Breaking: Police Draw Back from Law Suit Against Judicial Panels’ Probes

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December 4, 2020

The Nigeria Police Force has applied to withdraw its suit praying for an order stopping the various states’ judicial panels of enquiry probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of brutality of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other police tactical units.

The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020, was filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The decision to set up the various panels of enquiry which was challenged in the suit was taken by the National Economic Council with members including the 36 state governors and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in the aftermath of the recent nationwide #EndSARS protests demanding an end to police brutality.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on Thursday, denied authorising the filing of the suit.

The plaintiff, therefore, through one of its lawyers, Festus Ibude, filed a notice of discontinuance of the suit on Friday.

“Take notice that the plaintiff herein intends to and doth hereby wholly withdraws its suit against all the defendants,” it read.

The plaintiff had in the suit urged the court to restrain the Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation and their various panels of enquiry from going ahead with the probe focussing on police impunity.

The defendants, totaling 104, who were sued by the NPF, comprised the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission which set up the Independent Investigative Panel sitting in Abuja, the Attorneys-General of the states, and chairmen of the states’ panels.

The NPF, had through their lawyer, Mr O. M. Atoyebi (SAN), argued in the fresh suit that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.According to the plaintiff, the state governments’ decision to set up such panels violated the provisions of section 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act.It argued that by virtue of the provisions of 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution only the Federal Government had exclusive power to “organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force”.

It, therefore, urged to, among others, declare that “the establishment of panel of enquiries by the governors of the various states of the federation of Nigeria, to inquire into the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in relation to the discharge of her statutory duties is a gross violation of the provisions of Section 241 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 21 of the tribunals of inquiry Act, Cap.T21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

The plaintiff also urged the court to declare that “having regard to the circumstances of this case, the attitude of the governors of the various states of the Federation of Nigeria, in this case, is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever”.

It sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd to 38th defendants (the state Attorneys-General of the 36 states) “from making or conducting any investigations, sittings and inquiries and/or from making or conducting any further investigations, sittings and inquiries in respect of matters affecting the Nigeria Police Force, and or further setting up any panel of inquiry in any state whatsoever in the country”.

Punch

Video: Radio Message On Good Governance : A Must Watch

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December 3, 2020

#EndSars- Police Begs Court to Stop Judicial Panels’ Probes

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Queen Madu

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December 3, 2020

The Nigeria Police Force has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja praying for an order stopping the various states’ judicial panels of enquiry probing allegations of rights abuses and other acts of brutality of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad and other police tactical units.

The plaintiff in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/1492/2020, urged the court to restrain the Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation and their various panels of enquiry from going ahead with the probe focussing on police impunity.

The defendants, totalling 104, who were sued by the NPF, comprised the Attorney-General of the Federation, the National Human Rights Commission which set up the Independent Investigative Panel sitting in Abuja, the Attorneys-General of the states, and chairmen of the states’ panels.

The decision to set up the various panels of enquiry was taken by the National Economic Council with members including the 36 state governors and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in the aftermath of the recent nationwide #EndSARS protests demanding an end to police brutality.

The NPF, through their lawyer, Mr O. M. Atoyebi (SAN), argued in the fresh suit that the state governments lacked the power to constitute the panels to investigate activities of the police force and its officials in the conduct of their statutory duties.

According to the plaintiff, the state governments’ decision to set up such panels violated the provisions of section 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Constitution and Section 21 of the Tribunals of Inquiry Act.

It argued that by virtue of the provisions of 241(1)(2)(a) and Item 45, Part 1, First Schedule to the Nigerian Constitution only the Federal Government had exclusive power to “organise, control and administer the Nigeria Police Force”.

It, therefore, urged to, among others, declare that “the establishment of a panel of enquiries by the governors of the various states of the federation of Nigeria, to inquire into the activities of the Nigeria Police Force in relation to the discharge of her statutory duties is a gross violation of the provisions of Section 241 (1)(2) (a) and Item 45, Part 1, First schedule, 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and Section 21 of the tribunals of inquiry Act, Cap.T21, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004”.

The plaintiff also urged the court to declare that “having regard to the circumstances of this case, the attitude of the governors of the various states of the Federation of Nigeria, in this case, is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever”.

It sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the 3rd to 38th defendants (the state Attorneys-General of the 36 states) “from making or conducting any investigations, sittings, and inquiries and/or from making or conducting any further investigations, sittings and inquiries in respect of matters affecting the Nigeria Police Force, and or further setting up any panel of inquiry in any state whatsoever in the country”.

Sun

Gov Dave Umahi: Your Inordinate Ambition Will Destroy You- ADF

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bvichannel1

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December 3, 2020

We in the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) feel greatly alarmed over recent developments in our Region involving the activities of our brother(?) Governor, Chief Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

Although he has never ceased to amaze us with series of actions of his which consistently display character traits similar to those of the late infamous Idi Amin Dada of Uganda. Yet there comes a time we must all stand up against a man whose ambition is to hand over his people as a ransom and for slaughter for the benefit of his personal ambition.

Recall how he has stoutly stood against the setting up of a Regional Security Architecture for our zone; Recall the way, due to the same personal ambition, Gov. Dave Umahi stood against and sabotaged the electoral chances of a ticket involving nwafor Igbo in the 2019 Presidential election; Recall his flirtations and warm embrace of every and any anti-Igbo policy of the Federal Government including the infamous Community Policing Policy of the Federal Authorities, etc, etc. Recently, he led his co-travellers on a trip to Rivers State as if to celebrate the mass killings of our people in Obigbo and other parts of Rivers State.

In recent times, the Alaigbio Development Foundation (ADF) had occasion to cry foul when Gov. Umahi ruthlessly descended on Hon Abia Onyike, a former Commissioner of Ebonyi State and former Deputy National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists for daring to ask question on behalf of good governance in Ebonyi State..

It is indeed with very heavy heart that we watched the media briefing of Gov. Dave Umahi, following the Ebonyi State Security Council Meeting of Nov, 2020. It was like a horror film!
How could any normal person device such a scheme literarily meant to politically and physically wipe out the cream of Ebonyi leadership, nay Igbo leadership?
Look at the names – Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senate President and former Secretary to the Federal Government, Dr Sam Egwu, former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator Obinna Ogba, etc. and look at the frivolous but albeit serious charges he made against them.

Why could Gov. Umahi not have complained to Ebonyi or Igbo leaders of whatever he has against those whom he has levied such serious accusations? Does Gov. Umahi consider the consequences of his accusation on the safety of lives of those he has risen up against?

While the recent Communique Gov. Umahi read on behalf of his colleagues during the visit of President Buhari’s Chief of Staff may be regarded as their personal SURRENDER DECLARATION, his recent unprincipled defection to the APC may be regarded as a celebration of that declaration. But what right has he to cajole and blackmail other Ebonyi leaders to follow him. It does seem that the Governor has no limit to respect any longer and is playing God. Very unfortunate indeed! But must Ndigbo allow one man – Gov Dave Umahi – to continue to put their national destiny in constant jeopardy?

PROFESSOR T. UZODINMA NWALA
ADF PRESIDENT.

Bianca:You Are Misleading The Public – Emeka Ojukwu Jr

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bvichannel1

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December 3, 2020

Chief Emeka Ojukwu Jnr., son of the late Igbo leader, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, yesterday carpeted his father’s wife, Bianca, for allegedly ‘misleading’ the public with “falsehood” in an interview she granted last weekend.

Ojukwu Jnr. also attacked the former Nigeria’s Ambassador to Spain for deriding the Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano, whom she said had not honoured her husband; but instead, uses his name and pictures for political gains.

Emeka, a former Nnewi North Local Government chairman, in a statement made available to newsmen, said that he would have “taken a pass on the insinuations, innuendos and outright falsehoods made in the interview but from the perspective of an insider, decided to present the truth so as to preserve and protect the ideals that his late father and mentor held sacred.

He equally said the truth he is presenting will preserve the good name of Anambra State Governor , Chief Willie Obiano and the reputation of APGA, the party his father bequeathed to Ndigbo and beyond.

The statement by Chief Emeka Ojukwu Jnr made available to newsmen entitled RE:- BIANCA OPENS UP: WHAT OJUKWU TOLD ME ABOUT BIAFRA, NIGERIA; read in part : ‘I would have taken a pass on the insinuations, innuendos and outright falsehoods made in the interview in reference granted to Magnus Eze of the Sun Newspapers on the 29th of November, 2020. However, I find it exigent from the perspective of an insider, to present the truth so as to preserve and protect the ideals that my late father and mentor held sacred, the good name of H.E. Governor Obiano and the reputation of the Party my father bequeathed to us’.

‘Given his standing by birth, heritage, disposition and calling, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu never shied away from fully expressing his feelings, observations and apprehensions. Having trained first as a historian at Oxford University, I find it difficult to accept that he would resort to oral history with all the known attendant pitfalls. As a matter of fact, he documented his views concerning Biafra and Nigeria in books and live interviews for ease of reference. Any attempt therefore, to recast or present his views regarding Biafra or Nigeria without proper references should be considered dead on arrival’.

‘Claims therefore of what the legend told or did not tell the claimant about Biafra/Nigeria, should be regarded as the views of the said claimant, in pursuit of what, I don’t know’.

‘I do not need to be tutored in the proclivities, idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of my late father. As such, I therefore, make bold to state without fear of contradiction that the Dikedioranma Ndigbo I know, never equivocated. If he had something worthwhile to say on a subject, he would have stated it on record and not passed it through any intermediary. He took the challenges of life with equanimity and the brinksmanship that comes with the discipline of elite military training. Having worked for many years closely with Governor Obiano, I can, with the same level of confidence, state unequivocally, that he did not and would not make the disparaging and false statements towards my late father, attributed to him in that article. If you have occasion to speak to him directly, he would confirm the same’.

‘Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu out of altruism and with respect to the love he had for Ndigbo, donated pro bono his identity and image to the All Progressives Grand Alliance for perpetual appropriation and usage. His image remains till date, the oxygen that powers the ideals of APGA. It is therefore preposterous for somebody out there to insinuate that the APGA National Leader and Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano would contemplate and entertain discussion on disconnecting the Party from its lifeline with the claimant of all people. Where? How? When?’.

The statement further stated: ‘Governor Willie Obiano and the National Chairman of APGA, Ozonkpu Victor Oye, can not suddenly wake up as students, taking lessons on the ideals of the political party they hold dear and in trust for Ndigbo from the claimant. After six years plus on the saddle as governor, Chief Willie Obiano is in a position to be teaching party ideals not learning about them’.

‘What I see playing out is frustration occasioned by the reckless, unrestrained, disrespectful expectations of persons who take delight to pontificate on matters about which they know next to nothing. It is most uncharitable to opine that His Excellency Governor Willie Obiano is the leader of a party whose, and I quote: “founding principles, ideology and history he knows next to nothing about”. My humble self as a BOT member and APGA faithful at large are appalled at such false utterances’.

‘Respect and honor must be accorded to whom it is due. If you insist on not respecting the man, respect the office! A governor who among other giant strides, boldly celebrated the posthumous burial rites of all those who lost their lives during the civil war to lay the matter to final rest, deserves commendation not vilification’.

‘In my over half a century in this earth and many years of political life, I understand that sometimes political expediency leads to provocative statements directed at ones perceived antagonists, but to turn November 26th, a date which brings us both, great sorrow for an immeasurable loss, and great pride as we remember a life well lived in heroic defense of a people, into a yearly opportunity to vent and castigate others in order to assuage a personal wound, is to dishonor the man we should be celebrating’.

Source: Odogwu

Ojukwu Memorial Ceremony:Bianca blasts APGA, Obiano, Obi over absence

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bvichannel1

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December 3, 2020

Ojukwu died in 2011 in London, but nine years down the line, the members of Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra and Biafra Independence Movement founded by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike have consistently organised memorial ceremony for Ojukwu.

Widow of Ojukwu, however, regretted that no member of APGA-led Anambra State Government attended the event.

“I want to know if any representative of Anambra State Government or APGA founded by Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu is here for this event?

“It is very clear that neither Anambra government nor APGA sent a representative here today and this has been their attitude in spite of the fact that they use picture of Ojukwu as mascot during political campaigns”, she said.

According to her, APGA controlled Anambra for 16 years and people like Former Governor Peter Obi, incumbent Governor Willie Obiano all used Ojukwu’s name to achieve political fame, yet they no longer look the way of their ex-poliitical leader.

Bianca who praised Uwazuruike for his sincere commitment towards remembering the ideals of her late husband, said the spirit of Ojukwu will continue to guide his path.

The widow of Ojukwu stressed the need for Nigeria government to treat Ndigbo fairly in the distribution of the nation’s resources.

“Inability of government to share political and economic opportunities equitably is what is causing tension and problems in the country.

“Despite this obvious reality, I advise the Igbo to toll the path of peace in your quest for agitating for your due rights and privileges in the Nigeria state,” she said.

Bianca used the medium to call on Igbo people with investments in the Diaspora and other big cities to think home, saying it was because of massive investments outside that some Igbo people do not see reason for Biafra agitation.

Prof. Protus Uzoma, a guest speaker.at the event said though Ojukwu was dead, his memories would live forever in the minds of Igbo people.

Uzoma, a lecturer in the philosophy department, University of Uyo, said Igbo people are blessed with abundant human and material resources.

“If our people have the needed Independence, we will be in the space within five years,” he said.

Others who spoke in the event marked with colourful parade by MASSOB/BIM members and masquerades were Dr Ezechi Chukwu, Imo State, President of Ohaneze and Mr John Nwosu, Lagos based business man from Nnewi who chaired the event.

Others were: the regent of Nri ancient kingdom of Anambra, Prince Ikenna Onyeso, Mrs Mariann Okoro, another guest speaker and Bishop Nathan Azubuike among others.

Source: Odogwu

IPOB Faces Nigeria In Legislative Chambers

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bvichannel1

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December 2, 2020

IPOB opts for restructuring, sends memorandum to NASS ON DECEMBER 2, 2020.

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has disclosed that it sent a memorandum to the National Assembly, requesting for devolution of powers and a restructure of Nigeria into six autonomous regions.

The development was disclosed by the original founder of IPOB, Mr. Emeka Emekesiri in an interview with newsmen on Tuesday in Enugu. Emekesiri said the decision was taken after the IPOB team made several delegations to the British government asking for assistance in restoration of an independent state of Biafra, but was turned down by the former colonial masters.

He said that what the British preferred instead was for devolution of powers into regions as was contained in Nigeria’s 1963 constitution, adding that Britain said it was still interested in Nigeria remaining as one country.

Emekesiri said that the idea of seeking for Britain’s nod in the re-actualization of Biafra was informed after IPOB sought the assistance of other world powers, which insisted that Britain must be consulted and its opinion established before they could wade into the Biafra matter.

According to Emekesiri “In 2018 we opened up discussion with the British government, we met them three times and the last time, they told us clearly that they want Nigeria to be one, they don’t want Nigeria to break up. Britain has maintained its stand, it said it wants Nigeria to remain as one country. “So we asked them how do we solve the problem of incompatibility, people of the north east and west unable to leave harmoniously, killing themselves because of differences of ideology and lifestyle. Worldviews are different, how do we do it so that the clashes will stop? “They asked us for our proposal and said that far as they were concerned they want Nigeria to be one. We were there as Biafrans Living in Nigeria and our Movement is Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN), we are Biafrans in Nigeria.

We had made it clear in our suit versus Nigeria that we are Biafrans living in Nigeria. So we are Nigerians by citizenship, but we are Biafrans in indigenous identity. “We are Biafrians because we were not annihilated during the war and that is clear to both British and Nigeria governments. If Nigeria had annihilated Biafrans the way Romans annihilated Cartage, there wouldn’t have been anybody to talk about Biafra again, but they couldn’t and so we are the remnants of Biafra and we establish our customary government of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in Nigeria. “So we approached the British government as Biafrans in Nigeria who surrounded their sovereignty to Nigeria and whose indigenous identity cannot be denied, we are who we are.

The British said fine, what do you want? We came back to consult our elders and we drafted a memorandum to be submitted to the British parliament. “We sat down with elders and said we can’t fight with Britain as world power but that we can as well copy the British nations of nation model that maintain their indigenous identities such as Wales, England, Scotland and Ireland. We went to the British archives and got the British government policy of 1969 and used it to draft a memorandum which we presented to Britain. “In the memorandum, we accepted that Nigeria should remain one, but that the model as it is in Britain, let be also in Nigeria. The Britain is four nations in one, in Nigeria we want six in one and that is the South East, the South-South, the South West, the North Central, the North West and the North East, that the six geopolitical regions shall now become six nations in one Nigeria and every nation will govern itself in one Nigeria; control your resources, develop at your own pace and we pay an agreed percentage tax to the centre. “That is the issue of devolution of power or regional government or restructuring that we are talking about now. The politicians call it restructuring but we the Biafra activists are calling it devolution of power to the regions. Ohanaeze Ndigbo raised this issue on June 28 2012 and sent it to the National Assembly, Nigeria government sat on it and refused to implement it and said it will “However, our meeting with the British government paid off and I was not surprised few months ago when I saw a notice from the Senate that it wanted to amend the Nigeria constitution and in the list, item two talked about restructuring and devolution of powers which is our prayer seven in our originating summon already in court. But without prejudice, we prepared our memorandum and filed it with the Senate. “So the Biafra memorandum for devolution of power to regions is currently with the senate.

So, any moment from now when the hearing begins we shall go for the public hearing and defend our proposal. This is the first time in the history of Biafra struggle that the Biafra memorandum has been officially submitted to the Nigerian National Assembly. “You know you can stay on the street and make noise on the street but at the end of the day, there has to be some documentation to sign and not on the street. “You have to go to where it matters and right now, the memorandum for devolution of power submitted by the Biafra activists is right now before the senate. That is where we are now and we are waiting.” Biafra existed 500 yrs before Nigeria was created — Emekesiri, original founder of IPOB

Fraud In IPPIS: Reps Set To Probe Finance Ministry,Others

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bvichannel1

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December 2, 2020

The House of Representatives on Tuesday set up an inquiry into allegations that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, was riddled with fraud and irregularities which had led to the non-payment of salaries and allowances of Federal Civil Servants.

The Public Accounts Committee of the House, initiated the inquest in the course of engaging tertiary institutions and other agencies on their financial audit reports for 2018-2019.

The Committee members expressed worry over what they called leakages and sharp practices that they said were observed in the course of their earlier engagement with other agencies, particularly, the J.S. Tarkar University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State.

The Chairman of the Committee, Oluwole Oke gave the ruling while drilling the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, Zubair Mustapha on the expenditure and financial audit reports of the tertiary institution, for the years 2018 and 2019.

The Rector of the school, told the Committee, that pending salaries for the years under review, were due to anomalies in the IPPIS, a salary payment system introduced by the President Muhammadu Buhari Government in 2017.

He added that the backlog of salaries are from people who were not captured by IPPIS.

In a swift response, the Lawmakers said that the IPPIS must be investigated, to detect some of the irregularities seen in the system.

The Committee resolved to write the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmad and the Accountant General of the Federation, to explain alleged sleaze, in the federal staff payment system.

The Committee also summoned the External Auditors of the Accounts of Auchi Polytechnic, over discrepancies in the audited reports of the school, for 2018-2019.

The Rector of the school, who claimed that the institution, generated only 1.91billion naira in 2019, however failed to give detailed and technical breakdown of the expenditure of the money and audits of the accounts.

Representatives of the Office of the Auditor of the Federation, Anthony Ayine at the investigative Hearing also strongly rejected his presentation before the Committee.

Consequently, the Committee placed the Institution on status of inquiry in order to determine it’s financial status.

Buhari Must Resign Now- Northern Elders

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December 2, 2020

…Insists life has no value under him

The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has demanded the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari following the mounting security challenges in the country with the government appearing helpless.

The Forum also expressed outrage over the massacre of Borno rice farmers, saying life has no value under Buhari’s administration.

It added that, “In civilized nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign.”

The Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Forum, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, in a statement issued Tuesday, described the response by the President’s spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, as ‘most insensitive’.

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The forum said it had consistently drawn attention to lack of political will to fight the Boko Haram insurgency and other threats such as banditry, rustling and kidnapping.

It added that it had offered suggestions on how the security infrastructure could be improved and leadership of the military could be made more effective.

NEF said obviously, despite advice and concerns from many other Nigerians, these had made no impression on President Buhari.

It stated: “Northern Elders Forum (NEF) joins Nigerians in expressing outrage at the killings of farmers in Borno State and many other people on a daily basis in many parts of the North. Our voices have been raised without pause for a long time against pervasive insecurity in our region.

“These particular killings have been greeted by the most insensitive response by spokespersons of the President. The lame excuse that farmers had not sought permission from the military to harvest produce merely expose the misleading claims that our military had secured vast territories from the insurgency.”

“Under this administration, life has lost its value, and more and more citizens are coming under the influence of criminals. We do not see any evidence of a willingness on the part of President Buhari to honour his oath to provide security over Nigerians.

“In civilized nations, leaders who fail so spectacularly to provide security will do the honourable thing and resign,” it added.

The Forum pointed out that these killings and the reality they expose would make relocation of citizens and resumption of economic activities a lot more difficult to achieve even for a leadership that attaches priority to them, adding this administration does not.

It noted that elsewhere in many parts of the North, many farming communities had not been allowed by bandits and kidnappers to plant crops.

It said those who did were being prevented from harvesting by these same criminals, adding that the prospects for famine are real in the face of limited production of food in many of our communities.

Source ; Journalist 101

Police Officers Carry Bags For Governors Wife- El-Rufai

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December 2, 2020

Instead Of Fighting Bandits, Police Become Errand Boys For VIP Wives – El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has lamented that a sizeable number of officers of the Nigeria Police Force who should be fighting criminal elements in the country are involved in non-police duties like carrying the bags of the wives of Very Important Personalities.

El-Rufai said he is frustrated over the killings in his state, adding that the situation at hand has overwhelmed the police.

He urged the National Assembly to see to the amendment of the Nigerian Constitution to give states control of the police.

The governor argued that the state governments are presently responsible for the day-to-day operational cost of the police, insisting that the states have the capacity to run the police.

El-Rufai spoke on Monday night while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme .

He said, “We’ve always made a very strong argument that one centralised police in a federation does not work. Nigeria is the only country in the world that is a federation that has only one police force.

“We have made the argument that states should be allowed to have their own police and that even local governments should be allowed to have their own community policing.

“The number of policemen we have in Nigeria is inadequate; it is less than half of what we need and a lot of them are engaged in non-police duties like carrying the handbags of the wives of very important people.

“We need to have a large footprint of policing in Nigeria and the only way to achieve that in a fast-track manner is to amend the constitution and put police on the concurrent list as recommended by the APC True Federalism Committee so that we have more policing.

“In any case today, more state governments are responsible for the running cost of the police. The Federal Government only pays the salaries of the policemen but the running cost, the logistics, their vehicles, their fuel are all the responsibilities of state governments.

“So, what are we afraid of? Let us just amend the constitution and allow state policing and in fact, go further and allow the local governments to have their own police. That way, we will have more security footprints.”

There are over 300,000 policemen in the country but a number of them are attached to VIPs and government officials.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in an apparent move to boost the Force responsiveness to crime, had earlier in the month ordered the withdrawal of police personnel attached to 60 VIPs.

Source: Punch