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Tag: Politicians

  • Bandits’ informants have exposed some Politicians – Gov Matawalle

    Bandits’ informants have exposed some Politicians – Gov Matawalle

    Governor Bello Matawalle has said that some of those working with bandits have confessed to being sponsored by politicians.

    Matawalle made the claim in an interview on Lagos-based RadioNow. The Governor of Zamfara state who didn’t reveal that identities of the politicians exposed by those collaborating with bandits, also said that these politicians have been telling bandits not to believe and enroll for his government’s amnesty and reconciliation programme because they don’t want him to succeed.

    He said;

    “After we initiated the dialogue, you know it was supposed to be a collective effort — between the government, the people of the state and other political gladiators. Unfortunately, when the government is trying to make sure we have peace, some political elites are thinking they don’t want us to succeed.

    “So they’ve been making so many unprecedented comments about the dialogue issues and the reconciliation. And some of them that have connections with the criminals have been telling them all sorts of things so that they shouldn’t believe the government’s amnesty and reconciliation.

    “We have some records. Some of the informants that were arrested, we have over 2000 informants under the custody of security agencies, and some of them have opened up and indicted so many people. They said some of the politicians are the ones funding them, telling them the state and federal government are not serious on what we promise to them.”

  • Defence Headquarters warns Soldiers, Politicians Against Coup

    Defence Headquarters warns Soldiers, Politicians Against Coup

    The Nigerian Defence Headquarters has warned soldiers and politicians against carrying out a coup in the country.

    The warning was given after senior lawyer, Robert Clarke called for handing over of power to the military for the purpose of restructuring.

    However in a statement released by its spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu, the Defence Headquarters pledged that it would continue to discharge its constitutional responsibilities professionally, especially in protecting the country’s democracy, defence of its territorial integrity, as well as protecting the lives and property of the citizens.

    The statement read;

    NIGERIAN MILITARY REMAIN LOYAL TO THE CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA

    The attention of the military high command has been drawn to a statement purported to have been made by one Robert Clark SAN, suggesting that current political leadership should hand over power to the military for the purpose of restructuring.

    The Nigerian Military wishes to dissociate itself from such anti-democratic utterance and position.

    Let it be stated categorically that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain fully committed to the present Administration and all associated democratic institutions.

    We shall continue to remain apolitical, subordinate to the Civil Authority, firmly loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the 1999 Constitution as Amended.

    We shall continue to discharge our constitutional responsibilities professionally, especially in protecting the country’s democracy, defence of the territorial integrity of the country as well as protection of lives and properties of citizens.

    The Military High Command wishes to use this opportunity to warn misguided politicians who nurse the inordinate ambition to rule this country outside the ballot box to banish such thoughts as the military under the current leadership remain resolute in the Defence of Nigeria’s Democracy and its growth.

    We also wish to remind all military personnel that it is treasonable to even contemplate this illegality.

    The full wrath of the law will be brought to bear on any personnel found to collude with people having such an agenda.

    The current security challenges are not insurmountable. The Armed Forces of Nigeria in partnership with other security agencies are working assiduously to ameliorate the challenge. Nigeria will know peace again. PLEASE BE WARNED!

    ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
    Brigadier General
    Acting Director Defence Information
    3 May 2021

  • Don’t Distract Amaechi Over PH-Maiduguri Rail Project, Eastern Youths Warns Politicians

    Don’t Distract Amaechi Over PH-Maiduguri Rail Project, Eastern Youths Warns Politicians

    Worried by spate of attacks leveled against the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Chibuike Amaechi, by a socio-political group, World Igbo Peoples Assembly (WIPAS), over the narrow gauge line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, angry youths under the aegis of the Concerned Youths of Eastern Nigeria (CYEN), have risen to condemn such action as a big distraction that could stall the project.

    WIPAS had in a press statement signed by its Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chucks Ibegbu, at the weekend, queried why “the rail line from the West to the North should be standard gauge and that from the East should be narrow gauge”, and urged that such project should be rejected.

    “The Federal Government is building a standard rail gauge rail line from Daura to Maradi in Niger Republic and Rotimi Amaechi allowed this insult on his people.” Ibegbu stressed.

    But CYEN described the attitude of the Igbo group as “politically-motivated with the major intent of blackmailing the Minister of Transportation and dragging his hard-earned reputation to the mud”.

    A statement by leaders of the group including the National Coordinator, Chief Joel Ukaegbu; the National Secretary, Prince Uche Nwachukwu and the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Okata Jerry Okata, and made available to Newsmen in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, read in parts;

    “The Honorable Minister has taken time to explain that the two gauge lines whether narrow or standard have the same features for efficiency depending on some key technical factors.

    “Therefore, it is very unthinkable for those who are supposed to be in the know to start having issues with a true Igbo son who knows what is good for his people.

    “For a very long time, we have not been privy to federal projects in the East where erosion have eaten up virtually all our major roads and rendering transportation of our goods and services to other parts of the country completely dysfunctional.

    “Our major source of income down South here is business all round and if our son has been able to ensure this axis is accommodated in the national scheme of things, we should be grateful to God, President Buhari and the Minister instead of vilifying him because of politics.

    “We sincerely think those behind this cocktail of lies should apologize to the Minister because since his adventure to the central politics of Nigeria, every geo-political zones including the East have had a fair share of distribution of infrastructure in roads and rail projects.”

    Urging the Igbo leaders to caution those behind the smear campaign, CYEN noted that, “if allowed to continue, the zone could again be denied their due percentage from the national cake”.

  • Ex-President Jonathan urges politicians to close ranks after elections

    Ex-President Jonathan urges politicians to close ranks after elections

    Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has advised Nigerian politicians not to see elections as coup or war, but rather come together to support whoever emerges winner.

    Speaking in Yenegoa, the Bayelsa State capital during the thanksgiving/anniversary service to mark Governor Douye Diri’s one year in office, Jonathan also advised those in politics not to play it with bitterness.

    He said, “Our democratic process is recognised by law, so modern day politicians should not begin to practice democracy and contestation to power as if we were organising coup.

    “At the end of the political process, we expect that both parties should come together and the winner carries everybody along. Leaders who contested the election must know that it was a political process known by law, and whoever wins, we agree that God gave him that position.

    “I want to thank Governor Diri for opening his hands and welcoming every citizen of Bayelsa State, irrespective of political divide. Immediately you win an election you become the governor of everybody,” he said.

    Also speaking, Governor Diri appreciated God who made it possible for him to serve the state in that capacity, even when he least expected it.

    He said his victory at the Supreme Court on February 13, 2020 was an answer to prayers by men of God and the people of the state.

  • Desperate politicians are aligning with bandits to destabilize Nigeria – Governor Umahi

    Desperate politicians are aligning with bandits to destabilize Nigeria – Governor Umahi

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has alleged that desperate politicians are aligning with bandits to destabilize the country.

    The Chairman of South-East Governors Forum made the disclosure during a virtual meeting with the five governors of the region on Tuesday January 5.

    Umahi said;

    “The governors are so worried about the killings and kidnappings that are going on by our people in the southeast, killing our own people and the security agencies.

    “The situation is being heightened by the activities of very desperate politicians, this time irrespective of party affiliations.

    “There are so many desperate politicians in all the political parties that are so desperate for power and they have aligned with some bandits in the southeast to destabilise the nation.”

    The Ebonyi state Governor added that the five southeast states dissociated themselves from a bi-partisan meeting convened by some stakeholders from the region on the security situation.

    On the viral video in which it was alleged that some Fulani herdsmen were forced out of their settlement in a village in the state he governs, Umahi said;

    “The Fulani settlement that decided to move to Taraba State and retained some of the family members in Ebonyi State and of course, the man is still here.

    “Politicians as we have intelligence gathering went to put a voice and said it is the Igbos that are chasing away the herdsmen from Ebonyi State.

    “Such a video went very wide and was causing panic in other parts of the country. That was very much uncalled for because we also have over 11 million of our people living in the north.

    “We have so many of our people living in south-south and south-west. When people do this, they think they are doing it to pull down a particular governor, not knowing that they are doing it to start killings against our people.”

  • Suswam suggests politicians, leaders spend time in prison

    Suswam suggests politicians, leaders spend time in prison

    Sen. Gabriel Suswam (Benue East) has suggested that some leaders and politicians should be allowed to spend a day or two in prison to be better leaders and politicians.

    Suswam made this suggestion on Tuesday at the plenary while contributing to a motion moved by Sen. Uche Ekwunife (Anambra Central) on `The need to upgrade, decongest and disinfect Correctional Centres nationwide.`

    Cue in audio (Sen. Suswam on spending time in prison)

    “I want to strongly support this motion based on my personal experience of what I saw, and when I left, I recommended that for people to be proper leaders in this country, at least each and every one of us must spend one or two days in prison, we would be better human beings.

    “Mr President, they took me there in the night, and the following day, which was morning the entire prison knew that I was there.

    “Mr President it might interest you to know that most of the people who spend years in prison are for a misdemeanour that you can even dismiss.

    “A young man spent 7years in jail for just a problem of N10, 000, various individuals were there on very minor offences that the police could afford to correct them and send them home.

    “I made it a point of duty when I left that place, for the next month, I took close to twenty of those young people out of that place.

    “It didn’t take anything, it was just to pay that money and take them back to court.

    “I selected about three lawyers, sent them to Kuje prison to go and attend to them, and about 20 of them were taken out.

    “So, I think that I want to support the motion, because most of the people who are there do not need to be there, and they unduly congest the place.

    Cue out Audio

    Suswam decried the poor state of hygiene in the correctional Centres, pointing out that they are breeding grounds for various forms of unthinkable diseases and crimes.

    According to him, when it comes to the issue of disinfecting the place, Mr President, God forbid that this COVID-19 infects any of these correctional centres in the country, Mr President it would be a calamity.

    “The environment in any of the prisons here, Mr President you would be shocked if you go there; we need to as a matter of urgency ask the authorities responsible to address the issue raised in this motion with the urgency it deserves.

    “So, we can be seen as a country ready to correct people rather than sending people to go and die or become more hardened,“he said

    The former governor pointed out that in some parts of the world wealthy individuals and companies build correctional centres and work in collaboration with the government.

    He said “in developed climes, individuals or companies build prisons and maintain them to the highest standards and government takes care of what is needed to be taken care of.

    “So, let us encourage individuals who are wealthy or companies that want to engage in that business to begin to build prisons, and maintain them and give them standards, so, we will not have the situation of congestion.“

    News Agency of Nigeria reports that Sen. Suswam, a former governor of Benue is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N3.1 billion fraud and spent 2 days in Kuje prison. (NAN)

  • Coronavirus hits politicians, sports and showbiz stars as it spreads across globe

    Coronavirus hits politicians, sports and showbiz stars as it spreads across globe

    Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Australia’s minister for home affairs and a Chelsea soccer player are among new cases of the coronavirus that has infected almost 135,000 people and killed more than 4,900 worldwide.

    Governments and central banks readied more emergency measures to tackle the economic impact of the coronavirus on Friday, helping financial markets pare some of their steep losses, while more major events were canceled or postponed.

    U.S. lawmakers and the White House neared agreement on a coronavirus economic aid package, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying she hoped to announce a deal on Friday.

    Experts warn that due to a lack of testing and unreported cases, many more people may be affected by the outbreak that emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.

    Health authorities around the world face the prospect of services being overwhelmed.

    “We’re anticipating 20% of the population in the first wave to be affected,” Kerry Chant, the chief medical officer for the New South Wales (NSW) state government.

    Home to more than 7 million people, NSW is Australia’s most populous state, and Chant said models suggested 5% of the state’s population – some 350,000 people – would need hospital treatment as a result of coronavirus.

    Australia has recorded nearly 160 infections and three deaths from the flu-like disease. Among the infected is one of its highest-profile government ministers, Peter Dutton, who is in charge of home affairs. He said he was feeling fine.

    Movie star Tom Hanks announced in Australia on Thursday that he and his wife, actress Rita Wilson, had both tested positive.

    Trudeau said he would be in isolation for two weeks after his wife, Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus. She said she was “experiencing uncomfortable symptoms” adding that she would “be back on my feet soon”.

    Canada has reported 145 cases of the virus, a three-fold gain from a week ago. There has been one death.

    A host of major sporting events were affected, with the Players Championship golf halted and the Australian Formula One Grand Prix scrapped. Nepal closed Mount Everest to climbers.

    Calls grew in Britain for the Premier League season to be stopped with the news that Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi has tested positive. All of Chelsea’s first-team players and coaching staff would self-isolate, the club said.

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has also tested positive.

    The Premier League is due to hold an emergency meeting on Friday.

    Several of Europe’s soccer leagues are already on hold, the top men’s tennis circuit was suspended for six weeks, the National Hockey League shut down and cricket matches have been ordered to be played without fans. (Reuters)