Catalonia forms opposition govt. after Madrid’s takeover

Catalan leaders on Saturday rejected the official takeover announcement of Catalonia regional government by the Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

Carles Puigdemont, the leader of Catalonia, however, called for peaceful opposition to the Spanish government’s takeover.

Puigdemont in a statement refused to accept his firing ordered by central authorities in Madrid, who officially took over command of the north-eastern region.

“It’s very clear that the best form of defending the gains made until now is democratic opposition to article 155,” Puigdemont said.

Spain took formal direct control of Catalonia on Saturday, on paper firing the region’s defiant separatist government a day after lawmakers passed a declaration of independence for the prosperous north-eastern region.

The move came after one of the most tumultuous days in the country’s recent history, as the national parliament in Madrid approved unprecedented constitutional measures to halt the secessionist drive by the regional parliament in Barcelona.

Spain made the takeover official by publishing special measures online early Saturday in the country’s gazette.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who now replaces Puigdemont as the top decision-maker in the north-eastern region, has also dissolved the regional parliament and called a new regional election to be held on Dec. 21.

Still, it was not clear at all whether a new election would solve Spain’s problems with separatists in Catalonia.

Polls suggest pro-independence parties would likely maintain their slim advantage in parliamentary seats but would not get more than 50 per cent of the vote.

“Spain is living through a sad day,” Rajoy said. “We believe it is urgent to listen to Catalan citizens, to all of them, so that they can decide their future and nobody can act outside the law on their behalf.”
Puigdemont and 12 other members of the Catalan Cabinet will no longer be paid and could face charges of usurping others’ functions if they refuse to obey.

There was no immediate sign that top Catalan officials will do so, or comply with the orders.
Beyond any possible resistance from top Catalan officials, it’s unclear how Rajoy’s government in Madrid will be able to exert its control at lower levels of Catalonia’s vast regional administration.
Catalonia had secured the ability to govern itself in many areas, including education, health and policing, since democracy returned to Spain following the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975.

Some among Catalonia’s roughly 200,000 civil servants have said they will refuse to obey orders from Madrid.

They risk being punished or even fired under the special powers granted to central authorities by the nation’s Senate on Friday.

Catalonia held its independence referendum Oct. 1 and declared independence more than three weeks later.
The U.S., France and Germany were among several countries who rejected the declaration.
Source: Fox News

Nnamdi Kanu’s Whereabout: Matters Arising as Court Sits Tomorrow (MUST READ!)

The whereabouts of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has been the concern of Nigerians, especially among political observers.

Facts have emerged that Nigeria president, Muhammadu Buhari, may have questions to answer from stakeholders in the country and with the international community over his whereabouts.
Kanu had on September 8 met with the South East Governor’s Forum in Enugu, the capital of Enugu State over the agitation on IPOB.

His second meeting with the forum was aborted due to the invasion of his home by members and men of 145 Battalion, 14 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Ohafia. The IPOB leaders home were invaded by the Nigerian Army with armor tanks and heavy weapons and killings, abuse and molestations were reported.

After the invasion of the IPOB leaders home, the Nigerian Army declared IPOB and other pro-Biafra groups as terrorist organizations, referring to the activities and actions of its leader, who according to court papers was due to appear in court in mid-October.

In furtherance to the military declaration, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted an order proscribing IPOB group. The IPOB group question the constitutionality of the order and many countries like France and Britain rebuke the idea of the group as a terrorist organization. The pertinent questions hovering over president Buhari is whether he understands the tenets of democracy and separation of its executive powers from other branches of government.

IPOB Leaders And Demand For Kanu’s Whereabouts
Following the unknown whereabouts of the IPOB forerunner, the leadership of the group alleged and insisted that the Federal Government and the military of the country must account for their leader’s whereabouts. IPOB alleged that Kanu is currently in the military’s custody.

But speculations in the country had it that the military might have killed the IPOB leader after he was arrested in the raid at his house.

Owing to this, the government of United Kingdom requested Nigeria government to clarify the status and whereabouts of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

The British government asked Nigerian government if the British national was alive or dead.
The Press Officer, UK high commission in Nigeria, Joe Abuku, stated that the inquiry followed reports that Kanu had been missing since September 14, 2017, when armed soldiers stormed his residence in Abia State.

“We are seeking urgent clarification from the Nigerian authorities about the status and whereabouts of Mr. Kanu, a British-Nigerian man, who has been reported missing since September 14”.
He also clarified that British government was not in tune with Nigeria government’s proscription of the group.
“The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a proscribed organization in the UK,” the mission spokesperson stressed.

Meanwhile, the United States had earlier said it did not consider IPOB a terrorist group and urged Nigerians to de-escalate tension and embrace peaceful resolution of grievances.

The spokesperson for the American Embassy in Nigeria, Russell Brooks, said, “Within the context of unity, we encourage all Nigerians to support a de-escalation of tension and peaceful resolution of grievances. The Indigenous People of Biafra is not a terrorist organization under US law.”

But in what appeared to be a voice for the federal government, a former governor of Abia state, Mr. Orji Kalu, claimed that the IPOB leader has escaped to London through Malaysia. “Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he traveled to the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak. He was not arrested by anybody. He left the country on his own”, Kalu said.
The development ferried another facet of a quagmire in the South East region of Nigeria as the IPOB promised to make life unbearable for the former governor whom they claimed was working for the president of the country.

Why Buhari Must Answer The Question “Where is Nnamdi Kanu?”
The big questions are, does the president of Nigeria elected by the people has the absolute right to order the killings and kidnapped of its citizens or is the president acting outside the ambiance of his powers? There are indications that failure of the president to address whereabouts of the IPOB leader may soon degenerate into a critical situation in the country and the international communities are watching the developments very closely.
Caracal Reports observed that stakeholders in the country, especially from the Eastern region are currently apprehensive that the situation on the ground created by the Nigerian president might lead to chaos in an already tensed country ravaged by economic depression and hardship.

“The current situation which appeared to have been doused by military and Buhari has a serious undertone than what people are currently seeing. With Kanu’s whereabouts unknown to everybody, do you think it is ordinary? Just pray that more calamities do not befall the country. With the manner Buhari is running the country, everyone is concerned because we are not safe”, Titus Calistus, an activist said.

He also noted that the president needs to address questions on the whereabouts of IPOB leader to give a clear indication of the position of his government on the issue if he wants total peace in the country.

Meanwhile, further findings by our correspondent have also shown that several groups from the Southern region of the country are already in support of the IPOB group.

The Oodua People Congress had warned the Buhari led government over how the issue concerning the IPOB was being handled. They said the government, if not careful may plunge the country into a serious problem.

A statement issued by the group and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin, said the agitation of IPOB could be fruitfully addressed through dialogue rather than the military option adopted by the Federal government.

OPC said it did not believe there was any security threat in Umuahia and its environs to warrant the deployment of soldiers to intimidate and molest innocent Nigerians who were going about their lawful business.

A chieftain of the group who spoke with Caracal Reports, Waheed Ishola, said the group would soon ventilate its position on the government’s silence over the whereabouts of the IPOB leader.

“Soon we will come out with our position on the need for the president to address the issue. Nigerians need to know Kanu’s whereabouts because failure on this means a lot”.

The Ohanaeze Youth Council also warned the federal government that if the causes of the agitation that led to the disappearance of the IPOB leader were not addressed, another group might emerge. The Ohaneze President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro among others executives said it was not averse to any action that would end the marginalization of Ndigbo in Nigeria.

It was also gathered that the position of the group seems to be in correlation with speculations in the country that the leader of IPOB is already in synergy with Niger Delta group to form a formidable group.
Speaking on the development, a former Minister of Education, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, condemned the manner at which Nigeria government has handled the situation.

The elder statesman described the situation as “a matter of grave concern” saying the situation in the country called for great restraint on the part of all.

“The earlier siege on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s Umuahia home by soldiers of the Nigerian army is a matter of grave concern because it occurred at a time the country is facing destabilizing crisis and threats to its peaceful co-existence”.

Chief Martins Onovo, the presidential candidate of National Conscience Party in last presidential election, said the family of the IPOB leader and international community should hold the military and federal government responsible for whereabouts of the IPOB leader.

“We know he was in his house when Army went there. There is no doubt that army needs to answer the question of his whereabouts because we have a video clip that showed he was there when the army was in his house. We need to investigate the case. There are allegations that army took him away, but the army said they don’t have him, and that is why I said we have to investigate the case.

The issue has already put us in a bad light. Already there is an allegation that he has been killed. If this is true, the international world will not pardon us. You know that international world has accused our government of killing people secretly and anyhow. So, we can’t just continue like this. This country cannot be run like Banana Island.

This is a man who had a case in court. All they needed was to wait for him and come to court, but instead, they launched a python dance at him, what is it for? All the innocent people they have killed what have they gained in it. The president and the military need to answer the question”, he said.

Meanwhile, a top security source, craving anonymity, expressed worry that Kanu’s escape might compound the problem on hand as he believed that the IPOB leader currently is with Niger Delta militant. “The harmless pro-Biafra leader will now be turned to a warlord, as he is surely going to be tutored in the art of war by the militants.”
He also expressed concern over the recently discovered illegal shipment of arms into the country, which may be connected, with activities of IPOB.

“The recent increase in the shipment of arms and ammunition into the country through the seaports is giving the government serious concern and the government intends to probe how these arms and ammunition entered the country.

“We are going to declare a manhunt for those who sponsor these groups and import arms and ammunition into the country”, he said.

The leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Chief Uchenna Madu, said the IPOB are non-violent bodies seeking the realization of the Biafra state.
“We have no intention of taking to arms struggle; we are non-violent groups. They are calling us terrorists but we are not arm-carrying groups.

“Why should they look for us? Are we criminals? They should go and look for Boko Haram, Fulani herdsmen, and then, they should go and look after their dying President.”
He also disclosed that the action of the Federal Government had increased the interest of international communities in the Biafra agitation.

“As a matter of fact, because of the recent happening, the international support concerning Biafra has increased,” he added.

Madu also criticized the government “for attacking France, accusing them of being behind the pro-Biafra groups.”

“The label is government’s antics to suppress us, but nobody can destroy Biafra revolution. It is an ideology, which nobody can separate from an Igbo man,” he argued.

On the proscription of pro-Biafra groups, he described it as nothing but “rubbish”. “Nobody can ban or proscribe the groups. Neither the Southeast governors nor the court established IPOB, and you cannot ban what you did not register.

However, Caracal Reports’ efforts to speak with President Buhari’s spokesperson, Femi Adesina on the issue was not successful as calls put through him received no response.

5 Passengers Burnt To Death After Bus Catches Fire While Travelling To Rivers (Pics)

Tragedy occurred on Saturday after passengers travelling from Ebonyi state to Port-Harcourt, Rivers state capital, were killed in a tragic accident after their bus caught fire. According to Ugwumba Ekwe, five persons were roasted and other passengers landed in the hospital after being injured.

Priest Allegedly Raises 2 Yr-Old Dead Child Back To Life in Auchi

A lifeless child allegedly came back to life after Apostle Johnson Suleman’s prayer at OFM HQ Auchi. Apostle Suleman was pictured holding the child in a joyous mood.

See photos below

ee Shameful Thing A S’African Said About Nig Cos Of Zuma Statue In Imo (Pics)

Panic in Enugu Over Massive Movement of Troops, DHQs Reacts

Reports coming in from Enugu indicate that there is high tension following unusual movement of troops in the city this morning.

Meanwhile, The Defense Head quarters (DHQs) has urged residents of Enugu not to panic as they see sporadic movement of military vehicles and personnel during the Captain and Major Practical Promotion Examination 2017.


Deputy Director Public Relations of 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Col. Sagir Musa, said this in a statement issued, in Enugu, on Monday.

Col. Musa said the exercise, which would run between Monday, October 16 and Friday, October 20, would involve movement of vehicles conveying troops to selected field locations for the examination.
According to him, members of the public in Enugu city and Nsude – Udi community along 9th Mile general area are hereby informed not to worry when they notice the exercise.

“In line with the directive of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, the 82 Division Nigerian Army is set to host Captain – Major Practical Promotion Examination 2017, from Oct. 16 – Oct. 20.
“The examination is intended to test the intellectual and professional ability of the candidates as well as to improve on their capacity and knowledge base in the discharge of their duties.

“Eligible candidates will be tested on map reading, tactics and low intensity conflicts, communications, staff duties and French language.

“The Headquarters Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) Nigerian Army, will conduct the examination in 82 Division Area of Responsibility.

“A team of observers from Army Headquarters, directing staff and members of the examination panel drawn from formations and units of the Nigerian Army will be involved in the conduct of the exercise,” he said.
Col. Musa said that the Commander TRADOC, Maj.-Gen. Rasheed Yusuf, would address the 130 candidates and the directing staff at the division’s auditorium before the commencement of the exercise.
He said that the General Officer Commanding 82 Division Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Abubakar, would also make some remarks at the occasion.

(NAN)

Anxiety as Nnamdi Kanu’s Sureties Know Fate Tomorrow

TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU

There is a heightened anxiety ahead of tomorrow’s hearing in a treason case initiated against leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, by the federal government, following what will become of his sureties in court as his whereabouts remains unknown. TUNDE OYESINA and AKEEM NAFIU report.


Although there are a few cases rolled into one against the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, fate of his sureties will top one of the issues Justice Binta Nyako will determine in court tomorrow in one of the applications initiated by the federal government.

The federal government in one of the applications has asked the court to revoke the bail granted to Kanu in April on the ground of ill-health which appeared to have been allegedly breached by the IPOB leader since he was allowed home on bail.

But Kanu whose whereabouts had remained unknown since September 14 when the military allegedly invaded his Abia state residence, may have put his sureties on imprisonment path should he fail to show up in court tomorrow for the hearing of the felony case against him.

A surety, under the law, is someone who has presented himself to guarantee the presence of a defendant who has been admitted to bail during trial.

While the Federal Government said that the sureties risked imprisonment should Kanu be absent in court tomorrow, IPOB is insisting that the FG is in the best position to tell the world where Kanu is, and as such, the sureties cannot be held responsible for his absence.


At the moment, it is being rumoured in some quarters that Kanu had escaped to the United Kingdom through Malysia. This is just as members of his group are alleging that it is the military that abducted him when it raided his home.

Kanu was arrested in October 2015 following allegations of treasonable felony by the federal government and was held in the custody of the State Security Service till January 2016 when the court ordered that he be kept in prison custody.

The Federal Government consequently arraigned Kanu and three others before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a five count criminal charge bordering on treasonable felony.

The trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako had on April 25 admitted Kanu to bail on health ground. As part of the bail condition, he was asked to produce three sureties, namely; a highly respected Jewish leader, a highly placed Igbo person and a respected person who resides and owns property in Abuja
.
The Chairman of the Senate’s South East Caucus, Eyinnaya Abaribe; a Jewish priest, Immanuu-El Shalom and an accountant and Abuja resident, Tochukwu Uchendu, were Kanu’s sureties. Each of the sureties was asked to sign a bond of N100 million each.

However, speaking on the legal implication of Kanu’s failure to attend court on the next adjourned date, Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, in an exclusive chat with New Telegraph Law in Abuja noted that Kanu has violated all the conditions prescribed by the court and government had sought the revocation of his bail.

He said: “Following the military exercise carried out by the military in Umuahia, Abia state and the subsequent proscription of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, has not been seen and may have gone underground.
“So, it is not likely that he will appear in court on the next adjourned date for fear of being arrested by the police or security agencies.

“Kanu had sureties that entered into recognizance or signed bail bonds as ordered by the court that led to his release.
“The position of the law as provided under Section 173 (1) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, is that, a defendant whom recognizance was entered on his behalf and who is subsequently released on bail is bound to appear before the court at every time and place to which during the course of the proceedings, the hearing may from time to time be adjourned.

“It follows that if Kanu fails to appear before the Federal High Court on the next adjourned date, the judge will likely order a warrant for his arrest.

“The implication of the failure of Kanu to appear in court on the next adjourned date on those who stood sureties for his recognizance is that his recognizance shall be forfeited”.
In his own submissions on the issue, Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN) noted that it may be hasty to begin to deliberate on what may happen on October 17.

“Why should we be concerned about a surety who is not worried about himself? Let’s wait till that date. Kanu may even show up in court and if he did not show up, the court will decide what to do. I am not supposed to tell the court what to do”, the silk said.

To a former Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Adekunle Ojo, the position of the law is clear on what happens if an accused person fails to show up for his or her trial without genuine reason.

“The sureties will be asked to show cause why they should not face the consequences of the accused person’s action. The defendant may have his bail revoked for not showing up in court to attend his trial. By the time the bail is revoked, the sureties may have to face trial for standing surety for an accused person that cannot be found.

“Primarily, their best bet is to ensure that Kanu attend court tomorrow because the consequences might be too great for them”, he said.
However, IPOB has faulted claims by the president’s aide saying they are capable of influencing the court’s decision.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB said, “The fact that Nigeria government sued a person or group of people does not allow it to usurp the exclusive judicial discretion of the court or the trial Judge.

“One lawyer, called Obla in the Presidency was heard threatening jail on the sureties of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as if he has assumed the position of the trial Judge in the court.

“It is important for IPOB to educate Nigerians to know that it is still in the discretion of the trial judge to tell the world on October 17, 2017 whether it is Nigerian Army which invaded the compound of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and took him away or his sureties who were not even consulted by the Army before the extra-judicial invasion that should produce him in the court”.

Meanwhile, Kanu’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, had approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to direct the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to produce his client in court tomorrow.
The originating summons which listed the Chief of Army Staff as the sole respondent was brought pursuant to Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act, F 12, LFN 2005 and Section 6(6)(1)(4) of the Constitution
The lawyer cited Section 40 of the Federal High Court Act which empowers the court to order that a Writ of ‘Habeas Corpus ad Subjiciendum’ be issued on the respondent, to produce the applicant in court, in view of the hearing of his case tomorrow.

Ejiofor submitted that Kanu is the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group largely made up of People from South-Eastern part of the country, mostly Biafra extraction; who are at all times materials lawfully exercising their constitutionally guaranteed rights to self determination, freedom of Association and peaceful assembly.

He further submitted that Kanu was arrested on the 14th day of October, 2015 and consequently arraigned in court along other defendants on the 20th day of January, 2016, on 11-count charge of treasonable felony, conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, belonging to an unlawful society, importation of goods, publication of libelous matters, etc.
“Six out of this eleven count charge had since the 28th day of March 2017, been struck out by the court, including allegation of belonging to an unlawful society.
“The applicant was granted bail on the 25th day of April, 2017, by His Lordship Hon, Justice Binta Nyanko.
“The applicant is still enjoying the bail granted him by the court seized of the matter, when the prosecution filed an application on the 25th day of August 2017, requesting the Court to revoke the bail granted the applicant.

“Hearing on the matter is slated to commence on the 17th day of October, 2017,” the lawyer said.
He further told the court that on the 12th September, 2017, the Nigeria military soldiers acting under express command handed down by the respondent, violently invaded the applicant’s home in Afara-ukwu Ibeku, Umuahia Abia State, wherein scores of his relative were brutally wounded and many killed.
In addition, Ejiofor submitted that on the 14th day of September, 2017, the Nigerian military led by soldiers of the Nigerian Army invaded Kanu’s house on a murderous raid, where life and mortar bullets were fired on unarmed and defenseless populace, leaving 28 persons dead and abducting many.

“The applicant who was in the house during this bloody onslaught by the soldiers, has not been heard from or seen after this bloody attack in his home by the agents of the respondent since the 14th day of September 2017.

“That the invading Soldiers in their desperate bid to ensure that the applicant is caught in the attack climbed stairs to his bedroom upstairs to shoot him; walls of his bedroom were riddled with bullets.

“The invading soldiers who had direct contact with the applicant on this fateful day (14th day of September 2017) should be in a position to produce the applicant before the court. It is either the respondent’s rampaging soldiers abducted the applicant during this raid or must have killed him in the process,” he further said.

In an affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by one, Prince Mandela Umegborogu, it was averred that on the 12th day of September 2017, Nigerian soldiers numbering about 200, armed to the teeth, invaded Kanu’s home in Afarauwku-Ibeku, Umuahia, in Abia State.

It was also averred that the invading soldiers were deployed to the South-East by the respondent in a covert operation tagged, ‘Operation Python Dance II (Egwu eke II), an exercise exclusively under the respondent’s command and control.

The deponent averred that the soldiers, who also drove in a purpose-built sophisticated armored personnel carrier, fired live bullets on the relatives of the applicant, leaving scores brutally wounded.

According to the deponent, on the 14th day of September, 2017, the soldiers invaded the applicant’s home for the second time and raid left 28 persons dead while over 48 persons were arrested and taken away to an unknown destination.

He said Kanu was sitting inside his bedroom when the soldiers invaded his home and that by virtue of this contact, the soldiers must know where he is at the moment, his fate and state of health.

Minister of Petroleum, Kachikwu’s Abuja House Catches Fire

The private residence of Ibe Kachikwu, minster of state for petroleum resources, caught fire on Sunday evening, The Cable understands.

The house is located in Asokoro, Abuja.
The fire started in his bedroom as a result of a suspected electrical fault to the air conditioners, sources in the know said.

“Kachikwu was not at home when it happened, but thankfully the fire service reacted quickly and put out the fire before things could go out of hand,”

The minister has been in the news recently over his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari in which he complained about insubordination and humiliation by Maikanti Baru, the group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)

PRESS STATEMENT: IPOB Reacts to Statement by Defence Minister Over Kanu’s Whereabout

IPOB press release!!!
Today: 16/10/2017

We the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and it’s leadership worldwide under the command of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to draw the attention of Nigerians and the entire world to the statement made by the Nigerian Defence Minister General Mansur Dan Ali Rtd on a TV program called Question Time which aired repeatedly on Channels Television over the weekend.

During the course of the interview, Mansur Dan Ali confirmed on video tape that Nigerian Army went in search of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in his home, having previously denied the involvement of the army in his abduction and disappearance since the invasion of the 14th September 2017.

The bare faced lies of the Nigerian Defence Minister General Mansur Dan Ali and that of the Buhari regime against our leader and organisation is beginning to unravel before the eyes of the world.

By admitting publicly that soldiers were sent to Isiama Afaraukwu IBEKU to look for our leader without any order or warrant from a court of law confirms the contempt in which Nigerian government holds the rule of law and their judicial process.

It is therefore incumbent upon civilised nations of the world and organisations alike to ask the APC led Nigerian government why they decided to send armed soldiers to invade Kanu’s residence.

Another question that must be asked is why would the government deny this obvious fact when there are incontrovertible proof based on available CCTV evidence that Nigerian soldiers undertook this outrageously murderous raid in a peaceful village that resulted in the disappearance and presumed death of our leader.

In the immortal words of Mansur Dan Ali the army “went to look for him but he wasn’t there”.
This means that the army deliberately “went” and stormed his home.

The words to note here is that the army went to look for Kanu, contrary to the lies emanating from the government that Operation Python Dance II was not targeted against IPOB.

Since by the admission of the Defence Minister our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu was not there during the invasion of his residence, why deny that no invasion took place.

This culture of denial, lies and subsequent admission makes it impossible for any neutral observer to believe any word coming out of the mouth of any official of the Buhari regime regarding the issue of IPOB.
It is also on record that the Nigerian government, Army and Defence Headquarters Abuja initially denied ever coming near or invading Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s house in Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia Abia State that resulted in the cold blooded murder of 28 people including that of his two cousins.

With these lies upon lies coming from the government over this military invasion, it is therefore reasonably expected to conclude that the army is also lying about not having our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in their custody.

Is the world waiting for Biafrans to pick up arms to demand for the release of the body of their leader before they know IPOB is serious about ascertaining what the Nigerian government did with him.
We are aware that Nigerian government and her security operatives especially the army and police cannot continue reducing or making a fool of themselves in the face of the whole world concerning the issue of IPOB and quest for Biafra freedom.

The struggle for Biafra independence has gone far beyond violent containment and way beyond the capacity of Nigeria to deal with.

What dimension our struggle will take going forward depends on what fate Nigeria visited or intend to visit on our leader.

One outcome is guaranteed in all this, should Nigeria not produce our leader in court on the 17th of October 2017, there will be inevitable confrontation on a scale the human mind cannot imagine, at a time and place of our choosing.

By nature we are peace loving people, Nigeria should stop provoking us into armed conflict.
They should bring our leader to court.

COMRADE EMMA POWERFUL MEDIA AND PUBLICITY SECRETARY FOR IPOB.

Those calling Buhari president of the North should ‘go to hell’ – Junaid Mohammed

​
Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Dr. Paul Unongo, and a Second Republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed have dismissed the impression that President Muhammadu Buhari was ‘favouring the North’.
They said such statements were capable of breeding disunity.

Unongo, a Second Republic minister of steel, said the Buhari administration has been fair to all the six geo-political zones of the country.

He noted that the zones still crying marginalisation are those agitating for disintegration, particularly the South-East.

The NEF chairman told ThisDay, “It is not possible to say that Buhari is favouring the North to the detriment of other regions.

“The North occupies over 80 per cent of the total landmass of Nigeria and it has the population as well. If everything was given to the North proportionate to its size and population, it wouldn’t be so backward the way it is today.”

On his part, Mohammed, said those saying that Buhari is president of the North and not the president of Nigeria, should go to hell.

He said, “I believe in assessing a man, particularly a politician like Buhari, you assess him not only on what he says, but on what he does.

“If you look at the cabinet, it is clear that most of the important assignments (portfolios) went to the South, particularly the South-West. They have Finance, Health, Power/Works/Housing and Communication.
“So, for anybody who is rational, that statement made about Buhari asking World Bank to concentrate its activities in the North was false.

“In fact, if you move ahead and you assess his words and deeds, you will find out that Buhari hasn’t done anything to advance the interest of the North in any way whatsoever.

“The infrastructure projects that have been carried out in the last two and half years are the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway; the Second Niger Bridge at Asaba; the ongoing East/West Road; the rail project from Lagos to Calabar. Go and check them out.

“These are the key projects of this administration and none of them is in the North.

Jacob Zuma’s Statue In Imo Versus Jacob Zuma’s Statue In S’Africa (Photos)

While Nigerians are still trying to understanding the motive behind the huge statue of South Africa’s president erected and unveiled by governor Rochas Okorocha in Owerri, Imo state, a photo of an old statue of Jacob Zuma erected in South Africa has surfaced online.


The controversial statue of Jacob Zuma erected in South Africa was designed by artist Ayanda Mabulu, who was sharply criticized for the artwork which left the president’s g3nitals exposed.

Read What DailyMail UK is Reporting on Nnamdi Kanu’s Whereabout as Court Sits Tomorrow

The leader of a pro-Biafran separatist group in Nigeria has apparently gone missing, prompting speculation as to his whereabouts on the eve of his trial on treason charges.
Nnamdi Kanu, who heads the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, has not been seen in public since troops were deployed to the southeastern city of Umuahia last month.
Kanu, who wants a separate state for the Igbo people who dominated the country’s southeast, has been on bail since April.

He is scheduled to appear in court in Abuja on Tuesday.
His lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, told AFP: “Only the army can tell us where he is. Either they arrested him or they killed him.”If he is alive, they should bring him to the court on Tuesday.”Justice ministry spokesman Salihu Othman Isah said whether the trial goes ahead depends on Kanu’s appearance and the judge.”I can’t tell you specifically what will happen,” he added.- Bullet holes -Kanu’s disappearance has prompted renewed fears of violence in the restive southeast, which remains tense 50 years after a declaration of independence sparked a brutal civil war.

He was first arrested in October 2015 and held in custody until April this year, despite repeated court rulings that he should be released.

In Umuahia, which was once the capital of the self-styled republic of Biafra and where Kanu spent his childhood, the windows of the family home have been blown out.
The ochre walls and the cars parked in front of the building are pitted with bullet holes, according to an AFP correspondent in the city.

Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, maintains he was at the compound when soldiers attacked it on September 14.He said 28 people were killed but the army has denied the claim. Neither claim has been verified independently.”They were so numerous. They started to shoot from 200 metres (650 feet) away,” Prince Emmanuel told AFP by telephone. “People were running for their lives. We had no guns with us.”Prince Emmanuel said the military was holding his brother in secret. The government has dismissed the claim and said he was “hiding” somewhere.

Nigeria officially declared IPOB a “terrorist organisation” in mid-September after violent clashes between the security forces and IPOB supporters.

Members of the group were accused of attacking military checkpoints in Umuahia, which is the capital of Abia state, and the state’s commercial hub, Aba.
There was also violence in Port Harcourt, which is the capital of the neighbouring state of Rivers and Nigeria’s main oil hub.

Officially, the military said the troop deployment was part of its Operation Python Dance against crime in the region. IPOB said it was designed to curb its activities.

Human rights organisations and analysts believe the authorities’ response has exacerbated tensions in a region where separatist sentiment has never really disappeared.

Many in the southeast say the region’s lack of basic infrastructure and extreme poverty is a “punishment” for what happened in 1967.The charismatic Kanu, who is in his 50s, knew how to exploit those frustrations. He revived Radio Biafra and used to broadcast calls for independence from his home in London.
Those calls increased after his arrest and sparked repeated demonstrations. Even after his release on bail, herarely passed up a chance to whip up his crowds of supporters.

Kanu wants a referendum on self-determination and has called for a boycott all forthcoming elections.- High-risk strategy -Security consultant Don Okereke believes the army overstepped the mark by conducting law enforcement operations in the southeast that were normally the remit of the police.”(The) Python Dance exercise is an aberration. There’s a high sentiment of distrust,” he said.

The federal government in Abuja has meanwhile opened itself up to the charge of “double standards” with the Biafraquestion, he added.On the one hand it is prepared to negotiate with Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast and militants in the Niger delta in the south but not IPOB, Okereke added.That was a high-risk strategy, he said, adding: “If anything happens to him (Kanu), the reactions are likely to be very violent in the southeast.”In 2009, a military crackdown on Boko Haram led to the death in custody of its leader, Muhammad Yusuf.For now, rumours abound about Kanu’s whereabouts.

The British mission in Abuja has denied one claim from a former Abia state governor that Kanu was back in London.

Enugu LG polls: APC dares PDP to rig elections, issue serious warning

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State have dared the major opponent, the People’s Democratic Party, to rig the local government election scheduled to hold in the state on November 4.

The APC stalwarts gave the warning at the flag-off of the party’s campaigns at Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, Ogrute and Agbani in Nkanu West Local Government at weekend.
Speaking at the events, the state Chairman of the party, Dr Ben Nwoye said that the APC has shown good intent to provide good leadership.

He noted that the large crowd of people at the APC campaign flag-off at Igboeze North LGA, and Udenu, which is Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s home council, showed that the people are tired of the PDP and their failed promises in the state.

Nwoye, therefore, declared that the APC “would not accept anything short of a free, fair, credible and transparent election, devoid of any form of manipulation or rigging by PDP or ENSIEC.”
He also noted that it would be the first time since 1999 that the PDP chairmanship or councillorship candidate would be returned unopposed as APC has fielded candidates for the 17 chairmanships and 260 councillorship seats available in the state.

The Enugu APC boss said that the PDP lacks strategy and only relies on propaganda by telling the people not to come out on

November 4 to vote on grounds that the results have already been written in favour of the PDP candidates.
Nwoye said that the APC would be holding Governor Ugwuanyi to his words as he had promised that he would not interfere in the election in favour of any PDP candidate.

“I am happy that Governor Ugwuanyi told his PDP candidates to go and campaign. We believe every word from his mouth. If he has written results, he will not be campaigning. I believe he is a democrat, I believe he will not interfere,” Nwoye said.

Similarly, a former governorship candidate of the APC in the state, Chief Okey Eze, in his speech at Igbo-eze North, maintained that the elections must follow the rules according to the Electoral Act, beginning “from distribution of electoral materials at ENSIEC to the polling stations, collations of results to the point where the results would be declared.

“If they do not want to hold the election, let them not hold it. But if they want to hold it, it must comply with the Electoral Act.”

Also the Chairman of the APC in Rivers State, Dr Davies Ibiamu, who represented the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun at the Nkanu West rally advised the people of Enugu State to reject the PDP and vote for the APC.

He urged them to vote for everybody on the ticket of APC, saying this would ensure that when they come back, they would say their journey was not in vain.

Other notable party chieftains who attended the rallies include, the former Speaker of House of Assembly, Eugene Odo, the Zonal Chairman for Enugu East senatorial zone, Chief Anike Nwoga and his Enugu West counterpart, Iyke Omenkukwu, among others.

Agbakoba drags Buhari to court, reason will shock you

Former President, Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari before the Federal High Court over his powers to hold the executive office as Minister of Petroleum Resources as a President.

The suit was filed in Abuja against the Federal Government of Nigeria via the Attorney General of the Federation which is to determine the constitutional qualification of Buhari as Minister of Petroleum.

Agbakoba, according to a statement released by his Chambers, argues that on the basis of section 138 of the Constitution disqualifying the President of Nigeria from taking any paid employment or holding executive office of Minister of Petroleum Resources, the President cannot hold office as Minister of Petroleum Resources.

His other argument is that in any event, the President’s appointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources was not confirmed by the Senate of the National Assembly, as stipulated by section 147(2)of the constitution.
The affidavit supporting Agbakoba’s claim states that the determination of the questions in the claim are of vital national importance, in view of the governance chaos at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

He has requested the court to return answers that the President is not validly qualified to be Minister of Petroleum Resources and in any event the President is also disqualified to be Minister of Petroleum Resources, not having been confirmed by Senate.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.

2019: Atiku’s Associate Decamps From APC To PDP

Malam Isah Dansallah, who is a close friend of Atiku Abubakar, former vice president has defected from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Dansallah, who is one of the founding father’s of the APC in Kaduna, was appointed Chairman of Kajuru Local Council in Kaduna State by Governor Nasir el-Rufai.


  Yesterday, He told journalists in Kaduna that he could no longer stay with his APC as a result of what he called “lack of good governance.”

Dansallah said: “What is happening in APC today is not what we bargained for. This is not why we asked people to vote out PDP. Today’s players in APC do not care about the feelings of the masses.

“I dump the APC to PDP because the opposition PDP is lesser evil compare with the ruling APC.
“There was a time that I found myself in the APC. I worked for its success in 2015, but the APC has metamorphosed and turned into a ghost with crises all over. The APC-led government has succeeded in subjecting Nigerians to abject poverty and has successfully divided Nigerians along religious and ethnic lines.
“People are dying everyday with various sicknesses because of depression as some people cannot even afford a square meal a day. “I cannot continue to associate myself with such group of people.

“I join the PDP because it is a party with human feelings and I know they have the interest of the people at heart. I am in PDP to revive Nigeria and ensure that the party takes over power in 2019,” he added.

Evans’ accomplice sues police, demands N100m damages

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An alleged accomplice of suspected billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, Emeka Arinze, has sued the Nigeria Police Force over his continued detention.
In a suit he filed before a Lagos Federal High Court on Monday, Arinze is demanding his immediate release from police custody.

The suit which he filed through a rights campaigner, Ogedi Ogu, Arinze is claiming N100 million and a public apology from the police and severally over alleged infringement on his rights.

Enjoined in the suit are the Inspector General of Police, State Police Commissioner, Lagos State Police Command and Inspector Christian, an Investigating Police Officer with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The alleged Evans’ accomplice is seeking a declaration that his arrest and detention without any order in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) is unlawful and illegal.

An affidavit sworn by Arinze’s younger sister, Mrs Nkem Nwaka, supporting the suit, says the suspect was arrested on June 27 at FESTAC Town, Lagos, by the third respondent (the police) and taken to the office of the second respondent Commissioner of Police.

The affidavit said Arinze has been in custody since June 27 and denied access to his medications, family and lawyers.

She said her brother has been in police custody for more than three months without any charge.
Nwaka noted that her brother’s fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 35 (4) and 36 (4) (5) of the 1999 Constitution have been violated.

Buhari’s Body Language Shows Hatred For Igbos- ex-Governor Blasts Buhari

Former governor of Anambra state Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of hatred against the Igbo.

Ezeife, who spoke with The Sun newspaper, also said the Igbo have been marginalised under the present administration.

According to him, Buhari has used the Nigerian Army to intimidate people in the South East, condemning the Operation Python Dance which he described as dehumanising.

“Major body language of the president shows hatred for the Igbo. The army massacred young men who were not carrying even sticks in Aba; they massacred other young men who were carrying Bible in remembrance of their members; they also massacred other young men who were jubilating in Port Harcourt that Donald Trump won the American election,” Ezeife said.

“Python Dance by the army has not been held in Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Northwest or Northeast, but not only are they occupying Southeast militarily, so many people have been killed, and more people have been used as tools for humiliation and dehumanization. You saw the videos, where some people were forced to drink mud water; others forced to swim in muddy water, and other forms of humiliation.”

In addition, he said: “There are so many indications of hatred and marginalisation. Are you talking about infrastructure in the zone? The federal roads are not passable; the money spent by state governments on federal roads is not refunded them so that they would not have money to fix federal roads.”

”Forcing A Muslim To Do Family Planning, Is Violating His Religion” – Hon Kazaure

Hon. Gudaji Kazaure of Katsina state, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Constituency, was captured in a video in one of the house’s session, sharing his thoughts on family planning and how it affects Muslims.

According to the Honourable Member of the House, “telling a Muslim to do family planning, is telling him to violate his religion; because there’s no planning in Islam”. The video has generated lots of controversy on social media.

Monkey Pox: Don’t allow Nigerian Army treat your children – Ezeife begs Igbos

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Chukwuemeka Ezeife, a former Governor of Anambra State, has advised people of the South East against allowing medical personnel of the Nigerian Military treat their children.

Ezeife issued the advise in reaction to the commotion caused by the military’s free medical treatment in Anambra State.

The former governor noted that people of the South East were capable of taking care of themselves, because they were rich to do so.

Speaking with The Sun, Ezeife said, “Last week, I was in Anambra, a traditional ruler called me and told me that his people were called to come out on Wednesday for free medical treatment by the military.

“He asked me whether he should allow his people to come out for the exercise. I told him, no, that if we could not stop them from killing with guns, we shouldn’t allow them to kill us with syringe.

“But on Wednesday, they went to schools in Anambra for the free medial treatment and everybody including school children were running helter-skelter, and parents were running to take back their children in the schools.

” I appeal to every parent in the Southeast to not allow their children to be treated by the soldiers. We are rich enough to treat our children.

“We are grateful to the governor of Anambra State for approaching the military and advising them to stop the medical treatment of our people until we understand what they want to do.

“The military should have gone to the minister of Education or the commissioner of Education or commissioner of Health, and the governor before releasing the soldiers in a civilian population. Whether it was an intended good or evil, they approached it in a very wrong way.”

Billionaire kidnapper: Police collected over N50 million from Evans – Lawyer alleges

​Mr. Olukoya Ogungbeje, Counsel to billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike, also known as Evans, has accused officers of the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team of extorting over N50m and other valuables worth millions of naira from his clients.

Ogungbeje made the claims in a petition to the Police Service Commission, PSC, National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, and Amnesty International.

In the petition, Ogungbeje also accused the Inspector General of Police’s Intelligence Response Team of sexually molesting Evans’ girlfriend, Amaka Offor.

The petition is captioned: “The Evans Case and Saga: Brazen Extortion, Corruption, Gross Misconduct, Indiscipline, Sexual Molestation and Human Rights Violation Against the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team Police Officers and Policemen.”

The petition reads, “Our client has duly briefed us on the above captioned subject matter involving the police officers and policemen attached to the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.

“For the avoidance of doubt, it is our secured brief that in the course of investigating our client while being detained in the custody of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on the allegation of kidnapping, the following under-listed items were forcefully and corruptly extorted from our client.

“1. The sum of N50, 000,000 (Fifty Million Naira) cash.

“2. Another sum of N5,000,000 (Five Million Naira) sent by our client’s wife as pressured by the above policemen.

“3. Twenty-five (25) Mack Trucks forcefully taken but not listed as exhibits in the ongoing criminal trial of our client.

“4. Brigade wristwatch worth One Hundred and Seventeen (117) Thousand U.S Dollars.

“5. Pendant cross worth Seventy (70) Thousand U.S Dollars.

“6. Necklace worth Twenty-Five (25) Thousand U.S Dollars.

“7. Virtu Phone worth Thirty (30) Thousand U.S Dollars.

“8. Virtu Signature Phone worth Seventeen (17) Thousand U.S Dollars.

“9. Ten (10) Thousand U.S Dollars cash extorted by ASP Phillip Rieninwa.

“10. Five (5) Pieces of Saphono Rucci Diamond Rings worth One Hundred (100) Thousand U.S Dollars.

“11. Lexus 470 Jeep.

“12. Grand Cherokee Jeep.

“13. L 400 Mitsubishi Bus.

“14. Toyota Highlander (Gold Colour).

“15. Eighty-Five (85) Inches Samsung Television set worth 6.5 Million Naira amongst others.

“our client also confided in us that one (Amaka Offor) his girlfriend was sexually molested and abused by the above policemen of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).”

Ogungbeje called on the Police Service Commission to probe his allegations and invoke appropriate sanctions including dismissal against the culpable police officers.

“Sir, you would agree with us that these allegations are too weighty to be ignored by any right-thinking Nigerian.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that it calls for prompt investigation, inquiry and appropriate sanctions. We are using this medium as our own way of galvanizing institutional sanity, cleansing and reform in the Nigeria Police Force as an institution.

“As we speak, the brother in law and other relations of our client are still being detained and tortured by the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team

Nnamdi Kanu’s family reacts to ‘recovery of weapons’ in IPOB leader’s home

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The f​amily of leader of proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu​ has dismissed claims by Abia Commissioner of Police, Anthony Ogbizi that police recovered lethal weapons when, in a joint exercise with the Army, raided their compound at Afara Ukwu on October 8.

Kanu’s family spokesman, Emmanuel Kanu​, told newsmen by telephone that if any weapon found​ within the premises must have been planted by security operatives.
The family accused Ogbizi of fabricating the story to justify
the​ ”​illegal raid” and also to appear as if he was working​.

His words: “This new CP was the same man who came to our house two days after the September 14 invasion with two Hilux vans and his Prado SUV and pulled down the car porch and destroyed the vehicles parked outside.

“This same CP hurriedly after the invasion on the October 8, issued a press release telling the whole world that they discovered bombs in my house. The army on the other hand, denied that there was no invasion and that they never went to my house, what a contradiction.

“A house that there has not been any person inside except our guard who we asked to look after the house, all of a sudden they invaded the house and came back to say they found a den gun, double barrel gun and petrol bomb. Who manufactured them? Who kept them there? That is the question to ask.”

“The policemen came to our house and ransacked the entire compound including my mum and my father’s rooms, removing my mum’s boxes, our TV and generator sets, bags of rice and many personal belongings without knowing that we had a CCTV recording their activities in the house.

“​But when they got clue about the CCTV and in order to concoct whatever that they would present to the public to label our family bad, they came back and removed the CCTV from where they were hung.
“I am telling the international community to prevail on this people. What the Police and other security agencies are doing in my house, my community, in my state and the entire Biafran Land is evil. It is clear that out of desperation, they are trying to cover their tracks and they have failed.

“Nobody can tag IPOB a terrorist organisation. We don’t carry arms and arms never solved any dispute. They should engage IPOB leadership genuinely. We are not violent. We don’t give life and we can’t take one. They have rubbished the name of the country called Nigeria, that’s why we are called Biafrans.
“They invaded the house and took away the CCTV now they said that they discovered petrol bomb and the rest of it, when we had only one person in the house. How possible is that? Who planted them?”

Kanu further stated, “If Ogbizi was serving in his Cross River State, he wouldn’t have raided the palace of the Obong of Calabar under any guise the way he raids my father’s palace and boasted he would raid it again, this can only happen in Igbo land.

“And let me tell you something, the reason they removed the former CP (Adeleye Oyebade) was that he knew that IPOB has been non-violent in their activities and he stood on the side of truth, he refused to be compromised that was why they removed him and brought this one from Cross River State who is on a mission he will never accomplish.”

2019 election: South West APC planning to replace Buhari with Tinubu – Dele Momodu

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Publisher of the Ovation Magazine and former Presidential aspirant, Dele Momodu has given interpretations to recent comment by an All Progressives Congress chieftain, chief Bisi Akande.

Akande during a meeting of the South West leaders of the ruling party had made it clear that there was no automatic ticket for President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to the matter in a long article he shared on social media yesterday, Momodu pointed out that Yoruba leaders are preparing a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bolaji Tinubu for presidency come 2019.

He said the decision is borne out of frustration, adding that the Yoruba leadership will no longer support any other tribe for presidency.

Part of his article reads, “What Baba Akande has not said is simply that the days when the Presidency would be voluntarily zoned to exclude most sections of the country in favour of another section, whether the candidate presented and supported by the people is competent or useless, are over.

“The truth is zoning never worked anyway, as some Presidential candidates left their original parties for other parties in defiance of the zoning formula of their own party.

“Without mincing words, it is obvious that the Yoruba leadership has decided it would no longer support other tribes, zones or regions to attain to power to the exclusion of their tribe.

“They would rather work hard, reach out, and join hands with like minds to get power.
“Their decision is borne out of the acute frustration and disappointment that makes them feel cheated about the Nigerian configuration which does not throw up the best but regularly favours the dregs of society who have only contributed to drawing Nigeria backward, in most cases.

“The campaign has probably started in earnest, culminating in the search for a Yoruba Presidency.
“Though the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Peter Ayodele Fayose has controversially but ceremoniously thrown his hat into the ring, it is the fact that the capo di tutti capi, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, may be warming up for his turn to take a major shot at the race of his life that is most significant.
“Mark my words. One of the greatest political strategists in Nigeria, Tinubu is tired of being a kingmaker and he would rather be the king.

“Indeed, that has always been his ambition but this has been largely curtailed by circumstances.
“Like many of those who supported Major General Muhammadu Buhari to attain power, after so many attempts, the former Senator and former Governor of Lagos State, feels he’s not gotten the respect and relevance he deserves for his monumental effort. Accordingly, he seems determined to make a personal push.

“Apart from the virtues of Baba Akande that I have enumerated above, a lesser known one is his deep sense of loyalty.”

Afenifere chieftain, Oloruntoba speaks on kind of restructuring Nigerians will accept

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Afenifere chieftain, Olusegun Oloruntoba, has called on the Federal Government to come up with a new constitution that will be acceptable to most parts of Nigeria.

According to him, the new constitution was necessary to enable the country embark on geopolitical and economic restructuring.

Oloruntoba, who was one of the soldiers framed up in the 1995 phantom coup, said in a interview with Punch newspaper: “We support the restructuring of Nigeria so as to engender economic advancement and infrastructural development.

“However, it is unwise to embark on creation of new states under our present economic situation. All unviable states should be disbanded and merged with fairly viable ones.

“What is the sense in keeping states that cannot pay workers’ salaries for months and even years in some cases? We should restructure or reconfigure the present 36 states to a minimum of six regions or geopolitical zones; or, a maximum of 12 geopolitical zones.”

The retired army officer also suggested that the bicameral National Assembly should be made unicameral and operated on a part-time basis.

“Also, members should be entitled to only sitting allowance. By adopting the unicameral system, billions of naira will be saved annually. Federal ministers should be appointed from elected members of each regional House of Assembly. Membership of each regional House of Assembly should not exceed 20.
“A limit must be set as to the number of political appointees a regional governor should have a max
imum of 10 commissioners and 10 special advisers. This will curb the recklessness and impunity of governors in appointing political aides,” Oloruntoba said.