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  • Afegbua: Why I joined Edo APC 2024 governorship race

    Afegbua: Why I joined Edo APC 2024 governorship race

    A former Edo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has disclosed that he is in the 2024 governorship race on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in order to address the infrastructural decay and leadership deficiency in Edo.

    Afegbua, who hails from Edo North Senatorial District, stated that his aspiration was also to seamlessly reposition the state in sync with national reckoning, and fully explore the beckoning opportunities.

    He noted that Edo state could not afford to be in opposition, with a Federal Government that was poised to renew the citizens’ hope and take them to a place of prosperity, economic strength, stability, and pride.

    The governorship aspirant spoke yesterday in Benin, when he visited the secretariat of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo state council.

    He said: “My intention is borne out of a genuine desire to offer a new lease of leadership to our people, following the political disconnect of the present leadership in the state, seeing the decline it has brought upon us. We have been failed and put in despair by our current leadership. There is a huge leadership deficiency in our state, and it needs an urgent and just response.

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    “Edo people are presently disoriented by the politics of pretense and high-handedness, occasioned by the needless squabbles and altercations among the leaders of the ruling party (Peoples Democratic Party, PDP) in our state. The cohesion that should naturally promote and reassure citizens of a sense of belonging across the 18 local governments is absent. Growth, development, and prosperity have not been able to pick momentum under these circumstances.

    “There is no longer a clear-cut leadership direction as a homogeneous state, that was once driven by the collective aspirations of our founding fathers, which indeed formed the bedrock of and gave impetus to our progress and prosperity, has now become one of incessant political turmoil. Our political trajectory has become one of tempers and anger. It is imperative at this time that we start the process of healing and reinvigoration of the lofty glory of our dear state.

    “I am energetic, strong and vibrant. I am a man of grit and am very passionate about resetting the political architecture and dynamics of Edo State through purposeful leadership that will birth a new lease of life for us all. I am encouraged by the knowledge of the natural resourcefulness and ingenuity that lie in our people, and their can-do spirit, now unfortunately in despondency. I will create the right ambiance and atmosphere, by tapping from the reservoir of knowledge of our leaders and the innovative ingenuity of our youths.”

    Afegbua, a former Spokesman to ex-military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, also stated that upon his election on September 21, 2024 and subsequent inauguration on November 12 next year, he would hit the ground running, with emphasis to be placed on road, education and health.

    He said: “I am determined to make a big difference with positive impacts. With your support, I will redefine the essence of governance for the benefit of our people. The era of lamentation will be gone, when I take the lead.

    “Edo must rise again from the ashes of this present mis-governance, to a state that will occupy its rightful place in the assembly of states in Nigeria. Edo State deserves more than just a passing interest.”

    The APC chieftain also stated that there was nothing like zoning in Edo politics, with aspirants with capacities to govern the state to emerge as standard bearers of the political parties, while the electorate would vote for the best person, which he represented.

  • My life is in danger, says Afegbua

    My life is in danger, says Afegbua

    *But vows:I won’t succumb to intimidation

    *Dismisses Police, DSS as interlopers engaging in bullying

     

    Prince Kassim Afegbua, spokesman to ex-Military President Ibrahim Babangida, claimed on Friday that he has been receiving death threats from unknown quarters following his issuance of a statement asking President Muhammadu Buhari to jettison his reelection bid in 2019.

    The authors of the death threats are not sparing his family, Afegbua said moments after his interrogation on the statement by the Department of State Security Service (DSS).

    The former EdoState commissioner said in a statement in Abuja that he has been receiving phone calls threatening him and his family.

    But he vowed that never would he be intimidated by anyone or group for issuing the statement .

    He was first invited for questioning by the police on Wednesday and later by the DSS on the statement.

    Afegbua declared that nothing would stop him from exercising his right of free speech.

    His words: “In the last six days, I have gone through traumatic experience when I was declared wanted by the Nigeria Police.

    “ By the strength of that unprofessional declaration, I was treated like a common criminal and fugitive until I showed up at the Police Headquarters Abuja to physically present myself.

    “After what the Police termed a no case issue, they were apologetic and I took my leave.

    “ In the evening of that day, Wednesday 7th February, 2018 I got a phone call inviting me to the Headquarters of the Directorate of State Security (DSS).

    “I honoured the invitation on Thursday and spent seven hours waiting for attention. I left the office at 6.50pm when it became clear nobody was ready to tell me what the invitation was meant for. I was informed to report back on Friday 9th February, 2018 at 11am.

    “On arrival on Friday, having spent two hours, I was attended to by the Director of Operations and two others who interrogated me on the said statement I issued.

    ” My interrogation was recorded electronically and was made to write a statement affirming the issued statement, having collected all my personal details; house address, account number, international passport number and other information.

    “I find this whole episode quite nauseating and utterly condemnable. I cannot rationalise why just a statement would amount to subjecting me to rigorous interrogation especially when there was no complainant.”

    Afegbua said the Nigeria Police and the DSS were at best meddlesome interloper engaging in sheer bullying,

    He added: “The action of the Nigeria Police coupled with that of the State Security Service is at best that of a meddlesome interloper and sheer bullying, leaving serious developmental issues to chasing shadows with a view to intimidate, harass and embarrass me.

    “Let me state at this point that my life is in danger as we speak. I have been receiving series of unknown phone calls from people threatening me and my family.

    “But I am resolute in the true spirit of a free born, that threats, intimidation, harassment and psychological torturing has never and will not stop me from exercising my right of free speech as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; as well as carrying out my professional responsibility.

    “I will not submit to intimidation, harassment and threats. Certainly not. I have just a life to live and no one under God will live forever.”

     

    “This experience to me is an eye opener in so many ways. I feel a sense of personal gratitude to several of Nigeria’s foremost legal luminaries who maintained a constant touch and gave useful legal advice throughout the period of this travails.

    “I am most humbled. And the Almighty Allah will meet all of you in your hour of need. On a lighter note, the support, accolades and motivation I received during this period have given me added confidence to seek elective public office in no distant future.”

    “ I speak as a stakeholder, former president, concerned Nigerian and a patriot who desires to see new paradigms in our shared commitment to get this country running. While saying this also, I do not intend to deny President Buhari his inalienable right to vote and be voted for, but there comes a time in the life of a nation, when personal ambition should not override national interest. “This is the time for us to reinvent the will and tap into the resourcefulness of the younger generation, stimulate their entrepreneurial initiatives and provoke a conduce environment to grow national economy both at the micro and macro levels.
    “Contemporary leadership has to be proactive and not reactive. It must factor in citizens’ participation. Its language of discourse must be persuasive not agitated and abusive. It must give room for confidence building. It must build consensus and form aggregate opinion on any issue to reflect the wishes of the people across the country.

    “It must gauge the mood of the country at every point in time in order to send the right message. It must share in their aspirations and give them cause to have confidence in the system. Modern leadership is not just about “fighting” corruption, it is about plugging the leakages and building systems that will militate against corruption.

    “Accountability in leadership should flow from copious examples. It goes beyond mere sloganeering. My support for a new breed leadership derives from the understanding that it will show a marked departure from recycled leadership to creating new paradigms that will breathe fresh air into our present polluted leadership actuality.
    “My intervention in the governance process of Nigeria wasn’t an accident of history. Even as a military government, we had a clear-cut policy agenda on what we needed to achieve. We recruited some of the best brains and introduced policies that remain some of the best in our effort to re-engineer our polity and nation.

    “We saw the future of Nigeria but lack of continuity in government and of policies killed some of our intentions and initiatives. Even though we did not provide answers to all the developmental challenges that confronted us as at that time, we were not short of taking decisions whenever the need arose.”

  • DSS asks Afegbua to report today

    DSS asks Afegbua to report today

    THE Department of State Security (DSS) has asked spokesperson to former military president Gen. Ibrahim Babangida Mr. Kassim Afegbua to report again to its Abuja office today.

    Afegbua’s lawyer Dr. Kayode Ajulo said his client was interrogated for hours by DSS operatives and directed to report at the Abuja headquarters of the agency “to conclude the chat” today.

    Afegbua arrived at the DSS’ expansive complex near the Presidential Villa in Abuja just before 12 noon yesterday.

    Yesterday evening, reporters’ wait near the DSS headquarters went unrewarded as Afegbua’s chat with DSS operatives became much longer than expected.

    The lawyer had written a letter to the DSS Director-General, querying the unexplained nature of the chat invitation on Wednesday night.

    The IBB spokesman was declared wanted by the police over a statement issued on behalf of Babangida calling on President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election.

    It was learnt that the police later apologised over the invitation.

  • Afegbua storms Force headquarters

    Afegbua storms Force headquarters

    … I’m not a fugitive – Babangida’s media aide

    Kassim Afegbua, the Spokesman to the former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, has turned himself in at the Force headquarters in Abuja.

    Afegbua arrived the police headquarters at 10:32 a.m. in company of his wife, lawyer, Kayode Ajulo and friends.

    The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had on Monday ordered Afegbua’s arrest over a statement he issued on behalf of Babangida, urging President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019.

    The ex- President’s media aide said when he was declared wanted by the police, Babangida called him and asked if he was a criminal.

    When asked if he was in touch with his boss, Afegbua, who addressed journalists before entering the police headquarters, said: “It will even interest you to know that when I was declared wanted on Channels TV and Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA), my boss; IBB was the one who called me and said ‘why are they declaring you wanted?  Are you a criminal? and we laughed over it.

    “He also asked if I was on the run and if I have been given invitation and he said, okay that is interesting. My boss said he heard on the news that they talked about defamation of character and he asked whose character have you defamed?

    “So I am very much in touch with him and I am not doing anything out of the blues.  He is a man I have been with for the past 14 years as spokesman. Even when I went to serve in my state, I was still very much in touch with him. I have said it before that I am part and parcel of him, we are family and so I don’t have any cause to worry over anything.

    “I am only here personally because I was declared wanted. I am not on the run, I am not a fugitive to the law and as a responsible Nigerian, I feel it was unwise on the part of the police to declare me wanted when I have not been formally invited. So I am here to present myself. I am here with my wife, other family members and my lawyer.”

    On the insinuation that the second statement was sent by a family member, he added: “If the former President has spoken to Thisday Newspaper to confirm the veracity of the statement I issued on his behalf, the other letter wouldn’t be an issue because essentially, that statement as far as I am concerned did not speak for IBB and Gen. Babangida by the special grace of God was former President and his title is GCFR and not GCON. So to me, the purported rebuttal is unnecessary.”

    ” It is understandable why I will have to extract my own commitment by way of asking the law court to enforce my right because I have a right under the constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended to freedom of association, freedom of speech and dignity and even if anything warrants one being declared wanted, it shouldn’t be in that manner.”

    On the withdrawal of the suit against Channels and NTA, he said: “It is because I am a media person. There is no complicity, I have withdrawn that of NTA and Channels TV this morning (Wednesday) at the Federal High Court.

    “So, I am suing the IGP and the police for infringing on my rights, demeaning my person and maligning my reputation.”

    When asked if he would withdraw the suit if the police apologizes, he stated: “That is secondary. When we get there, we will know.”

    Shortly after Afegbua made his way into the building, journalists who were there to cover his arrival were asked to vacate the Force headquarters because the event was not organised by the police.

     

     

  • Attempts to prosecute Afegbua over ‘Babangida’s statement’ illegal – Falana

    Attempts to prosecute Afegbua over ‘Babangida’s statement’ illegal – Falana

    Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, on Tuesday described as illegal the planned prosecution of ex- President Ibrahim Babangida’s media aide, Kassim Afegbua, over a controversial statement he issued on behalf of the ex-President, accusing the present administration of ineptitude, divisiveness and sectionalism.

    In the statement, the former military ruler also advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019.

    However, Babangida has disowned the well publicised statement and views ascribed to him by Afegbua.

    Following the ex-President’s denial, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Monday declared Afegbua wanted for alleged “character defamation.”

    But in a statement issued in Lagos, Falana advised the IGP to withdraw the offensive declaration without further delay.

    The rights activist said Idris has “over reached” himself by declaring Afegbua wanted when he has not failed to honour the police invitation.

    “Undoubtedly it is the Inspector General of police who has defamed Mr. Afegbua by portraying him as a fugitive from the law.  Therefore, Mr. Idris is advised to withdraw the offensive declaration without any further delay,” Falana stated.

    Speaking further on the controversial statement and the denial by Babangida, Falana said no criminal offence has been committed by the journalist to warrant the IGP’s action since the two leaders (Buhari and Babangida) have not complained of character defamation.

    He added: “In fact, if the statement is considered defamatory whoever is injured would have to institute a civil suit where he will be required to put his own reputation in issue. In Arthur Nwankwo v The State (1985) 4 NCLR 228, the Court of Appeal had cautioned public officers in Nigeria to desist from invoking undemocratic laws which were introduced by the erstwhile British colonial regime to harass or intimidate their political opponents. According to Olajide Olatawura JCA (as he then was of blessed memory):

    “The decision of the founding fathers of this present Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech which must include freedom to criticize should be praised and any attempt to derogate from it except as provided in the Constitution must be resisted. Those in public office should not be intolerant of criticism. Where a writer exceeds the bounds there should be a resort to the law of libel where the plaintiff must of necessity put his character and reputation in issue.”

    “Since Gen. Babangida has now turned round to insist that he authorised Mr. Afegbua to issue the controversial statement it is hoped that he will be prepared to say so in a criminal court. His testimony will go a long way to destroy the criminal case which the Inspector-General intends to institute against Mr. Afegbua. However, the IGP should be advised not to popularise the discredited views of both Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Ibrahim Babangida who failed woefully to institutionalised democracy, rule of law, human rights, self -reliance and probity during the 20 years that both of them had ruled the country.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • IGP orders Afegbua’s arrest

    IGP orders Afegbua’s arrest

    Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has ordered the arrest of the controversial spokesman of former Military President Ibrahim Babangida should he fail to turn himself up within 24 hours.

    Afegua is wanted for ” issuing a fake statement.”

    Afegbua in the purported statement quoted the former military ruler as saying President Muhammadu Buhari should not seek reelection.

    But the former president denied it and issued another one which he personally signed.

    But Afegbua insisted on the one he issued as the authentic.

    A government source, who does not want his name in print, confirmed that the IGP had ordered Afegbua’s arrest within24 hours.

  • IGP orders arrest of IBB’s media aide

    IGP orders arrest of IBB’s media aide

     The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris has reportedly ordered for the arrest of the media aide to former President Ibrahim Babangida, Prince Kassim Afegbua for the statement he issued on behalf of his boss.
    This issuance of the warrant of arrest was disclosed by a Presidency source on Sunday.
    Afegbua in a statement purportedly issued on Sunday on behalf of Babangida had quoted the former President saying that President Muhammadu Buhari should not seek for reelection in 2019.
    But the former President, in a swift reaction, denied issuing such a statement.
    He called on Nigerians to disregard the earlier statement by Afegbua.
    The Presidency source, who does not want his name in print, said that the IGP has ordered for  the arrest of Kassim Afegbua for issuing allegedly issuing a  fake statement.
    Afegbua was advised to submit himself to the force headquarters within 24 hours or face arrest.
    The media aide has however insisted that he had the permission of the former president to issue the statement credited to him.
  • Edo awards scholarship to child of slain Afegbua

    Edo awards scholarship to child of slain Afegbua

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has offered full scholarship to the only child of ex-council chairman of Etsako East local government area, the late Prince Suleiman Afegbua, who was shot dead along Benin-Auchi Road on Thursday by gunmen.
    Obaseki said: “Even if Suleiman is gone, I will make sure we take care of Zaiki, offer scholarship to his child to the university level and provide the necessary needs for the family.”
    He spoke during a condolence visit to the family home of the deceased at Awoyemi Quarters of Okpella in Etsako East Local Government of Edo State yesterday.
    The governor was received by late Afegbua’s father, his wife and other members of the quarters.
    Obaseki also promised to complete the road leading to the deceased’s quarters.
    According to him: “This road leading to this quarters (Awoyemi) which Suleiman could not complete will be completed and the youth will not be forgotten, as Suleiman was always fighting for the youth”.
    He described Afegbua as an administrator and man of peace who did his best to foster unity and development in his community.
    According to Obaseki, “You all know him to be a man of peace. He was going to Benin on that day for a reconciliation meeting to settle the problem in Okpella.
    “He was a man of peace and you will recall that for the last few weeks there has been series of robbery by Fulani on that road as well as kidnapping.”
    The governor noted that a leader of APC from Akoko-Edo local government area escaped being kidnapped by the Fulani herdsmen, stressing that information available to him revealed that Afegbua was killed why trying to escape from the robbers.
    “What I heard was that when his vehicle was intercepted by the robbers, he wanted to escape but the robbers felt he was going to attack them and they shot at him. That was why the other two persons with him in the vehicle were not killed,” he stated.

  • Afegbua heads Edo APC Reconciliation Committee

    A Member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Malik Afegbua, has been named as chairman of the Reconciliation Committee for Edo State.

    Mr. Godwin Obaseki won the primary with a landslide victory.

    The Reconciliation Committee is to reach out to members who are aggrieved over the outcome of the primaries.

    Other members of the committee  are Hon. Lucky Imasuen,  Mr. Austin Omofuma,  Hon. Charles Idahosa,  Hon. Theophilus Okoh, Senator Domingo Obende and Hon. Lawrence Okah.

    The Chairman of the APC, Mr. Anselm Ojezua, in a statement, said the committee was inaugurated to position the party to confront the general election scheduled for September 10.

    Ojezua described the primary of as the most successful exercise ever conducted by the APC.

    The statement reads, “We remain eternally grateful to all Delegates ably led by the Comrade Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole for the patience, perseverance and outstanding conduct throughout the process which lasted almost 24 hours.

    “The result of the election is a clear indication that the APC in Edo state is strong and united, contrary to the falsehood earlier peddled in the media that Edo State APC was in crisis.”

     

    “I have this morning inaugurated a Reconciliation Committee headed by Prince Malik Afegbua (member BOT) to reach out to all those who may have been affected one way or the other by processes leading to and including the primaries.”

     

  • I didn’t issue statement on behalf of IBB says, Afegbua

    The Special Adviser to the Governor of Edo State on Media and Public Affairs, Prince Kassim Afegbua, yesterday said he did not issue any statement on behalf of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida against President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Afegbua made the clarification in a statement against the backdrop of a story making the rounds that Babangida had taken on the President.

    The statement said: “My attention has just been drawn to a news story and statement purportedly credited to me with a blaring headline “Your Aides are misleading you; IBB warns Jonathan” published in one Global Village Extra, an online publication. To state the least, this is outright blackmail journalism and a sad commentary on journalism practice; a profession that I hold dear to my heart.

    “I wish to state unequivocally that I am currently working in Edo State as a Special Adviser to the Comrade Governor on Media and Public Affairs, a position which was expressly endorsed by my boss-for-life General IBB.

    “Let me also state without mincing words that I did not issue the said statement that is flying around the social media on behalf of IBB. Let me also declare with all the emphasis at my disposal that General IBB did not authorize anyone to issue any statement on his behalf let alone crediting same odious statement to me; Prince Kassim Afegbua.

    “Even though General IBB has not officially appointed a Media Spokesman since I left, my acceptance of the offer of Special Adviser by my Governor automatically removes me from being General IBB’s Spokesman, a position I so cherished and a personality I so admire.

    “It is therefore bad journalism for one obscure, good-for-nothing, unprofessional platform such as the Global Villa Extra, to fabricate a statement and credit same to me, not only to mislead the public but cause disaffection amongst the personalities involved.

    “General IBB is a leader of leaders that I admire so much and one whose understanding of the delicate politics of the country is, in my honest view, unequalled. I have been a very good student of his political school of thought since I met him till date and I will remain so till the end of time.

    “It is not in his character to join issues with leaders in such pedestrian manner as reflected in the so-called statement credited to me. This rebuttal becomes instructive to put the records straight and disabuse the minds of our numerous followers, friends and associates who may come across this statement in one way or the other.”