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Controversial crossdresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, has reacted to the 12-hour ultimatum by human rights lawyer Femi Falana and his son, singer Falz.
DAILY POST reports that Femi Falana and Falz, in a cease-and-desist letter on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, gave a 12-hour ultimatum to Bobrisky to retract his defamatory claim against them in an audio leaked by popular social media critic, VeryDarkMan.
In response to the ultimatum, Bobrisky, on Wednesday night, in a series of posts on his Instagram story, denied defaming Falana and Falz and also rejected their demand for retraction and public apology.
“In reply to the two letters in circulation from the law firm of the Falanas’, I like to state for the record and pending the official reply from my counsel, state for the avoidance of doubt that I, Okuneye Idris Olanrewaju, aka Bobrisky, did not publish any defamatory statements concerning the learned SAN, Falana and his son Falz.
“And that it is in the public domain pursuant to my solicitor’s letter dated 27th of September 2024 that I have denied any knowledge of what VeryDarkMan published.
“I stand by my express denial and advise whoever has been defamed to hold the publisher of the defamatory content. My fundamental rights to privacy of communications should be respected and protected.” [sic].
This comes a few days after the Lagos State High Court ordered VeryDarkMan to delete defamatory videos and comments targeting Falana and Falz within 21 days.
The matter has generated widespread controversy since VDM leaked the audio recordings of Bobrisky’s prison conversations in September 2024.
DAILY POST recalls that VeryDarkMan, on September 24, 2024, leaked a voice call recording of Bobrisky narrating how Falz contacted him while in jail to help him see a presidential pardon through his father.
The allegations include an alleged N15 million bribe paid to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to drop money laundering charges against Bobrisky.
Also, the allegations also include the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, receiving bribes to place Bobrisky in VIP custody instead of a standard prison cell.
Bobrisky was arrested for money laundering and Naira mutilation by the EFCC in April.
Following the dismissal of the money laundering charges against him by the Federal High Court in Lagos, Judge Abimbola Awogboro sentenced Bobrisky to six months imprisonment for Naira mutilation.
China has sentenced 15 persons to prison for their involvement in the collapse of a building that claimed dozens of lives and ignited public outcry over construction standards, state media reported on Thursday.
A commercial building in the central city of Changsha collapsed in April 2022, leaving more than 50 people dead and nine others wounded.
Authorities later said the structure was built illegally, triggering an outcry over corruption and laxity in the construction industry.
State broadcast station, CCTV said on Thursday that two courts in Changsha had issued sentences for 15 people implicated in the scandal.
They included 11 years in prison for a resident of the building, Wu Zhiyong, who was deemed to be partly responsible for the collapse.
Other jail sentences included 12 years in prison for the former deputy chief of a state-backed municipal water company found guilty of dereliction of duty and bribery.
A local structuring testing firm was fined one million yuan ($140,000) and several of its employees were jailed for providing documents that falsely declared the building to be safe.
The court ruled that Wu and others built the property despite having “no construction qualifications” and illegally rented it to catering and accommodation companies, CCTV reported.
“No effective rectification measures were taken” despite the discovery of major structural hazards, the broadcast station said.
It added that the incident “resulted in major casualties and serious economic losses”.
Building collapses are not uncommon in China due to weak safety standards and corruption among those tasked with enforcing them.
Six people were killed and 10 were injured when lightning strike caused a park pavilion to collapse in the eastern city of Changzhou in August.
Nigerian singer, Yinka Ayefele, and his wife, Temitope, have welcomed a baby girl.
The singer announced in a post via his Instagram page.
This comes months after they celebrated the birth of their triplets, consisting of two boys and a girl, in May 2024.
Ayefele has expressed appreciation to God, considering his current challenges after a spinal cord injury that left him reliant on a wheelchair.
He shared a beautiful photo of the newborn baby alongside her name.
See photo below:
Tragedy struck Thursday morning in Benin City, the Edo State Capital following the explosion of a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) powered vehicle at NIPCO filling station located at Aduwawa along the Benin-Auchi Expressway.
In a viral video making round on social media, the vehicle was vividly scattered while people around the vicinity ran for dear lives as the loud sound from the explosion created panic among residents in the vicinity.
Three persons were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries and have been rushed to a private hospital for medical attention.
The explosion is coming on the heels of safety concerns raised about the conversion of petrol-powered vehicles to CNG as advocated for by the Federal Government as a measure to lower the cost of transportation following the removal of fuel subsidy.
Details later…
In a developing case of a suspected kidnap ransom transaction in Delta State, a yet-to-be-identified Point of Sale operator has spoken out, claiming she was unaware of the criminal activities behind a 4 million Naira deposit into her account.
The operator was questioned in a video by the Public Relations Officer for Delta State Police Command, SP Bright Edafe, and published on his X page on Thursday as part of an investigation into a kidnapping incident.
The operator explained her side of the story, stating that she was contacted by a customer, Timothy Ogenechukwu, who had previously conducted smaller transactions with her.
“He has been doing transactions with me, maybe at times 5,000 or 2,000,” she told the police.
However, this time, the transaction was significantly larger—4 million Naira. According to her, Ogenechukwu did not provide any clear reason for the massive deposit.
“He only called me that morning and said I should check my account,” she added.
She claimed she had no prior knowledge that the money in question was related to criminal activity, specifically a ransom payment from a kidnapping victim.
“I didn’t know,” she said, emphasising that she thought it was another business transaction, similar to their past interactions.
However, she admitted to making a profit of 40,000 Naira from the transaction.
“My profit is 40,000,” she said.
During the interrogation, Edafe pressed her on the nature of her relationship with Timothy, questioning if she understood the implications of allowing large sums to be transferred through her account.
The officer highlighted that the funds originated from a victim who had been kidnapped and suggested that the PoS operator’s role in receiving and distributing the money could make her complicit in the crime.
The PPRO had earlier in the video warned that PoS operators should be mindful of who they do transactions with, especially if such transactions are relatively high.
He said, “I have been talking and educating people on social media, particularly PoS operators. Any person who wants to do transactions above 500,000 naira should go to the bank.
“Whenever you ask a PoS operator if you are receiving money too much that is unreasonably high, understand that there is an element of crime in it because they are supposed to go to the bank.”
Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu sent his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, to ask him to reconsider his decision to leave Nigeria following the election victory.
Vanguard reported in 2022 that after Tinubu announced his presidential bid in January, George threatened to leave the country.
His words: “I will move away from Nigeria. I’ll leave because he will be your representative on the international plane. Which investment will he bring here? I am not talking because I have any hatred for him.
“This is not the kind of person we can hand over this massive country to manage. He will be the greatest joke on the international plane. We should bother who should lead us.
“If by whatever chance he gets to the villa, I won’t be part of this country. And I am not joking. I can go to Ghana and be watching with binoculars from afar. You will see what will happen.”
Reflecting on the development, George, during an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, recounted how Gbajabiamila visited him with a message from Tinubu, urging him to reconsider his position.
“During the campaign period, I stated it and I meant it—that if by whatever measure Bola Tinubu wins this election, I was going to get out.
“Once they heard that, Tinubu sent his chief of staff, who is my little brother from Lagos State, Femi Gbajabiamila, to appeal to me.
“He came to say, ‘My boss said I should tell you, please be calm’. They knew they had wronged me. They said they were sorry.”
Speaking further, George stated that the crisis within the PDP emerged during the lead-up to the 2023 presidential election. He highlighted how internal tensions and disagreements intensified, urging aggrieved factions to sheathe their sword.
“The last convention, the presidential convention, was when everything started, and instead of arresting it, they were exacerbating it.
“With all that, you cannot have the chairman of the party and the presidential candidate from one side of the divide—they didn’t listen.”
He also recalled how he confronted Iyorchia Ayu, the former party chair, regarding his commitment to step down if a northern presidential candidate was nominated.
“Ayu made a public statement that peradventure the presidency comes from the north, he would resign. But when the results were announced, he said, ‘I have four years; I’m not going anywhere’.
“This is breach of trust! Of course, people would react to that. It’s against the party constitution to have the chairman of the party and the presidential candidate from the same zone — it is an anomaly.
“I want to appeal to the leaders of the various groups in the party that it is time to shelve your personal ambitions and let us rebuild the party.
“There is no organisation in the world without crisis, but the ability to rebuild the crisis is needed.
“This crisis didn’t start now; it started from the presidential convention and nobody was able to manage it.
“Atiku and Wike should calm down and let us go to the elders meeting where we would start this discussion, to trace this crisis back to that convention, because that was where everything started going in the wrong direction.”
Former Vice President of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, Bishop Thomas Aremu has clarified that he will remain a member of the church despite his recent retirement.
His statement comes in response to rumours suggesting that he and Bishop David Abioye, another former vice president were planning to retire from the church to establish their own ministries.
Speaking on Tuesday during his valedictory service at Winners Chapel, Bishop Aremu addressed the speculations, emphasizing that he has no intention of founding a new church.
However, he mentioned the possibility of teaching in other churches and said his messages would be consistent with the doctrines of the Living Faith Church.
“Even after retirement, I don’t have a church, and I cannot have a church because God has not infused me with the capacity to do so. This is my church; even after retirement, I shall remain in the Winners family.
I may be privileged to bless other churches that are not Winners, but there is nothing I’m going to teach them than what I have learnt in Winners.”.
“I will also be privileged to document some of the virtue and values God has invested in me for the upcoming generation. I will continue to practice liberty and charity to the poor, needy widows, orphans, and fatherless as God will enable me.”
Olisa Agbakoba, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), says the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not constitutionally established.
Agbakoba stated this in two separate letters dated October 14 and addressed to the senate and house of representatives.
The letters were addressed to Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president; and Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house — chairs of the senate and house committees on constitution review, respectively.
Agbakoba highlighted constitutional concerns regarding law enforcement agencies in the country, pointing out factors hindering the government’s efforts to eliminate corruption, as outlined in Section 13 of the 1999 Constitution.
In the letter to the deputy senate president, Agbakoba said: “I write to draw attention to certain constitutional issues on matters related to law enforcement agencies.
“As you are obviously aware, the fundamental objective of the government is to abolish corruption,” he said.
“But from my observation, there is no harmony amongst law enforcement agencies on corruption. They all appear to be working at cross purposes.
“This has been confirmed by the supreme court in so many cases.
“The supreme court has consistently sanctioned the EFCC for its conduct and questioned if the EFCC can in fact validly do what it does.
“I will go further to say that I very strongly believe the EFCC is unconstitutionally established.
“The powers under which it was established go beyond the powers of the national assembly. The EFCC is an unlawful organisation.
“I am very delighted to note that many states have finally taken it upon themselves to challenge the constitutionality of the EFCC.
“This will put to rest the question relating to the validity of the EFCC.
“Whilst we await the decision of the supreme court as the final court on the matter, I respectfully request that the Senate convene a public hearing to consider these constitutional issues.
“Such a hearing would provide an invaluable platform for stakeholders to discuss the reforms needed to strengthen Nigeria’s legal and institutional frameworks for law enforcement and anti-corruption.
“This will meet the stated and laudable objective of the government to abolish corruption as stated in Section 13 of the Constitution.”
The supreme court has fixed October 22 to hear a suit filed by the attorneys-general of 16 states of the federation.
The suit is challenging the constitutional powers of the national assembly to establish the EFCC and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and the powers of these agencies to investigate and prosecute matters related to the misappropriation of state funds.
The EFCC was founded in 2003 during the administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
The World Bank has urged Nigerians to support the ongoing economic reforms, warning that opposing or reversing them could have serious negative consequences for the country.
Speaking at the launch of the Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report in Abuja, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Ndiame Diop, emphasized that while the reforms may be challenging, they are crucial for the nation’s long-term stability.
Dr. Diop cautioned that rolling back these reforms would be detrimental, saying, “Reversing the reforms would spell doom for Nigeria.”
In the same vein, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, reiterated the importance of staying committed to the reforms. He stated, “Any effort that is not sustained will be a waste. Together with the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Minister of Budget and National Planning, we’ve been discussing how to stay on course.”
Edun further explained that the government’s focus is on reducing inflation while ensuring investments flow into critical sectors such as industry, where jobs can be created. “We are prioritizing market pricing and sat down with labor unions to explain why we cannot afford to let this opportunity slip.”
On the removal of subsidies, Edun noted, “Every day without subsidies means more funds available for education, healthcare, and other essential expenditures.”
Also speaking, Central Bank Governor Mr. Olayemi Cardoso highlighted the importance of promoting exports in light of the exchange rate adjustments. “The moderation in the FX rate should make our goods more competitive for export and discourage the importation of unnecessary goods,” he said.
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 21st September election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo, has expressed his absolute confidence in the judiciary, describing it as the last hope of the common man.
Ighodalo, speaking on a television programme in Benin on Wednesday, stated that, despite public perception, his 40 years of experience as a lawyer have reinforced his unwavering faith in the judiciary’s ability to correct any injustice.
He noted the legal challenges following his nomination as the PDP candidate, expressing optimism that he would obtain justice at the tribunal.
He said, “I won all 15 cases brought against me from the primary election. So, I cannot say I don’t have faith in the judiciary. I certainly do. It remains the last hope of the common man.”
He condemned the harassment and arrests of PDP supporters based on spurious allegations before and during the election.
He accused the All Progressives Congress in the state of colluding with the Nigeria Police Force and some compromised officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission to manipulate the election results that were in favour of him and his party.
He added, “Some APC chieftains, in collaboration with compromised INEC staff and police officers, subverted the will of the people. They are enemies of democracy in Nigeria. I will use every lawful and legitimate means to retrieve and reclaim the mandate from those who shamelessly stole it.”
Reflecting on his experience during the material inspection, he criticised INEC’s undue sympathy towards the APC, despite the PDP having a legitimate court order allowing the inspection of materials needed to support the filing of his petition.
He pointed out that election observers had rated the collation process poorly, and noted that the evidence proving he won the election was indisputable.
Ighodalo dismissed claims that the PDP lost the election due to internal conflict, describing such assertions as an afterthought by APC sympathisers to justify the electoral malpractice that occurred on 21st September in Edo State.
When asked if he would accept the court’s verdict should it not align with his expectations, he responded that, if the Supreme Court eventually rules otherwise, he would abide by the decision. However, he stressed that, based on the evidence gathered and the expertise of his legal team, he was confident of winning the case currently in court.
He added, “Do you congratulate a thief who has come to your house and stolen your goods? It’s all propaganda. Didn’t you hear or read that I was preparing to run for the Senate? They are the worst propagandists in this country. Some of them speak before they even think.”
Ighodalo warned that if electoral malpractice, such as that witnessed in Edo, continues, democracy in the country will be at risk of extinction.
He expressed gratitude to the people of Edo for their support and urged them not to be provoked by the actions of those who do not have their best interests at heart.
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Edo gov-elect, Okpebholo, alleges looting of Edo property, last-minute loan requests - alerts DSS, Police, EFCC
AFOLABI
The governor-elect of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has warned banks and other financial institutions against granting last-minute loans and financial instruments to the outgoing administration in the state.
In a statement issued Wednesday night in Abuja, Senator Okpebholo also alleged that barely a month to handing over of power to him, there are reports of massive looting of government funds and properties by some state officials.
He urged security and anti-graft agencies to help in halting the trend.
The governor-elect accused the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration of taking unscrupulous loans from banks and other financial institutions, while some unnamed government officials were also feasting on properties including vehicles, furniture and palliatives such as rice.
However, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Chris Nehikhare, said the state government will respond to the allegations.
“I’ll respond to the allegations on Thursday,” he said.
‘Widespread looting’
Okpebholo in his statement said: “With great shock, we regret the widespread reports of looting of government funds and properties by officials of the outgoing administration from the Government House, Benin City.
“It is sad that barely one month to handover, the outgoing administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki is still allegedly obtaining loans from banks and other financial institutions under very shady headings.
“We are also aware of the massive looting and vandalism of properties including vehicles, furniture, gadgets, household utensils and even carpets from offices and residences of Edo State government.
“This unacceptable behaviour undermines the trust and faith of our citizens in those entrusted to serve them in the past eight years.”
The governor-elect consequently called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, Police and Department of State Services, DSS “to investigate the allegations thoroughly and ensure that those found guilty are held accountable while protecting the Government House and offices from vandals.”
Sounding a note of warning, the statement added that “banks and other financial institutions are by this notice, cautioned to desist from any dealings that will undermine the finances of the state, especially giving out of loans to government at this period of transition.
“The Accountant-General of Edo State, is hereby advised to uphold the principle of integrity in his duty, as the only act that will put his name in gold.
“There will be dire consequences for any act of impunity and stealing on any person or institution found wanting in this regard.”
Okpebholo, however added that the incoming administration will continue to monitor the situation until the last day of the outgoing administration, adding that he will not condone any form of unethical behaviour and stressed zero-tolerance for corruption.
The value of the naira depreciated at the unofficial market on Wednesday as it traded at 1,705/dollar, according to Bureau De Change operators in Lagos and Abuja.
A BDC operator in Lagos, Aliyu Sani, told The PUNCH that he sold dollars for N1705, and bought at 1,695/$. In Abuja, the rate was lower at N1,700.
A currency trader, Suraju Ajao, said that he sold dollars for 1700/$ and bought at 1,690/$.
On the Nigerian Autonomous Forex Exchange Market domiciled on the FMDQ Securities, the naira closed trading at 1659.69/$, indicating a 0.04 per cent depreciation from 1658.97/$ that it traded on Tuesday.
On the official market, the naira traded at a high of 1,682/$ and a low of 1,562.97/$.
The daily turnover dipped to $177.10 from $217.86m on Tuesday.
The value of the naira reached a new low on Monday, closing at 1,700/dollar, a 0.29 per cent decline compared to N1,695 to the dollar, which it exchanged last week Friday.
The World Bank has recently listed the naira as one of the worst-performing currencies in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024
As of August, the local depreciated by approximately 43 per cent year-to-date, ranking it among the weakest currencies alongside the Ethiopian birr and the South Sudanese pound.
The decline is attributed to surging demand for U.S. dollars in Nigeria’s parallel market, limited dollar inflows, and slow foreign exchange disbursements by the central bank.
•His call is in order— YCF, OUPA
•We’re not interested in break up— YCE
•Restructuring is a better Akintoye’s option —Amb Farounmbi
The echoes of the separation of the Yoruba Nation from Nigeria, again, reverberated as the visible proponents of the call, Professor Adebanji Akintoye and Chief Sunday Adeyemo also known as Sunday Igboho have submitted a petition to the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Keir Starmer on their quest to exit Nigeria.
According to information, other people of Yoruba extraction who went with Sunday Igboho were Vice President of Ifeladun Apapo, Mr Fatai Ogunribido, General Secretary of Yoruba World Media, Alhaja Adeyeye, Prophet Ologunoluwa, Diaspora Youth Leader and Paul Odebiyi who is member of Yoruba Nation Movement.
The duo of Professor Akintoye and Sunday Igboho have been working together on the call for the Yoruba ethnic group to secede from Nigeria.
The renowned historian had persistently said the treaty signed with Nigeria had expired and felt that Yoruba should exit from Nigeria.
Professor Akintoye had also alleged that a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai(rtd) came to Igboho while in prison with a promise to pay him billions of naira to shelve his call for Yoruba separation.
Confirming the letter, Sunday Igboho’s spokesperson, Mr Olayomi Koiki said, the letter was actually submitted to UK Prime Minister but refused to disclose the contents of the letter to Vanguard.
Reacting in a terse message to Vanguard, Koiki said, “We can’t give anyone the content of the letter but it has to do with our quest to exit Nigeria”.
Though the Federal Government has kept sealed lips over the repeated call, like incurable optimists, the duo have never given up.
Akintoye’s earlier message
Akintoye, in another lengthy piece, reeled out perceived atrocities of the Fulani people and concluded that the only antidote to stop the perceived injustice is for Yoruba to cut the umbilical cord that has tenaciously held the various ethnic groups together since 1914 Lord Lugard’s amalgamation.
Declare Sept 23 Yoruba unity, Akintoye tells S-West govs, monarchs
The retired University don, who claimed the Yoruba Unity Day was marked in Ile-Ife and Ibadan, called on the six governors in the South West to continue to mark the day every 23 September.
He said: “Our whole Yoruba nation, our Obas, the Fathers of our nation, our State Governors, should adopt this Yoruba Unity Day for all our states.
“Yoruba are one of the most truly united nations in the world. The essential roots of our Yoruba national unity are firm and solid. All of us Yoruba people are proud of our Yoruba culture.
Yoruba has distinctive superiority in crucial matters.”
He went further to say the position of Yoruba in the country is very visible noting, “We are proud of our nation’s distinctive superiority in crucial matters, including love of community harmony, serious acceptance of religious tolerance and harmony, acceptance of hospitality towards strangers and foreigners, avoidance of cheap conduct in the quest for anything, love of enterprise and achievement, a fundamental belief that power in society belongs to the people and that government exists only to serve the wellbeing of the people, a sincere belief that everybody, young and old, has the right to be respected and the right and duty to contribute his or her wisdom to the affairs of his or her society, an essential nobility of character.
“Our apparent difficulty in finding unity over matters is not a sign of lack of unity; it is a product of our deep belief that every individual has some wisdom (no matter how little) to contribute and that everybody therefore deserves to be heard. In short, we are an ancient civilization that, for millennia, has placed serious emphasis on self-respect, respect for the individual, the duty of mutual respect, duty of consciously deep thought in matters affecting humans and society. An unreasoning and emotionally charged group is difficult to find among us Yoruba.”
Alleged atrocities of Fulani bandits
The self-determination proponent reasoned that “there is a good reason to fear now that the Nigerian situation could destroy our Yoruba nation. In the rural areas of our homeland, where probably the majority of our people live, the Fulani people who are determined to seize land for a homeland of their own, are daily killing our people, have killed a roughly estimated 29,000 of our people, are raping our women, kidnapping men, women and children, extorting millions of Naira in ransom for the kidnapped, destroying farms, food barns and villages. For over nine years now, they have been forcing our farmers to abandon farming, and by now, most of our farmers have abandoned farming, and many of such farmers have been migrating with their families to Benin and Togo Republics. Our nation faces the doom of a serious lack of food for years and years to come. This horror is increasing. It has risen to the killing of our Obas by the Fulani.
Akintoye’s call in order— YCF, OUPA
Surprisingly, two groups from the zone, Yoruba Commitment Forum led by Otunba Tayo Onayemi and Oduduwa United People Association, founded by Chief Jimoh Taofeek, aligned with Prof Akintoye.
In his submission, Chief Taofeek said the only permanent solution to the Fulani herders’ invasion of Yoruba land is the separation of ethnic groups in the country.
He said: “The only way to proffer lasting solution is for each interested region clamouring for disintegration to do so peacefully, through national dialogue and in accordance to international practices.
“This singular act, if it can be considered for implementation in my view, will strongly create an avenue for inter-regional positive competitions that will adequately strengthen the security, promote peace and stability, enhance rapid growth and development in all aspects of natural, physical and human resources within each region to add more meaningful value to the economy.”
Similarly, Otunba Onayemi supported the call for a free Yoruba Nation, a separate Arewa Nation as well as a Biafran country for peace to reign.
Onayemi said: “Prof Akintoye has only touched a portion of the looming danger leaving the other portion yawning for inclusion. And that’s the aggressive and well-coordinated Igbo’s desire for expansion and repeatedly announced acquisition threats to Yorubaland.
“Holistically, Nigeria today is sitting on a keg of gunpowder which may go off anytime while the leaders and elites, who know the true situation, keep pretending and they deceive the populace to their perils too.
“This is so because, once the bubble bursts, no one will be entirely safe. To avoid pogrom, massive deaths and a disaster, Nigeria should urgently consider unbundling or devolving powers to the former three regions of the West, the East and the North with a provision that ethnic nationalities caught up in the web of the unbundling, should be free to choose their affiliation course.
“I support the calls for a free Yoruba Nation, a separate Arewa Nation as well as a Biafran country for peace to reign, avoid unnecessary calamities and to foster good relationships among the three countries living in deceit, hatred and suspicion in Nigeria.”
We’re not interested in break up — YCE
For the second time, the Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, through its Secretary General, Chief Oladipo Oyewole sees the call for separation as a wrong approach to the alleged atrocities against the Yoruba.
He said, “YCE has again reviewed the Nigerian situation and our conclusion as a body is that cutting off the head is not a remedy, not a panacea to a serious headache. The agitation for a breakup or breakaway from Nigeria by some Yoruba (because not all Yoruba are part of the agitation) is an action likely to put Nigeria in unending turmoil.
“As elders, the YCE would rather go the way of ensuring a correct place for Yoruba in the comity of the assembly called Nigeria. We, of the YCE, have severally asked for the review of the 1999 Constitution. We have consistently asked for a Constitution that will protect us. We have asked for a viable right of place in the scheme of appropriation of our commonwealth in Nigeria.
“Until now, we have asked for restructuring. We will, as a body, continue to seek peace and ask for all that will make us comfortable as stakeholders in the confederation.
“The YCE is not interested in the break up of Nigeria. Accordingly, let us put heads together to map out a course to make each region viable and promote self-reliance to provide economic satisfaction for all Nigerians progressively.”
“As for the perceived harassment of President Bola Tinubu by northern leaders, the President is a manager with the instruments of office. He surely knows what to do and how to achieve his goals.”
Where’s need for it —Olajide, ex-YCE Scribe
But a former Secretary of the YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide said there is no basis for Professor Akintoye to make such a call.
Olajide said: “How does he expect us to go about it? A Yoruba man is the President of this country today. In my opinion, in unity lies strength; so I don’t subscribe to that. And I haven’t read what he said about secession recently. But in my opinion, the country is stabilizing and making progress.”
Restructuring is a better option —Amb Farounmbi
On his part, a former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounmbi disclosed that the call for restructuring remains a better option than secession.
Farounmbi said: “I think there is confusion in the way he presented his matter. My understanding of what it stands for us as a Yoruba nation is a nation that breaks out of Nigeria remains independent and is no longer part of Nigeria. But we have a President who says he will uphold the unity of the country.
“So, I cannot find the commonality in what he has said. What is appealing is the call for restructuring of the country, where each ethnic nationality governs itself in line with its characteristics, history, nationality, culture and traditions.”
One of the promises the Federal Government made to pacify Organised Labour at yesterday’s parley was that five refineries would soon be fully functional.
Also, government vowed to pay arrears of wages.
These, among others, formed the core of the meeting where “they agreed that it is better to ‘jaw-jaw than war-war’.”
“Meaning,” a source told Vanguard, “there will be continuous dialogue between government and labour.”
Recall that Vanguard broke the story, yesterday, that leaders of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and their Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, counterpart were meeting with the Federal Government.
However, obviously acting on agreed terms, neither the government representatives nor the labour leaders spoke with newsmen on what was discussed and agreed on at the meeting.
FG’s promises
A source, however, revealed to Vanguard the many promises Federal Government made to the Labour leaders.
According to a reliable source: “As part of efforts at crashing transport fares across the country, the Federal Government will hold a meeting with state governors to fully embrace the CNG buses.
“This will also affect the cost of foodstuffs as it will reduce the costs of transporting food items from different locations to consumers drastically.
“These are parts of efforts to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal on the citizens.
“The government also promised to summon a meeting of the economic council to impress it upon state governors to ensure the new minimum wage takes off across the country this month.
“It also promised to incorporate labour into the economic council, so labour will participate and monitor economic policies of government, instead of government throwing policies at labour and Nigerians that may result in agitation or protest.”
“The government also promised to hasten and complete the refineries.
“They said almost five refineries are about to be completed,’’ another source told Vanguard last night.
The sources confirmed that “government promised to pay all outstanding arrears and wage awards to workers, and inaugurate all the boards labour has representatives.”
Labour pacified
One of the sources said: “All these are promises, but the good thing is that it was agreed that the meeting will be a continuous process.”
Asked if labour was satisfied with the meeting, the source said: “It is not about satisfaction, but a way forward from the past where government was not discussing with organised labour.
‘’If this trend or practice continues, there is every possibility that disagreements between government and labour will reduce.”
Roll call
The government’s representatives at the meeting were Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, NSA; Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, Labour Minister; and Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
Others include Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Information Minister; Heineken Lokpobiri, Petroleum Resources Minister, State; Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), and representatives of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL.
For Organised Labour were the President of NLC, Mr Joe Ajaero; Deputy President, Kabiru Ado Sani; the General Secretary, Mr Emma Ugboaja; Deputy President of the TUC, Dr. Tommy Etim Okon; the Secretary General, Nuhu Toro; and the President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, who is also a deputy president of NLC.