The Zamfara State Police Command has arrested a fraudster who allegedly impersonated a commissioner of police.
Briefing newsmen in Gusau, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Mohammed Shehu, said, “One Ibrahim Mohammed of Moriki town in Zamfara State has been parading himself as CP Usman Nagogo in charge of Zamfara.”
The police spokesperson said the culprit had defrauded a senator representing Zamfara West Senatorial Zone, Lawali Hassan Dan, of N1.8m.
According to Shehu, the fake police commissioner had first succeeded in deceiving the senator through phone calls as N1.6m was transferred into his account.
Another N200,000 was also transferred to the fake CP by the senator as Sallah gift to buy ram.
The fake CP had also called the lawmaker on phone and told him that he gave him three slots for cadet ASP and three slots for cadet inspector, demanding the senator to pay N2m for the slots.
Following the development, the senator directed his personal assistant to transfer N1.6m to the suspect.
The PPRO said, “Based on the complaint from the affected senator, the police commenced investigation and they finally tracked the fake CP through his GSM and apprehended him in Gusau town.
“During interrogation, Ibrahim Mohammed confessed that he committed the offence.”
His Mercedes car valued at N1.4m was reportedly confiscated and kept at the state police command.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives Femi Gbajabiamila, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, and Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase have congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his resounding victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.
Lawan said, “The judgment of the tribunal has again put a judicial seal on the mandate freely given to the president by the Nigerian people in the February 23 presidential election.”
He urged the president to accept the affirmation of his election as a reminder of the confidence of Nigerians in his capacity to continue to lead Nigeria towards its manifest destiny of greatness.
The Senate President said the Nigerian people have great expectations from the Next Level Agenda of the President and further pledged the full cooperation of the National Assembly with the Executive in the pursuit of the best interest of the Nigerian people.
Also, Gbajabiamila in a statement he personally signed, applauded the judiciary, especially members of the tribunal, for doing its job without fear or favour.
He also felicitated with the Nigerians and the entire members of the APC family nationwide for the victory.
He said: “I am elated to congratulate the President on his victory at the tribunal. Ab initio, I had no doubt whatsoever in my mind that the President would come out victorious, considering the massive support Nigerians gave the President before and during the February 23 Presidential Election.”
On his part, Omo-Agege in a congratulatory message he personally signed, described the decision as victory for democracy.
“I join the millions of Nigerians in congratulating you on your overwhelming electoral victory won on the basis of a populist mandate as well as today’s judicial victory won on the strength of our constitution, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal today.”
He added that it was no surprise, therefore, that the petition of Atiku and the PDP was torn to shreds and dismissed unanimously by the five-man panel.
Wase, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Umar Muhammad Puma, congratulated Buhari on his victory, describing the judgement as victory for democracy and the rule of law.
He said the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal has by its verdict vindicated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declared President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC as the winner of the presidential election in line with the mandate freely and willingly given by Nigerians.
Abiodun Expresses Joy over Decision
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed joy at the outcome of the verdict confirming the mandate of President Mohammadu Buhari at the February 23 presidential election.
“It is victory for Nigerians and democracy. It shows that while minority would always have their say, the majority would always have their way,” the governor said yesterday, after the tribunal dismissed the case brought by a former vice president and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar.
“I am very proud of the judiciary. This arm of government has again, for the umpteenth time, demonstrated exemplary candour, courage and integrity for which modern democracies thrive,” Abiodun said, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin.
While urging Atiku to see the verdict as the voice of the people, the governor reiterated his conviction in the fact that power belongs to God who bestows it on whom He wishes.
He called on all democrats to support Buhari, who has the divine mandate of God and endorsement of the people till 2023 to keep leading the country.
Obaseki Says Verdict Well-deserved
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, describing the verdict of the tribunal as well-deserved.
In a statement, Obaseki noted, “I heartily congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his well-deserved victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal on September 11, 2019, which is a resounding affirmation of the choice of Nigerians on February 23, for a second term for the President.”
He said, “The tribunal confirms our stance that President Buhari remains the preferred leader at this time, to reset our country on the path of greatness.”
Obaseki saluted the courage of the tribunal in upholding the mandate given by millions of Nigerians, noting, “It is refreshing that we have reached this threshold and I am confident that this outcome would enhance this administration’s resolve in championing the next level agenda of the president.”
“On behalf of the government and people of Edo State, I once again, congratulate the president and our great party the All Progressives Congress (APC), on this landmark victory. Congratulations, our dear President,” Obaseki added.
Wike Urges Buhari to Work for All Nigerians
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on the validation of his election by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, calling on the president to use his victory to work for all Nigerians, irrespective of their political leanings
In a statement yesterday, Wike called on the president to work towards the unity of the country, noting that the country is divided.
Sanwo-Olu Congratulates Buhari
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Presidential Election Appeal Tribunal.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the victory as a final lap of a relay race where the real victor is evidently seen at the finishing line.
Sanwo-Olu said, ‘’although millions of Nigerians were not in doubt as regards the mandate freely given to President Buhari to steer the ship of the country for another term of four years, the opposition politicians were also not wrong to have approached the court to seek redress, noting that they were free to test the country’s judicial system.
‘’With this pronouncement, it is clear to everyone that contrary to misinformation being spread against our party during the electioneering by the opposition, the All Progressives Congress under President Muhammadu Buhari performed to the satisfaction of Nigerians in his first term in office.’’
The governor therefore enjoined Nigerians across party divide to team up with the president to deliver the real dividends of democracy to the people.
He said the next level campaign of the president is not only exciting but also a clear indication of the new frontier the country will reach in the next four years and beyond.
Ambode: Victory Validation of Second Term
Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on his victory at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, describing the verdict as a validation of the second term mandate of the people given to President Buhari to continue the strides of development and to take Nigeria to the next level.
Ambode, in a statement by his media aide, Habib Aruna, said, “I join millions of Nigerians, the leadership of our great party and all members of our party across the nation to congratulate President Buhari on this well-deserved victory at the tribunal. This victory is a validation of the confidence in the president’s re-election and a testament to the fact that the people are happy with the progress made by his administration and are keen to see four more years of progressive governance.”
He urged all supporters of the party and Nigerians in general to rally round President Buhari in his quest to return Nigeria to the path of greatness and respectability.
We Expected No Less, Says BMO
The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has commended members of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) for not being deterred by threats and intimidation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its agents to taint its sense of justice.
This, the group said, is proof that the justices are men of honour that cannot be intimidated by social media bullies bent on arm-twisting them to ignore the evidence tabled before the tribunal.
BMO said in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, that it was expecting nothing less than the outright dismissal of the petition like the panel members did.
“It was glaring to everyone, aside from PDP elements, that the petition challenging the overwhelming electoral victory of President Muhammadu Buhari was not only frivolous, but also useless as Festus Keyamo famously said soon after the case was filed.
“However, the Tribunal has now further shown how ridiculous the electoral challenge was and made it clear that the President was duly qualified to contest in the February 23, 2019 election in the first place, on the basis of educational qualification and professional attainment.
“To quote the panel directly, it said President Buhari ‘is not only qualified but also eminently qualified’ to stand for election. This is a direct message to naysayers.
Victory Would Spur the President to Do More, Says Okorocha
Former Governor of Imo State and senator representing Imo West senatorial district, Rochas Okorocha, has described the tribunal judgment that affirmed the election of President Muhammadu Buhari as victory for lovers of democracy.
Okorocha who congratulated the President in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said that the victory would spur the President to do more.
According to the statement, “with the victory, President Buhari would now be more encouraged to continue to work for the unity, progress and peace of the nation, while the distractions associated with the case while it lasted have now been jettisoned.”
The former governor commended members of the Tribunal for “doing a good job and making the nation proud.”
He also commended Atiku Abubakar, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate for “giving good account of himself and for his contributions to the nation’s democracy”.
Okorocha noted that with all these, there is light at the end of the tunnel for the nation’s democracy.
CUPP Rejects Tribunal’s Verdict
The Coalition of the United Political Parties (CUPP) said it received with angst the judgment of the Presidential Election Tribunal which upheld President Muhammadu Buhari’s election.
The CUPP spokesperson, Mr. Imo Ugochinyere, said CUPP rejected the verdict totally since, according to him, CUPP viewed it as law turned upside down and an insult and a provocation to Nigerians.
He said, “From the totality of the judgment, the Court of Appeal PEPT panel has lost the rare opportunity presented to it by the petition of the consensus opposition candidate, Atiku Abubakar, to put an end to electoral fraud, leadership incompetence and the imposition of an unfit leader on the people.
“By their judgment today, majority of Nigerians who had believed, though erroneously, that the judiciary was indeed independent have been brazenly awakened to the fact and correct belief that the presidency had successfully hijacked the judiciary and Nigerians can only expect judgments and not justice.
“All credible observer groups both local and international were unanimous in their verdict that the election was below the standard of the 2015 and was massively rigged in favour of the President, the Court of Appeal wasted the opportunity and have by so doing endorsed the insecurity in the land, mismanagement of national resources, electoral fraud, forgery of documents and certificates submitted to INEC and indeed threatened the very foundations of our democracy.
“Could the court as it had done in times past not this time also considered the state of the nation, mood of Nigerians, national security issues and taken a decision boldly, impartially and firmly in the interest of Nigerians and Nigeria? Today’s judgment is a manipulation of the law and the brazen use of technicality to stamp injustice, Rob the people of justice and deny the nation the chance to have a leader that they truly elected in the Person of Atiku Abubakar.”
Prof. Gideon Okedayo, a senior lecturer at the Ondo State University of Science and Technology (OSUSTECH), abducted by gunmen, has been found dead, source confirmed.
Okedayo was kidnapped on Igara road in Akoko Edo area of Edo State while traveling to his hometown on Thursday.
Professor Gideon Okedayo was a senior lecturer at the Ondo State University of Science and Technology until he was abducted by unknown gunmen.
A source at the university the story on Tuesday that the dead body of the lecturer was found inside a bush.
“It is sad. They have killed Prof. Okedayo. We learnt about his gruesome killing yesterday (Monday) night.
“We were called from the police station that they have found his dead body.
“And they confirmed to us that he must have been murdered by his abductors. This is just a sad moment for all of us at the university,” he said on phone.
South Africa’s Defence Minister, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, on Monday, said that the attacks against foreigners in South Africa were planned by criminals, therefore, the government can’t prevent it.
Mapisa-Nqakula who said this in an interview with eNCA, a local channel described South Africa as an angry nation and insisted that the government can’t prevent the ongoing violence.
“The reality is that we have an angry nation. What’s happening can never be prevented by any government,” she said.
According to her the death of two people during a clash in Johannesburg CBD on Sunday, Sept. 8, could have been avoided but that it was well orchestrated by criminal elements.
She, however, said the xenophobic attacks were not politically motivated.
“People are saying some heads of state decided not to attend WEF; we should be talking about why this whole thing is coinciding with the World Economic Forum,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
She said: “People are saying it is xenophobic attacks but it is not the first time we have had them in the past; here, we have criminals that have read the situation and are aware that we have challenges right now.
“We have talked on the issues of high rate of unemployment, of some foreign nationals who are not conducting themselves in an appropriate manner as we would expect, those breaking the bylaws of the country, and you now have criminal elements who have decided that we are going to use all of those things to find reasons to attack people.
“It is unfortunate and should not happen. The reality is that we need to have a serious dialogue about what is happening and we must take responsibility. The reality is that we are an angry nation and we must talk about it.
“Why are we an angry nation? Why are we so determined to collapse our project of nation-building and social cohesion? We need to hold hands together between government and all state entities and the civil society and find solutions to what is happening,” Mapisa-Nqakula added.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when someone’s immune system attacks their tissues and organs, causing inflammation and affecting different body systems.
The health scare was revealed during the premiere of the 17th season of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ on Sunday night.
According to NAN, 38-year-old Kim revealed she was having some worrying symptoms.
She said “I’ve been feeling so tired, so nauseous and my hands are really getting swollen. I feel like I literally am falling apart. My hands are numb.”
Kim speculated that based on the symptoms, she believed she might have rheumatoid arthritis but decided to seek a professional opinion.
She said, “It’s so scary. So, I have to go to the doctor and see what’s going on because I can’t live like this.”
Her doctor called with the news that her blood tests revealed antibodies associated with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis which left Kardashian West in tears.
And while her doctor advised her that false-positive results for lupus are possible, Kim was still upset as he ordered a follow-up visit for further testing.
An emotional Kim announced to her family that she will get further confirmation. She said, “I will know on Friday.”
Kim has often shared her health struggles with her fans, including her struggle with psoriasis and her difficult pregnancies.
The story that made headlines around the world this past week would, unarguably, be the xenophobic attack by South Africans on Nigerians. That attack drew condemnation all around the world and no single nation supported it. The only ones who saw justification to it and tried to defend the barbaric and heartless killing of humans are the Xenophobes themselves; and that cut across all classes of that nation, starting from the Presidency. Their actions and inactions over the past few days have not really given them out as a country that is sober, but rather as a people who believe in the correctness of their actions; this also cut across all classes. The Government. The citizens. This is not to say all South Africans are Xenophobes. There are still a few who are still logical and human.
I watched on Twitter a short video where the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, was trying to defend his country by saying South Africans attacked only Nigerians with criminal traits, especially drug-related cases. This begs the question; is that what The Law says to do in South Africa in cases like that? Should a President even dare to defend such an action? He definitely would; those killed are Nigerians. The Nigerian government would do nothing about it! And true to self, they did nothing: at least, not immediately. It took hours before an official stance could be made with a press release by one of the President’s media aides.
One would have expected a Presidential President to jump on air the very next minute, assure the citizens of the country who’d naturally be worried because they have families and friends abroad or even naturally pissed seeing the brutal way humans and at the nearest, their compatriots were being killed that all is well and that government would take actions against the South African government, and by extension the citizens of South Africa based in Nigeria; reminding them that properties and businesses ‘owned’ by South Africans are actually housed by Nigerians and in Nigeria. That singular action, which would have been televized on major news channels would have stopped the attacks on businesses supposedly owned by South Africans, leaving sore tastes in the mouths of thousands of Nigerians in the process.
I was told about when General Sani Abacha was military Head of State and for reasons best known to them, The UK banned the Nigerian national airline from its airspace. Abacha was said to have reciprocated the act and banned The UK’s almost on the spot he heard it. The UK felt it and relaxed theirs; Abacha refused to suspend the order not to allow them anywhere near Nigeria’s airspace until some negotiations were made. Obasanjo would have spitted fire. Even the supposedly ‘dull’ President Jonathan deported South Africans to protest Jacob Zuma’s deportation of some Nigerians.
Those were times we had a President. Now, we have a ceremonial figure head cum ruler who doesn’t know he’s drifting from the core values that made the masses vote him into power. President Buhari’s major undoing is surrounding himself with praise-singers who see nothing wrong with any of his decisions as long as it secures ‘the bag’ for them and the usual cowardice of arresting every dissenting voice. Leaders and rulers aren’t the same. We voted a leader in Buhari; he’s shown us he’s still a ruler and gladly wears his khaki under his babanriga.
Was he to show he was a soldier when the heat was on and given stern warnings and reeled out consequences and the readiness of Nigerian state to declare a full blown war with South Africa if the South African government doesn’t find a way to end the attacks on Nigerians, he would have been applauded by Nigerians who needed to know their leader also felt their pains and would have sent a message to other nations that we wouldn’t allow any harm come the way of Nigerians, no matter where they are, legally, in the world. That definitely would have prevented the action from continuing the following day and even yesterday. Nigerians, both in South Africa and Nigeria, lost their lives. They lost their properties. They lost their sources of income and livelihood.
Nigerians have to stand up and begin to ask questions from government at all tiers and arms. Until we get to a point where we are willing to sacrifice the temporal comfort these recycling politicians give us and begin to hold them accountable for every of their actions and inactions, Nigeria wouldn’t move forward. Nigeria’s corruption rating has been on the increase under the supposedly incorruptible Buhari-led Federal Government. Abba Kyari is His Chief of Staff; he has a 500M naira bribe case. Governor Ganduje of Kano State got a Presidential electioneering launch for his second term; he was videotaped taking bribe. I can talk about Timipre Silva and about Godswill Akpabio.
We demand a true President. We demand President Muhammadu Buhari ups his game and gets into real governance, jettisoning the usual blame-game type of government he ran in his first term. He’s getting old and should lay a legacy that generations unborn will hear of and reverence him. He should be reminded: great leaders make history. Bad leaders also do. Whatever side he chooses to be, we are waiting to see his reaction to the attack on Nigerians yesterday in South Africa. Nigerians need their leader!
Written by: Aroso Akintomide Adedamola, Office of The Citizen, Federal Republic of Nigeria. tomidearoso@gmail.com.
The National and State Assembly election petitions tribunal sitting in Umuahia, Abia State, has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a supplementary election within 90 days in eight wards in Arochukwu Local Government Area
and several polling units in Ohafia and Isukwuato LGAs where votes were cancelled during senatorial election in Abia North senatorial district.
The three-man tribunal led by Justice Cornelius Akintayo ordered the supplementary election while giving judgment in a petition brought before it by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the election, Mao Ohuabunwa, who had challenged the victory of the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, in the Senatorial election.
Kalu was declared winner of the election by the returning officer, Dr. Charles Anumudu, which Ohuabunwa described as “excess electoral fraud and broad daylight robbery.”
He, therefore, approached the tribunal to seek justice.
Until the annulment, Kalu was the Senator representing Abia North at the National Assembly.
The tribunal also ordered a rerun election for the Abia North Senatorial District.
Kalu was elected on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress and was inaugurated as federal lawmaker for the 9th National Assembly.
Last Thursday, the tribunal had dismissed a petition brought before it by another individual — candidate of the All Grassroots Alliance, Anagha Anagha, challenging Kalu’s victory in the Abia North senatorial zone election.
Anagha had challenged Kalu’s victory on the ground that he (Anagha) was excluded from contesting the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
But the three-man tribunal led by Justice Cornelius Akintayo, in a unanimous judgment on Thursday, ruled that the petitioner had failed to prove his allegation of exclusion by INEC.
The tribunal also held that Anaga did not have anything to prove that he was a candidate in the election and therefore had no locus standi to challenge the election.
The election tribunal therefore scolded the petitioner’s lawyer for bringing the case to the court in the first place without ascertaining that his client was a candidate of AGA for the election.
The tribunal awarded a cost of N500,000 against him in favour of the respondents.
The tribunal had earlier granted an application by AGA, seeking to strike out its name from the petition on the grounds that the petitioner was never nominated by the party.
An FCT High Court may subpoena the Senior Pastor of Kingsway International Christian Centre, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo, as he has been listed among the witnesses Busola Dakolo will be using to establish her case in the suit against the Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Biodun Fatoyinbo.
Mrs. Busola Dakolo, wife of Nigeria’s inspirational singer, Timi Dakolo, had sued the Founder and Senior Pastor of Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Biodun Fatoyinbo, over a rape allegation.
The FCT High Court in a writ of summons obtained on Monday by the News Agency of Nigeria, dated September 6 and served on Fatoyinbo, ordered the accused to appear before it within 14 days of the service or judgment may be given in his absence.
“You are hereby commanded that within fourteen (14) days after the service of this writ on you, inclusive of the day of such service you do cause an appearance to be entered for you, in an action of Mrs. Busola Dakolo.
“And take notice that in default, the claimant may proceed, and judgment may be given in your absence,” the Fatoyinbo summon read.
Busola, through her lawyer, Pelumi Olajengbesi & Co., is seeking the order of the court to compel Fatoyinbo to publish a clearly worded apology to Busola on the front page of at least two (2) national newspapers and two national televisions for seven days running consecutively.
Busola had, two months ago, made a shocking revelation in a detailed interview with Chude Jideonwo, a lawyer and journalist, of how the Abuja-based cleric raped her as a teenager.
She claimed that Fatoyinbo had sexual intercourse with her on September 23 and 26, 2002, caused her continuous emotional distress amounting to intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The viral video had set social media and other online platforms on fire, evoking shock, backlash and criticisms from Nigerians, especially the Christian community.
It will be recalled that Pastor Fatoyinbo was detained during interrogation over the rape allegation at the Force Headquarters in Abuja in August.
He was eventually released on bail.
He had earlier boycotted the panel set up by the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria to investigate the rape allegation against him, claiming that he was advised by his lawyers not to appear.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has arrested a 19-year-old girl for falsifying her 2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination score.
The UTME candidate identified as Rejoice Mordi was arrested at JAMB headquarters in Bwari area of Abuja, where she turned up in company of her father to lodge a complaint of getting two result slips from JAMB after increasing her score from 164 to 264.
Upon interrogation, Mordi confessed to getting the fake result from one Iyanuoluwa via Whatsapp.
She disclosed that the fake JAMB agent sent the result to her phone after collecting her registration number and that of three other candidates.
This was disclosed in a statement on JAMB’s bulletin released on Sunday, September 9.
The statement reads: “The 19-year-old who falsified her 2019 UTME result from 164 to 264 had petitioned us for (allegedly) giving her two results in the 2019 UTME. The board, upon receipt of the complaint, invited the candidate who appeared before the board in the company of her father, Frank Emordi.
“The Registrar, Prof Is-haq Oloyede, read the riot act to the petitioner and her father and gave them a grace period to retrace their steps, knowing that there is forensic analysis that she falsified the score.
“Upon the expiration of the opportunity, after a thorough examination of the evidence, the candidate owned up to her misdeeds. She said the agent sent the inflated result to her through a Whatsapp group which she had deleted.
“Checks by the board revealed that the candidate had made three successful attempts at checking her result. However, on the candidate’s dashboard, 164 scores still remained. She has since been handed over to security agents for further interrogation.
“The candidate’s father appealed to the registrar, saying, “I talked to her (Rejoice) and she said a guy she met at the center collected her registration number and three of her friends.
“The man was the one who forwarded the results to them through Whatsapp. If she had informed me about that, I would not have followed her to the JAMB office.”
The Aare Ona Kankafo of Yorubaland, Gani Adams has partly blamed Nigerians for the xenophobic attacks unleashed on them by South Africans.
Adams who declared support for the actions taken so far by the Nigerian government to deal with the issue said some Nigerians in South Africa get involved in drug deals and also encourage South Africans to join them in the illicit business.
He noted that some Nigerians will go to parties and clubs to oppress these South Africans by buying champagne worth millions of naira and pouring it on their heads while the citizens of South Africa are struggling to buy a bottle of beer.
According to him, “There has been a pressure on me to issue a statement on this matter and I can confirm that as at this moment, no life has been lost,” he was quoted by Independent.
“Most of the gory pictures being circulated are on social media. In this era of social media, anybody that has data are now journalists in their own rights.
“On the issue of the xenophobic attacks in South Africa, I am a regular traveller to South Africa. The issue is from both sides. I condemn the actions of a few criminal elements in South Africa. South Africans are lovely people, very hospitable and accommodating at their own level. I am speaking with facts. Most of the professionals in South Africa are Nigerians”.
“The last time I travelled to South Africa, I went to see a dentist who is from Congo. During our conversation, he mentioned about 50 Nigerian medical doctors whose establishments are in South Africa. If we bring 20 of these doctors to Nigeria, they will turn around our medical sector.
“So, I think we should manage this xenophobic crisis carefully. I agree with the federal government because when you don’t express your displeasure over what happened, the other country will not know your worth.
“The attacks are condemnable and I implore the South African government to go back to history and think of what Nigeria did for their liberation during the apartheid era.
“All the universities in Nigeria contributed to their struggle for independence against the whites. When they refused to release Nelson Mandela, our musician’s waxed albums calling for his release. So, we have done a lot for them and any shortcoming from Nigerians has to be forgiven by South Africans.
“On the side of Nigerians, parents who have children in South Africa should talk to them on the need for proper behaviour. Some Nigerians are involved in the drug business in South Africa and they encourage South Africans to also get involved in drug dealing.
“Also, some Nigerians will go to parties and clubs to oppress these South Africans. They buy champagne worth millions of naira and pour it on their heads while the citizens of South Africa are struggling to buy a bottle of beer. When you are in a foreign country and God has blessed you, you need to be moderate in your dealings.
“South Africa people too should be careful because they have lots of investments here such as MTN, Multichoice, Stanbic Bank. Inasmuch as they have investments here and our government is protecting them, they too should protect the interests of Nigerians living in South Africa.
“Look at what happened here when Nigerians wanted to carry out reprisal attacks, our security forces still protected South African businesses despite the fact that our citizens are being humiliated in South Africa.”
