Nigerian Newspapers
Group threatens recall of Rivers lawmaker
• Abe flays police arrest of Amaechi’s loyalists
A GROUP, the Rivers Progressive Committee, said it has initiated the process of recalling a member of the House of Representatives representing Ikwerre/Emohua Federal Constituency, Andrew Uchendu, over poor performance and lack of effective representation.
Meanwhile, the Senator representing Rivers South-East, Magnus Abe, has condemned arrest of two political officers in Rivers State last week by the Police, describing the victims as political prisoners in their country.
Chairman of Omuma Local Council, Mr. Charles Amefule as well as the Assistant Secretary of Godspower Ake-led faction of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Mr. Leo Anyanwu, were said to have been whisked away by policemen last week and remanded in Kuje Prison, Abuja.
Also, the Chief Godspower Ake-led PDP said the electoral victory of the party in Rivers State would dependent on Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The President of the group, Mr. Franklin Wosu disclosed that they have already garnered 18,582 signatures in the move to recall Uchendu over poor performance and lack of effective representation.
Wosu in a statement issued yesterday said that the group after a meeting of constituency stakeholders at the weekend resolved to ensure that the ineffective lawmaker recall was a success.
“The recall process of the lawmaker started three months ago when it was discovered that he had not made any impact nor had he sponsored any bill. However, the decision to formally take action against him was reached when his recent comments on the Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, exposed him as an anti democratic lawmaker, working with Governor Amaechi to promote All Progressive Congress (APC) activities in Rivers State,” said Wosu.
He alleged that in just three days, 500 volunteers raked in the signatures because of Uchendu’s unpopularity, who usually relies on the Government House to get re-elected. The group said that more volunteers are on board and work will intensify on the project.
“We are bringing him home, so that he can concentrate on his duty as a campaigner for Amaechi’s APC and a village elder who is used to heap insults on people of importance. The Wike, he is insulting has attracted two federal e-libraries, a girl child school, a faculty of law building at UNIPORT, a complete rehabilitation of the school at Rumuipirikom and several projects at the State University of Education. What has Papa Uchendu done after 10 wasted years at the House of Representatives, except to shout aye or nay”, he said.
The group reiterated its commitment to ensuring that the South-South political agenda exemplified by President Jonathan and Wike is driven to its logical conclusion.
“Rather than use uncomplimentary language on Wike, Uchendu and Amaechi should shop for a candidate among the unpopular few tied to the governor’s apron string. Trying to use intimidation tactics won’t work as the people must decide the future of Rivers State in 2015”, the Rivers Progressive Committee affirmed.
In a statement signed by publicity secretary of the Ake-led PDP, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, in Port Harcourt, said men and women wishing to win elections in the state in 2015 would depend solely on the finished work of the governor.
“Amaechi, who’s house is built on solid rock, the Ake group said the laudable achievements of our amiable governor is a win-win ticket for any aspirant in the state, the statement further described the Obuah’s group as a sinking sound for any aspirant in 2015 election, they should be mindful that we ‘re still in court and is not over yet,” he said.
Abe, who spoke to journalists Sunday, said the men were carried away without any information regarding their whereabouts for 48 hours.
“Few days ago, Chairman of Omuma Local Council in Rivers State, Mr. Charles Amefule and the Assistant State Secretary of the Ake faction of the PDP in Rivers, Leo Anyanwu, were kidnapped by the police and it was only yesterday that we learnt they were brought to Abuja and taken to a Magistrate Court and charged with six-count charge of misrepresentation and remanded in Kuje prison. They are right now in Kuje prison.
“So, as we speak, they are political prisoners in Nigeria today. That is what this means because the offense to which they are charged has no relationship whatsoever with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“The foundation of this matter was that one of the five members in Rivers State House of Assembly who attempted to impeach the speaker by force and overthrow the government of Rivers State by force, wrote a petition to the police and the petition was minuted to whoever and policemen were dispatched to Rivers State to kidnap these young men, brought them to Abuja and they are now remanded in prison”.
According to him, the manner of arrest, which denies victims opportunities of knowing reasons for their arrest and where they are being taken to, is nothing short of kidnap.
“I call it kidnap because the procedure for arrest is that you should be informed of your offence, whatever it is and you should be allowed to inform your family or call your lawyer. But these people were carried away. Nobody knew where they were taken to, nobody knew what they were charged with until we got to Abuja Magistrate Court and found out what they were charged with, remanded in Prison and the case adjourned”.
The lawmaker also condemned later explanation that the men attempted to incite the public with the announcement of the suspension of the five members of the State House of Assembly.
“The allegation that by making an announcement, suspending the members, who attempted to impeach the Speaker and overthrow the government of Rivers State, they have incited violence or committed impersonation or whatever they are, are things that ordinarily, by common sense and by the operation of the Constitution, would have been tried in Port Harcourt and handled there.
“There was no need carrying them without informing their families of the reasons they were arrested and where they were being taken to. We were in panic for over 48 hours before the information came that they had been charged to court in Abuja”, Abe explained.
While expecting the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to investigate circumstances leading to the arrest of the people and their movement to Abuja Prison, the lawmaker called on Nigerians to rise in defense of the Constitution.
“So, I don’t know whether we as citizens are watching what is happening in this country. It is not about Governor Amaechi, it is not about Rivers State, it is about the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. If they are doing it today in Rivers State and we don’t say anything, nobody says it is wrong, tomorrow, even some of the people who are doing these things, would themselves need the protection of the constitution,’’ he added.
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Source: Guardian Newspaper
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Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Kamaru Usman has raked in a mammoth £1.1million, about N584.2 million after his impressive knockout victory over Jorge Masvidal on Saturday night, Sportivation.com.ng reports.
The Nigerian Nightmare has been handsomely rewarded for his stunning performance and he was the best-paid fighter on the card which was witnessed by 15, 000 fans in Florida.
According to Daily Mail, Usman earned £538,000 to show up, £459,000 pay-per-view bonus, a £43,000 sponsorship bonus and a well deserved £35,000 Performance of the Night bonus.
Jorge Masvidal also earned £358,000 to show, £186,000 in pay-per-view money and a £28,000 sponsorship bonus.
This is the biggest payday of Usman’s career so far and the Welterweight champion also benefited from the fact that Masvidal is also a top draw for the fans.
Kamaru Usman is a Nigerian-American professional mixed martial artist, former freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler.
Sourced From: Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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