Connect with us

NEWS

Buhari threatens to shock those undermining Nigeria’s unity

Published

on

Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission
Modupe ASUDO
ABUJA-FOLLOWING incessant killings across the country and burning of key national infrastructures, especially offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday issued a stern warning to those he describes as “bent on destroying the country through promoting insurrection, and burning down critical national assets: a rude shock awaits them, and very soon too he said.

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari

The President spoke after he received briefing from Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, on series of attacks on facilities of the electoral body round the country.

“I receive daily security reports on the attacks, and it is very clear that those behind them want this administration to fail,” President Buhari said. “Insecurity in Nigeria is now mentioned all over the world. All the people who want power, whoever they are, you wonder what they really want. Whoever wants the destruction of the system will soon have the shock of their lives. We’ve given them enough time.”
President Buhari recalled that he visited all the 36 states of the country before the 2019 election, “and majority of the people believed me, and the election proved it.” He promised to continue leading the country in accordance with Constitutional provisions.
He said those misbehaving in certain parts of the country were obviously too young to know the travails and loss of lives that attended the Nigerian Civil War. “Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand. We are going to be very hard sooner than later.”
The President said the Service Chiefs and the Inspector General of Police have been changed, “and we will demand security from them.”
On the dangers posed to future elections by the burning of INEC facilities, President Buhari said he would give the electoral commission all it needed to operate, “so that no one would say we don’t want to go, or that we want a third term. There will be no excuse for failure. We’ll meet all INEC’s demands.”
In his briefing, Prof Yakubu said that so far, there have been 42 cases of attacks on INEC offices nationwide, since the last General Election.
“The 42 incidents so far occurred in 14 states of the Federation for a variety of reasons….Most of the attacks happened in the last seven months, and they are unrelated to protest against previous elections. From the pattern and frequency of the most recent attacks, they appear to be targeted at future elections. The intention is to incapacitate the Commission, undermine the nation’s democracy and precipitate a national crisis,” Prof Yakubu said.

NEWS

Ogun Students Shut Down Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway After Colleague’s Killing

Published

on

Woman Dies After Setting Self Ablaze Over N70,000 Loan In Ogun

Students of DS Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori, Ogun State, on Tuesday shut down the Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway in protest following the killing of one of their colleagues during a robbery attack on a student community behind the institution.

The protest, which caused heavy traffic congestion along the busy highway, erupted after suspected armed robbers invaded Eruku Community, where many students reside, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Goke Rafiu, the attackers raided about 15 houses in the community, killing one student and leaving three others injured.

SEE ALSO: Dangote Granite Mines Boosts Access to Education with Bursary Awards for Ogun Host Community Students

“What happened was that some armed robbers raided about 15 houses in Eruku where some of our students are living. The community is actually behind the school, and during the attack, one of the students was killed while about three others were injured,” Rafiu said.

He disclosed that one of the injured students had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, for treatment.

“We are currently in the community with police officers and members of the institution’s management team, including the Chairman of the Governing Council, Ambassador Toye Okanlawon, to chart the way forward,” he added.

The rector appealed to the protesting students to remain calm, assuring them that the Ogun State Government, security agencies and community leaders were working to improve security around the institution.

Following the tragic incident, the institution postponed examinations scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, and Wednesday, July 29, to honour the deceased student and allow affected students time to recover emotionally.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Timetable, Examination and Academic Calendar Committee, Gideon Adekunle, the institution said: “Following the unfortunate incident that resulted in the loss of a student and injuries to others during a robbery attack in Eruku, the examinations scheduled for Tuesday, July 28, and Wednesday, July 29, have been postponed.

“This is to ensure students in the affected area regain their composure and mental stability, and most importantly, to honour the deceased.

“Examinations will resume on Friday, July 30, 2026, as scheduled. A new timetable for the postponed examinations will be communicated in due course.”

The Students’ Union Government President, Comrade Owoigbe Blessing, said the robbers struck around midnight, killing a final-year Higher National Diploma (HND II) student.

“One final-year HND II student was killed, another female student was injured after her ear was severed, while another student who was shot has been rushed to the Federal Medical Centre,” she said.

She called on the Ogun State Government to strengthen security around the institution, lamenting that robbery attacks had become a recurring problem in Eruku Community.

“There is no adequate security. If there was, this would not have happened. This is not the first, second or even third time such an incident has occurred in Eruku,” she said.

Also reacting, the Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Ogun State, Comrade Olabode Faruq Success, condemned the rising insecurity around tertiary institutions in the state and called for urgent intervention to protect students.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Fubara Corrected His Mistakes, Returned to the Right Political Family – Wike

Published

on

Wike States Preference for Elected Positions

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has described Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s reconciliation with his political camp as a correction of past mistakes, insisting the governor had no better alternative than returning to the political family that brought him to power.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday after inspecting ongoing road projects across the Federal Capital Territory, Wike dismissed claims that Fubara’s return was an act of seeking forgiveness following their prolonged political feud.

SEE MORE: How British Airways Records Foiled Alleged $2m Blackmail Plot Against Me — Wike

According to the former Rivers State governor, politics is not about sin but about recognising mistakes and making the right decisions.

“I don’t know what you mean by sin. In politics, there is no sin. If someone realises they made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that. Politics is not a sin. What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and making the right decision,” Wike said.

Wike recalled that he had predicted the reconciliation before Fubara publicly announced it, maintaining that the governor had no choice but to return to the political structure that produced him.

“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him. I have now been informed that he has made that declaration publicly, and we welcome him. Our doors are open. Everyone is welcome for us to work together. There is no better alternative. We will all work together to move the state forward,” he stated.

The FCT minister added that Fubara’s public declaration of reconciliation would further strengthen efforts to mobilise support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election ahead of the 2027 general election.

“He has publicly stated that he has returned to where he started, and we receive him with an open mind. There is nothing to hide. We will all work together to ensure that we deliver the votes President Tinubu needs for his re-election,” Wike added.

The minister spoke while inspecting major infrastructure projects in the FCT, including the ISEX Road Corridor and the nearly completed Apo-Karshi Road.

Expressing satisfaction with the pace of work, Wike said the Tinubu administration remains committed to completing inherited projects rather than abandoning them, noting that continuity in governance is essential for development.

He explained that the ISEX Road project, awarded in 2014 but left incomplete by previous administrations, is expected to be partially completed before the end of the year if the necessary funds are released.

Wike stressed that completing ongoing infrastructure projects would protect public investments, improve connectivity and accelerate economic growth across the Federal Capital Territory.

Continue Reading

NEWS

Defamation Trial Takes Twist as Sowore Withdraws DSS DG Subpoena

Published

on

Human rights activist and former African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, has withdrawn his request to subpoena the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, in his ongoing criminal defamation trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The unexpected move came after the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), challenged the subpoena, arguing that the DSS chief was not the appropriate person to tender the document sought by the defence.

READ ALSO: Court Deals Fresh Blow to Sowore, Orders Him to Remain in Custody Until June 30

During Tuesday’s proceedings, Sowore informed the court that he would no longer insist on Ajayi’s appearance, explaining that the evidence he intended to obtain from the DSS Director-General could instead be produced by another official of the agency.

Fagbemi urged the court to set aside the subpoena, arguing that the document in question—a letter asking Sowore to delete a Facebook post in which he allegedly described President Bola Tinubu as a “criminal”—was neither authored nor signed by Ajayi.

The Attorney General further submitted that the letter had already been admitted into evidence twice by the court.

He also noted that its author, Uwen Davis, had testified before the court on July 22 on behalf of the defence, making the appearance of the DSS Director-General unnecessary.

Earlier in the proceedings, Sowore’s counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), questioned the Attorney General’s direct involvement in the case.

He argued that another Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Akinlolu Kehinde, was already representing the Federal Government and maintained that although the Attorney General had the constitutional authority to appear in any matter, the defence ought to have been notified before he assumed responsibility for the prosecution.

The court had earlier confirmed that the subpoena had been served on the DSS Director of Legal Services after the registrar informed Justice Mohammed Umar that service had been effected.

However, the Federal Government maintained that Ajayi was unaware of the service and asked the court to vacate the subpoena while directing the defence to continue with its case.

Following the arguments, Sowore withdrew the request, acknowledging that the evidence he sought could be obtained through another DSS official.

Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently adjourned the matter until August 3 for the continuation of the defence in the criminal defamation trial.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.