Garba Shehu, spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, has said the President and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, saved Nigeria’s democracy with the merger that birthed the All Progressives Congress that defeated the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2015 presidential election.
“President Muhammadu Buhari reconstructed political parties and formed this country’s biggest political merger in partnership with people like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and saved the country’s democracy by instituting a new administration that is change oriented,” Mr Shehu said.
The spokesperson made this statement in an interview with BBC Pidgin on Saturday when explaining that Mr Buhari’s changing of political parties cannot be likened to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom’s move from one party to another.
Mr Buhari was a member of the Congress for Progressive Change that merged to form the APC. When it was formed, Mr Ortom was a member of the APC until in 2018 when he dumped the party to join the PDP.
However, contrary to Mr Shehu’s claim that Mr Buhari “saved the country’s democracy”, instead the regime has been notorious for gross human rights abuses, extra judicial killing of protesters and massive clamp down on the media, considered by many as the worst in Nigeria’s history.
Mr Buhari, in disobedience to court orders, detained former National Security Adviser, Dasuki Sambo; Sahara Reporters Publisher, Omoyele Sowore; separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu, and leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, for several months in spite of court orders granting them bail.
Nigerians have also witnessed cases of killing of protesters across the country as the police and army continue to open live rounds on protesting citizens since Mr Buhari assumed office in 2015.
In 2015, shortly after Mr Buhari came into power, over 348 members of Shiites Islamic group were massacred and buried in a mass grave by the Nigerian military.
Amnesty International had in 2016 reported how the Nigerian military extra judicially killed at least 150 peaceful pro-Biafra protesters in the South-East part of the country.
A nationwide protest against years of Police brutality and extra judicial killings, christened #EndSARS, ended on a tragic note when on the night of October 20, 2020, the military opened live rounds on young Nigerians gathered at the Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos.
The Kano Hisbah Board, also known as the Islamic Police has explained why it treats the rich and the poor differently while enforcing some of its rules.
A director of the Islamic Police, Aliyu Kibiya, gave the explanation when he featured on a Freedom Radio programme.
According to Kibiya, it is against the tenets of Islam to publicly criticize a leader.
He said, “Although we call on everybody in the society to do the right thing, we make the call on a case by case basis.
“It is against the tenets of Islam to mount the podium and call out leaders. There are ways to caution a leader without criticizing him in public.”
Hisbah had recently come under intense pressure to act on some pictures of the daughter of the Emir of Bichi who recently got married to President Muhammadu Buhari’s only son.
A video of the wedding party shows Nigerian singer, Mayorkun, singing and some of the party attendees spotting Afro, Mohawk, or any of the hairstyles Kano State Hisbah has labelled as “unIslamic” and an insult to Islam.
Also, secular songs Hisbah has vehemently frowned upon were played at the party, with young northern men and women dancing to them.
All these have attracted punishments from Kano Hisbah, in cases where poor Nigerians were involved.
Noting the hypocrisy exhibited by the Islamic Police, which were nowhere to be found during the wedding, human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore had said, “Yusuf Buhari’s wedding and the Kano Hisbah that shaves the head of poor people but was nowhere to be found around the highly secular Muhammadu Buhari son’s wedding: One country, two laws -One is applicable to the poor and the other is applicable to rich and highly connected. Who says poverty is not a CRIME? #RevolutionNow #BuhariMustGo.”
Ironically, Hisbah has been notorious for shaving the heads of poor northerners with Afro, Mohawk, and other hairstyles termed as “unIslamic” by the bias Islamic police.
Similarly, in February, a barber from Benue State, Elijah Ode, was arrested by Kano Hisbah in the Sabongari area of the state for giving his customers haircuts said to have offended the Islamic faith.
Two of Ode’s customers were also tortured for having such “offensive” haircuts.
The religious Police Force reportedly arraigned Ode and had him remanded.
Recently, after it was knocked by the public for being silent on the photographs of the bridal shower of Buhari’s daughter-in-law, Hisbah responded by prohibiting the sharing of the bridal shower photographs.
It had been reported that some Nigerians highlighted Zahra’s gown, part of which is made from a transparent material, while others pointed out that she did not have her hair covered as is the norms with Muslim women.
The Islamic Police described sharing the photos online by Muslims as a sin.
Meanwhile, the Islamic police have since banned stylish haircuts, sagging of trousers, and playing of music at social events by disk jockeys.
Hisbah also banned commercial motorcycles and tricycle riders from carrying two women at a time.
Of recent, the Kano State Hisbah Board banned the use of mannequins to display clothes by tailors, supermarkets, and boutique owners in the state.
Hisbah Commander-in-Chief, Ustaz Harun Muhammad Sani Ibn Sina, had said the use of mannequins by tailors, boutique owners, and others contravenes the provision of Islamic injunctions.
He added that the agency would educate offenders on how Islam frowns on the use of mannequins and send its officials to apprehend and prosecute them.
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has congratulated Nigeria’s former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on his appointment as the High Representative of the African Union in the Horn of Africa.
Moussa Mahamat, Chairperson of the Commission, announced the appointment in a statement on Thursday.
The Horn of Africa region covers countries in the eastern region of Africa – Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda are countries covered in this region.
Mahamat explained that the appointment is to ensure peace, security and political dialogue across the Africa region.
A statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, revealed the new appointment was another milestone in the life of the former President.
He said Obasanjo as a patriotic Nigerian and African citizen, will bring his wealth of leadership experience into his new assignment.
Abiodun noted that the appointment did not come to him as surprise, given the various interventions and engagements of Obasanjo in several African countries to ensure peace and stability.
He said the former President had since been involved in the development and progress of Africa, through the establishment of the African Leadership Forum (ALF), where African and world leaders exchange ideas.
The Governor, while expressing his confidence that Obasanjo will excel in his latest assignment, stressed that the countries in the Horn of Africa, particularly in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia, Somalia and South Sudan, will experience political stability and peace.
He added that with the new appointment, Obasanjo as an illustrious son of Ogun State and Nigeria’s elder statesman, has further proved that the state is blessed with people with leadership traits and integrity.
Abiodun noted that the former Nigerian will bring his very rich political experience, and impeccable credentials of keen commitment to the lofty ideals of Pan-Africanism and regional integration and cooperation, as well as a deep knowledge of the current situation in the Horn of Africa, to bare in his new assignment.
He, however, prayed God to give Obasanjo good health and wherewithal to excel in his appointment as High Representative of the AU.
The Federal Government has declared a former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, wanted over his revelations on Channels Television’s ‘Sunrise Daily’ breakfast programme last Wednesday.
He had claimed Boko Haram terrorists mentioned names of current governors, senators and Aso Rock officials as sponsors during interrogation but the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has demonstrated an unwillingness to go after the high-profile politicians for reasons best known to him.
Olawunmi, a Professor of Global Security Studies, had said, “You remember this Boko Haram issue started in 2012 and I was in the military intelligence at that time. We arrested those people. My organisation actually conducted interrogation and they (suspects) mentioned names. I can’t come on air and start mentioning names of people that are presently in government that I know that the boys that we arrested mentioned. Some of them are governors now, some of them are in the Senate, some of them are in Aso Rock.
“Why should a government decide to cause this kind of embarrassment and insecurity to the sense of what happened yesterday (Tuesday attack on Nigerian Defence Academy)?” he queried, adding that terrorist financiers want to turn Nigeria to a Taliban type of country.
It was gathered from competent sources that the intelligence agencies including the Department of State Services and the Defence Intelligence Agency have since launched a manhunt for Olawunmi.
When contacted, DIA spokesperson, Major Afolashade Ojolowo, said he has been on leave and could not confirm the development.
Recall that the National Broadcasting Commission summoned Channels Television anchors including Chamberlain Usoh and Kayode Okikiolu over alleged anti-Buhari comments made by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on the programme on Tuesday.
Ortom had said he was disappointed with the way the Presidency is handling the nation’s security challenges.
It was earlier reported that the NBC queried Channels Television over the “inciting, divisive and unfair comments” made by Ortom on the programme on Tuesday and moved to sanction the television station.
The NBC had in May slammed a fine of N5million each on Channels TV and Inspiration FM Lagos for alleged infractions of the broadcasting code.
Channels TV had featured the spokesperson for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Emma Powerful, on its ‘Politics Today’ programme.
A notorious banditry kingpin in Katsina State, Usman Idris, aka ‘Ruga Kachallah’, is asking for compensation for his burnt house and grains and the arrest of his wives as the condition for ending his criminal activities in the state.
However, the Police have responded that they are not interested in negotiating with Kachallah because he had publicly renounced banditry on four previous occasions but had gone back to his old ways each time.
According to Premium Times, Kachallah is believed to be leading criminal activities in Safana Local Government Area (LGA) of Katsina State.
Locals and security sources in the state told the newspaper that a large army of bandits under him routinely kidnap people for ransom and rustle cattle without restraint.
However, the banditry kingpin is also involved in ‘lawful business’ that has endeared him to the local populace. He has many commercial vehicles on the road, which generate daily income for him and create employment for grateful locals.
In Tulumbusawa, ‘Yartsaku, Makera, Gimi and Chirena in Safana Local Government Area, locals obey his orders and seek his permission to cultivate their farmlands.
In the northern fringe of Runka town, the second largest community in Safana LGA, farmers have also submitted to the reign of the banditry kingpin.
However, Kachallah is not hiding in the forest like most other bandits. He lives in Gimi with his family. Recently, the residents of the town resisted an attempt by security agents to arrest one of his lieutenants, identified only as Gulbi.
Gulbi is said to handle the sale of rustled cows for Kachallah.
The Police Area Commander in Safana, Dutsin-Ma, Danmusa, Kurfi and Batsari LGAs, Aminu Umar-Daye, withdrew his personnel in the face of resistance by the locals when he tried to take Gulbi into custody.
The residents said the security agents would not be there to protect them from the fury of Kachallah who they were sure would blame his aide’s arrest on informants from the community.
But later on May 25, the security agents raided Kachallah’s house. Although he was absent, they got hold of two of his wives before setting fire to his house.
But residents mobilised to put out the fire. After allegedly being told that people from neighbouring Rumka helped the police in the operation, Kachallah allegedly vowed to deal with the community.
Immediately after the incident, Kachallah kidnapped Lawan Garba, a primary school teacher from Rumka working in Gimi. He held the teacher hostage and demanded the unconditional release of his wives.
On May 29, he also allegedly abducted one Murtala Umaru, a grain grinder in Gimi, who also hailed from Rumka.
On June 8, one Bishir Lola and his son, Mubarak, were kidnapped while working on the farm. The kidnappers received N300,000 and N20,000 recharge cards as ransom for their release. However, days later, the decomposed corpses of the two were found abandoned in the bush.
Residents blamed the crime on Kachallah, saying it was to scare farmers away from their farms.
The National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Uche Secondus, on Saturday asked the Deputy National Chairman (South), Yemi Akinwomi, to preside over the National Executive Committee meeting of the party in his stead.
In a letter to Akinwomi, Secondus said, “I hereby request you to preside over the National Executive Committee meeting of the Party, taking place today, 28th August, 2021@ 12 noon, in my absence.”
Professor Wole Soyinka has asked the government of the Republic of Benin to release Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, because he has committed no offence.
He also warned President Muhammadu Buhari to stop attempting to impose grazing routes on Nigerians and undermine freedom of speech and of the press.
Speaking with newsmen in Lagos on Friday during an interactive session titled ‘Sanctions on the Loose: Chasing the Gnat with a Sledgehammer’, Soyinka said Benin Republic was wrong to keep Igboho in jail.
“I refuse to accept that Igboho committed any offence except agitating against Fulani tyranny against his people. He peacefully demonstrated his position. I can’t consider that to be a crime. Agitating for secession is not a criminal act as long as it is done peacefully. You don’t have to criminalise that.
“What crime did he commit against you (Benin Republic) to be in your jail?
“The Benin Republic should release this man. Please, rectify this error by releasing Igboho,” he said.
Soyinka also deplored what he called President Muhammadu Buhari’s obsession with imposing cattle routes, reserves and open grazing on Nigerians.
“He doesn’t seem to hear things… Is there an agenda we don’t yet know about? Eleyi koja oju lasan (this is more than ordinary),” he said.
He added that conspiracy theories abound where the leader embarks on actions such as Buhari’s order on his agents to retrieve grazing routes and reserves that did not exist.
On the recent query issued to Channels Television by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the playwright, who tore a copy of the query on camera, said “there is no place for Decree 4 in a democracy.”
He asked Nigerians to prepare to wage a media war against the government if it persists in attacking freedom of the press.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday said he once refused to use government’s fund to complete a Christian Association of Nigeria building in Abuja.
Obasanjo spoke during the Book Launch and 85th Birthday of Eminence Prelate Sunday Mbang of the Methodist Church Nigeria held at the Admiralty Centre, Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos State.
The former President, who was the Convener of the programme in honour of Mbang, described the former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria as a lover of Nigeria. The book, a memoir, chronicling the journey of the octogenarian, is titled, ‘My Life and Times.’
Obasanjo, 84, was Nigeria’s president between May 1999 and May 2007. He was also a military head of state from February 1976 to October 1979.
The former President recalled, “He (Mbang) asked me in his capacity as the head of the Christian Association in Nigeria that I should bring money to complete the Ecumenical Centre as they called it then, now it is known as National Christian Centre. I said, ‘No, I don’t have; I won’t put government money into that type of thing because if I do it for Christians, I have to do it for Muslims, I have to do it for Babalawo (traditionalist), I have to do it for Sango worshippers. No.
“But he insisted. Again, persistence. I had no choice to agree to now become a fundraiser for the completion of the National Christian Centre and I did. I got people together –the rich, the not-so rich, the poor, the not-so poor and we raised money to complete the National Christian Centre. I don’t believe he has been given credit for that work because if he had not gone the way he did, may be that centre will still remain uncompleted till today.”
At the programme, he reminisced how “pressure” was mounted on him in 1999 to contest as president after he was released from prison.
Obasanjo recalled how he met the cleric before his election in 1999, saying, “I came out of prison and pressure was mounted on me to contest election as president. Initially, I resisted and I said how many presidents do you want to make out of me but the pressure continued to mount.
“Then, I caved in. When I caved in, I decided to go round and one of those I visited was the Prelate of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Sunday Mbang. I haven’t met him before but I made a courtesy call and I said, ‘Sir, I have come to see you’ but before I finished, he said, ‘I will not vote for you and I don’t know what you come here for’.”
He said though the cleric might not had voted for him but he won the election.
“As the President of CAN and me, a Christian, he then became my boss religiously and I became his boss politically and of necessity, we had to work together. Somehow, interest started developing. This man who will say it as it is a man that you need to have around you so that you can say it as it is,” he said.
Despite the resounding secessionist agitations as well as many local and international predictions that Nigeria is close to becoming a failed state and will soon break up, Obasanjo said Nigeria would continue to exist no matter what happens.
The former President noted that the enemies of the West African nation with over 200 million people won’t win in their agenda to see the breakup of the country.
He also said the cost of staying together as a nation was cheaper than the cost of dividing Nigeria.
Obasanjo said he would continue to work for the peace and progress of a united Nigeria, adding that the “many enemies” who don’t want to see the country’s continued co-existence would fail.
The former head of state made the statement at a time when secessionists’ agitations, fuelled by perceived injustice and worsening security situation, have increased across the country especially in Southern Nigeria.
The regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has been battling with secession groups including the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra led by detained Nnamdi Kanu; including the Yoruba Nation separatist group spearheaded by Prof Banji Akintoye and embattled Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho.
Speaking directly to the celebrant, the ex-President assured the Christian leader that the enemies of Nigeria won’t win.
Obasanjo said, “We are here to honour somebody we should honour, and learn from him (Mbang), to show that we genuinely love and appreciate him for the service he has rendered to the Christian community in this country and world over. And to assure him that whatever happens, we will continue to work for unity, peace, security and progress of this country.
“I know that these are things that are dear to his heart. We want to assure you that Nigeria will continue to exist because the cost for Nigeria not to continue to exist is much more than the cost for us to make Nigeria to continue to exist.
“There are many people –high and low – who can be described as enemies of Nigeria but they will not win over those who are friends of Nigeria.”
Also at the event was the Akwa Ibom State Governor and Chairman on the occasion, Udom Emmanuel, as well as dignitaries from all walks of life.
Mbang spoke about how he became friends with Obasanjo, adding that, “since then “we have become brothers, but of different mothers.” He thanked the former head of state as well as other dignitaries present for the honour.
Emmanuel thanked Obasanjo and Mbang for keeping together over the years, assuring that they would remain his fathers.
Repentant bandits were pivotal to the release of 18 students and staff of the College of Agricultural and Animal Sciences in Bakura, Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has disclosed.
“As we all know, my administration initiated peace and reconciliation with the bandits as part of the measures to address security challenges facing the state.
“We used the dialogue through the repentant bandits and rescued this staff and students”, Mr Matawalle said on Friday as he received the released students.
Bandits had on August 16, abducted students and staff of the College in Bakura Local Government Area of the state.
Presenting the released abductees to Mr Matawalle, at the Government House, Gusau, on Friday, the State Commissioner of Police, Ayuba Elkana, reiterated that the victims were rescued through dialogue initiated by the state government.
“We may recall that the students were abducted and kept with the bandits 12 days ago.
“They were rescued through the peace dialogue initiated by Governor Bello Matawalle, without paying any kobo as ransom.
“I am happy to hand over the released students and staff to his Excellency, the governor, today,” the Commissioner said.
Mr Elkana commended all stakeholders who assisted in the rescue of the students.
Mr Matawalle commended the state peace and reconciliation committee for achieving the success.
“We thank Allah the almighty, for having this staff and students back,” he said.
He said the released abductees will undergo medical checkup before they are handed over to their families.
The Plateau State House of Assembly has given Governor Simon Lalong two weeks to address the security challenges bedeviling the state.
Philip Dasun, Chairman, House Committee on Information, conveyed the position of the legislators when he briefed reporters in Jos.
Mr Dasun said that the assembly would know the next line of action after the two-week ultimatum.
“As an assembly with people at heart, we call on Plateau citizens to have confidence in us with renewed commitment.
“We have given two weeks to the governor to take action on the resolutions the House has forwarded on security matters and how to restore peace.
“We call on the Governor Simon Bako Lalong to come up with a statement defending us as a people and to bring back renewed commitment to the cause of Plateau.
“We strongly call on Plateau people to practically stand up and defend themselves and their communities, as the conventional security design is no longer guaranteeing our safety as a people,” he said.
The committee chairman also called on traditional rulers to look inward and release the local security design to protect Plateau people as well as reinforce the vigilance, hunters and local wise men to defend the people.
He said that as a sign of commitment to the urgent need for the people to protect themselves, the Plateau State House of Assembly had directed all local government Chairmen to suspend their planned recruitment of Adhoc teachers, and instead, recruit 200 vigilante personnel in each local government area to boost and augment local intelligence gathering.
The legislator called on security operatives to fish out the perpetrators of the mayhem and be punished according to the law.
“On behalf of the Assembly, I wish to sympathise with the government and Plateau people on the barbaric and dastardly killings that have been taking place in different communities in the state.
“I sympathise with communities in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Jos North, Jos South, Mangu, Riyom, University of Jos community and recently that of Yelwa Zangam.
“The House condemns all these killings in totality, all these killings are unacceptable and condemnable.
“We commiserate with the families of all those who lost their loved ones during these attacks,” he said.
Nanbol Daniel, Chairman, House Committee on Health in his contribution urged the people to protect themselves but should not go against the law.
Mr Daniel said that the assembly had resolved that the Plateau government should compensate victims of the attacks.
The health committee chairman said that legislators would continue to update the people on their efforts to restore peace in the state.
Plateau has come under renewed inter-ethnic violence after palpable peace in recent years.
Scores of farmers and residents have been killed around villages around the Miango Chiefdom by suspected Fulani herdsmen since the onslaught began. Farms and properties were also destroyed.
Irigwe Development Association claims many have been killed while at least 250 houses have been burnt by the marauders.
In an apparent reprisal, no fewer than 20 Muslims returning from an Islamic programme in Bauchi were ambushed and killed along Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government Area.
Miango Youths claims Fulani militia has been pillaging communities, killing villagers ever since.
Citizens have accused Governor Lalong of being docile in the face of the escalating killing of his people.
