Buhari’s declaration: Agbakoba foresees upsets in 2019

A leader of the National Intervention Movement (NIM) Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) on Tuesday said there could be “upsets” in next year’s general elections.

Reacting to President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration to seek to re-election, Agbakoba told The Nation that it was within the President’s rights to do so.

He said it was left for Nigerians to decide if the President deserves a second term.

On what he thought about Buhari’s declaration, Agbakoba said: “It’s his constitutional entitlement but what really matters is whether this means he will be re-elected is an entirely different matter as this will be decided by Nigerians.”

Agbakoba, a civil rights activist and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, said discussions were ongoing with a view to presenting a credible candidate who can match Buhari.

He predicted that next year’s general elections would be competitive.

On whether there is a credible candidate who can successfully challenge Buhari, Agbakoba said: “That’s to be taken for granted.”

He added: “I am aware there are massive consultations and alignments underway throughout Nigeria and very credible candidates will emerge to make the elections competitive and with strong possibility for upsets across Nigeria.”

Another activist lawyer, Mr Toluwani Adebiyi, said Buhari’s decision to seek reelection was “good for Nigeria”.

According to him, the President’s honesty and discipline make him the best candidate, adding that a victory for the opposition party would take Nigeria backwards.

Adebiyi said: “Buhari’s second coming is good for Nigeria. There are two things he possesses: discipline and honesty, rare qualities in present Nigeria Leaders. We need them and we will continue to need them.

“No doubt he has made some economic restructuring and diversification, benefits of which may not manifest until later years.

“Let him come back to reap and use what he had sowed and the looted money he had recovered for the betterment of Nigeria.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) coming back will only be to loot/waste the money recovered. It will be a reign of revenge.

“Honesty and discipline cannot be acquired; they are inborn. No PDP leader has such qualities. They will only take us back and down the drain in a despicable form that Nigeria may never find recovery.” - The Nation

Six feared dead after violent cult clash in Ogun

At least six people are feared dead in a bloody fight between two rival cults late Sunday and on Monday morning in Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun.

Among the victims are a bricklayer and a family of three, who were caught up in the crossfire between the rival groups.

Eyewitnesses told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the melee broke out shortly after two separate political meetings between rival political groups ahead of the 2019 general elections at the local government secretariat.

Four persons were allegedly shot dead during the clash, while two additional victims got killed in a pre-dawn reprisal on Monday.

The fight, which began at 5.30 p.m. on Sunday at Oke Sopen Road spilled over to Oke Agbo and Ojowo areas with gunshots fired intermittently.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the joint taskforce of security operatives had been deployed to restore calm to the area.

Oyeyemi assured residents that the situation had been brought under control and advised them not to panic.

“As soon as we got wind of the situation, special forces were dispatched to the location to restore calm and as we speak, the security personnel are on alert to prevent a recurrence.

“We will ensure that the perpetrators are all brought to book. We want to also assure residents that they need not be afraid. We are on top of the situation,” he said. - Daily Post

Libraries in poor state, turned to social events centres

Some libraries in the country have been turned into social event centres to generate revenue for basic maintenance following decades of neglect, a survey by our reporter has shown.

Our correspondents, who visited some libraries in some states in North-Central Nigeria, observed that many of them were desolate with neither workers nor readers on sight.

At the National Library in Jos, our reporter  observed that weeds had taken over the vicinity, while a part of the fence had collapsed.

Our reporter  also saw banners of various events slated to be held at the expansive premises of the library.

Miss Ruth Davou, a teacher, whose residence is a few metres away from the facility, told our reporter that the library was always used for wedding receptions on Saturdays.

“From what I have heard, many people prefer to hold the wedding receptions in the library premises because the charges are cheap.

“A friend of mine, who held her wedding reception here in March, paid N15,000. I think that is cheap and affordable,’’ she said.

Davou said that the library had been “quite lonely’’ for a very long time, and expressed surprise that wedding receptions had become a daily routine at the premises.

“Ìn the past, most readers preferred to visit the libraries on Saturdays because that is the best day for research activities.

“The situation is different now because instead of the quiet Saturdays, we now have noisy Saturdays in the neighbourhood,’’ she said.

She advised the Federal Government to fund the libraries to make them assets to people searching for knowledge.

Efforts to speak with the management of the library proved abortive, but a security personnel, who craved anonymity, claimed that the workers had been on strike “for some time now”.

Miss Wandoo Mac-Ikpah, a 400-level Mass Communication student of the University of Jos, equally has expressed disappointment at the poor state of the national library, but added that the university library was not any better.

“I used to visit the National Library when it was functional, but I stopped at a point because most of the books there are outdated.

“I prefer to use facilities at the cyber café even though the internet connectivity is usually epileptic.

“ Since fire gutted our school’s general library last year, we have been patronizing the smaller library at the main campus of the university, but it does not have materials we require for modern researches,’’ she said.

She said that the institution had often offered lessons on how to use the library but that using the school library had proved rather difficult because it lacked basic infrastructure like chairs, tables and a strong network to access materials through the internet.

She further said that the computers were grossly inadequate and hardly sufficient to meet the rising needs of the students.

Like Mac-Ikpah, many other library users and managers in Minna, Niger State, have decried the state of libraries in Nigeria and called for improved funding for the sector in view of its relevance to intellectual growth.

Mr Makji Dajwal, a lecturer in the information and library science department of a Polytechnic, while decrying the state of dilapidated reading structures in some public libraries, accused government and the private sector of abandoning the libraries.

“The situation is worse in the rural areas. There, no one cares about the libraries at all. I find the situation appalling,’’ he said.

“Some libraries have electronic and media equipment but a lot of the items are outdated; the Niger State Public Library Board has logistical support for mobile library initiatives in rural settings but this initiative is yet to take off,’’ he said.

He said that the state library was more lively with an average of 100 regular users weekly, but lamented that the state lacked adequate public library legislation.

“The most shocking aspect is that the state does not even recognise the Nigerian Library Association,’’ he said..

Dajwal called for technical support, especially in the areasof electronic libraries and new library technologies.

He also suggested an urgent need to review the Library and Information Science Curriculum in library schools to meet the needs of the 21st century library and information science worker.

A post-graduate student, Miss Deborah Yunusa, however attributes the collapse in library services to the lack of current materials and basic infrastructure in the libraries.

“If we want to resuscitate our libraries, we must create a serene environment for library services

“ An enabling environment is necessary to get satisfaction when using the libraries. Those concerned should renovate the structures and also organize capacity building for library workers to improve service delivery,’’ she said.

She however, expressed the hope that libraries in the country would soon become active in view of the recent announcement by Prof.  Lenrie Aina, the National Librarian, that the federal government had approved N1.8 billion for the expansion and renovation of national libraries nationwide.

Meanwhile, Miss Doorshima Iorchir, a 100 level student of Benue State University, Makurdi, has applauded the institution for giving adequate orientation to its new students on how to use the library.

“Aside the orientation exercise, the institution also has a course dedicated to the use of library for research and other academic activities. I find this very encouraging,’’ he said.

Mr Donald Hile, a lecturer in the Department of Physics, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, also says he is happy at the state of ibraries in the institution.

“The institution has a good and functional library with qualitative facilities.

“The library has quality books and is equipped with modern communication gadgets,’’ he added

The lecturer challenged the students to access facilities at the library to ease discoveries in their various disciplines and be abreast of current trends in their areas of study.

But while the libraries in the school are encouraging, the situation is different in other parts of Benue.

Mr Damian Daga, a writer based in Makurdi, told NAN that the libraries in the state were not good for people seeking to consult them for their researches.

“The association of authors has been making frantic efforts to ensure that libraries do not lack current books. We have been trying to ensure that those seeking information are not disappointed.

“We have engaged ourselves in researches so as to come out with quality books because they are very scarce in the libraries,’’ he said. 

Bribery !!! How bribe-seeking SARS officers confined Lagos-based writer to toilet for hours

If Immanuel Ibe-Anyawu had not hurriedly made that Facebook post from where he hid inside a toilet bank, he might have ended up in the dungeon of the gun-wielding men of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS).

Ibe-Anyawu’s phone was running out of power, around 2pm on Monday, when he made a post on Facebook: “I was accosted by SARS officers at Ago-Palace, Okota, opposite Zenith Bank. They humiliated me and accused me of being a fraudster. Checked my documents and found nothing, and then said I should follow them back to my office in Ikoyi to confirm my claims. People intervened. I called the PPRO of Lagos State and he asked to speak with them. They took the phone and seized it. They are still holding my documents.

Later one called me aside and asked me to go arrange money. I asked for my phone to let me make a transfer to my ATM account and he gave me. I took the phone and card and went into the bank and have gone into hiding here. I’m updating from my hiding place. They are waiting for me by my car. Phone battery down. Please share.”

Hours later, Ibe-Anyawu’s post had gone viral and a couple of his friends had started calling on the police authorities to intervene.

The victim, a writer, on Tuesday, narrated how it all happened.

“It was past 2pm yesterday and I was at Zenith Bank Okota Branch to submit a document prepared on my company letterhead. I was asked to edit a part of it and resubmit. Because I wanted to conclude the transaction same yesterday, I had to go look for a business center around to type in the edit. Across the bank was one and, as I walked towards it, a young, scruffy-looking man accosted me, saying he was a police officer. His superiors wanted to see me inside a bus waiting around, he said. He was slightly bearded and on mufti, so I was skeptical. I asked for his ID card and he unhooked it from his waist and showed me. The prints were tiny and blurred, so I reached out to collect it and read properly. ‘So you want to snatch my ID card,’ he shouted.

“He took from me the PLANEX-branded envelope containing plain letterheads and other documents, and walked towards the bus, asking me to come along. Right away I made a call to my brother, Ekene Okoro, and briefed him. By the time I got to the bus, the story had changed: that I snatched his ID card from him. They were about 7 armed men, and one of them started interrogating me.

Why did I choose to use this branch of Zenith Bank instead of the one close to my office in Ikoyi? Where is the other director of PLANEX? Why was the document I was to edit not stamped with my company stamp? Dismissing all my answers, he said they would take me to my office in Ikoyi to confirm. That he knew people on that street and had just spoken to them, and they couldn’t identify me. Speak to my office landlady, I said. He ignored me.

“At that point, I stepped aside and called the Lagos PPRO and narrated my experience. He asked me to pass on the phone to them and they took the phone from me, cut the call, and seized the phone. I became scared and started inviting passers-by into the argument and people gathered. One man intervened and begged them a lot and they calmed down, though insisting that they would still take me away anyway. Then they asked to search my car, parked outside the bank premises and I let them.

Finding nothing, they took my ID card and demanded my car key and car documents. I had to corner their leader to a side and beg him, telling him he was like a father to me and should appeal to his men. His men were almost going violent but he kept calming them down. He told me to go arrange some money and I told him I needed the phone to transfer money from the corporate account to my ATM account. I needed the car key too to get the ATM card. On my way to the ATM, the one who arrested me asked me how much I was going to withdraw. I told him N5,000 and he flared up.”

Ibe-Anyawu, instead of returning to the policemen went into the bank, entered the toilet and hid for hours.

The bank was going to close, and he had thought the SARS officers would have left.

“The bank policeman said I should leave the bank, that the bank was not the place for people to hide. So he eased me out of the bank and, outside where my car was parked, I noticed the number plates had been taken away. The SARS bus was no longer around so I assumed they had left,” he explained.

“I got into my car and plugged my phone desperate to reach people. As soon as I started the car and moved, the SARS bus came from nowhere and double-crossed me. I turned swiftly facing the bank gate and blocking it, hooting crazily to draw attention and for the bank security to let me in. The bank security, on the order of their skeptical policeman, refused me entry, leaving me out for SARS to devour. It is a branch I have frequented for over 10 years, visiting there almost weekly. SARS people jumped out of their bus and started banging on my car windows. One attempted to puncture the tyre but that superior asked him not to. My phone was still yet to come on, heightening my fear. It was the longest moment of my life, as I was surrounded by 7 armed policemen who had patiently waited for me for over 2 hours.

They ordered me to wind down but I wouldn’t and a crowd began to gather. They stepped aside, speaking to the bank policeman. The bank policeman later came to me and asked me to wind down, that he had spoken to them, and that I should leave even outside the bank premises where all this was happening. The management had asked him to chase me away, he said, adding that the bank was not the place for me. Shouting through shut windows, I pleaded with him to let my phone come on so help could reach me. He threatened to use force on me if I didn’t leave that very minute. I steered out of the gate and parked in the outside parking lot, still locked up in the car.

“They came back to me again, SARS, asking me to wind down, and I pretended to be making a phone call. One was impatient and wanted to smash the glass. Their superior who had been soft all along got angry and dumped the number plates and documents on my bonnet and stormed out. The others followed him, entered their bus, and they drove ahead and waited. I was scared that they were still waiting along the same road I was to take, so I remained in the car. The bank policeman came back again, fuming, banging on the car and urging me to leave. I had to take the opposite direction amid a slow-moving traffic, driving insanely cutting through the traffic until I found a free road which was in the opposite direction to my house. I fled, literally.”

The erring police officers have, reportedly, been arrested.

But, Chike Oti, the Lagos command police public relations officer could not immediately confirm this when TheCable reached out to him. “Please call me back,” he told our correspondent.

However, Ibe-Anyawu said he has been called by the police authorities to come and identify the men who harassed him. “I am on my way to the Lagos police command in Ikeja. I was called that the men are in custody and I should come and identify them,” he told TheCable on Tuesday.

In December, 2017, Nigerians started a campaign to end SARS and police brutality. - Cable Nigeria

INEC: Politicians gave voters N5000 each in Ondo, Anambra — but it won’t happen in Ekiti

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned candidates contesting the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti state against inducing voters with cash.

Mahmood Yakubu, chairman of the commission, gave the warning at a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Monday.

He said the commission was working with law enforcement agents to prevent vote buying during the poll.

Yakubu was represented by Solomon Soyebi, INEC national chairman in charge of Oyo Ekiti, Osun and Ondo states.

“The elections in Edo, Ondo and Anambra states were largely monetised. We are aware of this. It was see and buy, but we promise you, it won’t happen in Ekiti,” he said.

“It was N5,000 per vote in Ondo and Anambra states. We are working with security agencies not to allow it to happen again. We even seized some cash in Anambra state.

“In Ekiti election, we won’t allow any vehicle to come near the polling units because the politicians used to keep the money in the booth. With this, it will reduce because politicians can’t carry large amount in their pockets.”

The INEC chairman gave the assurance that INEC would be neutral in the election, urging the stakeholders to work hard to mobilise the people for the continuous registration exercise and also claim the over 200,000 permanent voter cards that were still with the commission. - Cable Nigeria

Like father like son !! EFCC re-arraigns Dariye’s son over alleged money laundering

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday in Abuja, re-arraigned Nanle Dariye, son of former Plateau governor, Sen. Joshua Dariye, on a six-count amended charge of money laundering.

The the total sum in question is about N1.5 billion.

Dariye who was re-arraigned before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu at the Federal High Court, Abuja, entered a “not guilty” plea to all six-counts.

When the matter was called, the prosecuting counsel, Mr George Adebola said that the matter was for re-arraignment and prayed the court to read the charge to the defendant to take his plea.

Justice Ojukwu adjourned the matter until April 27 and May 10 for commencement of trial.

It will be recalled that the EFCC had first arraigned Dariye on Feb. 27 on the same charges alongside Apartment le Paradis, a hotel where he was a director.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the defendant sometime in 2013, failed to report a cash transaction to the tune of about N1.5 billion which he received through the hotel’s account in one of the old generation banks.

It said that the amount was above the threshold of the N10 million permissible by law and that the hotel was also not registered as Designated Non-Financial Institution, (DNFI).

The agency said the offense contravened Section 5(1) (a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under Section 5 (b) of the same Act.

Dariye’s was admitted to bail in the sum of N5 million with two sureties in like sum.

Buhari’s declaration: Inefficiency will continue if President is re-elected – Senior Advocate

Ntufam Mba Ukweni, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) has stated that President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration of interest in seeking re-election in 2019 did not come as a surprise to him despite the performance of the present federal government.

Speaking on phone conversation with DAILY POST on Tuesday, Ukweni lamented the poor performance of the present administration saying that if President Buhari remains in office beyond May 2019, inefficiency will continue.

“If President Buhari wins the 2019 election, the inefficiency will continue, I don’t see any magic to be done if he wins the 2019 election, there is not going to be any change than what we have now. It is the nature of our people, it is a nature of a black man to perpetuate himself in power.

“I don’t think there will be any new ideas; it is left for Nigerians to decide. They did it in 2015 thinking that President Buhari will change things but we have not seen anything different, we have seen how far he has gone in the correction process.

“If he has done well, it is for Nigerians to decides, then return him, if he has not done well, it is still the choice of Nigerians to vote him out.”

Speaking on the administration’s efforts in revamping the economy, the SAN said, “If the economy improves, everybody would have seen the improvement, improvement in economy is not a hidden thing, as far as I am concern, I have not seen any improvement in the economy.

“Now, the leaving standard is very poor, we have increase unemployment, income is very poor, and these are the indices in measuring the improvement in the economy. There is no improvement in the economy.”

Mba Ukweni however stated that it within the rights of Buhari to seek re-election, stressing that, “nobody can deprive him of that. Nigerians have right to choose the person they wants.

“I don’t see President Buhari creating anything new, I don’t see President Buhari changing anything,” he added. - Daily Post

Abattoir republic !!! Farmers, herdsmen clashes may worsen in 2019 – Nigerian Govt

The Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has declared that clashes between farmers and herdsmen will get worse in 2019 if nothing was done to create cattle ranches or provide better security against rustling.

Chief Ogbeh raised the alarm while briefing State House correspondents after the National Food Security Council meeting at the State House, Abuja.

Ogbeh at the briefing said: “We have to move the cattle to the good old grazing reserves and we just have to create environment for them; clusters of ranches where they have water, grass and security against rustlers.

“For nearly 40 years, we didn’t do much about cattle, we also forgot that cattle contribute six per cent to GDP. The cheapest way of rearing cattle is by roaming around with them as you see now. If you go into a ranch it is not cheap and government cannot subsidise cattle rearing like they do in Europe, where they subsidise every cow. We cannot afford that.

“So, the thing is to create those ranches and the herdsmen are prepared to pay tax to support the programme. If we don’t do it, next year will be worse than this year, I assure you.”

The council, which is chaired by President Buhari, was presided over by Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, in the absence of Buhari, who travelled to the United Kingdom immediately after the National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. - Daily Post

Sick nation ! Sick rulers !! ‘We’ve been abandoned’ — soldiers injured by Boko Haram cry from sick bed

Soldiers who sustained injuries in the fight against Boko Haram insurgents and are receiving medical attention at the 44, Army Referral Hospital, Kaduna, have complained about being left out in the recent special promotions for those fighting insurgents.

The soldiers spoke when Muhammad Muhammad,  general officer commander (GOC), 1 division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, visited them on their sick beds.

The visit of the GOC was part of activities marking the annual West Africa Social Activities (WASA) which held at the parade ground of the 2 battalion, Ribadu cantonment, Kaduna, on Saturday.

The soldiers lamented that despite their sacrifices, they were not included among the over 3000 soldiers recently given special promotions.

They also complained about their welfare, saying presently they are incapable of providing for their families.

One of the soldiers told the GOC that his allowance was not paid between February and October 2017.

Another soldier said he is currently incapacitated as he can no longer go for any operation to cater for his family.

He appealed to the authorities for financial assistance.
While explaining that the visit was part of activities for the WASA, he said their complaints would be forwarded to the chief of army staff, who according to him, is very passionate about the welfare of soldiers and officers.

“I will make a case for you and I will get back to you,” he said.

He said the WASA took place on Saturday and it was only proper for him to visit and show that they have not been forgotten.

“We will send your share of the goodies we enjoyed during the WASA so that you know that we are with you,” he said.

In an interview with journalists after going round the wards, Muhammad said the soldiers were in good hands.

“Having gone round to see the patients in the different wards who are victims of our ongoing operations, my assessment of what has been done so far, is that they are in good hands,” he said.

“The much that is needed to give them hope is being given to them. Treatment wise, the treatment by doctors and caregivers has been so wonderful.

“Some of them are due for evacuation to India. The assessment by the medical team here determines who goes where. The gravity of the ailments also determines who goes first.
“Concerning the issue of promotions and welfare, the chief of army staff is very passionate about the welfare of soldiers and officers.”

Editor’s note: This picture was used for illustrative purposes - Cable Nigeria

Failure !!! 2019: Nigerian stocks drop after Buhari declares re-election bid

Nigerian stocks dropped to a three-month low, after President Muhammadu Buhari officially announced he would seek re-election in 2019.

Reuters reports that the stock market, which opened on a losing streak after Lafarge Africa announced a surprise 2017 loss, worsened its decline.

The equity market fell near 40,000 points.
This came as Buhari declared at the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress, that he will contest in next year’s election.

The news has drawn mixed reactions from Nigerians, as some expressed gladness, while others criticized the president for making such decision despite challenges facing the country.
Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 to become president, after previously failing to win in three consecutive polls. - Daily Post

OAU professor demands five rounds of sex to pass female student

A private telephone conversation between one Richard Akindele, a professor of management and accounting at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and a female undergraduate has been leaked.

In the audio which has gone viral on social media, the lecturer demanded five rounds of sex to award the lady a pass mark in a course she failed.

Although TheCable could not independently verify if the voice is that of Akindele said to be a pastor but it was able to establish that a professor bears that name in OAU.

In the conversation recorded by the female student, the man was heard demanding five rounds of sex.

Having exchanged pleasantries, the lady proceeded to tell the lecturer that she couldn’t speak with him properly the previous day because she was with her boyfriend and she didn’t want him to hear anything.

Below is a transcript of their conversation:

Student: Hello sir, Professor Akindele, yesterday you said something but because I was close to my boyfriend I could not say anything. You said you’ve submitted it

Lecturer: I gave you an opportunity and you missed it. Forget about it. You will do it next year.

Student: I was calling to confirm whether you were serious about it.

Lecturer: Me that agreed to do something. I know what I meant. If you don’t trust me, forget about it. If I wouldn’t do it, why should I give you audience in the first place? If I am not interested in doing it, I won’t give you audience in the first instance. The other person has come and I told her straight away because there is nothing I can do to bail that person out and her mark is even better than your own. The person scored 39 while your own is 33. Only two people failed the course so what else do you want me to do. You can see it anytime you come, we are at Moro doing exam, we are doing MBA executive exam. They are just starting. I will finish by 4:30 and maybe 5, I should be in the office. If you are ready, come by 5 Why did you tell me you were on your period the other time.

Student: I was really seeing my period Professor Akindele.

Lecturer: Stop mentioning my name. And now nko?.

Student: I am not on my period now.

Lecturer: Your boyfriend has done it yesterday?

Student: Is it every time that someone will be doing with the boyfriend? Is it every time you do it with your wife?

Lecturer: Yes

Student: It’s a lie, not possible. So what’s the plan now?

Lecturer: Let’s have the first one today and then we will do another one tomorrow. Is our agreement not five times?

Student: Is it B that you want to give me or C? Why would it be five times you will knack me?

Lecturer: That’s what I will do.

Student: Prof, you know what? Let me fail it. I can’t do it five times. For what nah? No worry. Thank you, sir

Lecturer: You are welcome.

TheCable could not reach Akindele for comments as his telephone line was switched off as of the time this report was filed.

In 2016, the senate mulled a five-year jail term for lecturers sexually exploiting students. The bill, sponsored by Ovie Omo-Agege (Labour-Delta Central) and co-sponsored by 46 other senators, sought to completely prohibit any form of sexual relationship between lecturers and their students.

But lecturers kicked against it, describing it as a violation of their rights. - Cable Nigeria