DSS must stop display of naked power, release Sowore now – Soyinka

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka has warned the Department of State Services, DSS, to stop the charade and display of crude and naked power by releasing the Convener, #RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore still being kept in their custody despite meeting his stringent bail conditions.

Operatives of the DSS had on Tuesday fired gunshots and used pepper spray to disperse protesters who were gathered around the service headquarters to demand the release of Sowore.

Soyinka, in a statement he personally issued late Tuesday night also said it should become abundantly clear by now that Civil Society Organisations, committed to the entrenchment of the Rule of Law and the defence of fundamental human rights must come together.

“This is not a new cry. They must meet, debate, and embark on a binding pact of tactical responses whenever these two pillars of civilized society are besieged by the demolition engines of state security agencies. The sporadic, uncoordinated responses as in the case of  Omoyele Sowore, the absence of a solid strategy, ready to be activated against any threat — these continue to enable these agencies in their mission to enthrone a pattern of conduct that openly scoffs at the role of the judiciary in national life.

“Result? A steady entrenchment of the cult of impunity in the dealings of state with the citizenry – both individuals and organizations. The level of arrogance has crossed even the most permissive thresholds. It is heart-warming to witness the determined efforts of  “Concerned Nigerians” in defence of these rights,” he said.

According to him, predictably, the ham-fisted response of the DSS continued to defy the rulings of the court. adding that the weaponry of lies having been exploded in their faces, they resorted to violence, including, as now reported, the firing of live bullets.

“Why the desperation? The answer is straightforward: the government never imagined that the bail conditions for Sowore would ever be met. Even Sowore’s supporters despaired. The bail test was clearly set to fail!  It took a while for the projection to be reversed, and it left the DSS floundering.

“That agency then resorted to childish, cynical lies. It claimed that the ordered release was no longer in their hands, but in Sowore’s end of the transfer. The lie being exploded, what next? Bullets of course,” he said.

Soyinka said such a development was not only callous and inhuman, but criminal, as it escalated an already untenable defiance by the state.

“As I remarked from the onset, this is an act of government insecurity and paranoia that merely defeats its real purpose. And now – bullets?  This is no longer comical. Perhaps it is necessary to remind this government of precedents in other lands where, even years after the event, those who trampled on established human rights that generate homicidal impunity are called to account for abuse of power and crimes against humanity.

“The protests for Sowore’s release go beyond only acts of solidarity, they are manifestations of the judgment and authority of courts of law, under which this nation is supposedly governed. Either it is, or it isn’t. The answer stares us all in the face. The principles that now fall under threat implicate more than one individual under travail. They involve the very entitlement of a nation to lay claim to membership of any democratic, humanized union,” he said.

The Nobel Laureate said “Enough of this charade, nothing more than a display of crude, naked power. Release Omoyele Sowore and save us further embarrassment in the regard of the world. An apology to the nation by the DSS and the judiciary would also not be out of place. It would go some distance in redeeming the image of an increasingly fascistic agency and reduce the swelling tide of public disillusionment.

“Let the rule of law reign. Failing that, have the honesty to proclaim the death of ordered society. Then we’ll all know just where we stand.”

- PM NEWS

Osinbajo: Fani-Kayode makes claim on VP’s ‘replacement’

Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has claimed that some names have been penciled down as alternatives to embattled Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

This was contained in an article he released Wednesday morning titled ‘ The humiliation of the villa fiend’.

The former presidential spokesman said Nigerians should not pity Osinbajo, noting that the Law Professor knew what he was getting into before he became President Muhammadu Buhari’s deputy.

He wrote: “Over the last two months, despite all pretentions to the contrary, things have gone downhill for him and he appears to be a drowning man.

“It is only a matter of time before the final offensive and assault is unleashed against him by his traducers in the Presidency, the axe falls and he is finally thrown out.

“I have been reliably informed that three names, all from the South West, have been penned down and are all being considered as his possible replacement.

“If this proves to be true I would not be the least bit surprised because those that ride on the back of the tiger always end up in its stomach.”

Fani-Kayode added that Osinabjo was now at the receiving end after launching attacks on top members of the opposition, among others.

He lamented that Osinabjo “told lies against ex Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other opposition leaders brandishing them as corrupt and unfit for public office whilst he serves the most corrupt, sectional and oppressive government in our entire history.

“He insulted Afenifere leaders and those that called for restructuring and described them as jobless people that are just seeking for relevance; insulted his own in-law, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, by saying he was wrong when he described Nigeria as a mere geographical expression

“He betrayed his own mentor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; used his Redeemed Church and his spiritual father to split Christendom and help put in place an evil Antichrist Government. I have no sympathy for Osinbajo and I do not think any southermer, Middle Belter or Christian that is in his right mind ought to either.”

- DAILY POST

Nigerian man locks up sister for 2 years

A Nigerian woman who was locked up in a dark room at her family residence for two years, has regained her freedom.

Hassana Sale, mother of four was locked up by her brother to prevent her from rejoining her estranged husband.

Kaduna based NGO, Arida Relief Foundation and a team of policemen found her in a “terrible state” locked up in the room in Rigasa area of Kaduna.

According to the founder of the NGO, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, the victim, Hassana, was deprived of her freedom by her elder brother, one Malam Lawal Sale over her intention to go back to her matrimonial home.

Salisu explained that the woman became depressed when she was divorced by her husband, but due to the love for the children, visited them daily.

“She visits the children on daily basis, so the elder brother and the some of her relatives decided to lock her up in a dark room for two years so that she will not go back to her ex-husband,” she told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Kaduna.

“We have taken her to the hopital and when she becomes stable, she would be handed over to the state Ministry of Human Service and Social Development to pursue the matter.”

The elder brother has already been arrested by the police

- PM NEWS

Hate Speech Bill: Nigeria currently on road to tyranny, authoritarianism-Shehu Sani

Former Senator, Kaduna Central Senatorial district, Shehu Sani, has condemned the recent first reading of the hate speech bill on the floor of the senate.

Shehu Sani lamented that Nigeria was currently on the “road to full-blown tyranny” with the introduction of the bill sponsored by Senator Sabi Abdullahi.

The former lawmaker who registered his displeasure on Tuesday through a Facebook post insisted that the bill was an authoritarian step to “protect power by fear and silence.”

He wrote: “The parliament must not be complicit in the destruction of our democracy and the building of a totalitarian state. A bill to regulate social media and to prescribe death sentence for a so-called hate speech is a road to full-blown tyranny; An authoritarian step to protect power by fear and silence.”

DAILY POST had reported that Senator Sabi Abdullahi representing Niger North Senatorial district on Tuesday sponsored a private bill to tackle hate speeches and other social media related contents, considered antagonistic to the interest of Nigerian society.

The lawmaker, who was Senate Spokesman in the 8th Senate and now Deputy Chief Whip, wants the National Assembly to establish a Commission with administrative structures to deal with hate speeches in Nigeria.

The bill titled: “National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate Speeches (Est., etc) bill, 2019 (SB. 154)” passed its first reading on Tuesday.

The introduction of hate speech bill has since been met with backlash from Nigerians and lawmakers.

- DAILY POST

Odinkalu: Real theft in Nigeria is by the executive — not legislature

Chidi Odinkalu, former chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), says the “real theft” ongoing in the country is in the executive, not in the parliament.

In an interview with PUNCH, the human rights activist said the issue of reducing the number of federal lawmakers has been blown out of proportion.

He added that cutting the cost of governance should begin in the executive arm.

“I think we are fixating too much on symptoms and not causes. Do I think Nigerians are over-represented? No. Do I necessarily think that 360 representatives are too many for Nigerians? No. It all depends on how we want the system to run,” he said.

“The national assembly surely has to make an effort to show it cares about the people and to reduce appearances of conspicuous consumption by its members. That is important. And legislators all over the country should.

“But the real theft in the country happens not in the parliaments but in the executive and if we are going to make progress in reducing the cost of governance; that is where I believe we should begin.

“One more thing: citizens also have to take some responsibility. It is okay for us to ask legislators to cut their costs. But we should also cut the demands and expectation we have of them as Father Christmases.”

‘PRESIDENCY HAS GONE OFF-SHORE’

Odinkalu added that it was not proper for President Muhammadu Buhari to carry out official duties such as his recent assent to the bill amending the deep off-shore act.

He said: “While he has been on the private visit, the Presidency has been off-shored. He has assented to the Deep Off-shore Act, in London.

“His chief of staff took the bill to him there to assent to, which begs the question how private is this private visit. If you recall, in the final days of late President Umaru Yar’Adua, the attorney-general then, Michael Aondakaa, told us that the president could rule from anywhere.

“It was in response to that that the national assembly amended the constitution requiring the president to hand-over to his deputy in these kinds of circumstances.”

He, however, added that such action of the president is not surprising “with the way they have been treating the vice-president recently.”

“Let’s be honest, did you realistically expect them to comply with the constitution on this matter? Essentially, these folks find the constitution worse than inconvenient,” he said.

- THECABLE

Unemployment: 29,000 applicants battle for 1.500 jobs in Ogun

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun has said a total of 29,000 applicants are currently jostling to fill the 1,500 existing vacancies in public primary and secondary schools in the state.

Abiodun, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin said the 29,000 people applied for the jobs through the recruitment window of the government.

According to him, the state government has started analysing the profiles of the would-be teachers, following the closure of the application on Saturday.

The governor said recruitment of more teachers became necessary to reposition the state’s education sector.

He explained that his government’s commitment to providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning made it embark on the reconstruction of schools across the 236 wards in the state.

- DAILY POST

N241b Security votes: SERAP sues Buhari, NASS leaders

How much money do the Federal Government, state governors and council chairmen, spend on the unaccountable security votes every year?

A rights group Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) is seeking an answer and has sued President Muhammadu Buhari, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, asking the Federal High court to order them disclose details of allocations.

The group wants information on disbursement and spending of security votes by the Federal Government, 36 state governors and 774 local governments between 1999 and 2019.

The suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1369/2019, filed last Friday followed SERAP’s Freedom of Information requests and “the respondents’ failure to account for some N241.2 billion of public funds allocated, disbursed and spent yearly as security votes, and the corresponding lack of effective protection of the rights to security and welfare, life and physical integrity of millions of Nigerians.”

Others joined as parties in the suit are: Mr Godwin Emefiele, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Ahmed Idris, Accountant General of the Federation and Mr Anthony Ayine, Auditor General for the Federation.

According to SERAP: “Nigerians have the constitutional and international human right to know details of the exact amounts that have been spent as security votes and specific areas and projects covered by the allocations, disbursement and spending. There is overriding public interest in Nigerians having access to these details, and the respondents have legal obligations to facilitate public access to such information.”

“Constitutional provisions requiring governments to ensure the security and welfare of the people are intended to protect the security and safety of citizens and not the security of a few individuals in government. Without transparency and accountability, the mismanagement and corruption in the allocation, disbursement and spending of security votes will continue with devastating consequences.”

The suit filed by SERAP’s lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Opeyemi Owolabi read in part: “The respondents have a legal duty to proactively record, keep and disclose information in respect of allocation, disbursement and spending of security votes without waiting for SERAP to request for such information. They are also required to maintain and publish documents containing information relating to the receipt or expenditure of public funds.”

“Public officials receiving and spending security votes ought to come clean with Nigerians on how exactly these public funds are spent. Unless the reliefs sought are granted, Nigerians would continue to see the appropriation of public funds as security votes as a tool for self-enrichment.”

“The suit is seeking to offer governments at all levels an important opportunity to be transparent and accountable with the exercise of their discretionary powers in the allocation, disbursement and spending of security votes. The public interest in the disclosure of these details outweighs any private interest the respondents may be seeking to protect.”

“The huge financial resources budgeted for security votes by successive governments have not matched the security realities in the country, especially given the level of insecurity, violence, kidnappings and killings in many parts of the country, which seem to suggest massive political use, mismanagement or stealing of security votes by many governments.”

“As revealed by a 2018 report by Transparency International (TI), most of the funds appropriated as security votes are spent on political activities, mismanaged or simply stolen. It is estimated that security votes add up to over N241.2 billion every year. On top of appropriated security votes, governments also receive millions of dollars yearly as international security assistance.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

- PM NEWS