Mr. Olayinka Balogun, who was last night removed as the Edo State Commissioner of Police, suffered the fate for not correctly reading the body language of his bosses.
Balogun was unceremoniously removed 48 hours to the Edo State governorship election by removed by the Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, who was in Benin, the Edo State capital for a one-day visit. He was not charged with any offences and his fate remains uncertain, while his position has been taken over by Mr. Femi Adenaike.
“Balogun was removed because he was deemed to be supporting Governor Adams Oshiomhole contrary to the expectation of the Police Headquarters that he would support the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), General Charles Airhiavbere (retd),” a source close to the Acting IGP told Transport & Business Express.
The source said that The Presidency is desperate to recapture Edo from the ACN in Saturday’s governorship election.
Both President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo have been to Edo State to campaign for Gen. Airhiavbere, who is less popular than Mr. Oshiomhole, a former labour leader fondly addressed as Comrade Governor by his admirers.
Oshiomhole was rigged out by PDP in the 2007 ballot but reclaimed his mandate through the courts. Edo State has become heavily militarised ahead of Saturday’s ballot, raising fears of a repeat of the 2007 scenario. The tough-talking Oshiomhole has however promised that those who attempt to rig him out this time around will be “rigged out of life.”
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers has expressed shock over a recent media report by the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in which the party accused the Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, GPHCDA, Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam, of engaging in waste of public funds through alleged overseas tours. PDP said the whole story lacked any iota of truth describing same as laughable.
“The ACN would stop at nothing to undermine efforts of the Rivers State Government to realising its laudable programmes including cajoling Dame Cookey-Gam to abandon her resolve to achieve the Greater Port Harcourt City Master Plan,” the PDP said in a statement in Port Harcourt through its state publicity secretary, Mr. George Ukwuoma-Nwogba.
While berating the ACN for seeing nothing good in Rivers state, Mr. Ukwuoma-Nwogba said the report could best be described as a “tissue of lies patented in the familiar, old fashion often resorted to by the ACN to cover its diminishing relevance in Rivers state.” Ukwuoma-Nwogba further stated that it was all the product of the figment of imagination of the author.”
“ACN attracts attention only through dissemination of falsehood. But lies, no matter how packaged and severally told, can’t turn into half a truth.”
Ukwuoma-Nwogba disputed the assertion made by the ACN that Cookey-Gam’s alleged visit to Singapore was mere jamboree.
“It might be of interest to the ACN to know that the Administrator and some Board members of the Authority travelled on a one week visit to Singapore. While there, they attended a three-in-one summit namely WORLD CITIES SUMMIT, WATERWEEK CONVENTION and CLEAN ENVIRONMENT SUMMIT which took place simultaneously at the Singapore Convention Centre from 1st – 4th July, 2012. Does that sound like a jamboree?”
PDP continued: “The WCS is a bi-annual event and global platform which brings together various stakeholders including policy makers, investors, financiers, industry professionals and technology experts and enables participants discuss extensively on the tremendous challenges of climatic and demographic changes, urban-rural migration and gives enlightenment on integrated planning/urban solutions, the sharing of ideas on the best practices for creating liveable and sustainable cities.”
“The ACN, like in all other of its public statements, depended on its harem of gossips who pose as “credible sources.” To make its already bad public image worse, the party went on to claim that Dame Cookey-Gam is sighted in Washington on monthly basis. Rivers people needed no further proof from the ACN to show it can’t tell a single truth. Hyperbolical statements cannot win support for the ACN.”
Rather than dissipate energy in churning out falsehood, the PDP argued, ACN should swallow its pride for constructive inputs. Ukwuoma-Nwogba however stated no amount of rumour peddling by the ACN will derail Dame Cookey-Gam’s focus to transform the city of Port Harcourt into a truly 21st century city.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, ProfessorAttahiru Jega, has admitted the circulation of fake voters’ cards in Edo State,two days to the July 14 governorship election.
The INEC Chairman made the admission in Benin City, yesterday,at a stakeholders’ meeting organized for governorship candidates by theelectoral body. Also in attendance were the Inspector General of Police, Mr.Mohammed Abubakar, and the Commander of the Fourth Brigade of the Nigerian Army,Brigadier-General Abel Umahi.
The INEC Chairman, who expressed disappointment at thedesperation of some of the candidates in the election, observed that the laminatedcards tendered in evidence by the governorship candidate of the Action Congressof Nigeria (ACN), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, were a bold attempt to clone theoriginal, but noted the forgers did not succeed in capturing the security featuresas well.
Comrade Oshiomhole who tendered the fake cards had told theINEC Chairman that the cards were seized from some agents of the oppositionparty who are now reportedly in police custody.
On the source, Jega said the fake cards may have been clonedfrom the INEC registers presented to the parties some weeks ago.
Said he: “From what I’veseen now, looking at these cards before me, I can confirm that they are fake.And I believe these is as a result of an abuse of privilege because we had madecopies of the voters’ register available to all the parties. What thesecriminals have simply done is to clone from the voter register we madeavailable to the public. But let me assure the public that the cards I’ve seencan not in any way be used at our polling units because our polling officershave been trained to look out for the special PIN numbers and other securityfeatures in the valid voter register which will be used on the day of election.”
According to Jega, to ensure free and fair polls, the ballotboxes that will be used for the election have special security features whichwill make it impossible to be diverted from one local government to the other,saying the measure will deter ballot box snatching.
Speaking earlier, Governor Oshiomhole had also alerted thathe had credible intelligence that fake army and police uniforms were being sewnby the PDP with which their agents would be clothed on rgw election day to disruptthe polls in some areas.
Speaking in similar vein, the ANPP candidate, Chief SolomonEdebiri, urged the Inspector-General of Police to make the names of thesecurity agents who will be at various polling units public to identify genuinesecurity agents.
In his response, the I-G assured that his men were on thealert to deal with any impostors.
The stakeholders session was attended by theDirectors-General of the campaign organizations of the seven candidates as wellas the candidates themselves.
If anyone is thinking that peace will soon return to the troubled Irri community,Isoko South local government area of Delta state, such person must have arethink following the alleged dangerous and demonic dimension the issues atstake has taken.
The recent alleged poisoning of the member representing Isoko South constituency 1, in thestate House of Assembly, Mr. Benjamin Essien Okiemuta who is said to haveinitiated peace processes so as to find a lasting solution to the over tenyears crisis is an indication that peace is not in any way near the people.
Speakingin a telephone interview with our reporter, the lawmaker who is an indigene of Irri town andChairman House community on peace and security, ethics and privileges allegedthat following his initiation of peace in the community “I was poisoned mybrother and several places I went to, to seek for help and dispose of thepoison, I was told that my predicament is not unconnected to my peace processesI have initiated in the troubled community. It took the mercy of God to flushout the head of a dock put inside my stomach with which I was poisoned. You cansee how wicked people can be.”
Accordingto the lawmaker, the crisis in the community has been before he contested forthe position of the House of Assembly and during his electioneering campaignshe did promised to bring a lasting peace to the Irri community adding thatimmediately “ I commenced the peace processes aimed at fulfilling my promisesmade to the people, I started receiving all sorts of spiritual and demonic actsfrom both left and right but the most damaging and fearful one was the recentone where I was poisoned with the placing of a dock head in my stomach. If notthe grace and mercy of God I would have been dead by now because I am bringingpeace to my community.”
It was learnt that before the lawmaker has been accused oftaking side with another faction in the community shortly he was elected amember of the house but this he swiftly debunked.
Irri community has been embroiled in bloody crisis betweenthe embattled sacked President General, Mr. Joshua Uturu and the entirecommunity over leadership tussle and the manner and way he was said to berunning the affairs of the community especially as it concern the AGIP oilcompany in the community which has consumed several souls.
In a letter of threat and warning purportedlyendorsed by the Odiologbo of Irri community, HRM Oviese Ebah Ojenuwe 11, thelawmaker was advised in his own interest to withdraw from the peace process hewas initiating.
According to theletter whose copy was made available to the media “We, the Odiologbo of Irrikingdom, Edios, traditional chiefs, the President General, chairman CDC, womenfolks, the elites and the youths had just rose from a general meeting and inthe meeting we reviewed your (Hon Essien’s) earlier plea to take over the UturuVs Irri community crisis for peaceful settlement. It behoves on us to statecategorically that you have been boasting that you have settled the Irri matterwhich is not true rather you are flaming ember of fire by trying all the bestof your ability to free Uturu from facing the law for his criminal activities.The Irri community in its entirety has the following against you. You went toAbuja to make some connection to free Uturu from police custody.
The letter stated that “Instead of you sidingUturu to the peril of the entire Irri community, you better disassociateyourself from the Irri matter, it is better for Irri community to be left aloneto bear its cross for peace to reign. Is it a crime for Irri people to havevoted for you, if you don’t know, Irri people can still pass a vote of noconfidence on you. Why is it that when Uturu is arrested it is then you willshow more concern about settlement. However any day you realize yourself andcome back to front for Irri people you will be taken aback.”
In his own response letter to the threat and warning letter addressed to the Odiologbo (traditionalruler) which copied Delta state governor, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan,SSG, Delta state, AIG zone 5, Benin city, Commissioner of police, Delta state,Director of SSS, Delta state, among others, Mr. Benjamin Essien Okiemuta stated
“Severalefforts have been made by my humble self in restoring peace to our noblecommunity as part of my agenda during my electioneering campaigns. As part ofmy promises I started all negotiations after my victory in the election withboth parties in making sure peace is restored in Irri town. You should notforget so soon, that I met with various executive of the community and allagreed that I should go ahead for the settlement. You will also recall thatseveral meetings and consultations has been going on at both home and abroadwhich has cost me time, energy and financial commitment of about eight million,two hundred thousand naira (#8,200,000.00) either by cash or kind just forpeace to reign in Irri. And there was need to discuss with groups of people orindividuals, but today none of them has responded in any for.”
The letter alsoadvised that for every dispute to come to an end in settlement, self interestmust be removed and the need to embrace the general interest of the communitymust come to heart adding that mediators should not be restricted orconstrained to only one party.
“More so, it’s pertinent to note in all that Ihave mentioned above, reverse is the case, However, it has come to my noticethat some members of the community are tirelessly thwarting my effort andbringing disrepute to my name. They have chosen to stand against this agendaand dragging this effort and community down to their own interest. Despite allills, I have struggled to calm most aggrieved parties. The state has alsomandated me as part of my plea to wade into this matter to a logicalconclusion, but some of our brothers and sisters who were supposed to embracedthis peace and be carriers of this message has seriously refuted this and hasnot in any way shift their ground. They have rather choose to carry outrumours, confusion, deceit and distractions only to disrupt this lasting peaceexercise.”
Following this andmany unforeseen circumstances, the lawmaker announced his withdrawal from thepeace process but however said that “Henceforth as son of this noble communityany contribution just like every other, I will not be left out, that any otherhelp I can render within my reach and position. Above all I want to echo to alland sundry that henceforth I have seized and withdrawn from this settlementprocess and should not be seen as the sole carrier of this crusade any longer.”
It would be recalled that few months ago the Delta stategovernment through the state Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Ebifa Ijomah had visitedthe warring Irri community as a way of finding lasting peace to the crisiswhich has claimed over twenty lives but the youths of the community insistedthat unless the 27 and half corpses of their colleagues lying in the mortuarysince 2008 are buried, peace will not return to the area.
The visibly angry youths told the state commissioner forYouth, Mr. Ebifa Ijomah during a town hall meeting held at the community that,adequate compensation should also be paid to the families of the deceased whilemachineries should be put in place for the development of the community andempowerment of its indigenes by Agip Oil Company and the state government.
Also speaking, chairman of the Community, Rev. John MarkOdhigbo who blamed both government and Agip Oil for the crisis said apart fromthe neglect that must be addressed, Agip Oil should empower their sons anddaughters economically through employment and skill acquisition.
However, after listening to the youth’s submission, Ijomahassured them that the government was poised to develop the entire state andappealed to them to sheath their swords as development cannot take place in anatmosphere of rancour.
While appealing to the aggrieved youths to unite andembrace dialogue and negotiation in articulating their demands, which thecommissioner stated would create the pathway to development; he solicited theirsupport for the administration of Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.
He announced that his ministry would soon embark oncollection of data for youths across the state, explaining that the data basewould be used in planning various packages of empowerment for them.
Bauchi State Government has denied rumours that the NYSCOrientation Camp in Wailo was bombed leading to the death of a number of Corpsmembers posted to the State and presently undergoing their orientation there.
A Press Statement from the Governor’s Office signed bythe Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ishola Michael Adeyemi described therumour as “baseless, unfounded and an information that cannot be substantiatedby the mongers who are bent on disrupting the peaceful atmosphere in the state.”
The statement further contained that the “rumour is thehandiwork of a few people who are enemies of peace and who want to causeunnecessary panic among the people particularly the Corps members who are visitorsto the state, the rumour is a mere figment of the imagination of the mongers.”
“As a government we are committed to the protection oflives and properties of every law abiding citizen of the state, adequatesecurity measures have been put in place and we are working hands in hands withall security agencies in the state and the efforts is paying as Bauchi statehas remained peaceful in spite of the security challenges the country isfacing.”
We are therefore assuring all those who have children andwards at the Wailo NYSC Orientation Camp that the situation there is calm asthe Corps members were seen going about their normal camp activities withoutany hindrances, we also want to assure them that their children are safe in Bauchias adequate security measures have been provided at the Camp, they shouldtherefore disregard the rumour.”
The Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar, on Wednesday confirmed the arrest of four suspects for alleged murder of Gov. Adams Oshiomhole’s aide, Mr Olaitan Oyerinde, in Benin. Oyerinde , who was the Principal Private Secretary to Oshiomhole and Deputy National Secretary of the NLC, was on May 4, shot dead in his Ogbor residence by unknown persons.
President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered the I-G to ensure that the police fished out the killers. Abubakar made the confirmation of the arrest while addressing newsmen in Benin shortly after addressing officers and men of the Police Zone 5 ahead of Saturday’s Edo governorship election.
“Yes, I can confirm that the police have arrested four suspects in connection with the killing of Oyerinde and investigation is continuing. On Oshiomhole’s rejection of the police investigation report into the alleged attack on his motorcade on Auchi-Warrake road in April, the I-G said the police had the constitutional responsibility to conduct investigations. “We have come out with our report and we stand by the report of our investigation until otherwise proven.
Abubakar said: “we were not part of the accident. We have interrogated those involved and have given their statements to the police. “And based on their statements, the police came to the conclusion we arrived at,’’ he said. Abubakar added that “whether anybody dismisses it or not, that is not the issue.
“The facts available to us now inform us of what we have said, and if any body has anything contrary, he should be able to come forward to defend it.
“We cannot allow people to sit down and make statements they don’t have facts about.
“If you have evidence to say it was A, B, C or D, you must be ready to prove it.” On the election, the I-G warned men and officers of the zone not to be used by any person or group of persons to circumvent the electoral process. Abubakar said: “I have come with your allowances and will be adequately taken care of. Please do not compromise your position or be allowed to be used by any individual.
“This election is a test case for us and the country and people are watching to see whether we can conduct a free, fair and credible election.
“You should therefore be ready to partner with other sister security agencies during the election. You must not molest or harass a voter with the card.
“You should be civil but firm as I will not tolerate report of indiscipline. If you allow yourselves to be used, you will be tried, dismissed and be made to face criminal offence in the court,’’ he said.
Information reaching 247ureports indicates that four persons has been killed in Tafawa Balewa Local government area of Bauchi State by unidentified gunmen which, according to close sources in the area where the incident happened said four people were killed while a survivor is now in the hospital. The source disclosed that the occurrence happened in Donga town of Tafawa Balewa local government. However, it is gathered that a lot of people however darted for protection due to the fear arising from blasts of gun.
Meanwhile a call put forward to the Bauchi State police Commissoner Mohammed Ladan established the carnage as he said that his men has gotten a call for help that several equipped men storm the vicinity and released shooting on people. The commissioner further confirmed that before his men got there four people were already dead while the fifth one was injured and is being given medical attention in the hospital. However, the security operatives are indeed still carrying out investigation and still rambling the armed men.
However, it will be recalled that earlier in the afternoon today there were rumours of attack of bomb explosion at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Wailo, a rumour which was dismissed by the Bauchi State government which they described as handworks of the evil ones and enemies of peace.
Delta StateGovernor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan’s Mother-In-law, Madam Rebecca Ayomike, haspassed on, aged 81.
Late MadamAyonmike, mother of Delta State First Lady, Deaconess Roli Nere Uduaghan wasborn on the 10th of November 1931 to the family of late Chief Oritsemogho Ayomike of Ugborodo inWarri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Until herdeath which occurred on Monday 9th of July, 2012, Madam Rebecca Ayomikewas a devout Christian, a hard working woman and a caring mother.
She issurvived by six Children, grand Children and a great grand Child.
Burialarrangements will be announced later by the family.
Egypt's first Islamist President Mohamed Mursi smiles during a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns at the presidential palace in Cairo
(Reuters) – President Barack Obama has invited Egypt’s newly elected Islamist president, Mohamed Mursi, to visit the United States in September, an Egyptian official said on Sunday, reflecting the new ties Washington is cultivating with the region’s Islamists.
Washington, long wary of Islamists and an ally of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, shifted policy last year to open formal contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood, the group behind Mursi’s win. Mursi formally resigned from the group after his victory.
Mursi’s success at the polls mirrors the rising influence of Islamists in countries across the Middle East and North Africa in the wake of revolts and protests against autocratic rulers who have led the region for decades.
“President Obama extended an invitation to President Mursi to visit the United States when he attends the U.N. General Assembly in September,” Egyptian aide Yasser Ali said after Mursi met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns in Cairo.
Burns, who did not mention the invitation at a news conference earlier, pledged U.S. support for Egypt’s battered economy and said he welcomed Mursi’s promise to uphold international treaties, which include a peace deal with Israel.
“We have taken careful note and appreciated President Mursi’s public statements about a commitment to international obligations and we certainly attach great importance to Egypt’s continuing role as a force for peace,” Burns said.
Israel has watched with growing concern the political gains of the Brotherhood, an inspiration for the Palestinian militant group Hamas. The 84-year-old Brotherhood renounced violence as a means to achieve political change in Egypt decades ago.
Analysts say that one way the United States could influence the direction of policy in Egypt, a nation at the heart of Washington’s regional policy since a peace treaty was signed with Israel in 1979, would be through economic support.
Washington provides $1.3 billion a year in military aid as well as other assistance and could help mobilize other donors, lenders and investors. Those could prove vital as Egypt tries to stave off a balance of payments and budget crisis.
“The United States is firmly committed to doing everything that we can to support Egypt’s economic revival. We understand the challenges that lie ahead and also the president does,” Burns told reporters after his two-hour meeting with Mursi.
Burns, whose trip precedes a visit to Egypt on July 14 by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, said he had discussed a $3.2 billion loan package that Cairo has been negotiating with the International Monetary Fund.
“We talked in general terms about the value of moving ahead with the IMF in the interest of Egypt, trying to work out an equitable agreement that addresses Egypt’s concerns and needs,” he said.
He said the IMF package “can produce not only much needed resources but also sends an important positive signal to investors and donors and Egyptians as they move ahead on economic revival.”
(Reporting by Marwa Awad; Writing by Edmund Blair; Editing by Tim Pearce)
