President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the acting Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, to reopen investigations into the murders of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, and one time Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Aminosari Dokubo, in order to bring perpetrators of both crimes to justice.
It would be recalled that Bola Ige was murdered in his home in Bodija, Ibadan, on the evening of December 23, 2001, after his security details had sought permission from the former Attorney General to go and eat.
The Vanguard newspaper reports that IGP Idris has assembled a crack team to be headed by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG, in order to unravel the mystery behind the death of the politician and former governor of Oyo State.
Several unsubstantiated allegations were made against several politicians and interest groups following Ige’s murder, with some saying that he was killed to halt the rise in his political profile, while others said it had to do with his impending probe of the corruption in the power sector of the nation’s economy.
The late PDP Deputy National Chairman, Aminosari Dokubo, on the other hand, was said to be returning to his base from Abuja on October 22, 2004 when he was waylaid and killed by suspected assassins near Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Dokubo’s assassination at the time was alleged to have been caused by certain disagreements with the powers that be in his political party, prior to the general elections.
Reacting to the development, Ige’s son, Muyiwa, said that it would be a thing of joy if the family could get justice 16 years after their father’s murder, adding that he was certain from the advent of the present administration that the matter would be resurrected.
“To God be the glory. It’s a new day; we are happy, we will get justice after 16 years. We are happy that all those who murdered our father, including the star witness, will be brought to justice. It’s good news,” Muyiwa said.
The killing of the two personalities sparked national outrage at the time, with Nigerians calling on the then Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration to fish out the killers who, sadly, are still at large.
Gbaramatu women protesting the continued detention of youths from the community
The people of Oporoza community, headquarters of Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South West local government area of Delta State have staged a protest to demand the release of some youths in the area who were allegedly taken away by the Nigerian Army several weeks ago.
They said the military invaded their community under the guise of searching for members of the Niger Delta Avengers, destroying and carting away valuables as well as capturing some youths.
They also claimed that their captured loved ones were neither directly nor indirectly connected to the Niger Delta Avengers, and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to order the military to release the youths.
A source at the Nigerian Army 3rd Battalion in Warri, Delta State, has confirmed that the youths were indeed arrested but were being interrogated for various offences.
He said their friends and families need not entertain any fears as they have not been killed as alleged but were merely going through routine investigation.
The Gbaramatu community has been in the limelight in recent times following speculations and allegations that one of its indigenes, Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, is connected to the Niger Delta Avengers.
Founder of Microsoft and Philanthropist, Bill Gates says African leaders must harness the power and ability of youths to drive innovation in the continent. He said African leaders must encourage the youths and provide opportunity for them to thrive.
He said this during the 14th Annual Nelson Mandela Foundation Lecture in Pretoria, South Africa, where he was the keynote speaker.
Gates acknowledged some young Africans who have created groundbreaking innovations, though he admitted that economic, social and health challenges prevailing in the continent are some of the factors that could hinder development of the youth and that of the future of Africa.
He emphasized the need for African leaders to multiply the talents for innovation by the whole of Africa’s growing population, and that depends on whether all of Africa’s young people are given the opportunity to thrive.
“Nelson Mandela said poverty is not natural, it is man-made and it can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. We are the human beings that must take action and we have to decide now because this unique moment won’t last,” Gates said.
He added that “We must clear away the obstacles that are standing in young people’s way so that they can seize all their potential,
“If young people are sick and malnourished, their bodies and brains will never fully develop. If they are not educated well, their minds will lie dormant. If they do not have access to economic opportunities, they will not be able to achieve their goals,” he added.
When ThisDay newspaper on July 12, 2016 broke the news of Hadiza Bala Usman , then chief of staff to Governor Nasir El-Rufai being considered by President Muhammadu Buhari to head the Nigerian Ports Authority(NPA) based on the recommendation of Rotimi Amaechi, the Minister of Transport, I was very happy and optimistic for three reasons.
I felt Buhari has finally seen reason to do the needful by bringing more young people on board, that the Nigerian project under the change mantra was on course and, most importantly, Nigeria is moving away from ethnic politics.
That an Ikwerre man is now recommending a Hausa woman to the President for a very sensitive and tedious national assignment is gratifying. This is because the Buhari cabinet has been bogged down by criticism of having too many ‘’dead wood’’ in its fold. This, according to critics, is because some of the ministers are too old to cope with the demands of governance in a digital age.
Second, some of them have been part of past governments that have taken the nation to its present state where Nigeria is still learning to crawl at 56.
Few hours later, her appointment was confirmed by the federal government. I am at a loss why some Nigerians have continued to criticize Usman’s appointment on the basis of where she comes from. It is gratifying that no-one, to the best of my knowledge, has talked about her capacity to do the job, which is a plus for her.
This, to me, should be the focal point. Her appointment signifies a paradigm shift by government and a ray of hope for our generation that the much talked leaders of tomorrow slogan of many years is finally materializing.
The NPA is also too strategic in these lean times to be left in the hands of some political god fathers who consider juicy appointments their birthright.
I believe her critics are missing the point. The founding fathers of Nigeria have always stressed the need for us to emphasize issues that bring us together rather than those that divide us.
The question is should Hadiza Bala Usman reposition NPA in the next 24 months, up its revenue base just like Hammed Ali has done for the Nigerian Customs; will the money go to Northern Nigeria or federation account?
It is an undisputed fact that our infrastructure have gone so bad that one will think there is no government in place to fix things. This is why many Nigerians have become their own government fixing their roads, drilling boreholes for their homes in the absence of public water supply, paying vigilante watch to guard their houses due to inefficiency of the Nigerian Police and relying on generators as an alternative to Disco’s ‘’festival of darkness’’.
All these challenges underscore the fact that the system is not working due to weak institutions. I see a new NPA as a partial step towards ending budget deficit that has become Nigeria’s middle name in the last few years.
I guess this is what the president had in mind when he accepted Amaechi’s recommendation. Then, why the issue of where she comes from? I believe many years of nepotism have so much blinded some us that we find it difficult to see the larger picture in any situation.
Any attempt to talk about her state of origin amounts to throwing away the baby with the bath water. It is unprecedented for an average Nigerian to recommend someone outside his/her ethnic stock for sensitive political appointment.
Rotimi Amaechi could have used his position by recommending someone from Rivers State and the candidate will still scale through. He chose merit over ethnic solidarity and political patronage.
I have lived in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the East Coast of the United States for the past six years where I went to graduate school. I have never experienced power failure for a second, never driven on a road ridden with potholes or has my tap run dry.
The power in my house is a supplied by a company popular on the East Coast called National Grid. I have never thought or heard someone raising the issue of where the Chief Executive of National Grid should come from. Or whether he is black, African American or Hispanic?
This is because it is irrelevant as what matters is service delivery and people knowing that they have a government that is caring and responsible. What has made the United States great is the focus on what one is bringing to the table, rather than his color of skin or state of origin.
Why can’t we begin to have a civilized conversation about how to move this country forward without bringing ethnicity or religion?
Since my sojourn in the US, I have been to Nigeria over a dozen times, especially in the last two years. One thing that makes me sick is the epileptic power supply as someone who has an aversion for generators.
I also pity people who do business in Nigeria due to the high cost of powering generators and double taxation. Why then should we rubbish a bold attempt to move the nation away from its sordid past?
There is the need for us to do away with this Nigerian mentality that makes us look at things as Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or Idoma. This mentality has done so much damage to our psyche that Nigeria is today more divided than we were during the civil war. I have never been a fan of federal character or quota system.
It is responsible for the rot in the civil service today that a barber or welder gets the job of a permanent secretary without having the requisite experience to do the job.
I have never met Hadiza Bala Usman, but only read about her at the early stages of Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG) and her stint as Chief of Staff of ‘’Chief Feather Ruffler’ of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai.
I see her as someone with vision. Hence, I do not care where she comes from, knowing what transpired at the NPA during the Goodluck Jonathan years. All that I care about is the repositioning of this strategic parastatal for improved revenue generation as a place where every Nigerian will be proud of.
On the other hand, I never met her late father, Bala Usman, either but was opportune to be at an event where he presented a paper at one of the Northern states some years back. I had to go to the mini secretariat of the event organizers within the same premises to ask for a copy of Usman’s paper.
As I entered the room, a Yoruba woman who was manning the computer told another young man who was making photocopies in Yoruba, “Can you imagine this Baba from Ahmadu Bello University came with his return ticket, when other resource persons were waiting on government to pay for their flights? He is just too principled and honest that he never wants to take anything that is not for him’’.
The young man beamed and said ‘’Olododo ni Baba yi’’. This means Dr Bala Usman is a man of integrity. I could see admiration and respect in the eyes of these two people while the conversation lasted. Inside me, I shared the same respect for Bala Usman’s conduct.
It is a radical departure from the culture I know as a journalist where resource persons invited by governors bill upfront regardless of how important is the presentation to the people and wanting their host to pay for everything including the polishing of their shoes.
The import of this flashback is that in Hadiza I see her late father or what some call a chip of the old block. I see determination, courage and a change agent. Thus, she should be given a chance to justify the confidence reposed in her by President Buhari.
Hadiza should see the criticism trailing her appointment as a shot in the arm to prove her critics wrong, by surpassing everyone’s expectation at NPA. The organization as it is today is in dire need of reforms that even an “F’’ candidate in school knows the NPA is sick, malnourished and infected with the disease of Nigerian mentality. Her appointment among the many qualified persons is a litmus test for our generation and a challenge to test whether the Nigerian youth is still his own worst enemy.
Go, Hadiza, as the torchbearer of this generation and the daughter of a comrade who never had the word ‘’impossible’’ in his dictionary, change the face of Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) just like your father brought Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) from relative obscurity to a center of academic excellence of national and global significance.
Lawal, a public commentator writes from Boston, United States. He can be reached at rafla2002pl@yahoo.com
Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris, has assured Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Borno State of adequate security to enable them return to their homelands.
The IGP gave the assurance during the flag-off ceremony of the police medical outreach and distribution of relief materials to IDPs at the Muna camp in Maiduguri.
Idris said that Borno State is the second state he is visiting since his appointment, noting that the state remains dear to his heart as he had spent over five years there as mobile police force commandant.
The acting IGP was accompanied to the camp by the Comptroller General of Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Mohammed Babandede, the Commandant General of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mohammed Gana Amadu and Comptroller General of Nigerian Prison, Mohammed Japana.
He said that he came along with the other security chiefs in order to facilitate the deployment of security personnel back to the liberated areas so as to help the troops on ground in maintaining order and restoring civil authority in the areas.
He said that the medical outreach is to provide succour to the IDPs.
Idris said in order to effectively fight crime and criminality, the police is going to establish forensic laboratory in all police divisions, create data base and work closely with the National Identity Management Commission.
The security heads had earlier paid a courtesy visit to the Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima, at the Government House where the governor commended the unity of purpose among the security agencies, demonstrated by the visit of their various heads to the state.
Shetima lamented that Borno State was treated as if it was not part of the nation during the government of former President Goodluck Jonathan, adding that at a point 22 local government areas were taken by the insurgents and that the state capital, Maiduguri, was at the verge of falling under Boko Haram as they repeatedly attacked the town.
He said the trend however changed with the coming of President Muhammadu Buhari as the military started recording successes and reclaiming all the occupied communities.
Civil society organisations in Bayelsa have condemned increasing incidence of human rights abuses by security operatives in the state against residents.
The groups, including the Bayelsa Non-Governmental Organisations Forum, BANGOF, Civil Liberties Organisarion, CLO and the International Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA, whose leaders addressed journalists in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Sunday, said that there had been a “geometric spike in cases of extortion and brutality against the people.
Chairman of BANGOF, Robinson Kuroghobogha, , who read a prepared statement of the groups, expressed worry at the increasing spate of human rights violations by men of the Nigeria Police, the armed forces and other security agencies, noting that that, rather, they are meant to provide security for citizens.
“It has come to the notice of the civil society that the rate of assault, harassment, intimidation and unlawful extortion of law-abiding citizens in Yenagoa by armed security personnel has been on a geometric increase,” Kuroghobogha said.
Continuing, he said that “several cases of brutality by armed security personnel have been reported to various institutions with no tangible response from them.”
The activist cited as examples of human right abuses by security operatives, the recent assaults on a reporter with Radio Bayelsa, Tonye Yemoleigha, by an Air Force rating and a student, Philomena Briggs, by five policemen.
Kuroghobogha observed that such acts are human right abuses and a violation of their fundamental human rights guaranteed in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human Rights.
“The human rights community and indeed all law-abiding citizens of Bayelsa are seriously concerned with the excessive conduct of armed security personnel, he states, adding that the primary duty of the police and other security agencies is “protection of lives and property and ensuring the rights of law-abiding citizens are not violated.”
“Therefore, policemen acting with impunity and violating the fundamental rights of law-abiding citizens is a deliberate call to chaos and anarchy and no sane society will approve of that”, he said further.
The groups appealed to the heads of security agencies to address the situation and halt the human rights abuses on citizens.
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the coup attempt in Turkey by a group of rebel army officers and men which resulted in the reported death of more about 256 people.
President Buhari said he is “deeply saddened by reports of a violent attempt to dismantle constitutional authority and disrupt the democratically elected government of Tayyip Erdogan in Turkey.
“The removal of a democratic government by force is no longer acceptable. Violence can never solve any problem but only complicates them and sets back the progress of democratic societies.”
The President also noted that President Erdogan is one of Nigeria’s close international partners and sincere supporter in its current war against terrorism, adding that the “destabilization of democratic countries through coups d’état in the 21st century” must be resisted by the people.
President, Buhari said that “democracy provides peaceful options of changing governments through the ballot box. The ballot box doesn’t require violence to remove any government perceived to have lost its popularity and public support. Despite its limitations, democracy is still better and more durable than a violent change of government.”
The President praised the courage and immediate response of ordinary citizens, who in face of guns and tanks defied the rebel soldiers and forced them to abandon their “mad quest for power”.
He called on the President of Turkey to pursue reconciliation and offered Nigeria’s support to the government and people of Turkey in their hour of trial.
The Police Service Commission, PSC, has approved the promotion of 18 Police officers to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, AIGs; while 37 others have been promoted to the rank of Commissioners of Police. Nine officers were also made Deputy Commissioners of Police.
This was contained in a statement by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani on Saturday in Abuja.
The statement quoted the PSC Chairman, Mike Okiro, as saying that the promotions and postings were in line with the commission’s resolve to reposition the Nigeria Police Force for better performance.
Ani stated that Ibrahim Adamu is now AIG, Zone 1; Abdulmajid Ali, AIG, Zone 2 and Usman Tilli, AIG zone 3.
Dorathy Gimba remains in charge of the Investment Formation, Mohammed Mohammed, Special Protection Unit while Mohammed Katsina was moved from Maritime to the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Jos. Paul Okafor takes over the Maritime desk, the statement noted, adding that 16 CPS retained their commands.
CP Henry Fadairo was moved from Research and Planning department to Jigawa State.
Okiro, while congratulating the newly promoted officers, urged them to be hardworking and dedicated to their duties as the commission would hold any of them personally responsible for any failure in the discharge of their duties.
The Nigerian Army has continued to record more success in its bid to flush out remnants of Boko Haram members in the northeast.
The latest victory came as troops of 29 Brigade’s Quick Reaction Force, QRF, with help from the youth vigilante group, Civilian JTF, on Friday successfully ambushed members of the group in Marguba, a village in Kaga local government area of Borno State, killing two while others escaped with gunshot wounds.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by army spokesperson, Sani Usman, a Colonel, the troops recovered some weapons and ammunition including “one AK-47 rifle with 29 rounds of 7.62mm (Special) ammunition, a bow and arrows, a Tecno mobile telephone handset, 1 wallet and an Identity Card of Animal Dealers Association, among other items.”
Similarly, Usman said troops are not deterred by the unfavourable terrain in Sambisa forest caused by heavy downpour, which makes movement of vehicles and equipment difficult, as they carry out clearance operations with support from Civilian JTF.
“Despite bugging down of vehicles and equipment because of the bad terrain, the troops have continued with their clearance operations,” Usman added.
The Federal Government says it would partner the United States on fair labour practices to boost international trade relations in the Nigeria.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, made this known when he played host to Marlin Hardinger, the Political Officer in the U.S. Embassy, in Abuja.
According to a statement by Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press, in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, on Saturday, the Minister said that the decision by the U.S. to tie her trade relations with Nigeria to fair labour practices was a big boost to the country’s international trade.
“We appreciate the American government for taking this step. It is pleasing to note that you are synergising with the International Labour Organisation to make this workable. This is really a big boost to trade not only in Nigeria, but in the entire continent of Africa,” the minister was quoted as saying.
Ngige said that although trade relations between Nigeria and the US have receded following the decision of US to stop the import of crude from Nigeria, “we have a vast agricultural product base which can find ready market in the U.S.”
He said that the primary focus of the Federal Government currently was to give quality life, including gainful employment and infrastructural development, to the people.
“What we are looking for is a Nigeria that is prosperous and stable enough to remain a rallying point in the comity of nations and not necessarily a super power. We will partner you in this effort,” Ngige said.
The statement also quoted Hardinger as saying that the purpose of his visit was to encourage, correct and adjust trade efforts across Africa and the U.S.
He said that the process officially began in 2000 and was renewed in 2015, adding that promoting trade and economic growth was integral to proper running of an economy.
Hardinger said that the objective would be given more momentum at the 2016 Labour Roundtable Conference slated for September in the U.S.
Also speaking at the event, the statement said, was Dennis Zulu, the International Labour Organization, ILO, Country Director for Nigeria, who said that the proposed September meeting would enrich participating countries on labour laws.
Zulu said that the discussions on trade goals and labour would be beneficial to member-states.
Clement Illoh, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Employment, said that the theme for the workshop would be centred on relationship between labour, trade and investment, with reference to occupational safety and health.
He said that Nigeria had ratified the eight-core convention in the World of Work, “especially on issues like social labelling, child labour, hazard at work, employments, skill development and certification as to their relationship with trade and investment,” he said.
