June 2, 2015 : Simon Utebor, Yenagoa 

The people of Ijaw ethnic stock in Nigeria, under the auspices of Ijaw National Congress, say the current structure of the Nigerian state is lopsided in favour of the major ethnic nationalities.

They contend that the development is such that there is no adequate socio-political and economic space for the minor ethnic nationalities, particularly the Ijaw, to thrive.

Their position was contained in a communique released after the Pan Ijaw Stakeholders summit entitled, ‘Ijaw Agenda Beyond May 29, 2015′, and made available to our correspondent on Tuesday.

The communique was signed by 31 prominent Ijaw citizens, including former Bayelsa State Governor, Chief Diepreye Alamieyeseigha;  former Military Governor of old Rivers State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff; and Emeritus Professor of History, Ebiegberi Alagoa.

The event, co-hosted by the INC and the Bayelsa State Government, was chaired by Diete-Spiff, who is also the Amanyanabo of Twon Brass.

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The summit regretted that successive administrations in Nigeria had proved unwilling to accede to the demand by the Ijaws to be united in homogeneous political entities of their own.

They noted that Nigeria was made up of diverse ethnic nationalities with varying histories, motivations and aspirations, submitting that the ethnic nationalities should form the basis of a true Nigerian federation.

They stated, “Conscious of the fact that the environment remains the most valuable physical resource for development and survival of the Ijaw ethnic nationality, the summit notes that the Ijaw oil and gas communities suffer the deleterious effects of oil and gas exploration and exploitation.

“But we regret the inability of the Nigerian state to address the concomitant negative impacts on the health,  economy, culture and environment of the Ijaw people. This reality is leading to the gradual extinction of the Ijaw people.

“Dissatisfied with the present constitutional and legislative arrangements for resource control and allocation in Nigeria, the summit observes that in all true federations and other civilised states, the communities that bear natural resources control these resources and only pay taxes to the central government. Nigeria is the only exception.

“Aware of the fact that violence and restiveness is a new phenomenon foisted on Ijaw people by circumstances of oppression and frustration, we observe that continued militarisation of Ijaw territory has resulted in severe erosion of our cherished values as a people.”

The Ijaw people agreed on the imperative to take steps to promote and sustain the Izon language as part of the desires to maintain and promote their cultural values.

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June 2, 2015 : John Alechenu and Fidelis Soriwei 

National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); President Muhammadu Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday held a closed door meeting with the National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.).

It was learnt that the meeting, which held at the Defence House, Abuja, was aimed at assessing the security situation in the country, against the backdrop of renewed attacks by the Boko Haram sect.

It was gathered that the President was concerned about the renewed attacks by the sect and the duo discussed ways of checking the insurgents.

Investigations also revealed that the meeting centred on ways of carrying out the President’s plan on the relocation of the military central command to Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Buhari, had in his inaugural speech said, “The command centre will be relocated to Maiduguri and remain until Boko Haram is completely subdued. But we cannot claim to have defeated Boko Haram without rescuing the Chibok girls and all other innocent persons held hostage by insurgents.”

After the meeting with the President on Monday, Dasuki, however, declined comments when approached by reporters.

The President’s media office, however, announced that Buhari would on Wednesday and Thursday, visit Niger and Chad in furtherance of his desire to subdue the sect.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the President would travel to Chad and Niger for talks on the Boko Haram menace.

This will be the President’s first official visit outside the country since assuming office.

According to Shehu, the two-day trip, will focus on “matters of security,” because Nigeria needs the cooperation of its neighbours to succeed in its campaign against the terrorist sect whose activities have so far claimed an estimated over 15,000 lives since 2009.

He said, “Buhari will go to Niger Republic on Wednesday and will spend a night there before proceeding to Chad the next day (Thursday).”

Contrary to the widespread speculations that the President will immediately relieve the service chiefs of their appointments, there are indications that he will hold a meeting with them within the next few days.

The service chiefs who were appointed on January 16, 2014 are the Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh; the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minimah; the Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman; and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Adesola Amosu.

Investigations by one of our correspondents revealed that the President’s pronouncement directing that the military should move its command and control centre for the ongoing operation against the sect in the North-East, has ignited serious interest in military circles.

It was gathered that the decision had caused disquiet within military circles.

A security official who spoke to one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity said the statement was politically reassuring but could pose tactical challenges.

The official explained that since the military was involved in multiple operations across various theatres within Nigeria, it would raise tactical issues to move the command and control centre to one theatre of operation.

He observed that the Americans had Africom command for Africa based in Germany and they had another base in Oman for the Gulf States; stressing that moving the DHQ to Maiduguri was not necessary.

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June 2, 2015 : Chukwudi Akasike

Ribadu, Mark

A former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,   Nuhu Ribadu and   the outgoing Senate President, David Mark, on Monday disagreed on the need for National Assembly to cut its budget in line with the current economic realities in the country.

They spoke at a   retreat organised for the Peoples Democratic Party National Assembly members-elect in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

Ribadu had stirred up a hornet’s nest by calling on the lawmakers-elect to make their monthly salaries public and also cut their budgets. His call immediately attracted side talks by the participants which included   governors and the leadership of the PDP.

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Obviously aware that his advice was not being welcomed by majority of the lawmakers-elect, the former anti-corruption czar, reminded them that they would be going   to the National Assembly as the minority.

He said that Nigerians would not support the PDP if they (Nigerians) did not know what was earmarked for the National Assembly and how much a senator or a House of Representatives member earns.

Ribadu, who was the PDP’s Adamawa State governorship candidate for the March 28 election,   pointed out that patriotism and quality contributions by members of the PDP in the National Assembly would go a long way in reinventing   and preparing the party for a successful comeback in future elections.

He said, “If Nigerians do not know how much is earmarked for the National Assembly or how much money a senator earns, they will not support you. We must understand the pulse or the mood of the nation.

“The first step, therefore, is to open up the National Assembly by   ensuring transparency. Public office is what it is; public. Also, at this critical time of austerity, be champions   by slashing your own budget.

“My very good friend, Ben Bruce (a senator-elect) has already spoken about this. There are many others   already saying it. For you to excel, you must put in extra effort than your colleagues in other parties.”

He stressed   that the PDP lawmakers-elect must not only be champions of probity and discipline, they must wage war against corruption in the system and ensure strict compliance with appropriation as well as due process.

Ribadu added, “As legislators, you will be going to the National Assembly as the minority. There is a   sense of personal loss no doubt; but there are good opportunities for all and democratic practice in Nigeria.

“Your patriotism and quality contributions as members of the National Assembly will go a long way in reinventing   our party and preparing it for a successful comeback in subsequent elections.

“You must demonstrate personal will and commitment towards being above board if you really want to checkmate others. The first charge for you is to be champions of probity in the workings of the National Assembly as well as the Legislature-Executive relations.”

But Mark, who showed his     dissatisfaction with   Ribadu’s charge,   wondered why “every time, people will talk about National Assembly budget.”

Explaining that the budget of the Assembly had always   been   in public domain, the outgoing President of the Senate argued that Senators and House of Representatives members   had always made sacrifices in line with the nation’s economic realities.

“Every time, people will talk about National Assembly budget; for Heaven’s sake, unless you would say you have never seen the national budget, it is a public document. The National Assembly budget is there with every other budget,” he stated in an angry tone.

Mark,who added that the National Assembly members “ were the first to make a cut in 2015 budget,” said that “ people should appreciate what we are doing and not to come and give an impression that our budget is bloated while every other person had made a cut.”

He stated further, “We are trying our best more than any ministry today. I can put my hand on my chest without fear of contradiction at all and say we made a lot of sacrifices in our budgeting system.

“Our budget is open; what we earn as National Assembly members is open. If anybody wants to receive his salary and donate it, he is free to do so. He does not need to consult us. I think we should not play politics with what is a very serious issue. Our budget is in the open and everybody can see it.”

Mark however charged the PDP lawmakers-elect   and other PDP members to always speak in one voice.

He said, “We must subject our individual interest for our group interest. In the election of principal officers of National Assembly, we must vote in one accord. We must know that united we stand, divided we fall.

“We must take our destinies in our hands. We must be ready to provide credible, vibrant, determined and focused opposition to the party in power in a manner that would guarantee development and good governance.

“In doing so, we must maintain a strong synergy between our members in the National Assembly and the National Working Committee. The PDP is still a brand all Nigerians know. We just need to reinvent the wheels and move forward.”

He decried the spate of defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress after the elections and appealed to those remaining to be steadfast with the ideology of the party.

In his keynote address , Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu maintained that playing the role of the opposition was not a death sentence, but a soul searching for the way out of the predicament.

Ekweremadu stated that the PDP stood a great chance of regaining power in 2019 should its members   put their house in order.

He added that the governors elected on the platform of the PDP were expected to play a major role in restoring the party’s fortunes.

Ekweremadu said, “May I also remind you that you have a big role to play in restoring the political fortunes of the PDP because PDP governed-states will now be the major yardsticks for evaluating our performance in the next four years.

“I call on you to demonstrate unbeatable and undisputable capacity for good governance such as would stand the PDP-governed states out as models in uncommon transformation and actualisation of all the blessings and promises that democracy holds.”

Earlier, Governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa; and other governors, who were elected on the platform of the PDP gave various strategies on how the party could   regain power at the centre in 2019.

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June 2, 2015 : Eniola Akinkuotu

 

Late Bola Ige

Fourteen years after the gruesome murder of a former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige (SAN), the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, on Monday, said the case could be reopened.

Solomon, who spoke on Monday during a programme, “View from the top,” on Channels Television, said that the investigation into the murder failed because it was not based on proper intelligence.

It will be recalled that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State and a former Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Chief Iyiola Omisore, the immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, Mr. Jelili Adesiyan, and the current National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, were arrested and charged for the murder.

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They were, however, discharged by the courts after a series of trials.

Arase, who was a member of the special homicide unit that investigated the case, said the investigation was also marred by the political atmosphere at the time.

Arase said the suspects were made to undergo lie detector tests.

He said, “Some people were charged to court but just as I said before, our investigation was not intelligence-led. So, we tended to situate it within the political complexion of Osun State at that time. And you will also remember that there were a lot of distractions when that investigation started.

“So, it looked as if the attention of the police was diverted from the original cause of the event. I remember we also brought in the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and we wanted to ascertain if the people that we had in custody were the real people.

“So, we administered the polygraph examination but it did not work out. The polygraph test showed that they were not the perpetrators. The scientific aid we were trying to get was not in tandem with the circumstantial evidence that we had gathered. And when you have such issues, the suspect is given the benefit of the doubt. So, they walked away.”

Arase, who was also the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Intelligence before he was promoted last month, said the case had not been closed.

The police boss said if new evidence emerged, the case would be revived.

He said, “Murder cases don’t have statutes of limitation. Cases can always be reopened as it is done in other countries. Once there is fresh evidence to suggest that the probability of involvement or the criminal responsibility of one of the suspects in that matter is higher, it can always be reopened. You hardly close a criminal investigation that way.”

Arase said it was his plan to implement police reforms and also increase the standard of living of junior police officers.

The police boss urged his men to be more professional and continue to operate on the assumption that suspects are innocent until allegations against them were proven otherwise. He, therefore, ordered his men to stop the habit of arresting suspects before gathering evidence.

He said for things to improve in the police, the best university graduates must also join the security agency.

He said, “We must ensure that those who are brought into the force are intelligent enough and can be easily trained. When your manpower is wrong ab initio, you get everything wrong. So, we have to look at our recruitment policy. We should be able to attract the best people into the force.”

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June 2, 2015 : Olufemi Atoyebi 

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina (right) and some officers of the state command at the fake currency factory.
| credits: NAN

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The Oyo State Police Command has discovered a place in a remote village of Ibadan, where thousands of fake pounds, euros, dollars and other foreign currencies were being produced.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mohammed Katsina, said that the discovery was made by the command’s ambush squad in a village called Ojoku in Badeku, Ona-Ara Local Government Area of the state. The police described the area as fast transforming to an abode for criminals, having earlier served as a kidnappers’ den.

Our correspondent, who visited the scene of the crime on Monday, discovered that the police had cordoned off the compound shielded by tall trees and thick bushes.

Two Toyota Camry cars with number plate AA 125 DK and AA 207 DH and a Nissan Almera lift back model with number plate AGL 882 DF were found in the compound, which was fenced with corrugated iron sheets.

Several notes of fake foreign currencies littered the ground.

Apart from being a fake currency factory, the place also served as a shrine where several criminal activities were perpetrated.

There are two houses in the compound with at least six rooms adorned with various statues to give the impression that the place is being used as a shrine. The walls were decorated with the group’s description of gods to scare victims.

Ismail Adesina, 43, who was arrested at the scene, said he did not know anything about the currencies and that the owners had escaped.

He said he was a herbalist and that he had been involved in several financial crimes under the pretext of helping victims to cure ailments and barrenness.

Adesina added that the owners of the three vehicles were canvassers who combed the town to woo customers.

He said, “I am a herbalist and I inherited the skill from my father. I am also a conman. I cured diabetes, barrenness, blindness and other ailments. I have cured many people. My partner, who escaped yesterday, knows how the currencies were produced. Taju and Wasiu are my other partners. We have been here for about four years. We collected varying sums of money from our victims but we do not kidnap people. We bought the land in the bush and built the houses. I am a native of Beyerunka in Ibadan. The names of our victims are with my partners.”

Adesina said his wife had left him and taken his child away because he could not provide for them.

He added that he had bought a car from the proceeds of criminal activities but had to sell it. Asked if his father also taught him how to swindle people through fake healing, Adesina said that he was a genuine herbalist before he took to the crime.

The police said apart from taken money from their victims, the suspects also devised a way of gagging them by taking their nude pictures and threaten to release them if they failed to keep the secret.

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