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Tag: Asari-Dokubo

  • Asari-Dokubo, community dispute sparks tension in Rivers

    Asari-Dokubo, community dispute sparks tension in Rivers

    A Protracted dispute between the King of Elem-Kalabari, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and the Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State is creating tension in the state.

      The community accused Dokubo of planning to unleash his warriors popularly called Amama soldiers on them to intimidate them with the motive of grabbing their land.

     But Dokubo dismissed the claims, alleging that the kingdom was sponsoring criminality and illegal oil bunkering.

     The Bille Chiefs and Elders Council, who spoke in Port Harcourt, claimed that men believed to be members of Amama soldiers had already visited their area and taken pictures of strategic places.

     The spokesperson of the council, Alabo Boma Renner Dappa, said Dokubo was planning to annex the area as part of his Asari’s Kalabari Territory.

     Renner said the kingdom was drawing the attention of the Nigerian Government, the Rivers State Government, the Department of State Services (DSS), the media, the international community and all peace-loving citizens of the Niger Delta to Dokubo’s plot.

     He recalled that over 25 years ago, when Dokubo was then the President of Ijaw Youth Council, Bille Kingdom suffered significant losses as a result of violent attacks linked to similar circumstances.

     He said the episode left a painful scar on the collective memory as many lives were lost and property destroyed during the attacks.

     He said: “We have observed with growing unease what appears to be coordinated movements and activities carried out by individuals reportedly acting under the directive of HRH Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, leader of the Amama group.

     “On January 8th and 9th, 2025, armed individuals operating in gunboats were observed patrolling Dabira, Touma, Jike-Ama and Emmanuel-Ama, peaceful and historically rooted Bille communities.

     “These individuals reportedly carried out unauthorised surveillance, including filming and photographing the environment, while making unsettling remarks and displaying behaviour that many residents found intimidating.

     “Credible information available to us strongly indicates that Alhaji Asari Dokubo has concluded plans to launch a full-scale attack on several Bille communities, in the coming days, with the objective of sacking indigenous people from their ancestral lands to enable forceful territorial expansion.”

     “To this end, we have it on good record that HRH Asari Dokubo and his Amama group has been unlawfully recruiting many young people and gathering lethal weapons.

    “We painfully recall again that the now HRH Asari Dokubo was the leader of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and made similar unlawful recruitment and indeed, used the IYC to violently attack the Bille Kingdom during the about 25 years ago crises that claimed many lives.”

     Renne called on the DSS and police to launch investigations into the development, adding that the people of Bille would resist any attempt to conquer their area.

     He said the community had written to the local government leader and DPO in the area and to the state government over the planned attack, adding that the government had not responded in any way.

     But Dokubo in a quick response said the claims by Bille people were unfounded, adding that since he became the king of his area, the Bille people started attacks on his personality.

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     Dokubo accused the Bille people of sponsoring oil bunkering in their area, adding that they even harbour kidnappers.

     He said: “Immediately I became Amanyanabo, the Bille people started to attack and to make frivolous claims.

     “Everybody knows that Bille is the center of criminality, the security people know about it. Bille is the headquarters of bunkering. Everybody knows it. During the governorships election Dele Cole made that assertion when he went to campaign and Bille people started to attack him.

     “Nobody is quarreling or wants Bille to be Kalabari. I will be the last person to want Bille to be Kalabari. I always say these things, me, my mouth no good. As my mouth dey sharp na so my hand dey sharp. Na so my head dey sharp.

     “Bille, even my grandfather’s town, Obonomo have more people, more population than Bille. Because Kalabari people are nonchalant, and there is one Kalabari man, Asari Dokubo, they know will not agree to their evil plans and their evil plot they are committing, about their kidnapping, the bunkering and all manner of crimes.

    “Bille people are in court with Kula people, they are in court with krakaama, claiming Elem Krakaama. Bille is in court with Ke. They believe that because they are rascally, I always say are there no elders in Bille? Who can restrain and rein these their youth in, but no. Every time, Bille people make problems.

    “The day one community in Kalabari will stand up, Bille will be no more. That is the truth of the matter. But it is because Kalabari people don’t care.”

  • Asari-Dokubo, community dispute sparks tension in Rivers 

    Asari-Dokubo, community dispute sparks tension in Rivers 

    A protracted dispute between the King of Elem-Kalabari, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo and the Bille Kingdom in Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State is creating tension in the state.

     The community accused Dokubo, of planning to unleash his warriors popularly called Amama solders on them to intimidate them with the motive of grabbing their land.

    But Dokubo dismissed the claims alleging that the kingdom was sponsoring criminality and illegal oil bunkering.

    The Bille Chiefs and Elders Council, who spoke in Port Harcourt claimed that men believed to be members of Amama Soldiers had already visited their area and taken pictures of strategic places.

    The Spokesperson of the council, Alabo Boma Renner Dappa said Dokubo was planning to annex the area as part of his Asari’s Kalabari Territory.

    Renner said the kingdom was drawing the attention of the Nigerian Government, the Rivers State Government, the Department of State Services (DSS), the media, the international community and all peace-loving citizens of the Niger Delta to the plot of Dokubo.

    He recalled that over 25 years ago, when Dokubo was then the President of Ijaw Youth Council, that Bille Kingdom suffered significant losses as a result of violent attacks linked to similar circumstances.

    READ ALSO: Yahaya Bello weds fourth wife in private ceremony

    He said that the episode left a painful scar on the collective memory, as many lives were lost and property destroyed during the attacks.

    He said: “We have observed with growing unease what appears to be coordinated movements and activities carried out by individuals reportedly acting under the directive of HRH Alhaji Mujahid Asari Dokubo, leader of the Amama group.

    “On January 8th and 9th,2025, armed individuals operating in gunboats were observed patrolling Dabira, Touma, Jike-Ama,and Emmanuel-Ama, peaceful and historically rooted Bille communities. 

    “These individuals reportedly carried out unauthorized surveillance, including filming and photographing the environment, while making unsettling remarks and displaying behavior that many residents found intimidating.

    “Credible information available to us strongly indicates that Alhaji Asari Dokubo has concluded plans to launch a full-scale attack on several Bille communities, in the coming days, with the objective of sacking indigenous people from their ancestral lands to enable forceful territorial expansion.”

    ” To this end, we have it on good record that HRH Asari Dokubo and his Amama group has been unlawfully recruiting many young people and gathering lethal weapons. We painfully recall again that the now HRH Asari Dokubo was the leader of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), and made similar unlawful recruitment and indeed, used the IYC to violently attack the Bille Kingdom during the about 25 years ago crises that claimed many lives.”

    Renne called on the DSS and police to launch investigations into the development, adding that the people of Bille would resist any attempt to conquer their area.

    He said the community had written the local government leader and DPO in the area and to the state government over the planned attack, adding that the government had not responded in any way.

    But Dokubo in a quick response said the claims by Bille people were unfounded, adding that since he became the King of his area, the Bille people started attacks on his personality.

    Dokubo accused the Bille people of sponsoring oil bunkering in their area, adding that they even harbour kidnappers.

    He said: “Immediately I became Amanyanabo, the Bille people started to attack and to make frivolous claims. 

    “Everybody knows that Bille is the center of criminality, the security people know about it. Bille is the headquarters of bunkering. Everybody knows it. During the governorships election Dele Cole made that assertion when he went to campaign and Bille people started to attack him. 

    “Nobody is quarreling or wants Bille to be Kalabari . I will be the last person to want Bille to be Kalabari. I always say this things, me, my mouth no good. As my mouth dey sharp na so my hand dey sharp. Na so my head dey sharp. 

    “Bille, even my grandfather’s town, Obonomo have more people, more population than Bille. Because Kalabari people are nonchalant, and there is one Kalabari man, Asari Dokubo, they know will not agree to their evil plans and their evil plot they are committing, about their kidnapping the bunkering and all manner of crimes. 

    “Bille people are in court with Kula people, they are in court with krakaama, claiming Elem krakaama. Bille is in court with Ke. They believe that because they are rascally, I always say are there no elders in Bille? Who can restrain and rein these their youth in but no, Everytime Bille people make problems. The day one community in Kalabari will stand up, Bille will be no more. That is the the truth of the matter but it is because Kalabari people don’t care.”

  • Count Tinubu out of Rivers crisis, stakeholders warn Asari-Dokubo

    Count Tinubu out of Rivers crisis, stakeholders warn Asari-Dokubo

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) have warned a freedom fighter, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo against his penchant for dragging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the political crisis rocking Rivers State.

    The group’s Director-General, Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Mrs Sarima Akpata, in a statement on Friday, described Asari-Dokubo’s recent television interview in which he attacked the President, Minister Nyesom Wike and issued some threats as baseless, malicious and misleading.

    The statement said: “RRM on behalf of Rivers people take an exception to the direct insult and false accusation on Mr. President by Chief Asari wherein he said Mr President was supporting the FCT Minister to destabilise Rivers State.

    “We are saying this because we all know President Tinubu is a democrat who believes in the rule of law and will never support illegality or injustice.

    “Our group wants to assure Nigerians that all threats by Alhaji Asari that ‘something will happen’ if the law takes its place in Rivers State are empty and have no place in our constitutional democracy.

    Read Also: Rivers stakeholders to Asari-Dokubo: You didn’t deliver Tinubu in your unit

    “As a group, we call on Chief Asari to rather channel his energy to advise his benefactor that he never supported in 2023 to obey the rule of law and not hinge on sentiments because Rivers State can never be a lawless society”.

    RRM also said that the claims by Asari-Dokubo that he spent over two million dollars during the last election when he could not win his polling unit for President Tinubu was laughable and a barefaced lie.

    The statement said: “Finally, Rivers Restoration Movement wants to make it clear that the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sim Fubara in the 2023 General Elections in Rivers State was solely the effort of the leader of Rivers State politics and Minister Of the FCT Nyesom Wike, his Political family through the help of God Almighty.

    “So, opportunists and people without political value should be ignored. RRM believes Rivers State runs a constitutional democracy and surely the law that grinds slowly will surely speak at the appropriate time”.

  • Count Tinubu out of Rivers crisis, stakeholders warn Asari-Dokubo

    Count Tinubu out of Rivers crisis, stakeholders warn Asari-Dokubo

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM) have warned a freedom fighter, Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo against his penchant for dragging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the political crisis rocking Rivers state.

    The group’s director-general, Johnson Georgewill, and Secretary, Mrs Sarima Akpata, in a statement on Friday, described Asari-Dokubo’s recent television interview in which he attacked the President, Minister Nyesom Wike and issued some threats as baseless, malicious, and misleading.

    The statement said: “RRM on behalf of Rivers people take exception to the direct insult and false accusation on Mr President by Chief Asari wherein he said Mr President is supporting the FCT Minister to destabilise Rivers State.

    “We are saying this because we all know President Tinubu is a democrat who believes in the rule of law and will never support illegality or injustice.

    “Our group wants to assure Nigerians that all threats by Alhaji Asari that ‘something will happen’ if the law takes its place in Rivers State are empty and have no place in our constitutional democracy.

    Read Also: Rivers stakeholders to Asari-Dokubo: You didn’t deliver Tinubu in your unit

    “As a group, we call on Chief Asari to rather channel his energy to advise his benefactor that he never supported in 2023 to obey the rule of law and not hinge on sentiments because Rivers State can never be a lawless society.”

    RRM also said that the claims by Asari-Dokubo that he spent over two million dollars during the last election when he could not win his polling unit for President Tinubu was laughable and a barefaced lie.

    The statement said: “Finally, Rivers Restoration Movement wants to make it clear that the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sim Fubara in the 2023 General Elections in Rivers State was solely the effort of the leader of Rivers State politics and Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike, his Political family through the help of God Almighty.

    “So, opportunists and people without Political value should be ignored. RRM believes Rivers State runs a constitutional democracy and surely the law that grinds slowly will speak at the appropriate time”.

  • Rivers stakeholders to Asari-Dokubo: You didn’t deliver Tinubu in your unit

    Rivers stakeholders to Asari-Dokubo: You didn’t deliver Tinubu in your unit

    Stakeholders under the auspices of the Rivers Restoration Movement have lambasted the Niger Delta freedom fighter, Alh. Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo for disparaging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and describing Yoruba race as betrayals.

    The group also described Asari-Dokubo‘s threats that the Ijaw would align with the North in the 2027 presidential election, describing it as a non-issue.

    RRM in a statement signed by its Director-General, Johnson Georgewill, said Asari-Dokubo’s trending video contained misinformation, half-truths and outright lies adding that Dokubo did not work for the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.

    Georgewill said: “Chief Asari Dokubo does not have the right to speak for the ijaws and its public knowledge that 90 per cent of Ijaw leaders that worked for the emergence of President Tinubu and Gov Siminialayi Fubara in 2023 are presently in appreciation standing firm with the leader of Rivers State politics H.E Nyesom Wike.

    “This is evident with the fact that 90 per cent of Rivers State Assembly members from the Ijaw extraction are with the Minister.

    “It is public knowledge that Chief Asari Dokubo couldn’t deliver President Tinubu in his unit and never supported Sir Siminialayi Fubara in 2023 to become Governor, so we are amazed about the claim of spending two million dollars to support Mr President.

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    “RRM want to state it clear for Rivers people and Nigerians to know that in Rivers State, the victory of President Tinubu and Governor Siminialayi Fubara was solely the effort of H.E Nyesom Wike, the leader of Rivers State politics and his political family through the help of God almighty.”

    Georgewill said: “RRM wants to state that it’s crystal clear that Alhaji Asari Dokubo can’t speak for the Ijaws when it comes to where and who they will support in 2027.

    “He also does not have the political structure or might to deliver any candidate for elective  positions, so calls of failing any candidate in 2027 should be ignored. The Ijaws will forever be grateful to Mr President and the Minister of the FCT for what they have done to the Ijaws especially the assistance to ensure an Ijaw man becomes governor of Rivers State after 24yrs of this democratic dispensation.

    “As a people that are grateful, we appeal to all political leaders in Rivers State, irrespective of political party for the sake of equity fairness and justice to look inwards and ensure a grateful Ijaw man is allowed to complete the tenure of the Ijaws as Governor because the Ijaws have supported other ethnic groups to lead for two tenures.”

  • You didn’t deliver Tinubu in your unit, Rivers stakeholders blast Asari-Dokubo

    You didn’t deliver Tinubu in your unit, Rivers stakeholders blast Asari-Dokubo

    Stakeholders under the auspices of  Rivers Restoration Movement have lambasted the Niger Delta freedom fighter, Alh. Mujaheed Asari-Dokubo for disparaging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja Nyesom Wike and describing Yoruba people as betrayers. 

    The group also described Asari-Dokubo’s threats that the Ijaw would align with the North in 2027 presidential election describing it as a non-issue.

    RRM in a statement by its Director-General, Johnson Georgewill, said Asari-Dokubo’s trending video contained misinformation, half truths and outright lies adding that Dokubo did not work for the state Governor, Sir Siminialayi Fubara.

    Georgewill said: “Chief Asari Dokubo does not have the right to speak for the ijaws and it’s public knowledge that 90 per cent of Ijaw leaders that worked for the emergence of President Tinubu and Gov Siminialayi Fubara in 2023 are presently in appreciation standing firm with the leader of Rivers State politics H.E Nyesom Wike. 

    “This is evident with the fact that 90 per cent of Rivers State Assembly members from the Ijaw extraction are with the Minister. 

    Read Also: Niger Delta minister meets Jonathan, Asari-Dokubo, discusses issues of stolen crude, others

    “It is public knowledge that Chief Asari Dokubo couldn’t deliver President Tinubu in his unit and never supported Sir Siminialayi Fubara in 2023 to become Governor, so we are amazed about the claim of spending two million dollars to support Mr President.

    “RRM want to state it clear for Rivers people and Nigerians to know that in Rivers State, the victory of President Tinubu and Gov Siminialayi Fubara was solely the effort of H.E Nyesom Wike, the leader of Rivers State politics and his political family through the help of God almighty”.

     RRM noted that all issues of threats and blackmail of the courts and other institutions had no place in democracy because the country is guided by the laws and constitution 

    Georgewill said: “RRM wants to state that it’s crystal clear that Alhaji Asari Dokubo can’t speak for the Ijaws when it comes to where and who they will support in 2027.

    “He also does not have the political structure or might to deliver any candidate for elective  positions, so calls of failing any candidate in 2027 should be ignored. The Ijaws will forever be grateful to Mr President and the Minister of the FCT for what they have done to the Ijaws especially the assistance to ensure an Ijaw man becomes Governor of Rivers State after 24yrs of this democratic dispensation. 

    “As a people that are grateful, we appeal to all political leaders in Rivers State, irrespective of political party for the sake of equity fairness and justice to look inwards and ensure a grateful Ijaw man is allowed to complete the tenure of the Ijaws as Governor because the Ijaws have supported other ethnic groups to lead for two tenures”.

  • Ijaw youths stop Asari Dokubo from holding Biafran meeting in Bayelsa

    A bloody clash was averted on Saturday by the police in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following failed attempts by a former militant leader and Niger Delta activist, Asari Dokubo, to hold an expanded inaugural meeting in support of Biafra.

    It was gathered that the Chairman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Kennedy Olorogun, got wind of the Biafran meeting and mobilized his executive council members and other youths to the venue of the gathering.

    Olorogun was said to be angry that Dokubo chose Bayelsa, a homogeneous Ijaw state, to hold such meeting and ordered the founder of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) to leave the state or face the wrath of the youths.

    It was learnt that Dokubo, who recently declared his support for the actualisation of Biafra, gathered over 300 persons from across the states in the South-East and South-South to hold the meeting.

    The meeting was reportedly convened under the auspices of the Biafra National Council (BNC) and not the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Read Also: Northern Igbo leaders ignore Asari Dokubo

    Confirming the development, Olorogun said over 300 persons including Dokubo were  already gathered at a hotel in Yenagoa when he led Ijaw youths to the place.

    He said quarrel ensued between him and Dokubo when he told the former militant leader that the meeting would not hold in Ijawland.

    “When we got the information, we stormed the venue of the meeting to stop them.

    “They tried to resist us but we told them we were prepared for them because we will not allow any part of Bayelsa to be used for a meeting calling for the actualisation of Biafra.

    “I wonder why Dokubo decided to bring such meeting to Bayelsa. But we stopped them.

    “It was getting out of hand but the police intervened to stop possible violence. My happiness is that we stopped the meeting from holding”.

  • Reconcile with Asari Dokubo, Ohanaze begs Nnamdi Kanu

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide on Wednesday urged the Leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)to reconcile with Niger Delta Leader, Asari Dokubo.

    The group, in a statement by its President General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, also expressed surprise on alleged federal government negotiation with leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) to end kidnapping and killings in the country.

    It said the government should also dialogue with Biafra agitators who it said were not violent like the herdsmen.

    The group said: “IPOB should make peace with Asari Dokubo urgently as the rift is threatening the bond and partnership existing between the South East and South/South.

    “Since after the war, the two regions had been enjoying the harmonious relationship between them, so we advocate that IPOB should extend hands of friendship to Asari Dokubo, as we will not allow any misunderstanding between Nnamdi Kanu and Asari Dokubo escalate, and IPOB should use the May 30th to mend fence with ex Niger Delta Agitators rather than Sit at home,” the youths said.

    They also called on the federal government to negotiate with the proscribed members of IPOB, Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign States of Biafra (MASSOB) and other Biafra agitators to end the Biafra agitation.

    The youths noted 30th of this month when the Biafra agitators will be celebrating Biafra day was an opportunity the federal government have to dialogue with the agitators.

    “We are surprised on the meeting between Federal Government represented by  Minister of Interior Abdul-Rahman Dambazau and the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN)where a huge carrot is thrown to the herdsmen group to help stop kidnapping and tackle insecurity and clashes between Herdsmen and farmers.The Federal Government should also extend the same gesture of N100bn  to The leadership of Massob and Ipob. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

     “As Biafrans are celebrating the May 30th Remembrance day, the Federal Government has the opportunity and visible channel to negotiate with the leadership of MASSOB and other Biafra agitators.

    “Reaching out to Biafra agitators are imminent to scuttle the mayhem likely to occur over the killings of Igbo’s in the North by Armed herdsmen and bandits.

    “It’s on record that about 167 Igbo have fell victims of Armed herdsmen and bandits in North West and East in the last few weeks, tension is building up in the South East ahead of May 30th Biafra remembrance day, Presidency should give Biafrans N100bn to avoid reprisal attacks”.

  • This dysfunctional National Assembly

    “Senate President Bukola Saraki has no sterner critic than this column, right from when he was Governor of Kwara State. It has remarked his overweening sense of entitlement, his predilection for cutting corners, his disdain for rules and process, and his serial disregard of the precept of noblesse oblige” – Emeritus Professor Olatunji Dare.

    And on the matter of the moment, Gbenga Komolafe writes: So people can’t see the direct causal link between Governor Sheriff arming Yusuff for political thuggery and the eventual emergence of Boko Haram, the arming of Asari Dokubo and co by Governor Odili and the eventual emergence of armed insurrection in the Niger Delta, the arming of thugs by the ‘Garrison commander’ in Ibadan and the proliferation of armed robbery in the same city? If it is true that Saraki armed the Offa robbers and used them for political thuggery, Saraki and co are vicariously liable for what those guys used the firearms given to them for. Saraki might not have sent them for armed robbery (that is too petty for a well heeled Abuja operator) but he certainly has a case to answer for creating a private army of criminals.”

    Dare, the celebrated journalism professor, has written far longer, and more profoundly than I on, or about, the medical doctor- turned politician, but God knows I have had more than a fair share of the huge interrogation Senate President Bukola Saraki has enjoyed, or endured, since he ventured into partisan politics. On 18 June, 2015,  after he just sold  off his party’s victory, gifting PDP what rightly belonged to the APC, I wrote: “… truth be told, my initial reaction to Bukola Saraki emerging the Senate President was: Yes, if a Tambuwal, why not a Saraki? Nor was that a flight of fancy because I believed, and still do, that he was as qualified as any member to be the Senate President considering his contribution to the emergence of the party.” My position would, however, change when one heard the details of his extreme disloyalty to his party and I am on record as later suggesting that he should have been promptly expelled before he bought off his senate colleagues with his tactical allocation of senate committee membership. The last of my articles about him, and the branch  of government  he has succeeded in  turning  to his personal estate the way senators pander to his every word, was as recent as 29 April, 2018  when I wrote as follows in an article I titled: “THIS  8th NATIONAL ASSEMBLY”:

    “So much has happened in the National Assembly these past two weeks that you are again  reminded that had President Buhari  not invested unbelievable faith in the integrity of  politicians, thereby believing he could work with just about anybody since ‘he was for everybody’ and believed, rather naively though, that everybody was for him, that had  Senator Bukola Saraki not crunched up for hours in the smallest of cars on the National Assembly premises all in a determined effort to  selfishly sell off his party’s victory to the opposition, and had the Oyegun –led NEC of APC  not played sissy, allowing a  man who should have been promptly expelled, to ride roughshod over the party,  the storm in a tea cup presently consuming the national Assembly could never  have happened.  The National Assembly has proved completely rudderless. When its members are not disrespecting the judiciary, ‘tearing to pieces’ the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction which said it has no powers to suspend a member, thereby denying his/her constituents representation in the national assembly  against the provisions of Nigerian constitution, they are sabre rattling, claiming they want to impeach the President”.

    If that was a few weeks ago, they are again back at it, shamelessly turning the very serious matter of impeachment into a veritable tool of blackmail. And what was the casus belli this time around? As has become the norm with Senate President Saraki, his name has come up again in totally odious circumstances with many of the ‘Offa serial murderer/bank robbers,’ giving salacious details of how, since his days as governor of Kwara State which he has also succeeded in turning to a captive state, he has allegedly provided them sophisticated weapons of ‘mass mauling’ and gifting them powerful automobiles to facilitate their nefarious activities.

    Let us capture vividly, how the police put it and all hell was let loose in our senate of unequal members: “the police have invited the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over the Offa bank robberies of 5 April during which some police men were killed and millions of naira stolen. He was asked to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team Office at Guzape, Abuja, to answer to the allegations reportedly levelled against him by five alleged gang leaders involved in the robberies at First Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, Ecobank, Zenith, Union Bank and Ibolo Micro-Finance Bank, all in Offa, Kwara State.  According to the police spokesman, the gang leaders namely, Ayoade Akinnibosun, Ibikunle Ogunleye, Adeola Abraham, Salawudeen Azeez, Niyi Ogundiran and some of the other 17 suspects arrested for direct involvement and active participation in the Offa bank robberies admitted, confessed and volunteered statements that they were political thugs of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and the Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, adding that the five gang leaders further confessed that they operate  under the name Youth Liberation Movement aka “Good Boys” and were being provided firearms, money and operational vehicles by the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, as well as Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State.

    More bewildering, however, was the discovery by the police that one of the lead gangster’s cars – incidentally a gift from the senate president – was allegedly, rapidly withdrawn  to the Kwara State house on the orders of the chief of staff to the state governor and its registration number changed,  to suggest that it was a government  vehicle.

    Ordinarily, one would have expected to see a rattled senate, completely scandalised, and eager to see its number one member, sooner than later, clear his name completely from these horrible allegations.

    But that will never be, the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria seems to enjoy luxuriating in serial scandals.

    Rather than that, we saw distinguished senators, amongst them many answering questions before anti graft agencies, waxing lyrical, in praise of their president, and, instead of being  sober, feverishly planning to confront  the president who they now claim they want to impeach as if Nigerians would be mere onlookers at such a gory attempt by a people who do nothing more than haul home no less than N14M monthly from the national purse, with hardly anything to show for their usurious life style at the expense of Nigerians, millions of who do not know where the next meal would come from.

    It has since gotten far worse. Like the Billy goat which will never learn, our distinguished national assembly members, this time of the House of Representatives, are already back, as usual, trying to criminalise two of the few, among them, who have the courage to point them in the way of rectitude in what has become a daily diet in their chambers – the threat to impeach President Muhammadu Buhari.

    As is their wont, Nigerians wouldn’t be surprised to hear that they have suspended the two members despite copious court decisions saying they lack the locus to deny Nigerian citizens of parliamentary representation.

    When these legislators look back – and  happily, we shall soon be rid of this 8th assembly – I am sure that not a few of them would come to regret how they completely misused a glorious opportunity to positively impact Nigeria, electing  instead, to be the play thing of an over ambitious member, surrounded by a colony of patronising, highly intimidated’ colleagues, who prefer to serve as armour bearers to Senate President Bukola Saraki, one of who was recently accused of always kneeling down to talk to the numero uno senator.

    Certainly, these times will soon pass.

    It was, however, heartwarming  seeing  the senate trying to rediscover itself as a serious law making branch of government, the way it reacted to President Buhari’s salvaging of the historic June 12 from the wicked embrace of very jealous and discomfited  former senior  state officials who, were they to have nine lives, can never approximate to the winner of that election.

     

  • Alleged flirtation with APC: Makarfi attacks Asari-Dokubo

    Alleged flirtation with APC: Makarfi attacks Asari-Dokubo

    Former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi has warned River State ex-warlord Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo to stop peddling falsehood by implying that he (Makarfi) voted for All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015.

    In a statement issued on behalf of Makarfi yesterday, his spokesman Alhaji Mukhtar Zubairu Sirajo warned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to beware of such tactics aimed at de-marketing the party chieftain in favour of an unnamed political foe.

    The statement said: “Ordinarily, this is a statement we shouldn’t dignify with a response, but realising that sometimes uncontroverted falsehoods have a way of taking a life of their own and also knowing that it is not beyond some unscrupulous politicians to splash mud on the integrity of others in order to gain undue advantage.

    “That statement is false in all ramifications; in fact given that Makarfi is not an obscure politician, having been Kaduna State Governor for eight years and following that up with another eight year at the Senate and capping those up leading the PDP at a very tumultuous period,  which was characterised by acrimonious leadership struggle.

    “Isn’t it amazing that this could happen in 2015 and be buried till now?

    “Moreover, from 1999 to 2015, Senator Makarfi never skipped voting in any election; yet he has never been reported by any medium to have ever displayed his ballot paper to advertise his preference; we leave this judgment to the people.”

    It added: “Senator Makarfi has remained a PDP man to the core, sticking with the party through thick and thin and maintaining his faith in it, even at a time when defection was the easy way out.

    “He has never hidden his gratitude to the PDP for the platform and opportunity it has afforded him to become what he has become and has never, for a second, on account of any slight he felt he suffered or for any other reason, even toyed with the idea of abandoning it let alone teaming up with others to bring it to ruination.”

    Urging Asari-Dokubo to freely exercise his constitutional rights of free expression without maligning others unduly, Sirajo emphasised that PDP members should de-emphasise falsehoods and mudslinging and concentrate on relevant issues.

    “Asari-Dokubo is a free Nigerian with all the attendant rights to pursue any legitimate undertaking, political or otherwise, including pitching his tent with any politician or tendency, but those do not include the fabrication and peddling of lies to impugn the integrity of others.”