Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Monday 25th October 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 25/10/21
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We Want Exoneration Not Pardons For Saro-Wiwa, 8 Other Activists Illegally Killed By Abacha Regime – Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation
Ken Saro-Wiwa
The Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation has said it wants exoneration and not pardons to be granted to the late environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others executed by the Nigerian military dictator, Sani Abacha.
The Foundation was reacting to a statement attributed to President Muhammadu Buhari saying he was considering granting a state pardon to Saro-Wiwa and others executed at the height of the Ogoni crisis in the 1990s.
Ken Saro-Wiwa
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Buhari May Pardon Late Niger Delta Activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Eight Others Killed By Former Dictator, Abacha
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A statement signed by Dr Owens Wiwa, brother of Ken Saro-Wiwa, on behalf of the Board of Directors of the Foundation and obtained by SaharaReporters on Sunday, however, said the late activist and the eight others who were murdered by the Abacha regime were not criminals.
The group, which became known as Ogoni 9, were activists from the Ogoni region who opposed the operating practices of oil companies destroying their area.
They were author and playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
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Ogoni People Reject Buhari’s Likely Pardon For Late Ken Saro-Wiwa, Demand Exoneration
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They were tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged in 1995 by the military dictatorship of General Abacha.
The statement titled, ‘Exoneration Not Pardon For Ken Saro-Wiwa,’ read: “The Board of Directors of the Ken Saro-Wiwa Foundation (KSWF) have received and read the statement from Mr (Femi) Adesina, the Special Adviser on Communications to the President of Nigeria, General Muhammadu Buhari (Rtd), in which the President conveyed his willingness to grant clemency or pardons to Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight Ogoni activists illegally executed by the Nigerian Military Dictatorship of Sani Abacha on November 10, 1995, after a sham trial.
“Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Eight Ogonis were not criminals. They were innocent activists unjustly murdered for fighting for a just cause on behalf of their oppressed community. The path to true peace in the region begins with justice. The cleaning up of the environment for which they campaigned and died for is a first good step.
“The exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogoni activists, judicially murdered on November 10 1995 is another step towards peace.
“The family of Ken Saro-Wiwa have made a request for the exoneration of Ken Saro-Wiwa to the President in the past and are still waiting for a response. We urge the President to again consider this request as a path to justice and peace.”
The statement added that the “family and the Foundation have not asked any individual to ask for pardon or clemency for Ken Saro-Wiwa on our behalf, nor are we aware of any group of Ogonis making such a request”.
Exoneration for Ken Saro Wiwa KSWF by Sahara Reporters on Scribd
Earlier on Sunday, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore faulted President Buhari’s proposed posthumous state pardons for Saro-Wiwa and others.
Sowore said Saro-Wiwa never committed a crime, adding that an innocent person cannot be pardoned.
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Ken Saro-Wiwa Didn’t Commit A Crime, You Can’t Pardon An Innocent Man—Sowore Knocks Buhari On Proposed Pardon
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Sowore, who disclosed this on Twitter, stressed that Buhari is the one who once carried out a coup, which is a treasonable offence for which he has yet to be tried.
“Ken Saro-Wiwa never committed a crime. You can’t pardon any innocent person! Muhammadu Buhari is the one who once carried out a coup – a treasonable offence for which he’s yet to be tried! EXONERATE Ken Saro-Wiwa NOW!”
The activist also queried Buhari for scheduling the next trial date for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for November 10, the same date Abacha murdered the Ogoni 9 in 1995.
“Why did Muhammadu Buhari schedule the next sham trial date for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for November 10th, the same day Sani Abacha murdered Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogonis in 1995? #RevolutionNow.”
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E2%80%99-story-announces-president-will-visit-saudi Buhari Presidency Confirms SaharaReporters’ Story, Announces President Will Visit Saudi Arabia For Lesser Hajj, Others
President Muhammadu Buhari will depart for Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Monday, October 25, 2021, as earlier exclusively reported by SaharaReporters.
Buhari will leave for Saudi Arabia to participate in the investment conference organised by the Future Investment Initiative Institute, the Senior Special Assistant to the President (Media & Publicity), Garba Shehu, said on Sunday.
He added that the President would also perform the lesser Hajj while in Saudi Arabia.
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EXCLUSIVE: Buhari To Visit Saudi Arabia, Europe On Tuesday To Attend Lesser Hajj, Undergo Medical Checkup
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According to Shehu, the President will be joined at the 5th edition of the flagship investment event by business executives from Nigeria, bankers, Captains of industry and energy experts to “discuss issues on the future of investments across the globe”.
He further said, “The three-day event, with the theme, INVESTMENT IN HUMANITY, which will host global executives and asset managers, will deliberate on progress and prosperity with energy; true final frontiers in investments; science in action; and impact of climate change on communities among others.
“President Buhari will perform the lesser Hajj in Madina & Makka before returning to the country on Friday.
“The President will be accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ibrahim Pantami, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb Zubairu Dada, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno, Director General of National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Managing Director of Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, Uche Orji and Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
“Some participants from the private sector include Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Tope Shonubi , Wale Tinubu, Alhaji Abdulsamad Rabiu, Hassan Usman, Omoboyode Olusanya, Abubakar Suleiman, Herbert Wigwe and Leo Stan Ekeh.”
EXCLUSIVE: @MBuhari To Visit Saudi Arabia, Europe On Tuesday To Attend Lesser Hajj, Undergo Medical Checkup | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/i0yAxtWajB— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) October 23, 2021
SaharaReporters had on Saturday reported that Buhari would leave the country for Saudi Arabia and later proceed to France and Scotland where he is expected to begin a fresh round of medical checkup.
SaharaReporters had, however, gathered that Buhari would spend up to two weeks on his medical tour but his first point of call is Saudi Arabia for Umrah, otherwise known as the Lesser Hajj.
SaharaReporters learnt that the President after performing the Umrah would then go to Europe for his medical examinations.
In August, Saudi Arabia had announced plans to gradually begin receiving Umrah pilgrimage requests from abroad for vaccinated pilgrims starting after about a year and a half of not receiving overseas worshippers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was announced that with a capacity that would rise to 2 million pilgrims from 60,000 pilgrims per month, Mecca and Medina will start welcoming visitors from abroad to their mosques while maintaining COVID-19 precautionary measures.
Last week, it was also reported that the Grand Mosque in Makkah was ready to receive pilgrims and worshippers at full capacity, just as the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah lifted the restrictions placed on the performance of Umrah and Prayers in the Rawdah Al Shareefah.
Top sources confirmed to SaharaReporters that Buhari would leave Nigeria for his trip for pilgrimage and medical treatments.
“Baba (Buhari) is going to Saudi Arabia, France and Glasgow from Tuesday. The date is set and part of it is for his medicals. The trip will not exceed two weeks but the first stop is Saudi Arabia. He will go for the Umrah before heading for Paris and Glasgow,” one of the sources had revealed.
Meanwhile, the President’s health has been a source of concern for many Nigerians.
SaharaReporters in December 2020 had reported how the inability of President Buhari to make critical decisions on insecurity and the depressed economy had become worrisome to many Nigerians – a situation that his dementia and other undisclosed ailments he is treating could have contributed to.
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E2%80%94-muslim Buhari Government Should Tell Nigerians People Sponsoring Banditry, Others— Muslim Organisation
President Buhari
The Northern State Council of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has asked the Nigerian Government to expose the sponsors of banditry and terror in Nigeria.The Secretary of the Muslim organisation, Alhaji Isiaq Sanni made the call in Kaduna, while paying tribute to their late Chairman and President, Alhaji Liadi Adeyinka Olapade who died on Saturday.
President Buhari
Sanni said the late Olapade worked hard to ensure many people were educated, noting that he saw it as a way to curb insecurity. He, however, added that it was a shame that there was so much insecurity in the land. He said, “It is unfortunate that today, that insecurity that Olapade fought for still persists. Therefore, we are calling on the government to put more effort into the fight against banditry and other security challenges, because their current effort is not enough to address the challenges.“Government should tell us those behind banditry, those sponsoring the insecurity, to let us know those who don’t want our dear country to progress, those who don’t like the government.”
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E2%80%94sowore-knocks-buhari Ken Saro-Wiwa Didn’t Commit A Crime, You Can’t Pardon An Innocent Man—Sowore Knocks Buhari On Proposed Pardon
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has faulted President Muhammadu Buhari’s proposed posthumous state pardon for the late environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa and others executed in the height of the Ogoni crisis in the 1990s.
President Buhari recently hinted about a possible posthumous state pardon for Saro-Wiwa and others executed by the General Sani Abacha dictatorial regime.
The group, which became known as Ogoni 9, were activists from the Ogoni region who opposed the operating practices of the Royal Dutch Shell oil corporation.
They were author and playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
They were tried by a special military tribunal for allegedly masterminding the murder of Ogoni chiefs at a pro-government meeting, and hanged in 1995 by the military dictatorship of General Abacha.
However, Sowore on Sunday said Saro-Wiwa never committed a crime, noting that an innocent person cannot be pardoned.
Sowore, who disclosed this on Twitter, stressed that Muhammadu Buhari is the one who once carried out a coup, which is a treasonable offence for which he has yet to be tried.
“Ken Saro-Wiwa never committed a crime. You can’t pardon any innocent person! Muhammadu Buhari is the one who once carried out a coup – a treasonable offence for which he’s yet to be tried! EXONERATE Ken Saro-Wiwa NOW!”
The activist also queried Buhari for scheduling the next trial date for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for November 10, the same date Abacha murdered the Ogoni 9 in 1995.
“Why did Muhammadu Buhari schedule the next sham trial date for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for November 10th, the same day Sani Abacha murdered Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 other Ogonis in 1995? #RevolutionNow.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the people of Ogoni land in the Niger Delta region of the country rejected any plan by the President Buhari government to grant state pardon to the late renowned activist, Saro-Wiwa.
This was made known by Owens Wiwa, brother of the late activist on Friday.
Owens stated that “the Ogoni people demand that the Buhari government exonerates Ken Saro-Wiwa and not grant him a pardon.”
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E2%80%94ohanaeze-condemns-ipob%E2%80%99s-one-week-sit ‘Mandela Spent 27 Years In Jail, Didn’t Starve His People’—Ohanaeze Condemns IPOB’s One-week Sit-at-home Order
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has kicked against the one-week sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The members of the proscribed group had threatened that they would direct that there should a one-week sit-at-home protest in the South-East if their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, was not released forthwith.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
But the declaration which was broadly condemned was also aimed at boycotting the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State.The Secretary-General of the Chidi Ibeh-led Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said in a statement on Sunday that Ndigbo should not obey the order this time.
He said, “Any declaration that unleashes untold hardship, leads to the collapse of commercial and industrial activities, boycott of Anambra elections and interrupts the academic calendar in Southeastern states is nonsensical, absurd, and anti-Igbo agenda, for the enemy’s amusement.”He also described the directive as enslavement of Ndigbo, adding, “For the Igbo to rise to the occasion and end being trampled with orders from overseas by those without any investments in the South-East.
“IPOB should discern that there was self-determination struggle in Africa before now. Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in jail and never in the history of the movement against Apartheid was starvation, anguish, and catastrophe unleashed on Black South Africans by ANC.
“It is impulsive and reckless to order Ndigbo to observe one-week sit-at-home when it’s obvious that Nnamdi Kanu will not be released without the approval of courts.
“IPOB should revisit and nullify the one-week sit-at-home or they will likely lose the support of the Ndigbo henceforth, Ndigbo must participate in Anambra election and nothing should stop it.”
He cautioned that such orders if implemented would give an unnamed political party an edge in the election.
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E2%80%94buharis-minister-aregbesola Oyo Jailbreak: 446 Inmates Recaptured Out Of 907—Buhari’s Minister, Aregbesola
Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola on Sunday said 446 out of 907 escapees in the Abologo correctional facility in Oyo State have been recaptured by security agencies.He vowed to pursue and recapture all inmates who escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Centre of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, on Friday night during a vicious attack on the facility by yet-to-be-identified gunmen.
The minister disclosed this during an inspection visit to the facility in Oyo town, Oyo State on Sunday morning.“I’m assuring Nigerians that the Federal Government will pursue not just those who attacked our facility, but those who have escaped lawful custody.“The attack was unconscionable, I commend officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service and other members of sister security agencies who provided perimeter security for our facility for fighting gallantly and holding the fort before the attackers were able to gain access to the awaiting trial section of the facility.
“However, those who escaped are already being pursued. Some have been rearrested, many more will still be captured,” the minister stated.Giving more details about those who escaped, Aregbesola noted that 446 out of 907 escapees have been recaptured, whilst 69 never left the facility.“As at the last count, 446 of the escapees have been recaptured, leaving 392 still at large. We want to assure Nigerians that the service has an updated database of the escapees which includes their biometrics. We are sharing the database with all security agencies in the country including Interpol, so those who escape our recapture efforts can be nabbed.“To those on the run, be assured you have nowhere to hide. You can run, but you can’t hide. We’ll fish you out! We are publishing details of those who escaped in the mass media so the public can assist in that effort,” the minister said.
Speaking on government’s effort to rebuild the damaged part of the facility, the minister noted that he had directed the NCoS to immediately begin remediation work.“I have instructed the CG of NCoS to immediately begin the reconstruction of the damaged parts of the building. We hope to make the facility better secured and more habitable for the inmates.”Also speaking during the inspection visit, the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, Haliru Nababa, mni, noted that so far, the service has successfully prevented internal jailbreaks in all her facilities.“The NCoS has so far prevented internal jailbreaks in the country. What we have reoccurring in recent times are external attacks on our facilities. We have been retraining our officers not just on securing those in lawful custody but preventing external attacks.“We are collaborating with other security agencies in the country to make such attacks near impossible and where they do occur, the attackers will live to regret it,” the CG stated.On the instruction given by the Minister of Interior to immediately begin remediation work on the facility, CG Nababa noted that work has begun already.“As you can see, workers are already on-site, fixing damaged doors, broken windows and mounting walls. Before the end of today, work would have been completed on it,” Nababa stated.
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Nigeria Police Confirm Fresh Attack By Gunmen On Station In Ebonyi
File photo used to illustrate story.
The Nigeria Police have confirmed that there was an attack on one of its stations in Ebonyi State early Sunday morning. The police, however, said their man repelled the fresh attack on Ebonyi State command early Sunday morning.
File photo used to illustrate story.
The command, however, condemned reports of an alleged attack on its station and the killing of three of its men in Ebonyi community, noting that its personnel and facilities remained intact in the area.This was revealed on Sunday by Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, CP Aliyu Garba, in a text message to The PUNCH.CP Garba said the hoodlums were killed while arms and ammunition were recovered.“Not true. Get the real facts of the situation from the PPRO. The police station and the facilities there, including vehicles are intact. The hoodlums were killed. Arms and ammunition were recovered. Take a trip to the scene for confirmation.”There were reports earlier that gunmen allegedly attacked the Unwana Police Division, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, in the wee hours of Sunday.The attackers were also alleged to have killed three policemen on duty; an inspector, and two constables.The report also said the hoodlums razed operational vehicles parked within the premises of the station, during the alleged attack.
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E2%80%94ex-house-representatives-speaker Many Northerners Consider Buhari’s Years In Office As A Waste—Ex-House Of Representatives’ Speaker, Na’Abba
A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has said many northerners consider the years so far spent by President Muhammadu Buhari in office as a waste. He noted that Buhari failed as a leader because he is highly opinionated, saying it led to the build-up of frictions in the country.
Na’Abba stated this during an interview with Trust TV. According to the former Speaker, Southerners are not the only ones not happy with Buhari’s Government, northerners are equally displeased. “Within the North today, the idea of many people that the presidency must shift to another region is not a welcome idea because the feeling of many people is that the years of this president is a waste. They’ve not gained anything from it. So, why should anybody even talk to them about zoning? When they believe they have the numerical strength to elect another person.“But why you should even elect another president from the north is more surprising for this kind of scenario to continue,” he said. He said Buhari’s failure to consult with people contributed to the problem. “You cannot run a country in a manner that suggests you are highly opinionated. And this opinionating has nothing to do with the people. If it has to do with the people and their welfare, and their feelings, I think it’s OK,” he said. He continued, “When I was the Speaker of the House of Representatives, we had a caucus. That caucus used to meet every Monday – 30 of us.“No consultation. Since he suggests that, he works alone. We become president or whatever not because we have the monopoly of wisdom. Nobody has it.”
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E2%80%94ohanaeze ‘Why Attorney-General Malami Can’t Break Strong Bond Between Igbo And Yoruba’—Ohanaeze Ndigbo Slams Buhari’s Minister
Abubakar Malami
An Igbo social-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has slammed the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami for blaming the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu for all the killings and destructions that happened during the #EndSARS protest last year and the ones happening presently in the South-East.
The AGF on Friday made many allegations against Kanu while addressing a press conference.
Abubakar Malami
Malami alleged that Kanu “has been working against the Nigerian nation based on his actions and speech” and that he instigated others to attack public properties, security agents, civilians and any other perceived enemies, using Radio Biafra as a major means of communication”.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in its reaction, said it was disappointing that the Attorney General descended to the level of total ignorance.
The group accused Kanu of shopping for offences just to nail the secessionist leader.Ohanaeze urged him to try to be above aboard as the nation’s chief law officer.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Chidozie Ogbonnia said, “One will think that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Chief Law Officer of the Federation, should be above board.
“It is therefore advised that Malami should not be so cheap for the uninitiated to discover his shenanigans. In other words, the above remarks by the AGF are very inelegant, imprudent, malicious, treacherous and fallacious.
“Malami should know that the Internet world has left him behind. All his game plans are crude and anachronistic. Malami sinister motives of heaping all criminalities in Nigeria on IPOB or the Igbo including the crimes where arrests have been made and the known culprits already arraigned is most unethical, unprofessional and unbefitting of his Office.
“Some other crimes that Malami ascribes to IPOB are still under investigation and arrests so far made are not linked to IPOB. The Malami perversions are very strange to Law and indeed a new dimension in the Nigerian justice delivery system.
“Malami’s card is to paint the South-East of Nigeria as a terrorist zone, to prepare a ground for the use of the newly acquired American Super Tucano Fighter Jets in the zone.
“Malami should be reminded that the very condition for the sale and release of the jets to Nigeria by the USA is that they will be used strictly to fight the Boko Haram terrorists in the North-East and incessant banditry in the North-West.
“Furthermore, Malami is playing god by believing that 2023 is the end of the world and is plotting hard against the Igbo interest.
“Unfortunately, Malami has crossed the red line.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on the Nigerian Barr Association, NBA, to re-examine Malami in a bid to establish his suitability and competence for the elevated office he occupies.
It further said, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo still believes that all these grandstanding and hyperboles by the federal government about the Igbo or IPOB are machinations in self-denial.
“The solution to the crises in Nigeria lies in justice and dialogue. If the federal government can encourage dialogue with the notorious bandits, Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen, it is therefore expected that what is good for the goose is mutatis mutandis, good for the gander.
“That the IPOB vandalized and looted the Palace of the Oba of Lagos and burnt over one hundred and fifty (150) buses at the Lagos Bus Terminal were mere ethnic cards simply intended to play up the Yoruba against the Igbo.
“It is important for Malami to know that the bond between the Yoruba and the Igbo is strong, inseparable and beyond his narrow machinations.
“Malami should know that the Yoruba do not spill the Igbo blood and vice versa. The likes of Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, who chose the supreme prize instead of betraying an Igbo in the person of General Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, have replicated across the board in millions.
“Perhaps, Malami does not know the historic role played by the current Oba of Lagos, as a Police Officer, for the return from exile of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Ikemba Nnewi in 1982. Malami should know that the Igbo- Yoruba relation has given rise to several high profile intermarriages with bubbling grown-up children and grandchildren. More of the above sources of unity and inter-ethnic solidarity was accentuated when the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Ambassador Professor George Obiozor paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in his Lagos office.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB is mostly populated by the Igbo. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide and the Leader of IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu are united against the orchestrated marginalization of the Igbo in one Nigeria. For instance, the South East of Nigeria has the least number of states compared to the other six geopolitical zones in the country; the least number of local government areas, the least number of seats in the Senate, the least number of seats in the House of Representatives, the least in the federal budget allocations, least in the distribution of constituency projects, zero representation in the headship of the security architecture of Nigeria, zero minister in grade A category of the ministries, unemployment to Igbo youths; and indeed obvious conspiracy against the South East in every sector of the Nigeria polity.
“The major roads passing through the South East, namely the Enugu Onitsha Road, Enugu Port Harcourt Road, Oturkpo-Enugu Road, etc. are death traps. In addition, the Fulani herdsmen roam about with AK 47 rifles, ravage the farms of the Igbo rural dwellers, debauch their women, abduct their men, maim and kill, and no arrest is made by the relevant authorities.
“The point of divergence between the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the IPOB is that while the former believes that the Igbo ingenuity will find full expression in a restructured Nigeria, the latter appears to be tired of the age-long marginalization of the Igbo in a country they have sacrificed so much to build.
“In other words, the IPOB are our children and we owe them undiluted love, duty and responsibility.”
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E2%80%94group-tells-anti-graft ‘Probe Multi-billion Naira Fraud, Others In Nigeria Police Trust Fund’—Group Tells Anti-graft Commission, ICPC
The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has asked for investigation into the alleged procurement of substandard equipment totalling N11,000,000,000.00 (Eleven billion naira) by the management of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF).
The group also urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to swiftly bring those culpable to justice, describing it as a violation of the NPTF Act 2019.
This was disclosed on Sunday in a press statement signed by Chido Onumah, Coordinator of AFRICMIL.
The statement demanded a thorough, painstaking and dispassionate investigation into the issues surrounding the controversial management of the trust fund.
“AFRICMIL is following developments in this matter and expresses huge support for ICPC in this monumental task. In line with the Commission’s customary adherence to professionalism, we urge a thorough, painstaking and dispassionate engagement with all the issues surrounding the controversial management of the Trust Fund.
The group on October 6, 2021, urged the ICPC to get to the root of the “scandalous breach” of the Act establishing the NPTF, as well as the complete disregard of the recommendations in the KPMG report which set the ground rules for prudent management of the Trust Fund.
The statement further noted, “There is no doubt that ICPC will find out that the firm disregard for due process by the Executive Secretary is at the heart of the procurement of poor-quality security equipment and machinery for the Nigeria Police Force which has outraged many people across the country, including the Inspector of General of Police.
“AFRICMIL findings revealed that among the equipment said to have been purchased for police personnel, the bulletproof vests, helmets and some of the Toyota Buffalo vehicles fell far short of the required standard. AFRICMIL urged ICPC to scrutinize the equipment and other items procured to see whether they meet the needs of the police, the statement revealed.
“ICPC should be interested in investigating what the sum of N722,671,942 out of the N1, 616,883,668 released as takeoff grant for the secretariat of the Trust Fund was used for. This amount was said to have been spent within five months even as accommodation and other necessary equipment had been provided free by the Nigeria Police Force.
“A situation where the Executive Secretary conducts business without the consent of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees or, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement, literally usurps the powers of the Board in flagrant violation of Sections 11(b) and 12(1)a of NPTF Act 2019, is gross misconduct that should not be condoned by the ICPC and citizens who mean well for the police and our country.
“AFRICMIL believes the police trust fund fraud is one of the huge interests to the people because of the institution and the personalities involved. The organisation said it had confidence in ICPC to deal with the issue professionally in the interest of justice.”
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