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Tag: OPC

  • Fasehun, Adams, Dokubo, others unite against NNPC

    Fasehun, Adams, Dokubo, others unite against NNPC

    • Demand pay for services rendered

    Factional leaders of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasehun and Otunba Gani Adams, as well as other beneficiaries of the controversial Pipeline Security and Surveillance contracts, who met at the weekend called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to pay  their outstanding fees by the end of the month, or face legal action.

    NNPC on June 15, terminated the contract awarded under President Goodluck Jonathan to various ?private security firms to safeguard pipelines against vandals..

    The companies are New Age Nigeria Limited (Fasehun); Donyx Global Concept (Adams); ATEF Nigeria Limited (Asari Dokubo); Galery Security Services Limited (Bibo Ajube); Bajeros Nigeria Limited (Joshua Machiever); Close Body Protection Limited (High Chief Omo) and Izon Ibe Security Limited.

    In an open letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, they claimed that they had a three-month contract with the NNPC, from March 15 to  June 15, which they delivered on but are yet to be paid.

    They alleged that the NNPC has refused to pay its indebtedness to them, insisting that they are demanding their entitlement and not a handout or favour.

    They debunked claims that President Jonathan was the one who gave them the contract in order to secure his re-election, adding that due process was followed between them and the Management of the NNPC, before the contract was awarded.

    While noting that they incurred losses ranging from death of personnel, injuries, as well as borrowed ?money from the banks to execute the contract, they insisted that weekly reports and monthly meetings were held with the NNPC.

    ”It should be known that the contractors had valid and duly signed contract agreements with the management of the NNPC to protect the pipelines for a period of three months.

    “Up on till now, the public perception of the NNPC Pipeline Security and Surveillance job was that former President Goodluck Jonathan gave the job to the contractors on the platter of politics. But nothing can be farther from the truth than this.

    “Therefore, for the purpose of clarity, it should be noted that the contract was signed between the contractors and the management of the NNPC, an agency of government, as a way of finding lasting solutions to the incessant problem of pipeline vandalisation across the country.

    “The terms and agreements of the contract were formulated and drafted by the management of the NNPC and was duly signed by all the parties, including the contractors and the legal department of the NNPC after several meetings and consultations.

    “It is also necessary for the public to know that, against widely held belief that the contract was terminated by the Federal Government, it should be noted that the contract indeed ran its course, which was a period of three months, starting from March 15, 2015 and ended June 15, 2015.

    “It is our belief that the contract agreement between the NNPC and the contractors is a public document and therefore can always be accessed by any member of public.

    “At the same time, what we are demanding from the NNPC is for it to redeem its own part of the contract agreement and should not be seen as a favour and handout to any individual.

  • OPC seeks release of leader from Ekiti prison

    The Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Ekiti State has appealed to Governor Ayo Fayose to ensure the release of its chairman Adeniyi Adedipe from prison custody.

    Adedipe is on remand for alleged complicity in the murder of former state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Omolafe Aderiye, on September 25, last year.

    The OPC chief and six others appeared at an Ado-Ekiti High Court last Thursday, but the case was adjourned to September 28 and 29 by the trial judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, for definite hearing.

    But the group insisted that Adedipe had no hand in Aderiye’s killing, describing the duo as “brothers and business partners with long years of close bond”.

    Making the appeal at the weekend at a briefing, an OPC executive member in the state, Segun Egunlusi, urged Fayose to reconsider Adedipe’s case because his remand was “political”.

    He noted that Adedipe had used his office to collaborate with successive administrations and security agencies to fight crime and would never be involved in any criminal act.

    Egunlusi expressed sadness that Adedipe’s remand in prison custody prevented him from participating in the funeral rites of his late father.

  • Gani the guard

    When a contractor’s cheese has been moved, particularly if it’s a large chunk of cheese, expect contractor confusion. A reflection of such confusion: “All I’m saying is that government can merge the community residents and law enforcement agents to police the neighbourhood. But my fear is that, if they are being merged, how are we sure that the law enforcement agents would not compromise members of the community?”

    Who was that? Well, the speaker was no other than Gani Adams, a factional chief of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), in a published interview. His company, Donyx Global Concept Nigeria Limited, recently lost a controversial oil pipeline security contract because the Muhammadu Buhari presidency considered it unworthy of renewal.

    What Adams meant was that militiamen, euphemistically described as “community residents”,   should be allowed to operate side by side with the official security agents. Adam’s company was one of the militia-related companies that enjoyed multi-billion naira security contracts when Goodluck Jonathan was president. From the beginning, the contracts in question were politically-coloured, which is a way of saying they were corrupted by politics and politicians. “About 4,000 workers were engaged by our companies – New Age Security Company owned by Dr. Fasehun; Galaxy Security Outfit Nigeria Limited owned by General Shoot-at-Sight and Donyx Global Concept Nigeria Limited owned by me.” That was Adams again in another interview.

    Apart from the absurdity of the imagined combination of forces, Adams’ expressed “fear” that the regular security personnel may have a corrupting influence on the irregular workers is laughable because it attempts to paint them in unrealistically positive colours.

    Adams’ self-promoting thinking: “The contract expired on the 15th of June. Between that 15th of June when we left and now, we have all seen what happened to our oil pipelines, especially in Arepo, in Ogun State. Every activity of these vandals, we tactically blocked during the three months which the contract lasted…But rather than get the support of the people, they were going up and down, calling us all manner of names, using the media to fight us.”

    Can anyone make Adams see the nonsense of downgrading the normal security agencies in favour of militiamen?  Can Adams understand the irrationality of the enrichment of militia leaders to the detriment of the empowerment of the country’s security personnel? Listen to him again: “The only way we can reduce pipeline vandalism is through community efforts.” He means through the use of militiamen. He said boastfully: “When we came on board, some of the vandals came to my house, promising me heaven on earth if I cooperate with them. But I walked them out.” Hail Gani, the incorruptible guard!

  • OPC to a ‘factional leader’: stop parading yourself

    OPC to a ‘factional leader’: stop parading yourself

    The Oyo State Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Adeagbo Adeola has described the statement credited to a factional leader of the group, Razak Balogun as the ranting of a man without focus’, warning  him to stop parading himself as a member of the group.

    Adeola urged the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and members of the public to disregard this group  of people and their  evil plan to cause dissatisfaction within the ranks of the OPC.

    In a statement, Adeola said: “My attention has been drawn to a report calling on the National Co-ordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, to step down from his position.

    “The call was credited to one Razak Balogun, who was said to have made the call while on a courtesy call to the office of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Ibadan, Oyo State.

    “Ordinarily, I would have disregarded the story as another ranting of a drowning man, but have decided to react to it for the sake of clarification.

    “The said Razak Balogun, who described himself as an acting President of the group, was indeed dismissed from the organization about five months ago for anti-congress activities by the Lagos State Coordinator of OPC, Alhaji Mutair Adeshina which was widely published.

    “Razak Balogun was the acting coordinator of the organisation in Shomolu. He has proven to be a man without focus.

    “However, one thing must be known by all good-intentioned members of the public.

    “The activities of these men have not come to me as a surprise. Among every 12 disciples, there is always a Judas.

    These groups of people have proved to be the Judas within the ranks of the OPC. And the biblical Judas, we are waiting to see how things turn out for them.

    “For the benefit of the general public who are being fed with wrong information, I would love to say that the leadership of the OPC is not something that can be discussed by a few disgruntled people just because they have failed to realise their ambition of enriching themselves.

    “In 1999, when Otunba Gani Adams emerged as the leader of the organisation, Ifa oracle was consulted and the entire members of the National Executive Council met to deliberate on the advice of Ifa.

    And like true sons and daughters of Oodua, it was unanimously agreed that we should abide with what Ifa had said and based on his antecedents as a good resourceful manager since the inception of the group in 1994.

    “Traditionally in Yorubaland, you don’t remove a king until death, except of course if the king commits an unpardonable sin.

    It is the same vain with the leadership of Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, some stable and consistent self-determination groups in Yoruba land.

    “Even at that, I think Otunba Adams deserves the respect of all for his efforts to make the organisation grow. It is to his credit that the OPC, as it is known today, has grown from a mere organisation that is usually attached with miscreants to an organisation in the forefront of cultural revival in Nigeria.

    “It is to his credit that the OPC has acquired several acres of land in five states across Yoruba land in preparation towards building befitting hotels in each of these states.

    Today, among our members are lawyers, bankers and several highly-respected professionals.

    “Today, we have a new organisation, the Oodua Progressives Union (OPU), an organisation set up to bring together every Yoruba sons and daughters in the Diaspora.

    As I speak, the OPU has been launched in more than 58 countries of the world, with more than 10 in Africa and Europe slated for launching very soon.

    “I will, however, wish to advise members of the public most especially respected Nigeria Union of Journalists and its Oyo State Chapter to henceforth disregard this group of people and their evil plan to cause disaffection within the ranks of the OPC because most of the journalists in Lagos are well informed about their nefarious and diabolic acts and penchants for peddling falsehood.

    They are all bunch of disgruntled people seeking for new ways to redeem themselves from their self-inflicted destruction.

  • Resign now, OPC faction tells Gani Adams

    Resign now, OPC faction tells Gani Adams

    A faction opposed to the leadership style of the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, has called for his resignation with immediate effect.

    The  National Coordinating Council of OPC, accused Adams of political partisanship, gross misconduct, abuse of power and high-handedness.

    The faction made the call after its meeting held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, shortly after a congratulatory visit to the state chapter of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the election of Alhaji Waheed Odusile as the National President.

    The acting President,  of the group Alhaji Razak Balogun, said the call become imperative in view of the vote of no-confidence passed in Adams, stating that he has derailed from the ideals and vision of the OPC to liberate the Yoruba nation at large.

    Balogun and the other aggrieved leaders also hinted that their faction was not out to discredit Gani Adams but to set the records straight that members of OPC had passed a vote of no confidence in him thereby calling for his immediate resignation before it is too late for him, adding that, Adams is “only using the name of OPC to enrich himself.”

    But Otunba Adams dismissed their allegation, saying they are all expelled members.

    Adams, who spoke through his Director of Media and Publicity, Mr. Yinka Oguntimehin, a lawyer said:

    “They are faceless  group and expelled members of OPC. All their allegations are baseless and empty.

    “The National Coordinating Council under Otunba Gani Adams  remains intact and solid… People should ignore  them and not take them serious.

  • OPC may sue NNPC over N1.9b debt

    OPC may sue NNPC over N1.9b debt

    The O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) has said it may sue the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for its failure to pay it N1.9 billion, being the debt accrued for the pipeline protection contract terminated over a month ago.

    OPC founder Frederick Fasehun, who spoke yesterday to aviation correspondents in Lagos, said the contract was awarded to the OPC to protect NNPC’s pipeline from Mosimi in Ogun to Oyo State.

    He debunked the claim that the contract was awarded for political reasons by the Goodluck Jonathan administration.

    Fasehun said:”The contract was drafted by the NNPC and both parties signed it. We began on March 16 and the contract was for three months.

    “I put 4,020 youths on the job. We did the job with utmost integrity and commitment. There was no complaint of pipeline vandalism.

    “We were not mobilised but we went ahead to do the job because we felt concerned that the nation’s lifeline was being threatened.

    “While the contract was on, there was a change in government but I believe government is continuum and any contract signed on behalf of one government should be honoured by its successor.”

  • OPC won’t protest pipeline surveillance contract withdrawal – Gani Adams

    OPC won’t protest pipeline surveillance contract withdrawal – Gani Adams

    Gani Adams says his faction of the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) will not participate in the protest against the withdrawal of the contract for the protection of NNPC Pipelines.

    Adams, the National Coordinator of the pressure group, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos said that protest would not solve the problem of the contract withdrawal.

    “We had a meeting over the withdrawal of contract to protect the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipelines.

    “Dr Fredrick Fasheun, I and some other persons were at the meeting. I want to state categorically that protest against withdrawal of the contract was not part of our discussion.

    “It is a contract between us and the NNPC. The issue should not be misunderstood for something else.

    “I don’t want to bring ethnicity into this matter. I don’t want people to see us in bad light.

    “We read the story on this protest in the newspapers like any other person. We are not part of the protest,’’ Adams said.

    NAN recalls that the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan had in March, awarded a multi-billion Naira contract to the OPC to secure NNPC pipelines in the South-West zone of the country.

    OPC had on June 15, threatened to withdraw it personnel from the NNPC pipelines nationwide and other groups in the country due to no payment by NNPC.

    However, the pipeline surveillance contract awarded to ex-militant leaders from the Niger Delta region and the South-West pressure group, OPC, was finally revoked by the Federal Government on June 16.

  • Police, OPC ‘torture’ residents over land

    •Three injured, houses destroyed in Ajah

    Some residents of Alabeko Estate in Ajah, Lagos have accused the police of conniving with the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) to invade their property.

    They alleged that the police and OPC injured three persons and destroyed properties worth millions of naira in the estate last Saturday.

    The injured included the estate’s former General Secretary, Rotimi Ojo; Olaseni Obafemi and Alfa Isiaka Kelani, who were either stabbed or hit with shovels.

    The OPC men allegedly came with bottles and guns, while policemen from MOPOL 23 wielded horse whips and teargas.

    Relieving the incident, the residents’ association chairman, Uba Offorbuike said: “We have not known peace in this estate since a land speculator (name withheld) resorted to brigandage to grab a larger chunk of land from our estate.

    “We met with the Omonile from whom we bought our land; they told us that they did not sell any land to the speculator. After the meeting with the land owners, we were within the estate when the OPC men attacked us with cutlasses, broken bottles and other offensive weapons.

    “I was shocked when the police who are supposed to play a neutral role joined them to attack us by spraying tear gas on us. As law-abiding citizens, we are disappointed in the Nigerian Police because they have failed to defend the defenceless and armless people.

    “They have constantly harassed residents despite petitions sent to the Commissioner of Police, and the (Assistant Inspector General of Police) AIG Zone 2, for protection against the attacks from the OPC and riot policemen from MOPOL 23.”

    A resident, Solomon Sunday, said trouble started about three weeks ago after the speculator started laying claims to lands belonging to about five different families.

    He said the speculator, who acquired land from the Owoje family, “suddenly surfaced with a survey plan dated August 20, 2014 indicating that he owns 40.87 hectares.”

    Sunday alleged that with the survey plan, the speculator encroached on the land with existing structures, and was still extending his grip on other’s properties, forcing them to flee their homes.

    “The man just came from nowhere and brought a survey plan which was done last year. He started laying claim to non-existent 40.87 hectares of land. He owns a land but not in our estate. He bought his land from the Owoje family, whereas the land he is now laying claims to belongs to the Akapo, Adejobi, Ogunlana and two other families. When he started making trouble three weeks ago, the residents went to the Omonile who said they never sold their land to him.

    “He was invited for a meeting with the Omonile on several occasions but he refused to come. And so, on Saturday, the residents and the Omonile had a meeting on how to stop him from the illegal encroachment on their properties. It was after the meeting, around 12.30pm that the OPC men with about eight policemen from MOPOL 23, Obalende, started attacking us.

    “These policemen have been staying inside a wooden structure (church) which he built on his land. Before we knew it, the OPC men started chasing people away. They were flogging even women. They were shooting sporadically and breaking bottles which they used to stab many people. It was in that process that Rotimi Ojo was severely stabbed on his right hand while they used shovel to hit his head,” he said.

    Offorbuike added: “He was rushed to Doren Specialist Hospital in Ajiwe, Ajah and is still on admission there. About N400,000 has been spent already on his emergency surgery and drugs because the doctor said his tendon and ligaments were damaged. What is even more painful is the fact that the police that are supposed to enforce the law not only supervised the unlawful attack, but also complemented the thugs. They sprayed teargas on us. My wife was severely tear-gassed and even slapped by the policemen.”

    “They also used horse whips to brutalise us. Even the Omoniles who are old men were not spared. Most of them wore police T-shirts and so we could not see their names,” said Sunday.

    Not done with the attacks on the residents, they invade Kelani’s eight-room bungalow, destroying the window glasses.

    “Even Kelani’s wife, a visually impaired woman, was given several slaps for questioning their action. They beat and chased people into the bush, as they continued with the demolition of people’s homes and fence, with the police supporting them.”

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) for Ogombo, Omolabi Oviebo visited the area following a complaint and warned the policemen to stop harassing the residents.

    Kelani was said to have fled his home before the attack for fear of being killed.

    His fear, it was learnt, stemmed from allegations that the thugs have pencilled him and two others. Abiodun Abbe and Wale Adebayo-down for assassination.

    OPC National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams said no member of his association would “descend as low as joining such a fight over people’s land.”

    “It is worrisome that in most cases, people mistake Omonile (land agents) for OPC. Certainly, OPC could not have been involved,” he said.

    Police spokesman, Ken Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said investigations were on, adding: “The command is poised to ensure that residents of Alabeko and its environs enjoy police protection like other residents of the state.”

    … the police that are supposed to enforce the law not only supervised the unlawful attack, but also complemented the thugs. They sprayed teargas on us. My wife was severely tear-gassed and even slapped by the policemen

     

     

  • How Police aided OPC to wreak havoc in Ajah estate

    How Police aided OPC to wreak havoc in Ajah estate

    For residents of Alabeko Estate in Ajah, Lagos, Saturday, June 20, would not be forgotten in a hurry.

    It was a day they witnessed gross injustice from members of the Odua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), under the supervision of personnel of the Nigeria Police.

    The unprovoked attack, which led to three persons sustaining injuries and several properties damaged, was said to have started after a party in a land dispute allegedly recruited the attackers to unlawfully dispossess them of their lands.

    Among those injured were former General Secretary of the estate,  Rotimi Ojo, one Olaseni Obafemi and Alfa Ishiaka Kelani, who were either stabbed by the thugs or hit with shovels.

    While the OPC thugs used bottles and guns to threaten the residents, police men attached to MOPOL 23, it was learnt, deployed horse whips and teargas on the innocent people.

    Narrating their ordeals, the residents’ association chairman, Uba Offorbuike said they have not known peace since Orimisan started encroaching on their lands.

    He said: “We have not known peace in this estate since Rotimi Orimisan resorted to brigandage to grab a larger chunk of land from our estate.

    “We met with the Omonile from whom we bought our land; they told us that they did not sell any land to Rotimi Orimisan (the prospector). After the meeting the land owners, we were still within the estate when the OPC thugs attacked us with cutlasses, broken bottles and other offensive weapons.

    “I was shocked when the Police who are supposed to play neutral role joined them to attack us using spraying tear gas on us.

    “As law abiding citizens of this country, we are disappointed in the Nigerian Police because they have failed to defend the defenceless and armless people.

    “They have constantly harassed residents despite petition sent to the Commissioner of Police, and the (Assistant Inspector General of Police) AIG Zone 2, for protection against the vagaries and insipid attacks from the OPC and mobile policemen from MOPOL 23,” said Ubah.

    Another resident, Solomon Sunday, trouble started about three weeks ago after one Rotimi Orimisan started laying claims to lands belonging to about five different families.

    He said Orimisan, who acquired land from the Owoje family, suddenly surfaced with a survey plan dated August 20, last year, indicating that he owns 40.87 hectares.

    Sunday alleged that Orimisan with the said survey plan, had encroached on the land belonging to about five other families with existing structures, and was still extending his grip on other residents’ properties, forcing the people to leave their homes.

    “The man just came from nowhere and brought a survey plan which was done last year. He started laying claims to non – existent 40.87 hectares of land.

    “He owns land but not in out estate. He bought his land from the Owoje family, whereas, the lands he is now laying claims to belong to the Akapo,  Adejobi, Ogunlana and two other families. When he started making trouble three weeks ago, the estate residents went to the Omoniles and they said they never sold their land to him.

    “He was invited for a meeting with the Omoniles on several occasions but he refused to come. And so, on Saturday, the residents and the Omoniles had a meeting on how to stop him from the illegal encroachment into their properties.

    “It was after the meeting, around 12:30pm that the OPC men with about eight policemen from MOPOL 23, Obalende, started attacking us.

    “These policemen have been staying inside a wooden structure (church) which Orimisan built on his land. Before we knew it, OPC thugs started chasing people away.

    “They were flogging even women. They were shooting sporadically and broke bottles which they used to stab man people. It was in that process that Rotimi Ojo was severely stabbed on his right hand while they used shovel to hit his head.

    “He was rushed to Doren Specialist Hospital in Ajiwe, Ajah and is still on admission there. About N400, 000 has been spent already for his emergency surgery and drugs because the doctor said his tendon and ligaments were damaged.

    “What is even more painful is the fact that the police that is supposed to enforce the law not only supervised the unlawful attack, but also complemented the thugs.

    “They sprayed teargas on us. My wife was severely teargassed and even slapped by the policemen.

    “They also used horse whips to brutalise us. Even the Omoniles who are old men were not spared. Most of them wore Police T-shirts and so we could not see their names,” said Sunday.

    Not done with the attacks on the residents, the marauding thugs, it was learnt descended on an eight-room bungalow belonging to Kelani, destroying the window glasses.

    “Even Kelani’s wife, a visually impaired woman, was treated to several slaps because she questioned their action.

    “They beat and chased people into the bush, as they proceeding with the demolition of people’s homes or fencing, with the police supporting them.”
    Although the Divisional Police Officer (DPO),  Ogombo division,  Omolabi Oviebo had visited the area after a complaint was made to him and warned the mobile policemen to avoid threatening or harassing people, the officers have never kept to his directives.

    The Nation gathered that Oviebo was visibly angry at the action of the policemen, and scolded them for being partisan rather than being peacemakers.

    Meanwhile, Kelani was said to have fled his home prior to the attack on Saturday for fear of being killed.

    His fear, it was learnt was borne out of allegations that the thugs have penciled him and two others (Abiodun Abbe and Wale Adebayo) for assassination.

    However, Orimisan could not be reached for comment as a call to his phone number (08029301185) was answered by someone who said it was a ‘wrong number’.

    When contacted,  the state Police command spokesman, DSP Ken Nwosu promised to get back to the reporter after speaking with the Commander, MOPOL 23. But as at the time of filing this reporter, he hasn’t replied.

     

  • One killed as OPC members clash in Ibadan

    The factional crisis rocking the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) in Oyo State, claimed its first casualty yesterday.

    Dauda, also known as Eranla, was killed when some OPC members from Beere, Ibadan, attacked their Apete counterparts, claiming that the head of the Apete faction, ‘Bendel’, was no longer a registered member of OPC .

    It was gathered that the Beere faction claimed that the Apete group had ceased to be OPC members.

    A source said the Beere group believed that their brothers from Apete had ceaselessly tarnished their image,despite not being a functional chapter, and so after several appeals, they stormed Apete yesterday to deal with them.

    When Bendel’s group was attacked, Dauda ,who had a set of twins last year, was killed.

    An eyewitness said it was easier for people to recognise Dauda because his mother is a famous pepper seller.

    Dauda’s remains have been taken away by policemen. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were stationed to restore sanity in the area.

    Police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu said  the police have restored peace and sanity in the area.

    “Our men are  on ground to forestall any further outbreak of law and order. Residents should not panic because we are on top of the situation,” he said