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Tag: Tension

  • Tension in Ondo community over pipeline attacks

    •My life under threat, says ex-militant leader

    There was tension yesterday in  Ese Odo Local Government Area of Ondo State, following the deployment of soldiers in the area.

    The soldiers were believed to have been deployed following the sabotage of pipelines by suspected former militants in Delta State.

    Also, the Arogbo Ijaw National Front raised the alarm of a looming inter-ethnic hostilities and robbery in the area. It noted that operatives of a local anti-vices outfit, Gallery Security Services,  pulled out of their duty posts because of the presence of the soldiers.

    The founder and Chief Executive Officer of the anti vices outfit, a frontline commander of the defunct Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND)?, Chief Bibopre Ajube, has raised the alarm that his life is also being threatened.

    Officials of the Eso Odo local government have also expressed fears over the presence of the soldiers in some parts of the council which they claim has created anxiety.

    A statement by the Arogbo Ijaw National Front President, Chief James Akubirisei, said the soldiers’ presence has forced away the local waterways vigilante team.

    The statement reads: ‘’The reported continued search for the founder of Gallery Security Services is already heating up the security in the area because the man has contributed to the peace of the riverine than any other individual. He has made efforts aimed at ensuring peace in the riverine area and the way and manner he is being hunted is a matter of concern to all and sundry.

    ‘’We are appealing to the military authorities to recall these soldiers because their presence, which has forced out Gallery outfit vigilantes from their posts, is already creating fears of possible inter-ethnic hostilities and even armed robbery in the riverine areas of Ondo state.

    ‘’As a man who has committed his resources and time to curb criminality even beyond Ondo State, the search for him is curious and suspicious. We are compelled to say that this development is orchestrated by selfish politicians who are bent on getting Chief Ajube out of the way in view of the forthcoming governorship election in the state.”

    In a statement, Ajube said: “I think I am just a victim of my magnanimous efforts towards peace in the riverine areas of the state and even beyond. Here I am, cooperating with the federal government to stop pipeline vandalism and illegal bunkering in the coastal areas and beyond.

    “While I am being hunted by the vandals and their sponsors for standing up against criminality, the government has opted to launch a manhunt for me for highly unclear reasons.

    “I have lost not only resources but painfully too, youths who chose to partner with me in this noble cause have lost their lives with several widows and fatherless children left for me to cater for.

    “All I can say is that this move is aimed at diverting my attention from the path I have chosen to? walk since accepting the federal government amnesty offer. But I will not. If the federal government deems it fit to brand me in a manner to implicate me for unknown reasons through this unclear mission, so be it.”

  • Tension in Bayelsa over rerun poll

    Tension in Bayelsa over rerun poll

    There is tension in Bayelsa State as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) prepare for the rerun governorship poll in Southern Ijaw Local Government. Will the election be peaceful, free and fair? Corrrespondent MIKE ODIEGWU examines the conditions that will quarantee a credible poll.

    Last year ended with failed expectations in Bayelsa State. The governorship election was declared inconclusive in controversial circumstances. Therefore, the hope of a new governor-elect will be inaugurated on February 14, was dashed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Now, there are mixed feelings in the state, considering the events that characterised the disputed December 5 and 6 elections. The elections were bloody. Violence swept across the local government areas as brazen public display of brigandage, thuggery, hijack of electoral materials by party loyalists marred the entire process.

    Despite the violence, INEC declared results in seven local government areas, but failed to announce the results of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, which has 425 polling units and 120,827 voting population, the second largest concentration of voters after Yenagoa Local Government Area.

    Though the governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Seriake Dickson, led his closest rival and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Timipre Sylva, with 33,150 votes, he was unsettled as the state waited for the results from Southern Ijaw.

    On December 6, last year, when the rescheduled poll in Southern Ijaw was billed to hold, the governor, who kicked against the decision of INEC and security officials to go ahead with the polls despite the gun battle that marred the process on December 5, took some steps interpreted to be against the electoral process  to register his displeasure.

    Dickson, who hails from Sagbama Local Government Area, visited Oporoma, the headquarters of Southern Ijaw, in the morning of the election, a move that was condemned by the Operation Safe Conduct (SFC), a special military squad in charge of monitoring the poll.

    The governor was said to have stormed Amassoma, one of the communities in Southern Ijaw with high voting strength. But, he was stopped from entering the community. Dickson summoned residents of the state to protest election in Southern Ijaw and went on live broadcast to condemn the exercise at a time, collation of results was ongoing in Yenagoa.

    The PDP defended the action of the governor asserting that, as the Chief Security Officer of the state he reserved the exclusive rights to visit any troubled spot in the state at any time. The party also launched a tirade against the army describing its role in the election as ignoble.

    Following pressure on INEC officials especially, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Baritor Kpagir, the result of Southern Ijaw, being expected at the collation centre, a day after the election had ended, was cancelled.

    The cancellation opened a can of worms with the APC and its candidate threatening fire and brimstone. Allegations and counter allegations of bribery and compromise trailed the cancellation. Against the backdrop of the hullabaloo, INEC held an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting where it was decided that a rerun would hold in Southern Ijaw on January 9.

    Curiously, the stakeholders agreed that other polling units where elections could not hold should undergo fresh poll. Therefore, on January 9, there will be elections in Southern Ijaw, which some persons had described as Bayelsa California and other polling units.

    Implications of the rerun

    Apart from Southern Ijaw, elections will hold in 112 polling units in six out of the seven local government areas where results had already been declared. All the units have a total registered voters of 36,663. This is aside Southern Ijaw that has a total voting population of 120,827.

    Therefore, there are about 157,490 votes for grabs on January 9 depending on the number of collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and turnout of voters. Southern Ijaw is said to have about 100,000 collected PVCs following the last continuous voter registration exercise. Pundits believe that the election is not over yet.

    The forthcoming poll has positive and negative implications for both Dickson and Sylva. The margin of victory of the governor and the PDP could either be closed or widened. The governor stands a chance of either extending his lead in six out of the seven councils he won or losing some of the local government areas to Sylva and the APC.

     

    Local government indicators

    Ogbia: based on results already declared by INEC, Dickson is leading Sylva in Ogbia the local government area of former President Goodluck Jonathan. While Dickson and the PDP polled 13,051 votes, Sylva and the APC scored 9,106, a marginal difference of 3,945 votes.

    But, on January 9, the supplementary election will hold in 27 polling units in Ogbia with a voting population of 5,816 votes. Following reports that the units are the stronghold of APC, the reason they elections there were allegedly cancelled in the first place, Sylva stands a chance of reclaiming the council and dislodging it from the grips of Dickson. But pundits argue that it will be difficult since the PDP is also prepared to win votes in the polling units.

    Yenagoa: Elections will hold in 16 polling units which have about 8,383 registered voters. Observers’ calculations show that the APC can only narrow the lead of PDP since the number of votes to be contested are less than the margin of difference between the PDP and the APC.

    In Yenagoa, PDP scored 24,258 votes against the APC, which got 14,563 votes, a difference of 9,695 votes. So, even if all the voters have PVCs and decide to cast their votes for APC, the party will only succeed in closing the gap of PDP’s lead. It is, therefore, no longer possible for APC to win Yenagoa even if it defeats PDP by landslide in the supplementary poll. But PDP with its determined candidate will also contest seriously for the votes in the polling units.

    Ekeremor: This is the home of the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri. Ex-militants and hired thugs from outside the state besieged his house on December 5, held him hostage with gunfire and substantially disrupted elections in the council. His house was riddled with bullets. But he escaped by the whiskers.

    The council has the largest concentration of cancelled votes. On January 9, there will be a rerun in 44 polling units which have about 13,910 votes. APC stands a greater chance of reclaiming the council from PDP and closing overall vote difference if it could win by landslide.

    In the results already declared, the PDP scored 14,602 votes to defeat the APC which polled 7,918, a difference of 6,684 votes. Therefore, APC will be gunning to grab substantial number of the votes to topple the PDP which is also not resting in its oars.

    Nembe: Elections will hold in 13 polling units in Nembe which has about 4,294 votes. The outcome of the December election showed that PDP scored 10,764 votes to win the APC which got 6,974 votes, a difference of 3,790 votes.

    It will, however, be difficult for APC to claim the council since the deputy Governor of the state, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd) hails from the area. But the APC members said the polling units are their stronghold in the council.

    Brass and Sagbama: these are two extreme cases. While the APC won Brass, the Local Government Area of Sylva by landslide polling 21,755 to defeat the PDP which scored only 6,512; the PDP won Sagbama, the local government area of Dickson, with whopping 28,934 votes to win the APC which could only boast of 5,382 votes.

    While the APC will be aiming to secure more votes in the six polling units with 2255 registered voters, where elections will hold in Brass; the PDP will be struggling to secure the remaining 2005 votes in six polling units where the poll will also hold in Sagbama.

    Kolokuma/Opokuma: There will be no election in Kolokuma/Opokuma because the election in the area where the PDP won the APC with only 700 votes was adjudged peaceful. No polling unit was cancelled.

    Southern Ijaw: This the deciding local government area. It is more crucial to the APC than the PDP. It is the reason why the election in the state was declared inconclusive. The APC claims that the area is its strongest zone. The running mate to Sylva, Elder Wilberforce Igiri and the party’s Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe hail from Southern Ijaw.

    Therefore, the APC believes that the area will produce the number of votes it needs to defeat the governor. The party contended that if the result of the December 6 election it got from the area had been announced, it would have won the PDP.

    But, the PDP also boasts that the zone is its stronghold. It contends that nothing will stop it from winning the council since the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Kombowei Benson, is from there. Besides, the party said other members of the House of Assembly from the area and all the appointees of the governor in the area will helps it to secure victory in the council. So, it is a battle royale in the council on January 9.

     

    Party strategies

    Analysts believe that the APC will, misfire if it concentrates only on Southern Ijaw and ignores other polling units where election will hold. For APC to make an impact, every vote, no matter where it is located, matters. Therefore, the party may be exploring strategies of denying PDP votes not just in Southern Ijaw but also in other local government areas.

    On the other hand, PDP does not need additional votes to win Sylva. If the status quo ante remains, the PDP will definitely cruise home to victory. So, the party may also be exploring possible ways of discouraging voters from coming out on January 9. Other pundits also argue that the PDP should use everything it has to contest for votes and extend its lead on January 9.

     

    Tension

    The APC and PDP have been living like cat and mouse, ahead of the supplementary poll. Their utterances have heightened tension. For instance, the APC raised the alarm on alleged importation of thugs by the PDP.

    The APC said it was disheartening that the PDP and Dickson, were still disposed to violence after using over 5000 imported thugs to disorganise the December 5 and 6 poll.

    The party in a statement signed by the Director, Media and Publicity, the Sylva-Igiri Campaign Organisation (SICO), Chief Nathan Egba, called on the people of the state to hold Dickson accountable for any breakdown of law and order.

    Egba insisted that Dickson allegedly brought large numbers of non-Bayelsans into the state ahead of the poll.

    He said: “Already, we have it on good authority that Governor Dickson and his PDP agents have again started bringing these thugs into the State ahead of the January 9th 2016 re-run in Southern Ijaw LGA and other polling units in six local government areas to repeat what they did on December 5 and 6.

    “We have been informed that some strange-looking faces are being seen in some rural communities of Southern Ijaw, while some have been camped in different hotels in Amarata, Swali and Tombia areas of Yenagoa”.

    “We wish to call on the security agencies in the state to step up their intelligence and track down all those plotting to cause mayhem in the re-run with a view to compromising the election through massive rigging.”

    Egba urged Dickson to live up to the expectation of the Bayelsa by performing his most basic responsibility of ensuring the security of lives and property instead of hounding perceived political enemies.

    But, the PDP denied the allegations and accused the APC of making fresh plans to rig the rescheduled election in Southern Ijaw LGA. The PDP also reiterated its earlier position that the same desperation resulted in abuse respectable federal institutions during the aborted election.

    The party through a statement issued by the Director of Publicity, Restoration Campaign Organisation, Jonathan Obuebite, said the APC had still not learnt any lessons from the last incident.

    Obuebite claimed that the PDP uncovered fresh plans to rig at all cost even when it was glaring that there is no way the APC could possibly win the poll.

    He said: “APC have still not learnt their lessons as they are hell-bent on using the same federal institutions to rig the rescheduled Southern Ijaw election even when it is so glaring that there is no way the APC  could possibly win. Sylva’s desperation to win at all cost even when the odds are clearly against him having been roundly rejected by the people is curious”.

    Also, ahead of the poll,  the police summoned ex-militant leaders and supporters of the APC to their command in Yenagoa, the state capital. The summon generated tension in the state especially as the ex-militants refused to honour the invitation.

    The police in a copy of the invitation letter dated December 31, 2015 and sent to one of the ex-militant leaders, Eris Paul, popularly known as Ogunboss, asked the former agitators to appear on January 4.

    The meeting was summoned by the police command through the office of the State Intelligence Bureau led by Deputy Superitendent of Police (DSP), Ondo Gbekumo. The letter emphasized that the attendance to the meeting was compulsory.

    It said: “?The attendance to the meeting by ex-militant leaders is mandatory as issues bothering on threat to security on the January 9 election will be discussed.”

    The letter was also sent to Africanus Ukparisia popularly called General Africa who was known to have supported President Muhammadu Buhari in the region during the 2015 Presidential election.

    But, the ex-militant leaders accused the state police command of bias and partisan loyalty to the PDP. They called for the overhaul of the present structure of the state police insisting that as presently constituted the state police lacked the discipline to ensure a free and fair election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Council.

    Besides they argued that Gbekumo who signed the invitation letter is an apologist and relation of the PDP candidate and governor of the state, Mr. Seriake Dickson.

    “When did we become members of the state security agencies to be invited to security meeting? Nothing annoys me so much as receiving the invitation from a relative of Governor Seriake,Ondo Gbekumo”, Oguboss said.

    Stakeholders demand redeployment of REC, others

    Following allegations of partisanship and bribery against the Kpagir and other state INEC officials who conducted the botched elections, some stakeholders have called for their redeployment before the supplementary election. A group of lawyers, after conducting a legal clinic presented a strong argument while Kpagir and his team should not be allowed to conduct the election.

    The lawyers said INEC would fail neutrality test if it allowed personnel that conducted the December 5 inconclusive election to carry out the rerun poll on January 9.

    They said their findings revealed that the current composition of INEC in Bayelsa would not guarantee a free and fair rerun poll.  The report of the clinic was signed by the General Counsel, Legal Clinic for Development and Democracy (LCDD), B. B. Bamigboye.

    The lawyers urged the commission to redeploy Kpagir and other principal officers since they were no longer neutral as required by the Electoral Act.

    Bamigboye observed that the two leading candidates, Sylva and Dickson publicly disputed the results in local government areas where they allegedly lost.

    He said despite the dispute, INEC declared winners in seven out of the eight local government areas but aligned with the PDP to cancel the results in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area citing violence.

    He said while the APC and a group of observers opposed the reason for canceling the election, the PDP had continued to defend the INEC officials responsible for the cancellation. Bamigboye also recalled that the REC allegedly issued a statement claiming he was offered money to rig the election and that his life was under threat.

    He said though the party that offered the REC money had been a subject of speculation, INEC leadership had yet to uphold the neutrality contained in its enabling statute following plethora of petitions, allegations and counter allegations involving its officials.

     

     

    He said the statute required INEC to redeploy politically exposed officials and to detail new personnel to conduct the supplementary elections in Southern Ijaw and other units across the state.

    He said: “Whilst Electoral Act does not confer locus standi on voters in election tribunal, the right to vote and be voted for is now under threat due to INEC’s inability to demonstrate commitment to neutrality.

     

    “When we juxtapose the foregoing facts with section 28 of the electoral Act 2010, we must of necessity demand a reasonable degree of legal rectitude from INEC.”

    Quoting section 18.28 of the Electoral Act, he said: “(1) All staff appointed by the Commission taking part in the conduct of anelection shall affirm or swear before the High Court an Oath of neutrality asin the Second Schedule to this Act.

    “(2) All Electoral Officers, PresidingOfficers, Returning Officers and all staff appointed by the Commission takingpart in the conduct of an election shall affirm or swear an oath of loyalty andneutrality indicating that they would not accept bribe or gratification fromany person, and shall perform their functions and duties impartially and in theinterest of the Federal Republic of Nigeria without fear or favor.”

    He averred that based on admittance of the REC, the neutrality of INEC in Bayelsa was legally questionable.

    He said: “Can it be said that in the exercise of its discretion, INEC officials complied with Section 28of the Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended)? Are we supposed to embark upon a voyage of discovery in order to ascertain the culprits cited by the REC from the outcome of the results so far and that of January 9th, 2016?

    “Does the controversy surrounding allegation of the REC amounts to INEC’s descent into the arena of dispute? What is the rule when an arbiter such as INEC is publicly challenged on its acts or omissions occasioning its decent to the arena of dispute?

    “If the complainants accuse one another as culprits are we not bound by rule of law to give fair hearing to the complainants through neutral parties? Are there no neutral persons in INEC whose decisions will not be fettered by the current encumbrances of bias, prejudice, mistrust and ill-will?

    “Is INEC itself conscious of the principles upon which its functions are weighed – whether in the court of public opinion or in courts of justice?

    “Where instruments of human rights and democracy which flow from international comity are violated, are citizens entitled to redress through the respective agencies of government?

    “We have a pending case in this area at the Federal High Court Abuja (Bamigboye Vs INEC, PDP and APC FHC/ABJ/CS/234/2015).”

    He added: “The foregoing questions point to one fundamental principle, to wit neutrality. It is settled law that: where the same reasons exist, the same laws prevail, and of things similar, the judgment is similar. (Ubi eadem ratio, ibi eadem lex; et de similibus idem est judicium).

    “Applying this principle of law, INEC must conduct its business with the same level of observable neutrality as we have in all adjudicatory processes. A judge who has his reputation to protect does not hesitate to recuse himself.

     

    “INEC as constituted in Bayelsa can no longer apply section 28 of the Electoral Act given the public declaration of the REC and the attendant dispute in which, as of his legal right, he is now a proper party.

     

    “The parties including the concerned INEC officials are now entitled to reliefs that can only be afforded by submission to good offices of neutral persons and officials at this stage.”

    END.

     

  • Bayelsa poll: Tension as Delta, Rivers ex-militants regroup

    Bayelsa poll: Tension as Delta, Rivers ex-militants regroup

    • Security surveillance on ex-militant leader, Jonathan’s aide

    Tension is building up afresh in Bayelsa State ahead of the January 9 crucial rerun governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government area and 112 other units in the state.

    Ex-militants from Delta and Rivers states are said to be re-grouping for the purpose of rigging the election in favour of one of the candidates, and unleashing violence where and when necessary.

    Southern Ijaw LG with well over 120,000 registered voters – the largest in the state – holds the ace in determining  the next ruler of the state between incumbent   Governor Seriake  Dickson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Dickson garnered only 33,000 votes more than Sylva from the other seven local government areas of the state in the December 5  and 6 inconclusive election.

    Voting in Southern Ijaw LG during that period was cancelled following wide spread violence and electoral malpractices.

    Both camps have been accusing each other of plans to rig the rerun election.

    However, security sources in the state capital, Yenagoa, yesterday identified an ex-militant leader from Delta State as the brain behind the alleged assembling of the thugs.

    He is said to be nursing a grudge against the APC for daring to challenge for power in former President Goodluck Jonathan’s home state.

    The ex-militant leader was also said to be the sponsor of the violence that swept across the state during the December 5 and 6 inconclusive election in the state.

    The Delta ex-militant commander reportedly organized the thugs and militants that attacked the home of the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, in Ekeremor and other violent attacks on APC members in Nembe and parts of the state.

    The security source said yesterday that the ex-militant leader was still desperate to work for PDP on Jan. 9 by deploying his men to cause trouble

    The source said: “This ex-militant leader mobilised ex-militants to launch attack on Ekeremor residence of the  Minister of State for Agriculture, using unsuspecting boys to say he was fighting the Ijaw cause.

    “He wanted one of his men to be made the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme but he was shocked when the presidency announced the name of Paul Boron.

    “Now, he is leading the fight to stop the APC in Bayelsa not because he likes the candidate of the PDP but because he believes it is payback time. The fight to stop APC is not an Ijaw fight but that of one man.

    “He has succeeded in recruiting two other former leaders of Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) who are stakeholders in Rivers PDP.

    “It is a case of defeated expectations on the part of one man. These men handled the attack on the Nembe, Brass axis in the December 6 onslaught against the APC in the state.

    “The intention is to use the Bayelsa poll as a template for him to return to the creeks. He is ready to re enact same on January 9 in those areas where election will hold because he is already recruiting boys to do same.”

    The source further said security agencies were investigating a former presidential aide from the Niger Delta region in connection with a plot to launch attacks on oil facilities with a view to destabilising the region.

    He said the aide recently held a meeting with some persons in Ghana to perfect the plot.

    “We are aware of the role of some non-Bayelsan ex-militant leaders who are supporters of one of the candidates.

    “We are on top of the game and this time around, we will not take chances because the plan is to frustrate the electoral process and use same to launch coordinated attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta region.

    “We are watching with keen interest and early signs of such dastardly acts are beginning to manifest; their meeting places are already identified and much surveillance is deployed. What we can do on our part is to nip whatever unsavory move in the bud.

    ”It is also to our knowledge that a former presidential aide held a meeting with some persons ?in Ghana last month to perfect the plans for the crisis they want to cause in the region.”

    When contacted, the spokesperson for the Operation Pulo Shield (OPS), formerly known as Joint Task Force (JTF), Col. Ado Isa, said the OPS was not in charge of monitoring the election.

    He said the election was being supervised by a special military team codenamed Operation Safe Conduct (OSC).

    But the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said the police were ready to surmount all security challenges during the rerun poll.

    He said the police would dominate the land and waterways, adding that there was no cause for alarm.

     

  • Tension as Kogi residents besiege banks, markets

    Tension as Kogi residents besiege banks, markets

    Ahead of today’s governorship election, residents yesterday stormed banks and markets to stock to stock their homes with food and other essential items.

    There were long queues in banking halls and at Automated Teller Machines as residents tried to withdraw cash after the police announced the imposition of restriction on movement today.

    The markets were also full of people hurrying to buy foodstuff. The situation created both human and vehicular traffic on some major roads.

    On the streets of Lokoja, sirens wailed as policemen and others moved around in numbers. Security agents were seen patrolling the town. Sirens were heard even at night.

    Police helicopters were also seen hovering over the city, apparently on surveillance.

    Some police personnel were seen at the police command headquarters being deployed to their various locations for the election.

    A few trucks conveying the police personnel were overloaded, suggesting there might be serious logistical problems.

    The police, however, said there were no issues with the officers’ welfare.

    Majority of them, including women officers, were still waiting at the command to be conveyed to their respective destinations.

    Some were seen clutching their bags while others sat in groups discussing. Some were also being conveyed in buses.

    There has been massive deployment of policemen for today’s election. A group, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, expressed fears that voters may feel intimated.

    “The Situation Room hopes that this deployment would not lead to state inspired voter and process intimidation and suppression.

    “However, the Situation Room is hopeful that the entire security machinery will conduct themselves responsibly and adhere to civil and responsible terms of engagement under the rule of law,” it said.

    But the Deputy Inspect-General of Police, Leroy Wakama, assured residents that the police will ensure there is no breakdown of law and order.

    He said there would be partial restriction of movement, adding that everyone passing through Kogi would endure the inconvenience of being subjected to a thorough search.

    Wakama also urged voters not to be afraid of the police, saying his men would not carry arms within 300 metres of any polling unit.

    Urging voters to calmly exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation, he said: “Those officers who are carrying arms will not be at the polling units.”

    Wakama said anyone who has no PVC has no business at the polling units. “It’s an opportunity for them to rest at home and spend time with their families,” he said.

    “We’ll come down heavily on those who will want to cause trouble,” he added.

    Wakama also warned other police officers not deployed for the election against engaging in illegal activities today.

    “Any police officer who does not have a tag is not accredited for this election,” he said, adding that the army will only have a role to play in internal security if he invites them.

    Residents expressed mixed feelings about the heavy police presence.

    A businessman, Mr Kanayo Okoli, said:”I’m foreseeing a scenario whereby the government will feel intimated by the government at the centre. Kogi always has some flash points, such as Dekina, where the governor is from; Ajaokuta and Okenne where the Speaker is from.

    “The number of policemen is alarming but is a welcome development. It’s as if there is a convergence of policemen in Kogi, all of them fierce-looking.

    “Some residents are a bit apprehensive, and we hope there will be no breakdown of law and order. I commend Governor Idris Wada who has remained calm and desisted from making inciting statements.

    “If the heavy security presence ‎is the price we’ll pay for the change we desire, so be it. I will urge supporters of those who win not to goad those who lose to prevent violence,” he said.

    A trader, Daniel Bajimgbe, said he was not worried about ‎the heavy security presence.

    “I foresee a peaceful election. I’ll vote in Lokoja and I don’t think there will be any problem,” he said.

  • Tension in Akure as Adepoju challenges deposition in court

    Tension in Akure as Adepoju challenges deposition in court

    Five years after his dethronement as the Deji of Akure by the Ondo State government, Adesina Adepoju yesterday appeared at the Akure High Court.

    The public appearance followed a suit he instituted against the Deji of Akure and the government.

    Members of the Osupa ruling house were in court in solidarity with Adepoju.

    There was tension in Akure that the deposed Deji was quizzed by detectives from the state police command after leaving the court.

    The deposed monarch had instituted a case challenging his dethronement by the government and the installation of Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo as the Deji of Akure.

    Adepoju claimed that he was wrongly deposed by the government and sought for an order of court declaring him as the Deji of Akure.

    He was dethroned on June 10, 2010 for allegedly assaulting one of his wives, the late Mrs. Bolanle Adepoju, in public.

    The deposed monarch was consequently banished to a location within the state before he left for the United Kingdom (UK).

    His removal paved the way for the installation of the late Oba Adebiyi Adesida in 2010 as the 46th Deji of Akure. His daughter was installed regent after his death.

    Adepoju’s counsel Olalekan Ojo told the court that the monarch has the right to the throne and wondered why a new monarch was installed.

    The Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, adjourned hearing till December 8.

    Adepoju, who left the court in a convoy, danced to his family compound on Odo Ijoka Street, where he addressed his loyalists, who were mainly family members.

    Police spokesman Femi Joseph denied Adepoju’s rumoured arrest, saying “the man has not committed any offence to warrant his arrest by the police”.

    He said the presence of police officers on the streets, especially around the residence of the deposed monarch, was to ensure security of lives and property.

    “The police have the right to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the situation,” Joseph said.

     

  • Enyimba: Don’t create tension between us and Abia Warriors

    Enyimba: Don’t create tension between us and Abia Warriors

    The Chairman of Enyimba FC, Felix Anyansi Agwu has counselled football enthusiasts against causing unhealthy rivalry between them and Abia Warriors ahead of the Glo Premier League Week 36 Abia Derby slated for Sunday in Umuahia which they have prepared to win to take them closer to the league title.

    The People’s Elephant have won four and drew seven away matches this season to rank first on the log with 65 points from 35 matches and ahead of the Abia Derby fixed for Sunday, words are rife by some disgruntled elements that the Umuahia side will play soft to gift Enyimba the three points.

    But Anyansi Agwu in an exclusive chat with SportingLife said that the Aba giants would prepare for the match same way they had prepared for their previous matches and that just same way they got points where people least expected to, they would be going to Umuahia with their sights on the three points.

    He said he saw no basis in the news making the rounds that the match had been sold by the hosts to give them soft-landing and pave the way for them to win the league title.

    The Chairman, Technical and Development Committee of the NFF revealed that no amount of intimidation, bickering and other vices  would stop them from achieving their objectives of winning the league title at the end of the season considering the amount of effort and hard work they have put into the season.

    He cautioned enemies of progress against causing division or unhealthy rivalry between Enyimba and Abia Warriors noting that with the unprecedented records of the People’s Elephant, it would only make news if Abia Warriors beat Enyimba but that if the Aba side defeat Abia Warriors it would be considered as normal.

    Anyansi told SportingLife:”We don’t want anybody to say what is not the true situation of things. Enyimba as a club has worked for every point earned in the league this season and against Abia Warriors on Sunday we are motivated  to target a win because we are close to winning the league title and we are double sure that a victory in Umuahia will take us closer to achieving our objective.

    “We do not want anybody to allege that Abia Warriors will do us any favour because we have won a lot of home and away matches more than any other club in the league this season. We picked points where no one felt we could do so and beating Abia Warriors is our major priority and no one can stop that from happening. No one should try to create tension and rancour between us and Abia Warriors. We will work hard to pick the three points at stake on Sunday.”

     

  • Tension as policeman kills motorist in Lagos

    There was pandemonium around Second Rainbow, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos State, yesterday, after a trigger happy policeman shot dead a commercial driver .

    The incident which occurred at about 8am, was said to have been caused by the refusal of the bus driver to give the policeman “their usual bribe.”

    The incident happened barely one month after a police corporal shot at a tricycle driver  and killed his wife at Ijegun for refusing to part with N100 bribe.

    “The driver was said to be moving against traffic, a common practice among bus drivers plying the route, who usually ‘settle’ law enforcers for turning blind eyes.The unidentified policeman, attached to Orile Police Station, wanted to shoot the tyre of the bus but unfortunately, the bullet hit the driver on his chest, killing him instantly, ” an eye witness said.

    The incident was said to have angered onlookers, prompting a mob action against the policemen.

    The mob, it was gathered,  vandalised a police patrol van, looting several motorcycles suspected to have been seized from erring commercial motorcycle riders. The officers were said to have fled the scene to avoid being lynched by the mob.

    Efforts to get the Command’s spokesman, Joseph Offor, a DSP, to comment on the issue was not successful as he did not respond to calls to his telephone.

  • Head of Federal Civil Service Danladi Kifasi quits

    Head of Federal Civil Service Danladi Kifasi quits

    •How Perm Secs used anti-Diezani’s sentiments to conspire against HoS

    There was tension yesterday following the “sudden” decision of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mr. Danladi Kifasi to proceed on retirement.

    There were strong indications last night that Kifasi might have been pressurised to quit office following the appointment of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal from the Northeast like Kifasi.

    The thinking of the government was that two sensitive posts cannot be conceded to the Northeast.

    The same Northeast holds the offices of the National Security Adviser, Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Staff to the President among others.

    It was learnt that Kifasi read the mood of the presidency to zone the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to the South (especially Southsouth or Southeast) and offered to proceed on retirement.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Kifasi is proceeding on retirement because he was born on January 1, 1956 and by the civil service rule, you are either expected to retire either when you attain 60 years or upon putting 35 years in public service.

    “And ideally, he ought to proceed on pre-retirement leave at least three months before leaving office.

    “Certainly, Kifasi has notified President Muhammadu Buhari of plans to go on pre-retirement leave. But the President’s visit to Cross River State delayed the formal acceptance of the notice.”

    Another source said: “Even if Kifasi is not retiring, the Principle of Federal Character as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution does not favour him.

    “The Presidency has been weighing options on how to address the challenge of producing the SGF and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation from the Northeast. You know the administration of the President has been heavily criticised for favouring the Northeast.”

    It was also learnt that the conspiracy of many Permanent Secretaries against Kifasi hastened his premature retirement.

    Besides disdain for Kifasi, some Permanent Secretaries eyeing the office had wielded anti-Diezani Alison-Madueke’s sentiments against the outgoing Head of Service.

    They alleged that Mrs Alison-Madueke was the brain behind the appointment of Kifasi as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation having worked as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

    The aggrieved Permanent Secretaries also labeled him as a civil servant “loyal to PDP cause.”

    “In fact, Kifasi has been having a running battle with some Permanent Secretaries who had shown apparent disloyalty against him.

    “There was a case of a Permanent Secretary who attempted to create a wedge between he President and Kifasi before the G-8 Summit. An assignment sent to Kifasi did not get to him until about 48 hours to the trip.

    “The President was livid with anger until it was discovered that there was sabotage on the part of a Permanent Secretary. The President had to forgive Kifasi.

    “Some of these Permanent Secretaries also engineered petitions against Kifasi based on some issues already resolved in his favour.

    “That seat was certainly hot for him despite the fact that he is not loyal to PDP as being insinuated.”

  • Tension in Ekiti community over monarch’s installation

    There is tension in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, three days after the installation of Oba Afeez Sulaiman as the new Alawo of Awo-Ekiti.

    Sulaiman was presented with the instruments of office by Governor Ayo Fayose on Friday after the youth of the community had protested for nearly three hours.

    One of the princes who contested for the Alawo seat with Sulaiman, Bunmi Alade, was reported to have died “mysteriously” on Thursday at 8.30 am.

    His remains were yet to be buried when the government decided to present the staff of office to Sulaiman on Friday.

    The Awo youths maintained that the installation of Alawo should be delayed as long as Alade’s body was still in the mortuary.

    They had trooped out at 9am blocking the major road that passes through the town, singing war songs.

    The protesters held palm fronds and poured ashes and coconut oil at many junctions.

    Condemning the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the Alawo, they alleged that the oracle was sidelined, which they said was contrary to tradition.

    Motorists and commuters passing through the community had a hard time as traffic, commercial and social activities were paralysed.

    The protesters later stormed the palace square, venue of the installation ceremony, and upturned canopies and chairs arranged for the programme.

    Fayose visited the deceased’s family.

    A source said locals are  living in fear after Friday’s protest.

    Security has been strengthened to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    He said: “There is tension in our town (Awo) and nobody knows what may happen next because the youth are not happy with the circumstances surrounding Alade’s death.

    “He was invited to a meeting and few hours later, he fell ill and was rushed to at least two hospitals in Ado-Ekiti.

    “What pained the youth was that they suspected foul play in his death and that government supposed to have postponed the installation.”

    Police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi could not be reached for comments.

  • Falae’s family raises N2m as abductors cut ransom to N90m

    Falae’s family raises N2m as abductors cut ransom to N90m

    •Kidnappers reduce ransom to N90m •Ex-SGF’s house besieged

    •Monarchs call for peace •Agbekoyas issue 24-hour ultimatum •Condemnations trail kidnap

    There is tension in Ondo State over the abduction of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae.

    Falae, the traditional ruler (Olu) of Ilu Abo, a village in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, was kidnapped on his farm in Ilado village.

    His abductors have reduced the N100 million ransom they earlier demanded to N90million, an aide said yesterday.

    The aide, who pleaded for anonymity, said in Akure that the abductors called the family on Monday night and agreed that they could bring N90 million.

    The source, however, said the family had raised N2 million.

    He said the negotiation was still on between the family and the abductors.

    “When they called us on Monday night, they said they could only reduce the ransom to N90 million, but we cannot afford that.

    “We begged them to take N2 million but they rejected it; they said they would call us back today but as at this moment, they have not called,” the source said.

    When The Nation visited the residence of the former Minister for Finance, reporters were still barred from talking to his wife, Rachael.

    The Commissioner of Police, Mike Ogbodu, who assured the family of rescuing Falae alive, has taken over the investigation.

    Sympathisers have besieged the Falaes’ Oba-Ile Road residence in Akure.

    Some of them include members of the State Assembly, led by their Speaker, Ms. Jumoke Akindele and Akure Traditional Council, led by Lisa of Akure, High Chief James Olusoga.

    Others are members of the Anglican Communion, Falae’s subjects from Ilu-Abo and politicians.

    The State Council of Obas has called for calm. Its Chairman and Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, said the kidnap was an unfortunate incident for a man who has contributed his best to Nigeria.

    He said it was not the time to point fingers but join the government and security agencies in securing the release of the elder statesman.

    Oba Kiladejo prayed for Falae’s early and safe return.

    Farmers, under the aegis of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) South West zone, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the abductors.

    The Zonal Coordinator, who is also the Ogun State Chairman, Olusegun Dasaolu, said the news of the abduction was a surprise to the farmers.

    Dasaolu declared that his association was ready to mobilise farmers to search for Falae.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the incident. Its Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, “APC condemns this rude and unimaginable act, which no doubt offends the psyche and pride of our people.

    “It has become an insult too many for our people to bear, as this same set of people violates the farmstead of our people unchecked and even our highways without control.

    “I call on security agencies to bring this unacceptable act of brigandage to a swift end and prosecute without delay the actors.”

    Kekemeke urged the Federal Government to ensure that security agencies act urgently in this matter.

    He also called on the state government to regulate the activities of these itinerant herdsmen, just like it regulates citizens’ use of public utilities.

    The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC) demanded for the ex-SGF’s unconditional release.

    A statement by its chairman, Peter Ameh, in Abuja yesterday described the kidnapping as sacrilegious.

    Ameh said: “Chief Olu Falae, a prominent elder statesman and revered IPAC member has served our country meritoriously in several capacities and deserves the greatest respect from every Nigerian.

    “That anyone will even contemplate kidnapping or hurting this eminent senior citizen is a tragedy for our dear nation.”