The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Caleb Olubolade

  • Reps panel indicts Olubolade, three others over botched CCTV contracts

    Reps panel indicts Olubolade, three others over botched CCTV contracts

    A House of Representatives committee has found culpable former Ministers of Police Affairs, Alhaji Adamu Waziri, Caleb Olubolade and Alhaji Jelili Adesiyan as well as a former Permanent Secretary in the defunct ministry, James Obeigbu, for the mismanagement of funds meant for the installation of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in Abuja and Lagos.

    The lawmakers would seek for the prosecution of the listed ex- public officers that served between 2010 and 2014 if the report of the Ahmed Yerima-led committee that investigated the award of contract for the installation of the CCTV were adopted.

    The report was listed for consideration and adoption on Wednesday but was dropped and listed for adoption on Thursday.

    The report was adopted again on Thursday due to time constrain.

    The report recommended, among others:

    “That the former ministers and officials of the defunct Ministry of Police Affairs (who served between 2010 and 2014) should be prosecuted over the rational and motive for the removal and or disappearance of the operational and maintenance costs of the project from its initial proposals, as that singular act contributed to the non-performance of the network.

    “That former Permanent Secretary, defunct Ministry of Police Affairs, Mr. James Obeigbu, be prosecuted for deliberately refusing to release the approved funds in the amount of N3billion meant for network operations and maintenance.

    “That ZTE Nigeria Limited should refund the discrepancy amount certified after the audit exercise or supply necessary equipment and spares of commensurate value as may be required by the ministry, otherwise, the figure should be deducted from the outstanding debt of $20,247,172.00 certified by the Ministry of Police Affairs as being owed ZTE for running the network from January to June 2013.”

     

     

  • Criticisms trail Fayose’s emergence as PDP flag bearer

    Criticisms trail Fayose’s emergence as PDP flag bearer

    Former Police Affairs Minister Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade (rtd.) and Senator Ayo Arise have rejected last Saturday’s congress of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ekiti State, where former Governor Ayo Fayose emerged as the party’s candidate for the June 21 governorship election.

    They called for the cancellation of the congress and the conduct of a fresh one.

    In separate statements yesterday, they said the congress was a sham and did not represent the wishes of the majority of PDP members.

    In a statement signed by the Secretary of the Olubolade Campaign Organisation, Mr. Remi Osabusua, the former minister urged party leaders to cancel the primary.

    He said after considering all sides to the issue, he “came to the conclusion that it fell short of acceptable standard”.

    The statement reads: “The exercise was clearly manipulated from Abuja in favour of Fayose, as other aspirants were shut out and election materials made available only to him, thereby turning the event into a one aspirant show.”

    Arise called for the “urgent” intervention of President Goodluck Jonathan, saying: “The way things are going, PDP might lose Ekiti and that will be disastrous.”

    He said he had no problem with anyone who emerges as the party’s candidate, but “the process through which the candidate emerges must be free, fair and transparent”.

    Arise said: “Mr. President should intervene as the leader of the party before things get out of hands. I trust he would not allow the party to collapse because of the ambition of an individual.

    “My position was made clear from the beginning. I made it clear that I will support whoever emerges as the party’s candidate through a process that is free, fair and transparent. However, what happened on Saturday was a charade that cannot be acceptable to men of good conscience and I state it categorically that Ekiti PDP does not have an acceptable governorship candidate yet.

    “We all can see the results of the manipulated process. The State Legal Adviser, Hon. Kola Adefemi, who is the number one legal officer of the PDP in Ekiti State, has resigned, faulting the ward congresses and the primary election. The state secretariat was set on fire this morning and many of our men are threatening to leave the party.

    “Notable stakeholders of the party are angry, not because of the person who emerged from the controversial primary, but because the process was openly manipulated. I doubt if any full-blooded Ekiti person will accept what happened on Saturday and queue behind Fayose as the PDP candidate.”

    A PDP member, who pleaded for anonymity, said: “This party will not know peace until the decision to impose Fayose on it is changed by those who lead us. Fayose represents a force that opposes the spirit of progress in the party. Should calls for Fayose’s removal be rejected, Ekiti PDP risks going into extinction. People will move en masse and there will be no remedy. This is the truth.”

     

  • Olubolade joins Ekiti governorship race

    Olubolade joins Ekiti governorship race

    Former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, on Saturday, declared that he would contest the 21st June governorship election.

    He made the declaration in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, at a reception organised for him by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he declared his intention to contest the election.

    Olubolade berated the Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, for obtaining a N25billion bond from the capital market, noting that, “borrowing of money by Fayemi is a product of failure of governance. It is a sign that he is running a failed government.”

    Olubolade added, “I want to assure you that I will not borrow a dime to finance the state and all I am going to execute as programmes will align with the transformation agenda of President Jonathan.”

    Meanwhile, a swift reaction by the spokesperson of the Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, clarified that “Olubolade’s puerile outbursts are products of a befuddled power seeker.”

    Daniels said, “Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade is not in tune with governance, because if he is, he would know that borrowing from the capital market to execute regenerative projects and bring about infrastructural development is not tantamount to failure in governance.

    “In all their seven and a half years of profligate and rudderless governance in Ekiti, they never in their wildest thoughts felt Ire Burnt Bricks Industry could be resuscitated because the PDP does not resuscitate, rather it kills.”

  • Ex- Minister declares for Ekiti Governorship race

    Former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt Caleb Olubolade on Saturday declared that he would contest the 21 June Governorship election in the state.
    He made the declaration in Ado-Ekiti at a reception organised for him by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he declared his intention to contest the election.
    Olubolade berated Governor kayode Fayemi for obtaining a N25 billion bond from the capital market, noting that “borrowing of money by Fayemi is a product of failure of governance. It is a sign that he is running a failed government”.
    Olubolade said: “I want to assure you that I will not borrow a dime to finance the State and all I am going to do as programmes will align with the transformation agenda of President Jonathan.”

    Alleging that over six thousand workers have been relieved of their jobs in the State since Fayemi assumed office, Olubolade said: “The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti has been sold out and people are now paying high fee in the hospital for medical services”.
    Meanwhile, a swift reaction by the Spokeperson of the Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Mr Dimeji Daniels, clarified that “Olubolade’s puerile outbursts are products of a beffudled power seeker”.
    Daniels said: “Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade is not in tune with governance, because if he is, he would know that borrowing from the Capital Market to execute regenerative projects and bring about infrastructural development is not tantamount to failure in governance.
    “The United States of America considered as the bastion of democracy also borrows money. The difference is what the money will be used for. Will it be embezzled or will it be used to better the lot of the people as the Fayemi administration has done?
    “In all their seven and a half years of profligate and rudderless governance in Ekiti, they never in their wildest thoughts felt Ire Burnt Bricks Industry could be resuscitated because the PDP does not resuscitate, rather it kills.
    “It has killed the Nigerian economy and rather than compaign in Ekiti, they rely solely on federal might to win election. Ekiti people are prepared to resist them.
    “What is a failed state? A failed state is one in which nothing works. That accusation by Olubolade best describes how they nearly ran Ekiti aground before God intervened and retrieved the mandate they stole from them. In 2010, the primary school enrollment in Ekiti was a little over 155, 000, ” Daniels state

  • Seminar for strategic police managers

    Seminar for strategic police managers

  • Minister rules out state police

    Minister rules out state police

    Nigeria cannot have state police until the existing central policing system is stabilised, Police Affairs Minister, Caleb Olubolade has said.

    Olubolade stated this while briefing the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday.

    “I believe we should first stabilise the existing police before considering the creation of state police. We should wait till the time the Nigerian people and the National Assembly see the need for the establishment of a state police.

    “My candid opinion is that we must make the present arrangement work before we talk of introducing new methods.

    “The existing police must be trained and properly equipped so that we can be proud of the police we have. Our policemen are good and they have demonstrated this during peace keeping operations in other countries,” Olubolade stated.

    According to the minister, the Federal Government is presently focusing attention on training and equipping the police for effective policing, adding that crime fighting has become scientific.

    “Fighting crime globally has become scientific and we need qualified people who can fight crimes through intelligence gathering,” he added.

    Olubolade told the party leaders that the police authorities have been working towards upgrading the existing police institutions nationwide.

    He appealed to Nigerians to assist the police in the duty of protecting lives and property.

     

     

  • Security meeting at the Villa

    Security meeting at the Villa

  • Police will track down Asadu’s killers – IGP

    Police will track down Asadu’s killers – IGP

    …Condoles deceased CP’s family

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has promised that the police will track down the killers of late Chinwike Asadu, the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State.

    Abubakar made this known when he paid a condolence visit to the family of Asadu on Monday in Enugu.

    He restated that the killers of the police chief had “murdered sleep and will never sleep. It is a hard one for us something we cannot comprehend till now.

    “Like I said before, the killers have murdered sleep and they will never sleep. By the grace of God, we shall find the killers so that the family and the police will be comforted,’’ the News Agency of Police quoted the IGP as saying during the visit.

    Abubakar described late Asadu as an officer and gentleman, adding that he did his best in the service to the country.

    The Chairman of the House of Representative Committee on Police Affairs, Mr. Usman Kumo, also described Asadu as a gallant officer.

    Kumo prayed for the repose of his soul, for God to strengthen the family to bear the irreparable loss.

    Also in his remarks, the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, assured the family that efforts are being made to find the killers.

    The team was received by late Asadu’s widow, Oby, and some close family relations.

     

  • Police retirees

    Police retirees

    •There is no reason why their retirement benefits should be delayed

    he hard-nosed confirmation by Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade (rtd), Minister of Police Affairs, that 4,000 retired police officers are yet to receive their pension looks like a fairy-tale but is indeed real. More damning was his amplification that the figures could be higher because more files of other deserving retired officers are still being treated. This is a sad reminder of a nation’s ingratitude to police personnel who served the nation in their prime, only to be forsaken upon retirement.

    Why should it take months for any serious nation to complete the verification of retirees? The way the situation stands, the minister was not even sure of the precise date that the back-log of gratuities would be paid because the bio-data capturing is still in progress. This means that the suffering of police retirees would continue for some time.

    Over time, data irregularities and inefficient pension administration have been the bane of pension management, compelling the government to initiate verification exercises to correct the anomalies. We recollect that an earlier general exercise for the Federal Civil Service, supervised by Mallam AbdulRasheed Maina, over two years ago succeeded in uncovering a colossal N5billion that could have been stolen through payment to ‘ghost’ pensioners.

    While we do not begrudge the Ministry of Police Affairs for toeing the same line, such should not be used as an excuse for delaying pension and gratuities of police retirees. The condition of service in the police force is presently dehumanising and it would be a collateral damage for police retirees to be further dehumanised by not getting their entitlements promptly.

    The minister’s complaint in his 2012 report that the Nigeria Police Force is faced with the challenge of poor funding is suspect. So, what have both the ministry and the police pension office done with previously approved budgets for the police? The question becomes pertinent in view of the Police Pension Office scam of a whopping sum of N32.8billion siphoned by some of its top officials. If such amount can be illegally diverted without the supervisory ministry knowing, the reason why police pensioners’ gratuities and pension are delayed or sometimes denied can easily be deciphered.

    No wonder that a police ministry which has not been able to turn police colleges across the country into model training institutions still has the effrontery to be demanding for more funds. It is trite budget principle that the projects that were implemented and how efficiently previous budgets were utilised go a long way in determining the quantum of allocation for succeeding year’s appropriation. So, the issue is not about the ministry suddenly realising that it needs more funds because of an expose by a media organisation, on the sordid state of Police College, Ikeja. What about how budgeted police pension developed wings? An explanation should be given on this too.

    The mind-boggling fraud that is ravaging the country’s pension system, of which the police is an integral part, is patently abominable. Expectedly, this would make retirement from the police and other institutions meaningless because the bulk of benefits to be enjoyed by retirees notoriously ended up in private pockets of serving top civil servants and politicians.

    We consider as appalling the mismanagement of police affairs, more importantly, police pensioners’ wellbeing. Both have been objects of intensely condemnable graft from unscrupulous top government officials. Under the prevailing situation, the guarantee of a people-friendly, efficient and effective police becomes an illusion.