Fayose Raises Alarm, Says Policemen Invade Ekiti To Arrest Lawmakers

Armed policemen from Abuja have now invaded Ekiti State to begin indiscriminate arrest of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders, top government officials and 11 members of the State House of Assembly under funny allegation of stockpiling arms during the June 21, 2014 governorship election.

The policemen were led by one CSP Mohammed Abubakar of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Abuja.

Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who made this known in a statement issued on Tuesday, said the new plot was an aftermath of the failure of the Department of State Services (DSS) to achieve the plot of coercing the House of Assembly members to impeach the Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose.

The government said the indiscriminate arrest was to begin this night and that the policemen arrived Ado Ekiti, the State capital with Mr TKO Aluko and APC Chairman, Jide Awe today.

"We are aware of the arrival of policemen from Abuja to Ekiti State with the intention of arresting 11 members of the House of Assembly, two PDP leaders per local government and some other top officials of the government.

"Ridiculously, the offense for which the policemen are to embark on this indiscriminate arrest is owing to TKO Aluko malicious outburst that those listed for arrest stockpiled arms during the governorship election conducted in Ekiti close to two years ago.

"This plot is in furtherance of the APC plot to destabilize the government of Ekiti State just because of Governor Fayose's hard stance on President Mohammadu Buhari's APC government policies.

"The question is, what was the arms they claimed were stockpiled used for? Was anyone killed or attacked during the election?

"And why is the Police not arresting the APC Chairman, Jide Awe who is wanted for alleged murder and TKO Aluko, who was declared wanted by the court for perjury, and instead providing security cover for them?

"We therefore which to alert Nigerians on this new plot and state that Ekiti people will resist any attempt to use the Police to harass innocent citizens of the State.

"Democratically, we are entitled to our views on any issue in Nigeria and we won't succumb to intimidation and harassment from any agency of the Federal government."

TKO Aluko Is Present-Day Judas of Ekiti, Scamming APC - Lere Olayinka

Special Assistant to the Ekiti State Governor on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka has described the embattled former Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr TKO Aluko as the present-day Judas of Ekiti State, saying; “The man is a Grade A scammer who is living large on the millions he is making from his present anti-Fayose agenda.”

Olayinka, who insisted that Aluko has turned himself into tools in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC), added that “Aluko and his likes can continue to run from pillar to post, all their efforts will come to nought and like the Biblical Judas, we will all live to see how those he treating him like their man Friday now will dump

him.”

The governor’s spokesperson said it was laughable that someone who was duly expelled from the PDP was still claiming to be member of the party, saying; “Can Aluko be member of PDP by force even when PDP has

said he is not wanted?”

He said; “In saner climes, Aluko, who by himself confessed to have committed crime should be in jail by now. But because the APC federal government is willing to use even Shina Rambo to achieve its aim of returning to power in Ekiti through crude means, Aluko is beingprovided with security cover and that is unfortunate.”

While describing Aluko’s claims as “odoriferous talks from a demented mind,” Olayinka said Nigerians must ask him why he was unable to deliver his polling unit in Iyin-Ekiti to the PDP if indeed he was the arrowhead of the rigging of the election.

“In TKO Aluko’s Polling Unit (Bada Polling Unit, Ward B Iyin Ekiti), PDP had 77, APC had 66 and Labour Party had 115 votes. Why was he unable to rig the election in his poling unit?

“Like I said today, Aluko travelled to Kaduna to give evidence before the Military Panel, has that removed Governor Ayodele Fayose from office?

“He went to the Department of State Services (DSS) to lie against almost everybody in Ekiti, hoping that by now, DSS would have coerced the House of Assembly to impeach Governor Fayose, those arrested and detained have been released.

“Aluko has now gone to the police to lie that notable functionaries of the State government and PDP leaders stockpiled arms during the June 21, 2014 governorship election and one cannot but ask how arms could have been stockpiled and no single soul was lost during the election and there was no violence.

“Finally, Aluko can continue with his journey of political perfidy. He can keep running while enjoying the proceeds of his political 419. But like the Biblical Judas, he can only run, he will be caught by his deeds one day,” Olayinka said.

EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies, Makurdi, Benue State May Wind Up

The students of Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies, Makurdi, Benue are withdrawing their admissions while some of the teaching staff has tendered their resignation letter.

Trouble started when the school management informed the staff and students that the school is to be relocated to Biu, in Borno State on the instruction of the Chief of Army Staff.

A particular department that had over 70 students last semester had just 30 registered students this semester.

As Head of Departments where mandated to move to Biu in April, some teaching staff are considering resignation since they are yet to confirmed them as Ministry of Defence staff and their take home pay of N20,000 monthly is nothing to write home about.

"How can I go and risk my life with the insecurity in Borno State with monthly N20,000 that can take care of my needs in a week? We are yet to be confirmed as a staff of the Ministry of Defence, so why risk my life?" a junior lecturer told our reporter.

"There is vast land here to accommodate the school and students but the Chief of Army Staff insisted the school should be moved to his Local Government in Borno State without adequate security for them" another Laboratory Scientist said.

"My parents immediately asked me to withdrawal as I told them we are leaving Makurdi to Biu in Borno state" a student confided in our reporter.

Our investigation further revealed that the school may wind up with the rate of resignation from the teaching staff while 60% of the students in the school have withdrawn their admission.

It will be recalled that the Benue House of Assembly has opposed the planned relocation of the Nigerian Army Institute of Technology and Environmental Studies (NAITES) from Makurdi to Biu in Borno State.

The assembly condemned the situation where recent chiefs of army staff (COAS), have tried to relocate the school to their home towns, citing the case of the former COAS, Gen Ihejirika to move the institute to Ovim, in Abia State and now the plan by the serving COAS, Gen Buratai to relocate the school to Biu, in Borno State.

The motion on the matter was moved by Mr Benjamin Nungwa (APC-Kwande-west). He lamented that the military high command was making arrangements to relocate the institute, which was established in the state 14 years ago.

The lawmaker noted that Benue indigenes have sacrificed both human and material resources to keep the country as one united entity through the civil war and insisted that the agrarian state deserved more compensation.

The teaching staff and students are appealing to the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces to look into their case and reconsidered moving the school to Biu, in Borno State for the sake of their security and extra cost.

Army Promises Cash Reward Of 1million Naira For Information On Kidnapped Officer

The Nigerian Army has increased to One Million Naira the reward for anyone with information that could lead to the rescue of the abducted officer, Colonel Samaila Inusa.

The Army had yesterday promised N500,000 cash reward for the informant.

Military authorities said they will give adequate protection to anyone providing the useful information.

Colonel Inusa was abducted by gunmen suspected to be kidnappers around Kamazo, along Kaduna Refinery Road, in Chikun local government area of Kaduna State on Saturday night.

Deputy Director, Army Public Relations Officer of 1 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Abdul Usman said the abductors dropped off Colonel Inusa’s wife and left with him in his car. The car headed towards Abuja.

“The abductors dropped off Colonel Inusa’s  wife and left with him in his car.”

However, as part of efforts to successfully rescue the senior officer, spokesman of 1 Division Nigerian Army, Colonel Usman told newsmen on Monday morning that the Army authorities are ready to give cash reward to any person with useful information that could lead to the rescue of the officer.

Buhari’s Apology Not Enough, He Should Respect Rule Of Law, Nigerians’ Opinions – Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said the apology offered by President Mohammadu Buhari on his failure to conduct free, fair and credible elections since he assumed office and his abuse of rule of

law and regulations, especially on his dissolution of Governing Councils of universities was not enough, adding that the President should rather respect rule of law and rights of Nigerians to hold opinions.

While addressing his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), President Buhari had apologised for dissolving governing councils of universities along with the boards of parastatal agencies and also declared that he did not succeed in the election in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers States.

Reacting through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “The best apology from President Buhari is to repent and purge himself of dictatorial

tendencies and begin to see Nigeria as his Constituency, not the Hausa/Fulani and his APC members only.”

Governor Fayose, who described the apology as admittance that the President was not governing the country right since he assume office, added that the President must go a step further by holding his men,

who caused the killings in Rivers State accountable for the crime they committed.”

The governor said the President must also apologise to the Agatu people of Benue State for looking the other way when Fulani herdsmen were killing over 500 of their people, including pregnant women and

children.

He said; “Now that the President has eaten the humble pie by apologising for being wrong all this while, one wonders where those who called us names for criticising the President and even plotted to destabilise our government will hide their sycophantic faces.”

“While it is good to apologise when one is wrong, President Buhari should be told expressly that Nigerians are not interested in his apology. Rather, he should turn a new leave and do the right thing by governing Nigeria in accordance with the 1999 Constitution that he swore to uphold.

“The President should stop the blackmail, harassment, intimidation and oppression of perceived political opponents, obey court orders and stop convicting Nigerians in his own mind.

“He should ask questions as to why INEC produced results sheets for over 230 polling units in Rivers State with PDP omitted, hold those responsible for the fraud accountable and question why the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu has not been able to conduct any conclusive election since he was appointed.

“Buhari’s men, who invaded Rivers State with soldiers and killed many people, including youth corp member must be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“Most importantly, he should stop the Department of State Services (DSS) from acting as the security agent of the APC in Ekiti State by going about arresting and detaining without trial for unfounded allegations that are not within the mandate of the service.

“The President should be reminded that Nigerians are only interested in being able to feed and live their lives without any encumbrance, President Buhari should stop making live difficult for Nigerians with his obnoxious policy that has killed small scale businesses and rendered millions of Nigerians jobless,” Governor Fayose said.

Group Ask President Buhari To Sack Mr. Ibe Kachukwu

The Save Nigeria Anti Corruption Coalition has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sack the Minister of States for Petroleum, Mr, Ibe Kachukwu, over his continued incompetence and inability to properly address the fuel scarcity situation n the country as also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, and most recently/ his unguarded statement asking Nigerians to continue living with the terrifying situation till the month of May.

The group also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately set the machinery for the removal of Mr. Kachukwu, before he wreck further havoc in the sector, by increasing the anger of Nigerians.

In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Femi Lawson , and made available to newsmen, the group accused Mr. Ibe Kachukwu of sabotaging the effort of President Buhari to restore sanity in the oil sector and also deliberately threading paths that have tendencies to create instability in the Nigerian polity through such insensitive utterances.

" Why has Mr. Kachukwu continued to embarrass President Buhari and by extension, Nigerians, by being unable to come out with a logical road map to address the situation, through his expected role at the petroleum Minister and the NNPC.

" Today, Nigerians are faced with the consequence the incompetencies of the Minister of States and his lack of understanding of our feelings as Nigerians.

The group further said that failure of President Buhari to sack Mr. Kachukwu will speak volume of how important Not Nigerians are, in the face of this administration, most importantly when statement as such, made by Mr. Ibe Kachukwu are well considered.

"We shall ensure that we use every legitimate means to engage Nigerians to further press for the removal of Mr. Kachukwu who from all indication have proven not to be competent enough to tackle the agony being faced by Nigerians at this critical moment" the statement concluded.

I’m Nigeria’s Cultural Ambassador, Says Floxy Bee

*Why She’s Become Representative of African Culture in Diaspora

*Bestowed Chieftaincy Title: Yeye Asa (Mother of the Source) in Ile Ife Iyanfoworogi

*Recounts her Evergreen Show at Harlem’s Legendary Apollo Theater, USA

*Receives Several Citations, Awards worldwide as Custodian of African Cultural Heritage

*Honoured Honorary Doctorate Degree from All Saints University, Got Encomium from City of Boston and Newark, many other World Music Awards

*Floats Unique Clothing Line, Bags for Fans

*Explain: How Music can be used a Vehicle to Re-brand NIGERIA

*Proffer Solution on Way Forward for Nigeria’s Entertainment Industry

FLORENCE TRAUTMAN, famously known as ‘Floxy Bee’ across the world is endowed, talented and passionate about her love for Nigerian culture. She cherishes African cultural heritage greatly. Far away in many parts of Africa, she is an embodiment of Mariam Makeba’s style of cultural music. She loves Nigeria, dress Nigeria’s native attires wherever she goes. She plays Hikosso, which literally translates a potpourri of African genres of music. When on stage, she sings in Yoruba dialect, one of Nigeria’s major ethnic languages with resonatic rhythm of percussion, ‘bata’, konga, drums , ‘gan-gan’ and other African music instruments supplying true Nigerian melody to her stage choreography. Floxy Bee is respected and loved greatly around the world. In this Exclusive Interview, this Modakeke born music diva from Ife, Osun States takes us through why she is still being celebrated worldwide as Nigeria’s Cultural Music Ambassador, how she has been representing African culture in most global circles, true meaning of Yeye Asa of The Source, her Citations, Several World Music Awards; how she was bestowed Honorary Doctorate Degree from All Saints University in Boston, her Nostalgic music show in Harlem’s Legendary Apollo Theater, America, her Clothing Line and other issues.

Q: How will you describe your Hikosso brand of music?

A: To describe my music in one word, Hikosso means variety: a potpourri of African genres of Music, consisting of Highlife, Makossa, Soukous, Jazz, Afrobeat, to mention a few. All of the above are called Hikosso!

Q: What inspires your brand of music?

A: My brand of music is inspired by my Culture and Traditions.

Q: How come you render your songs in Yoruba dialect being one of Nigeria’s major ethnic languages?

A: l render my songs flawlessly in Yoruba because l am a Yoruba Woman.

Q: How do you derive inner satisfaction playing your brand of music?

A: I love what l do and l have fun doing it. It gives me a great pleasure that l can share my music with the world.

Q: Can you take us through some evergreen music shows you will never forget?

A: I have had many memorable big shows. The biggest thrill l had was when l performed at Harlem’s Legendary Apollo theater where virtually every major black artists had been before, that made me feel that Hikosso Music had arrived in America.

Q: How do you ensure pirates are not feasting and feeding fat on your works?

A: I am a member of Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) and Performing Musicians Employers’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN). It is difficult to monitor (piracy) if you are millions of miles away (from Nigeria). COSON is doing some of the monitoring, thank God.

Q: Why do you always dress in Nigeria’s native outfits?

A: I dress in my native attire because I am comfortable in it and l have been a Cultural ambassador of Nigeria.

Q: Kindly take us through some music awards you have won?

A: I have been promoting African music and Culture for years and have received a couple of citations and awards, hence the label Nigeria’s Music Ambassador.

Q: What led to your stage name ‘Floxy Bee’?

A: My Baptismal name is Florence Benjamin hence Floxybee. In retrospect, as I have become a representative of African Culture l might have been better served if l had used my African name Oluwatoyin, however there’s only one Floxybee, since Floxybee is a global brand.

Q: Can you take us through your been bestowed Yeye Asa of The Source (Mother of The Source)?

A: The Adagba 1 Oba Bolu Fatunmise is from Ile-Ife Iyanfoworogi, a great artist himself, deemed it fit to bestow upon me the title “Yeye Asa” meaning Mother of the Source due to my contributions to the spread of African Music and Culture in the Diaspora. It was in recognition that l was not polluted by other (alien) cultures but standing true to my roots.

Q: How about news of your Clothing Line making a huge wave in Nigeria

A: My Clothing Line when it goes into production will be available online, at my shows and at one or two select stores in Lagos State.

Q: How can your fans order for this Clothing Line?

A: lf anyone is interested in my Clothing Line kindly send us an email to: info@floxybee.com promise to personally keep you updated.

Q:Tell us about your Honorary Doctorate award and how Music can be used to Re-brand Nigeria

A: I have an honorary Doctorate degree from All Saints University, citations from the city of Boston and Newark, Several World Music Awards and l am the holder of Yeye Asa of The Source, a Yoruba Chieftaincy title.

Q: How come your music harp on moral decadence and lawlessness in Nigeria and Africa?

A: Our Music reminds people of our rich and unique cultural traditions. Historically, our culture as had important influence in the Diaspora. Most societies have lost their way, sometimes the way forward means going back. Going back also means going back to our values, as in respect for our elders, our environment and the unity of the family.

By so doing we will develop the spirit of patriotism. To re-brand Nigeria, 99.9% of the population must feel responsible towards the nation. The nation as a whole must participate in the development of Nigeria as in cleansing of Bribery and Corruption, change in attitude in the way we see money as priority, not as a means to an end.

Q:How can the Nigerian Entertainment Industry progress to higher grounds?

A: For the nations’ entertainment industry to move forward, all artistes, entertainers, musicians need 24 hours electricity supply in 365 days in a year to perfect our art. For music practice and perfection, we need constant light or else we will fall short from the world standard of what it takes to be a first class artiste.

We need water to wash, to feel good and smell fresh. We need security to be able to move at night and not in be constant fear of being attacked by armed robbers. President Muhammadu Buhari should also have a sense of responsibility towards the citizens, be they artistes, artists or laymen. The welfare of the citizens should be uppermost on his agenda. The President should provide funding for traditional musicians because our culture is no longer fashionable and is in danger of being lost.

Q:What lessons has life taught you?

A: Life as taught me to be humble, to never say never, nor ever give up. To turn dreams into reality takes hard work. And I know that nothing in this world is free.

Q: Finally, your message to your fans around the world

A: Always believe in yourself, work hard and leave the rest to God.