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Tag: Lai Mohammed

  • Opposition politicians plotting violence to truncate 2019 elections – FG

    The Federal Government says it is in possession of credible intelligence confirming that opposition politicians are orchestrating widespread violence to truncate the forthcoming general elections.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, made the allegation at a world press conference he addressed on behalf of the government in Abuja on Monday.

    ‘‘As you are aware, Nigeria goes to the polls just 27 days from now.

    ‘‘However, the Federal Government is in possession of credible intelligence to the effect that widespread violence being orchestrated by the opposition is threatening the 2019 general elections,’’ he said.

    On the reasons for the plot, the minister said the opposition politicians, having realised that their fortunes had dwindled ahead of the polls, were orchestrating widespread violence with a view to truncating the elections.

    ‘‘You have definitely seen the massive and warm reception that President Muhammadu Buhari has been receiving across the country, compared to the thinning crowds that have been attending the opposition rallies.

    ‘‘The desperate opposition is orchestrating widespread violence with a view to truncating the elections, thus triggering a constitutional crisis that could snowball into the establishment of an interim government,’’ he said.

    Mohammed buttressed the Federal Government’s claims and allegation against the opposition politicians to justify that the government was not just crying wolf.

    He said ‘‘We have credible intelligence that bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have been mobilised to engage in massive attacks and other acts of violence in several states across the country.

    ‘‘The states include: Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.

    ‘‘The Benue-based armed criminal group, led by Terwase AKWAZA, also known as Gana, has been commissioned to strike soft targets in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States.

    Read Also: FG appoints Bogoro as TETFund Executive Secretary

    ‘‘In Kano State, a group of notorious miscreants have been mobilised by some prominent opposition leaders to provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections.’’

    He added that there was also an international dimension to the evil plan.

    ‘‘Some armed mercenaries from Niger Republic have been contracted to attack top government functionaries, including state governors, across the North-West between now and the elections,’’ he said.

    The minister said the Federal Government is taking every possible measure to counter the evil plans by unpatriotic anarchists and would ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming general elections.

    He assured of the President Buhari-led Administration’s commitment to credible, free, fair and peaceful elections was unshaken.

    Mohammed appealed to all Nigerians to be vigilant in the days ahead.

    He also appealed to the media to help in sensitizing members of the public to the observed threats, capable of disrupting the elections.

    ‘‘The punch line of our long running campaign on security – if you see something, say something – remains relevant, perhaps even more, at this time,’’ he said.

    He said all the relevant agencies under his ministry would work together to ensure that Nigerians are alerted to the dangers posed to the forthcoming elections by the unpatriotic characters planning to destabilize the country in order to realize their inordinate ambitions.

    NAN

     

  • Breaking: FG raises alarm over plot to attack governors, 10 states

    The Federal Government on Monday accused some opposition leaders of alleged plot to unleash violence on 10 states in the North.

    It also said some mercenaries have been hired from Niger Republic to attack key government functionaries including some governors in the North-West.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed raised the alarm at a briefing in Abuja.

    He said the uncovering of the plans to orchestrate violence followed intelligence report.

    He said: “As you are aware, Nigeria goes to the polls just 27 days from now. However, the Federal Government is in possession of credible intelligence to the effect that widespread violence being orchestrated by the opposition is threatening the 2019 general elections.

    “Before you accuse the government of crying wolf, let me tell you, gentlemen, that we have credible intelligence that armed bandits and Boko Haram insurgents have been mobilized to engage in massive attacks and other acts of violence in several states across the country, including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Benue, Kano, Kaduna, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.

    Read Also: Opposition politicians plotting violence to truncate 2019 elections – FG

    “The Benue-based armed criminal group, led by Terwase AKWAZA, also known as Gana, has been commissioned to strike soft targets in Benue, Nasarawa, and Taraba States. In Kano State, a group of notorious miscreants have been mobilized by some prominent opposition leaders to provoke massive chaos before, during and after the elections.

    He said some mercenaries from Niger Republic had been hired to attack top government officials including state governors.

    More details later

  • PDP dares Buhari over threats to arrest Atiku

    The Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Organization (PPCO) has dared President Muhammadu Buhari on the threats to arrest the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed had, at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, hinted that Atiku, who travelled to the United States on Thursday, would be arrested on his return to the country.

    But the PDP has described the planned arrest as laughable and a heinous plot to frame Atiku, out of fear that he is already coasting to victory in the February 16 presidential election.

    Addressing a media conference in Abuja on Friday, spokesman for the PDP Presidential Campaign, Kola Ologbondiyan, said President Buhari and the APC were already jittery over Atiku’s soaring popularity ahead of the elections.

    “It is reprehensible that Mr. President will descend abysmally low to fabricate outright lies and falsehood in a bid to discredit a more qualified and acceptable Presidential candidate”, Ologbondiyan said.

    The PDP campaign spokesman added that Atiku has nothing to do with the alleged issues leading to the collapse of Bank PHB, stressing that the PDP presidential candidate is an honest and hardworking Nigerian who has no skeleton of any sort in his cupboard.

    Ologbondiyan further stated, “For emphasis, even the Chairman of President Buhari’s Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, had since told the world that the Buhari Presidency has searched everywhere and could not find anything incriminating on Atiku Abubakar.

    “The world already knows that this attempt to mudsling our Presidential candidate is coming out of President Buhari’s frustration over Atiku Abubakar’s successful outing in the United States, for which the Buhari Presidency has gone into full hallucination.

    “This is in addition to their frenzied face-saving effort to divert public attention from President Buhari’s humiliating appearances in the respective rallies and Television shows he has had.

    Read Also: How Atiku secured American visa, by BMO

    “The PPCO however, counsels President Buhari and the APC to note that Nigerians can see through their lies, fabrications and frustration and that their scheme against Atiku Abubakar is already dead on arrival.

    “If anything, the PPCO will want President Buhari to open the books and provide explanation for the N9 trillion stolen under his watch as Minister of Petroleum Resources as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo.

    “President Buhari should as well, allow an open inquest into the alleged involvement of his relations in the N1.032 trillion alleged corrupt acquisitions in 9Mobile and Keystone Bank PLC.

    “Finally, the PPCO states that the PDP Presidential candidate, our great party and indeed all Nigerians, who have already reached a national consensus to vote-in Atiku Abubakar as the next President of our country, will not be distracted by this unfounded allegation by the rejected President Buhari and his handlers”.

  • FG to Atiku: you have questions to answer over collapse of Bank PHB

    The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed on Friday said that the former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar has questions to answer over the collapse of Bank PHB.

    Atiku presently is in the United States of America.

    Briefing State House correspondents, Lai Mohammed, said that there are fresh evidences that Atiku benefitted from the slush funds that led to collapse of the bank.

    In 2009, he said that a memo was raised for the issuance and payment of N156 million to Atiku’s account.

    The onus, he said, is on Atiku to exonerate himself.

    He said “I have come to make few remarks about the recent visit of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party to the US. You can recall that few weeks ago, I did issue a statement advising the US government not to issue visa to Atiku.

    “Remember also that in that same press conference, I also stated that it remains the prerogative of the US government to issue visa to anyone it deems fit.

    “Let me say right away t we are not perturbed one bit that Alhaji Atiku Abukakar was able to secure visa to the US. As a matter of fact, he can go ahead and get the US Green card that will not save him from imminent defeat in the forthcoming election.

    Read Also: Atiku confirms arrival in U.S.

    “I want to remind Abubakar that the elections will be right here in Nigeria and not in the US.

    “In any event, any time Abubakar returns home, he has questions to answer following the fresh evidence that we have that he benefitted from slush funds that led to the collapse of the former Bank PHB.

    “The document we have shows that he benefitted to the tune of N156 million from that slush fund.

    “The paper which we have here started from an internal memo on the Jan. 13, 2009, in which reads please refer for discussion your requested overdraft in favour of Atiku Abubakar for N156 million and deliver same to me. Please note that it must be delivered today(Jan. 13) on the same date, another memo was generated to confirm—please confirm that the amount stated below be issued from Claremont Management Services account.

    “And we have evidence here of the account mandate—the name of Atiku Abubakar; we also have a copy of the cheque in which the sum of N156 million was issued to Atiku Abubakar dated Jan. 13, 2009 and of course we also have statement of account within that period that confirms that this sum was actually paid into his account.

    “These are fresh evidence as to his involvement in the collapse of Bank PHB, so want to him to stay as long he wants in the US but as soon he comes back; he has to explain to the electorates and to Nigerians what is his role in the collapse in the former Bank PHB.” he said

    According to him, the Buhari’s administration is not perturbed by Atiku’s visit to the United States.

    He added “He can go ahead and get the US Green card; any time he comes back, he as questions to answer.”

     

     

  • PDM backs Buhari for second term

    The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) on Friday backed President Muhammadu Buhari for second term in office.

    The leadership of the group led by its National Chairman, Senator Abubakar Maadi, met with President Buhari on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar facilitated the meeting, which started around 11.02am when the President arrived the Council Chamber.

    Maadi, disclosed that the leadership of the party across the country endorsed President Buhari for second term on the 4th of January, 2019.

    Recalling that the party was formed by late Shehu Musa Yar’ Adua in 1987, he said that the PDM decided to endorse the President because of his giant strides in the development of the country, especially in the fight against corruption, successes against Boko Haram and improved power supply, among other achievements.

    At the meeting, the former National Chairman of PDM, Faruk Abdullaziz presented to Buhari, the signature of all the 36 states executives of the party endorsing the President for second term.

    Bauchi Governor, while making brief remarks explained that he was not a member of PDM.

    “I am a friend to the National Chairman of PDM and I facilitated this meeting.” he said

    According to him, the PDM has sat and resolved to support President Buhari for second term.

    Read Also: Buhari to Niger Delta: expect more development

    He said that the delegation comprises of national, state, zonal, coordinators of the PDM.

    The President commended the members of the group for remaining committed to the organization over the years.

    According to him, the bottom line of everything is patriotism.

    Government officials in attendance included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed.

    Others include National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.

  • FG challenges PDP to prove allegation of campaigning with state funds

    The Federal Government on Friday challenged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to prove its allegation that the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government was using state resources for electioneering campaign.

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed in a statement in Ilorin said that the allegation was made by a media aide to the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    According to Mohammed, Abubakar’s media aide’s allegation was provoked by the ministry’s widely circulated testimony series showcasing the achievements of President Buhari’s administration.

    He dismissed the allegation as “acute paranoia’’, stressing that those who made the comment should prove it.

    “It is up to those who made the accusation on the use of state resources for electioneering campaign to prove it, in line with the maxim that he who alleges must prove,’’ the minister said.

    He said that the Buhari administration’s massive achievements had rattled the PDP and its candidate, and their actions amounted to an acknowledgement of the administration’s impressive accomplishments.

    “In publicising the activities and achievements of the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture is only carrying out its statutory role.

    “Long before the elections, the ministry has used various platforms, including town hall meetings, to showcase the activities and achievements of the administration.

    Read Also: Participate in 2019 elections, MASSOB directs members

    “We understand that the PDP and the Atiku Campaign Organisation have been rattled by these successes as well as the effectiveness of the campaign to showcase them.

    “We are sorry we can’t help them,’’ the minister said.

    He expressed surprise that the PDP that had said earlier that the Buhari administration had not achieved anything had now changed its tune.

    Mohammed said the PDP had turned around to admit that the media was awash with video testimonies from Nigerians on the Buhari administration’s achievements.

  • PDP jittery of losing elections, says minister

    INFORMATION and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said yesterday that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is jittery of losing this year’s elections.

    His proof: the opposition party has started attacking President Muhammadu Buhari, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a National Electoral Commissioner, Amina Zakari, and Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi.

    He also said it is within the prerogative of the President to extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.

    Mohammed said the PDP campaign had floundered and the opposition party was blaming everyone, but itself for the sorry state.

    He stressed that the handover of the APC campaign to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had nothing to do with the President’s inability to withstand the rigours of electioneering.

    Mohammed, at a briefing in Abuja, said the “PDP lacks focus or direction”.

    He also described the PDP as “an opposition that says it wants issue-based campaign, but throws mud at everyone”.

    He said: “On PDP’s growing accusations of the President and family members buying 9Mobile and Keystone Bank, I understand this is part of the PDP’s Dubai Agenda: Throw enough mud at the President and hope they can succeed in tainting his integrity. That is not happening and it won’t happen.

    “The sooner the PDP realises this and retraces its steps, the better. President Buhari is globally acknowledged for his legendary integrity, and no one can tarnish it.

    “When its allegations were proved to be wrong, those behind the shameless allegation didn’t even have the decency to admit their lies and apologise to the nation. This is bad politicking and it will not win more votes for the sinking PDP.

    “It is sad that instead of focusing on issues, all they spew are innuendos, lies and concocted stories. The Atiku campaign in particular has lost steam, and all it does now is to make wild allegations not backed by facts.”

    Mohammed also cited the PDP’s “unwarranted” attacks on INEC, Mrs. Zakari, Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris and Amaechi.

    He said:  “The opposition’s reaction to INEC’s appointment of Mrs. Amina Zakari as head of the INEC Collation Centre Committee is nothing but sheer hysteria, resulting from a pathological fear of impending political doom.

    “The truth is that the PDP knows it will lose the forthcoming elections. It is, therefore, looking everywhere for excuses to explain its impending defeat.

    “INEC has explained that Mrs. Zakari is not the returning officer for the presidential election. The Chairman of INEC is the returning officer.

    “Her role is limited to overseeing the physical structure; that is the International Conference Centre, which is the collation centre for the presidential election. The cries of the opposition amount to red herring.

    “Only yesterday (Monday), the family of Mrs. Zakari was forced to issue a statement, saying she is not a blood relation of the President, as the PDP and others have claimed.

    “The family said and I quote: ”The pieces of information being sold to the press about Mrs. Amina Zakari by the PDP are absolutely false, tendentious, malicious and highly reprehensible.

    “In targeting Mrs. Zakari, the PDP has forgotten that she was appointed in their time. If she was found worthy then, what has changed now?

    “Ahead of the 2019 elections, the PDP has complained against the IG, INEC Chairman, Mrs. Amina Zakari, etc. The party is blaming everyone, but itself for the sorry state in which it has found itself.

    “PDP’s campaign has floundered. Very soon the PDP will call a press conference to blame its own presidential candidate for the party’s failed campaign.

    “That’s what you get from an opposition that lacks focus or direction, an opposition that says it wants issue-based campaign but throws mud at everyone.”

    The minister also said the desperation of PDP accounted for the alleged Amaechi “leaked audio” clips.

    He added: “Again, the opposition is determined to ensure that the ongoing campaign for the 2019 elections is not based on issues but on mudslinging.

    “What is the point in shopping around for audio clips or publications that are then maliciously edited out of context? Why do they think this will break our ranks in the ruling party? What advantage do they think they can get from this infantile act?

    “Whoever wants to circulate any audio or video clip should do so in its entirety so the people can understand the context. Otherwise, let them continue wasting their time circulating an audio that is clearly designed to blackmail.”

    On the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police, the minister said President Buhari has the prerogative to extend his term in office.

    He said ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Umaru Musa Yar’Adua extended the tenure of former Inspectors of General of Police, Sunday Ehindero and Mike Okiro.

    Muhammed said: “When you are drowning, you grab any floating object you can find. You even grab at straws. That’s what the PDP is doing with the issue of the IGP’s tenure.

    “In the first instance, it is the prerogative of Mr. President to extend or not extend the tenure of the Inspector-General of Police or any service chief. That prerogative cannot be taken from Mr. President on the altar of paranoia by some people.

    “President Obasanjo, in his time, extended the tenure of Mr. Sunday Ehindero as IGP. Was there no opposition party then? Also, in his time, President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua extended the tenure of Mr. Mike Okiro as IGP, heavens didn’t fall.

    “I have read that some opposition parties are planning a series of nationwide protests on the issue of IG’s tenure. That’s purely within their right in a democracy. And I wish them the best of luck.”

    On Tinubu’s choice as the co-chairman and leader of the APC campaign, Mohammed said it was not a sign of fatigue by the President.

    He said: “The President, in his wisdom, said he would not want his work to be affected by electioneering campaign, and decided to hand over the responsibility of steering the campaign to Asiwaju.

    “That’s within the President’s prerogative, and a mark of the confidence he reposed in

    Asiwaju. How is this now a problem to the PDP?

    “The President deserves accolades for putting the nation first, even with the elections approaching. Concerning the mischievous insinuation from the opposition that PMB handed over the campaign to Asiwaju because he cannot withstand the rigours of electioneering campaign, this is absurd. The President’s punishing daily schedule over the past months is more rigorous than any electioneering campaign. Of course, it has never happened in the recent history.”

     

     

     

  • Amechi’s leaked audio clip doctored – FG

     

    The Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has declared the purported leaked audio of Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi criticising President Muhammadu Buhari was doctored.

    He also said the leak clip will not break the ranks of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC).

    The Minister, who stated this at a media briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, said the leaked audio was part of the “mudslinging’’ politics of the opposition”.

    “Again, the opposition is determined to ensure that the ongoing campaign for the 2019 elections is not based on issues but on mudslinging.

    “What is the point in shopping around for audio clips or publications that are then maliciously edited out of context?

    “Why do they think this will break our ranks in the ruling party?

    “What advantage do they think they can get from this infantile act?

    “Whoever wants to circulate any audio or video clip should do so in its entirety so that the people can understand the context.

    “Otherwise, let them continue wasting their time circulating an audio that is clearly designed to blackmail,’’ he said.

    The minister also said that the growing accusations that 9-Mobile and Keystone Bank were bought by President Muhammadu Buhari’s family members were part of the PDP’s Dubai agenda.

    He said the agenda reached in Dubai by the opposition was to “throw enough mud at the President and hope they can succeed in tainting his integrity’’.

    “The sooner the PDP realises this and retrace its steps, the better. President Buhari is globally acknowledged for his legendary integrity, and no one can tarnish it.

    “When its allegations were proved to be wrong, those behind the shameless allegation did not even have the decency to admit their lies and apologise to the nation.

    “This is bad politicking and it will not win more votes for the sinking PDP.

    “It is sad that instead of focusing on issues, all they spew are innuendos, lies and concocted stories,’’ he said.

    He said PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar’s campaign has lost steam and all it is doing is to make wild allegations not backed by facts.

    The minister also said that President Buhari should be commended for his decision to concentrate on his job rather than focussing on re-electioneering campaign.

    “The President, in his wisdom, said he would not want his work to be affected by electioneering campaign, and decided to hand over the responsibility of steering the campaign to Asiwaju.

    “That is within the President’s prerogative, and a mark of the confidence he reposed in Asiwaju.

    “How is this now a problem to the PDP? The President deserves accolades for putting the nation first, even with the elections approaching,’’ he said.

    The minister said that the mischievous insinuation from the opposition that the President handed over the campaign to Tinubu because he could withstand the rigours of electioneering campaign is absurd.

    “The President’s punishing daily schedule over the past months is more rigorous than any electioneering campaign.

    “Of course, it has never happened in the recent history of Nigeria that a President facing re-election will rather concentrate on his job rather than his campaign.

    “PDP, for one, cannot fathom this because of their brand of do-or-die politics.

    “Again, the President deserves commendation, not condemnation, for that decision,’’ he said.

  • Minister charges grassroots canvassers to ensure victory for APC in Kwara

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed yesterday in Ilorin inaugurated more than 2,500 grassroots canvassers in Kwara State for the purpose of mobilizing the people of the state for the All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels for the coming general elections.

    ”These canvassers will be our victory army, the army that will dismantle the gargantuan edifice of corruption and misgovernance that has held our dear state down for too long.

    ‘’This unprecedented move is our most potent weapon against the enemies of the state and the oppressors of the people,” Lai Mohammed said.

    Alhaji Mohammed said the ‘well-recruited, tested and trusted canvassers’ will go from house to house in each of the 1,872 polling units in the state to tell the people why they must vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and all the candidates of the APC in Kwara State in the 2019 general elections.

    ”Gathered here today are 1,872 canvassers representing the 18,720 canvasses. That is one canvasser per each polling unit across the 193 wards in Kwara State. We are also inaugurating today 193 ward coordinators, 193 ward secretaries, 193 ward women leaders and 193 ward youth leaders,’’ he said.

    The Minister said the stellar performance of President Buhari in reinventing governance and his pro-poor policies have made the job of the canvassers much easier.

    ”To the canvassers, if they ask you why President Buhari deserves a second term, tell them it is because he has leveraged his legendary integrity and acclaimed management of resources, human and material, to reinvent governance and make a difference in the lives of Nigerians. Therefore, he needs another four years to consolidate his great achievements,” he said.

  • Saraki’s aide accuses minister of doctoring tape

    SPECIAL Adviser for Media and Publicity to Senate President Yusuph Olaniyonu has stated that if there is any doctored version of the Christmas Day radio interview by his boss, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, should be asked where he got it.

    Olaniyonu, in a statement in Abuja, accused Mohammed as being the author of such a doctored recording.

    He said the radio stations were simply instructed to do a repeat broadcast of the interview, following the requests by stakeholders at various meetings held by the Senate President around the state.

    “Nobody produced another tape or instructed anybody to edit any part of the tape and nothing like that was done. That is why the same instruction was passed to all the stations, including Harmony FM, which is under the supervision of Mr. Lai Mohammed and the Sobi FM owned by an APC gubernatorial aspirant.

    “The Sobi FM did not air the repeat broadcast because they said they had another programme scheduled for that Sunday morning.

    “On my way to Pategi town in Kwara North Senatorial District that Sunday morning, I listened to the repeat broadcast on the car stereo and the area concerning the Offa case was clearly there. If there was any plan to doctor or edit the tape, would we do such a thing with Mr. Mohammed’s Harmony FM or propose that to Sobi FM, whose position is well known to us? So, if Mohammed suddenly created and produced a recording of the interview different from what was repeated by the four radio stations on December 30, 2018, then he should be asked how and where he got it,” Olaniyonu stated.

    He added that it was good that Mohammed at least admitted that Dr. Saraki donated N10 million to people in Offa, but that the money was meant for the traders that lost goods in the inferno that razed the market in the town and not for the victims of the robbery incident.

    “I remember as a member of the Senate President’s delegation to the Olofa of Offa’s Palace, to commiserate with the people on the sad incident of the robbery that it was during that visit that Mrs. McCarthy, the secretary of the Offa Development Union (ODU) raised the issue of the earlier incident on the market fire incident and Dr. Saraki promised that N10 million would be made available the following day.

    “The question people should ask the minister is: How much has he ever donated to provide succour for the people of Offa for whatever purpose? He is only trying to draw political capital from the sad occurrences that happened to his own people. We are not unmindful of the fact that he continued to talk about the Offa incident as a way of playing cheap politics on the misfortune that befell some people. We urge him to move on to talking about what development projects he has brought to Offa as a member of the Federal Executive Council representing Kwara State,” he added.

    The aide to the Senate President noted that while the information Minister continue to grand-stand over a dubious victory recorded by his party in a bye-election in which he led security agencies to inflict violence on his people, the results had only produced an illegitimate legislator, who is largely shunned and viewed with scorn by members of his community.