The Lagos State Police Command has queried the Noforija Divisional Police Officer after two brothers accused of raping a teenager in the Igbooye community, Epe area of the state, escaped from custody.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said it was discovered that the DPO lied that the suspects were in custody, adding that he had been queried.
Our correspondent had reported that two brothers, Alaba and Abiodun Musa, allegedly took turns to rape the victim, a 16-year-old girl.
They were alleged to have hypnotised and raped her.
Despite threats from the suspects, the teenager was said to have opened up to some residents as community youths mobilised, apprehended the brothers and handed them over to men of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
The security men then handed the brothers over to the police.
When contacted then, the police spokesperson, Elkana, told PUNCH Metro that the Commissioner of Police had instructed that the suspects be transferred to the gender unit of the command headquarters, Ikeja.
However, in controversial circumstances, the suspects escaped.
When our correspondent contacted the DPO, he denied the claim, just as another policeman at the station insisted that the brothers were still in custody.
Elkana had issued another order on behalf of the CP that the suspects and the parties should be brought to the command headquarters.
On Wednesday, he told PUNCH Metro that the DPO had been queried.
“We have discovered that the suspects are not in custody. We have sanctioned the DPO and asked him to produce them. The division has been queried,” he said.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that members of the community were being pressurised to give up on the case.
South Africa and Nigeria signed 30 trade and cooperation agreements on Thursday, weeks after a wave of violence against Nigerian nationals in Johannesburg and Pretoria had strained relations between Africa’s top two economies.
Presidents Cyril Ramaphosa and Muhammadu Buhari at the conclusion of a two-day visit by the Nigerian leader said they regretted the violence and subsequent retaliation in Nigeria against South African businesses, pledging instead to deepen trade ties.
In September, mobs armed with makeshift weapons attacked businesses and homes owned by foreigners, leading to at least 10 deaths, dozens of injuries and up to 400 arrests.
In response, Nigeria repatriated hundreds of its citizens living in South Africa.
The local units of South African telecoms company MTN and supermarket chain Shoprite closed all stores and service centres in Nigeria after their premises were attacked by Nigerians protesting against attacks on their compatriots in South Africa.
“As the government of South Africa, we have expressed our deep regret at the attacks directed at foreign nationals and our condemnation of all forms of intolerance and acts of violence,” Ramaphosa told reporters.
Ramaphosa said the two countries had sealed 32 bilateral agreements and memoranda of understanding, covering trade and industry, science and technology, defence, agriculture and energy.
Nigeria accounts for 64 per cent of South Africa’s total trade with the West African sub-Region and is one of its largest trading partners on the continent.
Buhari said beyond the economic partnership the anti-foreigner violence had to be addressed quickly.
“We decided to take concrete measures to prevent the recurrence of such unacceptable incidents in the future,” Buhari said.
PREAMBLE:
After three months of darkness, students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti resolved to stage a protest against the Benin Electricity Distribution Company, the disco in charge of that area.
The protest was called at the instance of the students who massively mobilized themselves to express their displeasure and was led by the Students Union Government.
In the early hours of 9th September, 2019, the students had mobilized themselves and gathered at the Ifaki-Ikole-Omuo highway to draw attention to their plight with presence of police officers drawn from divisions under the Police Command, Ekiti State.
The protest ended peacefully around noon and the students dispersed.
Soon after, the convoy of the wife of Ekiti State Governor drove into town and were received by jubilant party members, motorcycle riders and community leaders to the venue of the program Erelu Bisi Fayemi had scheduled to attend at Oye Ekiti.
Prior to her arrival, the security team attached to Erelu Bisi Fayemi had been copiously briefed on the protest embarked upon by the students necessitating delay for 2hours.
Upon arrival at the venue of the program, the CSO to the State Government invited the Student Union President of FUOYE for a possible dialogue.
Honouring the invitation, facilitated by a Military personnel (attached to a military check point), an armed Counter Terrorism Unit officer, attached to the Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State approached with a slap and assaulted the Student Union President.
Reportedly, this happened in the presence of the CSO, the Military personnel, FUOYE students and indigenes of Oye Ekiti community who got infuriated by the assault on the Student Union President.
OUR FACT FINDING REVEALS THE FOLLOWING;
*That the students protest of 9th September, 2019 was peaceful.
*That the protest was not targeted at the wife of the governor but the BEDC
*That the students had dispersed before the entrance of Erelu Bisi Fayemi, wife of Ekiti State Governor into Oye community.
*That the people of the community mobilized to welcome the wife of the governor from entrance to the venue of her program without any threat to her person and her entourage
*That the Student Union President was invited from where he had earlier retired to take a rest by the Chief Security Officer to the Ekiti State Governor.
*That an unnamed officer with the Counter Terrorism Unit attached to the Wife of the Governor of Ekiti State did slap and molest the student Union President without any provocation in the presence of the CSO to the governor.
*That the Student Union President left the venue after being pacified by the CSO and the military personnel who had earlier invited him for a meeting with the CSO.
*That due to infuriation by the students and indigenes present during the molestation and assault of the Student Union President by the CTU officer, the atmosphere became tensed and in the ensuing altercations, the wife of the governor abruptly ended her engagement at Oye-Ekiti. Whereas, a simple attention by H.E Erelu Fayemi would have calmed the situation but massive ‘force’ was deployed by the Counter Terrorism Unit officers attached to Erelu Bisi Fayemi in whisking her away from the venue.
*That the CTU officers employed brute force, shooting sporadically at different directions in a bid to whisk away the Wife of the Governor who was obviously under no threat whatsoever.
*That in the course of shooting sporadically, clear intentions were made by the CTU officers to kill as bullets and tear gas cannisters were fired aiming at harmless students and indigenes.
*That during the shooting, four students were fired, one in the head, another in the hand and the other in the stomach.
*That one indigene was also shot in the buttock while doing legitimate business in his shop
*That while Kehinde Dada died on the spot, Joseph Okonofua was rushed to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti where several operations were performed to save his life by the medical team on hand proved abortive.
*That several others were injured, rushed to different hospitals for medical care.
*That one of the victims hit by a canister fired by an armed officer of the CTU was immediately referred to Lagos State Teaching Hospital and currently paralyzed.
*That many of the students and indigenes sustained bullet wounds and varying degrees of injuries some of whom have received treatment and recuperating.
*That both Kehinde Dada and Joseph Okonofua felled by CTU officers attached to Erelu Bisi Fayemi has been buried in Usi-Ekiti, Ekiti State and Ewu, Edo State respectively without any autopsy conducted to them.
THE UNFORTUNATE DENIAL
Despite the murder of two promising students during her political visitation to Oye-Ekiti, the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi rushed to the media upon hearing that casualties have been recorded as a result of her security attaché unprofessionalism, overzealousness and barbarism to allege that the students attacked her convoy and that she only escaped through the grace of God.
Again, the Ekiti State Government hurriedly, without verification and due diligence, through the Commissioner for Information, Orientation and Culture, Mr. Muyiwa Olumilua laboriously attempted to pull the wool off the eyes of the public by dishing out dishonest views in respect to what transpired; all were aimed at covering up the stark reality of their misdeed.
Painful however, the subtle plans to negate the occurrence and paint a picture of political attack were soon distorted by on the spot video recordings of the brutality.
While many believed that Police officers at the Ekiti State Command precipitated the crisis, NANS investigation revealed that the CTU officers attached to the wife of Ekiti State Governor is not under the control of the Police command.
Whereas, Ekiti State is not listed amongst states under threats of terrorist attack, attaching multitude of CTU officers to an individual is nonetheless viewed by Nigerian students and Ekiti citizens as an abuse of power.
That every attempt has been made by the government and agents in collaboration with the State government at suppressing the truth, intimidating those who spoke against the barbarism and breaking the ranks of the student leadership, her structural organs and active members.
Suffice to say that efforts are still ongoing by the agents of Ekiti State government to declassify genuine efforts by the NANS leadership in seeking justice.
THE KAYODE FAYEMI BROADCAST
There’s no gainsaying the fact that Governor John Kayode Fayemi in his broadcast was humane, though an afterthought, He nonetheless failed to acknowledge the pains of the people and families, communities and the University community, NANS and Nigerian students by apologizing on behalf of his wife for the unfortunate brutality on harmless citizens.
Much as the Governor laboured to impress the public with his crafted thoughts, the message failed to situate the reality of the sad occurrence leading to the death of two promising students of FUOYE with his outright emphasis that Erelu Bisi Fayemi, his wife was the victim of the unfortunate brutality. We out of curiosity ask, who was brutal?
INTERVENTION AND VERIFICATION
In response to the call by Nigerians demanding justice for the murdered FUOYE students, the Global President of NANS Danielson Bamidele Akpan led a delegation to Ekiti State on the 15th of September, 2019 to assess the situation.
Until arrival, no remorse was shown by any of the actors in the unfortunate incident. Students were indiscriminately arrested and detained at the Ekiti State Police Command beyond the rightful 24hrs permitted by the law. It took the intervention of the delegation to secure the release of those in detention and retrieve the impounded ‘Aluta vehicle’ belonging to the Students’ Union Government of FUOYE.
The wife of the governor/the Ekiti State government had rather alleged that the students attacked the convoy on that fateful day.
Amongst other places where investigations were covertly done, the leadership in keeping to #JUSTICEFORFUOYE interacted with the following:
The State Security Service, Ekiti State Command, The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, Royal Highnesses both at Oye-Ekiti and Usi-Ekiti, The SUG President and executive members of FUOYE, The NANS JCC leadership in Ekiti State, former leaders of NANS in Ekiti State and South Western Nigeria, Parents and families of the murdered students (Kehinde Dada and Joseph Okonofua), indigenes of Oye, Ikole and Usi-Ekiti, Management and Board of Federal Medical Center, Ido-Ekiti, Management and Staff of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, The SA Youth and Student to the Governor of Ekiti State amongst others.
These interactions were quite revealing, enriching and as well informative.
DEMANDS:
*That it is incumbent as a ‘moral duty’ on the wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi to make available the list of Counter Terrorism Unit officers attached to her person and office.
* That Erelu Bisi Fayemi should tell the entire public why she moves in a convoy of CTU officers instead of Special Protection Unit officers designated for the protection of VIP’s such as her likes.
*That an apology letter be written by Erelu Bisi Fayemi; published in at least 5 national dailies, 6 television stations with wide coverage and 12 radio stations spread across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and 20 online news medium.
*That the Ekiti State Government should without delay retract statements credited to the Commissioner of Information, Orientation and culture claiming that the wife of the governor and her convoy were attacked by FUOYE students.
*That beyond condolence visits paid to families of Kehinde Dada and Joseph Okonofua, practical effort should be made by the state government to deliberately assuage the grieving families through;
1. Employment into the state civil service at least 2 members of each of the families of the deceased students deemed employable.
2. Immortalization of the slained students.
3. Immediate release of CTU officers attached to the wife of the Ekiti State Governor for prosecution in accordance to the laws.
4. That a judicial commission of inquiry involving all stakeholders including the students, members of the host communities and the deceased families be set up immediately to unravel the cause of the incident with a view to forestalling future occurrence.
5. The Ekiti State Government should immediately pay the gratuity and pension of the parents of Kehinde Dada which they have not paid for Seven Years after retirement.
6. That all the medical bills of the survivors be paid with Twenty million Naira (N20m) each as compensation.
*That the Ekiti State Government should as a matter of urgency provide transformers to communities hosting the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti to facilitate regular supply of electricity.
That the Benin Electricity Distribution Company should show efficiency and ensure supply of electricity to the campuses of FUOYE both at Oye-Ekiti and Ikole-Ekiti and other communities where the students reside.
*That no attempt should be made at pointing accusations at the Students Union Government of FUOYE, any of her executives and or any students in relation to the protest which is entirely not connected with the brute of the overzealous CTU officers attached to Erelu Bisi Fayemi.
*That the IGP should as a matter of urgency reconstitute the Police Students Relations Committee who can interface and nip in the bud the incessant killing of innocent Nigerian students by trigger happy Police officers and create a student’s friendly police.
*That the Police authorities should bar police officers such as SARS, CTU e.t.c other than the regular police from meddling in student matters especially on campuses or communities hosting students.
*That the NANS hereby places a ban on the wife of Ekiti State Governor, Erelu Bisi Fayemi and her spouse from entering, attending or participating in any activity(ies) on any campus of any Tertiary Institution in Nigeria pending the resolution of all issues in contention.
*That NANS demands that all of these demands are met before 10th October, 2019.
APPRECIATION:
The National Association of Nigerian Students ably led by Comr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan wishes to profoundly thank the following;
Director SSS, Ekiti State
CP, Ekiti State Police Command
Board and Management, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti
HRH, Oloye of Oye-Ekiti
HRH, Olusi of Usi-Ekiti
Vice Chancellor and Management Staff, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti
NANS VP External Affairs and PRO
SA, Student and Youth to the Governor of Ekiti State
NANS leaders and stakeholders, Zone D
NANS JCC leadership, Ekiti State
NANS JCC leadership, Ondo state.
Federation of Ekiti State Students Union
Parents and families of Kehinde Dada and Joseph Okonofua
Comrades and stakeholders of NANS, Ekiti State
Comrades and stakeholders from Oyo, Osun and Ogun
The Media
The entire public.
CONCLUSION
Having lost two promising sons, our heartfelt condolences once again goes to the families of Mr and Mrs Dada of Usi-Ekiti and Mr and Mrs Okonofua of Ewu, Edo State.
Our resolve to ensure #JusticeforFuoye is predicated on the fact that abuse of power by those in authorities should not be swept under the carpet. No live is superior to another. NANS shall ensure justice. Practical actions will be taken in making sure this is the last of such abuse on Nigerian students.
We call on the National Human Rights Commission, The Media, Civil Liberty Organisation, Human Rights Activists, Amnesty International and other public interest organizations to support us in bringing justice in this matter.
Any attempt by the Ekiti State government to attack or sabotage this resolve will be met with quick response.
In the coming days, we shall stand tall to prove that nobody is above the law.
Signed
Comr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan, GCNS
Global President
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)
Veteran Nollywood actress, Rita Dominic, has revealed why BBNaija housemate, Mercy, should emerge as the winner of Big Brother Naija, BBNaija, 2019 ‘Pepper dem’ edition.
According to her via Instagram, “It’s time for a woman to win #bbnaija and I believe she has played a good game.” She then proceeded to ask her followers to vote for Mercy.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday, described as “absurd” the alleged conspiracy and rift in the presidency against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s roles in the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Lanre Issa-Onilu, APC National Publicity Secretary, in a statement, said the speculations started after the setting up of the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) comprising some of Nigeria’s most independent-minded economists (some vocally critical of government’s fiscal policies) to advise the President on economic policy matters, including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues, working with the relevant cabinet members and heads of monetary and fiscal agencies.
It said constitutionally, while the power of the Vice President is derived from the President, critics ignore Section 141 of the Constitution, which spells out the Vice President’s statute membership in the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council.
“Then, sponsored hogwash reports emanated that the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) gave the Vice President N90billion for the 2019 election — a rejected and disgraceful template of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which saw the party deploy public and counter insurgency funds to finance their political activities during their failed 16-year rule of the country”, Onilu said.
“The conspirators are desperately trying to link government decisions on the N-SIPs, which have been under the office of the Vice President since it started in 2016 to support the conspiracies, however mundane.
“In the same October 1 address, the President announced the recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF). Was this also to ‘whittle down’ the powers of the OSGF?
“In our respective and collective efforts to support the development of our country, we cannot afford to fall into the superficial in assessing actions of government.
“Since implementation of the N-SIPs in 2016, the programme has impacted over 12 million direct beneficiaries and over 30 million indirect beneficiaries. The SIPs are already gaining global and local acclaims across the globe on account of its nationwide social impact, particularly from endorsement by the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), World Bank, World Economic Forum, Action Aid (Nigeria), Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ) the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) among others.
“A question we should ask the conspirators and their partisan sponsors is how did they miss the import of the President’s decision to create a whole ministry to superintend the social investment programmes and humanitarian issues?
“How did they not realise that the President’s action is an indication of the importance he attaches to policies that are targeted at the poor?
“Why does it appear that the so called analysts always do not see things from the point of view of the poor? When policies are targeted at the elites, analysts always seem to see those and understand them for what they are, but choose all the time to see the mundane when policies address issues that bother on the welfare of the masses.
“Warehousing all Social Investment Programmes, such as N-Power, Conditional Cash Transfers, National Home-Grown School Feeding and Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programmes (GEEP) under a full Ministry and appointing a substantive Minister with the full complement of civil service structure is a statement of President Buhari’s renewed commitment to pulling millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
“We can understand PDP’s incurable shortsightedness and its leaders’ disdain for the good of the ordinary Nigerians, but we urge a more rigorous and educated critic of government actions from those who have taken on the noble responsibility of reviewing public policies. This is a duty Nigerians expect of the media and the critics.
“The Vice President played a frontline role in the conceptualisation of these policies and programmes and the President, in demonstration of his trust for him, charged him with the responsibility of nurturing the programmes to the current stage. Tremendous successes have been recorded under the guardianship of the Vice President. In demonstrating the administration’s commitment to the cause of the poor, these interventionist programmes have been elevated to the Next Level with the creation of the new ministry.
“The purveyors of the conspiracy theory about the imagined rift in the Presidency have missed the opportunity to see the commendable efforts of this government. Perhaps, if these policies were about the elites, they would have focussed on the positive imports rather than fishing for a crisis that only exists in their fatuous imagination.”
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday arrived Pretoria, South Africa, for a state visit and 9th meeting of the Bi-National Commission.
Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, who confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Thursday morning, said the 9th meeting of the commission would for the first time witness participation of the two Heads of State after an elevation.
The Bi-National Commission meeting was elevated to the level of Presidents’ participation, following the strategic position of the two economies in Africa and the need for stronger relations.
Shehu disclosed that Buhari and his host, President Cyril Ramophosa, would co-chair the meeting on Thursday.
NAN reports that the President’s plane arrived in the South African Air force Base, Waterkloof, at 9.10 p. m, and he was received by the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor and Minister of Social Development, Ms Lindiwe Zulu.
Before the meeting which would be held at the Union Building, both Presidents would discuss issues of mutual interests relating to the welfare of citizens, and expanding economic and cultural ties.
Shehu said the visit would enable more harmonious relations between the two largest economies in Africa, and open up more frontiers of opportunities for prosperity by encouraging more exchange and investments, especially for Nigerians.
Shehu said, 32 agreements and Memoranda Of Understanding (MoU) had been signed at the Bi-National Commission, which would be mutually beneficial to both nations.
He added that the meeting would provide an opportunity to review progress.
“President Buhari is on a state visit to South Africa. While in South Africa, the two leaders will review a number of issues in our Bi-National Commission, including issues that affect citizens,’’ he said.
Buhari would also hold an interactive meeting with Nigerians in South Africa before returning to Abuja.
No fewer than 1,000 pupils of Queen’s College, Yaba, Lagos, have been taken home by their parents after the outbreak of what is suspected to be an infection.
“It is over 1,000 (pupils) now as we speak. See, I cannot talk about what I don’t know. What you have in your palm, you don’t need a mirror to look at it,” the Chairman of the Parents Teacher Association, John Ofobike, told our correspondent on Monday.
The PUNCH learnt that the pupils started falling sick after resuming about two weeks ago.
The school’s sickbay was said to be crowded with pupils, as many were also laid on benches to create extensions.
About two years ago, three pupils of the school died from water-borne infections, which drew outrage from many Nigerians who called for investigation into the crisis.
A parent, who drew the attention of our correspondent to the current situation on Monday, said, “They resumed about two weeks ago. Since they returned to school, the children had been taking exit permit. As of this morning (Monday), 700 pupils have gone home on exit permit. Yesterday (Sunday), the school’s PTA executives went to meet the principal of the school and asked to see the sickbay.
“On getting there, they saw girls on beds; everybody was alarmed. They demanded to see the list of those who had taken permission to leave the school on health grounds. The principal refused to make the records available. Most of those going home were having what has been discovered to have typhoid symptoms. There is an epidemic, but the school is trying to cover it up.”
Another parent, who asked not to be identified, alleged that the school was not fumigated before the pupils resumed.
Our correspondent demanded to know the nature of her daughter’s illness after the victim was taken to the hospital and she said the girl was diagnosed with typhoid and high fever.
The girl, who also spoke to The PUNCH, said although she could not tell the number of her colleagues that had gone home, some of them were affected.
“But I am getting better now,” she said.
The PUNCH obtained screenshots from a forum of parents of the school, where they narrated their experiences after visiting to take their children home.
One of them, who confirmed the 700 figure, said the school principal denied the PTA access to the records.
“The ministry is already in the know of the situation and the figures, nothing to hide. The parents we met there narrated how they have spent their hard-earned money on what doctors described as bacterial infections from food and water,” she said.
Another parent, who claimed to be a public health specialist, said he was called to the sickbay that his daughter was not feeling well.
A parent said as she typed, there were over 40 students at the sickbay.
She said, “My daughter came home with high fever and difficulty in breathing since last week Tuesday as the 95th child. Now 700?”
A parent said if any of the pupils died, they would resort to litigation.
A man on the platform said the reason the parents were being asked to pick their children was because of acute shortage of medical personnel.
“Only one doctor and a nurse attending to over 200 pupils is not ideal. As of 4.30pm when I was there, the doctor, nurse and record woman have yet to have their breakfast due to the workload. They have seen more than 150 students today.”
A parent, who disagreed with the excuse that the rainfall on Saturday was responsible for the illness, pointed out that more of the junior pupils who checked in on Sunday were ill.
A woman shared a photo of the water tank of the school, which she said was just being washed.
The spokesperson for the Parent Teacher Association, Ify Obi-Nwoye, said the federal ministry and the Lagos State Ministry of Health had gone to the school and taken samples of the food in the school.
“A nurse in the school had told me when this thing started that it was better we close down so that students would go for comprehensive tests. I reported it on the platform and the principal immediately queried the nurse. She also threatened those on duty. Everywhere is tense,” Obi-Nwoye said.
The Chairman of the Parent Teacher Association, John Ofobike, said as of 7pm on Monday, 1,000 pupils had left on health grounds.
He said, “I went there yesterday (Sunday) and I saw the pupils that left were over 900 within the space of one week and the information is being hidden from me by the principal.
“I asked her and she said why should they show me the record of the pupils and I said I am the PTA chairman.
“If you go to the school, you will see students lying down. Some had no one to pick them. I saw a girl there; she had been there since Friday. I called her parents, but they could not be reached. I don’t know why people are playing politics with the lives of children. People are only interested in profits.”
The school principal, Dr Yakubu Oyinloye, could not be reached on the telephone and she had yet to respond to a text message from our correspondent as of press time.
However, a former President of the Old Girls Association of the school, Prof. Frances Ajose, said a group in the PTA was ganging up against the principal, adding that some of the parents also had personal interest.
The current president was said to be out of the country.
Ajose explained that there was no typhoid infection in the school.
“A group in the PTA is only tormenting the principal for personal gain. The principal is a very hard-working and efficient person. She has been running the school well.
“What is happening in Queen’s College is an upper respiratory tract infection, which is raging right now all over Lagos due to the weather. It is not peculiar to Queen’s College. The infection arose from the overcrowding in the dormitory, a problem we have been crying about as old girls,” she said.
Ajose said the incident could not be compared to what took the lives of three pupils two years ago.
The Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Ben Goong, did not take his calls and had yet to respond to a text message seeking his reaction to the incident.
FULL TEXT OF THE REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 59TH INDEPENDENCE DAY INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE, AT THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE, ON THE 29TH OF SEPTEMBER, 2019.
PROTOCOLS
God had promised, through the mouths of His trusted prophets, that He is giving us a New Nigeria! May I announce to you today that God is ready to take us into the Promised Land, the new Nigeria.
And we must remember that God, the Almighty God is the builder of nations, that God controls the destinies of nations and its people. Psalms 24:1 says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness. The world and those who dwell therein.”
God promised the children of Israel that He would take them from bondage, suffering and slavery into the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.
By the hand of Joshua, God brought His promise to pass. They got to the Jordan and as their feet touched the water, the Jordan was separated and they walked on dry land all across the Jordan.
They got to Jericho, a well-fortified city and they did not fire a shot, they brought down the walls of Jericho by a shout. Thereafter, when they were about to take the Promised Land, after Moses had asked that some go and spy out the land, some of those who went to spy said that it would be impossible to take the city, impossible to enter the Promised Land. However, Caleb and Joshua had a different spirit, and they said that because God had promised and because He could do it, all the problems were just bread, mere bread to be eaten by the children of Israel.
God has promised us a new Nigeria, a peaceful Nigeria, a prosperous Nigeria, a Nigeria where justice and equity shall prevail, a united Nigeria, where the different tribes and tongues are not wedges of separation, but the joyful textures of our togetherness. God is ready to fulfill His promise.
We stand outside the new city, the Promised Land, the new Nigeria; like the spies sent by Moses to spy out the Promised Land, some are saying, “Ha! It is impossible, Nigeria cannot change, the ethnic and religious divisions are too deep, corruption cannot end, politicians are too selfish and mischievous.”
Yet, like Caleb and Joshua, we declare that these problems are merely bread for us, we will enter the Promised Land!
The new Nigeria is here, and each and every one of us, our families, our friends, all of us, will eat the pleasant fruits of this land.
God Almighty has taken away the protection of the enemies of this nation. He has taken away their powers, the noise we hear, the turbulence we experience, are the last gasps of a defeated foe. The day of freedom is at the door.
As with Abraham, we in the words of Hebrews 11:10 wait for the new Nigeria, which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
As we wait, we declare in the words of Psalms 46:8-11 -“Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has made desolations in the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire. Be still and know that I am God! I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.”
FULL TRANSCRIPT OF PRESIDENT BUHARI’S INDEPENDENCE DAY SPEECH TO NIGERIANS
Dear Compatriots,
1st October each year is an opportunity for us to reflect and thank God for his endless blessings on our country.
2. It is also a time for us, collectively, to:
3. Remember the sacrifices made by our Founders and great leaders past; by soldiers, by distinguished public servants; by traditional leaders, by our workers —- sacrifices on which Nigeria has been built over the 59 years since Independence in 1960; and
4. Rededicate ourselves to attaining the goals which we have set for ourselves: a united, prosperous and purposeful nation in the face of 21st century opportunities and challenges.
5. In the past four years, the majority of Nigerians have committed to Change for the Better. Indeed, this Administration was re-elected by Nigerians on a mandate to deliver positive and enduring Change – through maintaining our National Security; restoring sustainable and inclusive Economic Growth and Development; and fighting Corruption against all internal and external threats.
6. This Change can only be delivered if we are united in purpose, as individuals and as a nation. We must all remain committed to achieving this positive and enduring Change. As I stated four years ago, “Change does not just happen… We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust… simply put, to bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.”
7. Good Governance and Economic Development cannot be sustained without an enabling environment of peace and security. In the last four years, we have combatted the terrorist scourge of Boko Haram. We owe a debt of gratitude to our gallant men and women in arms, through whose efforts we have been able to achieve the present results. We are also grateful to our neighbours and allies – within the region and across the world – who have supported us on this front.
8. The capacity of our armed forces to defend our territorial integrity continues to be enhanced by the acquisition of military hardware as well as continued improvements in the working conditions of our service men and women.
9. The Ministry of Police Affairs has been resuscitated to oversee the development and implementation of strategies to enhance internal security. My recent assent to the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act has created a legal framework to support our Police with increased fiscal resources to enhance their law enforcement capabilities.
10. These initiatives are being complemented by the ongoing recruitment of 10,000 constables into the Nigeria Police Force. This clearly demonstrates our commitment to arrest the incidence of armed robbery, kidnapping and other violent crimes across our nation.
11. We remain equally resolute in our efforts to combat militant attacks on our oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and accelerate the Ogoni Clean-up to address long-standing environmental challenges in that region.
12. The recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs underscores our commitment to enhance the living standards of our communities in the Niger Delta, through coordinated and appropriate programmes.
13. Our attention is increasingly being focused on cyber-crimes and the abuse of technology through hate speech and other divisive material being propagated on social media. Whilst we uphold the Constitutional rights of our people to freedom of expression and association, where the purported exercise of these rights infringes on the rights of other citizens or threatens to undermine our National Security, we will take firm and decisive action.
14. In this regard, I reiterate my call for all to exercise restraint, tolerance and mutual respect in airing their grievances and frustrations. Whilst the ongoing national discourse on various political and religious issues is healthy and welcome, we must not forget the lessons of our past – lessons that are most relevant on a day such as this.
15. The path of hatred and distrust only leads to hostility and destruction. I believe that the vast majority of Nigerians would rather tread the path of peace and prosperity, as we continue to uphold and cherish our unity.
ACCELERATING SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE ECONOMY GROWTH
16. This Administration inherited a skewed economy, where the Oil Sector comprised only 8% of Gross Domestic Product but contributed 70% of government revenue and 90% foreign exchange earnings over the years. Past periods of relatively high economic growth were driven by our reliance on Oil Sector revenues to finance our demand for imported goods and services. Regrettably, previous governments abandoned the residual Investment-driven Non-Oil Sector, which constituted 40% of Gross Domestic Product and comprised agriculture, livestock, agro-processing, arts, entertainment, mining and manufacturing activities that provide millions of jobs for able-bodied Nigerians and utilize locally available raw materials and labour for production.
17. To address this imbalance, our commitment to achieving economic diversification has been at the heart of our economic strategies under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which I launched on the 5th of April, 2017.
18. This medium-term development plan charted the trajectory for our economy to exit from recession and return to the path of sustainable, diversified and inclusive growth for Nigerians. Pursuant to these reforms, the economy has recovered and we have had 9 successive quarters of growth since our exit from recession. The exchange rate in the last 3 years has remained stable, with robust reserves of US$42.5 billion, up from US$23 billion in October 2016.
19. Learning from the mistakes of the past, this Administration is committed to responsibly managing our oil wealth endowments. We will continue to prudently save our oil income and invest more in the non-oil job-creating sectors.
20. In this regard, we are significantly increasing investments in critical infrastructure. Last year, capital releases only commenced with the approval of the Budget in June 2018. However, as at 20th June this year, up to N1.74 trillion had been released for capital projects in the 2018 fiscal year.
21. Implementation of the 2019 Capital Budget, which was only approved in June 2019, will be accelerated to ensure that critical priority projects are completed or substantially addressed. The Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning has been directed to release N600 billion for Capital Expenditure in the next 3 months.
22. To maximise impact, we shall continue to increasingly welcome and encourage private capital for infrastructural development through Public Private Partnerships. Through the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme, which I initiated in January this year, we are giving incentives to private sector inflow of over N205 billion in 19 Nigerian roads and bridges of 794.4km across in 11 States of the Federation.
23. As we push to diversify the economy, we still remain focused on optimizing the revenues generated from the oil and gas sector. We will, working with the Legislature, soon pass the Petroleum Industry Bill and amendments to the Deep Offshore Act and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contracts Act into law, to ensure Government obtains a fair share of oil revenues, whilst encouraging private sector investment.
24. We will also continue our fight against illegal bunkering of crude oil and the smuggling of refined petroleum products across our borders, including the diligent prosecution and conviction of offenders found guilty of these acts. Whilst Nigeria remains committed to free and fair continental and international trade, we will not hesitate to take all necessary steps to tackle illegal smuggling, transshipment and other predatory trade practices that destroy jobs in our country.
25. We are resolute in reforming the power sector. In August this year, we launched the Presidential Power Initiative to modernize the National Grid in 3 phases: starting from 5 Gigawatts to 7 Gigawatts, then to 11 Gigawatts by 2023, and finally 25 Gigawatts afterwards. This programme, in partnership with the German Government and Siemens, will provide end-to-end electrification solutions that will resolve our transmission and distribution challenges.
26. The programme will also look to localize the development and assembly of smart meters as well as the operations and maintenance capabilities of transmission and distribution infrastructure.
27. I am pleased with the improved inter-agency collaboration between the Ministry of Power and the regulators in the banking and power sectors to ensure that electricity sales, billings and collections are automated and become cashless.
28. These initiatives are important to ensure that the technical and collection losses in the sector are substantially reduced. I remain confident that Nigerians will have affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply in the not too distant future.
29. Our efforts to improve the power sector will complement other infrastructure investments projects under the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund, which is investing in the Mambilla Power Plant project, as well as key economic road infrastructure such as the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Second Niger Bridge and Abuja-Kano Expressway. The first set of these projects remain on track to be completed by 2022.
30. Our journey to food security and self-sufficiency is well underway. We have made remarkable progress in almost all segments of the agriculture value chain, from fertilizers to rice, to animal feed production. We shall sustain these policies to ensure additional investments are channeled, thereby creating more jobs in the sector. We must not go back to the days of importing food and thereby exporting jobs.
31. Our commitment to achieving macroeconomic stability and economic diversification, has been underscored by the merger of the Ministry of Finance with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
32. This combined Ministry has the important mandate to enhance the management of domestic and global fiscal risks; coordinate policies with the trade and monetary authorities; raise and deploy revenues to fund budgeted expenditure; and integrate annual budgets and medium-term fiscal strategies.
33. With this, our revenue-generating and reporting agencies will come under much greater scrutiny, going forward, as the new performance management framework will reward exceptional revenue performance, while severe consequences will attend failures to achieve agreed revenue targets.
34. I recently constituted an Economic Advisory Council to advise me on inclusive and sustainable macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary policies. This independent body will work with relevant Cabinet members and the heads of key monetary, fiscal and trade agencies to ensure we remain on track as we strive for collective prosperity. However, we are also committed to ensure that the inconvenience associated with any painful policy adjustments, is moderated, such that the poor and the vulnerable, who are most at risk, do not bear the brunt.
35. Our ongoing N500 billion Special Intervention Programme continues to target these vulnerable groups, through the Home-grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Empowerment Programme, N-Power Job Creation Programme, loans for traders and artisans, Conditional Cash Transfers to the poorest families and social housing scheme.
36. To institutionalize these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date. To the beneficiaries of these programmes, I want to reassure you that our commitment to social inclusion will only increase.
37. Our population growth rate remains amongst the highest in the world, presenting both challenges as well as opportunities. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that we provide adequate resources to meet the basic needs of our teeming youth.
38. Accordingly, we shall continue to invest in education, health, water and sanitation, as well as food security, to ensure that their basic needs are met, while providing them with every opportunity to live peaceful, prosperous and productive lives.
FIGHTING CORRUPTION AND RESTORING GOOD GOVERNANCE:
39. On fighting corruption, our institutional reforms to enforce the Treasury Single Account policy, introduce the Whistle-blowers’ Initiative, expand the coverage of the Integrated Payroll Personnel and Information System as well as the Government Integrated Management Information System have saved billions of Naira over the last four years, and deterred the rampant theft and mismanagement of public funds that have plagued our public service.
40. The Ministry of Justice, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission will continue to address this menace. We are determined to ensure that transparency and good governance are institutionalized in public service.
41. We must commit to installing a culture of Good Governance in all we do. This Administration has fought against corruption, by investigating and prosecuting those accused of embezzlement and the misuse of public resources. We have empowered teams of prosecutors, assembled detailed databases of evidence, traced the proceeds of crimes and accelerated the recovery of stolen funds.
42. Furthermore, we partnered with our friends abroad to combat tax evasion, smuggling, terrorism and illicit financial flows. In June 2018, I assented to the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act, to provide a domestic legal framework for obtaining international assistance in criminal matters.
43. This measure has already strengthened our law enforcement agencies in obtaining evidence, investigating suspects and facilitating the recovery, forfeiture and confiscation of property implicated as proceeds of crime.
44. An example is the US$300 million recently identified as part of the Abacha money laundering case, working closely with the Government of the United States of America. The Federal Ministry of Justice is working with the US Department of Justice to conclude a Memorandum of Understanding to expedite the repatriation of these funds.
45. The P & ID Arbitral Award has underscored the manner in which significant economic damage has been caused by the past activities of a few corrupt and unpatriotic Nigerians.
46. The policies that we are putting in place today are to ensure such criminal and unpatriotic acts do not go without consequences. Our renewed partnership with the 9th National Assembly will facilitate the swift passage of enabling laws that will institutionalize these anti-corruption efforts in our criminal justice system.
47. In this connection, I call upon our States to intensify their own efforts to instill greater fiscal transparency and accountability. And to ensure greater fiscal efficiency and optimum use of our very scarce resources.
48. The blight of Corruption is fighting back. Nevertheless, this is a battle that we shall see through and this is a war, which we shall win by the Grace of God.
49. I will also call upon all Nigerians, from every walk of life, to combat Corruption at every turn. By choosing to question and confront corrupt practices, by reporting unethical practices or through whistleblowing. Together, we can overcome corruption and will no longer be a country defined by corruption.
50. Fellow Nigerians, let me reiterate my call for unity across our dear nation.
51. Nigeria will emerge from our present challenges stronger and more resilient than ever – but only if all of us join hands to entrench Good Governance, foster Inclusive Economic Development, and defend and protect our Nation from all those who would wish us ill.
52. I thank you most sincerely and wish you a Happy Independence Anniversary.
53. May God bless you all, and may He continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari today hinted that the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development would oversee the administration’s Special Intervention Programme.
President directs release of N600bn for 2019 capital projects
Buhari, who said this in his broadcast to the nation to mark the country’s 59th independence anniversary, also stated that he had directed the release of N600bn for capital project implementation from the 2019 budget in the next three months.
Speaking on the Special Intervention Programme, which is under the supervision of the office of the Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, the President stated, “Our ongoing N500bn Special Intervention Programme continues to target vulnerable groups, through the home-grown School Feeding Programme, Government Economic Empowerment Programme, N-Power, Job Creation Programme, loans for traders and artisans, Conditional Cash Transfers to the poorest families and social housing scheme.
“To institutionalise these impactful programmes, we created the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development which shall consolidate and build on our achievements to date. To the beneficiaries of these programmes, I want to reassure you that our commitment to social inclusion will only increase.”
He also said the newly set up Economic Advisory Council would advise him on inclusive and sustainable macroeconomic, fiscal and monetary policies.
He also said that as of June this year, total capital releases from the 2018 budget, stood at N1.74trn to underscore the commitment of his administration to build infrastructure and take Nigerians out of poverty.
The President noted that for change to happen, all Nigerians must support him and think like him to get the country from the old ways of doing things.
On security, he said, “In the last four years, we have combated the terrorist scourge of Boko Haram. We owe a debt of gratitude to our gallant men and women in arms, through whose efforts we have been able to achieve the present results. We are also grateful to our neighbours and allies – within the region and across the world – who have supported us on this front.
“The capacity of our armed forces to defend our territorial integrity continues to be enhanced by the acquisition of military hardware as well as continued improvements in the working conditions of our service men and women.
“The Ministry of Police Affairs has been resuscitated to oversee the development and implementation of strategies to enhance internal security. My recent assent to the Nigerian Police Trust Fund (Establishment) Act has created a legal framework to support our Police with increased fiscal resources to enhance their law enforcement capabilities.
“We remain equally resolute in our efforts to combat militant attacks on our oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta and accelerate the Ogoni Clean-up to address long-standing environmental challenges in that region.
“The recent redeployment of the Niger Delta Development Commission from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs underscores our commitment to enhance the living standards of our communities in the Niger Delta, through coordinated and appropriate programmes.
Speaking further, he said, “This administration inherited a skewed economy, where the oil sector comprised only 8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product but contributed 70 per cent of government revenue and 90 per cent foreign exchange earnings over the years. Past periods of relatively high economic growth were driven by our reliance on oil sector revenues to finance our demand for imported goods and services.
“Regrettably, previous governments abandoned the residual investment-driven non-oil sector, which constituted 40 per cent of Gross Domestic Product and comprised agriculture, livestock, agro-processing, arts, entertainment, mining and manufacturing activities that provide millions of jobs for able-bodied Nigerians and utilise locally available raw materials and labour for production.
“To address this imbalance, our commitment to achieving economic diversification has been at the heart of our economic strategies under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which I launched on the 5th of April, 2017.
