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We’ll deal decisively with anyone who obstructs Anambra gov poll, police tell IPOB

YEKEEN Akinwale
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We’ll deal decisively with anyone who obstructs Anambra gov poll, police tell IPOB

 

The Police in Anambra State say they would would not fold theirs arms and allow some disgruntled elements disrupt the governorship election fixed for November 2017.

This was in response to threats  by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), that it would not allow the governorship election to hold, as part of its agitation for a referendum to create the Republic of Biafra.

A statement issued by Garba Baba Umar, Anambra State Police Commissioner on Monday warned that police would not hesitate to “deal decisively” with any individual or groups under any guise that will disrupt public peace in the state.

“Our attention has been drawn that some misguided elements have perfected plans to disrupt the relative peace through streets protests and to declare that the Anambra State Governorship Election Scheduled for November, 2017 will not hold,” read the statement.

“This is to achieve their selfish political aggrandizement thereby threatening democratic processes causing serious security threats in Anambra State in particular, and the Country at large.

“This is unacceptable and would not be tolerated. In as much as the Command and sister agencies respect the Right of individuals to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, we would however not fold our arms and watch disgruntled elements truncate the peace in the State which the Law Enforcement Agencies are working assiduously to maintain.

“It is to be noted the Governorship Election has been scheduled for November, 2017 by the body responsible for elections in Nigeria and that is the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and is the only competent authority that can make any pronouncement regarding the conduct of elections.

“To this end, the security agencies wish to assure the good people of Anambra State that the Election shall hold as scheduled peacefully and successfully.

“We will not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or groups under any guise that will disrupt public peace. Finally, members of the public are enjoined to disregard such pronouncement and go about their lawful businesses.”

The security agencies further assured Ndi Anambra and all other residents in the state of “their readiness to protect lives and properties”.

 

More women are choosing caesarean section over normal delivery — here are six reasons why

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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More women are choosing caesarean section over normal delivery — here are six reasons why

 

There seems to be an increase in the number of women who choose to have their children through Caesarean Section (CS) rather than go through normal delivery.

A survey carried out by NAN reveals that the development could be attributed to many factors. We have listed six of them for you:

FEAR OF LABOUR PAINS

Many women said they were afraid of experiencing labour pains hence the decision to opt for CS, which totally eliminates that painful experience.

According to Ismaila Busari, Ondo State Chairman of the National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners, CS offers mothers laxity to reject labour pains.

It is a alternative for would-be mothers to conveniently have their babies “instead of going through labour pains with its contractions”.

For Dele Hundeyin, whose wife gave birth to his two daughters through CS, “the process saves a lot of time and the agony my wife would have to pass through, so I think it’s far better than the Hebrew delivery”.

RISK OF VAGINAL TEAR

Vaginal tears during childbirth, also called perineal lacerations, occur when the baby’s head is too large for the vagina to stretch around. Most women do not want to risk this as it may affect subsequent sexual activity even after the tear has healed.

However, CS eliminates any such risk, as the baby is cut out from the stomach instead of having to come through the vagina.

“Normal delivery might also come with vaginal tears which can never happen with CS,” says Dr Busari. “The baby doesn’t pass through the vagina with this process; it is cut out through the stomach.”

This was corroborated by Ijarotimi Omotade, Senior Lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, who said that “mothers are now also requesting caesarean section because they want to preserve the tone of the perineum and vagina”.

MATERNO-FETAL FACTORS

Pregnancy
Photo Credit: SciDev.Net

According to Omotade, there could be complications for the mother “when the passage (pelvis) is too narrow for the passenger (fetus); when the placenta or tumour is blocking the passage, and/or when the womb (uterus) is in danger of a rupture”.

“Others factors … are age, body formation (short-statured woman), contracted pelvic and previous surgeries,” said Adewunmi Alayaki, Head of Surgery Department, State Hospital, Ilaro, Ogun State

SPECIAL DATES OR EVENTS

Most women chose to give birth through CS because they want their babies born on a particular date or special occasions.

“Mothers, who want their babies delivered on a particular day like their birthdays, husband’s birthday, wedding anniversary, special occasions like New Year day, Christmas or other religious occasions” opt for a CS in order to achieve this,” says Omotade.

A 26-year-old pregnant lady who opted for the procedure said: “It is our first child and my husband and I have decided we want the birthday to coincide with our wedding anniversary.”

This point was also corroborated by most of the medical experts that contributed to the survey.

IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY

Photo Credit: Youtube
Photo Credit: Youtube

Most women said that with the improvements in health technology in the country and around the world, the risks associated with CS has been greatly reduced, making it somewhat more attractive than normal delivery.

Florence Adeyemi, a middle-aged petty trader and mother of three, said she may consider CS if she were to be pregnant with a fourth child.

“The major reasons for refusal of a caesarean section is fear of death during surgery, but that fear has since been laid to rest when I saw my friends who have undergone a C- section and came out well,” she said.

“There is enough awareness now of the benefits of a C-section in preserving the lives of mother and child.

Saratu Bello, a matron based in Ilorin, said that there is little to be worried about as long as CS is concerned.

“Giving birth through CS is not a death sentence and the earlier expectant mothers realised this, the better for them,” she said.

“They should know that before medical personnel decide to carry out CS on any pregnant woman, it is to save the life of either the mother or child or both of them.

“But when you want to remain adamant that you must give birth only through vaginal delivery, caution needs to be taken.”

ECONOMIC REASONS

Absurd as it may sound, there are suggestions that some doctors may be advising would-be mothers to opt for CS, not because they feel it is the best for the mother and child, but because it costs more than normal delivery.

Akinola Oladeji, a gynaecologist agrees.

“Another reason for the increase is due to economic factor in that some medical practitioners encourage it because of the profit to be made; it’s more expensive than normal delivery,” Oladeji said.

“In our hospital, the cost of a C-Section goes for about N250,000 to N300,000 and for multiple births, it is more. We have up to four C-sections in a month in this facility.”

Similarly, Modupe Lawal, a gynaecologist at Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, said CS delivery is on the rise because doctors make more money from the procedure than normal delivery.

He admitted that what most private hospitals charge for CS is higher than normal delivery.

NEVERTHELESS

New mother
Photo Credit: borgenproject.org

There are, however, many women who would rather have their babies come into the world via the “good old way” of normal delivery.

“I like to experience what it means to bring forth a child by yourself. The pain you experience is one of the joys of motherhood,” said a lecturer who pleaded anonymity.

“Cesarean Section is not for me and the pain of vaginal birth besides is just for that moment compared to the lingering pain you experience after the CS.”

For another respondent, a petty trader, who simply gave her name as Adebayo, having a CS is against her Christian beliefs.

Irate Borno youths chase SEMA officials with clubs after bomb attack

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Irate Borno youths chase SEMA officials with clubs after bomb attack

 

Following an early-morning suicide bomb attack at Londonciki-Simari area of Maiduguri, Borno State, which left eight people dead, a mob has attacked officials of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) who were on rescue mission at the scene of the attack .

According to NAN, youths in the area attacked the SEMA Emergency Rapid Response team dispatched to evacuate corpses and render assistance to the blast victims.

The youths were said to be angered by recent spate of suicide bombings in Maiduguri.

Some of them chanted slogans against relief officials, saying: “Leave, we do not need your assistance.”

The youths, armed with club and sticks, smashed a SEMA vehicle and prevented the team from carrying out its mission.

It took the intervention of members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) to rescue the SEMA officials.

An official of the state emergency agency, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the incident, but said only their vehicle was damaged.

A female suicide bomber, whom residents had tried to apprehend for looking suspicious, ran into a mosque in the area and detonated the explosive strapped on her body.

Muhammad Grema, a witness who lost some of his friends in the attack, revealed that the incident occurred at about 5:00 am.

Meanwhile, two female suicide bombers, who attempted to cross the security trenches at about 10:15 pm on Sunday, were killed at Mammanti area on the outskirts of Maiduguri.

Soldiers guarding the trenches shot the women as  a result of which the explosive strapped to their bodies detonated, blowing them to pieces.

Mamman Daura is the cause of all Buhari’s problems, says Buhari’s 45-year associate

Editorial
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Mamman Daura is the cause of all Buhari’s problems, says Buhari’s 45-year associate

 

Lawal idris, a 45-year associate of President Muhammadu Buhari, has traced all the problems confronting the President to Mamman Daura, his nephew.

Speaking in an interview with Daily Trust, Idris stated that although Buhari said during his inaugural speech that he belonged to everybody and he belonged to nobody, he actually does belong to Daura.

“All the problems of Buhari were caused by Mamman — he is the godfather of Buhari’s problems. I know it, he too knows it but whether Buhari knows or not, I cannot say,” he said.

“He is a very sneaky fellow and Buhari may never know; I pray God would let him know and afterwards the choice is his…

“Among those who worked for Buhari, I have not seen anybody that got anything. No one at all unless those chosen by Mamman…. Mamman is a sadist and has no respect for anybody, not even Buhari.”

Making reference to Daura in other parts of the interview, he said: “…the problem is that the godfather never sleeps, which is Mamman Daura….

“Number one, when Buhari was sworn in, he swore by the Qur’an that he would be fair and we believed him. He said he belonged to no one but I knew he belong to Mamman Daura; Abba Kyari and Mamman are failed bankers and failed industrialists. As of 29 November, 2016, Abba was still a Director of Exxon Mobil; Abba is Buhari’s Chief of Staff, he is a member of the Board of Directors of NNPC — what a super brainy workaholic?

“And Abba is Mamman’s poodle; whatever Abba is doing, it is Mamman that controls it. I know it and they know that I know it and they know me very well.”

Asked why he was specifically blaming only those two people when Buhari has ministers and other staff, he replied: “I am even blaming only one; that is why I am calling Abba Kyari a poodle of Mamman. How did he [Buhari] get some of the ministers? Many were through Mamman Daura. How did he get some of the staff around him, it was through Mamman Daura.

“I am more than sure. Buhari knows I know and Mamman knows I know. I am an insider, not an outsider. I started this project because of the faith I had in Buhari. And I will tell you something; Mamman never wanted Buhari’s presidency.

“I will only use one example and I wish Mamman Daura was alive…to deny it. Buhari has an elder brother, Mamman Daura, very few people ever heard of him and he was the best Mamman Daura I knew. I knew that one in 1970, he and President Buhari had the same father and the same mother.

“This other Mamman Daura is just a joke. I said this Mamman never wanted Buhari’s presidency because a week after Buhari was sworn-in, on Friday, we met at a mosque here in Kaduna. I walked to Mamman to greet him; there was this confidence that had taken a better part of him, like he is now Mr President.

“Mamman told me that he and Mahmud didn’t like Buhari’s presidency. And I said ‘ranka ya dade’, you don’t like it?’ And he said ‘yes’. I was surprised and he saw the surprise on my face. He just changed the topic and said, ‘you know uncle [Buhari] does not like politicians and politicians don’t like him’.

“I said, ‘Sir, but election has been won. Whether politicians like it or not, whether Buhari likes it or not, he has to work with politicians and politicians have to work with him for the betterment of our country’. For me, God has given me what I wanted.

“When Mamman told me that, I offered suggestions on even the way to get finances for the party. I said the way they were going was not the way they should. Now there is no APC in a way and Buhari is ill. Luckily Buhari has a very good vice president.”

It is not the first time Daura has been fingered as the one running Buhari’s government.

In October 2016, Aisha, the President’s wife, famously complained to BBC that she would not campaign for her husband in 2019 if he continued handing appointments to “certain elements who did not share the vision of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”. She said those appointments were given due to the influence of some individuals, among whom was Daura.

Buhari has dispelled the notion that he is being controlled by Daura, once telling an interviewer: “I don’t know where they get their news from.”

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Amnesty International offers support to Nigerians arrested for Facebook posts

YEKEEN Akinwale
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Amnesty International offers support to Nigerians arrested for Facebook posts

 

 

The Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria has lamented the increasing arrests of Nigerians over Facebook posts, noting that any attempt to gag anyone by the government is an attack on their freedom.

In a message on Twitter, the international human rights organization called on Nigerians to rise against incessant arrests based on Facebook posts.

It however did not mention the number of people that have been arrested for Facebook posts under the current administration.

“Increasingly people are being arrested for Facebook posts. This is a threat to freedom. #Nigeria. You don’t have to be a victim to identify with and support victims of injustice. #Nigeria.

“Journalists, bloggers & all citizens of Nigeria have right to FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION. Any attempt to gag anyone is an attack on freedom.”

The outcry is believed to be a fallout of the arrest and detention of Danjuma Katsina, a journalist, on Saturday by the police in Katsina State over alleged “injurious comments” on a newly-elected member of House of Representatives, Mansur Mashi.

The police invited him around 8 pm and detained him after taking his statement.

On Facebook, Katsina had analysed the outcome of the Mashi/Dutsi by-election conducted in May, wondering why Mashi was allowed to contest the polls despite battling court action over alleged corruption.

In January 2017, some plain-clothes policemen arrested and whisked to Abuja, Jerry Edoho, a journalist based in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Edoho, who is the Deputy Editor of Ibom Nation Newspaper, a local publication, was arrested by the security operatives and forcibly taken to the Federal Capital over a Facebook post involving Dana Air.

He had written: “Rumor via social media (Facebook) has it that Dana Air enroute Abj-Lag with 153 passengers crashed killing all on board. Please could someone help verify the authenticity of this shocking report? Below is (the) pix from the scene as uploaded on my wall.”

In September 2016, Jonah Okah, a civil servant, was arrested in Bayelsa State over a Facebook post considered to be a criminal defamation of Ritchie Etonye, the Government House Accountant.

His arrest followed a petition to the police by Etonye over an allegation Okah levied against him on his Facebook account, which he insists is false.

In December 2016, three students of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Adeyeye Olorunfemi, Tomi Aina, Lateef Olawale, were arrested and detained by the campus security outfit for criticising the management of the university on Facebook.

 

Five life lessons from the mortuary and the cemetery

'Fisayo Soyombo
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Five life lessons from the mortuary and the cemetery

Until two months ago, I had never entered a morgue. Also, I had never seen a corpse at close range. I’ve passed by accident scenes but I’ve never been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the victims; I wasn’t lucky enough to come to the world with the sharpest of eyes.

On rare occasions, though, I have seen corpses from long range; I have seen coffins, too. But to look straight at a corpse, eye to eye, it had never happened. Not until May 9, 2017.

Two months before then, a friend had told me how a government-owned hospital worsened her grief by the shoddy care for her mother’s corpse. She spoke of extortion and corruption, too. The lover of unusual, rarely or never-told stories that I am, I vowed to find out for myself. And to do this, I visited six hospitals spread evenly across three states, posing as someone who had lost a relative and so needed to deposit a corpse.

In all, I saw close to a thousand corpses: embalmed and natural, fresh and stale, old and young, male and female, naked and clothed, crisp and stinking. It was an experience that shook me to the foundations of my being. Those two weeks were filled with lots of sombre, solemn moments. Titled ‘UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION: Filth, stench, bribery, corruption at Nigerian mortuaries and cemeteries’, the story taught me more lessons about life than I probably had learnt all my life. I thought it would be selfish of me to keep them all to myself, although they are mostly things we already know but rarely live by.

WE WILL ALL DIE — WE’RE JUST LIVING ON BORROWED TIME

Many of us are journeying through life without occasionally taking a pause to ask if we would be satisfied with our lives, were we to drop dead any minute. Yet the truth is that while we all desire to live long, we’re all candidates of death. I apologise if it hurts but I will die someday; you will, too. It’s a question of ‘when’ rather than ‘whether’. To be sure, there will never be a time when we will be happy with this reality. Let me share a true story.

At Vaults and Gardens, Ikoyi — probably the most delicately furnished cemetery in the country — I was told of an octogenarian who was preparing for her death; she came with her children to buy her own vault! When they arrived at the cemetery, this woman went no further than the gate while her children went in to make the purchase; despite already living as long as anyone could ever dream of, she couldn’t bear the sight of her own grave. She would stroll forwards a little then recoil, and she would repeat this movement many times. After more than an hour, she summoned the courage to check out the mausoleum that had been purchased for her. “I don’t like that place!” she exclaimed. “Why do you want to hide me in that corner? Please bring me somewhere else, in the open.”

Like the woman, we are all so overprotective of our life. In fact, if possible, we would, in our living state, protect and fortify our body ahead of its transition to glory. Ironically, our best chance of living the best possible life begins with acknowledging that our death is inevitable.

LIFE SHOULD BE LIVED TO THE FULLEST — EVERY SINGLE DAY

Knowing that we will all die, shall we then fold our arms and sit in a corner, idling away and awaiting the day death strikes? Absolutely not. In fact, the contrast is what we should do: get up, go out and live life to the fullest possible level. By this, I do not necessarily mean gallivanting around town. I do not mean anything, even, because ‘full living of life’ is a speculative matter of individual preference. If spending time on the beach is what gives you the fullest joy, do it — and do it more often. If spending seven days a week in the office to drive personal and corporate career goals is what makes you happiest, do it; and do it without apologies. If it’s family life that is of the utmost importance to you, let no over-demanding boss take it away from you. Do it now, not tomorrow or later, because that opportunity to do it will not be there forever. In all, discover your truth and stay true to it.

LIFE IS VANITY

We all say it: vanity upon vanity, all is vanity. Just that we don’t all live it. Of the hundreds of corpses I saw, there was none clutching any earthly possession, whether money, fame, cars, power or position. Why then do we go extreme lengths in our pursuit of these things? The truth is that any ill-gotten material possession is pointless unless it can be taken along to the hereafter. Otherwise, there’s no point cooking lies against a superior in the work place just to get his position; there’s no sense in embezzling public funds at the expense of the common man; there’s no meaning in going diabolical in the pursuit of fame and riches. Nothing — just nothing — is worth having, unless by clean means.

SPIRIT OVER BODY

If you’re not one of the richest guys around, and the wealth you leave behind is unable to fetch you a slot at one of the best private mortuaries around, your body will eventually constitute public nuisance when you’re gone. It’s no exaggeration: at government-owned mortuaries in Ogun and Oyo States, the stench of bodies was sickening. Oyo was worse. At Adeoyo Hospital, Yemetu, in Ibadan, the morgue smelled like a room filled with dead rats. Only that human bodies — not rats — were stashed in there.

Wealth doesn’t render you completely immune to body spoilage; it only delays it. If your body leaves the mortuary in freshness, it still must end up at the cemetery. And in the investigation, I already documented how your body is likely to be handled at public cemeteries. If you end up at a private cemetery, good for you. But you can’t evade the cruel hands of nature: your body soon starts to decompose and, over a number of years, only your bones will be left in your coffin.

What is the moral? Your body is not the real you — so why let your body rule you? Why allow yourself to be ruled by the unreal you? Learn to tame your body. Learn to deprive yourself of bodily gratifications. Learn to deny yourself some sleep to get the important work done; learn not to sleep with every man/woman who tempts you with a chance; learn, when required, to skip food to take care of other crucial matters, such as spending time with your God or giving out your meal to the needy; nourish and nurture your body but do not let it happen at the expense of doing the same to your spirit; don’t push yourself into shady practices in your search of how to clothe your body or what to feed it with; bodily exercises are great but spiritual exercises are far greater. In all, never prioritise your body over your spirit.

BE KIND — ONLY YOUR MEMORIES ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE BY DEATH

For all its destructive powers, death is also weak to the extent that it is not all-conquering. Death may destroy your body but it cannot destroy your deeds; it lacks the power to obliterate your memories in the minds of those who treasure them. Therefore, be kind, for your kindness will continue to live long after you’re gone.

Do all you can to keep your friendships and reduce your enemies. You shouldn’t harm yourself trying to please others but do all you can to do good. If you’ve split from friends because of money, why don’t you consider making up? No matter the size of the money in question, you’ll leave it behind when you’re gone. Make up with that ex who broke your heart to marry someone else; you wouldn’t have left this world with them if they married you, anyway. Draw up a list of people you were once chummy and revisit the reason why you two are now estranged. Try hard to forgive their wrongs and own up to yours. Try. Try harder. And try all over again.

There will be exceptions, though. The verse of a chapter in one of the Holy Books, the Bible, says: If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. The opening phrase is already an admission that it can’t be 100% possible. There are exceptions. For example, how do you make peace with someone who envies you? Your chief crime is that you’re succeeding, so making up with such people means there will still be problems unless you’re ready to aspire to less. Should anyone lower their legitimate aspirations in exchange for friendships? Never!

What are your encounters with the dead and what life lessons have they taught you? I’m happy to read them in the comments section, as I’ll draw up a list from your lessons and mine. From time to time, I intend to return to that list to see which ones I’m neglecting, and make amends. May we all live long, fruitful lives!

Soyombo tweets @fisayosoyombo

APC to PDP on Buhari’s health: It’s ungodly to taunt a man in his moment of weakness

Rebecca Akinremi
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APC to PDP on Buhari’s health: It’s ungodly to taunt a man in his moment of weakness

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has told the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to desist from its penchant to mock President Muhammadu Buhari with his ill-health.

The party said this on Sunday while reacting to a story in Vanguard Newspaper of Saturday, July 15 titled, ‘2019: PDP Unveils Plans to Sack APC’.

Lamenting that in the last few days, some members of the PDP had boasted to defeat Buhari in 2019. APC urged Nigerians to “Google the names of these individuals and see what comes up”.

In the statement, signed by Bolaji Abdullahi, its National Publicity Secretary, the party said it was understandable, even if not acceptable, that when the lion is enfeebled, even a rabbit would grow the temerity to tweak its tail.

THE FULL STATEMENT

We refer to a story in the Vanguard Newspaper of Saturday, July 15 titled, “2019: PDP Unveils Plans to Sack APC”.

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court judgement that favoured the Makarfi faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Makarfi himself announced rather exuberantly that his victory at the court meant that PDP was ready to return to power. We had dismissed Makarfi’s statement as part of the excitement that follows a favourable court ruling.  However, since that Wednesday verdict, we noticed that several of his supporters and party members have expressed similar sentiment. We therefore feel the need to respond appropriately.

In recent past, the PDP brand of opposition politics had been characterized mainly by allegation mongering and open incitements of separatist agitations across the country. It appears however that the outcome of Wednesday ruling is beginning to set them on a different course. We are therefore delighted that the PDP is beginning to talk about holding the APC accountable for the promises in our manifesto.

We want Nigerians, not just the PDP, to hold us accountable for every promise contained in our manifesto. We only urge them to be fair. A manifesto is not a four-year programme. If PDP had fully implemented its manifesto in the 16 years that it was in power, Nigerians would not have been attracted to the APC promise of change in 2015, because there would have been little left to promise.

The Vanguard Newspaper report quoted a former minister of PDP, “who did not want his name in print for fear of a backlash from the current administration as he is presently facing prosecution by the anti-graft agency.” That is exactly the problem with the PDP as it is currently constituted. There are only a few people left in that party whose faces do not represent the face of corruption. These few good men and women left in the PDP would do well to listen to ex-stalwarts of the party like the former Akwa Ibom governor, Obong Victor Attah who has advised that the party needs an urgent change of name because the PDP brand is already damaged beyond repair. But Nigerians know that even with a change of name, it is not the cowl that makes the monk. Therefore, like Attah asked, “Now that they have resolved their crisis, what is left of the PDP?”  Senator Makarfi and his supporters should take a break from their victory dance to attend to this question.

The Vanguard report also quoted the un-namable minister as comparing the PDP and the APC to a tale of two wives, saying that Nigerians have tried the two and had seen who was better. We find this metaphor quite interesting. We need to point out however that APC is the new wife that is busy working at the kitchen that has been looted empty by the former wife who had made away with the entire foodstuff and even the kitchen utensils. Nigerians know this. If the food is a little late in coming, they understand the circumstance. But if that other thieving wife now begins to argue that she was a better cook and should be brought back into the kitchen because the new wife is a slow cook, then that should pass for hypocrisy. No matter the temporary hardship that we may be experiencing, Nigerians know better than to bring PDP back to power so soon for fear that this time, they might disappear with the kitchen itself.

We also note with regret, PDP’s penchant to mock President Muhammadu Buhari with his health situation. We admit that the health of a president is every citizen’s business. However, it is un-African, if not ungodly, to continue to taunt a man and even challenge him to a fight at his moment of weakness. We have seen in the last few days, some members of the PDP who have boasted to defeat President Buhari in 2019. We urge Nigerians to Google the names of these individuals and see what comes up. It is however understandable, even if not acceptable, that when the lion is enfeebled, even a rabbit would grow the temerity to tweak its tail.

We urge Nigerians to remain resolute in support of the APC and President Muhammadu Buhari.  We are confident that whatever difficulty we are going through at the moment is only a passing phase.

Lagos sacks Shangisha monarch who faked his own abduction

iCiR
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Lagos sacks Shangisha monarch who faked his own abduction

The Lagos State Government has deposed Yusuf Ogundare, the suspended Baale of Shangisha, Magodo, for faking his abduction, which allegedly took place on July 5 along Centre for Management Development (CMD) Road in Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of the State.

Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of the state, first suspended the traditional ruler on Thursday after he confessed to colluding with Mohammed Adams, his brother, to feign his own kidnap.

However, Muslim Folami, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, issued a statement on Sunday to reveal that the Governor had ordered Ogundare to henceforth desist from parading himself as the Baale of Shangisha or discharge any duties attached to chieftaincy matters in the state.

“This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has authorized the DEPOSITION AND PROSECUTION by police of Chief Yusuf Mutiu Ogundare, Baale of Shangisha with immediate effect,” read the statement.

“This is in accordance with Section 38, subsection 1 of the Obas and Chiefs Laws of Lagos State inter-alia “The Governor may suspend or depose any Oba or Chief whether appointed before or after commencement of this law, if he is satisfied that such suspension or deposition is required according to customary law or is necessary in the interest of peace or good government.

“Furthermore, he (Ogundare) is to stop parading himself, purports to exercise or discharge any of the duties attached to Chieftaincy Matters with immediate effect.”

Folami said the deposition follows the formal confession of the Baale to security services that he staged his own kidnap to blackmail the state government.

 

Speaking while parading the two suspects last week, Fatai Owoseni, Commissioner of Police, had said the Command received the report of Ogundare’s alleged kidnap on July 5, and immediately swung into action in collaboration with other security agencies, especially the Department of State Service (DSS).

However, luck ran out on Ogundare when he was apprehended by men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Alausa area of the State on July 11 after he was dropped in a suspicious manner by a car which sped off immediately.

“On July 11 at about 10pm, a team of RRS patrol officers working around Alausa had sighted a vehicle drop a male adult in a suspicious manner close by Shoprite along the Secretariat road. The speed with which that car drove off attracted them to that spot and fortunately before they got to the spot, the car had taken off and a quick enquiry revealed that it was the Baale that was allegedly kidnapped,” Owoseni said.

“Immediately after, while Ogundare was being debriefed, he sold a dummy that the kidnappers dropped him off but unknowingly to him, it had been found out that on the 5th of July, the day he was allegedly kidnapped in Lagos, investigation had revealed that he was driving around in Ibadan around Ashi; he went to Ilorin, he went to Iwo, he was just on a frolic.

“And unknowingly to him as well that because of information that had gotten to security services that his younger brother and his wife were being questioned and were actually in custody because of some discrepancies that were noticed in the interaction they had with security agencies, and in furtherance of the synergy existing between the Police and DSS, we jointly compared notes and our findings were such that the act of the chief was despicable and amounted to crying wolf where there is none.”

Owoseni added that after the suspects were confronted with the indisputable facts, they had no choice than to admit to faking the kidnap.

Despite collecting N31m ransom, kidnappers refuse to release Lagos schoolboys

Kingsley OBIEJESI
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Despite collecting N31m ransom, kidnappers refuse to release Lagos schoolboys

 

Six students of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who were kidnapped by unknown gunmen 53 days ago, are yet to regain their freedom even after the kidnappers had collected a N31 million ransom from their parents.

According to Punch, the money was paid in two tranches of N10 million and N21 million respectively, after which the abductors claimed that the children would be released within two days. However, that has not happened.

Some parents were assigned to take the money to an undisclosed place, where they gave it to some members of the kidnap gang. They are now worried that their children have not been released exactly one week after collecting the ransom.

Some of the parents said they had to sell their property while some had to borrow in order to raise the money.

“We don’t know what else these people want. The parents are stranded,” said a source close to the development who pleaded anonymity.

“The first time, three parents met with them somewhere and gave them N10 million. They demanded another N21 million ransom. The parents took the money to the place and gave it to some gang members.

“They told the parents that they had done all the necessary things and promised to release the children in the next two days. They have been expecting the children since last week.”

One of the parents corroborated this claim, adding that the kidnappers are demanding additional N1.5 million.

He said: “We gave them N31 million cash. We didn’t send it through a third party and they confirmed the money was complete. They promised to release our children soon.

“We were confused when we heard that they demanded another N1.5m before the children could be released.”

Olarinde Famous-Cole, Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, and the Force PRO, have continued to assure the parents that their children would soon be rescued.

The names of the six kidnapped boys are Peter Jonah, Isiaq Rahmon, Adebayo George, Judah Agbausi, Pelumi Philips and Farouq Yusuf.

Gunemen broke into their hostel around 6am on May 25, and whisked away 10 of them to a waterside.

The students were said to have been screened based on their family background, after which four of them were released while the others were taken away in a speedboat.

SERAP asks Malami to sue 21 ex-governors for ‘dubiously earning N40bn’

YEKEEN Akinwale
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SERAP asks Malami to sue 21 ex-governors for ‘dubiously earning N40bn’

 

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked, Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to institute legal action on behalf of Nigerian people to recover over N40 billion dubiously earned in double payments by former Nigerian state governors who are now either senators or ministers.

SERAP made the appeal in an open letter to Malami signed by Adetokunbo Mumuni, its Executive Director, which was released on Sunday.

It alleged that the former governors and their deputies were drawing the dubious payments based on retirement and pension laws they crafted while in office.

The organisation said Malami must, within seven days of receipt of the letter, institute the legal action. It warned that it would institute legal proceedings to compel the discharge of constitutional duty and full compliance with Nigeria’s international anti-corruption obligations and commitments if the Attorney General fails to take action.

The human rights group specifically alleged that Bukola Saraki, Senate President; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano), Kabiru Gaya (Kano), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom),Theodore Orji (Abia), Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa), Sam Egwu (Ebonyi), Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara) are among former governors receiving double emoluments and large severance benefits from their states.

It listed others as Joshua Dariye (Plateau), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), George Akume (Benue), Ms Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti), Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe (Abia), Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Chris Ngige (Anambra) and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).

SERAP urged Malami to use his “good offices as a defender of public interest” to urgently institute appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws permitting former governors, who are now senators and ministers, to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.

THE FULL LETTER

SERAP considers double emoluments for serving public officials unlawful, as the laws granting those benefits take governance away from the arena of public interest, and creates the impression that former governors acted contrary to the best interests of the general public. Double emoluments and large severance benefits for former governors now serving public officials constitute a blatant betrayal of public trust.”

SERAP is concerned that several serving senators and ministers are receiving salaries and life pensions running into billions of naira from states that are currently unwilling or unable to pay their workers’ salaries. Public office is a public trust, and as such, citizens depend upon their governors, senators and ministers to act in the public interest, not for their own or another’s profit or benefit.”

Under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party, it is forbidden for any public official to engage in self-dealing, and place him/herself in a position of conflicting interests, and to hold incompatible functions or illicitly engage in providing to him/herself emoluments deemed unacceptable under international law. This is a clear case of the former governors placing their private or personal interests over and above their entrusted public functions, and unduly influencing the level of benefits they receive.”

SERAP argues that taking advantage of entrusted public offices and positions to enact laws to grant double emoluments and large severance benefits to serving public officials amounts to not only an abuse of office but also incorrect, dishonourable and improper performance of public functions, as per the provisions of paragraph 2 of article 8 of the convention.”

By signing such double emoluments and large benefits laws which they knew or ought to know that they would be beneficiaries, these former governors have abused their entrusted public functions and positions, and thereby obtained an undue advantage, contrary to article 19 of the convention.”

The double emoluments and large severance benefits laws also violate the conflicts of interest provisions of the convention. The fact that these laws are signed by former governors in the exercise of their functions as public officials and now benefiting from the entitlements under such laws while serving as senators and ministers raises serious conflict of interest issue under paragraph 5 of article 8 of the convention.”

We believe that the current Code of Conduct for Public Officials Act is outdated and entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the object and purpose of the UN Convention against Corruption, which requires Nigeria to adopt a comprehensive code of conduct for the performance of public functions and implicitly to prohibit double emoluments and large severance benefits for public officials such as former governors.”

SERAP notes the resolution of the UN General Assembly to the effect that every state has the duty to carry out in good faith its obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law, and it may not invoke provisions in its constitutions or its laws as an excuse for failure to perform this duty.”

As such, your government is mandated to challenge the legality of double and large emoluments states’ laws and bring them in line with Nigeria’s international obligations including under the convention. This position is buttressed by article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Laws of Treaties, which provides that no state can justify the noncompliance with an international treaty with reference to internal law, including even the constitution.

The UN Legislative Guide to the convention provides that where there are gabs between national laws (including constitutions) and international obligations, states must meet more onerous standards of integrity, honesty and responsibility among their public officials. SERAP is seriously concerned that conflicts of interest as well as perceptions of such conflicts undermine public confidence in the integrity and honesty of high-ranking public officials.

According to our information, those who currently receive double emoluments and large severance benefits from their states include: Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara); Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), and Jonah Jang (Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero (Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); Ms Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti); Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe (Abia); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chris Ngige (Anambra); and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).”

SERAP notes that under the Lagos Pension Law a former governor will enjoy the following benefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja estimated to cost between N500m and N700m. Others are six brand new cars replaceable every three years; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a close to N2.5m as pension (about N30m pension annually); free medicals including for his immediate families; 10 percent house maintenance; 30 percent car maintenance; 10 percent entertainment; 20 percent utility; and several domestic staff.”

In Rivers, state law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for former governor anywhere of his choice in Nigeria; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years; two cars for the deputy every four years; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years for furniture; 10 percent of annual basic salary for house maintenance.”

In Akwa Ibom, state law provides for N200m annual pay to ex governors, deputies; pension for life at a rate equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor/deputy governor respectively; a new official car and utility-vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5m per month and N2.5m for the deputy governor. Others are: free medical services for governor and spouse at an amount not exceeding N100m for the governor per annum and N50m for the deputy governor; a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom and allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years and severance gratuity.”

Similarly, the Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries for former governor and deputy; furnished and equipped office; a 6-bedroom house; well-furnished 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an office; free medical treatment along with immediate families within and outside Nigeria where necessary; two drivers; and a provision for a 30- day vacation within and outside Nigeria.

In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for the ex-governors. In Kwara State, the 2010 law gives a former governor two cars and a security car replaceable every three years; a well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex; 300 per cent of his salary as furniture allowance; five personal staff; three State Security Services; free medical care for the governor and the deputy; 30 percent of salary for car maintenance; 20 per cent for utility; 10 percent for entertainment; 10 per cent for house maintenance.”

In Zamfara State, former governors receive pension for life; two personal staff; two vehicles replaceable every four years; two drivers, free medical for the former governors and deputies and their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad; a 4-bedroom house in Zamfara and an office; free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside Nigeria. In Sokoto State, former governors and deputy governors are to receive N200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other entitlements which include domestic aides, residence and vehicles that could be renewed after every four years.”

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