Category: Politics

A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has called for the sack of the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt. Gen. Farouk Yahaya and all the military high command over the spade of insecurity in the country.

Fani-Kayode made the call while urging President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to do more to protect Nigerians.

He was reacting to reports that the Department of State Services, DSS, warned the military about the attacks on Kaduna train and Kuje prison by terrorists, but nothing was done.

In a series of tweets, the All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain wondered if the Nigerian Military High Command was incompetent or weak.

According to Fani-Kayode: “A situation whereby the DSS not only WARNED the military about the Kaduna train attack & kidnapping but ALSO the Kuje prison break well BEFORE they both took place & the military REFUSED to act to prevent or resist either of them gives cause for alarm & raises many questions.

“The DSS, NIA & NPF are doing their job & they have lost so many men in the course of this conflict.

“Our young soldiers & junior officers who are fighting in the killing fields are doing their best too but why are our SENIOR OFFICERS & MILITARY COMMANDERS so INCOMPETENT & WEAK? Is there not more to this than meets the eye?

“It is increasingly difficult to comprehend the glaring incompetence & lack of patriotism, professionalism, diligence & courage of the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

“Is this the same military that once proudly led ECOMOG to victory in the West African sub-region?

“Is this the same military that once gave the Chadians & Libyans a bloody nose?

“Is this the same military that once faced down the Cameronians & French in the Bakassi Peninsukrs?

“Is this the same military that once kept us safe & protected us from enemies within & without?

“Is this the same military that was once led by Murtala Mohammed, Benjamin Adekunle, Olusegun Obasanjo, T.Y. Danjuma, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida.

“Is this the same military that was once regarded as the most powerful & effective fighting force in sub-saharan Africa?

“Is this the same military that politicians and our people once spoke of with respect & in whispered tones. How are the mighty fallen!

“Who will defend us from these foreign barbarians and invaders now?

“Who will stand against the terrorists that have plagued our land & that slaughter our people like sallah rams & Xmas turkeys? This is no longer about party politics. This is now about saving the lives of our people who are being butchered & terrorised in a most horrendous way.

“The entire military high command & the COAS have to go & the FG has to do far more to protect our people. We owe them that much. To criticise our own where we have gone wrong, though rare & unfashionable, is an act of patriotism & not one of rebellion. Nigeria must come FIRST!”

The Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) has destroyed over 600 handcarts seized from illegal cart pushers across the State, bringing the total number seized and destroyed to about 1000 in less than two months since the clampdown commenced.

Speaking on the exercise, the MD/CEO, Mr. Ibrahim Odumboni, noted that the seizure and subsequent destruction of the carts clearly demonstrated the position of the Lagos State Government on solid waste management.

He said the agency would continue to enforce the present administration’s zero-tolerance for indiscriminate dumping of waste being perpetuated by cart pushers, adding that LAWMA is making tremendous progress and would not relent until illegal cart pushers are completely removed from the State.

The CEO, who was represented by the Executive Director of Finance, LAWMA, Mr. Kunle Adebiyi, stated that the continuous exercise will serve as a deterrent to others who are planning to embark on such illegal business in any part of Lagos State.

On his part, the Chief Technical Officer (CTO), LAWMA, Dr. Olohunwa Tijani, expressed his concern over the unrelenting attitude of some residents, who would rather patronise cart pushers than assigned PSP operators, lamenting that those recalcitrant residents are still the reason why the illegal business of cart pushing persists.

“We have allocated PSPs to all nooks and crannies of the State. Presently we have over 400 PSPs deployed to cover all streets and corners of Lagos. But unfortunately, the attitude of some of the people is still one of the areas LAWMA is making efforts to change. The Agency is determined to ensure the unhealthy habit is discouraged. The people must learn to take responsibility for their waste”, he added.

He admonished residents to cease and desist from patronising cart pushers as they had been completely outlawed, reiterating that those caught indiscriminately dumping their refuse would be made to face the law.

“LAWMA is working with other law enforcement agencies and the judiciary in enforcing the environmental laws. Those caught dumping refuse indiscriminately will be arrested and charged before the law court. Failure to pay your waste bills is also a punishable offence. A lot of people have been sent to prison in Badagry for environmental offences. So we are doing everything to return environmental sanity back to the streets of Lagos”, he noted.

Two passengers have died after a ferry capsized on Lagos waters Wednesday morning.

The boat had 17 passengers on board and was moving workers on their way from Ikorodu town to Victoria island when the accident happened.

One of the passengers said boat operators mobilized as emergency responders and rescued them.

Two were unconscious after they were brought on shore and were confirmed dead at the Ikorodu General Hospital.

Eight others were treated at the same hospital and seven had been discharged by 10 am.

Two of the passengers who were unhurt blamed the captain of the boat for the mishap.

“The only thing was that he was not focused. We had not even moved up to three minutes – we could still see the jetty – but what we noticed was that he was looking back while he was on top speed.

“He was trying to maneuver the steering, but by the time he put the thing on gear to go on top speed, as he was also about to turn the steering, that was when the thing (boat) tumbled.

“Immediately it tumbled, the thing just capsized and we went inside the water immediately,” one of them said.

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) said the captain has been arrested.

A statement by its General Manager, Oluwadamilola Emmanuel blamed the incident on “mechanical fault” but said an investigation has started.

“At about 7:45 am (today) the 6th of July 2022, a 20-passenger ferry boat carrying 17 passengers named “R & N 2” suddenly capsized due to mechanical fault less than 200 meters from the terminal and submerged immediately after it departed the Ipakodo ferry terminal in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State,” the statement read.

“The boat captain is currently being investigated by the relevant authorities while a full investigation into the cause of this mishap is ongoing as of the time of this press release.”

Simeon Oyeleke, an honorable member of the Oyo State House of Assembly and the representative for the Surulere/Ogo-Oluwa State Constituency, has defected from the APC to the PDP (PDP).

Notable PDP leaders from Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa local governments, respectively, attended the official declaration that was conducted at Ajawa earlier on June 6th.

With a sizable contingent of his supporters, Hon. Oyeleke entered the party. In his speech, he cited the absence of internal democracy in the APC and the governor Seyi Makinde’s unheard-of development achievements as the reasons for his departure.

With 26 members, the PDP currently holds the majority in the house assembly. Added to it, Hon. Oyeleke’s new alignment, there are now 27 members of PDP at the State House of Assembly.

The Inspector General of Police has debunked the rumour flying around that the Osun State Commissioner of Police has been fired or redeployed.

The IGP made this disclosure in a statement made available to newsmen today by the Force PRO, Muyiwa Adejobi as read in part:

“CP Olawale Olokode was just temporarily moved to the Force Headquarters pending the conclusion of the guber election when he would return to the State. This is contrary to the misinformation making the rounds.

“We want to be as transparent, professional and proactive as possible in all our engagements and operations in the Osun Gubernatorial Election, hence the deployment of senior officers from the FHQ to oversee the election security in the state.

“The IGP has ordered necessary deployment both human and material assets to fortify the state for the exercise.

Muyiwa Adejobi, Force PRO FHQ Abuja.

The Ekiti State Police Command has warned the youths of the State to refrain from any plan aiming at celebrating the purported July 7th annual celebration of cultism.

The command made the stern warning in a statement made available to newsmen today as read in part:

“The attention of Ekiti State Police Command has been drawn to the plan by cult groups to mark this year’s 7/7 on July 7, 2022.

2. “It was reliably gathered that on the said day of the celebration, new members would be inducted and there would be supremacy battle which is usually characterized by violence.
3. “In view of this, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, CP MORONKEJI O. ADESINA, warns cultists and other criminal elements in the State to halt such illegal and unhealthy celebration or any of such plan or action that could cause unnecessary apprehension or alter the peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the State.
4. “Consequently, the CP has directed the Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers(DPOs), Heads of Departments and Tactical Units to be at alert as the Command is also working with other security agencies to nip in the bud any act capable of truncating the peace of the State.
5. “The Command will not allow misguided elements to cause mayhem in any part of the State.
6. “Parent and guardians are advised to warn their wards to be law-abiding and desist from any act or unlawful gathering or assembly before, during and after said date.
7. “The Commissioner also warns Hoteliers, recreation/Event Centre and Landlords/Landladies or house agents not to allow their facilities to be used for any cult-related activity or other criminal activities as those found wanting would be held liable for prosecution.
8. “Citizens are hereby implored to be security conscious, vigilant and go about their lawful businesses as adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of lives and properites of all law abiding citizen. The Command urges everyone to support and cooperate with the Police and other security agents by promptly reporting any suspicious movement or cult activities to the nearest Police Station or call 08062335577/07031620186”.

Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said he would stand with President Muhammadu Buhari and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, in spite of the “injustice” meted out to his camp.

Amosun said he would not stop any of his followers from achieving their political ambitions in any political party of choice.

However, he pleaded that he should be left out of the negotiations as he remains focused on ensuring Tinubu wins the 2023 presidential election.

Amosun also maintained that the President remains his friend, no matter what happens; promising to stay with him till the end of his administration on May 29, 2023.

Lagos Reporters reported earlier that Amosun’s anointed candidate in the 2019 governorship election in Ogun, Adekunle Akinlade, has resigned his membership of the APC, citing gross injustice.

It was gathered that some other key members of the Amosun political camp have also left the party due to the failure of the national leadership of the party to ensure a sharing formula proposed by the party’s reconciliation committee is adhered to in Ogun.

Represented by the faction’s APC Chairman, Derin Adebiyi at an extended leaders’ meeting held at the Ibara residence of the former Governor, in Abeokuta, Amosun maintained that those defecting from the party are free to test their popularity elsewhere, saying, however, that they should not negotiate with his name.

Sources at the meeting quoted Adebiyi as saying, “He (Amosun) has sent us to you that he stands with Tinubu, he is loyal to APC. He stands with President Muhammadu Buhari and by the grace of God, on May 29, 2023, he will follow him to Daura and say Alhamdulilah.

“If there is any other step to be taken, it will be a collective decision.

“Now, he said we should tell all of you that whoever loves him and believes in him with all his explanations, such person should stay with him and that he is not angry with anybody.

“Whoever wants to contest in another platform is free to contest, but should not use the name of this group or that of SIA to negotiate. This is what Amosun is saying. This is what he has asked us to tell you.”

It was gathered that some loyalists at the meeting were not pleased with the message as they insisted on moving into another party.

The Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin has directed the State Commissioner for Works and Transport and his counterpart in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters to immediately inspect the Lanlate/Eruwa bridge washed away by flood early Tuesday.

The bridge was damaged following heavy downpour that lasted over five hours.

The Speaker said it was regretful that the only bridge linking Lanlate and Eruwa Community had been washed away hence the urgent need for the State Government to act fast on the situation.

” Nature was at work in my constituency. We are however thankful to God that it happened in the early hours of Tuesday and no life was lost. I have approached the State Commissioners for Works and Transport, Prof Dawud Sangodoyin and that of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Chief Bayo Lawal and directed them to proceed on an inspection tour of the damaged bridge with a view to taking urgent action on it. The damage has no doubt negatively affected the movement of our people in the two towns. “

According to the Speaker, the agony our people will face in the last few days is better imagined.

” This has even affected our students who are writing their NECO and WAEC as it is now virtually impossible to cross the stream.”

He appealed to the people to remain calm.

In the meantime, the Speaker also urged the two Commissioners to visit OkeIpin bridge in New Eruwa which overflew its banks as a result of the Tuesday heavy downpour.

He said the bridge needed to be expanded to enable it accommodate more volume of water especially in this raining season.

-End-

The last batch of Sixty-three pilgrims from Oyo State arrived Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday morning via a Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

The pilgrims, who arrived at about 8a.m, spent close to six hours before clearing their hand luggage at the airport.

According to the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, the pilgrims joined other Nigerian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for this year’s Hajj, taking the total of pilgrims from the State so far airlifted by Oyo State to 655 in four flights.

Hon Wasiu Olatunbosun added that government functionaries on the flight include the Executive Secretary , Oyo state Primary Health board , Dr Muhideen Olatunji, board members of the Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Muslim wing, Alh Abdulmajeed Akinwumi and Alh Abdrahman Abubakri.

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN, has approved the appointment of Nuel Olatunbosun Elehinle and Olafusi Kehinde Akintoroye as members of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).

The appointment takes immediate effect.

The new appointees are to replace Mrs. Morenike Witherspoon and Mr Abiola Oladapo, who resigned their appointments as members of OSOPADEC to contest elective positions in their respective state constituencies.

Governor Akeredolu congratulates the new appointees, while charging them to work for the development of the mandate areas and the state at large.