President Muhammadu Buhari was booed by a large crowd of Borno residents, on Wednesday, as his convoy drove from the Maiduguri International Airport to the centre of the city. The President, upon returning from a five-day trip to Ethiopia for an African Union summit, paid a condolence visit to the North-Eastern state, following a Boko Haram attack on Sunday.

As his convoy moved to the city, he was booed by residents, who lined up along the airport road. The people, who have shown dissatisfaction with the increased Boko Haram attacks in the state, lined up along the airport road and shouted in Hausa Bama so! Bamayi!, meaning “We don’t want,” “we’re not interested.” This was markedly different from the  warm reception Buhari received from residents of the state, during previous visits. 

Roads leading to Maiduguri have witnessed sustained attacks by insurgents in recent times. On Sunday, no fewer than 30 travellers, including children and women,were burnt to death by insurgents, who invaded Auno, a village 20 kilometres to Maiduguri. The travellers had failed to meet up with the 5 pm deadline when the military usually shut the Maiduguri gate.

On January 18, one soldier and four Boko Haram terrorists were killed during an attack on an aid facility in the Ngala area of the state, where at least 20 internally displaced persons whowaiting for assistance at the facility were killed. On January 20 as well, many residents were abducted in two confrontations between the military and Boko Haram insurgents on the Bama-Gwoza highway. A day after, eight soldiers were reportedly killed during a battle with the Boko Haram insurgents in Kaga, Borno. The insurgents had disguised and moved in a police vehicle towards a military base, before opening fire on unsuspecting soldiers near their trench.

Buhari, in an op-ed in a United States-based magazine, Christianity Today, had last week stated that since he assumed office in 2015, the insurgents had been weakened by the armed forces.

The President’s comment came on the heels of criticisms by prominent Nigerians and groups, including the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, who expressed concern about increasing insecurity in the country.

According to residents of Maiduguri, the people of the state are fed up with the President’s failure to restore peace to the state after five years in government. A resident, Abba Yusuph said, “The President was elected and equally re-elected on the grounds of providing security and pushing Boko Haram out, up till now that has never been done. We asked for the change of the service chiefs, the President did not accede and we are locked inside Maiduguri as if we are prisoners. 

“We cannot travel outside the town without fear.  We just have to pray that we are not killed on the road while the insurgents keep moving closer on Maiduguri. There is hardly any family that has not lost a loved one.”

Buhari,  at the Palace of Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi,  encouraged the residents of the state to cooperate with the military to win the war against the insurgents.

Read also Victor Olaiya, 'The Evil Genius of Highlife' Dies at 89

In his address to the traditional rulers and other prominent Borno indigenes at the palace, he said, “The cooperation of your people with our troops and other security agencies by providing credible information could end insurgency not only in Borno but other states of Yobe and Adamawa.” 

The state Governor, Babagana Zulum, had urged him to deploy troops in Boko Haram hideouts in Sambisa Forest and Lake Chad region. According to Zulum, the insurgents launched their attacks from their hideouts in the forest and Lake Chad, as well as some of the caves at the Mandara Mountains in the Gwoza Local Government Area.

The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji El-Kanemi, also pleaded with the President to help the people of Borno State more in the area of security to ward off the threat of the Boko Haram.

'WE DON'T WANT YOU,' MAIDUGURI RESIDENTS BOO BUHARI FOLLOWING RECURRENT  BOKO HARAM ATTACKS 

Victor Olaiya, veteran highlife musician, has passed on at 89 years. The news was confirmed by the Managing Director of the Evergreen Music Company Limited, Bimbo Esho.

The official statement she released read, “The entire music world wishes to announce the death of a legend of highlife music – one of the last man standing, the last of the originals, Dr Victor Olaiya, OON.

“This untimely incident happened at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital around 12noon on Wednesday, February 12, 2020.”

The late singer and trumpeter was famous for hit songs and albums such as Baby Jowo, Feso J’aiye, Ilu Le O and Taxi Driver. He was born on December 31, 1930, the 20th child of a family of 24,  in Calabar, Cross River to parents who hailed from Ijesha-Iju in Ekiti State.

Olaiya was known as “The Evil Genius of Highline.”  He performed at state balls in Lagos for Queen Elizabeth II and with Louis Armstrong. A former president of the Nigerian Union of Musicians, Olaiya was most prolific in the 1960s, releasing numerous singles which were remixed numerous times over the years.

He is survived by many wives, children, and grandchildren.

VICTOR OLAIYA, 'THE EVIL GENIUS OF HIGHLIFE' PASSES ON AT 89

BUHARI HAS BROUGHT NEPOTISM INTO MILITARY-KUKAH

The Bishop of Sokoto Catholic Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has thoroughly criticized President Muhammadu Buhari. According to the cleric, the President has not only relegated the national interest to the background, he has also introduced nepotism to the military. Kukah stated this in the sermon he delivered at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaukau, Kaduna State before the burial of  Michael Nnadi,  the 18 year old seminarian killed by kidnappers.

The slain seminarian was today laid to rest amid tears at the Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaukau, Kaduna.

Bishop Kukah recalled Buhari’s promise during the 2015 electioneering process. While  campaigning in 2015, Buhari said if he was elected, the world would not have to worry about insecurity in Nigeria. He quoted the President as having said,, “I (Buhari) as a retired general and a former Head of State have always known about our soldiers. They are capable and they are well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty. If I am elected President, the world will have no reason to worry about Nigeria. Nigeria will return to its stabilizing role in West Africa.

“We will pay sufficient attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service. We will develop adequate and modern arms and ammunition. We will improve intelligence gathering and border patrols to choke Boko Haram’s financial and equipment channels. We will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development and promoting infrastructural development…we will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester. And I, Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front.”

Kukah, however, noted that the reverse has been  the case as the country has continued to wallow in insensitivity and despotism and  the President has brought nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies.

In Bishop Kukah's  words, “No one in that hall or anywhere in Nigeria doubted the President who ran his campaign on a tank supposedly full of the fuel of integrity and moral probity. No one could have imagined that in winning the Presidency, General Buhari would bring nepotism and clannishness into the military and the ancillary security agencies, that his government would be marked by supremacist and divisive policies that would push our country to the brink. 

“This President has displayed the greatest degree of insensitivity in managing our country’s rich diversity. He has subordinated the larger interests of the country to the hegemonic interests of his co-religionists and clansmen and women. The impression created now is that to hold a key and strategic position in Nigeria today, it is more important to be a northern Muslim than a Nigerian.”

Kukah stated, “Our nation is like a ship stranded on the high seas, rudderless and with broken navigational aids. Today, our years of hypocrisy, duplicity, fabricated integrity, false piety, empty morality, fraud and Pharisaism have caught up with us. Nigeria is at a crossroads and its future hangs precariously in the balance. This is a wake up call for us.”

The cleric said with the current situation, Nigeria was not worth dying for. He stated, “Nigeria is at a point where we must call for a verdict. There must be something that a man, nay, a nation should be ready to die for.

“Sadly, or even tragically, today, Nigeria, does not possess that set of goals or values for which any sane citizen is prepared to die for her. Perhaps, I should correct myself and say that the average office holder is ready to die to protect his office but not for the nation that has given him or her that office.

He added that Buhari remained the only President in the history of the country that had run the “most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history.''

Read also, Unnamed Disease Kills 11 in Benue

The Bishop said, “Today, in Nigeria, the noble religion of Islam has convulsed. It has become associated with some of the worst fears among our people. Muslim scholars, traditional rulers and intellectuals have continued to cry out helplessly, asking for their religion and region to be freed from this chokehold. This is because, in all of this, neither Islam nor the North can identify any real benefits from these years that have been consumed by the locusts that this government has unleashed on our country. The Fulani, his innocent kinsmen, have become the subject of opprobrium, ridicule, defamation, calumny and obloquy. His North has become one large graveyard, a valley of dry bones, the nastiest and the most brutish part of our dear country.

“Despite running the most nepotistic and narcissistic government in known history, there are no answers to the millions of young children on the streets in northern Nigeria, the north still has the worst indices of poverty, insecurity, stunting, squalor and destitution.”

The Presidency has not reacted to the Bishop's criticisms.

BUHARI HAS RUN THE MOST NEPOTISTIC AND NARCISSISTIC GOVERNMENT IN NIGERIA- BISHOP KUKAH

Death Toll of Benue Strange Disease Rises to 11

A “strange disease” has reportedly killed more than 10 persons in Benue State since it was first reported on January 30. The disease reportedly causes vomiting, swelling and diarrhea. Abba Monday, Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District at the National Assembly informed the Daily Post that the number of persons affected by the strange disease had risen to 104.

Members of Oye-Obi, a fishing community in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State have  expressed displeasure over the Benue government’s alleged failure to unravel the cause of the strange illness, which is still killing people. 

According to the president-elect of the Igede National Youth Council, Mr. Andyson Egbodo, “Two weeks after the state government picked two out of over 50 sick persons with the same case definition, there has been no categorical statement issued by the government with regard to the clinical investigations conducted so far.

“About six deaths have occurred in the last two weeks. Add that to the first four and note that several others are still down in pitiable inhuman condition, some in acutely insufficient private medical facilities located in the area and the others helplessly in their houses, waiting for death. All of them are manifesting same symptoms. How long will it take the government to tell us what is about to wipe out the entire settlement of Oye-Obi and the nature of the sickness, so that we can begin to mount hedges against its spread, if it is contagious?”

He called on the Benue State Government to “rise up to the Oye-Obi health challenge” and stop the high death rate in the area.

Read also Soyinka in Court in A Show of Solidarity with Sowore

Soyinka Arrives Court in Solidarity with Sowore

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has arrived the Federal High Court in Abuja, ahead of proceedings, in solidarity with Sahara Reporters publisher, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, who is being prosecuted for organising a nationwide protest tagged #RevolutionNow.

Sowore, and Olawale Bakare had been arrested by the Department of State Services in August 2019, for organizing the #RevolutionNow protest and were subsequently charged with treasonable felony- allegedly planning to topple the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, and other counts including abusing the President.

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They were held in custody for over four months until unrelenting domestic and international pressure forced the government to release them in December. The trial officially commenced today, Wednesday February 12, after being adjourned from Tuesday, February 11th by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu. 

Read also, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Warns Security Outfits to Steer Clear of Nnamdi Kanu's Parents' Burial

SOYINKA IN COURT IN A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY WITH SOWORE 

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Issues Warning to Security Outfits 

Apex Igbo Socio-cultural Youth group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, on Tuesday warned the police and the army against disrupting the burial of the parents of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement jointly signed by the President-General Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and the Secretary General Okwu Nnabuike, the police was warned not to invite the wrath of the group and advised to stay at least one kilometre away from the Afaraukwu community, where the burial would take place.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr Ene Okon, had warned that the police would react if the proscribed Indigenous People of  Biafra  attended the event slated for Friday. The group, in response, warned the Commissioner of Police against making such inciting statements which is capable of causing breakdown of law and order. The Commissioner was advised to withdraw the statement and tender an unreserved apology to IPOB.

The group said, “We wish to remind security agents that Igbo customs and traditions demand that certain positive rituals are carried out especially during burial rites of any Igbo paramount ruler, which does not require the presence of strangers and non Igbo. As such police, army and other paramilitary forces should vacate Umuahia to avert avoidable a clash with youths doing traditional rituals in honour of the late king.” 

IPOB was also urged by Ohanaeze Ndigbo  to be of good conduct before, during and after the burial. 

“Finally, OYC urge Biafra agitators, especially IPOB members to join other sympathizers of the  family of the late paramount ruler of Afaraukwu community, late HRM Eze Isaac Kanu, to be of good conduct and avoid using anything that would jeopardize the process of according the king and queen the befitting burial rites,” the statement concluded..

STEER CLEAR OF NNAMDI KANU'S PARENTS' BURIAL, OHANAEZE NDIGBO WARNS POLICE, ARMY

13 Steel Factories Shut Down by SON for Violation

Thirteen steel factories have been shut by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), for violation of standards. This occurred following a nationwide market surveillance carried out by the oorganisation’s task force in November 2019 and January 2020 during which samples of various steel products were obtained from the open market and the companies’ facilities. The affected factories are located in Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Abia and Edo states.

The Chairman, SON Task Force on Steel, Mr Enebi Onucheyo has stated that the affected companies will remain shut till further notice. According to him, “Laboratory tests and analysis done on the samples reveal that most companies fail to meet the minimum requirements for diameter and mass per meter as provided in NIS 117:2004. These are critical parameters in the standard for reinforcement bars for concrete.”

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In addition, some of the companies were found to have tampered with products earlier placed on hold in their facilities by SON. An instance was the discovery of an unregistered identification mark “GE” in one of the products sampled. SON’s Director-General, Mr Osita Aboloma has stressed the need to promote quality Made-in-Nigeria products preparation for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

Onucheyo has stressed that surveillance of factories would be a continuous exercise in order to further protect consumers from the dangers associated with substandard and life-endangering products.

SON SHUTS DOWN 13 FACTORIES FOR VIOLATION OF STANDARDS

Released Persons Mostly Cleared Suspects And Relatives of Terrorists

About 1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects have been released by the military and rehabilitated into society in Borno State. According to the Borno State Commissioner for Information, Babakura Jato, about 1,400 have been released in three tranches in the ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ programme.

Jato stated that most of the persons released were not actual members of the Boko Haram terrorist group but were relatives of terrorists or persons found in the wrong place at the wrong time. He said, “There have been a series of releases. They were released in three tranches. The first set was released during Governor Shettima’s time while two sets have been released under Prof. Zulum.

“Of the 1400, the majority of them are cleared suspects. These were people who were suspected of being members of Boko Haram and it was discovered that they were not. The rest are children of Boko Haram or actual Boko Haram members. I cannot give you a breakdown of the figure now for security reasons.”

The government’s spokesman said he was aware of allegations that some of those released had gone back to terrorism but argued that most of these allegations were mere speculations. Jato said after the training, they were handed over to the Borno State Government for proper integration into their communities.

He stated that if any person was rejected by his community for being a former Boko Haram member, such a person would be resettled by the government.

1400 REPENTANT BOKO HARAM SUSPECTS RELEASED IN BORNO

Former AGF, Mohammed Adoke Arraigned for Money Laundering Charges 

The immediate-past Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Monday on fresh money laundering charges.

Adoke, Aliyu Abubakar, alongside others are standing  at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Gwagwalada, Abuja, in respect to the Malabu Oil scam. Both men have pleaded not guilty to all fresh seven counts read to them before Justice Binta Nyako at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The defendants are alleged to have made payments in naira and dollar  equivalent to about N900m into Adoke’s accounts in violation of various provisions of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act in September 2013. 

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Bala Sanga, urged the court to have the defendants  remanded  in EFCC custody pending when their bail applications would be heard and determined. Adoke’s legal team, led by Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN), as well as Abubakar’s defence team led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), informed the court that they had filed separate applications for the bail of their clients.

Malabu Oil scam: EFCC arraigns Adoke on fresh money laundering charges

NIGERIANS IN CHINA EXPRESS DISPLEASURE OVER FAILURE OF GOVT TO EVACUATE THEM FROM WUHAN

The House of Representatives has been accused by Nigerians in China of trivialising the ordeal of over 60 citizens stranded in the city of Wuhan. This was stated by a Nigerian in China, Nnamdi Onwuka, in an e-mail entitled, ‘Don’t trivialise our situation’.

He wrote, “The Nigerian community in China has expressed shock and disappointment in the members of House of Representatives for trivialising the ordeal of over 60 Nigerians stranded in the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China following a motion by one of the lawmakers calling for necessary actions by the Federal Government to ensure that those Nigerians returned to their fatherland.

“It is unfortunate that rather than attracting a sober reflection and robust deliberation from the lawmakers, the motion became object of mockery by those who swore to an oath to ensure that their official conducts were in the best interest of Nigerians. The video clips of that ‘show of shame’ in the legislative chamber has gone viral here (in China) and Nigerians have become objects of jokes by citizens of other countries who could not fathom why responsible legislators would make mockery of such a well-conceived motion, even as other nations, including Kenya have taken steps to remove their citizens from Wuhan.”

He added, “We reiterate our call for the immediate evacuation of our compatriots in Wuhan as government officials have repeatedly told the world that Nigeria has the resources to quarantine returnees as it did during the outbreak of Ebola.

 “While we appreciate the Nigerian ambassador to China, Ahmed Jidda, for the donation of 20,000 Yuan (approximately N1m) to Nigerians trapped in Wuhan, it is the considered view of Nigerian community that such piecemeal gestures though helpful, is not a long-term solution to the crisis. It is imperative that the international community fully collaborates with the Chinese government to ensure that this challenge is resolved as soon as possible”

CORONAVIRUS: NIGERIANS TO HOUSE OF REPS, ‘DON’T TRIVIALISE OUR ORDEAL’

35 year old of Ex-VC Kidnapped; No Demands Yet Made

The residence of a former vice chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, was on Friday, February 7th, invaded by gunmen who kidnapped his 35-year-old daughter, a mother of three.

According to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, the gunmen stormed the residence located at Hayin Malam Jama’a in the Sabon Gwari LGA, Zaria in Kaduna State on Friday night about 11:30pm. All the occupants of the house were forced out and the security man, Zayyanu Abdullahi, who attempted to escape was shot and injured.

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The incident was confirmed by the police in Kaduna on Sunday. According to them, the gunmen have not called to make a demand. In addition, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSP Yakubu Sabo, said the operatives of the command moved into action and neutralised one of the bandits on getting the distressed call on the incident.

GUNMEN ABDUCT ABU EX-VC’S DAUGHTER IN KADUNA

TARABA EX-GOVERNOR, JOLLY NYAME HAS BAGGED 12 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR CORRUPTION

The Supreme Court has on Friday, February 7, 2020, affirmed the conviction and sentence of former Governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, to 12 years imprisonment for N1.6bn corruption charges.

Nyame had on May 30, 2018 been convicted by Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the FCT High Court on a total of 27 out of 41 corruption charges involving about N1.6bn held against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, had set aside the N100m fine imposed on him by the Court of Appeal, but Justice Amina Augie held that it was wrong for the Court of Appeal to have imposed the fine on him, ruling it a nullity. She however affirmed Nyame’s guilt and conviction, and upheld the Court of Appeal’s reduction of the 14 years imprisonment to 12 years.

The former governor was sentenced to different terms of imprisonment for offences including criminal misappropriation, criminal breach of trust and receiving gratification as a public officer. The funds he misappropriated included ecological funds, funds earmarked for grains, and a presidential visit.

SUPREME COURT AFFIRMS 12 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR NYAME, TARABA EX-GOVERNNOR

Nigerian newspapers,on one page.

'WE DON'T WANT YOU,' MAIDUGURI RESIDENTS BOO BUHARI FOLLOWING RECURRENT BOKO HARAM ATTACKS