NEMA Clarifies Alleged Reps Indictment

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said it is shocked to hear about some of the findings and conclusions presented by the House of Representatives committee on Emergency and Preparedness Response

The agency in a statement by its spokesman, Sani Datti said it is therefore, important to clear the air on some of the allegations raised by the Committee because they did not reflect the facts and documents placed before it by NEMA.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives committee on Emergency and Preparedness Response had accused the Agency of violation of public trust

But Datti said the agency will continue to maintain its open-door policy and assured all relevant stakeholders of their readiness to make further clarifications on the issues raised for the benefit of the Nigerian public and the anti-corruption mantra of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

He said there was need to offer clarification on the allegations raised by the House committee, to ensure that Nigerians are not misled.

Read full statement of clarification:

On the Port Clearance and Transportation of Emergency Food Assistance by Chinese Government, the Federal Government received a total of 6,779MT of Rice for IDPs in the North East as donation by the Chinese Government. This amounted to 271 containers, which arrived Apapa Ports between June and October 2017.
The processes of securing duty exemption, waivers and other related issues took several months, but the total quantity was subsequently cleared from the Apapa Port, transported and delivered to NEMA warehouses in the North East. It was thereafter distributed to the IDPs in the States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. Documents on the transaction, including distribution to the IDPs were made available to the Committee.
The correct total value of the rice is about N2.25 Billion (50 Million Chinese Yuan) and the amount spent on clearing, demurrage and storage was about N450 Million, not the N800 Million as alleged by the Committee.
On EFCC Investigation of the suspended staff of NEMA, the suspension of the Six (6) NEMA officers was a decision of Its Governing Council based on the Interim Report of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which indicted them for financial misappropriation. The suspension was in line with Public Service Rules and the extant Guidelines on Appointment, Promotion and Discipline.
On the approval of N1.6 billion granted by the Federal Government for the Procurement and Delivery of Relief Items to 16 States affected by Flood in 2017, due process was observed in the procurement of the relief items and all items meant for the 16 states were received and acknowledged by respective State Governments. Documents evidencing the acknowledgement of the items were made available to the House Committee.
On the Federal Government Emergency Food Intervention in the North East (EFINE), EFINE was a project implemented by a Presidential Committee comprising of relevant Ministries and Agencies of Government in response to the threat of hunger and starvation in the North Ease as reported by the agencies of Government on the ground, which was corroborated by the United Nations in April 2017. All approvals were secured in accordance with due process, while the Committee and the UN World Food Programme worked collaboratively in the sourcing and distribution of the food items. The originating memorandum on the project was submitted by NEMA on 2 June 2017 for Presidential approval. All suppliers in EFINE were selected following due process. Copies of all relevant documents in respect of the project were made available to the House Committee.
On the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya, the evacuation of stranded Nigerians from Libya was a multi-agency operation, which was undertaken jointly with all relevant stakeholders: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Department of State Security, NAPTIP, National Commission for Refugees, relevant State Governments, etc. Two Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty (2,130) Nigerians were evacuated in the operation.

Shi'ites: 22 CSOs, NGOs Call For Immediate Proscription of Islamic Sect

...warn politicians against using group for selfish reasons

The federal government of Nigeria has been asked to proscribe the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, otherwise known as Shi'ites without any further delay.

Over 22 bodies, compromising Civil Society organizations and Non-governmental organizations, which made the appeal on Thursday, said the call became imperative following the recent clashes between security agencies on lawful duty and the group where lives were lost and many injured.

The coalition also warned politicians against hijacking the group for selfish reason ahead of the 2019 general elections .

A statement jointly signed by the bodies, called on the United Nations and all relevant supranational bodies to warn those behind the IMN, who are domiciled in Iran to stop sponsoring terrorism on Nigeria soil. 

The groups also declared that failure of the Federal Government to act within the next 72 hours will force them to stage a mass protest in Abuja in few days to press home their demands, insisting that the group has become a threat to national security and citizens going about their peaceful life in the country. 

Comrade (Patriot) Adodo Solomon, Convener of the Assembly who spokeo behalf of 22 others warned that activities of the IMn must be curtailed before it snowball into hardened extremism and terrorism beyond Boko Haram.

According to him, another worrisome dimension is the revelation that members of the opposition in Nigeria have hijacked the activities of the IMN to destabilize the peace that citizens are currently enjoying. 

The statement reads below.

"On Saturday October 27, 2018 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) clashed with military personnel in Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The official statement from the military indicated members of the group had attempted to obstruct a military convoy transporting weapons with a view to snatching the consignment. 

"IMN’ official position was that its members were on a trek to storm Abuja with one million members to demand the release of their leader, Mr. Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky.

"The confrontation with the military continued on Sunday October 28, 2018 along the Kubwa Express Way as the IMN members again attempted to storm the nation’s capital. They attacked security personnel, which in turn necessitated the security personnel to take defensive steps.

"IMN issued a statement afterwards to malign the personnel they had attacked by lying that they overheard a conversation about “orders from above” for maximum force to be deployed against their members.

"Monday October 29, 2018 was rendered violent by IMN members, who surfaced this time around in the Karu/Nyanyan/Mararaba axis with the same goal of attempting to overwhelm Abuja in their numbers to carry out violent protests under the guise of demanding the release of El-Zakyzaky.

"This act of criminality forced hardworking Nigerians to trek long distances to get to their homes while children in the affected vicinity have been traumatized by the ringing of gunshots.

"On Tuesday October 30, 2018, IMN members breached the streets housing strategic government institutions and obstructed the free flow of traffic. This was done ostensibly to trigger a faceoff with security agencies but they were disappointed as their mischief is well known. In their determination to provoke security agencies, the IMN members set ablaze a police vehicle in Wuse 2 where they openly attacked security agents and other citizens randomly.

"Previous demonstrations or protests by IMN members were equally violent. There are enough video clips and pictures on the internet of these people attacking security and military personnel. As is the case now, some of these members carry weapons while a large number of them deploy projectiles of various forms that have left several persons hospitalized with life changing injuries.

"Another thing that stands out in the IMN violence is the destruction targeted at public and private property. In the last few days under consideration, they willfully destroyed cars belonging to law abiding Nigerians while also destroying vehicles belonging to law enforcement agents and the military.

''Furthermore, there is a pattern of these IMN members aiming their protests to spill into commercial areas, which gives us the sense that there could be a deliberate ploy to overrun businesses with the intention to loot and pillage.

"In the space of a few weeks, IMN is on the verge of adding Abuja to the list of countries that are not safe for international travel and investment. If they succeed in doing this or if we collectively permit it, then they would have assisted Iran in destroying Nigeria without invading us.

"It is of note that Kaduna State Government had outlawed the IMN as a militarized extremist group that is a clear danger to the society. This decision on the part of Kaduna state government followed the due process established by law and recognized by the constitution, including a Judicial Commission of Inquiry that indicted the IMN.

"Our groups have followed the interventions being made in this matter with keen interest and a large dose of concern chiefly because few organizations and individuals have been objective enough to condemn the acts of terrorism being committed by IMN. What has been dominant is people that are faulting an assumed state high handed response to curtail the destruction being unleashed by the extremists. 

"We recognize that some people that think they are being objective have in reality been manipulated by IMN propaganda, which was designed and developed offshore to be ruthlessly efficient. 

""The regime of fear, intimidation and sheer brigandage run by IMN in Zaria, Kaduna state before they were dislodged is well known across the country and it is not one that should be repeated in any other part of the world and certainly not in Abuja that is the unifying location for Nigerians.

"We therefore caution the appropriate military and security agencies that they have limited time to contain the lawlessness of IMN and take steps to make its members desist from fomenting forthwith. The demanded actions will include identifying the cell leaders that are coordinating these attacks on Nigerians and those with the duty of protecting them.

"Where the authorities fail to rein in the IMN we have no other option than to come out in full to demonstrate that it is not only IMN that has the monopoly to protest. We shall meet the extremist group on the street member for member until they learn to respect the secularity of Nigeria and the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution over dubious sectarian creeds. 

"We strongly advise that the Federal Government wakes up to its responsibility and proscribes the lawlessness terrorist organization that IMN has proven itself to be.  The hate speech by the organization must be curtailed immediately.  Failure for the Federal Government to act within the next 72 hours will force the CSOs in this coalition to stage a mass protest in Abuja on Monday next week. 

"The United Nations and all relevant supranational bodies are urged to warn the sponsors of IMN who are domiciled in Iran to stop sponsoring terrorism on Nigeria soil. If its sponsors believe that the poison that the group is spewing on the streets is good then they should give termless visas and one way flight tickets to the youths they have radicalized to come and take up practice in Iran."

2019: CSO Rates Buhari Above Atiku, other Challengers, Give Reasons

As preparations heat up ahead of the 2019 general elections, Nigerians have been warned to be wary of candidates who would draw the nation back to dark age.

The New Initiative For Credible Leadership (NICreL), which gave the warning, said having carefully analysed those gunning for the office of the president, it observed that most of the aspirants were chasing personal interest.

The group said from its findings and observations, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress, APC, remains the best option to pilot the affairs of the entity called Nigeria for another four years after his first tenure in 2019.

Reverend Samson Onwu, Executive Director of group, why addressing the press on Thursday, noted that other presidential candidates such as Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, Oby Ezekwesili, Donald Duke, were only chasing personal interest.

Onwu also cited some of the monumental achievements of the Buhari-led government to include; increase in foreign reserve, completion of abandons projects  as well improved security system.

The group's director, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the Buhari/Osinbajo mandate so perfect the real change the country deserves.

The statement reads in full.

As the 2019 general elections draw near. Different personalities have indicated intent and readiness to contest the next presidential elections. This is very normal and healthy for any thriving democracy. A robust participation is one of the signs of a healthy democracy.

We at the New Initiative For Credible Leadership (NICreL) consider The forth coming elections as very important one for the country. Various individuals have emerged as flag bearers for the different parties- Atiku Abubakar for the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP), Oby Ezekwisili for the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Donald Duke for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Muhammadu  Buhari for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a number of other contestants.

Having appraised all the candidates and carefully analyzed their different abilities vis a vis their various stints at public office, we at the New Initiative for Credible Leadership have reached the conclusion that NONE of them is a better option than President Buhari, judging by antecedents, performance and character. To appreciate this view, it is important that we take a look at where we were as a nation in 2015 and where we are now; by this, we will undoubtedly appreciate the progress made so far in our evolution as a nation.

We have heard a lot of propaganda here and there on the state of the nation and how that life was better under the PDP government than now. Nothing could be further from the truth than that statement.

By May 2015 23 states out of 36 states were owing several months of salary arrears. By May 2015 some federal government agencies owed up to two months in salaries. The insecurity in the country was so pronounced that it was basically the major issue in the presidential campaign of that year. 14 local governments about the size of Belgium were already under Boko Haram control with flags hoisted as their territory. Boko haram attacks were common occurrences, even as near as the federal Capital Abuja.

The foreign reserves dwindled tremendously. From a whopping $48b in 2007 to as low as $29b dollars in 2015. This is despite the fact that oil sold at unprecedented high prices, sometimes even as high as $147 per barrel yet there was no savings rather it was a depletion of the existing saving. That was the kind of economy and government that was handed over to the Buhari administration.

Abandoned projects littered everywhere, not surprising. You cannot be looting and be doing projects at the same time. You either use the money to work for the people or loot the money. We all know what the preferences of the PDP government was, they preferred the looting, and hence the several abandoned projects.

This is just but a few of the decay and rot handed over to the Buhari administration. The question is: what did they do with it? The answer? They got down to work immediately.

According to records from the Debt management office, the Buhari administration has extended more than 1.9trillion Naira to State governments to enable them meet their salary and pension obligations. The support came in the form of Budget support facility, Paris Club Refunds, Infrastructure Loans, Loan restructuring for facilities with commercial banks. All of these are unprecedented.

The trend under the former PDP government was to deny states their entitlements, owe them and in many instances short change them. President Buhari out of his compassion for workers insisted on this interventions not because he wanted to please some governors but because he was concerned about the plight of workers and pensioners. This singular Acton was one of the major things that got us out of a recession.

President Buhari approved the sum of 54 billion Naira to clear pension arrears from 2014 to date. This may look like little things but to the pensioner who has missed his pension for several months this is a huge intervention and there are millions of them across the country that benefited from this intervention.

Despite the sudden plunge in oil prices to as low as $26 per barrel at some point. The Buhari government has invested massively in infrastructure across the country like no other government before it. In the 2016 and 2017 budget alone the Federal government released a total of 2.7 trillion Naira for capital expenditure alone. This is unprecedented in the history of this country. This massive investment has made it possible for work to resume on several stalled projects across the country. Rail projects hitherto abandoned are now being completed in record time, power projects, and numerous road projects across the country.

Despite the low oil prices, The Buhari government has done excellently well with the nation’s resources. It has increased the savings of the country by doubling the external reserve in a very short time from a meager $29 billion in 2015 to over $47 billion. These are facts that can be checked.

The Buhari government has invested over 500b Naira on different Social intervention programs across the country, this is unprecedented in the history of the country. At the moment there are over 8.2m pupils being fed every school day? There are also about 500,000 graduates being paid 30,000 Naira every month. Over 1 million poorest of the poor receiving conditional cash transfer of 5,000 Naira monthly. Hundreds of thousands of traders getting soft loans of 10,000 Naira, plus so many numerous programs across the country. This is simply put a people’s government.

Insecurity has reduced drastically. Boko Haram no longer holds any territory in the country. Except for some pockets of soft target attacks the group is already too decimated to carry out large scale attacks as they use to do in the past. The military has been re invigorated for improved performance. Required equipment is now made available to the troops.

The anti-corruption war has witness unprecedented recoveries from those who looted the treasury. The whistle blower policy has helped expose and recovered looted funds. The implementation of the TSA system by the Buhari administration has helped greatly to reduce leakages in government revenue.

We would have preferred to ignore some of those showing up now to send us back to the biblical Egypt that we have left.  It is just a bit hard to forget so soon the role played by former vice President Atiku Abubakar in the selling off of our national assets to those who rather than turn them around as promised, plunder them and left them desolate. It is hard to ignore how he transmuted from a public servant to a studiously rich man.

You can accuse President Buhari of anything But not vested interest. The same cannot be said of Atiku Abubakar. We have moved far beyond that stage now. Haven enjoyed a President that will always put the interest of the people first. It will not make any sense to now return those who used every opportunity they had to serve the people as an avenue to enrich themselves.

Madam Oby EZekwisili, though quite energetic, can also be calamitous in her approach to issues. We won’t forget so soon how her policy summersaults as Minister of Education then almost bastardized the Unity School system in the country. Her short temper and rigid view of issues, may just not be the best for a country with so much diversity.

All said and done we cannot see any good reason why a working formula will be dropped for one that is known to be ineffective. The Buhari administration in the last three years has done far more than some people did in 16 years with far less than they had to play around with then

It is obvious that amongst those genuinely against the reelection of President Buhari are also looters who have been denied access to the treasury plus those who benefited from the past plunder. We at the NICreL have however decided to go forward and not backward any more. Our support and vote goes to President Buhari in the 2019 election because of the tangible things we have seen.

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Buhari Is Still The Alternative To Buhari

By Anthony Kolawole 

Sometimes, I am lurched into serious thinking, just to discern the reasoning capacity of some Nigerians. Often, and with the next general election barely five months away, one is assailed with malicious and bitter criticisms of the three and a half years old administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Whilst to his supporters, Buhari must be returned to consolidate, a few others think otherwise.

Leaders and minions especially from the main opposition party, the PDP are quick to remind Nigerians that President Buhari made 74 promises to Nigerians during his electioneering campaigns and has fulfilled nothing.   Others say, Buhari  is so far still struggling to register “meaningful” progress in only  three areas of the nation-state. 

I have every conviction that members of PDP are under perpetual heat. They are professionals in a variety of odd habits. So, the zeal to get back to power in 2019 is extremely infectious and they spare nothing to hurl taunts at perceived enemies.  It is written on their faces. It reflects in their shadows. Buhari has a large heart, indeed.

I am also one Nigerian, who is bewildered that the PDP  has not shown any good cause to be trusted with leadership of Nigeria soon.  This is a country they raped and plundered for 16 years and masses anger ousted them in 2015. It’s expected that they will see nothing good in the Buhari administration.  If they sight anything good in the Buhari government, it will be a pleasant surprise.

Therefore, they frame and concoct all manner of lies.  They pretend to be saviours of the people; they lament loudest about the hardships in the land. They pretentiously feign empathy for Nigerians.

I wonder if the opposition ever thinks they served Nigerians,  paradise by the months of  salary indebtedness in 28 states of the federation and at the federal level.   Do they ever remember the trillions of naira of accumulated local contractual debts, which exacerbated poverty and hardships,  when Buhari assumed leadership in 2015?

In the midst of wealth,  when crude oil went  as  high as $130pb, the PDP government distributed poverty  and misery.  They drained Nigeria’s foreign reserves and rapaciously shared the money. They emptied monies in Excess Crude Account and the Sovereign Wealth Fund.  Our memories are really short.  

They plunged Nigeria into recession  by their mindless looting of the country’s commonwealth. They initiated many projects, but completed none, even though contract fees  were fully  paid in some cases.   

But is there any alternative to Buhari in 2019? Who is sure Nigerians would allow the locusts in PDP to again invade the land? Buhari is not a miracle worker.  He is not a magician to solve the volley of serious national problems PDP created. It’s alright that he made 74 promises to Nigerians. It could have even been 1000. It’s inconsequential.

But in his maiden address to the nation, President Buhari acknowledged the teething problems he inherited. He was lucid that in spite of the promises he made, the first concentration would be on three  areas, which by their very nature, demanded  urgent attention. Buhari talked about tackling the recessed economy; the debilitating insecurity championed by Boko Haram insurgency and other insurrections and,  the anti-corruption battle, which fathers and festers the first two and indeed, any other problem in Nigeria.  

Buhari said in his inaugural; 

“At home we face enormous challenges. Insecurity, pervasive corruption, the hitherto unending and seemingly impossible fuel and power shortages are the immediate concerns. We are going to tackle them head on…With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people.”

The question which PDP and its apologists should be asking is how far has President Buhari kept his covenant with the people  in these special areas. They know the truth, but hate to admit it.  

Merely wishing that Nigeria never gets back on its toes does not distort the reality. Buhari is not a saint and has never claimed saintliness anywhere. He has his foibles and we know. But we cannot deny him accolades where he deserves.

Lets peep into these special areas he promised to tackle first  to assess the extent of the  journey. I know that by 2015 Boko Haram insurgency effectively and fully occupied at least 24 LGAs in the Northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe. The fear of insurgents created panic in substantial parts of the North, including Abuja.

But PDP and other opposition elements may not admit publicly for the sake of pride and the dubious quest to regain power that  the dreary insecurity has vanished. But Nigerians know and the international community is aware of the decimation and defeat of Boko Haram terrorists. No part of Nigeria is under the control of insurgents anymore. Operations of remnants of terrorists have been confined to obscure and soft targets in Borno state.

Factional leader of the fanatical sect, Abubakar Shekau is on the run himself. I hear he is recuperating in the mountains and caves of Cameroun. His factional rival, Musab Al-Barnawi, whose sect sepcialises in attacking  security formations is also having rough times with the Nigerian troops. Had the PDP government flaunted such milestones in the combat of terrorism, Nigeria would not have been thrown in the terrorism mess, pains, tears and sorrows, which became an everyday recurrence.   

Its no news that Nigeria has been extricated from recession by the Buhari government. What I cannot decode is the feeling that citizens of a country in recession should be insulated from suffering and hardships.  Such thoughts are utopian. 

We know Nigeria is gradually getting back on his feet. Contractors have resumed work on projects across the country. Abandoned projects are being completed and commissioned. Nigeria’s Foreign reserves have been restocked to over $47 billion; the Sovereign Wealth Fund which was emptied has over $ 500 million dollars.

Nigerians are no longer under the  mental torture  of unpaid salaries and pensions, except in a few states where the  state governors have mismanaged bailout funds. Social Investment Programme has created jobs and poverty is being alleviated. Conditional Cash Transfer is putting smiles on the faces of poor Nigerians. Agric loans to farmers are released yearly.

The Buhari Presidency has the record  of securing the highest number of convictions of corrupt Nigerians who have looted their country. The EFCC displays the record of conviction of high profile Nigerians, in just  three years, since the anti-graft body was established  more than a decade ago.  

The gang-up  to oust President Buhari in 2019 by the PDP politicians and their sympathisers, which they santimoniously claim is for  public  good  is  the fear of Executive Order 6, which allows the confiscation of assets acquaired with illicit wealth. That’s the real fear.

Power generation and supply in Nigeria has improved from the less than 2, 500 megawatts of national grid in PDP’s 16 years of leadership to over 7, 100 megawatts under Buhari. Meanwhile, the same PDP government and leaders dubiously privitased PHCN. They sold it to themselves and friends and never invested a single naira to improve electricity infrastructure. They even shortchanged government on the stipulated amounts they were to pay.

But they foul the air and insult our sensibilities. We are wise enough. Nigerians cannot be deceived again. In 2019, there is still no alternative to President Buhari. 

Emphatically, the alternative to Buhari is still Buhari.

Kolawole PhD, a University teacher wrote this piece from Keffi.

2019: There Will Grave Consequences For South West If Atiku Becomes President – Yoruba Youths Warn

The Progressive Yoruba Youth Congress (PYYC) has warned the southwest zone against voting the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 general elections.

The youth group warned that voting Atiku and the PDP into power will have grave consequences for the south west geo-political zone between 2019 and 2023.

According to PYYC the PDP government, under the last PDP-led federal government, the South West geo political zone was completely neglected.

Kola Salawu, the National President while speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, decried that the southwest region, which has the second highest number of registered voters and highly intellectual professionals, was denied any meaningful position in the top hierarchy of political office holders.

He recalled that at some point, there was nobody from the South West region occupying any of the top ten positions in the Country.

According to him, “The South West through its major political leaders decided to act. They pushed for alliances with other political parties across the Country to form the new All Progressives Congress (APC). They mobilized the South West to vote the new party which ultimately resulted to victory the APC at the polls.

“Let us not forget that the neglect by the PDP was not only political but also infrastructural. The party for whatever reason barely completed or even carried out any major project in the South West. The Lagos – Ibadan express way, the busiest in the country was abandoned. The Benin – Ore expressway was equally abandoned, so also was the Oyo- Ogbomosho road, there was barely any federal presence in the South West.

“It is however a different ball game under the APC government. Politically the APC has taken care of the interest of the South West tremendously. The Vice President is from the South west, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative is also from the South West. The super Minister Babatunde Fsahola in- charge of Ministry of power, works and housing is from the South West, as well as Ministers of Health, Finance, Solid minerals, and Communications. The Chief of Defense staff is from the South West, Head of the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) Tunde Fowler.  That’s just a few of the numerous positions held by the South West under this dispensation. 

“The APC led Federal Government has 68 ongoing road projects in the South West alone amongst the road projects are; Lagos-Ibadan, Lagos- Abeokuta, Oyo -Ogbomosho-Ilorin. 36 power projects in the South West region within the last three years. The Lagos – Ibadan railway project is billed to be completed by December 2018 as work is ongoing on the site day and night with over 2,000 people employed directly or indirectly on the project. It is obvious to all that there is a huge difference in what the South West got under the previous PDP government and what they are getting now.

“The master stroke was the recognition of June 12 as Democracy day and the Honor given to Chief MKO Abiola. Even the Obasanjo government refused every appeal to have this done.

“To our amazement, when the PDP were going to have their convention in 2017 to pick their new party executives; the party agreed to zone the party chairmanship position to the South West but alas, that did not happen, the position was given to the South- South. After their party presidential primaries where Atiku Abubakar emerged candidate, he picked Mr. Peter Obi from the South East geo-political zone as running mate.

“It became obvious again that the party was not repentant and was going to treat the South West with the same disdain it has always had. It was reported in the news media that the PDP has decided to give the position of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to the South West.This must be very laughable and as our people say “we cannot compare a man sleeping with a dead man” that is a perfect description of both offers

The Southwest cannot leave what it has with the APC currently for the far watered down version promised by the PDP. The Southwest will not only reject the PDP and its candidate Atiku Abubakar but it will also campaign and vote for Mohammadu Buhari and the APC. The South West will not go back to oblivion again. All good people of the South West must rise up to protect this ongoing progress and support the one who has brought development to the region.

“We must also remain politically vigilant. When President Buhari’ s tenure ends in 2023 after he wins the 2109 elections, Power will return to the southern part of Nigeria and that is just some four years away. We never can tell what will happen then as the highest ranking person in this government from the south is no other but His Excellency the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo. It may just be his turn.

“We urge all sons and daughters of the South west of Nigeria to be politically awake and choose wisely in the forth-coming elections as the decisions we make will determine if the region will continue to enjoy the true benefits of good governance or we go back to the days of total neglect.

“The difference is as clear as crystal, we must work hard to return President Buhari in the 2019 general elections. Long live the federal republic of Nigeria!”

Police Arrest Man For Giving False Information, Telling Falsehood And Misleading Police Action

The Nigeria Police has arrested and commenced investigation of one Dr. Kasim Abdulganiyu for giving false information, telling falsehood and misleading Police to execute search warrant in the house of Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari, former DG, National Intelligence Agency (NIA) in Kaduna, Kaduna State.

While addressing the media on Sunday, 21st October, 2018, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Jimoh Moshood, he said that the Informant (suspect) informed and made voluntary statement to the Police on 20^th August, 2018 that firearms and ammunition were stocked in the house of One Ibrahim Zakari and five (5) others on Sultan Road, Malali Area, Kaduna, Kaduna State before the Police team obtained and executed a valid search warrant in the house on the 28^th August, 2018 and nothing incriminating was found. The search was witnessed by the security guards and no relatives of the owner of the house or any other person apart from the security guards were living in the house as at the time the search was conducted. 

He also reiterated that the Police Team also had no knowledge that the house belong to Ambassador Ibrahim Zakari, former DG NIA before the search warrant was executed.

The Police spokesperson said that notwithstanding, any personality, the provisions of the law empowers the Nigeria Police Force with statutory rights to execute a duly obtained search warrant in any dwelling house, premises or location where it has actionable intelligence or information that incriminating items or exhibits used to commit crime or about to be used for criminality with the aims of recovering them to prevent the commission of such crime or to detect the crime that have been committed are recovered for investigation and prosecution.

    

“However, the Informant, Dr. Kasim Abdulganiyu of No. 21 Colorado Crescent, Ministers Hills, Abuja will be arraigned in court for giving false information and telling falsehood to mislead police action without further delay, the statement concluded.

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied; Charge Tony Ndu And His Gang To Court Now - Mrs Ephraim

........ How Police investigators are covering up a murderer and an Impersonator

Some Police Investigators seems to be working against the Creed of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim,  especially that rule of law prevails in Police actions and activities.

This is in respect of a murder case by one Tony Ndu and eight others. The case was reported at Arochukwu Police Division before it went to State CID,  Umuahia. The Abia State Police Command had investigated the case and the suspects were about to be prosecuted before the case was transferred to Office of the Inspector General of Police wherefore it was assigned to the IGP Monitoring Unit and later to the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police for further legal advice and prosecution of the suspects but it seems to have been swept under the carpet.

It will be recalled that sometimes on 30th December 2017, the complainant in company with his wife, children and mother in law, one Helen Eni Okoro (now Deceased) were returning from Hospital where they had gone to visit a relative, wherefore they were attached by a gang of hoodlums which include Tony Ndu, Umacha Ukwuagwu, Elvis Oniha, Paul Ezekpe, Ikpo Victor Okechi, Obaa Mgbo, Peter Ikpo, Eze Benard, Mba Okoro, Paul Onyemachi Okey, Chimezie Agwu, Uko Nnanna, Ire Maku, Ikpo Okorie. They were led by Tony Ndu where he double crossed them with a Toyota FJ cruiser Jeep with plate number UMA266PQ and damaged the complainant's car, then the complainant alighted and sought to know why Tony Ndu and his boys started shooting sporadically with their guns and descended on complainant and Mr Tony Ndu used Heineken bottle to assault the complainant which resulted to wound, loss of two teeth and injuries to the complainant with blood freely oozed out from the mouth, eyes and ears of him. 

The complainant’s mother in law, Helen Eni Okoro (now the deceased) who was inside the car came out to question why Tony Ndu, Umacha Ukwuagwu, Elvis Oniha, Paul Ezekpe, Ikpo Victor Okechi, Obaa Mgbo, Peter Ikpo, Eze Benard, Mba Okoro, Paul Onyemachi Okey, Chimezie Agwu, Uko Nnanna, Ire Maku, Ikpo Okorie were beating the complainant and on sighting the woman, Tony Ndu  thereafter said, “this is the woman we are looking for  and we are going to kill you today”.  Immediately, Tony Ndu grabbed Mrs Helen Eni Okoro (now deceased) by the neck, gave her several blows to the face, beat, kicked and used broken bottle on Mrs Helen Eni Okoro (now deceased) to the extent that blood started gushing out of the deceased ears, nose, mouth and eyes until the woman slumped and died. In the process. Mrs Okoro’s (now deceased) daughter, Mrs Blessing raised alarm and tries to rescue her mother, the hoodlums descended on her, beat her to stupor and all items on her stolen.

The whole incidents was reported at the Abia State Police Command where the suspects were arrested and detained while some are still at large. The Abia State Police Command diligently conducted unambiguous investigation. At the end of the investigation, the Abia State Police Command recommended strong case for murder, armed robbery and other sundry offences.

The diligently and unambiguous investigation conducted by the Abia State Police Command which revealed that the suspects committed the offences were subsequently upheld and confirmed by the panel set up by the Police hierarchy to look into the matter. 

Meanwhile, Tony Ndu was already boasting from detention that the matter would be transferred to the Inspector General of Police office in Abuja and told the complainant that the case will die there. He boasted openly that he will buy all the DIGs and AIGs and the case will never get to the court. Subsequently, the case was transferred to office of the Inspector General of Police, wherefore it was assigned to the IGP Monitoring Unit. When the complainant visited the IGP Monitoring Unit, he was told that the case has been transferred to the CP Legal. 

After several months without no information from the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police, the complainant approached the CP Legal, the case has been going through one excuses to another for the past three months. The case which has been investigated and recommended for prosecution had truly been swept under the carpet as no action has been taken on the matter. When the matter was ripe for CP’s Legal advise, the case was again strongly recommended for prosecution based on the charges on the subject of the petition but investigations reveals that nobody has been charged to court in respect of the murder case.    

     

It may interest the public to note that Tony Ndu who has been claiming to be a Barrister and Solicitor has been denied by the Registrar of Supreme Court, in other words, he is an impersonator.

The complainant is calling on the Inspector General of Police to call on the Legal Department of the Nigeria Police to charge the matter to court since investigation has been concluded so as to administer justice. Justice delayed is Justice denied.