, Jada, was formerly a part of Northern Cameroon, acquired Nigerian citizenship following a plebiscite that held in 1961. Malami argued that, having not been born a Nigerian or by Nigerian parents, and having not met the provisions of Sections 25(1) &(2) and 131(a) of the constitution, Atiku, would be violating Section 118(1)(k) of the Electoral Act should he put himself forward as a presidential candidate. “The first Defendant (Atiku) is not a fit and proper person to be a candidate for election to the office of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “The first Defendant was born on the 25th of November, 1946 at Jada, at the time in Northern Cameroon. By the plebiscite of 1961, the town of Jada was incorporated into Nigeria. “The first defendant is a Nigerian by virtue of the 1961 plebiscite, but not a Nigerian by birth. The first defendant’s parents died before the 1961 plebiscite”, Malami argued in support of a suit that was lodged against Atiku by a group under the eagis of the Incorporated Trustees of Egalitarian Mission for Africa. Aside Atiku, other Defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/177, are the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Malami. The Plaintiff had in its Originating Summons that is already slated to be heard on May 4, posed three questions for the court to determine. It asked the court to determine, “Whether by section 25 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), is the sole authority that spells out ways by which a person can become a Nigerian citizen by birth? “Whether by the provisions of section 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), only a Nigeria citizen by birth can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? As well as, “Whether by the combined interpretation of section 25(1) & (2) and 131(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and giving the circumstances surrounding the birth of the 1st Defendant (Atiku), he can be cleared by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria? Upon determination of the questions, the Plaintiff is seeking a declaration that by the provisions of the Constitution, “only a Nigerian citizen by birth can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is equally asking the court to declare that giving the circumstances surrounding Atiku’s birth, he cannot be cleared by either PDP or the INEC, to vie for Presidency. While throwing his weight behind the suit, Malami, in an affidavit that was filed by his team of lawyers led by Oladipo Okpeseyi, SAN, argued that Atiku, having contested election to the office of the Vice President before now, even though he knew that he is not a Nigeria citizen by birth, committed an offence under Section 118(1)(k) of the Electoral Act. He contended that the effect of the June1, 1961 plebiscite was to have the people of Northern Cameroon integrated into Nigeria as new citizens of the country, even after Nigeria’s independence. “This qualified all those born before the 1961 plebiscIte as citizens of Nigeria, but not Nigerian citizen by birth. Consequently, only citizens born after the 1961 plebiscite are citizens of Nigeria by birth”, Malami added. Citing provisions of the 1960, 1963, 1979 and 1999 Constitutions, the AGF, argued that “reasoning of the lawmakers in ensuring that the persons to be the President of Nigeria is a citizen of Nigeria by birth is because such a person is the number one citizen and the image of the Nigerian state.” He told the court that where it is revealed that a person was born outside Nigeria before Nigeria’s independence in 1960, in a location which was never part of Nigeria until June 1, 1961, as in Atiku’s case, such a person cannot claim citizenship of Nigeria by birth. “This is even more so where his parents do not belong to any tribe indigenous to Nigeria until their death. The facts of his (Atiku’s) birth on the Cameroonian territory to Cameroonian parents remain unchallenged. “At best, the first defendant can only acquire Nigerian citizenship by the 1961 plebiscite. The citizenship qualifications under Section 26 and 27 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), by implication, has limited the first defendant’s privileges or rights and cannot be equal or proportional to the privileges of other citizens who acquire their citizenship status by birth. “This would include the legal preclusion of the first defendant from contesting for the office of the President of Nigeria”. He further argued that the only situation where Atiku could have acquired Nigerian citizenship by birth under the 1999 Constitution, was if both or either of his parents and grand parents were Nigerian citizens by birth. He added that another way would have been if either his parents had become Nigerian citizen by virtue of Section 25(1) of the 1999 Constitution, which must be in compliance with Sections 26 and 27of the same constitution. “With no concrete proof of compliance, we submit that the first defendant cannot contest election to the office of the Nigerian President”, Malami added. Meanwhile, both Atiku and the PDP had since asked the court to dismiss the suit which they said was grossly lacking in merit. In a preliminary objection be jointly filed with the PDP, Atiku, maintained that he is “a bonafide citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. He told the court that aside serving as Vice President from 1999 to 2007,

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

IGP storms Owerri, advises officers to deal with IPOB members ruthlessly

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, has charged officers of the Police Command in Imonot to give up on the fight against banditry, stating that the fight was non-negotiable. The IGP gave the charge in Owerri on Tuesday while inspecting the command’s headquarters, following an attack on the facility by suspected IPOB members on Monday. Adamu who advised the officers to synergise with other security agencies, said more tactical personnel had already been deployed to the state to further curtail banditry. “Bandits will never succeed, never spare them. Deal with them ruthlessly. Unleash your full arsenal on them. The law is behind you. “We must work together with all stakeholders to fish out criminals and their hideouts. We have increased the number of units that we have and we have sent more tactical personnel,” he said. He urged the public to support the force with relevant information on whereabouts of criminals, adding that those who hid criminals would one day become their victims. Earlier in his address, the Commissioner of Police in Imo, CP Nasiru Mohammed, thanked the IGP for promptly deploying additional personnel and described the visit as a morale booster. He said 36 vehicles were burnt during the attack with 68 suspects escaping from detention cells. He regretted recent attacks on the command’s divisions in Obowo and Isiala Mbano Local Government Areas of the state and called for continued support from the IG. “We are grateful for the IGP’s fatherly disposition and his prompt action following the attacks. “36 vehicles were burnt and 68 suspects escaped from detention. A part of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) was set ablaze and there was one casualty who is currently receiving treatment. “One inmate lost his life from stampede at the correctional centre. Out of 1,844 inmates who escaped, 16 have beenrearrested,” he said. Speaking, Gov. Hope Uzodinma, said the state government would continue to complement efforts of the police in fighting crime and described the IGP’s visit as a healing balm. “We must not condone attacks by criminals on government. Police must not be compromised so that the integrity of government will remain intact,” the governor said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the IGP was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel, Uche Ogah and a House of Representatives member from Imo, Mariam Onuoha.(NAN)

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

Suspected herdsmen machete three women in Ekiti

Less than a month after two farmers were killed by herdsmen in Isaba-Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State, three farmers have been brutally attacked again by people suspected to be herders in Irele-Ekiti in the same Local Government Area. The arm-wielding attackers who were said to be six stormed the farm settlement in the early hours of Tuesday and unleashed mayhem on the three farmers, who sustained life-threatening injuries from the attack. A source who spoke with Tribune Online said the victims were rushed to the Ikole General Hospital, where they are currently receiving treatment. The source added that the herders demanded money from the victims but were furious after the women failed to give them the money required and prevented attempts to rape them. He said: “The women were unable to meet up with the demand as they said they were only with just N200. The herdsmen collected all the money found on them and made attempt to forcefully sleep with the women. The refusal of the women to grant their demand for such an immoral act led to the brutal attack before they fled the scene. “The women were so macheted to the extent that it will take the grace of God for them to survive because they have lost so much of blood.” When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the attack on the three women, saying investigations have begun in a bid to arrest the perpetrators. Abutu said: “Yes, we got the report this morning that three persons were attacked and I can tell you that they are responding to treatment in the hospital. “We have commenced investigation into the attack and the criminals will soon be arrested.” He urged residents of the community to remain calm and support the police with relevant and accurate information that would help in arresting the attackers who perpetrated the dastardly act.

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

South East: Second Niger Bridge will be completed in 2022 – FG

THE Federal Government has assured the people of the South East geopolitical zone that the construction of the second Niger Bridge will be completed in 2022. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu stated this yesterday when he received the people of Isu-okoma of Onicha Local Government Area of the State in his hometown of Uburu in Ohaozara LGA of the State. Onu who stated that the Federal Government has done allot in terms of infrastructure and construction of roads within region noted that President Muhammadu Buhari was on course in fulfilling the promises he made to the South East region of the country. “Nigerians should continue to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, this is very important because all the promises he made to the people of the South East, he is fulfilling them. “If you go to the second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, you will be amazed at the level of work that is taking place. This is a project that no one by next year will think will be completed. But by next year, by the grace of the Almighty God that project will be delivered “Also, the Enugu-Onitsha road, Enugu-Port Harcourt road, you know that in the past part of these roads which are very important roads for the South East were converted into farmlands. “But today, work is going on and work will continue to go on until the projects are delivered. There so many other projects. So, that is why it is important that the South East of Nigeria will continue to support this administration.” Earlier, the President General, Town Union of Isu-okoma who thanked the Minister of Science and Technology for the Federal Government projects he has attracted to Onicha LGA called on him to use his office to ensure that work commences at the Federal Technical College of Education’s site as the people of Onicha were eagerly waiting it’s commencement in no distant time. “We want to also request more employment opportunities for Isu graduates. Before now, isuokoma has no road linking to another community, before now there was no federal establishment in any part of isuokoma but the Minister has made all these things possible.”

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

Imo Gov invites VP to commission Dick Tiger Road in Owerri

The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo is expected in Owerri later today to commission the Dick Tiger road project as Part of the activities marking the one year anniversary of the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma. The Vice President who had weeks ago attended the Thanksgiving service that kicked off the anniversary is returning for the road commissioning on the invitation of the State Governor. The previously flood-prone Dick Tiger Road is about 3km long and its rehabilitation by the Imo State Governor is said to have brought life back to the area which was becoming desolate because of the sorry nature of the road before the advent of Governor Uzodinma. The Governor had indicated earlier during the Thanksgiving service weeks ago that the VP would be coming back during the anniversary to commission some milestone project. Today’s visit is a realization of that plan. It was not clear whether the VP, while in the State, will take out time to visit the Imo State Police Command and the Federal Correctional facility that was attacked midnight Monday by some gunmen suspected to belong to a separatist group operating in the Southeast geopolitical zone. Imo State Government officials who spoke on condition of anonymity explained that the VP had been invited to the State before the attacks of Monday on the Federal Government institutions in the State, adding that visiting the sites of the attack was not on the itinerary of the Vice President as at this morning. But they confirmed that the VP is expected later in the day in the State capital. In a Presidential statement yesterday, President Muhammadu Buhari condemned “the deadly insurgent attack that took place on the Police Command Headquarters and the Correctional Facility in Owerri, Imo State, on Monday, calling it an act of terrorism.” In his reaction to the incident early on Monday, President Buhari in a statement signed by his Spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu “praised the initial response by security guards and security forces for preventing greater loss of life and the destruction of public property. “The President directed security and intelligence agencies in the state and the geo-political zone to fully mobilize and go after the terrorists, apprehend them and get them punished under the full weight of the law. “He also called for the best efforts to be made to rearrest fleeing prison detainees, many of whom are believed to be deadly criminals. “President Buhari then appealed to members of the public to assist the law enforcement agencies with any relevant information that could lead to the apprehension of these criminals who perpetrated this despicable act. “He also urged members of the public to be vigilant as all of us have a stake in preserving our way of life from disruption by terrorists and anarchists while the Federal Government will use every available tool at its disposal to confront and terminate this bare-faced anarchy.” The Vice President is expected to return to Abuja today after the commissioning of the Dick Tiger Road project in Owerri.

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Post Date : April 6, 2021

IMF forecasts higher growth for Nigeria in 2021

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected growth of 2.5 percent for Nigeria in 2021 from 1.5 announced in January. The new growth forecast is 1.0 percent higher than the multilateral institution’s 2021 forecast in January. The Washington-based institution disclosed this on Tuesday during the 2021 Virtual Spring Meetings. Nigeria exited recession with a 0.11 percent growth in the fourth of 2020. IMF also forecast a growth of 3.4 percent for the Sub-Saharan Africa region in 2021, up 0.2 percent, from the previous forecast. It also lifted its global economic growth forecast for 2021 to 6 percent — the strongest annual growth in more than four decades, up from the 5.2 percent it anticipated in October. The rebound comes after a 3.3percent contraction in 2020. “Global prospects remain highly uncertain one year into the pandemic. New virus mutations and the accumulating human toll raise concerns, even as growing vaccine coverage lifts sentiment. Economic recoveries are diverging across countries and sectors, reflecting variation in pandemic-induced disruptions and the extent of policy support,” IMF said in a statement. “The outlook depends not just on the outcome of the battle between the virus and vaccines—it also hinges on how effectively economic policies deployed under high uncertainty can limit lasting damage from this unprecedented crisis. “Global growth is projected at 6 percent in 2021, moderating to 4.4 percent in 2022. The projections for 2021 and 2022 are stronger than in the October 2020 WEO. The upward revision reflects additional fiscal support in a few large economies, the anticipated vaccine-powered recovery in the second half of 2021, and continued adaptation of economic activity to subdued mobility. “High uncertainty surrounds this outlook, related to the path of the pandemic, the effectiveness of policy support to provide a bridge to vaccine-powered normalization, and the evolution of financial conditions.”

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