Buhari commiserates with rainstorm and fire victims in Bauchi

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the people of Bauchi over last Saturday’s rainstorm which claimed over 6 lives and destroyed properties worth millions of naira in Bauchi metropolis.
President Buhari was in Bauchi State to commiserate with the government and people of the State, particularly, the victims of the recent devastating windstorm as well as the fire incident that razed the Azare Central Market, one of the most popular markets in the North.
The president, on Thursday, in the company of the governor, Bar. Muhammed Abubakar, paid a condolence visit to the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu over the loss the state suffered at the weekend.
Speaking at the emir palace, the President condoled with the emir and assured that he will do everything in his power to ameliorate the plights of the affected people.
“I am here to commiserate with you over the loss you recorded during the weekend. I want to assure you that the federal government will stand with you through this trying time.
“For those of you that are here, please take this message to your people. Tell them that they are in my thoughts and prayers” the President said.
Responding, the Emir of Bauchi, Dr. Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu thanked the President for the love and support he has shown since the state was thrown into mourning last Saturday.
“What we saw on Saturday is like nothing we have seen before. Our losses are unquantifiable and diverse. We only look to God for recovery.
“I want to specially thank the President for showing us love and care in this trying time. We have been receiving relief materials of all kinds since the unfortunate incident on Saturday” Dr. Adamu noted.
Meanwhile, the President has visited Azare market to assess the level of damage caused by fire last Sunday, and to condole with the people of the area over their losses.

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FG sensitive to human rights, dignity – NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday said the Federal Government was mindful of the protection of rights and dignity of the citizens.
Mr Tony Ojukwu, the Executives Secretary of the commission, said this in Yola at a 3-day Mid-Term Review Meeting of the IDP Protection Monitoring Project for North- East.
NHRC is in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the protection monitoring of refugees’ rights in the insurgency ravaged communities in the north east.
The executive secretary said government was committed to ensuring that rights of citizens were respected, adding that violation of rights of citizens was always met with stringent sanctions.
He said the NHRC would not relent in its mandate to ensure that violators of human rights were punished, adding that such prompt actions were deterring flagrant abuses in the country.
Ojukwu however said the mid-term review of humanitarian operations in the north-east was done to identify challenges and probable workable solutions to them.
“It is imperative that we all come to the round table to review what has been done so far and what is left to be done to close identified gaps and challenges’’, he said.
The executive secretary said the meeting would enable the partners to outline corrective actions to ensure that the project was on track to achieve maximum results.
“Mid-term review is a mandatory requirement of the NHRC and the UNHCR on IDP protection monitoring project.
“The review meeting is used as a tool for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the project as well as to measure performance against output.
“It also assesses the progress towards results, identifies risks to sustainability and emphasises supportive recommendations,’’ he said.
Ojukwu said the ten targeted states in 2015 for the project had reduced to six in 2016.
He however, said that the project had further reduced that number to include only Adamawa Yobe and Borno.
Mr Ahmed Teejan-Cole, the Resident Officer of the UNHCR in Yola, said the review would identify and observe causes of rights violations in the areas.
“The members of the team would identify with IDPs who are depressed and with those that have been put in the dark which is the trends globally now,’’ he said.
The UNHCR official restated that the global population of refugees stood at 25.4 million, adding that the resources allocated for humanitarian projects had dwindled.
He urged the monitors to utilise the resources at their disposal to achieve more results.
The monitors in the IDP protection monitoring project were drawn from the three states listed for visitation.

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Re-Elect Buhari And Regret, APC Chieftain To Nigerians

Suspended Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has told President Muhammadu Buhari that Nigerians may end up in regret and despair for voting him into office.
Frank said this in an open letter he addressed to the President.
In the letter, the former mouth piece of the ruling party said the president must do more in obeying the rule of law and stop attacking those he sees as opposition to Gus administration.
Part of Frank’s letter entitled ‘June 12 and the Burden of good governance’ reads, Mr. President, having been a lone voice in criticizing the activities of your administration, despite being a member of the APC, many will wonder what the true intent of this Open Letter may convey, but be rest assured sir, that only those who mean well for this country will speak up when wrong is being painted as right.

“The CHANGE mantra upon which this administration was voted into power massively by Nigerians, irrespective of ethnic, religious and social affiliations, is fast eroding away and I’m afraid, sir, that if nothing is done to Right the Wrong, then the Hopes and Aspirations which had ushered in a brighter tomorrow will end up in Regret and Despair.
“That I have decided to speak up against the current ills in the system attest to the fact that, it is only when people speak up that TrueChange will eventually occur. The resilience and belief in the June 12 Struggle attest to the fact that those who fought for democracy in Nigeria believed in the truest meaning of democracy in all its ramifications.

“A country where the RULE OF LAW, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND ASSOCIATION, UPHOLDING THE RIGHTSOF EVERY CITIZEN AND ABOVE ALL RESPECT FOR FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN RIGHTS was and is the very pillar upon which Chief MKO ABIOLA and several others paid the ultimate price with their lives.
“Anything short of this will amount to MILITOCRACY or DICTATORSHIP as itwere. The lack of adherence to these social rights, I must admit, are very prevalent in this administration and seems to be growing larger by the day.
“These ills are reminiscent of and a sad reminder of the Junta days, with many regretting their actions of voting the APC into power. It will be pertinent, Mr. President sir, to proceed on a personal fact finding mission to the Nigerian streets, irrespective of bias, to find out the true reflections and opinions of Nigerians toward your administration.”

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Man kills mother over love affair with her sister

A 22 year old man identified as Agaezichi Ogbonna, has allegedly killed his mother over a love affair with her sister at Akpaa Mbato community, Obingwa council area of Abia State.

Family sources told Vanguard that Agaezichi aged 22, was having a love affair with his mother’s sister, but his mother, Blessing, warned against the relationship, describing it as a taboo in Igbo land.

However, on Saturday, the deceased reportedly met the two ‘love birds’ at home and warned them to desist from the love affairs, but Agaezichi pounced on his mother and beat her to death.

When they realized that the woman had died, the two ‘love birds’ fled, but Agaezichi was arrested by youths who handed him over to the soldiers stationed at the community.

“The boy was having a love affair with his mother’s sister. The love affair has been going on for a long time. But his mother kept warning him against it. Everybody in this village has been warning the boy against the love affair because it is a taboo in Igbo land. Any time his mother warns him to stop the love affair with her sister, Agaezichi will beat the woman.

“Yesterday, his mother saw him with the girl and warned about the consequences of their love affair and Agaezich rained blows on the woman. She fell to the ground and died. When they saw, she has died, they ran away but Agaezichi was arrested by some youths while his girlfriend escaped.”

A soldier who asked not to be mentioned said the suspect has been handed over to the Police.

Contacted, Police Area Commander, Aba, ACP Peter Opara, confirmed that the suspect is being detained by the Police.

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EFCC/FBI raid internet fraudsters’ bases in Nigeria, arrest of 30 suspects...

By Soni Daniel, Abuja
In a bid to checkmate rising cases of internet fraud that has rob millions of unsuspecting Nigerians and foreigners of millions Naira, the Nigerian Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in collaboration with the American Federal Bureau of Investigation has arrested no fewer than 30 fraudsters engaged in the illicit trade.

The arrest of the suspects mostly in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub, followed a raid on internet fraudsters by operatives of the two agencies, hauling in no fewer than 25 digital devices used in the nefarious activity.

Among the tools of operations used by the criminally-minded elements, which were retrieved by the anti-graft agencies included mobile phones and computers.
The Head of Media and Publicity of the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, who confirmed the raids, said, they were carried out between May 23 and June 7, 2017.
Wilson said, “The joint operation was carried out as part of an exercise code named ‘Operation Wire Wire’ following months of surveillance to identify the suspects and their locations.

“The suspects, who are all linked to business email compromise, have made useful statements while documents recovered from them are being analysed.
Business email compromise is a sophisticated scam scheme which targets businesses involved with funds transfer as means of payment.

The perpetrators routinely compromise communication between the parties and change the bank details of the receiver of funds and send emails to the party expected to do the transfer, purporting to be the genuine receiver with the changed account details.

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Court sacks Nigerian senator

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the immediate sack of a senator, Atai Aidoko, as the member representing Kogi East.

The court presided over by judge, Gabriel Kolawole, ruled that Mr Aidoko was wrongly presented as the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the December 2014 Primaries conducted by the PDP.

Following the presentation of Mr Aidoko as the party’s flag bearer, Mr Aidoko’s challenger, Isaac Alfa, began a legal battle for the nullification of Mr Aidoko’s election.

An appeal court had ordered parties to return to the trial court to allow it determine the rightful owner of the suit, thus rendering the seat vacant.

However, Mr Aidoko refused vacating the office and has appeared repeatedly at Senate plenaries since then.

On Wednesday, the court ordered the PDP and Mr Aidoko to pay Mr Alfa N750,000 each.

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Just in: I Won’t Be Part of June 12 Celebration, Nwosu Writes Buhari

      The Chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, Humphrey Nwosu, has disclosed that he would not be part of the June 12 celebration “due to circumstances beyond my control”
In a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, he said he was outside the country and would not be making the team that Buhari had invited to the occasion to honour the late Chief MAKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993 election, which Nwosu presided over before it was annulled by then military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
President Buhari had invited Nwosu, among other prominent Nigerians to witness the award ceremony and bestowing of national honours on Abiola, his running mate, Babagana Kiginbe and late human rights activist, Gani Fawehinmi on Tuesday.
Nevertheless, Nwosu paid glowing tribute to Buhari for recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy Day and for honouring the memory of Abiola.
In a letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, on Monday, Nwosu said the conferment of national honours on Abiola and Kingibe, “will rekindle the national consciousness of all Nigerians for a better nation.”
The letter signed by one Lawrence Ojabo, Director of Information, reads: “I thank His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government of Nigeria for recognising June 12 as Democracy Day and also honouring the winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
“Indeed, June 12, 1993 marked a turning point in Nigeria’s tortuous journey towards a democratic polity. It is an honour to the very hard-working men and women of the defunct National Electoral Commission under my leadership at this long awaited recognition. I humbly commend this action by the President.
“Undoubtedly, the democratic system of governance is the best especially for the multi ethnic nation like ours. I thank you for building on the foundation which my team and I laboured strenuously to establish and actualise on June 12, 1993. It is our hope that expanding the frontiers of democracy of which all the people of Nigeria, regardless of ethnic group, will provide economic, social and developmental benefits that will certainly make Nigeria a great nation not only in Africa but across the world.
“Certainly, the scheduled event on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 will rekindle the national consciousness of all Nigerians for a better Nation. Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control I will not be present at the investiture ceremony as I am outside the country,” he said.

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Eid-El Fitr: FG Declares Friday, Monday as Public Holidays

Friday June 15, and Monday June 18 have been declared as public holidays to celebrate the 2018 Eid-El Fitr.
The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, made the declaration on Monday in Abuja on behalf of the federal government in a statement issued by M. Umar the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
He congratulated the Muslim faithful on a successful completion of the Ramadan fast and enjoined all Nigerians to use the occasion of the celebration to pray for the peace, unity, prosperity and stability of the nation.
Dambazau said it was government’s desire that all Nigerians be inspired by the virtues gained during the Holy Month of Ramadan to live a life of sacrifice, charity and love for one another.
He encouraged all Nigerians to join hands with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in taking the nation to greater heights.
The Minister wishes all Nigerians a happy, peaceful and rewarding Eid -El Fitr celebration.

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BREAKING: FG withdraws Security aides, Orders arrest of Ranking APC Chieftain

Information reaching the PoliticsNGR newsdesk this afternoon reveals that the Police security aides attached to an APC chieftain and Deputy Publicity Secretary, Timi Frank have allegedly been withdrawn.
In an Open letter made available to PoliticsNGR, Mr Frank revealed that his aides were withdrawn and a warrant for his immediate arrest has been issued. Read the full letter below;
“It has become imperative for me to use this medium to bring to the attention of the general public, as well as members of the international community that on Wednesday 6th June 2018, the Federal Government ordered the withdrawal of my police security aides. Even though no reason has been given for this sudden action by the police authorities, I believe that it is connected with my fight to preserve the nation’s democracy by speaking out against anti-democratic tendencies and clamouring for adherence to the rule of law under the present administration.
I also have it on good authority that a directive has been given for my immediate arrest and detention. It has also come to my knowledge that a frontline Minister in the present administration is going round media houses and online media and threatening them to either stop publishing and airing my views on national issues or face sanctions from the government.
Recall that in recent weeks, I have caused four open letters to be published in major national newspapers. In one of the letters, I passionately pleaded with Mr President to stop security agencies from harassing and intimidating Nigerians especially those perceived as enemies of the administration. I also called on relevant security and anti-graft agencies, to follow due process in the ongoing fight against corruption in the country.
I had equally called on the leaders of the international community, like the President of the United States, Donald Trump, Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres and the British Prime Minister, Theresa May, to prevail on the present administration to respect the sanctity of human lives, uphold the fundamental human rights of Nigerians, stop the intimidation and harassment of innocent citizens; and to make sure that the ongoing fight against corruption is conducted according to the principles of fairness, equity and justice. I had decried a situation where personalities mainly from the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and new Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) arm of our party, the All Progressives Congress, are being selectively targeted for persecution in the guise of fighting corruption.
I dare say that the withdrawal of my police security aides and from other deserving Nigerians has become the modus operandi of this government in silencing the opposition. Recently, security aides of the President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara were equally reduced. Those attached to Senators and House of Representatives members considered to be critical of the policies and programmes of the present administration are equally being recalled.

I also want to state that impunity in the country is moving from bad to worse as evidenced by the withdrawal of my security and my being marked for arrest and prosecution, simply because I have not ceased to speak up against acts of injustice, intimidation and harassment of Nigerians, since the inception of this government.
This plot against me shows that the Nigeria Police which is supposed to protect all Nigerians has become personalized and is being used to protect only those singing the praises of the present administration. This effectively shows that the last administration was more democratic and tolerant than the present one because, despite my incessant criticism of the Jonathan’s administration, he never ordered the withdrawal my police aides, as well as those of all opposition members now in government who were opposed to Jonathan and his government as at that time. This unwarranted action by the Government against me, I must say, is meant to expose me to grave danger and personal harm with the aim to permanently shut me up.
Nigerians had expected leaders in this administration to learn to tolerate criticism from the opposition as a common feature in any democratic setting. Take South Africa, for example, where a member of parliament and leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, Julius Malema, often criticizes the President of South Africa without his security aides being withdrawn or him being framed-up for arrest and prosecution.
I want to make it categorically clear, however, that no amount of intimidation, harassment and arrest will make me to close my eyes and mouth in the face of ongoing human rights violations and actions capable of truncating the nation’s democracy, being perpetrated by the present administration. I solemnly reiterate my resolve to pay the supreme sacrifice if that is what is required to ensure freedom, respect for human dignity and good governance in Nigeria. However, I want to use this opportunity to inform Nigerians that the present administration should be held responsible should any harm befall me.
Finally, I urge Nigerians to rise up in defence of democracy. I also urge the National Assembly not to relent in providing leadership to ensure the sustenance of our democracy. I equally call on Civil Society Organizations and labour unions not to gloss over glaring threats against the nation’s democracy. The time to speak up is now.”

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