Why we'll probe only Jonathan's govt — Buhari

 

•Says it'll be a distraction to go beyond immediate past govt

The Presidency, yesterday, said President Muhammadu Buhari will limit his probe to the immediate past government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan. President Buhari had vowed, Wednesday, to arrest and prosecute former ministers and government officials who looted funds and stole Nigeria’s crude oil.

Buhari, who said the suspected officials stashed the funds in foreign bank accounts, spoke during his three-day visit to the United States.

The Presidency which said yesterday that there were trails of monumental fraud everywhere that would be too difficult to ignore, however, explained that it will be a distraction to exceed Jonathan’s regime.

Friendship and agreement broken

Before leaving office, former president Jonathan had said any probe by the new government would be seen as a “witch-hunt” if it fails to go beyond his administration. The Presidency, however, argued that it was not a witch-hunt.

Speaking in an exclusive telephone chat, yesterday, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said the probe was the proper thing to do.

His words: “It is a simple thing. Before he was inaugurated, the President said that it will be a distraction for him to start digging deep into past governments. He said so. I don’t see anything new. But it will be irresponsible of any government to leave things of the immediate past that are glaring and evident and not do anything about it.

“It is not a witch-hunt. You have evidence and they are glaring. A responsible government should do something about it. It is not about the former president. It is about how they acquitted themselves in the responsibility they were given. When you are given a public responsibility, you are responsible to the people.

“You must account. When you bury a corpse and the legs are sticking out, have you buried the corpse? No. Once there are trails of money, in dollars everywhere, a responsible government should investigate. It is not as if they are witch-hunting anybody”, he said.

We are not against it— PDP

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has said it was not against President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to single out the past administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for probe.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Olisa Metuh, who stated this yesterday in Lokoja during the conduct of the state's delegates congress of the party, said the probe is in line with the party (PDP)’s stand against corruption.

Metuh said: “Corruption is not only a crime against President Muhammed Buhari, nor is it a crime against the All Progressive Congress. Corruption is against the interest of mankind and it's against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“If President Buhari singled out the past administration and PDP members for probe, so be it. We are not against it. If one is not guilty he has nothing to be afraid of if he or she is singled out; at the end, it will amount to vindication for such persons. Only the guilty will be afraid.

“We (PDP) are not against the selective probe of our members because we, as a party, are against corruption, and this will show that we abhor it. We only urge that the probing is done with ‘clean’ mind and not out to villify the past administration”.

Metuh had during the week accused the Federal Government of treating the PDP as ‘prisoners of war’ in view of the way the party members were being treated.

Buhari will lose credibility if he fails — Gbagi

Also, ex-Minister of State for Education, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, said: "Buhari will lose credibility if he does not bring to book any former minister and any one found to have embezzled the wealth of this nation. It is very important because he has the credibility and the world is watching him. He has to do that because the amount of money that these people stole is so much and can be used to perpetuate criminal activities. Buhari’s searchlight should not be limited to ministers who were involved in oil deals only.

"Anyone found to have robbed this country of its resources should be brought to book according to the law. I must also state that Buhari has no powers under the law to shield anyone from prosecution. He must ensure that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption because if he excludes anyone, some of us who have been in the campaign for accountable governance will be forced to seek asylum outside the country, because we will not be safe in a country where corrupt people are institutionally shielded from prosecution. He has the support of Nigerians to embark on the probe because so much was stolen in this country. I also want the President to make sure that our international friends are committed to this task. That should be done by making them repatriate our stolen wealth in their respective countries. We need their support to achieve the desired result."

We should commend Buhari for his courage

– Mohammed

In his response, Second Republic lawmaker, Dr Junaid Mohammed said Nigerians must admit that President Buhari’s decision to probe oil theft is a good example of leadership courage.

He said:

“We must commend him for that decision because what he is talking about, other former presidents like Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan knew about it but did nothing to stop it. What Buhari has said is not only common to the political class or ministers, it is also known to common people in the Niger Delta and other areas where oil is found and oil is stolen.

“Oil theft has been happening for so long and to even control it is a big task because some people in the Niger Delta can tell you who and who among the elite are stealing this crude; military and politicians who are into this oil bunkering and are directly involved. Buhari has only assented to it as a matter of courage and I am glad he said he will investigate, probe and prosecute the people behind oil theft.”

Mohammed added: “I must also say that people complaining that too many probes are taking place should be very careful. Nigerians need to know, you cannot eat your cake and have it. Nigerians need to give time so that things can be properly investigated because oil theft has taken place for so long. So it is now left for Nigerians whether they want the truthfulness and straightforwardness of Buhari or not because there are no two ways about it. If you have to know how our money was packed in billions out of this country, then some of these probes must take place.”

I’m not interested in probes

— Babatope

In his reaction, a former Minister of Transport, Chief Ebenezer Babatope said: "I don’t have interest in the probes. I am an Awolowo son and we have different approach to such issues."

Husband seeks dissolution of 11-yr-old marriage

A 53-year-old man, Mr Bankole Agbetuyi, on Tuesday urged an Ado-Ekiti Customary Court to dissolve his 11-year-old marriage to his wife, Bukola.
We gathered that Bankole is seeking the dissolution on grounds of battery, keeping late nights as well as lack of respect for his family and care for the children.
The father of two told the court that he had been cooking for himself and the children because his wife was always keeping late nights.
He also urged the court to grant him the custody of the children.
Bukola, however, denied the allegations leveled against her, saying that her husband was in the habit of beating her always based on flimsy excuses.
She said that her husband sent her and the children out of the house, saying he would set ablaze her belongings.
The 35-year-old urged the court to grant her the custody of the children, saying her husband could not pay their school fees.
The President of the Court, Mr Joseph Ogunsemi, adjourned the case till Aug. 24 for judgment.

Boat Mishap: LASWA recovers bodies of two female passengers

The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) today said it had recovered the bodies of two female victims involved in a boat mishap on Saturday at Ojo.

We gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday in the creeks in Ojo Local Government Area of the state.

The motorised boat was reported to have been conveying 10 passengers who were said to be returning from a party.

Mr Yinka Marinho, the Managing Director of LASWA identified the victims as Temitope Bolarin-Ajayi and Princess Cythia John.

Marinho said that the two ladies were the only causalities.

``On the 20th July 2015 about 0830hrs, LASWA patrol team resumed to the point of incident.

``The dead bodies of the two missing ladies were found floating and pulled out of the water.

``The family members of the deceased were on ground with Mr Olukayode Are, Investigating Police Officer of Irewe Police Command, to identify the bodies,'' Marinho said.

He further said that police command informed the agency that the case had been transferred to the Marine Police at Onikan.

Marinho further disclosed that the mishap was caused by ``reckless driving, lack of life jackets, night travel and coupled with the fact that the captain of the motorized boat was under the influence of alcohol.

``The Captain of the boat (Ola Ayodele), the celebrant (Temitope Omidele) and an invitee/ survivor (Grace Bidoye) are currently in the custody of the Marine Police Head Office Onikan,'' he said.

Marinho added that the ill-fated boat had been impounded by the agency.

Buhari result is a fraud — PDP

The PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation has expressed doubt over the recently released Secondary School Certificate Result of Gen. Mohammad Buhari, the APC Presidential Candidate.

The party described it as a super imposition of documents.

Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, Director of the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the organsation, expressed the doubt at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.

He said the result, released on Jan. 21, after controversies surrounding Buhari`s academic qualifications and his eligibility to contest the presidency in Feb. 14, was a fraud.

It will be recalled that hours after Buhari’s press conference in Kaduna, some documents appeared on various media platforms said to be the result released by his old school.

Fani-Kayode said that rather than providing a conclusive proof that Buhari possessed the minimum qualification to contest the presidency, he went into a session of ‘blame game.’

Buhari

According to him, Buhari is shifting what ordinarily ought to be his personal responsibility to his alleged old school: the Provisional Secondary School Katsina, now Government College, Katsina.

``It is unfortunate that the more Gen. Buhari tries to extricate himself from the crisis, the more he stumbles into a new phase in the unfolding narrative of his obvious complicity’’, he said.

Fani-Kayode said the development bordered on perjury, adding that it had again called Buhari`s avowed integrity to question.

He added that the directorate had carefully studied the purported statement of result, signed by the school’s principal and an examination officer and observed that it was a clear super imposition.

``The result sheet which was attributed to the Cambridge examination body, is clearly a super imposition of one document on another’’, he said.

He explained that the column which lined on the part where names were printed did not align with the blank columns adding that there was an introduction of extraneous lines on some other columns.

He added that the documents contained an obvious alteration on the Mathematics column of the candidate, Mohamed Buhari, who was assumed to have scored an ``F” in the subject.

This, he said, raised a fundamental issue of validity in view of the fact that the accompanying result sheet stated that any alteration or erasure rendered the statement of result invalid.

``Our conclusion from all these is that the documents purportedly released by Government College, Katsina, are forged’’, he said.

He said that Buhari could not use the result ``to bury the doubt about his eligibility for next month’s election as APC Presidential candidate.’’

Buhari pledges to restructure Army, Police, if elected

Meanwhile, the Presidential flag-bearer of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has promised to restructure the Nigeria Army and Police, if elected.

Buhari made the promise on Thursday in Gusau at the inauguration of his campaign.

He said that his plan, if materialised, would boost the efforts of the two security institutions to battle insurgency with renewed vigour.

Buhari said that the need to restructure the army and police became necessary because the enemies had become more and highly sophisticated in the use of weapons.

"Our Army and Police will be highly equipped with all the required weapons, educated and uneducated youths will be employed through different programmes that will be created by our administration.

"We will rebuild our educational system and employ youths not on sentiment and god-fatherism.

‘We will as well find ways of restrengthening the country's economy."

He called on the youth to remain vigilant but maintain peace during and after the elections so as to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the country.

The chieftains of the party, including its National Chairman, Mr John Oyegun, and Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, Buhari’s running mate, attended the occasion.

Others were Alhaji Kawu Baraje, Zamfara Governor, Alhaji Abdul'aziz Yar,i and Senator representing Zamfara-West, Alhaji Ahmad Yarima, among others.

Adadama/Amagu war:Another bloodbath looms

By Ishola Balogun

A full scale war is brewing between the people of Adadama Community in Abi Local government area of Cross River State and Ndiagu Amagu Community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State over land disputes. Before now, about 35 people have been killed, including a Ph.D student and a Youth Corps member beheaded recently by militants who invaded the community.

As at press time, there were reports that the Amagus were allegedly planning another attack on the Adadama community, causing mass exodus from the community. The Amagu and Adadama communities have been embroiled in a land dispute for more than 50 years. Since the recent hostilities in the area broke out, hundreds of lives have been lost while properties worth billions of Naira have been lost.

The Secretary of the Traditional Rulers’ council of Adadama, Chief James Ekoro Edu who spoke with Saturday Vanguard said the community had petitioned the Presidency, urging President Jonathan including security agencies to come to their aid to avert another looming bloodshed.

We got to know of their plans and we have written a letter to President Jonathan and of course, we want the whole world to know what is going on,” he stated.

Speaking to Saturday Vanguard, Chief Ekoro said; “they have chased us out of our farmland, they have overpowered us with their numerical strength and wealth. But we will not succumb to this gross injustice”

According to him, “The security men including soldiers mounted in the Buka zone have been withdrawn exposing us to our enemies.”

In a letter to President Jonathan signed by His Royal Highness, Eval Fidelis Ikor Addu, Chief James Ekoro Edu and other chiefs in the community, it reads:

“On behalf of the traditional rulers’ council of Adadama, we write to draw your attention Your Excellency to the killing of innocent, harmless and voiceless men, women and children by trigger-hungry hired mercenaries from Ikwo Local Government Area (LGA) of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, which started Monday, January 14 – 15, and on Saturday, January 19, 2013 respectively. There was a repeat of the ugly incident in February 14th, March 16thand March 18th, when Chief Edu Nteh’s wife, late Mrs. Catherine Edu Nteh was whisked from her farmland, and again on the 2nd of September, 2013. A total of 16 dead bodies were recovered and five women kidnapped till date.”

“In fact, the September killing actually compelled His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. (Dr.) Liyel Imoke CON to visit Adadama Community, September 18th, 2013. Perhaps, touched by what he saw and heard on his visit to Adadama Community, Governor Imoke promised our people a peaceful and lasting solution to the crisis. Unfortunately, this is exactly 14 months after his visit and nothing has happened up till this very moment. What we hear rather is that the Federal Government is bringing a Police Academy to be sited at the disputed area.

“Interestingly, the Amagus’ of Ikwo Local Government Area in Ebonyi State again beheaded in cold blood the only daughter of our traditional ruler and a serving Youth Corps member, Princess Emame Fidelis I. Addu on May 1st this year. The killing of the Corps member (Princess) led to the withdrawal of all serving Youth Corps members from Adadama community. And not only that, the Amagus’ and their mercenaries are now using Guerrilla tactics to kill innocent and harmless Adadama women as they go to harvest cassava and other crops in their farms. Your Excellency, between May and October, 2014; three women have been beheaded; the last two being Mrs Bassey Ajayi Edu and Mrs Grace Emmanuel Lebo on the 10th of October.

Apart from the alleged orchestrated attack, Chief Ekoro also stated that there were lingering claims that some powerful individuals in Ebonyi have vowed to either annex Adadama Community land or use all resources at their disposal to exterminate the people of Adadama Community.

He said: “The threat seems to be working for them going by what their people are doing. The fact that the Amagus went and cultivated crops in the portion of land that government marked as a ‘No Go Area’ with a standing order that nobody should do anything on it is a pointer to the fact that some powerful individuals are behind this invasion,” he said.

“We are a peace loving people and we have cohabited with the Okpitomos of Ikwo for over 2000 years without a glitch, until the Amagus came from nowhere to reside where they are today. Interestingly, they attempted their mischief in 2001 by exhuming the beacon stone laid by G. G. Shute along the old South Eastern region in 1920 on the flank they are living today”.

On what the Governor Liyel Imoke is doing about the issue, Ekoro said the government seems lame and inactive because of her peaceful and gentle approach to issues.

He stated that the story of the oil rich Bakassi peninsular might repeat itself, if something was not done to bring peace and normalcy to the area.

“We crave your special indulgence to intervene expeditiously because innocent people are often the victims. We hope that the sonorous cries of our people who with Dane guns and cutlasses have to confront hired mercenaries from Ikwo in Ebonyi State armed with sophisticated weapons will prompt you into quick action. We need to also bring to your notice that the several hundreds of innocent women, children are displaced, currently facing the challenge of food and materials,” Chief Ekoro cried.

Traffic gridlock along Lagos-Benin Expressway on Thursday, 16/10/2014

Protesting physically challenged persons besiege Bayelsa House of Assembly gate on Thursday