Soyinka: Many people would have been in prison for corruption if Buhari’s govt hadn’t run out of steam

 

Wole Soyinka, Nobel laureate, says the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari lacks the steam to fight corruption.

In the past months, Soyinka has been critical of the president and his policies.

While speaking on Kakaaki, an AIT programme, on Wednesday, the playwright said so many people ought to be in prison if the government is serious about the fight against corruption.

“There are so many people who should be in prison if this government had not run out of steam, and so the system is being manipulated,” he said.

“There are cases where the prosecution had reached the level where evidence had been given on governors who had been stealing and depositing in bits and pieces so as not to flout a certain regulation.

“I mean cases have been taken to that level and suddenly, silence. The EFCC, which I back solidly ever since the days of Nuhu Ribadu, in all kinds of ways, we no longer know the distinguishing from rights and left.”

In January, Soyinka had said it was best for his sanity to forget about the existence of the administration of Buhari.

He had said one must forget about the government to have a sense of balance.

- THECABLE

Thomas Tuchel releases first Chelsea team

 

Chelsea new manager Thomas Tuchel has released his starting XI against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the match scheduled for 7p.m..

Missing on the list is Mason Mount, who was named captain in Lampard’s last match in charge against Luton Town.

Another missing are Timo Werner, Tammy Abraham and Reece James.

But on the list are Antonio Rudiger and Kai Havertz.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Thiago Silva, Chilwell, Kovacic, Jorginho, Ziyech, Havertz, Hudson-Odoi, Giroud

Wolves XI: Patricio, Coady, Boly, Kilman, Semedo, Ait-Nouri, Neves, Dendoncker, Adama, Podence, Neto.

Chelsea Starting X1

- PM NEWS

Ayo Adebanjo: Tinubu not speaking against herders because he doesn’t want to offend Buhari

 

Ayo Adebanjo, chieftain of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political group, says Bola Tinubu is afraid to speak on the activities of some herders in the south-west because he does not want to offend President Muhammadu Buhari.

Speaking in an online interview with The PUNCH, on Wednesday, Adebanjo said Tinubu, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), believes Buhari will make him president in 2023 so he does not want to oppose the president.

Although Tinubu has not declared that he will be running for president, the APC chieftain is rumoured to be nursing the ambition to lead the country in 2023.

“Everybody knows who Tinubu is. Don’t bring me to that controversy. Tinubu does not represent us. All that is happening in Oyo now, what has he said? When they (gunmen) killed the Oba in Ekiti, what did he say?” Adebanjo said.

“He didn’t say anything that will oppose Buhari because he is thinking Buhari will make him the president. So, he doesn’t want to say anything to offend him. Amongst all the governors he sponsored, Akeredolu has the courage that it is the people of the western region that they are serving.

“I don’t buy the propaganda of the defence of the federal government that how do you know they are Fulani? That is escapist statement.

“For the past five years, we have been talking about the same thing. And when they are caught, they will say, they are not local Fulani. And you can’t explain how these foreign Fulani came to attack your people. You see the absolute negligence, dereliction of duty and incompetence in protecting lives and property as commander-in-chief?

“If you are a competent defender of the Nigerian people, the Fulani herdsmen won’t be committing all forms of atrocities unabated.”

Some herdsmen have been accused of killings and kidnappings in the south-west.

- THECABLE

Benue govt raises alarm over influx of armed Fulani herdsmen with AK-47, cattle

 

The Benue State Government has raised an alarm over renewed influx of armed herdsmen with large herds of cattle into parts of the state.

Engineer Benson Abounu, State Deputy Governor said 376 cows and six herdsmen were apprehended in Kaseyo, Guma Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking at a press conference in Makurdi, the state capital, Abounu disclosed that the herders were being investigated by authorities.

He noted that investigation following the declaration by the Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule about regrouping of Boko Haram insurgents at the boundary between Benue and Nasarawa uncovered the mass presence of cattle along River Benue in Agatu and Gwer West Local Government Areas.

According to the Deputy Governor, security checks revealed the invasion of armed herdsmen with AK47 rifles and large herds of cattle by the riverside, on Nasarawa State bank.

He stated that in keeping with the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state, the cows were kept at the quarantine centre in the state and would be released to the owners after fulfilling the necessary conditions.

The Deputy Governor noted that Benue as one of the federating units of Nigeria is governed by laws, one of which is the one prohibiting open grazing being enforced effectively with the primary aim of ending conflicts between herders and farmers.

Engr. Abounu while urging livestock farmers to acquire land in the state through a lease for their businesses said Benue is not in any way contemplating abrogating the law for any reason.

- DAILY POST

Arsenal complete signing of Real Madrid midfielder Odegaard

 

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid star Martin Odegaard on loan until the end of the season.

The Norwegian midfielder traveled to North London to finalize the deal.

The Gunners announced Odegaard’s arrival with a video on their Twitter account, offering pictures of the 22-year-old in their famous red strip for the very first time.

The midfielder has taken the number 11 shirt, leaving the number 10, previously worn by Mesut Ozil, open to one of his new teammates.

Odegaard’s signature has softened the blow of the German’s Emirates exit, with fans disappointed in how the former talisman’s career ended in North London.

They can now look forward to witnessing Madrid’s playmaker in action after he struggled to make his mark in their first team under Zinedine Zidane.

Odegaard enjoyed a breakout season at Real Sociedad last year, and Los Blancos decided not to allow him to rejoin their rivals on loan for another campaign.

Odegaard was expected to become an integral part in the champions’ midfield, but he ended up making only seven La Liga appearances in 2020/21.

- PM NEWS

Ex- military veteran, Captain Aliyu blames Miyetti Allah for Nigeria’s security problem

 Captain Umar Aliyu has blamed Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria for the current security situation in the country.

Aliyu, who is a veteran security resource and solutions consultant and an ex-military intelligence officer, said the Miyetti Allah group made the Fulani ethnic nationality the face of cattle breeders and bandits in Nigeria.

He narrated that since the beginning of the farmers and herdsmen crisis, the Miyetti Allah has continued to play ethnic politics rather than denounce itself from alleged crimes

“They are busy playing local champion and ethnic champion and got themselves stuck in a situation that they have nothing to do with.”

Captain Aliyu made this assertion on a program in Osogbo, Frank Talk, monitored by our correspondent.

The security expert said over 200 ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, and “they can’t just jump overnight and start pointing fingers at a particular one.”

“Nigerians insecurity has gone out of hands. We got it wrong ab initio as back as 2016. We had the same kind of attack when the Agatu were killed in hundreds. The same in Plateau state where newborn babies were smashed unto walls like tomatoes. There is no factually any state they will not give you one gory story of herdsmen turning rough and bandits.

“These people are sleeping with our women, killing our children across all the 36 states, not only in Oyo and Ondo alone. And our leaders are there, sleeping.

“Of course, Sunday Igboho will take over because they are petrified and need succour. Of course, they will follow him. It is a simple strategic, security situation and strategic intelligence. All we know how to do is to convey stakeholders’ forums and ceremonies. Beyond that, we don’t see anything on the ground.

“What would you expect? Those that should stand up and speak for you seem to be the problem. Then suddenly, a reformed renegade packed up.

“Unfortunately in this country, When a crime is committed, we start looking at excuses to brown the act rather than focusing on the people.

“For example, is in a state where there is a sitting governor, bandits are asking for five million tax every month. It has gotten to the state where they are now collecting tax.

The security expert explained that there is a deadly threat that is growing every day. “It is called outrage.” and called on the federal government and state governors to quickly do something about it.

“There is a national outrage index that is being fed gradually. It is like a balloon, and one day, a very tiny pin will burst it. 2023 is very far.” he added.

- DAILY POST

Attahiru, sacked as commander for ‘flopping’ against Boko Haram, is new army chief

 

Ibrahim Attahiru, the new chief of army staff (COAS), was sacked as theatre commander of the joint task force (JTF) after a poor job in the fight against Boko Haram, TheCable recalls. 

In July 2017, Tukur Buratai, the outgoing COAS, gave Attahiru 40 days to deliver Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau dead or alive — a task thought to be “impossible”.

He did not deliver Shekau — dead or alive — but the country experienced increased suicide bombings and attacks on military formations.

A senior military source, however, told TheCable that Buratai set Attahiru up to fail as JTF theatre commander when word got to him that Attahiru was being considered to replace him, as early as 2017.

The politics of replacement may have gone on for three to four years, but Attahiru has now been named the new chief of army staff.

In June 2017, barely a month after Attahiru took over, Boko Haram insurgents attacked Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The month after, a group of geologists and technologists from the University of Maiduguri were ambushed by Boko Haram insurgents at Magumeri area of Borno state.

About 12 soldiers who escorted the academics were reportedly killed. Some members of staff of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the team were also killed in the brutal ambush.

Months after the army chief had ordered the capture of Shekau, the sect, using four female suicide bombers, attacked Muna Gari, a suburb of Maiduguri, killing about 14 persons.

In December 2017, six months after he was appointed, Attahiru was removed and deployed replaced by Rogers Nicholas, a major general who was in charge of logistics at the army headquarters.

Meanwhile, Shekau remains elusive — several years later.

ATTAHIRU: WE KILLED FIVE BOKO HARAM COMMANDERS

In his valedictory speech at the operation, Attahiru said his team killed five Boko Haram commanders and neutralised 70 terrorists while he was at the helm.

“Suffice to note that during the operations, 5 high profile BHT commanders and many foot soldiers were killed, while many other members of the group surrendered owing to the effectiveness of the operations,” Attahiru said in December 2017.

“None kinetic operations were also conducted through coordinated media and information operations that led to the surrender of 72 BHT, who were immediately inducted into Operation SAFE CORRIDOR.

“Furthermore, operational support was also provided to troops of Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) during Operation RAWAN KADA in June 2017, which led to the killing of over 70 BHT and the capture of assorted automatic weapons.”

He said his posting was routine, and has nothing to do with what was being reported in the media.

- THECABLE