Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Tuesday 19th October 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 19/10/21
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Lagos Panel Ends Sitting Two Days To #EndSARS Memorial Protest
The Lagos State judicial panel probing cases of human rights abuses by officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other related matters in the state has ended its sitting.
The panel, which ought to have ended its sitting on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, had its final sitting on Monday due to the public holiday scheduled for tomorrow.
It was earlier reported that the panel awarded N148.2million as compensation to 23 more petitioners as it wound down proceedings after sitting for a year since the inauguration on October 19, 2020.
N262million had previously been awarded to 47 petitioners before now which made it a total N410million.
During the Lekki shooting, Justice Doris Okuwobi (rtd) said though evidence had been concluded on the matter, the panel was yet to write out its final decision. She assured the petitioners that the panel would ensure justice in the matter.
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Pandora Papers: Prosecute All Indicted Nigerian Leaders, Group Tells Anti-graft Agency, ICPC
A civil society organisation, the Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), has asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to probe all Nigerians mentioned in the revealed Pandora Papers.
The Pandora Papers had exposed shady financial deals of prominent figures around the world and some Nigerians in the political and economic circles were not exempted.
According to CACOL, the named figures should be prosecuted by the ICPC.
Among those exposed by the Pandora Papers are; Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, former Minister, Senator Stella Oduah among others.
The call was made on Monday in a letter signed by CACOL chairman, Debo Adeniran, and addressed to the ICPC.
Adeniran said, “With the highest regard to you and your office, CACOL hereby petitioned your office to investigate and possibly prosecute those mentioned in the recent Pandora Papers revelation.
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Corruption
Pandora Papers: Investigation Reveals How Ex-Nigerian Governor, Peter Obi Repeatedly Broke The Law Amid Many Secret Businesses
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“The Pandora Papers is one of the biggest ever corruption leaks led by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists ICIJ and over 600 journalists from 117 countries, including Journalists from Nigeria’s Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalists (PTCIJ).
“Following the pattern of two previous leaks (i.e., the Panama Papers and Paradise Papers, which were released in 2016 and 2017, respectively), the Pandora Papers exposes systems and jurisdictions that enable and abet crime, corruption, and wrongdoing by politicians, billionaires, influential individuals, and their enablers globally.
“Since its release on October 3, 2021, Nigerians have read in awe details of financial transactions and practices of politicians and influential individuals that exploit and, in some cases, violate and undermine extant financial guidelines and policies and threaten our corporate existence and collective wellbeing.
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Pandora Papers: Investigation Reveals How Bishop Oyedepo Set Up Company For Wife, Children In Tax Haven
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“To this end, we hereby call for urgent investigation of some of the politicians, former and serving public officials, including Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, former PDP Vice-presidential candidate and former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, APC chieftain, Senator Stella Oduah, among others.
“Sir, you will recall that the earlier leaks i.e. Panama Papers and the Paradise papers led to significant protests across the globe and the fall of governments, dismissal of officials, criminal investigations, and asset confiscations.
“Unfortunately, both have had minimal impact in Nigeria as many of those indicted in the two papers are still moving around as they were not brought to account especially the likes of Dr. Bukola Saraki, Former Senate President and others despite our unrelenting demand that they should be investigated.
“CACOL, as you are aware, is an aggregate of human rights, community based and civil society organizations and individuals with an anti-corruption and openness in governance agenda across Nigeria. It is a non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian, non-profit organization.
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Pandora Papers: How Kebbi Governor, Bagudu Amassed Dirty Billions For Late Dictator, Sani Abacha
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“Sir, we are encouraged to submit this petition to you based on our resolve to always expose any corrupt act(s) being perpetrated by anyone either in public or private sphere.
“Moreover, this petition is directed at your good offices, knowing that statutorily, it is the primary responsibility of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate and prosecute this kind of cases and we have no doubt that you will do due diligence in carrying out this assignment for public good.”
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Oyo Governor Splashes Millions Of Naira On Cars For Party Leaders Amidst Plot To Impeach His Deputy
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State amid a plot to remove his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan, on Monday presented two vehicles worth millions of naira to the immediate past chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha, and his successor, Dayo Ogungbenro.
According to a statement released by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, the vehicles, both Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs, were presented as an exit gift and a welcome gift to Mustapha and Ogungbenro at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan.
“Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Monday presented an exit gift and a welcome gift of two brand new Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps to the outgone chairman of the Oyo State PDP in the state, Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha, and the newly-elected PDP chairman, Dayo Ogungbenro, respectively.
“The chairman, Oyo State Advisory Council, Senator Hosea Agboola, who made the presentation at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, on behalf of the governor, charged the duo to work together for the success of the PDP.
“Agboola described the governor as a kind-hearted man who cares for the party and the masses in the state. He also used the occasion to urge other governors in the country to emulate the uniqueness of Governor Makinde.
“He also called on Mustapha and Ogungbenro to collaborate for the progress of the party, adding that the gesture from the governor is commendable and unprecedented in the history of the state.
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EXCLUSIVE: Plot To Impeach Oyo Deputy Governor Advances, Governor Makinde To Discuss Move With Oyo Lawmakers In Ghana
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“In their various reactions, the duo of Hon. Ogungbenro and Alhaji Mustapha thanked Governor Makinde for his magnanimity. The duo promised to remain focused and to protect the party from the threat of external forces.”
There are, however, concerns about the governor’s lavish spending as the source of money used to purchase the vehicles remained questionable.
A civil servant, who asked not to be named, described Makinde’s action as a “misplacement of priority.”
The donation comes a few hours after SaharaReporters exclusively reported plot to impeach the state Deputy Governor by the PDP/dominated State House of Assembly.
Olaniyan would soon be impeached by the lawmakers, a source privy to the move had said.
Just last weekend, a petrol station and bakery belonging to the Deputy Governor were vandalised in Ibadan.
There were suspicions in some quarters that the Chairman of the Motor Park Management System in the state, Lamidi Mukaila, popularly called Auxiliary was behind the vandalism.
The vandalised petrol station and bakery are managed by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Prof. Amdalat Olaniyan.
Before then, thugs had, twice on the same day, unleashed terror on aggrieved PDP members who had converged for a parallel congress at Jogor Event Centre, Ibadan.
Though this is not the first time, previous impeachment attempts have been thwarted by the lawmakers who feel Olaniyan has been good to them, a source in the state House of Assembly said.
To make it work this time around, all members have been scheduled to travel to Ghana, a neighbouring West African country.
SaharaReporters gathered that the trip was coordinated by Makinde’s closest ally, 48-year old Seye Famojuro, who hails from Osun and lives in Ibadan.
In Ghana, they will be joined by Makinde who would introduce to them, the need for the impeachment process.
The chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Service Commission, Musah AbdulWasii, who is also the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, has been pencilled down as a replacement.
Though he contested and lost the last election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), he is now in PDP and revers Hosea Agboola, a former Senator popularly called Alleluyah as his leader instead of Monsurat Sunmonu, a former Senator and his former leader in the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Musah’s preference of Alleluyah to Sunmonu is not far-fetched as the former is closer to Makinde than the latter.
Though both Makinde and Olaniyan are engineers, sources told SaharaReporters that it has been rough since the beginning of the administration.
“In a bid to win the 2019 governorship poll, many people had suggested the names of Engr. Raufu Olaniyan to Engr. Seyi Makinde. Olaniyan was then a governorship aspirant on the platform of the ADC. He hails from Igboho, one of the numerous towns in Okeogun, the second-largest geo-political zone in Oyo State, after Ibadan, the state capital. Parts of the reasons why Makinde considered him was because of his experience as a former top civil servant,” a source told SaharaReporters.
“He was permanent secretary of the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSTROMA). Secondly, he is acceptable to the Muslim population beyond Okeogun. And he has a deep pocket, though he doesn’t flaunt it. He is also close to former governor Rashidi Ladoja. All these were what Makinde considered.
“But Olaniyan’s acceptance was at a great cost. His closeness to the former and incumbent governors of Osun, Rauf Aregbesola and Gboyega Oyetola and Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, all of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was almost ruined. They didn’t ‘bless’ the move. He accepted it and worked tirelessly to ensure PDP wins. Meanwhile, Makinde promised to, unlike his immediate predecessor, make use of his deputy governor if they won.
“Governor Makinde initially wanted to fulfil his promise but was soon misled by the likes of Alleluyah and co. Initially, Makinde conceded Olaniyan’s Oorelope local government area to him. Alleluyah and Olaniyan are both from Okeogun and he feels threatened by the emergence of Olaniyan.
“Soon, the governor started ignoring his deputy. In a clear show of hatred, the governor awarded the renovation of the deputy governor’s lodge and till date, it is still at the plastering stage. It is by the road and everyone can see it. So, the deputy governor makes use of his house. When critical issues are to be decided, he prefers to use his chief of staff, secretary to the state government or any other trusted ally. In fact, the deputy governor has been reduced to nothing.”
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“Kudi Rat”; A Money Eating Philosophy Running Ekiti State’s Office Of The 1st Lady, By Bolaji O. Akinyemi
The author, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
Kudirat Abiola was a lady of elegance, the highly resourceful wife of MKO Abiola, second only to Simbiat, the first in whose house Abiola first ate fried eggs during their dating days!
Kudi was a rallying force, a beehive of ideas, a freedom fighter and for me the best 1st lady Nigeria never had. It will therefore not be out of place for any first lady in Nigeria to desire to be like her, Erelu Bisi Fayemi is not out of order for wanting to complement her husband’s walk in the footsteps of the Abiolas.
The author, Dr Bolaji O. Akinyemi
But every good walk after an ideology must be in spirit and in truth.
MKO Abiola was the symbol of money, not just in Nigeria and Africa, but among the black race. When money, riches and wealth is the subject of discussion, he was a pride in his generation!
Abiola was not born rich, rather, he was, pretty and pauper poor, he literally begged by providing traditional drum beating service to survive! He inherited poverty, which panacea almost automatically in his days was education, but not anymore!
There are two forces of poverty in Nigeria making the people poor; the systemic force of poverty and the spiritual force of poverty. The systemic, just as the name sounds, is the poverty caused in the society by the system being supervised by the Oligarchy. This type is the one that produces the Northern Almajiri system which restricted out of school children majorly to Northern Nigeria until Buhari became our President. Today, indeed like Femi Adesina said, “Nigerians across the divide have a common experience of 12 million out of school children for which Buhari has become more appreciated and popular than Obafemi Awolowo!”
Awolowo’s political influence and policy pulled out of school children into schools, while Buhari’s level of it and policy on it has successfully seen many millions in school children out of school since becoming President!
Awolowo lifted many in Abiola’s generation from poverty through education, Buhari is lifting Boko Haramist out of poverty through, “his repentance to repositioning project” that has seen bandits becoming custom’s officers!
Abiola, was a phenomenal, who conquered every space he transversed, leaving behind mentees who are generals in their fields of endeavor, Dele Momodu in Journalism, Kola Abiola in Business, Bola Tinubu in politics, Sunny Okosun in Music and Entertainment and Kayode Fayemi in both Journalism and politics!
Abiola was so rich that the late music meastro Alhaji Sikiru Ayinde Barrister couldn’t but communicate it in discernable terms that every one in Nigeria could understand, when his initials, “MKO”, Barrister referred to as Money, Kudi, Owo. Owo is the Yoruba word for money and Kudi, the Hausa word for it. Abiola was not just rich having money. If symbol and providence are things to go by, he was the “olowo ori owo”, being the husband of Kudirat. Talking about Lady Kudi, she would have become the 1st Lady of Nigeria had Abiola been sworn in upon winning the June 12, 1993 presidential elections!
She was fallen by the bullets of Abacha’s commander, Sergeant Rogers, but the magnanimity of Buhari that saw Abiola honoured with GCON has not been extended to see justice done to the killers of Kudirat!
Her murder by the Abacha Junta Government, in which Mohammadu Buhari served, took the struggle for democracy to another level when Kayode Fayemi’s voice was heard on radio Kudirat! There are many engagements with which the military were pushed, radio Kudirat was a “centrifugal force” against the military locally and internationally thus Kayode Fayemi’s emergence into our political foray didn’t come as a surprise, he worked for it! What is a surprise however is the sycophancy that has characterised our Presidential “hope fools”, apologies to Tunde Bakare!
Tinubu said in his solution providing mechanism to herders and farmers clashes that Yoruba and Fulani are one! What a way to further divide a divided country for personal ambition! Fayemi became a muslim at the 3rd anniversary of his Government just to prove a point to the northern crowd he was ready to do anything in the race set before him. By that singular act, for me, he put a big question mark on his conscience, conviction and stability which are requsite qualifications for leadership in our context as a nation!
Leadership in a multi religious society is better in the hands of men of strong social leaning than a religious prostitute. The North will rather respect a Christian with conviction than a “Christomuslim” personality a year before elections! Fayemi obviously learnt no lessons in Edo that saw a Pastor loosing election to a church goer, simply because he wore a turban!
In the world of the pentecostals, an unbeliever dusted a tongue spealking, demon casting man of God in a religious sensitive nation!
Our politicians haven’t separated our convictions from our sentiments! Abiola’s religious conviction was never in doubt. He was a muslim respected by Christians and Muslims for being one!
The greatest odd against Fayemi’s 2023 dream need not wait till 2023! As the governorship race in Ekiti takes the center stage of political happenings in the country, a group under the auspices of Ekiti Youth for Equity has made a passionate appeal to Governor Kayode Fayemi to disallow impositions of any candidate in the All Progressives Congress!
The group is bothered by the feelers it was getting from the body language of some politicians in the All Progressives Congress fold, suggesting that our 2023 Presidential First Lady, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, in a bid to be like Lady Kudirat Abiola and consolidate her husband’s political structures, ended up with an invented philosophy without the spirit and truth of Kudirat Abiola!
Erelu’s strives for magnanimity is today tagged “Kudi-rat” in the running of Government in Ekiti State. It is no longer news that Erelu is the Governor and Government at home, since her husband relocated to Abuja to fester the nest of his presidential ambition!
Erelu is of course not hiding her preference for the aspiration of the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, whose office is overseeing the Kudi – rat, the money eating operation allegedly being carried out in all ministries and agencies of government in Ekiti State!
The political organisation in a statement released recently signed by its Convener, Victor Omogbemile and titled: ‘Ekiti 2022 governorship, Mrs Bisi Fayemi and the Need For Caution’, warned that the First Lady may end up losing her huge respect should she work against attempts by APC to zone the governorship ticket to Ekiti South!
He said Governor Fayemi’s clinching the ticket in 2007 was accomplished on the strength of zoning and the next political dispensation won’t be an exemption for the present agitations for zoning and what was obtainable then are similar!
“The party leadership at the national level under Governor Mai Mala Buni is working tirelessly to ensure justice by insisting on zoning Presidency to the South, which has kindled the hope of Kayode Fayemi!
It is rather sad, that a beneficiary of such political justice will be trampling on that of others in Ekiti State! The fact remains that for APC to see to it that the next governor in Ekiti state should emerge via zoning modality, will be confronted with the Yoruba philosophy,:”Ohun ti a ba se loni, itan ni yio da lola”, meaning ‘whatever is done today shall become history tomorrow.’
“Having a reminiscence of what transpired in 2007, the people of Ekiti North made agitations on the basis that the two democratically elected governors before then, Otunba Niyi Adebayo and Ayodele Fayose were from the Central and they believed that other zones should be given the opportunity. Though this are mere opinions and not the position of the party’s constitution.
“It was that virulent advocacy from politicians of that axis that compelled the APC and the PDP to pick Kayode Fayemi and Segun Oni for the governorship election of 2007!
“After a prolonged legal battle, Dr. Kayode Fayemi was pronounced the governor of the state in 2010 from where Erelu Bisi Fayemi became the First Lady and wielded so much power and influence which is keeping her “pet project”, kudi-rat running!
The First Lady must not forget that history beckons and that enduring and endearing legacies are built on the legality of our conducts when given the opportunity to serve the public.
Proofs abound on Omogbemile’s allegation that Mrs Fayemi is poking her nose into issues of politics. This of course may be mere rumours among party members for it has become customary for party members to be peddle rumours. Rumour, of course is the smoke that leads intelligent investigative journalist into a successful fact find out!
Ekiti is the poorest of all the States of the Yoruba Nation South West Nigeria. It is on lips in Ekiti state that Erelu is trying to pay back Oyebanji from the merger earnings of the State for being a good boy whose office is being used to coordinate “kudi rat” as a conduit pipe to siphon monies running into billions since 2018 in preparation for 2023!
Is it a mere rumour that Governor Fayemi’s budget for running the office of the Secretary to the State Government which Oyebanji is supervising is 30 million naira monthly and that as a loyal boy, the rat formula is pegged at ratio 1 to 2, this of course is waived higher when the needs from the office of the First Lady so demand?
The smells from Ekiti kitchen and the “chef in chief”, Oyebanji, might have been a pleasing aroma to the office of the First lady, But what is underneath is more than meets the eyes. Governor Kayode Fayemi will do well by paying attention to the smoke from Erelu’s kitchen cabinet before it will choke his ambition and the fire from their stoves burn down the state!
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E2%80%95-nigerian Recommendations For Lifting Twitter Ban Will Apply To Other Social Media Platforms ? Nigerian Government
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has stated that the recommended conditions for the lifting Twitter ban in Nigeria will be applicable to all Over-The-Top and other social media platforms in the country.
He made this known on Monday when he featured on a phone-in programme of TV Continental, “This Morning, ’’ monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
The minister who headed Federal Government ministerial negotiation team stated that the engagements with the microblogging and social media platform had been positive and fruitful.
He added that the undisclosed report from the team would be submitted to President Muhammadu Buhari.
“All I can say is that the recommendations we are going to make will not only be applicable to Twitter but they will be applicable to all OTTs and other social media platforms in Nigeria.
“Today, we are dealing with Twitter; we don’t want a situation where we will be dealing with Facebook tomorrow and Instagram the next day. Our recommendations will be very comprehensive.
“You will recall that during the 61st Independence anniversary celebration, the president said Twitter will return to Nigeria as soon as they meet the conditions of government.
“Even last night, the ministerial team met under my chairmanship and we reviewed the position of things.
“I want to say that we should wait for the committee to officially give its reports to the president but things are looking very positive and rosy. After submitting our reports and recommendations to the president, I will be disposed to say what we agreed and what have been met and what has not been met,” he said.
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E2%80%93-nigerian-government-0 12 US Super Tucano Jets Deployed To North-East To Fight Boko Haram – Nigerian Government
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the Nigerian government has taken delivery of the final batch of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets expected from the United States.
He made this known on Monday when he featured on a phone-in programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The minister was quoted as saying, “All the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets have been received. As of this morning, all the 12 were here and they have been deployed to the North-East. We can see that the Tucano jets are actually game-changers.
“Most of the successes we have recorded in recent times is because of the acquisition of new platforms, not limited to the Super Tucano,”
Mohammed said with the improved security situation in the North-East and North-Central Zones the nation would experience improved food security.
“If you observe what is happening recently, you can see heightened activities in the agricultural area. This is because of the superior firepower of the military which is now making it possible for people to go to their farms, especially in the North East.
“They have been able to put the criminals at bay,” he said.
The minister gave an assurance that the success of the military against terrorists and bandits would be sustained.
He, therefore, solicited the cooperation and support of Nigerians for the sustenance of the military action.
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E2%80%93-nigerian-government 12 US Super Tucano Jets Deployed To North-East To Fight Boko Haram – Nigerian Government
The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said the Nigerian government has taken delivery of the final batch of the 12 A-29 Super Tucano fighter jets expected from the United States.
He made this known on Monday when he featured on a phone-in programme monitored by the News Agency of Nigeria.
The minister was quoted as saying, “All the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets have been received. As of this morning, all the 12 were here and they have been deployed to the North-East. We can see that the Tucano jets are actually game-changers.
“Most of the successes we have recorded in recent times is because of the acquisition of new platforms, not limited to the Super Tucano,”
Mohammed said with the improved security situation in the North-East and North-Central Zones the nation would experience improved food security.
“If you observe what is happening recently, you can see heightened activities in the agricultural area. This is because of the superior firepower of the military which is now making it possible for people to go to their farms, especially in the North East.
“They have been able to put the criminals at bay,” he said.
The minister gave an assurance that the success of the military against terrorists and bandits would be sustained.
He, therefore, solicited the cooperation and support of Nigerians for the sustenance of the military action.
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BREAKING: Nigerian Government Files Seven-Count Amended Charge Against IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu
Nnamdi Kanu
The Nigerian government has filed a seven-count amended charge against the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, three days to his appearance in court.
According to Vanguard, the amended charge, which was filed by the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, borders on treasonable felony and Kanu’s alleged involvement in acts of terrorism.
Nnamdi Kanu
AFP
The IPOB leader will be re-arraigned before trial Justice Binta Nyako on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Anambra North, Ifeanyi Ubah, on Monday, filed a motion before the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the Department of State Services, DSS, to allow him to have access to Kanu in detention.
SaharaReporters had on October 15 reported that Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the lead counsel to Kanu, stated that he (Kanu) enjoined IPOB followers to proceed on a fast ahead of his trial on October 21.
Ejiofor had in an update added that Kanu and the legal team were confident of victory and no excuses would be tolerated from the Department of State Services.
Ejiofor noted that Kanu was strong and ready to appear at the Federal High Court in Abuja on October 21.
The IPOB leader’s lawyer had said, “As the D-Day approaches, the legal team is not leaving any stone unturned towards ensuring that all the “t’s” are crossed and “i’s” dotted.
“It was indeed an eventful visit as our indefatigable Client found as laughable, the series of false narratives being spread to the public domain, ostensibly sponsored by the agents of darkness who are very deep in their dream to prevent his appearance in court, and to create a state of panic in the minds of his followers.
“Prominent among the falsehood desperately championed by mischief makers is the trending subject that our dear Client, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been flown to China, and from China to Israel, and from Israel to Kontokatafi etc. We know the purveyors of these fake news and they are aware that their evil conspiracies are dead on arrival.
“Onyendu was equally amazed by another fake news that was making headline in some social media quarters, that he was asked to sign any document before regaining his freedom. This is total falsehood and he is urging his esteemed followers to please ignore this falsehood.
“Above all, our indefatigable Client is strong and tenaciously holding firm in spirit. He is ready for the 21st October 2021 appearance in court. This date is SACROSANCT and shall remain so.
“Thankfully, the Federal Government of Nigeria is fully aware of this date, and more compelling is the fact that the detaining authority has since over a month ago, concluded every purported investigation into the matter. Hence, no plausible excuse will be available to them not to produce Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in court come Thursday, the 21st Day of October 2021. You must all see him live and direct on this date.
“Our Client – Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi Kanu urges millions of his followers and supporters to continue to conduct themselves and carry on within the ambit of the laws, as you all have always done. More strikingly and commendable is the fact that your solidarity has remained unshaken against all intimidating circumstance, and for this, he is deeply grateful.
“Onyendu advised his supporters and millions of followers to go into dry fasting as the D-Day approaches, because resounding victory will be ours on this date and the Almighty Chukwuokike Abiama will be given the glory and adoration in the end.”
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E2%80%94-asari-dokubo Buhari Wished To Give Niger Delta Region Zero Percent In Petroleum Act — Asari Dokubo
A Niger Delta activist, Asari Dokubo, says should President Muhammadu Buhari have his way, the Niger Delta region would have got nothing as equity shareholding in the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB to host communities.
He stated this during an interview with Punch.
The PIB, which has now been signed into law, makes a provision of a three per cent equity share for the oil-producing communities even though the region had pushed for 10 per cent.
Reacting, Dokubo, leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Salvation Force, stated that the three per cent equity stake for the region is an insult.
He, however, said he was not surprised with what the President had done based on his (Buhari’s) antecedents.
He said, “It is one of the greatest insults that have ever befallen the region. I am not surprised with the character of the (President Muhammadu) Buhari regime. Even the three per cent earmarked for the region, I am sure Buhari is not satisfied with that. If he had his way, he would have wanted us to have zero per cent.
”That is his antecedent. That is the way he behaves. I am not surprised. Anybody can read him perfectly. The so-called political elites are totally captured. They are so afraid and lily-livered that they cannot say anything.
”He (Buhari) has sent it back for an amendment, (admitting) that it doesn’t have geographical spread. Do his appointments have geographical spread or respect Federal Character?
“So, in the midst of these things, one does not want to talk any longer, because the people you are talking to do not even appreciate what you are saying. The analysts will come and call you all sorts of names. I am now part of the ‘siddon look’ group.”
Speaking further on the issue of restructuring, Dokubo said such a concept will not thrive under the current Buhari administration as things may likely do from bad to worse.
He suggested that rather than the calls for restructuring, Nigeria should rather return to the Republican constitution of 1963 which he described as a people-centered constitution.
Dokubo stated, “Why would you put all of us under one frail-looking old man called Buhari? Buhari restructure? If this is a country that practises democracy, no journalist would have asked that kind of question. Buhari does not have any power to restructure anything. It is in the hands of the people to agitate for what they want.
”What is restructuring? Nigeria in 1960 was created as a federation. There is nothing like restructuring or anything else. All these other constitutions are from the military and they are illegal.
“They do not emanate from the people. Imagine the 1963 Constitution, which emanated from the people. If we go back to this constitution, it would be very clear. But people do not want justice. They want oppression. When you push people to the extent that they cannot pass through the wall, they will turn against you and fight.
“So, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When we reach that point, nobody will talk. For me to say Buhari should restructure…Buhari does not have the capacity to restructure, because it is not in his hands, and I will not even be where Buhari is restructuring anything.
“If he restructures, he would restructure us to one dollar to N600. Go to Lagos-Benin Expressway and see the restructuring that Buhari is doing there. Is it in our educational system, where people score as low as 80 points in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations and they are admitted into the university?
“That is the sort of restructuring that Buhari can do. We had legal documents that were available. Let us go back to the 1963 Constitution. That is the constitution that can lead us, and we can use that as a starting point.”
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Ekiti Farmers Threaten To Stop State Government’s Airport Project Over Unpaid Compensation
Governor Fayemi
At least 1000 farmers gathered in Ekiti State on Monday to protest against the unpaid compensation for their farms acquired by the state government.
The farmers, who came from five communities in the state, demanded compensation for their land that is being used for the ongoing construction of the agro-allied cargo airport, along Ado-Ijan road.
Governor Fayemi
The farmers, mostly the aged and widows, pleaded with the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to consider their plights and the investment on their farm lands and pay them compensation as promised.
The farmers were harmed with placards with different inscriptions such as; “Ekiti Assembly please come to our aide,” “Governor Fayemi should pay our money without delay,” “The farmers cry for help”; “We need commission for our land acquired by government” among others.
They threatened to stop work at the airport site by invoking ancestral power if the government failed to pay their compensation within the next seven days.
Mr Osho Olorunfemi, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, asserted that the over 1,000 farmers from the five affected communities Ijan, igbogun, Aso, Igbemo, and Orun Bolorunduro communities whose land were acquired for the airport had lost huge amount of money in investment on the crops.
He urged the governor to urgently address their grievances and pay them the compensation. Noting that failure of the government to effect the payment within the next seven days, would leave the farmers with no other option than to storm the site and invoke spiritual power on the land.
”It is government that said people should embrace farming but here we are now, after so much investment on cocoa, plantain, cassava, palm tree and other crops, government came to destroy them.
“Since March this year, we have been on this issue but nothing is forthcoming, all we hear is promise and assurance since then. We are tired of promises; we need our money to start life again because we are completely down at the moment. We are aware some persons have been paid but not all of us.
“We are giving the government a seven-day ultimatum for them to pay us and if they default, we will be here on the airport site to do the needful and whatever happens after, we should not be blamed.”
However, the coordinator of the airport project, Mr Bunmi Awotikun who assured the farmers that government was attending to their demands and that they would soon be paid, urged the affected farmers to embrace peace.
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