The federal government has justified the approval of the sum of one point four billion naira for the purchase of vehicles for Niger Republic. This Follows the outrage generated by the measure exposed by a popular social media influencer, David Hundeyin. On Wednesday, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, explained that even though Nigerians have the right to question President Muhammadu Buhari, who approved the purchase, he also has the right to make his own assessment of situations an act accordingly.   Responding to questions during the post-Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, she said Nigeria has a policy of assisting its neighbours to strengthen capacity to deal with insecurity. The document released by the media influencer showed that the president approved the release of the fund on the 22nd of February this year. The contract to supply the 10 units of Toyota Land Cruisers was awarded to IFO Kaura Motors Nig. Limited. Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello Says the Council approved over Two billion naira for the procurement of utility vehicles for security agencies in the nation’s capital. READ ALSO Custom Officers Storms 5-Star Hotel In Abuja (Photos) The Minister added that approval which was ratified at the FEC meeting also includes funds for installing communication gadgets in the vehicles. “Council approved the procurement of security vehicles to support the operations of our security agencies in the FCT. They are about 60 utility vehicles awarded to Coscharis motors Ltd with communication gadgets to be installed at a cost of N1.83billion. “Also an additional approval of N847million for the purchase of gadgets was awarded to Messrs E & S, bringing the total amount approved to N2,682,248,378,52,” Bello stated. The minister however said the approval is not connected with the prevailing insecurity in the country, especially within the Federal Capital Territory.

  The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned monarchs, politicians and other stakeholders in the South-East not to sell any portion of land in the region to Fulani herders under the guise of agricultural purposes. IPOB said any real estate agents having such deals should halt them because they would lose the land permanently, adding that the warning came from the history of how the Hausa people lost their ancestral lands to the Fulani in the 18th century. This was disclosed in a statement by IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful on Wednesday, adding that South-East residents should not embrace RUGA or any related programme Parts of the statement read, “The Indigenous People of Biafra led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who is illegally detained in the DSS custody and solitary confinement in Abuja wish to remind Biafrans, friends of Biafra, lovers of Biafra freedom, all the traditional rulers and President-General in Biafraland to desist from any plan or pressure to sell or hand over our ancestral lands to any government or Fulani agents for any purported agricultural purposes or anything else. “This warning has become very necessary and is mainly for all Igbo traditional rulers, PGs, politicians, real estate agencies and other political jobbers in Biafraland to desist from any attempt to secretly allocate community lands to Fulani herdsmen in the name of agricultural investment or any project. “The marauding Fulani are not coming for any agricultural business but rather occupy the land with their cattle and subsequently invite their terrorist relatives from the Sahel to occupy our ancestral lands in their land grabbing agenda.” According to the separatist group, “Anyone after this warning that goes ahead to sell lands to these invaders, and should bear it in mind that the owner of the sold land will forfeit that land forever. If you have any ongoing negotiations on land sell to the Fulani or their cronies, we advise you to cease forthwith with such arrangements. “We cannot hand over our ancestral lands to Fulani invaders whose agenda is land grabbing in disguise and violent takeover in future. If you want to understand what we are preventing, study the history of Hausas in the Northern part of Nigeria. Hausas accepted to cohabit with the Fulani from the Sahel in the 18th century. “We don’t want any RUGA or any such other name they call it in any of our territories. Our people must understand that either free or donations you are going to regret your decision to cede any of our ancestral lands to Fulani for any purpose.”

  Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the government of President Muhammadu Buhari of “failing to satisfactorily address the crisis of insecurity in the country, and doing nothing to end the mismanagement of the economy under his watch.” Falana stated this in a paper titled Good Governance or Misgovernance: The Contract Called Democracy, and delivered yesterday at the 50th anniversary interactive session held by the Abeokuta Club in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Falana said, “In spite of the decentralisation of police powers at the centre the Federal Government has continued to kick against the creation of state police service on the ground that it is unconstitutional!” He also said, “No doubt, based on the virtual collapse of the security architecture of the neocolonial State, the Federal Government has grudgingly allowed state government to create state or regional security outfits. But they are not allowed to bear arms.” According to Falana, “the personnel of the regional security outfits who are armed with cutlasses and dane guns are expected to commit suicide by confronting AK 47 bearing terrorists, bandits, kidnappers, herders and robbers.”   The paper, read in part: “In view of the fact that the civilian Joint Task Force operatives are given licences to bear arms and ammunition, I have asked state governments to sue the Federal Government for refusing to grant licences to the personnel of regional security outfits for allowing dangerous criminals to breach the constitutional rights of unarmed citizens to life and dignity.” “Furthermore, it is discriminatory to deny licences to 5,000 state security personnel to bear arms to protect millions of unarmed citizens while a few individuals are granted licences to acquire weapons to protect themselves and their family members.” “Curiously, some state governors have also complained about the refusal of the National Security Adviser to approve the applications for End Users Certificates for importation of Drones to monitor and expose terrorists and kidnappers hiding in the forests.” “With respect, such sabotage of security ought to be challenged in the Federal High Court as the National Security Adviser has not been conferred with the power by any law to grant or reject the requests of governors to acquire equipment to secure the areas that have been exposed to danger by the Federal Government.” “The governors should have directed the requests to the President Buhari who has publicly challenged them to adopt all necessary measures to secure the states since he has asked them to stop rushing to the Villa to complain about insecurity or killings by criminal gangs.” “In the Attorney-General of Rivers v Attorney-General of the Federation the Federal High Court has held that it is the sole responsibility of the Federal Government to fund the Nigeria Police Force.” “Therefore, the executive should submit a supplementary money bill to the National Assembly for the funding of the police since it is the constitutional duty of the police to maintain law and order in the country.” “It is common knowledge that the wealth with which the democratic process is sabotaged by members of the ruling class has been traced to the coffers of the government.” “A public officer and his cronies have just been charged with the criminal diversion of N109 billion from the Federation Account and bribes received from Governors, Finance Commissioners and heads of parastatals who had to jump the queue that was artificially erected in the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.” “I am also aware that the sum of N4.5 billion has just been found in the bank account of the Surveyor-General of Ogun State.” “It is not in doubt that misgovernance has replaced good governance in Nigeria while majority of public officers have breached the contract called democracy.” “Since the acquisition of security equipment alone cannot guarantee peace, law and order the Constitution has prescribed that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” “As part of the fundamental objectives of the neocolonial State the participation of the people in their government is guaranteed in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. The implication is that elected officials are mandatorily required to have their mandate renewed periodically through fair and free elections.” “Nigeria is said to be a State that is based on the principles of democracy and social justice, the federal, state and local governments are under a legal obligation to promote the happiness, freedom and prosperity of the people. But in view of the monetisation of the electoral process by the political class, Nigeria cannot be said to be a democratic society.” “It has become a plutocratic society where only the few rich people can contest and win elections. In other words, democracy is no longer a government of the people but a government of a few rich and powerful individuals.” “A situation whereby corruption is fought, even though partially, by the Federal Government alone should stop.” “In view of the duty imposed on the State by section 15(5) of the Constitution to ‘abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power’, the authorities of the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory should establish anti graft agencies to fight the menace of corruption, recover looted fund and prosecute indicted individuals, groups and organisations.” “In addition to the recovery of looted public fund from all criminal elements, serving l and retired public officers who wish to contest elections should be thoroughly investigated. Those who betrayed the public trust by looting the treasury should not be allowed to pollute the electoral process with stolen money.” “Nigerians must stop the dangerous culture of of “Owo Abu lafi se Abu lejo” (we used Abu’s money to entertain Abu as a visitor).” “The National Economic Council (NEC) established pursuant to section 153(1) and Paragraphs 18 & 19 of Part I of the Third Schedule to the Constitution has the mandate to ‘advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the coordination of