Security Agencies, Shine Your Eyes On, Take It Back Movement

By Chukwudi Amaefule

 

I laughed after reading a letter from the Take It Back Movement telling the FCT Minister Wike to release Eagle Square for the planned demonstration.

 

In a letter signed by Damilare Adenola, Director of Mobilization for the Take It Back Movement (TIB) in Abuja, the protesters demanded unrestricted access to the venue 24/7 throughout the protest and possibly even after it concludes.

 

The letter read, “I write you as the Director of Mobilization, Take It Back Movement (TIB) to your office to grant us access to the Eagles Square between August 1st and 10th, 2024, for our #DaysOfRage, #EndBadGovernance protest.

 

“This request entails using this national asset day and night for the duration of the historic protest.

 

“Also, note that the protest may be prolonged beyond ten days as we embark on the protracted crisis occasioned by the ruling party.

 

“Further, your office must also ensure the provision of a 24-hour power supply, toilet facilities, water, and security for the convenience of Nigerian citizens who will be camped out at Eagle Square.

 

“In short, we ask that the protesters are accorded the courtesy accorded to foreign and local official dignitaries who have frequently used the space.

 

“In addition, we request that the outer wire mesh barrier facing the Aso Rock Villa be removed in the meantime, as protesters may decide to visit the Presidential Villa during the protest.

 

“It is our sincere hope that this request will be granted expeditiously.”

 

My biggest shock came when I also read the letter from a human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), notifying security agencies, requesting protection over planned public meetings, rallies, and processions by a non-governmental body, the Take It Back Movement, its members, some patriotic Nigerians, and groups.

 

In the letter dated Friday, July 26, 2024, the senior advocate writing as solicitor to the Take It Back Movement notified the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) that the planned rallies would commence from August 1 to 10, 2024, or any time thereafter.

 

He said the rallies would be held at the Eagle Square in Abuja and other public spaces in the capital cities of the 36 states and the headquarters of the 774 local government councils.

 

Adegboruwa, while reiterating the role of the security agencies during such rallies and protests, urged the leadership of the security agencies to make available the details of any of their officers or teams that will be assigned to cover the said meetings, rallies, or processes to harmonise plans and strategies for the same.

 

My thinking after reading from the Movement and its sponsor about the planned protest was that the security agencies, especially the DSS and the Nigeria Police, would investigate those behind the Take It Back Movement, especially after Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has alleged that supporters of Peter Obi are behind the proposed nationwide protest.

 

On 17th September 2022, the Take-It-Back Movement knocked the Nigeria Police Force over the shameful invasion of the supporters of the Labour Party who had gathered in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, to rally in support of their presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

 

The Take-It-Back Movement, in a release on Saturday by its Director of Media and Communications, Dr Chidi Nwanyanwu, described the action of the police as “criminal, lawless, and a flagrant disregard for rights to peaceful assembly.”

 

The statement reads, “The Take It Back Movement strongly condemns the violent repression of supporters of the Labour Party who had gathered in Abakaliki to rally in support of their candidate." We describe the action of the police as criminal, lawless, and a flagrant disregard for the right to peaceful assembly.

 

“We worry that while insurgents and all sorts of armed criminals have made the entire country unsafe, especially with the recent deadly attack on Ifeanyi Ubah's convoy, the police has chosen unsurprisingly to concern itself with indulging in criminal repression of peaceful gatherings and offering itself to be used by the ruling party, APC, to repress oppositions.

 

“We wish to remind the police that as an institution funded by the Nigerian people, it is duty bound to protect our rights to peaceful assembly and ensure the maximum protection of Nigerians whether they are in political rallies, protests, meetings, and all other activities within the confines of their constitutional rights.

 

“While we call on well-meaning Nigerians to rise against the fascism of the APC and its attempt to make the electoral processes violent and non-credible, we also call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of all officers involved in the lawlessness that happened today in Abakaliki.

 

“Meanwhile we call on all Nigerians to understand that ā real political change can only come through a revolutionary alternative like Omoyele Sowore and the African Action Congress (AAC). Instead of negotiating with fascist rulers like David Umahi, like Peter Obi is doing, what is needed is to call the bluff of these rogue elements once and for all.

 

“This takes real and tested courage, and we urge all Nigerians who want to build another country away from want and war to ignore all sentiments and join the revolutionary train. For it is such a principled and ever-ready train that can defend the votes of Nigerians come the 2023 elections.”

 

(https://saharareporters.com/2022/09/17/take-it-back-movement-condemns-police-assault-disruption-labour-partys-peter-obi-rally)

 

Also, on 14th March 2023, the headline "This Nigerian Voter Created A National Movement for Peter Obi" was the major news online via (https://www.zikoko.com/citizen/this-nigerian-voter-created-a-national-movement-for-peter-obi/)

 

The news reads, "Today’s Nigerian voter focuses on @Jack_ng01, the founder of the Take Back Naija movement, a political movement that was campaigning for Peter Obi. He tells us his motivations for the movements, their achievements, and his reaction when Obi lost the 2023 presidential elections.

 

“The Nigerian Voter” is Blessing, an IT professional in his early thirties. He also convenes the Take Back Naija movement, mobilising youths nationwide towards garnering support for Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi. Citizen spoke with him about his political journey and inspiration for birthing the group. He also shared how he felt about Obi not being declared the winner for the 2023 elections and his future goals with the movement towards the gubernatorial elections.

 

What made you interested in politics?

 

My interest in politics started in 2006 when I lived with my uncle. Then he was a councillor in his local government, and I often listened to him having political conversations about the Anambra and Enugu state governments in the parlour. We also listened to news stations on the radio and television frequently, as well as in newspapers. I also noticed that my uncle was calm, quiet, and a good person all around, yet he was in politics. This gave me the mindset that not all politicians were bad people. You could also find good ones too.

 

However, I started to get involved in politics in 2010 in the Anambra State elections. I was the deputy ward secretary of Nanka Ward 1, and my mum was the woman leader at the time. Since then, I either voted (from the 2011-2023 election cycles) or made sure I could sensitise people towards political awareness. I didn’t do all of this on a grand scale until 2021.

 

From 2011-2023, who did you vote for, and why did you vote for them?

 

I voted for Goodluck Jonathan in 2011. I can’t exactly say that it was a conscious decision. He was the preferred choice for most people in the South. This was despite the fact that I wasn’t a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) member then but a card-carrying member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). The ACN candidate then was Nuhu Ribadu, but most didn’t think he stood a chance.

 

In 2015, I displayed my interest in Goodluck Jonathan again in the elections via social media. However, I couldn’t vote because I had just relocated from Anambra to Abuja, and I didn’t have the chance to transfer my Permanent Voter’s Card (PVC).

 

In 2019, I travelled to Anambra to vote for Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, and of course, I voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) in 2023.

 

Which election year would you say you had your craziest election experience?

 

The 2023 election was my craziest because I played a major role in the elections.

 

What was this major role?

 

I was a convener for the Take Back Naija political movement in 2022. It was basically youths coming together to influence a change for good governance from federal to local government. The politics we played in Nigeria over the years had not really worked for Nigeria. Thus, we must shift from what we are used to doing something different.

 

How did your movement influence this change?

 

We did this by making sure we scrutinised each potential presidential candidate and their antecedents. It was then decided that whoever we saw as our preferred candidate would be given enormous support. We would mobilise for his campaign, raise funds, advertise, arrange conferences, etc. It then became our duty or mandate to help these candidates with their campaigns when they align with the people’s values.

 

After much deliberation, we concluded that Obi’s antecedents and his plans for Nigeria aligned with our values and represented the future kind of politics we wanted. Even the name for the movement came from one of his speeches where he said, “Take back your country; it is your future they are toying with.” The campaign for Obi officially started in January 2022.

 

What did Take Back Naija do for Peter Obi?

 

As of January 2022, Peter Obi was still a member of the PDP with presidential ambitions. We then met with PDP delegates in Abuja in the form of a peaceful protest to convince them to elect Peter Obi for president. This was coupled with a social hashtag, #GiveUsPeterObi. We also organised the first nationwide one million man march for Peter Obi in May 2022 and erected billboards in major cities in Nigeria such as Port Harcourt, Lagos, Abuja, and even some Northern cities such as Kaduna and Sokoto. We had radio jingles for him at the early stage of the campaign and many more.

 

Shortly after, Obi and his team resigned from the PDP to the Labour Party before the PDP primaries. We examined his previous speeches and broadcast critical soundbites on his plans for Nigerian citizens. There was also created a website for Obi and a Telegram community for Obi supporters in various locations across Nigeria. A press release was distributed while Obi was still a member of the PDP. In the press release, we told PDP delegates that we’d give at least ten million votes if they gave us Peter Obi (if he won at the PDP primaries).

 

Getting people to support the movement even after he left was easy because the man had a way of inspiring voters.

 

Is it your team that inspired the Obidient movement?

 

No one can fully lay claim to the “Obidient” movement, as it just happened organically. However, if there is anyone to be responsible for it, it should be Obi. Without him, the movement would not exist.

 

What was your reaction when Obi wasn’t declared winner of the 2023 presidential elections?

 

Personally, I didn’t feel bad because I knew that Obi was the true winner of the election. I also didn’t feel bad because I believed that we did all the things that we should do as young people towards the elections. We only overtrusted INEC in believing that they were going to do the right thing by not rigging.

 

How hopeful are you about Obi’s victory in court?

 

I don’t trust the court system, to be honest. Even if a ruling is given, executives don’t even obey. I don’t have faith in the judicial system, but somehow I believe that we can reclaim our mandate. This is because I know Obi to be a fighter and that God has ordained his path. Let the will of God be done. However, whatever happens outside now, I am at peace that we wrote our names on the right side of history.

 

Amazing. Are you voting for anyone in the gubernatorial elections on March 18?

 

Sadly, I won’t be voting on March 18 because Abuja doesn’t hold governorship elections. The president can only appoint a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister. However, this doesn’t mean the Take Back Naija team rests on our oars. We’d be campaigning for Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party because he is smart, honest, and transparent. I like certain things he discusses in his manifesto, such as transparency in Lagos and free medical insurance. For me, this serves as a breath of fresh air.

 

From the above information, it will be disastrous for the Federal Government to grant the group any right to carry out its planned protest as it will amount to a complete coup d'état.

 

A stitch in time saves nine.

 

Chukwudi Amaefule writes from Anambra State and can be reached via https://web.facebook.com/chukwudi.amaefule.52

 

Obidient Is An Igbo Political Organisation

 By Olutayo Ayodele

 

Today's Punch publication unarguably reveals the fundamental flaw in the superstructure of the Obidient Movement. All the 53 amorphous subgroups which make up the spatial structure of the movement are headed by persons who are Igbos.          

 

It becomes crystal clear that Peter Obi heads a political movement whose sole purpose is to force an Igbo ethnic agenda on Nigeria under the presence of establishing a new political order.

 

I recalled that the Chairman, of the 9th Senate Committee on Cooperation and Integration in Africa/NEPAD, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, Enugu East, once took a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, alleging that he introduced religious and ethnic politics in Nigeria.

 

The former Enugu State Governor said that reviewing the activities of last year's elections, he concluded that “Peter Obi deflowered the virgin innocence of political patriotism and nationalism in Nigeria.

 

“For his ethnic war, he spread across Igbo-domiciled areas across Nigeria, specifically markets and shopping malls. He picked out Christian minority areas for his campaigns in Northern and Central Nigeria. His dual opium of tribalism and religious bigotry has made National Landing depart no more.”

 

The Labour Party, with the support of the Obidient, won and has a subnational government in place in Abia State. What is new in Abia today?

 

During the campaign, the DG, Akin Osuntokun who happened to be from the South West, was just like a figurehead as Obi's SSG, who is from the East, for 8 years, was technically in charge of the campaign committee from day one to the dissolution of the campaign committee.

 

After the elections, I had anticipated that the Obidient movement would give up on its punishing mission and transform into an ideological pressure group—a respectable opposition. However, the movement remains far from being civil and ideological. It has grown more feral, nastier, desperate, and brutal. The Obidient movement is beginning to resemble a gang of rebels.

 

The Obidient movement comprised mainly of political neophytes and tribal bigots is characteristically misguided, and uncultured holding on fanatically to an erroneous belief that Obi won the 2023 Presidential elections despite his obvious lack of support from the North West and South West. These two zones make up about 50% of total votes at every national election since the 1st Republic.

All Nigerians' security is at risk from any movement that is not motivated by the country's interests. The Obidient movement doesn't seem to care that its tactics harm both national security and the collective consciousness. I worry that a few individuals from the banned organisation, IPOB, might be in positions of authority inside the movement.

 

The use of violent threats, lies, and acts against people who disagree portends a more dire future. Individuals fighting Nigeria through other channels may be using the Obidient movement as a political forum.

 

The already deteriorated relations between Nigerians from different ethnic backgrounds are being made worse by the movement's tactics. This is the origin of interethnic conflict. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the case that the Yoruba and Igbo are at odds with one another. The remainder of Nigeria is up against the "Obidients."

 

I see Nigeria as a symbol of hope and promise for a better present and future, of fortitude and bravery to rise from nothing and dust, of purpose amid chaos, of brotherhood amid differences, and of love even in perilous circumstances.

 

Olutayo Ayodele is a freelance writer based in Lagos State. 

A Call For Action From All Concerned Authorities Regarding The Endless Shenanigans In RMRDC

It seems from all indications that the activities of the Director-General of the Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC) a foremost institution whose activities should have supported the acceleration and actualization of the President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope Agenda for real sector development, is giving impetus to the word Kakistocrats, which is defined as “system by the worst, least qualified or unscrupulous citizen”. 

This description aptly fits the present situation in the Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC) which has been embroiled in numerous contraventions ranging from the allegations of lack of the constitutional provision to the position of Director General levelled against Professor Martin Ike-Munso, an economist and technical adviser to the Hon Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST). A matter serious enough to attract the attention of the National Assembly, which lead to the setting up of an investigative panel on the qualifications and appropriateness of the appointees of some key Agencies of the Ministry, such as the Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC) National Space Research Development Agency (NASRDA) and Energy Commission of Nigeria ECN. All of which are presently allegedly headed by unqualified cronies of the Hon Minister, who himself is embroiled in accusations of certificate forgery.  it is quite instructive that neither the Hon Minister nor the invited Director Generals honoured the invitation of the investigative panel of the House of Representatives, clearly raising questions of the forces who are protecting them. 

While the issue of his qualification is still raging,  a document from a civil society group calling the attention of the Office of the Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Bureau of Public Procurement, (BPP)  EFCC, Up speaking the urgent action arresting the reckless and non-adherence to all the provisions of the Procurement Act, 2022 and the Financial Regulations 2009 on the awards of contracts for both goods and services amounting to approximately N 292, 555,462.50 by the Director General/CEO of Raw Materials Research Development Council (RMRDC) Professor Martin Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso within the short period of his assumption of office from 21st May 2024-Date. The document listed the Awards of contracts totalling over N300,000,000.00 to 3 companies namely, Chriscord Integrated Services for the supply of 33,000 litres of diesel amounting to N61,050,000, Supply of Furnitures at RMRDC HQ for Director Generals Office Phase 1 & 2 awarded to JKANT Limited, amounting to N89, 741,000, Renovation of the Director Generals Office at RMRDC Headquarters Abuja awarded to JKANT, amounting to N99,501,462.50 and the provision of cleaning services at the RMRDC Headquarters Abuja Awarded to Fichee Facilities Limited, amounting to 42,263,000

The document showed proof that in awarding the listed contracts, the Director General did not adhere to the approved demands as;

(i) There was no procurement planning as required by law, the Procurement Planning Committee (PPC) of the council did not meet nor has any PPC meeting been held in the council since the assumption of office of the Director General on the 21st of May, 2024

(ii) There was no tenders board meeting as required by law and none of the contracts were captured in the 2023/2024 budget of the council

(iii) the required “No Objection to contract award “was neither sought nor gotten from the Bureau of Public Procurement

(iv) No advertisements or publications in Tenders Journal as required to ensure competitive bidding was done by the council before the awards

(v) Full payments have been authorized and made to the contractors even as the jobs are yet to be completed

It also   listed the specific sections of both the Public Procurement Act ,2007 and Financial Regulations, that the DG breached in the awards of the listed contracts as,  

i. subsections,   16 (1)(b), (c), (g),  which states that all public procurement  shall be conducted “based only on procurement plans supported by prior budgetary appropriations and no procurement proceedings shall be formalized until the procuring entity has ensured that funds are available to meet the obligations and subject to the threshold in the regulations made by the Bureau, has obtained   a “Certificate of ‘No Objection’ to Contract Award” from the Bureau, by open competitive bidding and in accordance with the procedures and timeline laid down in this Act and as may be specified by the Bureau from time to time 

ii. Section 5 subsection 17(a)(i); the approving authority for the conduct of public procurement in the case of a government agency, parastatal, or corporation, shall be a Parastatals Tenders Board. 

iii. Section 5 subsection 18(e), (g); “a procuring entity shall plan its procurement by integrating its procurement into its yearly budget. It shall ensure the procurement entity functions as stipulated in the Act are carried out by the procurement planning committee.”

iv. Section 5 subsection 19(a) (d) (h): “A procuring entity shall, in implementing its procurement plans, advertise and solicit for bids in adherence to the Act and guidelines and obtain approval of the approving authority before making an award, and obtain a “Certificate of ‘No Objection’ to Contract Award” from the Bureau “

v. Subsections 21 and 22: For each financial year each procuring entity shall establish a Procurement Planning Committee. The Tenders Board shall be responsible for the award of procurements of    goods, works and services within the threshold set in the regulations

vi. Chapter 7, section 708 states that “on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or for goods not yet supplied”.

Further scrutinization of the documents provided shows glaring administrative errors, such as the stamp acknowledging receipt of the proposal showing that the proposal was submitted and received in the council by the 10th of June, 2024; Minutes by the DG show that he approved quotation on the 6th June 2024; PPC Memo on the contract was raised on 27th May, 2024 (please note that the PPC Memo came before the quotation); the  DGs minutes on the PPC Memo was on the 27th of May 2024 (weeks before the quotation was submitted; an award of contract letter is dated 30th May, 2024 (this means also that the contract was awarded before the quotation)  and so much more, it behoves on the listed agencies to rise to this occasion and unravel this shenanigan as speedily as possible

Abolition Of State, LGA Joint Acct. Stakeholders Commend Supreme Court Judgement

 

Some stakeholders in both public and judicial sectors have described the abolition of the state and Local Government joint account by the Supreme Court as a welcome development.

They said this while reacting to the apex court’s judgment which held that henceforth all Local Government Area allocations should be paid directly to them from the federation account.

Justice Emmanuel Agim who led a seven-man panel of the justices of the Supreme Court had given the judgment in a suit filed by the federal government against the 36 state governors.

The court barred the 36 governors from receiving, tampering with or withholding funds meant for the local government

The governors were also barred from henceforth dissolving democratically elected officials for local governments and that doing so would amount to a breach of the 1999 Constitution.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, said the judgment will bring absolute, unadulterated, uncompromised, unmediated and unmitigated LGA in tandem with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The joint account had made the local government areas an appendage of state governments, and stultified and frustrated the progress which ought to have been made by the LGA councils.

“The funds meant for the development of the areas were simply collated and shared by the actors at the regular joint accounts allocation committee meetings of each state.

“This has caused the erosion of accountability as these local government council leaderships complain of having little or nothing left after the state governments have starved them of all funds meant for development.

“In the process they are left with paltry amounts which the leadership end up squandering too, and nobody holds them accountable.

“Now with this judgment, there is a need to institute serious and comprehensive checks and balances on the spending and performances of these local governments to ensure that the dividends of democracy trickle down to all and sundry.

Chief Peter Ameh, the National Secretary of the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) said the judgment will promote accountability and make elected LGA Chairmen accountable for funds received.

“And if such funds are mismanaged then they can now be invited by the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies to render account.

“CUPP totally agrees with the Supreme Court that state governors have constituted themselves as dangerous species to the development of democracy in Nigeria, especially as it relates to the management of local government funds.

“They will now allow state INEC the free hand to conduct free and fair elections as the appointment of caretaker committees is now illegal and unconstitutional.

“By this judgment, the suffering masses have been freed financially from the shackles of the governors who have been holding them hostage since 1999 as a result of their warped interpretation of section 162(6) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

“We hope that the financial autonomy granted to the local governments will be the first step to the devolution of powers.

“We want every component state to see the need to think out of the box, go to work, and stop this monthly beggarly allocation by the states to local governments.

“All states have what it takes to survive on its own and become self-sufficient in the generation of resources, if the political will is given a priority”, he said.

Mr Osita Okechukwu, former Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON) rated the judgment as an iconic judgment which clearly will restore grassroots democracy in Nigeria.

“To me, the iconic judgment was pure and simple; it will restore grassroots democracy in Nigeria from emperor-governors.

“Today’s judgment has also restructured our local government system; therefore I call on all to monitor and ensure the prudent management of the 20.6 per cent federal revenue allocation to local government councils’’.

He hailed the justices for the restoration of Nigerian’s collective interest in democracy at the grassroots level and the reinforcement of section 7 of the 1999 constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria.

Okechukwu regretted that for 25 years the emperor-governors have violently breached section 7 of the constitution by brazen rigging of local council elections, and by extension mismanagement of the 20.6 per cent local government funds; hence dampening the development of grassroots democracy.

“I salute the Attorney General of the federation, Lateef Fagbemi SAN for the excellent suite which is a signpost for renewal of our hope in grassroots democracy via the temple of justice system.

“Especially when all efforts made in the past 25 years to grant financial autonomy to local government councils via the amendment of the constitution were blocked by these governors’’.

Okechukwu also urged Nigerians to henceforth rise up and monitor the 20.6 per cent federal allocation to all local government areas.

NAN reports the Supreme Court granted full financial autonomy to the 774 local governments in the country.

The seven-member panel in a unanimous decision outlawed the appointment of caretaker committees to administer the local governments by state governors.

The panel also declared that it was illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive or retain funds allocated to the local councils, under State and Local Government Joint Account.

The court delivered the landmark judgment in suit: SC/CV/343/2024, filed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) against the 36 state governors.

The federal government also urged the court to issue an order prohibiting state governors from embarking on unilateral, arbitrary and unlawful dissolution of democratically elected local government leaders.

Besides, the Federal Government prayed to the Supreme Court for an order, stopping governors from further constituting caretaker committees to run the affairs of local governments, against the constitutionally recognised and guaranteed democratic system.

It equally applied for an order of injunction, restraining the governors, their agents and privies, from receiving, spending or tampering with funds released from the Federation Account for the benefit of local governments when no democratically elected local government system is put in place in the states.

The apex court held that it is illegal and unconstitutional for governors to continue to receive and seize funds allocated to the benefit of LGAs in their states.

According to the court, the “dubious practice” which has gone on for over two decades, is a clear violation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

In its lead judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the Supreme Court further held that no House of Assembly of any state has the power to make laws that could in any manner, grant governors the right to interfere with statutory allocations meant for the council areas.

Stressing that the law mandated that LGAs must be governed by democratically elected officials, the Supreme Court ordered that forthwith, funds meant for councils must be directly paid to them from the federation account. 

AUG Foundation Gives Cash Assistance To Nursing Mothers, Vulnerable Women, Children

The AUG Foundation for Orphans and Less Privileged has offered cash donations to nursing mothers, aged men and women, as well as vulnerable children receiving treatment at King Fahad Hospital Gusau in Zamfara State.

An official of the Foundation, Abdul Bala-Gusau who presented the gesture on behalf of the AUG Foundation for Orphans and Less Privileged Founder,  Abdulhafiz Barau Umar to the beneficiaries in Gusau on Saturday, said the financial assistance was aimed at providing succour to the patients who were admitted in the hospital.

“Over 30 patients including nursing mothers, aged women and vulnerable children receiving treatment in the hospital benefited from the gesture.

“We learned that considering the current economic hardship faced by Nigerians, many patients can not take care of their hospital bills.

“Many of these patients receiving treatment suffering from various health challenges but difficult for them to pay medical bills”, He said.

Bala-Gusau said more intervention programs are on the way from the foundation to assist vulnerable groups. 

Sa’adatu Abubakar and Muhammad Aliyu who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries commended the foundation for the gesture as they prayed for the donors of Allah’s reward.

Is The 2022 Police Constable Recruitment Merit-Based And Inclusive?

By Kelvin Adegbenga

I came across a press release from the Police Service Commission titled “PSC HAS NOT CANCELLED 2022 POLICE CONSTABLE RECRUITMENT; SAYS IT'S PORTAL UNDERGOING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE—situation under control; Management.”

What first came to my mind was, why will a recent recruitment portal be going through routine maintenance? Is it to quickly accommodate the genuine candidates or clean up the mess identified by the Nigeria Police? 

Since the Commission is in control of the situation and has since restored the recruitment portal with its original contents, I am expecting the Commission to further train those they have recruited since they are citing the Supreme Court judgement that empowers them to recruit.

I recall that on Monday, 10^th June 2024, the Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Ikechukwu Ani, claimed that the “commission is currently working with the Nigeria Police Force to determine the training colleges and will make a formal announcement at the appropriate time.”

I will be so glad if Mr. Ikechukwu Ani can share pictures and videos of the “PSC working with the Nigeria Police Force to determine the training colleges.”

I laughed loudly when I read a paragraph that said, “It notes that it will continue to ensure that federal character, gender sensitivity, and merit are the bedrock of its recruitment process." What are the parameters used to arrive at the so-called federal character, gender sensitivity, and merit when there is evidence that the recruitment was marred with bribery, corruption, and extortion?

There is no doubt that the disgruntled element of some of the personnel of the PSC in the 2022 Police Constable Recruitment has destroyed what we could tag as “good work” of the Commission in giving the nation a merit-based and inclusive recruitment exercise.

The destiny of thousands of genuine candidates lies in the hands of the Commission, and the earlier the recruitment exercise is reviewed, the better for the future of the Nigeria police and the security of the country.

The recruitment of suitable individuals to the police force is a crucial first step in addressing the country's insecurity problem. In this regard, the current Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, is standing on his well-known integrity and transparency.

As I have previously stated in my article regarding the recruitment exercise, I urge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to lend his support to the Inspector General of Police in this matter.

Kelvin Adegbenga is a public affairs analyst based in Lagos and can be reached through email: kelvinadegbenga@yahoo.com

That Determination To Destroy The Police

 

By  Tunji Ajibade 

Worldwide, the police are the face of the government that citizens see the most. It’s the case because they are the primary enforcers of law and order in society. They also come in between the accused and the accuser and thereby forestall citizens from taking the law into their own hands. The police equally ensure that the will of the government is carried out where there is resistance to such. These require that those wearing police uniforms are some of the best a society has, in quality, character, and professionalism.

Pointers though are that over the years this hasn’t always been the case in Nigeria. We see it in the attitude of some in uniform. For me, the root of that problem is what happens at the recruitment stage and it has been the case so for years. This time the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, is personally speaking up on what he regards as a massively compromised recruitment exercise. I don’t know if his speaking up is a first of such by any IG, but we must take note that he does.

Incidentally, I’ve followed the latest recruitment process with interest. I made some reposts online of the information concerning the application and the different stages of the recruitment process for the use of those who may be interested. I do this not because I know anyone who applies. I don’t. I simply want to follow how this one goes under the current IG. As it turns out it is the IG himself who calls attention to another round of mess that has been made of the process by those responsible. In a statement on the latest list of recruits, the IG is quoted as saying thus: “The published list contains several names of candidates who failed either the Computer-Based Test or the physical screening exercise or both.

“There are those who made it to the last stage of the exercise but were disqualified, having been found medically unfit through the standardised medical test but who also made the list of successful candidates as published by the Police Service Commission. Most worrisome is the allegation of financial dealings and corrupt practices leading to the outcome where unqualified and untrainable individuals have been shortlisted”.

To the IG, the power of the PSC does not include the power to recruit unqualified and untrained individuals for the police, noting that it is the police that bears the brunt of the recruitment of unqualified individuals and not the PSC. “The same people who recruited anyhow for the police today will turn round to accuse the police tomorrow of inefficiency when their recruits start messing up,” he added.

That this is a strong attack by a government institution on a sister body is unmistakable. But to me, it speaks to the determination of the current IG to sanitise that one crucial instrument of the state and I think he should be supported. Why?  It’s not all the time an official in government speaks up. This current IG has the backing of the president to do the right thing so he speaks to what is right. Who benefits when the right thing is done? You and I. It’s a harrowing experience for citizens when the state’s means of enforcing law and order is bad, and corrupt through and through. I have my experience which I stated on this page in the past.

Nothing was wrong with my vehicle papers over a decade ago when I was stopped somewhere in Osun State on my return journey to Abuja. I was made to go to the police station with this weather-beaten, mean-looking officer. In their office, he asked me for money which I refused to give. Other motorists gave. I didn’t. When I reported the matter to his Divisional Police Officer some six hours later, he said nothing was wrong with my vehicle papers; he collected them from his officer and handed them back to me. Not too long ago also, I reported a case of armed robbery at a Divisional Police Office where the officer who took my report asked for money. I refused and left after I asked them, “Is this what you people do here, asking me for money for reporting a case of armed robbery?”

More than this, my ears are full of stories of what some unscrupulous officers do. In a recent high-profile case, one wealthy Nigerian was able to bribe everyone in the hierarchy in order to have his ex-wife extradited from the United Kingdom to Nigeria over false charges of unauthorised use of their company’s funds. The UK court which reviewed the case gave a verdict, stating that the police system was compromised to ensure such a frivolous extradition claim was made in the first place. It then gave a verdict in favour of the ex-wife. Other court judgments in Nigeria in favour of the ex-wife have been ignored by the ex-husband, including a pronouncement of maintaining the status quo over some properties owned by the ex-wife which the ex-husband wanted to seize. The ex-husband has severally breached such orders using known police officers whose names have already been ingloriously mentioned in court papers by lawyers to the ex-wife.

The grudges Nigerians had against compromised police officers were manifested in the ENDSARS protest. Nigerians were so frustrated by the treatment they got from officers who engaged in extortion that they took to the streets in protest. When the police are so hated by citizens the consequences are not advisable for any nation. But this is what we have on our hands. I’ve been at events where questions are asked as to what the problem with the nation is such that things are the way they are. I’ve explained that the problem is systemic; that the problems are interwoven, interconnected with no single solution that can take care of all issues. No one answer fits all situations.

That may sound hopeless. But as the regular reader of this page knows, I don’t intervene with the intention to present a hopeless situation. There is always a way out if we carefully think through the layers and wilderness of dilemmas that the nation finds itself in. For instance, one problem in Nigeria is insecurity. If we want to attend to it and secure our nation better, the police are a core factor. I refer to the personnel now, not even strategy, adoption of technology or intelligence gathering to fight crime. Personnel. I’m convinced that when the personnel is right, of the right quality, the right character, and the right education over 80 per cent of the problem of policing would have been taken care of.

Does it occur to us that sometimes the level of intelligence of an officer, their capacity to take on-the-spot decisions that are spot on can just prevent a crime or help get a criminal arrested? Give a dull and unmotivated officer the best digital device and nothing will change. This is where the system needs to support a recruitment process that places emphasis on the right kind of recruits. I think this is what the current IG is doing; the reason he’s been so different in his comments since he came to office regarding what the police force should be like. I think he’s reflecting the said and unsaid disposition of the president in this regard. Do we want to solve one major problem in the aspect of insecurity in the nation? Recruiting the right quality of persons into the police force is where to start. Then every other thing can be added from there.

It’s been a while since we got an IG that speaks in the manner the current one does. It’s high time he did for it was not today we began to have a flawed recruitment process that Nigerians complained about.  If this one is addressed and a pattern is laid for the future the nation will benefit from it. I think the latest infractions that attend the recruitment process into the police force are a determination to further destroy the police force by some unpatriotic elements. To stop them, therefore, I urge the President to support the IG on this issue as well as in the recruitment processes into the other Armed Forces.

Tunji Ajibade is an author at Punch Newspapers and can be reached at 08036683657

How Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso’s Appointment As DG Of RMRDC Violates The Nigerian Constitution Of 1999 (As Amended) And The RMRDC Council Act 2022

 

Controversy has trailed the appointment of Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso as Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council as the staff of the Council says that Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso remains the Technical Adviser to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, who hails from the same community with the Minister.

One of the issues is that Chief Uche Nnaji is an economist with no basic experience in raw material acquisition, exploitation, conversion and development.

Looking at the background information on RMRDC. Its primary objective for the establishment of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, as stated in Sections 2 and 3 of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act, 2022. Section 2 states that the RMRDC is “to develop local raw materials and coordinate research efforts about raw materials acquisition, exploitation, conservation and development”, while Section 3, subsections (a) to (n) includes “undertaking measures to ensure the systematic exploitation, development and utilization of Nigeria’s raw material resources, review raw material resources availability and utilization to advise the Federal Government on strategic implication of depletion, conservation or stock-piling of resources” among a host of other functions.

The above-listed provisions elucidate the sensitive functions of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council and underscore the stringent legal requirements for appointment of its Director-General as provided in Section 9 subsection 2 (b) of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council Act, 2022, which stipulates the such a candidate, must be one who “possess at least 18 years post qualification experience in science, engineering and technology subjects with vast cognate experience in raw materials acquisition, exploitation, conservation and development”.

Furthermore, the critical and central role of an agency like the RMRDC is equally aptly captured in Section 16 (1) (a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) which states that: “The State shall, within the context of the ideals and objectives for which provisions are made in this constitution

(a) harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, dynamic and self-reliant economy;

(b) control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen based on social justice and equality of status and prosperity”.

Now, the facts about the newly appointed Director General is that Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso who was appointed/imposed as Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council has been and remains the Technical Adviser to the Hon. Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, hails from the same community with the Minister, Chief Uche Nnaji and is an economist with no basic experience in raw material acquisition, exploitation, conversion and development.

He has no record of experience in public service of the Federation and hence could not be properly appointed as Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council.

Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso graduated from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in 1992 with a BSc in Economics; obtained his MSc degree in Economics from the same university in 1996 and has, from his public records spent most of his working life in the area of investment banking, economic development and strategic focused consulting in new business development and management training in business environment.

Those who are familiar with the Council gave some reasons why an unqualified person should not head a critical agency at this material time in Nigeria such as the qualifications which are been circulated about the newly appointed Director-General seem to be a deliberate attempt to present him as a scientist and a professor engaged in the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) whereas there are no records of him from the Nigerian Professors Register of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) or the staff list of the Enugu State University (ESUT), just as there are no publications in any academic journal in his name;

b) It is also our view that this appointment which is carried out without observance of statutory provisions and the administrative infractions complained of, is the outcome of a desperate move to stultify, shield and stop the Ag. Director General who upon assumption of office had set up several steps to review the operations of the agency and alleged mismanagement of public funds, which would call maladministration for your excellency’s intervention to forestall such further abuses.

c) In light of the above, it is our view that this wrongful appointment/imposition of an economist with no experience in raw material acquisition, exploitation conversion and development to head a critical agency like the RMRDC at this material time, could and will indeed impact the Agency’s productivity and staff morale, more so with the abrupt removal of the highly respected Ag. Director-General who is a consummate scientist and equipment design engineer with numerous patents developed over his thirty-one years of service in the council.

The Council staff are calling on President Bola Tinubu to have the courage to do the right thing once again just as he did in the case of Chukwuemeka Woke whose appointment on the 9th of May, 2024 as the managing director of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority was met with stiff opposition from Nigerians because he is not from the South West region.

Justice Must Protect The Weak Against The Strong – Ndarani

 

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mohammed Ndarani, says the hallmark of justice, is to guarantee the possibility that the weak could win against the strong, even against the state itself.

Ndarani said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the law is the mechanism for reducing the level of grievance in a society.

He said that unless there is confidence in the system, both in its rules and the officials that apply them, anxiety and bitterness will continue across the nation.

“Justice delayed is justice denied’ is a legal maxim.

“It means that if legal redress or equitable relief to an injured party is available, but is not forthcoming in a timely fashion, it is effectively the same as having no remedy at all.

“It is only a truly independent judiciary that would bring the total much sought-after transformation in the sector’’, he said.

He said that in recent times there has been an avalanche of divergent viewpoints on how to confront the volatile matter of unacceptable delay in the dispensation of justice and the resultant fallouts.

“Nigeria is experiencing increasing demands for an improved institutional capacity to deliver effective justice.

“This demand presents a significant challenge as it reflects yawning gaps in the country’s capacity to deliver an efficient and responsive justice system’’, he told NAN.

The senior lawyer advised that judges should be encouraged to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

“The independence that seeks to ensure that judges are not subjected to pressure and influence when adjudicating matters and are free to make impartial decisions based solely on facts and law.

“Our criminal justice system has endured prolonged delay in the administration of justice, congestion of courts, inadequate infrastructure and lack of access to justice by the poor.

“Majority of these poor cannot afford the services of lawyers, hence, the congestion of prisons with the daily influx of accused persons or suspects awaiting trial’’, he said.

The senior lawyer also said that many of the country’s laws are outdated and out of tune with modern trends.

He said that many laws need to be revised to bring them in line with current realities, many of them now being outmoded and no longer relevant to today’s Nigeria.

He decried cases of arrest of suspects’ relatives in place of suspects, use of torture by the police to obtain confessions and alleged corruption amongst judicial officers.

Ndarani believed that with the appointment of the new Justices to the Supreme Court making a total of 21 justices by President Bola Tinubu, there should be an improvement in efficient justice delivery.

“The appointment of these justices during the tenure of Tinubu and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, in compliance with the provision of section 230 (1) (2) B has demonstrated their commitment to the rules of law.

“Also, the recent recommendation of 86 judicial officers for appointment by the National Judicial Council (NJC) will help tackle the backlog of cases more efficiently and ensure timely justice delivery for Nigerians.

“The appointment as required by law demonstrates the President’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary and ensuring its effectiveness and independence’’, he said.

He equally canvassed for a substantial increment in the salary and emoluments of all the Judges across the 36 states of the federation including the FCT, as well as the judicial staff.

“This will in no small measure enhance judicial independence by fostering greater independence for the judiciary, allowing it to perform its constitutional role without undue influence, and also boost judicial morale.

“It will equally contribute to a more robust and effective judiciary, which is essential for upholding the rule of law, protecting citizens’ rights, and promoting good governance," Ndarani said. (NAN)

Okechukwu Wokocha Family Alerts AIG Zone 8 To Potential Life Threats

……..How Wokocha’s family relationship turned sour over natural inheritance

The Okechukwu Wokocha and family have sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to the AIG, Zone 9 Umuahia, Nigeria Police Force, Umuahia, Abia State, against criminal conspiracy and trespass, conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace, false allegations, threatening violence, and threats to the lives of Okechukwu Wokocha, Chinedu Wokocha, Nnamdi Wokocha, Chinjiuba Wokocha, Obodoukwu Wokocha, Alex Wokocha, Chinyeaka Wokocha, and Chief Mrs Polina Wokocha against Bright N. Wokocha, Chinonyerem M. Wokocha, Stanley N. Wokocha, and their cohorts.

In a petition from Emeka Nnaji & Associates signed by Jehu P. Nwangwa, Esq., on behalf of the Okechukwu Wokocha family, he called on the AIG Zone 9 to promptly intervene, investigate, and take action in order to save the lives of its clients (the Okechukwu Wokocha family) from imminent danger.

According to the petition, the once peaceful and cordial state of affairs between the two families immediately turned sour when their late uncle, Deacon Walter Wokocha, died a few years ago, as the suspects (Bright N. Wokocha, Chinonyerem M. Wokocha, and Stanley N. Wokocha) became hostile and declared a code war against the Okechukwu Wokocha family without any justifiable reasons.

The petition read partially, “Our clients, on seeing the new attitude of the suspects, had to respect themselves and avoid anything that would lead to a misunderstanding between the two families by all means.

“The suspects, seeing that their plans to lure our client into any battle with them had failed, finally resorted to trespassing into our clients' land called UKWI AKILU," located in their backyard, which is our clients' natural inheritance from their late father. The suspects made the move some years after their deaths but were cautioned by other members of the family who were conversant with the history of the family land that had already been equally partitioned to the late father and partitioned to various families, with some portion,

“To our client's utmost chagrin, the suspect, after more than 3 years, came back again to encroach and trespass further into our clients, threatening that they must achieve their evil plans on the property, and this time around they openly told our clients that they would definitely wipe out the entire family, using their cult plans by all means. They are on 22/03/2024 boys, and nothing on earth can stop them from achieving their target of taking our clients' land by all means (which is on record), the suspects.

“That the suspects who are related to Senator Nkechi J. Nwaogu PHD, CON by blood, have further threatened that they have concluded plans with their sister, who is connected, to eliminate our client with the help of the Nigerian Police Force and other law enforcement agencies. By labelling our clients as kidnappers, terrorists, and IPOB members who are currently causing mayhem within the south-eastern region, they have on many occasions boasted that they will ensure that the entire family of late Chief Lazarus O. Wokocha is wiped out and all our clients will die a painful death. Hence, the reason for this petition, sir, is for your kind immediate intervention in protecting and safeguarding the lives of our client, who is currently in imminent danger. Especially going with their plans of labelling our clients kidnappers, terrorists, and IPOB members, which are weighty crimes or allegations the government does not treat with a solid hand.

“That what is more worrisome is the fact that our clients, ever since the suspects, who are very notorious for the nefarious activities within the village and outside, on several occasions have been getting calls from strange numbers warning them to be very careful with the suspects if they love their lives, and one of our clients was trailed by a car with tinted glasses on April 2, 2024, and narrowly escaped by dumping his car along the road to his house while running for his dear life. When he came off the bus, a passer-by who saw what happened told him to go and thank his God and be very careful, as the men inside the car were angry that he had escaped and vowed that he would do so next time. It is in the face of all these ugly developments that we plead that you intervene and will not be lucky enough to save the lives of our clients, as this life has no duplicate. Moreso, the suspects, who are so connected, have been boasting of how they will use their financial strength, connections, and contacts to deal with our clients.

The petitioner (the Okechukwu Wokocha family) called on the Nigeria Police to intervene in the matter by looking into the petition, investigating, arresting the suspects, and consequently prosecuting the suspects for these crimes so that the law can have its full course and save the lives of the Okechukwu Wokocha family from imminent danger.

Efforts to reach the suspects (Bright N. Wokocha, Chinonyerem M. Wokocha, Stanley N. Wokocha) at press time proved abortive.