Military warns Niger Delta militant groups

This is a statement issued by Rabe Abubakar, Brigadier General, Acting Director Defence Information:

The Defence Headquarters wishes to alert the generalpublic of the disturbing spate of how various militant groups are springing up in the Niger Delta with each of them hiding under regional agitation to commit all manners of crimes and atrocities.

The latest being the Niger Delta Greenland Justice Mandate (NDGJM) that claimed responsibility for blowing up NNPC oil pipeline few days ago. The same group has come out again, demanding residents living near oil and gas infrastructure to vacate their homes to avoid being caught in its next attacks.The Defence Headquarters wishes to state, in clear term, that no group or individual has the right to threaten or force residents in any part of Nigeria to abandon their homes in obeisance to certain group’s selfish and devilish interest.

It is more worrisome that despite the Federal Government’s olive branch to broker peace and profer solution to the lingering Niger Delta problem, some groups are still fanning the ember of war. The military and other security agencies would remain focused, un-intimidated and will display professionalism in ensuring adequate security to lives and property.

While the Armed Forces respect the Government’s negotiation with relevant stakeholders in the Niger Delta, the military exercise and operations in the areaare not targeted at any group or meant towards making lives difficult for the inhabitants. The ongoingexercise is geared towards enhancing civil-military relationship and building the confidence of the resident on the ability of the military to protect them. The exercise also demonstrates the strength of the troops to purge the region of criminals and economic saboteurs. The Armed Forces would not tolerate any form of criminality in that region.

The military and other security agencies wish to therefore re-affirm their total commitment to ensure security of lives and property, not only in the Niger Delta, but throughout the federation. We also solicit the cooperation of all the stakeholders, including the royal fathers, leaders and youths to achieve this feat. We urge public, especially those residing in the Niger Delta, to discountenance the threat and request innocent citizens and those domiciled therein to go about their legitimate businesses.

I Never Said “Buhari’s Govt Has Let Me Down’’ – Abu Sidiq

It has become expedient for me to respond to a publication by an online platform which headlined a story claiming that I said Buhari’s Government has let me down.

Shortly after my release from the EFCC on Tuesday, I posted a statement to thank all those who joined in demanding for my release. As part of that statement, I wrote that “This is a government that I fought for. But occurrences like these are not the experiences that myself and millions of Nigerians have fought for.” If those words were what the online platform used to mean that I said the Buhari govt has let me down, then I must have been quoted out of context. What I was simply trying to say is that I fought for the government, but the incidence ofmy arrest by the EFCC has shown that it is not what we fought for that happened. If that statement expresses any iota of disappointment, then it will be on the Magu-led leadership of the EFCC who simply arrogated tohimself the judge and the jury in a case that he is the principal subject. President Buhari in the spirit of strengthening institutions in Nigeria gave the EFCC the freedom to independently carry out its constitutional responsibilities.

It is the EFCC chairman that decided to abuse that independence.  Therefore, the president should not be dragged into this matter.To set the records straight, there is no way I could have expressed disappointment in a govt that one of its institution decided to abuse its powers. It will only amount to meaning that I expected the Buhari government to stand by mewhether or not I am guilty of the offence alleged. That will be dragging us to the past days of impunity which informed my decision to support the person of President Muhammadu Buhari and his change mantra. I know for one that the Buhari government will not shield anyone found wanting whether or notyou support or is part of his government. So expecting such would have been disastrous.

I have been an ardent supporter of the president since 2003 and despite every opportunity to jump ship, I stayed the course because of my conviction that he is the man to turn around the fortunes of the country and he has already set towards that path. It will be foolhardy to therefore quite at a time a course I stood with for over 15 years was already bearing fruits.

I therefore want to restate that I remain committed to the government of President Muhammadu Buhari and I will do everything to ensure that it succeeds including calling out any individual in the government who is yet to imbibe the spirit of change.

I thank you.

Abubakar Sidiq Usman

Source: Abusiqu

We have not sacked Adeyanju as PDP NewMedia Director - Ahmed Makarfi says

Chairman of PDP caretaker committee, Ahmed Makarfi, has refuted claims that the party has sacked its Director of New Media, Deji Adeyanju. The party ina statement released by its Head, Publicity division, Chinwe Nnorom yesterday, dissociated itself from Deji Adeyanju, adding that the position of Director of New Media which he occupies is non-existent.

"The PDP hereby states unequivocally that the position of Director of New Media is non-existent andalien to the PDP Establishment Manual, and has not appointed Prince Deji Adeyanju as the PDP Director of New Media. For emphasis, Social (new) Media is one of the Units in the Publicity Division of the Party and not a separate directorate, division or unit".

However in a text message sent to Premium Times, Makarfi said the leadership of the party only had issues with Adeyanju over his “far-reaching statements” that are usually “without clearance.”

“If he was employed by the last National Working Committee, then we will have no reason to remove him but to streamline his work,”he said

Adeyanju was appointed in December 2015 and had been responsible for issuing press statements on behalf of the party.

Pres. Buhari departs Abuja for Edo to partake in APC governorship finale campaign

President Buhari this morning departed Abuja for Edostate to attend the APC governorship finale campaign.

Police lay seige at Unity fountain Abuja, stops BBOG from protesting, accuses group of creating tension in the city

Police officers this morning laid siege at the Unity fountain Abuja, preventing members of the missing Chibok girls advocacy group, Bring Back Our Girls BBOG group, from staging a march to the presidency.

The group had planned to stage a march to the presidency to demand for quick action for the release of the missing school girls but were not allowed to leave the Unity fountain.

The FCT police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah, in a statement he released this afternoon, accused the advocacy group of creating tension among “law-abiding citizens”.

“These indiscriminate actions, which are carried out in disorderly and sometimes riotous manner, create unwarranted tension and apprehension among law abiding citizens and in the process obstruct legitimate business activities. The command hereby advises any person or group of persons who wish to embark on any demonstration to notify the commissioner of police FCT in writing and secure approval.”

Buhari won’t spare anyone found to be corrupt- Rotimi Amaechi says

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, has said President Buhari will not spare anyone involved in acts of corruption, not even any member of his cabinet. Amaechi said this when he delivered a keynote speech at a Cambridge University symposium yesterday September 5th

“As someone who has been in active politics for morethan 30 years, I have learnt that many well-intended reforms are possible only if the leader can offer the requisite leadership and muster the right political will.In my country, since our President, Muhammadu Buhari was elected, he did not leave anyone in doubt that the fight against corruption will not only be takenseriously but will form a cardinal plank of his policy direction.

So far, he has made several pronouncements that setthe tone of his commitment to strengthening anti-corruption agencies to go after anyone who has questions to answer. The president’s resolve was enough to signal all of us, members of his cabinet and the citizenry, that an end has come for the old ways of doing things. Currently, many people who have been indicted in one form of corrupt practice or another are being prosecuted in our courts. That, I believe is the way to show leadership and take responsibility. Our president has stopped at nothing to demonstrate that whosoever is caught in corruption related crimes will not be spared" he said

Rival Group challenges BBOG during protest today, asks them to allow Buhari work for Nigerians

The advocacy group for the missing Chibok school girls, Bring Back Our Girls Group (BBOG) were today challenged by another group during a march to the Presidential Villa today September 6th. The rival group who call themselves ‘With Buhari We Stand’ marched to where the BBOG members were, asking them to leave President Buhari to work for Nigerians.