Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has stressed that the ministry has started reviewing Nigeria’s poor performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Recall that Nigeria sent 88 athletes to compete in 12 sports at the 2024 Olympics, and all of them failed to win a medal for the country. This marks one of the country’s worst showings in Olympic history.
Enoh acknowledged the disappointment and emphasized the need for reflection as the country prepares for the upcoming Paralympics, scheduled to commence on August 28 in Paris.
The minister expressed regret over the subpar performance of Team Nigeria and extended his apologies to Nigerians.
He highlighted the provision of necessary funding, early payment of allowances, and timely disbursement of training grants, indicating that financial constraints were not a factor in Nigeria’s Olympic campaign.
However, he admitted that the outcomes did not meet the nation’s expectations and emphasized the need to provide a comprehensive explanation to the public.
The Sports Minister’s statement reads: “The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, has ended, and I accept that our performance should have been a lot better. It fell short of our objectives, expectations, and hopes of Nigerians. I must apologize to our compatriots and reflect on what went wrong while looking forward to the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024 (August 28- September 8).
“In all these, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federation, HE Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ensured that funds were not a limiting factor. Athletes’ competition requirements were provided, allowances were paid early, and training grants were disbursed to all athletes. I made myself readily available to deal with any issue throughout the competition. Therefore, the underwhelming performance of our team is puzzling. We owe Nigerians an explanation.
“As a responsible organization, we have swung into a review process. We shall evaluate the competition readiness of every athlete comprehensively, including their injury and medical history within the limits of patient confidentiality. The role of coaches and administrative staff will also be examined.”
Enoh also discussed the challenges faced by the Ministry of Sports Development in preparing for the Olympics within a limited timeframe. He revealed that when he assumed office in August 2023, the ministry had to oversee four major international competitions, including the AFCON, the African Games, and the Olympics and Paralympic Games, all within a short period.
He explained: “When I assumed office as the Minister of Sports Development in August 2023, I was confronted with the task of executing four international competitions namely the AFCON, the African Games, and the Olympics and Paralympic Games in a matter of a few months. I was also reminded that the Olympic Games is the world’s supreme sports competition, and countries require at least four years to prepare for it. I held extensive discussions with the management staff of the ministry and got to know that preparations for the Olympics, which was less than a year away, had not started.
“After the African Games, subsequent meetings were limited to the federations that had bright chances of qualifying for the Olympics. Medal projections were made by all the federations, although their athletes were still trying to qualify; which lasted until about June 2024. The concerned federations prioritized qualification over preparations for the Games. This seems to have always been the case. This has to change.”
A Muslim cleric allegedly beheaded a 14-year-old boy, identified as Malik Kareem, for ritual purposes in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Saturday.
Naija News learnt that the tragic incident which has thrown the area into confusion occurred at the Olorisaoko community in the Akinyele Local Government Area of the state.
The victim reportedly wrote his final subject for the West Africa Examination Council at Iyana Community Grammar School, Olode, Moniya, Ibadan.
According to PUNCH, the victim, alongside his three other age groups, contacted a Muslim cleric, now at large, for a money ritual on Saturday.
However, the victim was unaware that the three other boys had bargained with the cleric to kill him for a money ritual.
Confirming the development, a family source who spoke with the publication as mentioned earlier said, “I was at home when one of my brothers ran to the house to inform me about the unfortunate incident. We quickly rushed down to the place to confirm it. When we got there, the Muslim cleric had already run away, but we found the victim’s lifeless body on the ground without a head.
“He was found in a pool of blood in that Islamic cleric’s house. The head has already been cremated.
“The other three boys had earlier bargained with the cleric that they would use their friend for a money ritual. So, when they got there, he (the victim) was strangulated to death, beheaded and cremated. They will be using it to take pap every day, according to what they told us.”
Also, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, has confirmed that investigations had already commenced on the incident.
He said, “Investigations have commenced on the incident, and you will be updated accordingly.”
A Nigerian woman, who put up a dramatic scene at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Saturday after tearing her husband’s passport, has opened up about issues in their marriage.
The incident, considered by many as vandalism of government property, sparked public outrage and demands for legal consequences.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), in a statement, said it is already investigating the matter, disclosing that the woman had been invited.
Speaking in an interview conducted by @JejojaFamily TV, the woman said she has been having a lot of trouble with her husband in Italy, which has affected her mental health.
According to the woman, the issues with her husband have been going on for years, and she had wanted to tear the passport from the European country where they were based, but she didn’t want to stress her husband.
She stated that all the bloggers and Nigerians attacking her over the video should look beyond her actions, adding that something might have instigated it.
She said, “These issues have been going on for a very long time. I was just dancing to the tune till I arrive my motherland Nigeria which it just happened and I did what I did.
“I am not a mad woman who would just come and act like that. I have my reasons. I have gone through so many things. So many of you just commenting on the video, I am seeing so many comments, friends calling me, those that have never called me for ages are calling me, those that have heard from me 20 years ago are calling me. I am not like that.
“So many of you commenting, what if I had done this thing in Europe where we were coming from. Because I don’t want him to go through a lot of stress, that’s why I did it in Nigeria.
“So I don’t care about what people are writing because if you don’t know what is happening, don’t just comment on what you don’t know, you have to know how to come into an issue. So many people at the airport that day saw me. Those who have thinking faculty were calm to ask me, wanting to know what happened.
“Do you think I will just come up and tear his passport like that? No. I don’t have to do that. I have gone through a lot of things. Family issues here and there every time. My husband cannot speak. It took me a long time because he is the one controlling my page for me. He is the one handling my page for me. He’s the one that has everything. So I had to go into to because my email was attached to it and his email too was attached to it. So I had to go and look for it to get this passport because I know even he himself did not know that I would go to this extent.
“I suffered with this my husband. I know how many years I suffered with him and just like that they just want my suffering to be chartered away (sic). Where is it done? I know men will never accept it. But those men who have sisters who have gone through this thing I’m going through now will understand but other men would not understand.”
President Bola Tinubu may have capitulated to political intrigues in the Presidency as well as other vested interests and called off his earlier resolve to sanitise leading government-owned enterprises (GOEs), which led to the inauguration of Jim Obazee panel, The Guardian learnt at the weekend.
The abrupt closure of what was meant to be an extended and far-reaching fact-finding mission of the Special Investigator and his team, the investigation suggested, was the nail in the coffin.
The letter conveying the appointment of Jim Obazee was personally signed by the President, showing the weight of the assignment. Obazee, who was merely the public face of a carefully selected team of forensic auditors charged with the responsibility of cleaning up the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and “related entities”, was to report to the President directly.
The Guardian reported that the team, independently drawn by Obazee from the six geopolitical zones, had direct and uncensored access to the President at the start of the assignment.
But the privilege was contained as politicians began to get in the way of the team. The Guardian also reported that top business executives and politicians being indicted by the activities of the investigators were throwing spanners into the investigation with outright blackmail becoming a major weapon.
Sources privy to the events that led to what is now seen as a premature closure of the assignment confided that the press statement announcing the closure came before “a serious examination of the extent of collaboration between those who mismanaged the CBN and managers of related entities”.
In a letter dated July 28, 2023, the President said Obazee would work on a comprehensive report on public wealth being pocketed by a tiny percentage of Nigerians and report directly “to my office”.
“By the fundamental objective outlined in Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), this administration is, today, continuing the fight against corruption by appointing you as a Special Investigator, to investigate the CBN and related entities…
“The full terms of your engagement as Special Investigator shall be communicated to you in due course but, require that you immediately take steps to ensure the strengthening and probity of key Government Business Entities (GBEs), further block leakages in CBN and related GBEs and provide a comprehensive report on public wealth currently in the hands of corrupt individuals and establishments (whether private or public).
“You are to investigate the CBN and related entities using a suitably experienced, competent and capable team and work with relevant security and anti-corruption agencies to deliver on this assignment. I shall expect a weekly briefing on the progress being made,” the appointment letter read.
The investigator, on the back of the directive by the President who promised non-interference in the process, was said to have proceeded to select individuals with track records of commitment to probity and accountability across different parts of the country. All the geopolitical zones, according to reliable information, had at least one representative.
But till the April press statement announcing the closure of the team, members from core northern zones had not joined the team on the excuse that compensation terms had not been concluded while their colleagues from the south and north central, which had two representatives, including the information technology expert, worked 24 hours to crack the corruption endemics in the CBN and relative entities.
Some of the absentee members were said to have demanded accommodation, vehicles and sundry ‘work tools’ as conditions without which they would not spare their time for the national assignment.
The conditions of service, according to findings, were never communicated with the team but there was an unwritten understanding between the team and the Presidency that they would be paid from the recoveries. But details as to specific figures and other things were not communicated.
Over three months after the termination of the activities, The Guardian learnt that nothing has been mentioned about the allowances or compensation with some members, who cannot the President, keeping their figures crossed.
A closure press statement signed by Presidential spokesman Ajuri Ngelale read: “After the conclusion of the assignment and the submission of a final comprehensive report and with the winding up of all apparatuses used during the scope of the task which terminated on March 31, 2024, the investigation is formally closed, with all appropriate law enforcement and regulatory agencies already conducting follow-up action.”
However, those knowledgeable about the works of the committee said the statement showed the level of deviation from the original plan while the same regulatory agencies the President did not have any confidence in when the panel would set up would honestly conduct “follow-up actions”.
Contrary to the content of the statement, The Guardian also learnt that the committee had not submitted a final report.Indeed, the media have been awash with different revelations said to have been gleaned from the final report, with the majority focusing on the stewardship of the former CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele.
At the weekend, an insider source wondered how the final report of a panel of “that status” could have been submitted without public knowledge. Another source said what had been feasted on by the media were progress reports from the panel or distorted facts being bandied by individuals with agendas different from the objective of the Special Investigator.
The CBN reportedly sacked some directors of the apex bank in line with the recommendations of the committee. However, multiple sources described such actions as misjudgment, saying a fact-finding report could not have been taken as a statement of finality and acted on as a judicial pronouncement.
“Prosecution is more important than whatever findings come from the panel. If the report of the investigators was used for sack, that is certainly out of procedure. The report, even if it were final, should provide the basis for prosecution. At best, it is not an indictment that should be tested at the court,” a source argued.
In scope and otherwise, the panel had achieved less than 10 per cent of its mandate before the premature closure. So far, only the Central Bank with its managers has been mentioned about the works of the panel, which was also beaming the searchlight on the NNPC Limited, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems Plc, The Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc and many other entities, including deposit money banks (DMBs).
Mid-way into the exercise, the panel also became the subject of an integrity test, with the leader said to have been petitioned by different individuals and officials who claimed that he had taken bribes.
The weightiest report, according to information available to The Guardian was the one from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA). Besides, there were torrents of indictments believed to have been targeted at blackmailing the team.
At the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRC), where he was a pioneer chief executive, Obazee earned the reputation of an incontrovertible examiner who put banks and even their regulator on their toes. His indictment of the Central Bank under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi led to the suspension of the emir as CBN governor.
Tinubu may have missed the opportunity to fully sanitise the CBN and the entire financial system with the ill-time disbandment of the panel. Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, it was learnt, made several efforts to set up the ad hoc committee. The last-ditch attempt, it was learnt, was botched by the Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, who was assigned to issue an appointment letter to the effect.
Mustapha was said to have said that the proposal would “not fly” because of the complexity of the issues it was meant to address. Subsequently, the team that sold the idea to Buhari was directed to provide technical support to the Department of State Service (DSS), which ended up narrowing the broad issues to terrorizing financing indictment against Emefiele.
With only Emefiele being seriously prosecuted out of 159 individuals said to have been indicted by the interim report of the panel, the process may have been hijacked by politicians and politically exposed persons. Whereas the CBN has gone ahead to relieve the indicted directors, who are now seeking redress from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, many of those also accused of some wrongdoings during Emefiele’s nine years in office have been shielded from the law.
Some stakeholders who have long called for an in-depth and independent investigation into the alleged historical mismanagement of the monetary authority are said to be routing for the reconstitution of the Obazee panel, even if the membership would need to be changed, and possibly expanding the scope.
[Guardian]
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has launched formal investigation, following the circulation of a video on social media, showing a female traveler destroying a Nigerian Standard Passport at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos.
The individual involved has been identified as Mrs. Favour Igiebor, holding passport number A11990869.
In a statement, Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Kenneth Udo says the Comptroller General of Immigration has directed that Mrs. Favour Igiebor be invited for further investigation.
If the allegations are substantiated, the statement notes, that her action would constitute a breach of Section 10(b) of the Immigration Act 2015 (as amended), with corresponding penalties outlined under Section 10(h) of the same Act.
Udo reiterates that the Nigeria Immigration Service remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the provisions of the Immigration Act in the interest of national security, and to preserve the dignity and integrity of the nation’s legal instruments.
Rena Wakama, the first Nigerian female basketball coach, has been named the ‘best coach’ at this year’s Olympics after guiding D’Tigress to historical achievements in Paris.
The 32-year-old was recognised by FIBA and the Olympic organisers for leading D’Tigress to the tournament quarter-finals for the first time in its history.
Nigeria won her first basketball match in the Olympics under the former college basketball player’s tutelage.
D’Tigress opened their Olympics campaign by defeating third-ranked Australia in a major upset. The North Carolina-born coach also led her team to a shock win over fifth-ranked Canada in the final group game to seal a maiden appearance in the knockout stage.
It was the first time an African country would make the last eight of the Olympic basketball tournament — male or female.
Nigeria eventually succumbed to the United States in the quarter-finals.
In a blog post on Sunday, FIBA praised Wakama’s D’Tigress for putting up the “most impactful performance by an African team in history” at the Olympic basketball competitions.
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It also described the leadership of Wakama as one of the “main drivers of Nigeria’s unprecedented success” at the tournament.
“Nigeria made everyone sit up and take notice by beating Australia on opening day and that was the first time they had won a Group phase game,” the post reads.
“A few days later and Nigeria stunned Canada to become the first African team to take two wins at the Games, once again their tenacious defense providing the platform for success.
“Even more impressive, this secured them a ticket to the knockout phase and they became the first African team in history, men or women, to play in the Olympic Quarter-Finals.
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“Their campaign eventually came to a close when they were beaten by USA, but even then they showed their fighting spirit and qualities until the very end.”
FIBA also described Wakama as “one of the youngest coaches in Olympic history who delivered a new high tide mark for Nigeria and African basketball”.
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Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, US, she was appointed coach of the Nigerian women’s basketball team in June 2023.
In August 2023, the Wakama-led ladies defeated Senegal 84-74 in the final of the women’s Afrobasket championship.
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The victory placed Nigeria as the second African country to win the women’s Afrobasket title four times in a row.
Media
? Best coach of #Paris2024 Women's Basketball
— FIBA (@FIBA) August 11, 2024
Rene Wakama, Nigeria ?? pic.twitter.com/iAe0eh4Rso
The governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo has given out his daughter, Adaora in marriage to her man, Arinze Ibekwe.
The traditional marriage, which was performed on Saturday at the governor’s home town in Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area of the state, was attended by several dignitaries, government officials and traditional rulers.
This comes days after the couple had their civil wedding in the UK.
See pictures from the wedding below.
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said Nigeria would rise again if the church started to preach the values of hard work.
Osinbajo lamented that the Nigerian church had shifted its focus from preaching hard work to prosperity.
He spoke while delivering a lecture at the 68th Anniversary and 58th Annual Convention of The Gospel Faith Mission International, GOFAMINT, at the weekend.
According to Osinbajo: “For too long, our churches have been caught up in the pursuit of personal prosperity and material wealth, neglecting the true calling of the gospel to promote peace, unity, and the holistic development of our society.
“If we truly want to see Nigeria rise again and fulfil its immense potential, the church must return to its roots, preaching the values of hard work, compassion, and service to the community.
“It is only through this shift in focus that we can inspire our people to become agents of positive change, rather than mere consumers of the prosperity gospel.”
The 2023 presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the federal government to investigate what he termed the ‘rascalities of leaders’ that always rob Nigeria golden opportunities to make a positive change.
Obi was reacting to the poor outing of Nigerian team in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024. He complained against the attitude of Nigerian sporting authorities, noting that their gross misconducts should be checked.
According to him: “Now that the Paris Olympics 2024 has officially ended and our dear Team Nigeria, despite the huge financial investment made into the project, is returning without a single medal, let me unreservedly register my displeasure with the performance of our team and their handlers.
The rascality and recklessness that has continued to characterise leadership in our nation in nearly every department. The general impression that has come to stick is the one that portrays our country as a joke, even on the international stage.
How can one explain that a country like Jamaica spent less than 5% of what we spent on our contingents for the Paris Olympics 2024 and won as many as 6 medals. Yet with our huge financial investments and large contingent, we could not win even a single medal?
At least nine African countries won gold but the giant with over 200m people came home without even a bronze! We invested about N12 billion in this year’ s Olympics, which is almost twice the amount budgeted for the entire Ministry of Science and Technology for this year.
This is over N136 million (about $85,000) spent on each of the 88 Nigerian contingents to the Olympics, and no single medal was won while Jamaica, a nation which spent far less than we did, a total of about $2300 on each contingent, won 6 medals; 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze at the Olympics. We must now interrogate the relationship between this huge investment and our dismal outcome. Sad stories like this are our lot only because we have refused to embrace competence and capacity over routine and favouritism in Nigeria.
Let us consider the case of Favour Ofili, a Nigerian professional sprinter who trained for years for the 2024 Olympics, only for her name to be recklessly and wrongly removed from the list of athletes for the 100m race at the Olympics by Nigerian sporting authorities.
What explanation can anyone give about Annette Echikunwoke, a former Nigerian hammer thrower, who was frustrated by the same rascality of some Nigerian leaders, making her switch her allegiance to the United States, where she eventually won a medal in the just completed Olympics?
These same professional athletes were denied the opportunity to represent our nation in Tokyo 2020, for similar reasons of administrative recklessness. I have it on good authority that some injured athletes, not physically fit to represent the country and not competing in the ongoing Olympics, were there in Paris receiving estacodes from our national resources. Some of the sports officials and others who have no reason to be at the Olympics were there too, living large and feeding fat on the estacodes while our nation was crashing out on every sporting event. One of our athletes, Ese Ukpeseraye, had to borrow a bicycle to compete at her sporting event!
How can one sensibly explain such recklessness and infamy?
What a country! What a shame! When do we stop these rascalities that always rob our nation of golden opportunities to make a positive change? I call on the government to investigate these gross misconducts and make sure that those responsible do not have the opportunity to do so again. We must build a nation of discipline and commitment to duty, where competence and capacity reign. That is the New Nigeria we preach, and it is Possible”.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has responded to a media publication regarding the delay in issuing National Driver’s Licences across the country.
Olusegun Ogungbemide, Corps Public Education and Strategic Communication Officer (CPESCO), said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Ogungbemide, who applauded the media platform for its watchdog role, said it was pertinent to correct some of the misconceptions conveyed in the publication.
This, he said, was to avert misleading the general public on what had actually hampered the smooth production of the National Driver’s Licence.
“The attention of the FRSC has been adequately drawn to an article published by The Sun Newspaper today, 11 August.
“To state the obvious fact and correct the misinformation stated in the above-quoted article, it is pertinent to say that at no time did the FRSC blame anyone in the tripartite regarding the driver’s licence issue.
“This is because the Corps does not believe in apportioning blame, but is keenly interested in getting the system to work for quality service delivery and customer satisfaction,” he said.
Ogungbemide said the entire processes surrounding the production of the national driver’s licence were delicate.
This, he said, was due to the intelligence and data-gathering ability of the scheme, adding that the Corps had to subject the entire system to a comprehensive overhaul.
He said, however, the efforts needed time to be brought to perfection.
“On assumption of office in May 2024, one of the priority areas the FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, committed his administrative energy to, was the total revamp of the national driver’s licence production.
To nip the problem in the bud, he visited the production plant to have an on-the-spot assessment of the issues militating against the smooth flow of production.
“Aftermath of that visit revived the system and brought the plant up to speed.”
He said that the identified issues were decisively dealt with, fixed and production resumed in full force, pursuant to his directive for the plant to commence 24-hour production.
“Due to that intervention, the Corps can categorically state that every issue affecting the smooth running of the plant is being resolved.
“As at today, over 189,256 licences have been produced and are awaiting collection at various State Boards of Internal Revenue across the country,” he said.
Ogungbemide quoted the FRSC Corps Marshal as reassuring that, in line with his policy thrust, the integrity of the licence process would be upheld at all times to sustain international acceptability.
He admonished applicants awaiting their licences to proceed to their respective states for collection as the Corps continue its quest to clear the backlog
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No fewer than seven persons from the same family in the Runjin Barmo village of Kajiji District in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto have reportedly died as a result of consumption of contaminated cassava delicacy.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Information Officer, Sokoto State Ministry of Health, Nura Bello, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Hajiya Asabe Balarabe, on Sunday evening.
The statement revealed that the village head of the community, Malam Muhammadu Modi while narrating the incident to the Balarabe who led a powerful delegation to the area, said the victims consumed the cassava meal during their dinner.
According to him, “The victims comprised the father, Malam Abubakar, his wife, A’ishatu Abubakar and their five children.
How We Spent 24 Years In Prison For A Murder We Didn’t Commit - Ex-inmates0:01 / 1:01
“The incident happened last Wednesday and the cause of the death is actually yet to be confirmed.
“He said this was because the suspected cassava had been used by about four houses in the village and no case of illness was recorded in those houses.”
The statement further said the village head on behalf of the residents thanked the state governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu, for showing his concern to them in that direction.
In her remarks, Balarabe said they were in the village to assess the cause of the incident for onward communication to the state government for necessary action.
The commissioner said the ministry would take samples from one teenager who happened to be alive after eating the suspected cassava meal.
On behalf of the state governor, she condoled with the people over the incident and prayed to Allah to forgive those who lost their lives.
She used the opportunity to call on people to ensure prompt reporting of any strange disease in their domains for the ministry’s intervention.
In his remarks, the Director of Health for Shagari Local Government Area, Sani Bello Tambuwal, thanked the commissioner for her concern and hoped the effort would be sustained.
The commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Executive Director, the State Hospital Services Management Board, Dr Bello Abubakar Attahiru, some directors and other staff members of the ministry.
The family of one of the tailors accused of mass-production of the Russian flag in Kano, Ahmad Yusuf Muhammad, has said Muhammad was not involved in the act he was arrested over.
Naija News recalls that the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested some tailors suspected to be mass-producing the Russian flag in Kano State.
The agency posted on its X handle, that the “Service has apprehended some tailors in Kano State responsible for making Russian flags being distributed in the area. Some of their sponsors have also been picked. An investigation is ongoing.”
However, Ahmad’s brother, Nasiru Yusuf Muhammad, in a chat with Daily Trust, said his brother was never a tailor and has never handled a sewing machine.
He said, “He is my biological brother, he was arrested because they said he was the one sewing the Russian flag. I want to clarify that he was never a tailor, he had never been and doesn’t even know how to handle a sewing machine.
“He just became a victim because he was never arrested by any security operative, we (the family) are suspecting because of trauma or being frightened he has said something that implicates himself.
“He is a used water sachet recycling dealer, we are all into it, he directly works under me, that’s our business. He was never a tailor. Even the sewing machine that was said to be his was not his own and was not picked in our house. It was in a neighbour’s house and the owner has since run away.
“The flag was not even in his custody. Ahmad had not participated in protest and did not raise any flag. We had cautioned him and he listened.”
He, therefore, called on the security agencies and concerned authorities to investigate the case carefully and do justice to everyone.
“We are appealing to the concerned authorities to please look critically into this issue and release him. He was not a tailor and has not committed the offense he is being held for,” he said.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Champion Zonal Headquarters, located along Federal College of Education (FCE) Road in Kontagora, Niger State, was set ablaze by unidentified persons in the early hours of Saturday.
The incident marks a tragic recurrence, as the same church was similarly attacked and burnt down by unknown arsonists ten years ago.
At that time, the attackers had warned that the church building should not be completed.
Condemning the latest attack, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Dr. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, described the incident as “barbaric and uncalled for.”
He emphasized the importance of freedom of worship in Niger State and called for prompt action by the government and security agencies to prevent any escalation of tension.
According to Daily Post, Rev Yohanna said, “There is freedom of worship in Niger State.
“I am sure by the time the government and security agencies take action, it will go a long way to address any form of tension that may want to escalate beyond control. We are hoping that the law will take its course. To be frank, issues like this must be tamed, and people who have done this should be fished out and made to face the law.”
Pastor Samson Ogbebor, an Assistant Pastor of the church, recounted the events leading up to the fire.
According to him, the incident occurred around 3:00 am on Saturday.
“I received a distress call that the church was on fire. On getting there, I met a church that has been in existence for the past 20 years now burnt down and properties looted by hoodlums,” Pastor Ogbebor said.
He also highlighted the long-standing challenges faced by the church.
He said, “About 10 years ago, hoodlums came and burnt it down completely, and with self-efforts, we were able to erect it again. They have made several unsuccessful attempts and have refused us permission to roof it properly, so we decided to use it like that for worship, but look at what they have done again.”
Despite the repeated attacks, members of the RCCG congregation remain resolute. Mr. John Aboje, an Elder in the church, expressed the community’s determination to continue their worship and maintain their faith.
“We will not be discouraged by the incident but will continue to be good Christians and good citizens of the country,” Aboje affirmed.
He also called on Governor Umaru Bago, the Emir of Kontagora, Alh. Muhammadu Barau Mu’azu II, and relevant security agencies to take the incident seriously.
“The incident has been reported to the Division ‘A’ Police Station in Kontagora for investigation, and we urge the authorities to bring the perpetrators to book,” he added.
The Conscience of Yoruba Nation, an affiliate of Afenifere, commends Nigerians, especially the youth, for the peaceful exercise of their right to express their feelings to their governments. We strongly believe that governments at different levels have listened to the aggrieved public and will decisively address their grievances.
We also commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for protecting Nigerians’ right to assemble freely and associate with other persons as guaranteed by Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) before, during and after the protests. This, again, attests President Tinubu’s utmost respect to the core ethos and principles of constitutional democracy.
We, further, commend the security agencies for their professional conduct in the discharge of their duties during the national protest. We, particularly, note their timely response to allegations of use of excessive force and payment of compensation to the family of the individual killed by stray bullets.
We, however, challenge the security agencies to duly investigate all incidents of violence; unearth the masterminds of violent acts and serve them justice for the right to a peaceful protest does not extend to fomenting any form of violence or disruption of public order in any way.
We, therefore, commiserate with families who lost their loved ones in the few unfortunate incidents of violence in some parts of the federation. We pray God Almighty will comfort them all. We also sympathise with those who lost their properties. May God replenish them.
At the inception, the Conscience of Yoruba Nation alongside Afenifere called for restraints. Our position then was premised on a belief that public grievances had been duly registered, clearly heard and loudly vented. We pleaded with the conveners and mobilisers of the nationwide protests to call off the protest in order to foil the plan of rogue political actors to use it to foment violence.
Little did we know then that while our people genuinely sought to exercise their rights peacefully, some wanted to exploit the protest for mischief. The call for military intervention and the hoisting of a foreign flag by some elements in some cities in the North eventually confirmed our fear and suspicion that certain rogue political actors had planned to take advantage of the protests to destabilise a democratically elected government and plunge Nigeria into intractable internal conflicts. But that plan failed!
We, the people of Yoruba Nation, will never accept and will ever resist any thought, plan or attempt to truncate the democratically elected government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR or its subnational entities under any guise. In our history, we have never promoted rebellion of any kind against a constitutional regime and we will never attempt to sponsor such for any reason.
For the record, the Yoruba, an ethnic nationality of about 50 million, paid heavily for the sustenance of this federation from the unjust imprisonment of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the needless shedding of the blood of Chief S.L. Akintola, the annulment of the mandate, unjust incarceration and unexplained death of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the winner of the 1993 presidential election and the thousands of our people killed both in war and by cruel herdsmen.
In spite of all these provocations that reached the peak in the past eight years with the gruesome murder of Mrs Okufunke Olakunrin, the beloved daughter of our revered leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti OFR, by some mindless Fulani marauders, we have never called for violent overthrow of any democratically elected government of Nigeria. We have always resisted such and will still resist if it happens.
We condemn in strong terms the subversive act of hoisting of a foreign flag in the North. We see it as an attempt to invite foreign powers to overrun the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and threaten the country’s existence. We also note with grave concern that some sections of the North have made threats of secession. We are aware that the security agencies, especially the Department of State Services and Nigeria Police, have started investigating these acts of treasons, and Nigerians are patiently waiting for the outcome of the investigation.
While the Yoruba have no objection to any part of Nigeria to seek secession, or desire to be ruled by the military and pledge fealty to any foreign power, we advise them to reserve their right to do so till when they opt out of Nigeria. The Yoruba will decide how we chose to be governed in our independent nation if need be.
Abagun Kole Omololu,
Convener, Conscience of Yoruba Nation,