PDP mocks Uzodinma’s frequent visits to Aso Rock, claims terrorists, bandits taking over Imo

The Director of New Media of the Imo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Collins Opuruzor, has mocked Governor Hope Uzodinma over the frequent visits to President Muhammadu Buhari without positive outcomes to halt myriads of challenges bedeviling the state.

The PDP spokesman also recorded that the Imo governor had embarked on several visits to Buhari in less than three years, and claimed that Uzodinma only benefits in Aso rock to pose for photographs with the Nigerian leader.

Mr Opuruzor, who spoke through a statement forwarded to DAILY POST on Thursday, also estimated that the time Uzodinma was brought to Imo state on January 15 2020 and now, the Imo helmsman has left the state 116 times, and returned 116 times, squandering 8.3 million from public treasury to hire a private jet for a single trip.

He also alleged that for the 232 times Governor Uzodinma had flown private jets to Abuja, Imo state has possibly lost almost N2 billion, stressing that if such gargantuan sum could be expensed on flying, the entire cost of the leisurely activities and pleasures of the flesh which the accidental ruler chases after in Abuja is better imagined.

According to the party chieftain, “for an entity like Imo where salaries and pensions have remained unpaid, and where Infrastructural decay has become a source of immense sorrow, this penchant for luxury and unguarded lust for good life in far away Abuja by Uzodinma can never be rationalized.

“What baffles many is that since Uzodinma began his shameless photographic sessions in Aso Rock, there is no single project in Imo which he can claim to have attracted from such vainglorious displays. He skirts around President Buhari possibly for the fun of it and possibly also, to rob it on the faces of his perceived foes that he can have photoshoots with the President whenever he wants.”

Continuing, Opuruzor further regretted, “the pain, however, is that while Uzodinma is lazying around in Abuja, Imo state is burning down to ashes. Just like Emperor Nero who fiddled while Rome burnt, history will record Uzodinma’s fun seeking indulgences in Abuja even when Imo people live in the throes of siege and mass murderers. Today, terrorists, bandits and fundamentalists are expanding their territory in Imo, slaughtering countless innocent citizens, abducting many more, subjecting their captives, including women and children to torture, rape and the most gruesome forms violence and death.

“Since the killings in Imo started, Uzodinma has neither proffered any solution to the ugly situation nor even offered any satisfactory explanation about the causes. He has instead blamed everyone else and everything else for it but himself. If he was duly elected, he would have known that the security of lives and property should be his first-line obligation. But, unfortunately, he wasn’t.

“It is time for President Buhari and his handlers in Aso Rock tell Uzodinma the bitter truth. “Go and solve the problems in your state. Aso Rock is not a photo studio, “the Imo spokesman submitted.

SOURCE: dailyPost

Nigerian Army, Police Arrest South-East Youths, Elderly People, Detain Them Without Trial, Harvest Their Organs — IPOB Alleges

IPOB called on the international community to prevail upon the Nigerian government and its security agencies to release every Igbo person who is being detained without trial. 

 

The Indigenous People of Biafra has alleged that the Nigerian government through the various security agencies unlawfully arrest and detain Igbos particularly the youths, and transport them to military facilities in the Northern region where they are killed and their organs harvested.

IPOB, in a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful said majority of the atrocities are committed at Wawa military barracks at Kainji in Niger State.

 

According to the statement, the victims were arrested since over a year ago, from their homes in the South-East region and taken to the far north, after which the security operatives deny them access to legal services and cut them off from their families and friends.

IPOB called on the international community to prevail upon the Nigerian government and its security agencies to release every Igbo person who is being detained without trial.

It further warned the Nigerian Police, operatives of the Department of State Services and others to stop attacking Igbos who have committed no crime stating that there's nothing the government can do to stop the actualisation of the Biafran nation.

A statement from the group reads, “We wish to condemn the continued and unlawful detention of Igbo youths, fathers and mothers in Imo State, Anambra State, Enugu State, Abia state and Ebonyi State detention facilities in the North more especially in Wawa military barracks at Kenji (Kainji) Niger State.

"The people were unlawfully abducted and moved to the military facilities in North and some of these people were killed and harvested their important organs in the military barracks camp.

"The people were unlawfully abducted and moved to the North since one year ago, they were being detained incommunicado, all efforts made by their lawyers, family and associates were rebuffed by Nigeria Government and her security agents in Wawa military barracks of Niger State.

"We hereby bring to global consciousness the attitude of the Nigerian police/Military in whose custody our Igbo people are denied of their fundamental human right.

"Both old and young men, women and ladies since their unlawful abduction without being charged to court, they are being prevented from contact with their families, friends and colleagues, they also been hidden away from lawyers and denied access to legal services, human rights agencies assistance.

"We appeal to the International community to prevail on Nigeria Government and its security agents to discharge all the Igbo people unlawfully arrested without trial from the above-mentioned States because this act is a pure "human rights violation of a particular race" "racial profiling, violation of freedom of worship, discrimination and persecution".

"The Nigeria Military, DSS, Paramilitary and Police must ensure that our Innocent Igbo citizens languishing in God-forsaken dungeon called Nigeria detention facilities in the Niger State of Nigeria be released and in good and sound health.

"We have a pertinent question that requires an urgent answer. We want to ascertain why the Nigerian army, police and DSS agents like to arrest only Igbo in Nigeria, is it because they are looking forward to achieving Biafra freedom through nonviolent posture and passive resistance? We need them to answer this question?

"Why do Nigeria Army, Police and DSS agents always create or manufacture false reasons to profile, kill and kidnap any person of "IGBO RACE" in a discriminatory manner or better still, steal from them with wielding heavy arms, but dare not harass other tribes in Nigeria, steal with arms, kidnap, kill Igbo and mount revenue-generating checkpoints in every 1-kilometre road in Igboland? This begs for an urgent answer.

"IPOB now watches with keen interest going forward on discriminatory treatment and crimes against Biafrans and Igbos in particular. We are everywhere and our eyes and ears are everywhere as well.

"Igbos are the most law-abiding race within our space, we are Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters that has high regard for lives, therefore we warn the Nigerian Armed forces and Police desist from killing Igbos untimely otherwise it will bounce back to them harshly.

"The Biafra restoration project has crossed the Rubicon and can no longer be stopped and it would be achieved in no distant time. Nigeria military should dignify themselves by releasing the Igbos under incarceration in various confinement facilities including those in Wawa military detention centre in Niger State and other Northern states in Nigeria.

"We call on well-meaning Igbos to exercise the spirit of ónúrú ube nwanne agbala ósó (he who hears the agonising cry of his sibling should not run away) to facilitate within ones means the process to release all innocent Biafrans citizens detained in the Military Barracks in Niger State and all Northern states. This act would marshal a strategic new beginning for us."

SOURCE: Saharareporters

EXCLUSIVE: Anti-graft Agency, ICPC Uncovers Billions In Cash Meant For Arms, Ammunition To Fight Boko Haram In Abuja Home Of Ex-Chief Of Army Staff, Buratai

 Buratai, a retired Lieutenant General was the COAS between 2015 and 2021

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has recovered N1.85 billion from a house and office said to belong to former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai in Abuja, multiple sources told SaharaReporters.

Buratai, a retired Lieutenant General was the COAS between 2015 and 2021.

 

Sources said ICPC officials stormed the house in the Wuse area, beside the National Open University of Nigeria Campus in Abuja last week after it received a tip-off from a whistleblower.

Reports gathered that the huge cash was part of the billions of naira earmarked for the purchase of arms and ammunition by the Muhammadu Buhari-led government.  

“Last week Thursday, ICPC officials stormed a house in Wuse area of Abuja, beside National Open University and arrested a man, Kabiru Salisu after they saw N850 million cash in the house,” a source told SaharaReporters.

“He claimed the money belonged to Tukur Buratai who was in Cotonou at that time.  

“Officials of the ICPC took him to an office where another N1billion in cash was also discovered. Also, bulletproof cars, BMW, G-Wagon worth N450m were recovered."

“Serious pressure is being mounted to claim money found was only N30m,” another source said.   

In March 2021, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Babagana Monguno revealed that funds running into billions of naira meant for the procurement of arms and ammunition under the past service chiefs were unaccounted for. His revelation came a few months after President Buhari replaced Buratai and other service chiefs.  

Others were former Chief of Defence Staff, Gabriel Olonishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Abubakar Sadique and Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ibas. According to Monguno, neither the money nor the arms were on the ground upon the resumption of the new service chiefs.  

“Now that he (President Buhari) has brought new people (service chiefs), hopefully, they will devise some ways… I’m not saying the former service chiefs diverted the money, but the money is missing. We don’t know how, and nobody knows for now,” he had said.

“The President will surely probe this matter. As we speak, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum too is also wondering where all the money went. I can assure you the President takes issues of this nature seriously.  

“The fact is that preliminary investigation showed the funds are missing and the equipment is nowhere to be found.

“When the new service chiefs assumed office, they also said they did see anything on the ground.”  

History Of Graft 

Sahara Reporters had in a series of publications in 2016 exposed how Buratai procured expensive assets in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, between 2013 and 2015, from proceeds of crime.  

He and his two wives in 2013 paid the sum of 1,498,534.00 AED (N120 million/$419,000) for the first property, Project TFG Marina Hotel Unit 2711. Sale documents indicated that the first property was handed over to the Buratais on January 13, 2013.  

Eleven days after he was appointed by President Buhari, the retired Army General made arrangements for the purchase of a second property from the same company in Dubai. 

Between July 24 and August 17, 2015, he paid a total sum of N42.2 million into TFG Sigma 111’s account in Nigeria (Skye Bank 1770380452).  Evidence exclusively obtained by SaharaReporters revealed that Buratai made N10 million payments on July 24 and August 7 respectively.

Three days later, another N10 million was paid into the real estate firm’s account. The phone number on the Skye Bank teller is 08033349740. Saharareporters investigations showed that it belonged to a Nigerian Army Major, Emmanuel G. Adegbola of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps (N/10808).   

On August 17, 2015, the Chief of Army Staff paid the sum of N3,270,000 into the account. Buratai, who owned up to purchasing the two properties in Dubai, however, claimed that he amassed his wealth through “personal savings” and not ill-gotten gains.  

He added he made a lot of money from his snake farm along Keffi-Abuja Highway in Nasarawa, just 50 kilometres from the nation’s capital. 

SOURCE: Saharareporters

Presidential Candidates, Atiku, Tinubu, With History Of Fraud Allegations Not Likely To Promise Anti-Corruption Fight During Campaign —Bloomberg Report

According to the report, the history of graft allegations surrounding the two candidates means neither is likely to curb corruption in the run-up to February’s vote. 

 The presidential candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, have been described as unfit to end corruption in the country.

According to a Bloomberg report, the duo's past records show that neither of them is free of corruption allegations, adding that seven years after President Muhammadu Buhari promised to swiftly defeat corruption, corruption in Nigeria has become worse than it was in 2015. 

According to the report, the history of graft allegations surrounding the two candidates means neither is likely to curb corruption in the run-up to February’s vote.

"Front-runner Bola Tinubu, who secured the ruling party’s nomination earlier this month, was being investigated by the country’s anti-corruption agency as recently as last June. Three decades ago he fought a lawsuit in which the US government accused him of laundering the proceeds of heroin trafficking and eventually reached a settlement.

"Atiku Abubakar, his chief rival, brought tens of millions of dollars of ‘suspect funds’ into the US when he was Nigeria’s vice president in the 2000s, according to a US Senate report, and was implicated in a bribery case that resulted in the imprisonment of an American congressman. Neither episode resulted in charges against Abubakar.

The Spokesmen for Tinubu and Abubakar didn’t respond to requests made by Bloomberg for comments. The report noted that Nigeria’s next president will face a daunting challenge to turn around Africa’s largest economy. It further noted that falling oil production threatens Nigeria’s place as the continent’s biggest crude producer.

It lamented how inflation is soaring in the country with more than half of the working-age population either unemployed or underemployed. 

"The local currency has depreciated steeply under outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, falling from around N220 to the US dollar on the widely-used parallel market when he was first elected in early 2015 to about N600 this week.

"Nigeria vies with India as the country with the highest number of people living in extreme poverty despite having a seventh of the population. Meanwhile, secessionists, Islamist militants and armed criminal gangs terrorize large swathes of territory.

Efforts to restore security and fix the economy alone will likely fall short because there’s an unavoidable connection between financial graft and government dysfunction in Nigeria, said Leena Koni Hoffmann, an associate fellow at Chatham House in London. 

Corruption “hollows systems out and cripples them from the inside,” she said.

"The race will see the two wealthy septuagenarians mobilize impressive political machines built over more than 30 years pursuing power in Africa’s most-populous country. Voters in Nigeria are often offered cash, food or clothing to persuade them to cast their ballots for particular candidates.

The report recalled how on the eve of the last election in 2019, two armoured bank vans were photographed driving into Tinubu’s home. 

“If I have money to spend, if I like, I give it to the people for free of charge as long as it’s not to buy votes,” Tinubu told reporters when asked what the vehicles were transporting.

"Tinubu and Abubakar have cultivated deep systems of political patronage, according to Hoffmann. Both men excel at “engineering and expanding political networks through co-optation, through channeling and redistributing money and positions and favors,” she said.

"Tinubu, 70, who lives in Lagos’s wealthiest neighborhood, says he made his fortune before going into politics by investing well and working as an accountant for companies including Deloitte LLP. 

“Abubakar, 75, who splits his time between Nigeria and Dubai, spent two decades working for the government’s customs department and co-founded a large logistics and oil services firm that has operated concessions at Nigerian ports,” the report added. 

It recalled a report published in 2010 by the US Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, which said one of Abubakar’s wives helped her husband bring more than $40 million in “suspect funds” into the US while he was Nigeria’s vice president.

This included at least $1.7 million in bribes paid by Siemens AG. Abubakar and his then-spouse previously have denied any wrongdoing.

Former US Representative William Jefferson was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2009 for taking bribes from American companies interested in doing business in Nigeria and Ghana. 

In July 2005, Jefferson told a cooperating witness that Atiku Abubakar had also agreed to accept a bribe in exchange for his assistance, according to the Louisiana congressman’s indictment. 

Atiku, however, denied the allegations, saying he had no personal or business relationship with Jefferson.  

Abubakar’s hopes of succeeding President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2007 were torpedoed when the EFCC declared him unfit to hold public office and a Nigerian Senate panel recommended his prosecution for allegedly diverting government funds. 

But Atiku has described it as political persecution.

Both Tinubu and Atiku will focus on issues other than corruption while campaigning, said Hoffmann. “They know it’s not part of their political image,” she said.

SOURCE: Saharareporters

Wike in closed door meeting with Peter Obi as defection rumours swirl

 It’s currently unclear the outcome of the meeting but it’s largely connected to the 2023 Presidential Elections.

  

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi met with Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike behind closed-doors on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State. 

 

Wike who is widely rumoured to be plotting an exit from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP following his loss at the Party primaries and not emerging the running mate to Atiku Abubakar, the party’s 2023 presidential flag-bearer.

This meeting is coming amidst reports that Obi and his party are in talks with NNPP Presidential Candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso over a possible merger. Political Analysts reveal that if the merger succeeds, it will create big problems for the Ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

It’s currently unclear the outcome of the meeting but it’s largely connected to the 2023 Presidential Elections.

More coming shortly... 

Pulse

INEC registers 8m additional potential voters

INEC registered 8,057,167 potential voters between June 28, 2021 and June 20, 2022 at the on-going voters registration.

  

Mrs Tonia Nwobi, INEC’s spokesperson in Cross River told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Wednesday that the figure covered physical and online registrants. 

 

She said 4,862,849 were physical registrants, while 3,194,318 persons had registered online before the mode was suspended on May 31.

Nwobi also told NAN that 222,072 of the registrants were recorded in Cross River.

She gave the five states with the highest figures of registrants as Delta, 378,129; Osun, 372,609; Bayelsa, 370,264; Rivers, 358,725 and Lagos with 338,955. 

 

She said states with the least number of registrants are Imo with 79,285; FCT, 88,823; Yobe, 90,398; Enugu, 108,397, and Ekiti, 124,844 registrants.

She noted that female registrants outnumbered the males with 4,042,082 compared to the latter’s 4,015,085.

On age distribution range, 5,659,616 of the new registrants are between the ages of 18 years and 34 years.

There were 1,642,447 registrants aged between 35 years and 49 years; 663,716 are aged between 50 years and 69 years, just as 91,388 of the potential voters are above 70 years old.

Nwobi said the table showed that those who registered are 2,867,538 students, 1,476,028 business people and 1,033,601 farmers.

There were 857,091 housewives; 475,402 artisans; 472,091 traders; 257,015 Civil Servants; 86,108 Public Servants and 456,231 others.

She said, however, that INEC was worried about incomplete registration.

“We have many that registered online but failed to complete the process by presenting themselves to be registered physically,’’ she told NAN.

Nwobi assured that INEC had deployed human and material resources to ensure that the registration process was seamless in Cross River.

“Physical registration is going on currently in all the 18 INEC Area Offices where one can find registration centres and also at the State Office Registration Centre.

“Registration is also going on at the ward level across the state on rotational basis.

“Similarly, collection of Permanent Voter Cards is going on in all the local government area centres,’’ she told NAN.

News Agency Of Nigeria

Gunmen Behead Another Abducted Anambra Ex-Lawmaker After Family Paid N15million Ransom

 

This came after one month after Okechukwu Okoye, a serving lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency at the State Assembly was kidnapped and later found beheaded. 

The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the killing and beheading of a former state lawmaker, Hon. Nelson Emeka Achukwu, by unidentified gunmen.

This came after one month after Okechukwu Okoye, a serving lawmaker representing Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s constituency at the State Assembly was kidnapped and later found beheaded.

It was reported that Okoye was kidnapped along with his aide on May 15, 2022, and was later found dead with his head cut off and dropped at Nnobi area.

But confirming the recent incident to SaharaReporters on Tuesday, the command's spokesman, Ikenga Tochukwu, said Achukwu's remains were found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor communities.

The PPRO said “the victim was abducted at about 10:15pm in his house on June 9, 2022 and efforts were being made to rescue him before this unfortunate development. His body was found between the boundary of Uke and Ukpor.

“We are still not relenting on our investigation as we will ensure that the culprits will face the full wrath of the law." The former lawmaker was reportedly kidnapped in his home in Ukpor, Nnewi South LGA, despite being physically challenged.

His decapitated body was later found at the bank of Ulasi River and was quickly buried by the family on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 evening as the body was already decomposing. A family source told SaharaReporters that they couldn’t believe he would be killed after they paid the N15million ransom requested by his abductors.

The victim, the owner of Nelly Oil & Gas filling station located along Onuselogu road, Utuh, had earlier been abducted and released a few months ago. Later Achukwu was said to have told his family members that his captors had accused him of providing information to the military but got released when they found out the allegations were false.

As at the time of filing this report the reason for his second kidnap and murder is unknown.

SOURCE: saharareporters

Imo Senator Joins Peter Obi In Labour Party, Bauchi Colleague Dumps APC, Joins NNPP

Also, the Senator representing Imo East Senatorial District on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewusi, announced his defection from the party. 

 Senator Haliru Dauda Jika representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Wednesday announced resignation of membership of the party.
Also, the Senator representing Imo East Senatorial District on the platform of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Francis Ezenwa Onyewusi, announced his defection from the party.

  

Whereas the now former APC Senator, Jika joined the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), his PDP counterpart, Onyewusi joined the Labour Party with former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, as the presidential candidate.

According to the two senators, their decision was based on injustice and inequity being practiced in their former political parties.
They noted that the high level of injustice and inequity by the two major political parties in the country made them fail the primary elections in their respective states.

The decision of the two senators was announced on the Senate floor on Wednesday by the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan during the plenary. Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the ruling APC and the main opposition PDP have been witnessing exodus of their members to NNPP, Labour Party and few other political parties.

Recently, Senators Ahmad Babba Kaita representing Katsina North, Senator Lawal Yahaya Gumau representing Bauchi South, and Senator Francis Alimikhena representing Edo North, left the APC, while amongst others, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe representing Abia South Senatorial District recently dumped the party.

SOURCE: saharareporters 

Sadio Mane joins Bayern Munich from Liverpool

 Big Move!!! After 6 years with Liverpool, Sadio Mane signs for Bayern Munich until 2025.

  

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have announced the signing of Senegalese forward Sadio Mane. The 30-year-old Mane joins Bayern Munich from Premier League giants Liverpool Football Club.

The move was confirmed by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Mane joins Bayern Munich on a three-year contract until June 30, 2025. Mane departs Liverpool after six years at Anfield where he won the Champions League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Premier League titles. 

Mane joins Bayern Munich

Mane was all smiles as he was unveiled in the new Bayern Munich jersey with President Herbert Hainer, CEO Oliver Kahn and Sport Director Hasan Salihamidžić at the Allianz Arena.

In an interview with the official Bayern Munich website Mane explained the reason he chose to make the switch. 

He said, "I'm very happy to finally be with FC Bayern in Munich. We had a lot of talks and I felt the great interest of this big club from the start.

"So there was no doubt in my mind right from the start: This is the right time for this challenge. I want to achieve a lot with this club, also internationally. 

"During my time in Salzburg I followed many FC Bayern games - I like this club very much!"

Mane on Liverpool

In a message on his official Instagram account, Mane thanked Liverpool fans for his six years at the club.

He said, "Difficult to find the right words for this. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, I am so pleased to be a very small part of this incredible success we had together during the last 6 years.

"You were always there. In good and in bad times. I never will forget this. Thank you again. You never walk alone. Sadio Mané."

Mane is expected to form a lethal partnership by Polish striker Robert Lewandowski as Bayern Munich aim to reclaim the Champions League title.

INEC bows to pressure, agrees to extend Voter Registration by 60 days

 The ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise was initially slated to end at the end of June, 2022.

  

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has bowed to pressure from Nigerians to extend the deadline for voter Registration. The ongoing continuous voter registration (CVR) exercise was initially slated to end at the end of June, 2022.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Aishatu Jibril Dukku, disclosed this while briefing fellow lawmakers on the committee’s efforts to ensure implementation of a House resolution reached last week.

“The Committee held a meeting with INEC yesterday (Tuesday) and they agreed to extend the CVR, all our resolutions were approved,” she told members of the House at plenary on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. 

The House of Representatives had last Wednesday urged INEC to extend the deadline for the continuous voter registration by an extra 60 days from June 30, 2022, to enable more Nigerians to register.

The House also called on the Commission to deploy additional staff and voter registration machines across the country to meet the objective.

The chairman, House Committee on media and publicity, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, through a motion, had noted that the ongoing CVR by INEC was scheduled to end on June 30 ahead of the 2023 general elections.

This development is coming a few days after a court granted an order barring the commission from stopping voter registration. 

SOURCE: Pulse