Obasanjo attacks Buhari over Saraki, Dogara’s ordeal

Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown a potshot at President Muhammadu Buhari and his government over the travails of the Senate president, Bukola Saraki (Number Three citizen) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara (Number Four citizen).

Obasanjo, in a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Friday, highlighted how members of All Progressives Congress, APC-led government were being harassed.

He described alleged intimidation of Nigerians by the APC government as a joke taken too far, claiming that this has resulted in citizens living in fear of being killed.

The statement read, “This present Government has demonstrably exhibited apathy, and in some cases, encouraged by its conduct, daily loss of lives and property in many States of the country, the office cannot be indifferent.

“We are currently in a nation where the Number Three citizen is currently being harangued and the Number Four citizen is facing similar threat within the same Government they serve.

“There is a groundswell of our nationals that live in fear that they could be hounded, harassed, maimed or even killed as the battle for 2019 takes this worrisome dimension.

 “For Chief Obasanjo, this is a joke carried too far and being someone who do not act on unofficial information.”

BREAKING: Buhari approves financial autonomy for state judiciaries, houses of assembly

 

 President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday signed into law the Fourth Alteration Bill which grants financial autonomy to State Judiciaries and State Houses of Assembly.

Senator Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), made this disclosure to the State House correspondents on Friday.

Enang said, “I just want to inform you that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari today assented to the Constitution Fourth Alteration Bill which grants financial autonomy and independence to the Houses of Assembly of the respective states and to the Judiciary of the respective states.

“Therefore upon this signature the amounts standing to the credit of the judiciary are to be now be paid directly to the judiciary of those states, no more through the governors and no more from the governors.

 “And then the amounts standing to the credit of the Houses of Assembly of the respective states are now to be paid directly to the Houses of Assembly of that state for the benefit of the legislators and the management of the State Houses of Assembly.”

Motive behind Buhari’s June 12 declaration questionable – Northern Leaders

The Northern Leaders and Stakeholders Assembly, NLSA, has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of June 12 as new date for Democracy Day in honour of the late Chief MKO Abiola, has political undertones.

Secretary of NLSA, Dr Umar Ardo, who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, said although making the declaration in honour of the late politician, Moshood Abiola, was a good idea, the motive behind it was questionable.

“I have absolutely no problem with honouring them. They have done a whole lot in honouring the democratic process of Nigeria. My only problem is the motive, because I have been following President Buhari’s politics since he came into politics in 2002.

“I never heard him say anything about June 12. Neither in 2003, 2007, 2015 or even 2018 on the 29th of May when he addressed the nation,” he said.

According to him, the President never hinted of his plans and as such, the rather unexpected declaration was an indication of his attempt to score political points especially in the Southwest.

He also noted that the move may be an attempt to “rubbish” past presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida, with whom he (Buhari) is said to have some political friction.

“Before coming into politics, he worked with General Sani Abacha as the PTF chairman and you know that Sani Abacha was central in denying the actualisation of June 12 and incarcerating MKO Abiola so for him to just come out and put out the issue of June 12, like a bolt out of the blue, it gives a lot of serious reason for concern.

“If you have not led a background on something and out of the blue you just came out with it, that means either you are in a desperate state and you want to achieve something or that you are being schemed by somebody who also wants to achieve something.

 “Also, you may want to make rubbish. For example he has a running battle with President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is a key beneficiary of June 12 and President Ibrahim Babangida who annulled the June 12 election – he has key issues with them, so I believe he must be thinking that if he comes up with this that not only will he regain his lost popularity in the country, especially in the southwest but he will also be able to rubbish these two former presidents on the grounds that they were responsible for it.”

3,000 containers trapped in Apapa over truck drivers’ protest

No fewer than 3,000 containers are said to be  trapped inside the Lagos Port Complex Apapa as a result of the lockdown created by a new policy introduced by the Nigerian Ports Authority  on the return of containers to the port.


According to a port official who declined to identify himself,  trouble started when the NPA management at the port decided to take over the control of traffic in and out of the port area from the Nigerian Navy.

A truck driver, who identified himself as Sulaiman Adeoye, confirmed that the new policy led the truck drivers to down tools on Tuesday and Wednesday in protest.

He said, “They (NPA) just suddenly came on Monday and said that all trucks must first go to a shipping company’s loading bay from where they are to be called into the port. Unfortunately, this is contrary to the arrangement being implemented by the Nigerian Navy, which has worked very well and has eliminated the Apapa gridlock.

“The new NPA arrangement forces all trucks to go to the loading bay but there is no modality for how they are  to come into the port from there. The new arrangement has led to chaos in the port and cargoes are trapped even as trucks are trapped at the loading bay. This action just does not make any common sense.”

The Chairman, Association of Maritime Truck Owners, Remi Ogungbemi, who also confirmed the development to journalists in Lagos, stated that the truckers were agitated by the new policy because, “it is still alien.”

According to him, the new directive is not going down well with the truckers because they are at the receiving end of the policy.

He said, “The NPA is saying that the terminal operators should give them the list of containers they want to load and number of trucks they are expected to load the previous day before they start coming the next day. But this does not go down well with the truckers, because they are confined to a situation whereby some people stay on the road for days. So, that is what is generating the issue.”

Responding, the Assistant General Manager, Corporate and Strategic Communications, NPA,  Isah Suwaid, who spoke on behalf of  the General Manager, Mr. Abdullahi Goje, explained that the NPA was  in charge of  movement in and out of  the port.

He noted that the duty was entrusted temporarily to the Navy at a time when the traffic situation at the port was very bad and there was a need for traffic control, adding that the NPA decided to resume the call-up system following the return of sanity to  the traffic situation.

According to him, the stakeholders were informed of the decision to resume the call-up system by the NPA.

He pleaded for calm, saying that the authority was already liaising with the terminal operators to provide easy exit for the containers inside the ports.

Okorocha, APC have battered democracy — APGA

Imo State leadership of All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, has accused Governor Rochas Okorocha and his All Progressives Congress, APC, to have, through their actions, inactions, programmes and inhuman policies, made a caricature of democracy.


State Publicity Secretary, Dr. George Nkworji, who made the accusation in a release made available to newsmen in Owerri, also described the recent Democracy Day celebration as “a mockery and rape of democracy”.

“Imo State has experienced more  physical, psychological, economic and developmental trauma, since Rochas Okorocha assumed office than ever”, Nkworji said.

The APGA image maker said: “Under the APC and Okorocha, the state has witnessed irreparable demolitions across communities and towns without verifiable reasons, non-payment of pensions and gratuities, traumatized the citizenry and dwarfed their hope of survival through consistent, indiscriminate seizure of traders’ goods, multiple extortion and denying the citizenry the right to live.”

While accusing the APC government of “creating extreme poverty in the land”, APGA also lamented that “Imo today, is wearing the face of a war-torn territory”.

Meanwhile, Governor Rochas Okorocha has expressed regret that “APC leaders over-rated Chief John Odigie Oyegun’s capacity at the beginning”.

Okorocha, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Samuel Onwuemeodo said: “With the manner Chief John Oyegun has piloted the affairs of the All Progressives Congress, it is obvious that the party leaders must have over-rated his capacity in allowing him to succeed Chief Bisi Akande as the national chairman of the party.”

The governor also said that Chief Oyegun has taken the party backward by several kilometres, to the extent that today, there is no state that the party does not have crisis or faction.

“Again, the way Chief Oyegun has pursued the issue of elongation also showed how selfish and greedy he is. He is not interested in the well-being or future of the party, but only interested in staying put as the national chairman of the party, and that is why he is after anybody who opposed the tenure elongation”, Okorocha said.

Continuing, the governor said that “in the case of Imo, he disobeyed two court orders with regard to the congresses in Imo and the inauguration of strange elements as state officials of the party, just to get at Governor Okorocha because of the issue of elongation. We have no option now than to ask our lawyers to press for his imprisonment and that of Osita Izunaso and all those who were involved in the lawlessness.”

MURDER: Arrested suspects finger Ogun Majority Leader

 Four persons suspected to be political thugs and members of a cult, have been arrested by men of the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, Zonal Intervention Squad, Obada, Abeokuta, over alleged involvement in the shooting and killing of one person in Sagamu, Ogun State.

The suspected cultists however, allegedly fingered the Majority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Yinka Mafe as their sponsor.

Vanguard gathered that the suspects— Olushola Adedeji, Olusegun Olalekan, a.k.a Musket, Azeez  a.k.a Anene and Abolore a.ka AB, were arrested in the constituency of the lawmaker.

The four suspects were arrested last Thursday, over their alleged involvement in the shooting and killing of a resident simply identified as Arsenal-Nice in  Sagamu, the constituency of the lawmaker  in the area.

The suspects were said to be the political thugs of the lawmaker who represents Sagamu I State Constituency.

It was further gathered that the suspects were caught pants down at their hideout as they were arrested with arms and ammunition.

Their arrest, it was further gathered, followed a complaint lodged at the Police formation that the suspects invaded the residence of the victim and shot him dead.

The complainant, who added that the suspects were on the payroll of the majority leader further alleged that the suspects have been terrorizing Sagamu and its environs for a very long time.

Police confirm arrest

When contacted, the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, Dolapo Badmus, confirmed the arrest of the suspects.

The Zonal PPRO, who said the case is still under investigation, further said that the suspects have confessed to be working for one politician in the state but said she won’t expose the identity of the politician until investigation is concluded.

She said, “The case is under investigation. They (suspects) said they are working for one politician but we are investigating it. We won’t expose that until we get to the last stage.

“But the cogent thing is that they said they are working for a politician which we are still trying to verify”.

I’ll defend myself in court—Mafe

When contacted by text message for his reaction, Hon. Yinka Mafe who demanded to know the source of the story described the allegation as “beer parlour gist.”

The lawmaker also demanded that the suspects be charged to a court of competent jurisdiction, saying he would gladly have the day to defend himself as a lawyer.

He wrote: “Well, I don’t react to beer parlour gist. Moreso, I’d rather they are charged to the (sic) court of competent jurisdiction so I have my day in court as a lawyer to defend myself.

Source Vanguard News

Jibrin faces probe over alleged misrepresentation of House deliberations

Abdumumin Jibrin

The House of Representatives has asked its Committee on Ethics and Privileges to investigate the lawmaker representing Bebeji/Kiru constituency in Kano State, Abdulmumin Jibrin, for allegedly misrepresenting the chamber in respect of the ongoing rift between the National Assembly and the executive arm of government.

The lawmaker could be suspended from the House of Representatives, if found guilty of the fresh allegations against him.

A joint executive session of both chambers of the National Assembly met on Tuesday and urged the President to address some issues or face the invocation of the powers of the legislature.

Reacting to the resolutions passed, a group of lawmakers, under the aegis of Parliamentary Support Group, led by Jibrin, said the decisions reached at the end of the session were not endorsed by all the lawmakers.

“Almost all the members and senators that spoke at the executive session are of the PDP while members of the APC declined joining the discussion to avoid a rowdy confrontation as the entire session could easily pass for a PDP executive session,” the group had said in a statement signed by Jibrin.

However, at plenary, yesterday, Sunday Karimi from Kogi State called the attention of the House to Jibrin’s statement, saying: “There is need for him to be called to order because he is trying to turn the chambers upside down.

“Jibrin said all our meeting, yesterday, was a PDP affair and members that spoke in that meeting were all PDP members. If you will speak to the press, you must say the truth.  I want this matter to be referred to the ethics committee for him to explain himself.”

Jibrin was not present at the plenary when the matter was raised.

Responding, Dogara decried a situation where lawmakers “would not be present and get a clear picture of what is happening.”

He said:  “That sitting was for all of us. Anyone that said it is for PDP should have come to raise a voice. I saw them sneaking in and out of here during the meeting.  It is right to always reflect the truth and not mislead the public. It is very unfortunate.”

He subsequently referred the matter to committee on ethics and privileges to investigate and report back to the house.

Jibrin had just returned from suspension which he was handed in 2017 for 180 legislative days after he raised an alarm of the alleged padding of the 2016 budget.

New minimum wage: FG, labour set for showdown over Sept deadline

INDICATIONS  emerged, yesterday, in Geneva, Switzerland, of a looming showdown between organised labour and the Federal Government over the September deadline for the commencement of the new minimum wage.

While organised labour, as represented by Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, insisted that September deadline was sacrosanct, the Federal Government said it was not realizable.

Addressing the 107th Session of the International Labour Conference, ILC, in Geneva,  President  of  NLC, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, said the ongoing process on the new wage must be concluded and implementation begins in September as earlier agreed.

Defending this position while speaking to journalists at the conference, Wabba said: “I have told you that at the tripartite committee, we all committed to a timetable and timeline which is known and everybody is aware of it.

But speaking to journalists, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, insisted September deadline was not possible, noting that the Minimum Wage Tripartite Committee, working on it would only complete its work on  or September and submit to the government.

He said: “The truth of the matter is that there is a work programme for the minimum wage committee. And by that schedule of work, we are supposed to terminate our own work in that committee first week of September. After you have done that, you will now take your recommendation to government.

“After doing that, the executive arm of government will take your recommendation to the Federal Executive Council because it concerns those in states, people in the state will now take it to National Economic Council, which is the council in charge of the economy of Nigeria.

“So these bodies will then look at the recommendation and then forward the final distillate to the National Assembly. It is the National Assembly that has power to make laws.   But we can forward to them as executive bills. That is what the constitution says. So, I do not see all these taking place in September. That was why I said the date of September for a worker to receive new minimum wage is not feasible.”

The minister however, expressed optimism that if the process was fast tracked before the end of the year, the new wage would be implemented by 2019, adding “That is not to say if everyone puts in their best and we put it on a fast track, we cannot consummate it before the end of the year. And when we consummate it before the end of the year, it has to be budgeted for. So, the money will go in either as supplementary budget or 2019 budget.”

Gunmen abduct INEC official in A-Ibom community, demand N10m ransom

An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Otobong Sylvester Ukpong, was Tuesday kidnapped by gunmen near Government Primary School, Oruk Ata 2, on the Ukanfun-Azumini Expressway, Uyo.

The victim, serving in INEC office in Ukanafun Local Government, hails from Iwukem village in Etim Ekpo Local Government Area of the state.

The victim’s brother, Mbetobong Sylvester Ukpong, said: “My brother was kidnapped at Uruk Ata 2, on Tuesday on his way to work at INEC office in Ukanafun.

“Uruk Ata 2 is a volatile area. Militants have kidnapped four church elders, burnt houses and even killed about four people recently.”

He further explained that his brother, who is the last child of the family, was going to the office to participate in the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, to electorate.

While disclosing that the abductors have already made contact with the family, demanding N10 million as ransom for his release, he lamented that the family cannot afford such amount of money.

His words: “They contacted the family through my brother’s phone number. That is when they disclosed the ransom.

“But the elders of the family have met and we have told them that such demand is outrageous for a largely peasant family to pay.”

Police’s reaction

Contacted, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Odiko Macdon, confirmed the kidnapping, even as he said that Police are not aware of the ransom being demanded by the hoodlums.

Accordinmg to him, “we have got the report, so I can confirm it. But Police are already on top of the situation. We are doing something drastic to rescue him.”

Woman Baths Live-in Lover With Hot Water In Lagos

A trader, Joy Akachi, has been arrested by the police in Lagos for allegedly bathing her live-in lover, Ibe Akachi, with hot water at their house on Karounwi Street, in the Ijesha area of the state.

Joy, a mother of four, alleged that her lover of 13 years tortured her over a disagreement before she poured the hot water on him.

The 32-year-old suspect was paraded at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters, Ikeja, on Wednesday.

The state Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said the command had recorded many cases of domestic violence.

He said, “This is another case of domestic violence which caused very grievous bodily harm. It involved a woman, who surprisingly poured 100 degree hot water on her lover.

“This woman had an altercation with her man and they still went to bed together. Unknown to the man, the woman still nursed grudges. In the morning when the husband was making breakfast, the woman boiled a full bucket of water and emptied the content on the husband, causing him very severe and life-threatening burns.

“The husband was rushed to a hospital, while the woman was arrested for investigation and ultimately for prosecution.”

The suspect said her 'husband' was fond of beating her up, adding that the constant abuse prompted her to pour the hot water on him.

Joy alleged that her husband did not provide for the family, noting that she had once packed out of the house with their four children.

She said, “We are not married; we’ve been together for 13 years. I have four kids for him, yet he has been maltreating me.

“I sell okrika (secondhand) clothes for children at Aswani market. On that day, I went to get some okrika clothes to take to Aswani. When I got back home around 9pm, he asked me where I was coming from and I told him.

“He asked me to go back. I flared up and told him that he caused everything because he usually went out without dropping any money for food. I told him that I was the one running around like a mad person. It is the money I make from the clothes I sell that I use in feeding the children. My man suddenly dragged me inside and locked the door and beat me up.

“The following morning, he used a boiling ring to boil water in the bucket and asked me to bath the children. When I complained that I was in pain due to the previous night beating, he gave me more fist blows. Out of frustration, I raised the bucket that was filled with hot water and poured it on him.”

The CP advised couples to seek professional help whenever their relationships were in crises.

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, says President Buhari’s award of GCFR on MKO Abiola is illegal

Former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, has described as illegal, the award of the highest title in Nigeria, GCFR, to winner of the June 12th 1993 election, MKO Abiola, posthumously. 

Last night, President Buhari announced the change in the date of democracy day from May 29th to June 12th in honor of Abiola who is said to have one the freest and fairest election in Nigeria.

Belgore who was Chief Judge between 2006 and 2007 and also the chairman of the National Honors Committee in 2016, spoke to Premiumtimes where he stated that the National honors are only conferred on living people and that it is only soldiers or service men that are awarded posthumously for their bravery.“It is not done… it is for people living. The only thing they could do is to name a place after him, but national honours award, no.” he said

FG Bars Companies From Sacking Married Women,Increase Maternity Leave To 4 Months

The Federal Government has increased maternity leave for Nigerian women from three to four months.

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, disclosed this at the ongoing International Labour Conference (ILC), in Geneva, Switzerland, yesterday.

The minister also told delegates that employers of labour in the public and private sectors in the country have been barred from sacking women from work either due to their marital or maternity status.

“Employers of labour (in Nigeria) are, by regulation, requested to provide workplace crèches for nursing mothers for ease at work place. In the public service, government recently increased the period for maternity leave from 12 to 16 weeks; to allow enough recuperation for both baby and mother, especially in the area of breast feeding.

“In addition, all disciplinary proceedings against any female staff, which might have been taken during the period of her maternity leave shall be put in abeyance till the expiration of the leave.

“Employers of labour are also barred from removal of women from work due to their marital or maternity status, illegal labour migration, contract staffing and labour casualisation which affects most women, are being reformed through policies and regulations at national, bilateral and multilateral levels.”

“The ratification, domestication and implementation of the Maternity Protection Convention No. 186 are conscious efforts to ensure that more women enjoy maternity protection in the country…”

Senator Ngige, however, informed that a lot needed to “be done in terms of putting in place appropriate legislation, policies and practices to deal with the gender gaps that inhibit greater participation of women in the labour force.”

He added that the most effective method of eliminating gender inequality from the workplace lies in vigorous opposition to employers’ discriminatory conducts, policies and harassment in all forms wherever and whenever they occur.

“Women who fall victim to these abuses are encouraged to oppose such through legal actions and reporting to Labour Inspectors. The infusion into Labour Inspection Guides Laws and Code of Practice, with severe sanctions and serious punitive measures are prescribed as future deterrents.

“In this respect, we will need the Technical Assistance of the ILO in the area of gender audits, considering the good news that the ILO has in her pool, over 80 certified Audit facilitators. We can adopt the Train the Trainers (TOT) approach in this regard.”

To address gender inequality and youth unemployment in Nigeria, Ngige told delegates that the federal government drew up and has been implementing an Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

Alcohol Manufacturers Reject President Buhari's 500% Excise Duty Hike

The Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN) has rejected the new increase in excise duty being imposed on domestic wines and spirits.

Chairman of DIBAN, Chief Patrick Anegbe told newsmen in Lagos today that the hike was a threat to the N420 billion investment of the industry. He said that there was no prior engagement/consultation whatsoever with the indigenous producers of wines and spirits, before adopting the new excise method.

He said that the association was particularly worried that the job of over 25,000 Nigerians plus over 250,000 connected SMEs staff were being threatened by the hike.

"We Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), under the auspices of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) reject the new astronomical hike in excise duty being selectively imposed on the domestic wines and spirits, one of the oldest and driving indigenous industry in Nigeria.

For the record, the new duty approved for implementation by the Honourable Minister of Finance, translates to an increase in duty from the current average of N30 per litre to N150 in the first year and N200 per litre subsequently.

This translates to an increase from current average duty of N270 to N1,350 per case (carton) in the first year and N270 to N1,800 per case from second year. This is an increase of over 500 per cent purely on local wines and spirits with the exclusion of all imported wines, spirits and champagne.

"We reject in totality, the highly punitive and selective astronomical hikes in duty, a purely IMF agenda being camouflaged as a health concern!,” he said.

The chairman said that the excise duty increase was an attempt by the minister to foist an IMF sponsored agenda on Nigeria, which would further compound the hardship of already impoverished Nigerians. He said that if the implementation of the new duty hike was allowed to proceed, it would lead to obvious job losses that would result from low demand of the products.

According to him, the new hike will lead to the collapse of the indigenous wines and spirits segment and pave way for the complete take over of the market by the imported and smuggled brands.

"We are also disturbed that the new hike will not only affect the wines and spirits industry, but also other key sectors of the economy and businesses such as packaging industries, bottles, cartons, labels, cork, laminates, glue, ink, printing, laboratory, marketing, consulting, media, among others. 

We strongly hold the view that if the intention of government is to grow local industries, imposing exorbitant duties on locally manufactured goods is a contradiction of that objective.

For the sake of emphasis, from a recent study carried out by KPMG, it was concluded that price elasticity holiday spirits/wines segment is very high such that a 10 per cent increase in price of wine will lead to about 20.9 per cent fall in demand. 

A 19 per cent increase in the price of spirit will result in a 41 per cent decline in volume and this is predominant in the low price segments which represent 78.65 per cent of the total volume. With over 500 per cent increase approved by the government, the damage these will cause to locally produced wines and spirits business can only be imagined,” he said.

The chairman said that the association had been very supportive of the Nigerian state through discharge of its statutory obligations paying of relevant duties, taxes, excise, among others. He said that prior to the announcement of the new rates in excise duty, the association had made unsuccessful frantic attempts at getting the attention of the minister before migration from the current Ad Verloren to the specific scheme.

Anegbe said that the association was not against moves by government to increase fiscal revenue. He however, said that for governments to achieve its revenue generation plan, continued existence of the indigenous low-priced segment players was very critical. ”

We are therefore using this medium to call on the federal government to halt the implementation of the new duty hikes. Government should hold genuine consultation with all stakeholders in the domestic wines and spirits space. There is need to save the jobs of thousands of Nigerians, as well as ensure the continued survival of one of the oldest indigenous industry, the wine and spirits sector,” he said.

June 12 Declaration: How Buhari Ended Obasanjo’s May 29 hypocrisy - Falana

Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), says by declaring June 12 Democracy Day, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has put an end to the hypocrisy of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

In a statement, Falana said declaring June 12 as Democracy Day “validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta”.

The human rights lawyer called on the government to adopt Abiola’s welfare programme to tackle poverty.

"The Muhammadu Buhari administration made history today by conferring the post humous national award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on Chief M. K. O. Abiola, the acclaimed of the June 12, 1993 presidential election for his huge contribution to the restoration of democratic rule in Nigeria,” the statement read.

"By declaring June 12 Democracy Day the federal government has officially validated the integrity of the fair and free election that was criminally annulled by the Ibrahim Babangida junta.

"By recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day the federal government has put an end to the hypocrisy of May 29 which was proclaimed by the Olusegun Obasanjo regime. By confering the post humous award of national award of Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (GCON) on Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN the federal government has officially endorsed his enormous contributions to the titanic battle against military dictatorship and promotion of human rights in Nigeria.

"In addition to the historic gesture the federal government should proceed to adopt chief Abiola’s programme of welfare to poverty and respect the human rights of all Nigerians which Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN championed and defended in his life time.

'In particular, the federal government should mark the first national democracy day on June 12, 2018 with the release of all citizens who are being detained illegally all over the country and immediate compliance with all valid and subsisting court orders.”

The lawyer called on the government to equally honour Kudirat Abiola who was assassinated while defending her husband’s mandate.

Herdsmen Attack: 9 Persons Killed In Renewed Attack In Benue

Nine persons have reportedly lost their lives in a renewed deadly attack by suspected herdsmen on Guma and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State.

Daily Sun reports that eight people were killed in Tse Shan in Saghev community in Guma LGA, while one person was slaughtered in Tse Igbur village in Logo.

Sources from Guma said that the armed militia had stormed the communities simultaneously at about 3 am on Wednesday, June 6, shooting in all directions and the villagers, who were just returning home after months in IDPs camps, ran for safety.

At the end of the shooting spree, eight villagers were killed and the corpses have been recovered, while several residents are said to be missing and many more injured.

The Chairman of Guma LGA, Anthony Shawonwho confirmed the incident, lamented that the victims included two students who came to write the National Examination Council (NECO) exams in the community. 

Shawon said that he has already submitted the report of the attack to the state's Special Adviser on Security, Col. Paul Hemba (rtd), adding that both the dead and the injured have been conveyed to Gbajimba General Hospital.

Shawon stated that he also received information that while retreating, the militia attacked several people along their routes, with one body discovered along the road in Logo.

Buhari's Media Aide Blasts Obasanjo, Jonathan And National Assembly

President Buhari's social media aide, Lauretta Onochie has just written a damning piece where she boldly came for the National Assembly as well as former presidents Goodluck Jonathan and Olusegun Obasanjo.

In her words, 'When the President sends the budget belonging to the people of Nigeria to the National Assembly for appropriation, the budget goes to seven months imprisonment because our President would not do what Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan did: Ferry sacks of #GhanaMustGo full of dollars to oil the passage of the budget'.

Read her full article below....

In 2015, Nigerians began the process of recovering their nation from the hardened criminals who hijacked Nigeria for sixteen years. With an APC majority in the National Assembly, we had hoped for a speedy recovery and transformation of our nation, believing that we all understood the meaning of change.

For starters, it took the better part of five months of President Buhari swimming through the mud to finally have a glimpse of what looked like a nation from where Ministers would be nominated. He was determined to begin to address the issue of marginalization in appointments. Where possible, he reached out to some of the over 200 minority ethnic groups for his ministerial nominees.

This did not go down well with the power brokers in our nation. Senator Ike Ekweremadu screamed hard and threw a tantrum. He said he had never heard of the nominated minister from his native Enugu State. But the hitherto unknown Igbo sub group that produced the Minister of Foreign Affairs, felt a sense of belonging in a nation where the Ike Ekweremadus of this nation have continuously nominated themselves to serve, without a thought for the minority groups in their areas.

But it has been a nightmare. A cabal had quickly developed and seized the National Assembly. This cabal worked as if the National Assembly was their private estate in total disregard to the welfare of those who elected them. They do not count.

When Nigerians recovered their nation from the hardened criminals that hijacked our nation for sixteen years, no one thought the cabal at the National Assembly, would become the major opposition to the recovery of our nation. After all, what we promised was to bring about a change in the ways we had done things in the past that favoured only a few at the top.

All their actions have been selfish, self-centred and egocentric. They wanted the status quo to remain. Consequently, they started by waging war on the President for his choice of Ministers. They had a free hand to place their cronies as heads of House Committees. But they also wanted to appoint Ministers and others for the President. They wanted to run the Presidency, own the Presidency and dictate who should be hired or fired.

This same cabal is now posing as the defender of the ordinary Nigerians. Hian!

Nigerians are not fooled. They know the man who is fighting to deepen our democratic experience as a nation. They also know pretenders to the throne of democracy, who have put themselves above the laws of our land and above everyone of us.

Nigerians know those who have refused to make laws that can help the war on corruption move some steps further, sanitize our nation and propel us into the 21st century.

Democracy means that we are all equal before the law. The law goes after those who break it. The beauty of what we have today is that Pres. Muhammadu Buhari will not dictate to any law enforcement agency as to who to invite for questioning and who to arrest or discharge. It's the laws and the agencies that have the prerogative to go after alleged criminals.

The whole world knows that Nigerian institutions and systems are weak. Thats what Pres. Buhari inherited. The best way to strengthen them is not to breathe down on them, by interferring in the way they do their jobs. The best way to do it is to give them the space they require to exercise their initiatives in the application of our laws in the exercise of their duties. Some people are not pleased with this.

But It Appears God is moving for Nigerians again, As Usual. What we are witnessing in our nation today, is not chaos. What is happening is the change we all yearned and voted for. It's the storm before the calm.

Change is when a Nigerian elite who allegedly commits a crime, is treated the same way as an ordinary Nigerian who allegedly commits a similar crime.

When a member of the Senate who should be above board is caught pants down, senators elected to serve their people, take the mandate of their people to court, to show solidarity with CRIME.

Some ordinary Nigerians, who are confused and misinformed, are hired to protest the invitation of an elite by a law enforcement agency to answer a few questions. If one has no questions to answer, what's the fear in respecting and answering the calls by the laws of our land?

Some uninformed and self interest persons and groups, call it a witch-hunt. In A witch-hunt, only witches are hunted and nailed to the stake. If you are erroneously caught and you are not a witch, you will be asked to go home with a good measure of apologies.

When the President sends the budget belonging to the people of Nigeria to the National Assembly for appropriation, the budget goes to seven months imprisonment because our President would not do what Presidents Obasanjo and Jonathan did: Ferry sacks of #GhanaMustGo full of dollars to oil the passage of the budget.

That's another change that is not going down well. Although we have more honourable and distingushed ladies and gentlemen in our National Assembly, that institution, has experienced stunted growth in our democratic journey. Impunity, abuse of processes, intimidation and bullying are the order of the day for the few members of the cabal in that arm of the government against the vast majority of our honourable and distinguished Assembly men and women.

Votes are either not taken at all or the dubious voice vote is used. No one has bothered to ask why the installed voting system in the National Assembly is never put to use. It's all part of the corruption that has eaten deep into the fabrics of our systems and institutions.

Subsequent governments have encouraged them in the path of impunity, to live above the laws of our land. There were dormant laws for them and another set of active laws for ordinary Nigerians. But there again, did we really expect any better from PDP-led governments that were anchored on daylight impunity and corruption! But we promised change and there must be a change in the way the National Assembly treat Nigerians.

We are lucky to have a President who is determined, even if it means losing in 2019, to bring about the change he promised the nation. So, that change is non negotiable. It will not be truncated. It will be total. It will be deep. It will be all encompassing. It will set us apart from where we were.

That change means that we are all equal before the law. It's therefore, unfair and extremely sad that some young Nigerians who were caught for bank robbery, are being held by the police while their alleged accomplice, is sitting in the HALLOWED CHAMBER of the House of Senate that belongs to the good Citizens of this great nation. The Police has the constitutional rights to invite suspects for interrogations. Face to face interrogations reveal more than the Police already know.

No one is above the law. If you don't want the law to come after you, stay on the side of the law. The law will always protect those who do not trample on it. That's the fact of life. Change must happen.

God bless Nigeria.

Lauretta Onochie.

@Laurestar

Teacher Who Stabbed Husband To Death In Lagos Remanded In Kirikiri Prison

An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate court has ordered 24 year old teacher, Olamide Akinbobola, who stabbed her husband, 28 year old Dare Akinbobola, to death in Ikorodu area of Lagos State on May 30th, be remanded in Kirikiri Prison pending receiving an advice from the State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

At the hearing of the case yesterday, the prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Omisakin told the Chief Magistrate, Mrs. O.A. Komolafe, that Olamide committed the offence on May 30th at No. 1, Olupebi Abijo St., Gbaga, off Ijede Road, Ikorodu.

Omisakin had told the court that the accused stabbed her husband, Dare Akinbobola, 28, on his neck to death with a kitchen knife. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised). If found guilty, the offence attracts death penalty.

Olamide however told the court that she only stabbed her husband in self defence as he was fond of maltreating her. She recounted how the deceased bolted the door, pinned her down and was punching her. The case has been adjourned until July 12th.

Mixed Reactions Trail Declaration Of June 12 As Democracy Day

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri is leading a cross section of Nigerians on social media who believe President Buhari's declarion of June 12 as the new Democracy Day is a ploy to gain Southwest votes in 2019.

According to Reno, President Buhari is a joke. In desperation for the Southwest vote, he has declared June 12, Democracy Day a d given MKO Abiola a post humous GCFR. What hypocrisy! 

This was a man who served Abacha while Abacha jailed Abiola. This was a man who praised Abacha, Abiola’s jailer'.

President @Mbuhari is a joke. In desperation for the Southwest vote, he has declared June 12, Democracy Day a d given MKO Abiola a post humous GCFR. What hypocrisy! This was a man who served Abacha while Abacha jailed Abiola. This was a man who praised Abacha, Abiola’s jailer!

'Gbénga Sèsan

@gbengasesan

We know it's a move to win elections but signing landmark bills, announcing June 12 as democracy day, honouring Abiola and Gani... wehdun sir! This is much better than sharing rice or sponsoring thugs to kill people. Next: debate? That would bring issues to the fore. Do it

8:06 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Kayode Ogundamisi

@ogundamisi

Olusegun Obasanjo right now when he heard June 12 he so hated is now a National Holiday replacing his May 29 "Democracy Day"

7:50 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Ayomide Tayo

@AOT2

Daddy Bubu making those South West moves. Democracy Day now June 12. MKO Abiola awarded the highest award in the land GCFR post-humously.

7:22 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Aláshelà

@AjalaYemi

Wawwwuuuuu. @MBuhari masterstroke with the June 12 declaration as Democracy Day!

If the administration delivers the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and the Lagos-Abẹ́òkúta-Ibadan rail line before election next year, it will be harder for opposition to get southwest votes for President

7:47 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Umar

@u_2_2

Just wondering the kind of feelings going through the mind of the gap toothed General in Minna as June 12 is declared Democracy Day

8:48 PM - Jun 6, 2018

The Great Oracle

@AbdulMahmud01

MKO Abiola, yes. Gani, yes. June 12 as Democracy Day, yes. Kingibe, NO. His ignominious role in burying June 12 is legendary. Undeserving.

8:46 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Keke El Official

@keke4success

#ThisIsNigeria Where Democracy Day is celebrated twice in 2 weeks.

8:58 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Kingsley

@kingysly_01

Had GEJ declared June 12 as democracy day, they would have still opposed it...

What is wrong in renaming a "citadel of repute" after MKO? Please let's hear word.

8:57 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Dr. Dipo Awojide

@OgbeniDipo

Some might say this is politics and Buhari is trying to pacify the Yorubas. I honestly don’t care. June 12 should have been our Democracy Day all along. This move is fantastic and must be commended. Well done Buhari

8:34 PM - Jun 6, 2018

John Danfulani

@john_danfulani

South West isn't a colony of ALMAJIRIS or woolhrads for @MBuhari to think a shift of democracy day from 29th May to June 12 will make them vote for him in 2049.Forget South West b/cos they will never play ball again.

8:32 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Jack Obinyan-Buhari

@JackObinyan

In The News:

FG replaces May 29th with June 12th as Democracy Day, confers highest honour of the land (GCFR) to late Chief M.K.O Abiola

OBJ:

8:29 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Aláshelà

@AjalaYemi

Buhari: June 12 now Democracy Day, MKO a GCFR and Gani Fawehinmi a GCON

SDP: How can we criticise this now? This opposition work hard oooooo

8:24 PM - Jun 6, 2018 · Ogun, Nigeria

Ibrahim B. Babangida

@General_Ibbro

June 12 should indeed be our Democracy Day because it is very symbolic to our history; that was when we had the freest and fairest election and I am really happy the election was conducted by me.

8:55 PM - Jun 6, 2018

Femi Factor

@femifactor

So there is public holiday next week, since our new democracy day is June 12 1993..if you think i would kick against  this public holiday, you are absolutely wrong

Nollywood Actor Kanayo .O .Kanayo To Contest For House Of Reps Under APGA

Veteran Nollywood actor Kanayo .O .Kanayo has declared his interest to run for a seat in the House Of Representatives come 2019.

He revealed this on Instagram yesterday. The Mbaise Imo State born actor wrote wrote:

"Hello Friends, good evening. History has been made today as I declared my intention to run for the House of Representatives, Ahiazu/ Ezinihitte Mbaise Federal Constituency, Imo State under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA. 

I owe you this information as I enlist your prayers and support. #OverAndOut”.

Saraki By Now Should Have Been In Jail...Lauretta Onochie

The Presidency has reacted to the National Assembly’s threat to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

On Tuesday, the National Assembly at a joint session passed 12 resolutions which they say the president must implement.

The lawmakers warned that it will not hesitate to invoke its constitutional powers against President Buhari if he fails to address a number of resolutions passed at the joint session.

In the resolution read by Senate President Bukola Saraki, the legislators also passed a vote of no confidence on the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

But reacting on Wednesday, Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie, described the move as “provocative threats”.

The presidential aide said it was unfortunate Saraki was heading the Senate while robbers linked to him are being “incarcerated”.

She said: “Change means we are all equal before the law. It’s, therefore, unfair and extremely sad that only the young Nigerians who were caught for bank robbery, are being incarcerated.

“Their alleged accomplice, is sitting in the chamber of the House of Senate making provoking threats.”

You’re Void Of Emotional Intelligence’ — Ezekwesili Tackles Buhari Over Civil War Comment

Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, has criticised President Muhammadu Buhari over a recent statement he made about the civil war.

On Tuesday, Buhari said Nigerian soldiers were constrained to show a lot of restraint while fighting Biafrans.

The war broke out in 1967 after eastern Nigeria declared “Republic of Biafra.” Many people lost their lives by the time the war ended in 1970.

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Ezekwesili said the president is “void of emotional intelligence.”

She said the habit of Buhari to play one segment of the people against the other is condemnable.

“A leader of a country who every time he speaks, evokes division among his people only diminishes himself.

Leaders unite their people. A true leader does not pawn on his people’s differences for his own benefit.

#BasicLeadership,” she tweeted.
“In a bid to offer unearned praise to his former colleague, our .@NGRPresident @MBuhari disdains the painful memory of millions of his citizens who lost millions of their families in the #BiafraWar. What kind of unkindness is that? The President is void of Emotional Intelligence!!

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Earlier president upset his citizens when his best response to the deaths in Benue was to compare it with the scale of the ones in Zamfara! What is that? Just one death of a citizen and the pain it leaves should matter to him.

“This ingrained habit of
.@NGRPresident @MBuhari to play one segment of his people against the other or one citizen against another is condemnable. Please just STOP IT. Be a leader for all your people and not for only those who supply you with