Kogi State Governor did not arrest anybody- Fanwo

This is a press statement released by Fanwo Kingsley, the  Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Governor. It reads:

My attention has been drawn to many reports online concerning the arrest of members of the late Prince Abubakar Audu's family on the orders of the Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

The Governor did not order the arrest of anybody. However, law enforcement agents are free to effect arrest when anyone infringes the Law. If members of Audu family run foul of the Law, they would not be spared just because they are members of Audu's family. Nobody is above the law. Even if members of the Governor's family break the law, they will be arrested.

It is therefore unwise to link politics and criminality. Law enforcement agents should be left to do their work. Government is focused on governance. Politicsis over. It is not the responsibility of Governor YahayaBello to arrest suspected criminals.

The Governor will never stop security agencies from carrying out their lawful responsibilities of safeguarding lives and property. Anyone who breaks the Law must be prepared for the consequences of doing so.

The Governor has reiterated that criminality will not be tolerated in Kogi State. Citizens must act right. We must build a society of true equality. Thanks and Godbless.

NAF counter terrorist exercise at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) today simulated a counter terrorist exercise at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The exercise followed on the heels of recent terrorist attacks in some major airports around the world. The exercise was codenamed “EXERCISE STEEL DOME” meaning fortified arena, and the aim to ascertain NAF’s readiness to respond to occurrence of terrorist attack in any of the nation’s airports.

The exercise scenario was based on terrorist attack on an airport, and effort to retake the airport from the terrorists and restore normalcy through insertion and extraction of Special Forces operating in conjunction with other organic security forces and organisations.

The exercise objectives are to enable the NAF practice both individual and group skills in planning, coordination and execution of counter-terrorist operations, as well as understand the requirements and challenges involved in the coordination and conduct of counter terrorist operations in concert with other security agencies and organisations among others.

Meanwhile, the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar has disclosed that there are plans to replicate the exercise in other major cities, such as Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt, with international airports.

Responding to questions from press men at the end of the exercise, Air Mshl Abubakar stated that "it is necessary for the NAF, in the light of the security challenges in the country, to evaluate her operational plans from time to time with a view to identifying any gaps"

Gov. Ambode attends council of state meeting in Abuja

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with his Kwara, Kogi and Benue States counterparts, Mr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and Governor Yahaya Bello and Dr. Samuel Ortom, former Interim Head of Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan  and VP Prof. Yemi Osinbajo all attended the Council of State during the Council of State meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.

2019 Presidency: A Battle Of Old Combatants? IBB Campaign Posters Floors Online

Though the former military leader, Ibrahim Gbadamosi Babangida has said in different fora that he would not delve into any elective political position in Nigeria again due to his age, but his 2019 presidential posters have filtered on social media.

Some facebook users shared the poster with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s logo and the inscription, ‘CHANGE THE CHANGE’ In Nigeria, our leaders often say something in the morning and in evening say a contrary.

This is a country where anything goes.
We would not be surprised if the aged
Babangida, popularly known as IBB is being recalled from political retirement to vie for the Presidency.

Nigeria in deep economic mess, funny enough, some desperate political gladiator my call on the ex-military leader to face an old foe, the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari Could this be a kind of PDP joker of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP for the 2019 Presidential election? Let keep our fingers crossed, time will definitely tell.

-News Punch

Again!! Another Nigerian blogger Iroegbu Emenike,allegedly arrested by SSS in Akwa Ibom state

Our attention has been drawn to the arrest and detention of a 38-year-old blogger and publisher of an online news medium, Abia Facts, Mr. Iroegbu Emenike by the State Security Service (SSS) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State at about 1:00pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2016.According to the wife of the blogger, Mrs. Ekaette Emenike Iroegbu, the blogger was arrested by three (3) SSS operatives who invaded their Uyo residence in a Gestapo style in a black jeep. The operatives took away the two phones of Mrs. Emenike; the bloggers own phones and laptop, etc. After ransacking their apartment, they whisked the blogger away without disclosing the reason for his arrest and their destination.

Though the Director of SSS, Akwa Ibom State Command, Mr. Adesina informed me at about 9:04pm on Tuesday, September 6, that he was not aware of the blogger's arrest, the wife of the blogger who went to the SSS office in Uyo has confirmed that her husband is being held by the SSS in Uyo.Without prejudice to whatever reason may have motivated the arrest and detention of the blogger, it isvery worrisome that the fundamental right to freedomof expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is being eroded at an alarming and unprecedented level since the inception of the currentdispensation.Few examples will suffice.

Emmanuel Ojo, a blogger, was arrested by the Ogun State Police Command on Saturday, September 26, 2015 on the orders of the Ogun State governor over his publication about the governor's wife on Facebook. Blogger Seun Oloketuyi was equally arrested in 2015 over an online publication. Mr. Abubakar Sidiq Usman, a popular blogger and political commentator was arrested and detained recently by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged cyberstalking. Mr. Musa Azare from Bauchi State was also arrested recently by the Nigeria Police Force allegedly on the orders of his state governor over his critical publications on social media The SSS and other security agencies should resist the emerging capricious proclivities of political office holders to use security agencies to clampdown on Nigerians for exercising their constitutional liberties. Democracy is being threatened in Nigeria by the rising display of intolerance to free speech.

Will the SSS and other security agencies be willing to arrest, detain and prosecute every Nigerian that is accused of making offensive or derogatory publication and statement? The security agencies should not be seen to be massaging the egos of the influential members of the society.

Those who believe that their reputation have been lowered in the eyes of right thinking members of the society should explore the legal option by seeking redress in a court of law.

While we are not yet certain about the person(s) who instigated Emenike's arrest, it is on record that the Abia State born blogger has been constantly harassed by the agents and officials of the Abia State Government over his publications. It is also on recordthat some government officials in Akwa Ibom State have been uncomfortable with some of his publications online.

We hereby call on the SSS to release Mr. Iroegbu Emenike immediately. Injury to one, is injury to all.

Thank you.

Inibehe Effiong, ESQ.Convener, Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD).

Source: Linda ikeji's blog

Nigeria has been badly governed, but now there is hope -VP Osinbajo

This is a statement signed by Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant-Media & Publicity to the Vice President.

There is no country in the world that can face the kind of stealing that has taken place in Nigeria without having to deal with the consequences, including the current state of the economy.Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, made this assertion today while receiving a delegation of the Northern States Pentecostal Bishops Forum in his office at the Presidential Villa, assuring however that even though the times are hard today, “there is great hope that this country will prosper.”

According to him, “this country has been badly governed. We are dealing for instance with the embezzlement of funds to the tune of $15B in one sector alone.

"Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo observed that there are those who are asking ‘why talking about the past’ and he posed a response: “We have to, that is why weare here.”“We have not turned attention to the oil and gas sector, where the former CBN Governor alleged that $20B was stolen.

We must condemn and stand up against this level of corruption. It is the single most important reason of the current state of the country. We can’t ignore it.

”The Vice President then called on Christian and religious leaders generally in the country to condemn corruption “openly.” He added that “we can’t say because they are Christians or Muslims we wont condemn those involved in corruption.

”Responding to the views of the leader of the delegation, Archbishop John Praise Daniel that members of the forum have been actively involved in the fight against corruption in Nigeria, the VP said indeed the “country has been systematically destroyed.

”He explained:“Our currency depreciated because we don't have thereserves to back it. At the height of the oil boom, therewere no savings.”

In addition to the massive fall in oil prices, the VP stated that the vandalization of pipelines has led to a worsening of the situation with the country loosing about 1m barrels of oil per day for up to 6 months now. The vandalism has equally cut power supply short since gas pipelines were also destroyed.

“That is the background for the sort of situation we find ourselves,” Prof Osinbajo asserted while expressing renewed hope that “God surely has a planfor this country. We (as a government) are open, honest, transparent and we shall use the resources ofthis country very well.

”He pointed out that the recent GDP figures released last week indicated clearly there is growth in agriculture and solid minerals. According to him “agric and solid minerals have witnessed improvements.”

The social investment programmes according to the Vice President are on course, reassuring the nation “that very soon the 500,000 jobs scheme will take off,” alongside other schemes.

Earlier Archbishop Daniel expressed the support of the forum for the diversification of the Nigerian economy by the Buhari presidency, while calling for access to lower interest rates. The forum also asked the federal government to checkmate the violent herdsmen, create ranches in the states and promote religious harmony.

Responding the Vice President noted that President Buhari has given clear instructions to the security agencies to deal with anyone regardless of status who carries arms and also deal with anyone that causes and perpetrates violence of any kind.

XX “The President has said twice in the past fortnight that anyone who commits atrocities must be arrestedand tried and he has demonstrated that resolve,” Prof Osinbajo said.

He however added that generally the country’s criminal justice system is rather slow in delivering justice, adding that there is need for justice sector reforms.His words:

“the justice system is very slow, not just in some cases, but generally extremely slow. For example it takes for ever before a murder trial gets to court.”

NAN MD, Bayo Onanuga, says shouts of hardship under Buhari may be mere propaganda

Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria NAN, yesterday expressed doubt over the shouts of hardship many Nigerians are complaining of. According to him, this could be mere propaganda as research carried out by him shows that life is not as hard as many Nigerians say it is.‎ On his Facebook page, he wrote:

'My daughter was on the Virgin Atlantic Flight that took off from Lagos to London today. I asked her to find out whether the plane was filled up or going to London near empty judging by the noisy campaign from a section of the country about the 'hardship' in our country. My daughter sent back this one-line text, after boarding: "daddy, the flight was filled up o".  ‎This makes me to wonder whether all the seeming orchestrated campaign in the media was not mere propaganda to make the Buhari regime look really bad. I was in Bauchi and Jos at the weekend, I also found that food was cheap everywhere. In our hotel, we paid about N700 for a plate of semovita, or eba with a choice of cat fish or chicken. On the roadside, Ifound to my surprise that with just N1000, I bought over 50 oranges, two giant water melon and 10 pieces of sweet potato. I had experienced a similar thing in the market at Abuja, where I found that with N1,400, I could make a big vegetable soup, with tomato, pepper and roasted Titus fish. Are the media and bloggers really painting a correct image of our country. It's time for the media to objectively conduct a reality check about our reports, whether we are not over sensationalising so-called hardship that we talked about.'.

Source: Linda