Bola Ige Centre for Justice holds 19th memorial symposium

 

Bola Ige Centre for Justice has remembered former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of The Federation after 19 years of his assassination by his yet to be identified assailants by appropriate authorities.

Comrade AWA Bamiji, the Executive President of Bola Ige Centre for Justice protested against the inability of successive Nigerian governments to unravel the mystery that still surrounds the death of former Justice Minister, Chief Bola Ige at the “19 Years Remembrance Program” of former Governor of old Oyo State which held at Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja in Lagos State on Thursday.

”You will recall that Chief Bola Ige cap was rudely removed on December 15, 2001, at the Palace of Ooni of Ife by a set of well-known hoodlums, and a few days later, precisely, 23 December 2001, an assassination that shocked the whole nation took place, on that fateful Sunday’s night, in his living room, at Bodija, Ibadan”, Awa Bamiji stated.

“We learnt that all his security aides went out to eat at the same time, without taking into cognizance the life of their principal and that of his family members.

“This was the peak of assassination in Nigeria and Africa as a whole and the foundation for various security chanllenges that we have been confronting with since then till today.

“Therefore, our organised Struggles for Justice started immediately, 19 years ago, and we came out publicly with the formal Inauguration of the INSIGHT Magazine at the Western House of Chiefs, Ibadan, Oyo State, to commemorate the first year rememberance of Asiwaju of Esa – Oke, Chief Ajibola Ige (SAN), in December 2002.

“Bola Ige Centre for Justice was formally inaugurated in December 2004, at Oranmiyan Hall of this Lagos Airport Hotel and it was borne out of the need to start having a coordinated action across various interest Groups to press home our demand for Justice on the murder case.

“WHO KILLED BOLA IGE? This is a riddle for his close friend of decades, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, despite his bold statement to fish out the Killers after the assassination, between December 2001 till May 29, 2007, when he became the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Thereafter, neither the Late President Musa Shehu Yar’adua, nor former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan could break the jinx.

“It is now time for President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), who came into power through a Progressive Platform. If Bola Ige were to be alive, he will definitely be a strong Leader of All Progressives’ Congress (Party).

“It was a general belief that he was killed by his Political Rivals so as to have in road to the Southwest Region in the 2003 general elections.

“We thank you all, the general masses, for rallying round the family of your Benefactor, in terms of Chief Obafemi Awolowo led four cardinal Programme of fee Education, free Health, Rural Integration and Employment for all, in time of need.

“Yoruba adage goes, “eni to s’oju ko da bi eni s’eyin”, “the people who show you love in your presence couldn’t be in any way compared with those who think of you when you are not around”

“While we in the Civil Societies across the Globe had given a pass mark to President Muhammadu Buhari for recognising June 12 as Nigeria’s Democracy day, it is equally important for him before he completes his 2nd term tenure to resolve the question of “Who Killed Bola Ige?”

“Otherwise, the history would have the great list of former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari as those who couldn’t resolve Bola Ige murder case for a period of 24 years, by May 29, 2023.

“Bola Ige families, friends, associates and the masses are ready to assist this Governments at the Federal level and in Oyo State, where the murder took place, any time, any day, in the investigation.

“These Killers are among us and they are increasing in number through enjoyment of “injustice” that they are getting since 2001 till date.

“This explains why while we are not at peace any more in Nigeria.

“It was even ridiculous in 2003, when former Governor Rasheed Ladoja asked the Oyo State High Court to forget about the murder case because the State didn’t have interest any longer. This is what they called nolle prosqui in legal term. Perhaps, we should ask him does he have any emotion for human life at all, not to talk of his Political Leader and Predecessor as the former Governor of Old Oyo State and the former Minster of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation.

“Kidnappers, Murderers, Rapists, Bandits, and others carry out their evil operation mostly in the night and jungle.

“Therefore, our Governors that are closer to us should make sure that policing the jungle day and night must be the responsibility of our Security Agents while the security network in the town must equally be excellent.

“Our annual Budget must be such that we will give security of lives and properties a priority.

“We need to improve in our foreign relationship so as to overcome our inability to purchase sophisticated weapons from leading World Powers. We need to overcome the barrier of international Politics.

“Native intelligence is key. If you fail to report a crime, what goes around always comes around.

“If the Palaces of our Traditional Rulers, Private and Public Properties have become objects of attack in the hands of Hoodlums, in the name of Protests, it means, a lot to the common man on the Road. “Iku ti o npa Ojuba Eni, Owe nla ni o npa fun ni”.

“We must not forget this Great list that includes Chief Bola Ige, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola, Chief A.K. Dikibo, Chief Harry Marshal, Chief Layi Balogun, Admiral Tunde Elegbede, Hon Odunayo Olagbaju, Captain Jerry Ayegbe, Mr Dele Giwa, Barrister Olanipekun, Barrister Barnabas Igwe and his Wife, Iyalode Tejuoso, Alhaja Suliat Adedeji, Pa Alfred Rewane, Kudirat Abiola, Alabi Olajokun, Funso Williams, Dipo Dina, Ayo Adaramola, Charles, Nsiegbe, Andrew Agom, Ogbonnaya Uche, Temitope Olatoye Sugar. The list is endless.

“It therefore means life of everyone is in danger and teaming up with Bola Ige Centre for Justice is the only way out.

“This Centre has been building and consolidating upon the laudable legacies and ideas of the Late Attorney General and former Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige, since its emergence in December 2004, and we won’t rest on our Oars until Justice is done. Thank you all, for your rapt attention”, Awa Bamiji reiterated.

- PM NEWS

Insecurity: Buhari, Service Chiefs dragged to court, asked to pay N100bn compensation to victims

 Amid the issue of insecurity bedeviling Nigeria, a former governorship candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, in Adamawa State, Said Lawal Uba, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari before an Abuja Federal High Court.

Uba, in his suit, urged the court to compel Buhari to sack all Service Chiefs over their alleged failure to curb insecurity in the country.

The governorship candidate instituted the legal action against the president on behalf of affected victims of insecurity in the northern region.

He also prayed the court to order the federal government to pay a whopping sum of N100 billion to the victims of insecurity.

Uba contended that the law making protection of lives and properties as a major function of Buhari has been grossly violated as occasioned by the alarming rate of insecurity.

Others joined in the suit include the Attorney General of the Federation, National Assembly, Senate President, Chief of Army staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the Inspector General of Police.

Among the reliefs sought by the plaintiff are a declaration that the respondents have failed in their responsibility to protect the lives and properties of Nigerian Citizens which led to the deprivation of lives and indiscriminate destruction of properties in the country.

“A declaration that the rights of the citizen to movement as enshrined in section 37of the Constitution has been hampered due to the failure of the respondents to adequately address the insecurity challenges in almost every part of the country thereby restricting free movement.

“A declaration that the continuing bombing of the citizens properties particularly in the northern part of the country without curbing or putting an end by the respondents is a gross violation of the rights of citizens to own properties.

“An order directing the President Buhari to immediately relief the Service Chiefs of their duties for their inability to curb insecurity which is claiming lives and destroying properties of citizens.

“An order directing each of the 1st to 8 respondents to tender a written apology to the Applicant within 7 days of the granting of this order in three major national dailies.

“An order directing the respondents to pay the sum of N100 billion jointly and severally to the applicant as aggravated and exemplary damages for the unwarranted killing, kidnapping, banditry, inconveniences which the Applicant is still being subjected to by the incompetence of respondents.

In a 26 paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summon, the plaintiff averred that thousands of people were killed, maimed and injured as a result of the inability to ensure safety of lives and properties as guaranteed by the Constitution.

He further averred that another hundreds of thousands were displaced from their ancestral homes in the northern region due to acts of terrorism and banditry occasioned by the inability of the respondents to give effect to the constitutional provisions.

The matter is fixed for March 18, 2021.

- DAILY POST

Chaos at national assembly as persons with disabilities protest

 

 

There was chaos at the national assembly after persons with disabilities (PWDs) overpowered security at the complex.

They made their way to the main lobby of the assembly where police officers fired tear gas on them.

Irritated by the action of police, the protesters removed their clothes and attacked a sergeant-at-arms with their crutches and a chair.

Rawlings Etim, a leader of the protest, said they were demonstrating because members of the senate and house of representatives who promised to meet with them failed to do so.

Etim, who said he came from Rivers state to Abuja, stated they are demanding what is theirs because they have been marginalised.

“We are representatives of the Niger Delta. We came here to demand for what is ours because in everything we have been marginalised – even jobs we don’t have. We were here when the disability bill was passed into law but since we gave these people our proposal they have not listened to us,” he said.

“Presently what is causing this confusion is that our delegates came yesterday and they had a good dialogue with the senate and the house, and they were told that they would be provided with a Hilux to pick up only the executive to come meet with them for a dialogue.

“We have waited, nothing. This is why we are here.”

On his part, Abdullahi Sabi, senate deputy chief whip, said there was a mix-up with the time.

Sabi said the lawmakers will meet with them and address their concerns.

“We are here on behalf of the senate of the federal republic of Nigeria,” he said.

“Yesterday we were supposed to see you but there was a mistake in the timing. It is not that we did not plan to see you.”

- THECABLE

Polytechnic workers union SSANIP serves strike notice

 The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) has scheduled a 14-day warning strike, to commence nationwide on 4 Jan.2021.

The National President of SSANIP, Mr Adebanjo Ogunsipe, made the announcement in Abuja on Thursday while addressing newsmen at the end of the 62nd regular meeting of the General Executive Council of the association.

Ogunsipe said the decision to embark on the strike was taken at the end of the meeting because the Federal Government had failed to meet the demands of the union.

The demands of the union include the implementation of the NEEDS assessment report and release of funds for the polytechnic sector as well as the release of a scheme of service for polytechnic workers.

Other demands are payment of arrears of minimum wage for staff of polytechnics and the reconstitution of the governing councils of all federal and state polytechnics, among others.

“We will come back after the strike to assess if the only way is to shut down all polytechnics thereafter.”

He said that it was important to note that in spite of series of negotiations with government, they had shown nonchalant attitude toward issues in the sector.

The unionist stressed that SSANIP deemed it necessary to create awareness on the myriad of problems militating against the development of polytechnics and technical education in the country.

Ogunsipe argued that problems in the education sector had the potential to thwart technological development in the near and distant future if not addressed.

“The union wishes to make it categorically clear to the federal and state governments that continued failure to take action on all of the issues will leave us with no option than to take drastic action to see to the implementation of these demands,” he said.

- PM NEWS

APC: A north-west governor is sponsoring bandits

 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says a governor in the north-west is sponsoring bandits in the region.

The APC said this in reaction to a protest led by Uche Secondus, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), over the abduction of some schoolboys from Kankara, Katsina state.

The schoolboys were released on Thursday night.

In a statement, Yekini Nabena, APC deputy spokesman, said the opposition party is leveraging on the country’s security challenges to make political gains.

Nabena said the country’s security agencies must be on the alert over the plans to destabilise the north-west.

“Our security agencies have intelligence reports linking one of the north-west governors of colluding and sponsoring the violent and criminal activities of bandits in the zone,” he said.

“I won’t give details because of the sensitive and security nature of the issue. However, relevant security agencies must as a matter of urgency investigate the report and determine its veracity. Human life is not what we should play political chess games with.

“We must shun enemies of the country including the PDP who seek political gains from issues of insecurity.

“Our security agencies must also be alert to plots to further destabilise the north-west region and frustrate the quick and safe release of students abducted following late Kankara Katsina state: Student kidnapping for [GSSS Kankara Katsina State] secondary school.”

In August, the Department of State Services (DSS) questioned Obadiah Mailafia, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), after he claimed that a northern governor was sponsoring Boko Haram.

- THECABLE

Zangon Kataf fresh attack: Seven killed, houses burnt

 

Suspected Fulani herdsmen, on Thursday night allegedly killed about seven persons in Gora Gan, Zangon-Kataf local government area of Kaduna State.

Recall that earlier this year, suspected Fulani herdsmen invaded the same village resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of houses and other valuables.

Thursday attack, according to a reliable source, five of the seven persons killed by the suspected Fulani herdsmen are from the same family.

The source added that an old woman was seriously injured and has been rushed to the hospital for treatment.

He added, “As l am talking to you, we will go round this morning to know exactly those killed and injured.

“So many houses were also razed down by the attackers and we will go round to ascertain the number of houses destroyed and the degree of destruction.”

The source explained that the attackers came in large numbers and stormed the village around 8pm.

“We are happy that security personnel also came last night to rescue the situation and as l am talking to you, they are still around to ensure the protection of lives and properties,” he added.

- DAILY POST

MTN says it will take six months to link SIM cards with NIN

 

MTN could be compliant with Nigeria’s order for telecoms firms to add National Identification Numbers (NIN) to all registered SIM cards within six months, its incoming Nigeria head Karl Toriola has said.

Nigeria created its SIM card registration rules in an attempt to stop criminals and insurgents from using untraceable numbers.

The Nigeria Communications Commission said earlier this week that all cards without a valid NIN would be blocked from Dec. 30.

The House of Representatives has slammed the deadline as unrealistic and instead recommended a 10-week extension.

Fulfilling the directive is a daunting task, with the industry needing to attach the numbers to some 200 million active mobile phone lines. Providers which fail to comply face stiff sanctions, including the withdrawal of licenses.

In a call with investors, MTN executives said they had acquired licences to verify and issue NINs and were building up infrastructure to complete the task, as well as working closely with Nigerian authorities to assess the viability of the Dec. 30 deadline.

“I think there’s a very realistic chance that we complete this within six months,” said incoming MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola, pointing out that a portion of its base was already compliant.

Current Nigeria CEO, Ferdi Moolman, said he didn’t see a ban on the sale of new SIM cards announced earlier in December lasting as long as six months and that momentum for the local unit to achieve double-digit service revenue growth remained intact.

MTN shares were down almost 8% on Thursday.

While the company said it had acquired devices to help it verify and issue NINs, this could only be done in verified locations, and not at all points of sale.

Nigerian authorities also have to verify NINs issued by MTN, which could slow the process as users rush to get the numbers within the deadline.

*Reported by Reuters