Senate President Godswill Akpabio has asked the newly-confirmed chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ola Olukoyede, not to use him as an example in the anti-corruption fight.
He made the statement on Wednesday while confirming him.
Akpabio’s comment, which threw the entire House into laughter, came during the screening of Olukoyede by members of the Senate.
Olukoyede, while making a presentation on investigating a graft case, cited the senate president but suddenly stopped after noticing the mood of the members.
“If we are investigating the Senate President for example…” Olukoyede said, but failed to complete his statement due to the mood of the lawmakers.
Reacting, Akpabio said, “I’m very glad that the nominee wants to use the Senate President as an example. But Mr nominee, leave the Senate President for now; look at this direction (pointing at the seats of opposition lawmakers).”
Subsequently, Olukoyede made his presentation without calling names. He said, “If you are fighting corruption, you become the enemy of everybody.”
Recall that the drama may not be unconnected to the fact that Akpabio is having a case of misappropriation of about N108.1 billion before the EFCC.
There were reports in April 2021 that the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs was detained over alleged attempts to bribe the agency’s former boss, Abdulrasheed Bawa, with a sum of $350,000.
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, attributes the current socioeconomic challenges afflicting the nation to the poor leadership decisions made by the country’s leaders.
Obaseki, speaking with journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital, highlighted that, in his capacity as an investment banker, he had foreseen the hardships currently faced by Nigerians due to unfavorable economic decisions made by the country’s leaders. He had sounded the alarm about the need for corrective measures, but unfortunately, his warnings were disregarded.
As a governor, Obaseki acknowledges the tough and challenging times that Nigerians are enduring. He encourages Nigerians to remain resilient and not lose hope.
The governor said, “I know as a Governor that we are all going through suffering in the land. I understand how the economy works and saw this ahead of time.
“I have been shouting since I became Governor that the way we are going and the kind of decision many of us politicians were making will bring about hardship.”
He further noted, “Nigeria was never like this before. God in his mercy endowed Nigeria like no other country in the World.
“How many countries in Africa have 100 million people not to talk about 200 million? God designed us as the biggest market in Africa. God gave us all and the problem we are facing as a nation is the one created by us, particularly our leaders.”
“If you are a leader and you are not ready to sacrifice yourself, then you are not ready for leadership.
“Leadership is not how much you can get for yourself. Nigerians are suffering today due to bad leadership. Nigeria is rich in terms of resources and has no business with poverty and suffering. We can grow and produce all we need to consume in Nigeria, so why are we not doing it?” he asked.
Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, has provided an explanation for his departure from the Senate chamber after Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled him out of order on Tuesday.
The incident occurred when Ndume invoked a point of order to raise concerns about “procedural errors” within the chamber. Akpabio, however, refused to allow him to complete his speech, stating that the section quoted by Senator Ndume did not match the content of Order 54, which he cited.
Consequently, Akpabio ruled Ndume out of order, leading to the Senator’s departure from the chamber.
In an interview with BBC Hausa, Ndume clarified the situation, explaining that it all began when Senator Kawu Sumaila proposed an urgent motion regarding the closure of the border between Nigeria and Niger.
Initially, there was a debate on whether the motion was genuinely urgent. However, the President of the Senate allowed Senator Sumaila to finish his statement. Following the motion presentation, it was agreed that, given its security implications, the discussion should be postponed.
Ndume indicated that he intended to convey the importance of the motion to the Senate at this point. However, Senate President Akpabio denied him the opportunity to speak.
Ndume stated, “I would like to clarify that the motion, although impactful, falls outside the jurisdiction of the Nigerian Senate. The border closure was not initiated by the President of Nigeria but during his tenure as President of ECOWAS. Thus, he has the authority to advocate on our behalf. To address this matter, it is imperative to involve our nation’s President, but I was not afforded the opportunity to convey this message.”
Furthermore, Ndume mentioned that the situation coincided with the prayer time, prompting his departure from the chamber. He conveyed his intention to pray to his deputy before leaving, but his colleagues and the media subsequently misconstrued his departure.
In related news, Senator Elisha Abbo, who the Appeal Court recently ousted, has publicly apologized to Akpabio for previously accusing him of orchestrating his removal from the Senate. Abbo initially claimed that Akpabio targeted him due to his opposition to Akpabio’s bid for Senate President. However, he later retracted his statements, acknowledging that Akpabio was not involved in his Senate exit.
To clarify the ongoing discussions surrounding the partial demolition of the National Mosque in Abuja, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has taken a firm stance, ensuring that his administration’s intentions are accurately understood.
The Minister directed the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr Shehu Ahmed Hadi, to comprehensively explain the government’s position regarding the planned demolition and compensation plan within 24 hours. This decision comes from concerns raised by the National Mosque Management Committee, which seeks compensation for land affected by road expansion.
At a meeting with members of the Abuja National Mosque Management Committee, chaired by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Minister Wike dispelled allegations that his administration was pursuing policies detrimental to any specific religion. He emphasized his respect for the Sultan of Sokoto, who also presides over the National Mosque, underscoring his commitment to supporting such a significant religious institution.
Minister Wike explained, “Anything that has to do with the National Mosque, of which he is the president; I will always give it support. No government will not support the management of the national monument. We must ensure that worship centers are well taken care of.”
Wike further cautioned against exploiting religious sentiments for political gain, stating that religious bias did not drive his government’s decisions. He urged against using religion as a divisive tool and emphasized his commitment to the welfare of all FCT residents and Nigerians.
“We are not targeting any religious group or ethnicity; we are doing what we can for the good of all FCT residents and Nigerians at large,” Wike reiterated. He added, “Don’t allow politicians who do not have the capacity to face me in any way to use religion as a weapon against me.”
In a show of support for religious unity and peaceful coexistence, Minister Wike pledged that the FCTA would continue to provide assistance for maintaining both the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre, acknowledging their significance as national monuments.
Etsu Nupe, while expressing gratitude for the meeting, urged the Minister to support the maintenance project of the mosque, which had faced delays. He also requested more time to develop plots allocated to the National Mosque Management Committee by the FCTA.
The Minister’s commitment to addressing concerns and fostering unity among religious communities sends a positive message regarding the government’s intentions. It aims to ensure that the National Mosque and other religious institutions are well-preserved for the benefit of all citizens.
The President of the 10th Senate, Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday met with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Akpabio speaking at the end of the meeting with the President emphasised the unity and maturity of the Nigerian Senate, even amidst disagreements.
The Senate President while addressing State House correspondents after the closed-door meeting with President Tinubu said, “In the parliament, sometimes you disagree to agree. But we will never get to the point of throwing chairs. The Senate is too mature, full of matured people.”
Akpabio’s visit to the Aso Rock Villa comes hours after the lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, stormed out of the chamber.
The crisis started in the Senate after the commencement of the day’s session on Tuesday when Ndume raised a point of order to draw Akpabio’s attention to alleged procedural errors he committed.
Ndume had referenced a motion on the need for re-opening the Nigeria-Niger border, which was moved by the Senator representing Kano South senatorial district, Sumaila Kawu which Akpabio allowed to be debated without first having the official title of the motion read as the normal procedure.
Ndume, standing on Order 51 of the Senate Standing Rules, requested that the Senate President allow for the correction of any error made or observed during plenary.
Akpabio, while Ndume was still speaking, swiftly ruled him out of order, saying it could not be revisited since he had ruled on issues raised.
Ndume during the argument picked up his documents and a few other belongings and stormed out of the Senate chamber.
His action, unexpected, led the Senate to dissolve into a closed-door session.
The Senate President after the meeting with Tinubu, however, dismissed any crisis in the legislature.
He stated, “We are all working in one accord. There is no problem at all. Even if some people disagree with some of the happenings in the Senate, it is only the majority decision that is going to prevail.”
Akpabio further explained that any arising disagreements are swiftly handled in closed sessions, ensuring unity and solidarity are maintained.
The Senate President, while highlighting the Senate’s commitment to the nation’s interests, said, “We are politicians, no permanent hatred but permanent interest. That interest is the interest of the nation.”
He emphasised the Senate’s role in supporting the President and his administration through legislation and oversight functions, all aimed at moving the country forward.
In his meeting with President Tinubu, Akpabio said he discussed the upcoming 10th Assembly retreat taking place in Akwa Ibom State.
He sought the President’s support for representation at the retreat, which was granted.
Akpabio added, “I came to inform the President of the first 10th Assembly retreat which is taking place tomorrow in Akwa Ibom State.
“We are moving the Senate all the way to Akwa Ibom for the next four days.
“Thereafter, I will be travelling personally to Angola to attend the internal parliamentary union, so before he sees me, it will probably take another nine days. So, I needed to inform him.”
A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Dele Momodu has opened up on the reason he refused to support former president, Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
According to Momodu, he refused to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2015 because he saw bad signals that Buhari was leading the country to Golgotha.
Momodu stated this while replying a netizen who said he supported the PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar because he wants to remain in the opposition.
The netizen had written, “That’s a confirmation that @DeleMomodu knows that @atiku is not winning the election and because he wants to remain in the opposition, he supported the loser.”
Reacting, Momodu said the X user logic is warped. He insisted that he would only support a government that is sympathetic to the plight of the Nigerian people.
According to him, “Warped logic. I will support a government that appears very reasonable and sympathetic to the citizens of Nigeria. I could have supported APC in 2015 but saw the bad signals early that BUHARI was leading us to Golgotha… APC is already astray less than six months now.”
President Bola Tinubu has approved the commencement of academic activities at six out of the 14 new universities established during President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, disclosed this on Wednesday after a closed-door meeting with President Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja.
He said the government has decided to stagger their implementation with a focus on six of the Institutions in agriculture, education and medicine.
“We’re starting with about six, two each of agriculture, colleges of education and medicine,” he said.
He added that the President’s decision stems from the fact that the take-off of the universities require funding, adding that it will not be prudent to start up all the institutions at once.
“ Honestly there are very many, probably about a dozen of them, if not more than a dozen or 14. That’s the number and you know tertiary institutions are highly capital intensive, they need a lot of money, especially at that takeoff stage, for infrastructure, staff recruitment and all other needs.
“So by the time you want to start off about 12, 14 institutions at once, it is a very heavy burden on the finances of the government. So, that’s why,” he said.
He said the government did not step down the approval of the remaining institutions because most of them are specialized institutions; colleges of education, agriculture, medicine are institutions that will support some of the mandates and priority areas of the government.
“We will have a need for trained teachers which colleges of education will provide and the same thing with agriculture.
“So, that’s why the government has not stepped down that approval. Instead, the president in his wisdom said we stagger their implementation on the grounds of funds, essentially,” he said.
The minister stated the Tinubu administration plans to be conservative about the pace of development of tertiary institutions and explained that its priority is on institutions that provide skills that enable its graduates to stand on their own.
He also revealed that President Tinubu has given the go-ahead to complete the abandoned multi billion-naira National Library Complex in Abuja as an important educational institution for the nation.
The minister noted that all relevant stakeholders including the government, the consultants and the contractors involved will work together to review the project to determine what is left to be done and the cost.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed two of its personnel and sanctioned 35 others for alleged misconduct and acts inimical to their calls of duty.
Its Public Relations Officer (PRO) Umar Abubakar said the personnel’s behaviour constituted a threat to the security of the organisation.
In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the NCoS spokesman explained that the dismissal was part of efforts to ensure discipline of its personnel and entrench international correctional best practices.
[Nation]
An order has been given for the removal of the Divisional Police Officer of the Meiran Police Station in Lagos State over alleged extortion.
The order was given by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa.
This happened after an engineer, Ibrahim Saliu, who spoke with PUNCH Metro narrated how some policemen attached to the Meiran Police Station in Lagos State extorted N200,000 from him on Saturday.
According to Saliu, the officers, alongside the station’s DPO, threatened him and his brother with jail time should they fail to provide receipts for the phones seen with Saliu’s brother.
He said, “The DPO took the iPhones, removed the warranty stickers, and declared that my brother and I are thieves and armed robbers.
“The next thing I heard was the DPO giving them an order to detain us and that we would be locked up for stealing and armed robbery. We were surprised that we started begging.”
Saliu disclosed that he was asked to make a N500,000 payment to secure their freedom. They agreed to N200,000, paid in cash per the officers’ order.
In a tweet confirming the incident Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed that the CP Lagos has ordered the immediate removal of the Meiran Police Station DPO.
Hundeyin wrote, “CP Idowu Owohunwa has ordered the immediate removal of DPO Meiran for leadership dereliction and supervisory ineptitude.
“Meanwhile, all the officers involved have been identified and are currently at the Command headquarters where their orderly room trial has commenced.”
The Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday revealed that lawmakers in the House are open to a political solution to the impeachment process against the state deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The spokesperson of the House, Olatunji Oshati, stated this following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leadership.
Naija News had earlier reported that the APC leadership met with some members of the assembly and some party leaders in the state over the impeachment process against Aiyedatiwa.
The statement released by Oshati reads, “Following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by Dr Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC members in Ondo State House of Assembly have agreed to consider the possibility of a political solution on the impeachment proceedings against the State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“At a meeting held in the APC’s National Secretariat in Abuja on 17th October, 2023 at the instance of the National Chairman of the Party, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the National Reconciliation Committee set up by the Party under the Chairmanship of Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, members of the APC in Ondo State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, and the Ondo State leadership of APC led by Engr Ade Adetimehin, all agreed that a political solution to the impeachment was possible and proper.
“The Hon. Speaker restated that the House was only exercising its responsibility under S.188 of the 1999 Constitution, having received a petition accusing the Deputy Governor of some allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. He, however, expressed the desire of the House leadership to further consult with members of the House cutting across party lines, on the political solution as proposed by the APC.
“The House therefore hopes that in the same spirit of genuine wish for a political solution, the Deputy-Governor would take immediate steps to withdraw the multiple court cases he filed over the same impeachment. This would allow the stakeholders to freely discuss the settlement proposals and prevent actions or comments over a matter that is still subjudice.”
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A notorious Boko Haram Commander identified as Bulama Bukar, has surrendered to troops of the 5 Brigade of the Nigerian Army in Gubio in Borno State.
Bukar operates a terrorist camp in Tapkin Chad at Gilima village of Borno State, Naija News understands and several weapons and other items were recovered from him.
The development was made known on Wednesday in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Onyema Nwachukwu, made available on the X (formerly Twitter) page of the Army.
The surrendered Boko Haram Commander is already undergoing profiling sessions.
He said: “In the North East theatre of operations, a notorious Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) Commander, identified as Bulama Bukar has surrendered to troops of 5 Brigade in Gubio. The surrendered terrorist was the commander of the BHT Camp Tapkin Chad at Gilima village in Abadam LGA of Borno state.
“Items recovered from the surrendered terrorist include one AK 47 rifle, 5 magazines, 44 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one magazine carrier jacket, one knife, one motorcycle and the sum of twenty three thousand, five hundred naira (#23,500.00) only. The suspect is currently undergoing profiling sessions.”
In other developments, as revealed in the statement by Nwachukwu, troops of the Nigerian Army also killed three suspected insurgents in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State following an actionable intelligence received on Tuesday.
Several pieces of ammunition and cash were recovered during the multiple operations.
He explained that Nigerian Army troops of 2 Battalion received actionable intelligence which led them to lay ambush for the suspected insurgents where three suspects were killed while another operation by the same troops led to the interception of an ammunition courier.
He said, “In recent operations, troops of 2 Battalion acting on actionable intelligence on 17 October 2023 staged an ambush against marauding insurgents at Udowa general area in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. During the operations, troops neutralized three insurgents in a fierce firefight, while others escaped in disarray.
“Troops recovered from the fleeing insurgents, a bandolier containing 111 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, one AK 47 magazine, 2 motorcycles, one set of high frequency communication radio and 2 mobile phones. Sadly one soldier paid the supreme price during the encounter.
“In another operation the same day, troops of 1 Brigade on a stop and search operation intercepted a suspected Ammunition courier in Birnin Magaji LGA of Zamfara State. A preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect was on a mission to deliver ammunition to a Bandit leader named Gishiri. The vigilant troops recovered a bag containing 224 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, one mobile phone and the sum of four thousand naira (#4,000)only from the courier. The suspect is currently in custody undergoing further investigations.”
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, laid the first foundation block for the development of the Lagos Film City.
The project, which is sited on 100-hectares of land in Ejinrin town, Epe, is intended to enhance originality in content creation in Nollywood – Nigeria’s film industry.
Recall that the state government in October last year, announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Del-York Group for the construction of the project.
Sanwo-Olu said the project, which would be executed through PPP model, marked a significant milestone in his administration’s journey to creating a thriving film industry in Lagos that would have a global appeal.
The governor said: “Today, we embark on a journey that will redefine the landscape of the film industry in Lagos. As we break the ground for this $100million (N100 billion) project covering a land area of 100 hectares and which will be executed through PPP model, we are laying the foundation for a creative hub that will serve as a catalyst for innovation, talent discovery, and storytelling excellence. This is a testament to our commitment to nurturing the arts and supporting the dreams of aspiring filmmakers, actors, and technicians.
“It is our strong belief that the film industry has the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It has the ability to inspire, entertain, and educate. Through the magic of cinema, we can showcase the rich cultural heritage of Lagos, while telling stories that reflect our shared experiences, and amplify the voices of our diverse communities. This film city will serve as a canvas for these stories, providing a platform for our talented artists to shine on both local and global stages.”
Through the project, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos would tap into the global entertainment GDP and create job opportunities for young cinematographers, while stimulating economic growth and attracting more foreign investment into the sector.
“The Film City is not just about bricks and mortar. It is about the people who will walk through its doors and breathe life into its spaces. It is about the dreams that will be realised, stories that will be told, and impacts that will be made. Our creative community is the beating heart of this film city, and we are committed to providing them with the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive. This is an ecosystem that will nurture creativity, foster collaboration and empower artists to push their craft beyond the local boundaries,” he said.
The Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Toke Benson-Awoyinka, noted that upon completion the project would have positive impact on tourism in the state.
“By the time the Lagos Film City comes on board, the spiral-effect on Lagos profile as a tourist destination of choice would be appreciated beyond the entertainment sector,” the Commissioner said.
The founder of Del-York Group, Linus Idahosa, said allocation of private equity to investors in the project development underscored Sanwo-Olu’s understanding of key partnerships required to deliver the vision and enhance growth in the creative sector.
He said: “This idea of strategic collaboration between the Government and stakeholders is what it takes to push the country forward. The future of this country will be determined by the creative energy we are about to harness through the Film City project.”
The United Nations Children’s Fund has disclosed that over 60 percent of classrooms of public Junior Secondary School in Borno, Kano, Kaduna and Kebbi have no teaching materials.
Chief of Education of UNICEF Nigeria, Saadhna Panday-Soobrayan , disclosed this at a 2-day National Conference on the Learning Crisis in Nigeria on Wednesday.
Panday-Soobrayan also disclosed that the learning gaps persist in the country which is most severe in the Northern part of the country, adding that only 10 percent of 7 to 14 year olds in North West and 12 percent in the North East demonstrate foundational literacy.
“Nigeria’s learning crisis begins in Children’s earliest years as only half of Nigeria’s children are developmentally on track in early childhood. And only 60 per cent participate in organised pre-primary learning,” she said.
UNICEF’s Chief of Education, also lamented that the quality of teachers in the country is limited by poor pedagogical skills and lack of teaching and learning materials, disclosing that only 84 percent of Primary School teachers and 59 of JSS teachers are qualified.
She disclosed that the teacher workforce in the country suffers from severe shortfalls, adding that Nigeria has a shortfall of approximately 195,000 teachers at the primary level.
She also stated that under-investment in quality education in Nigeria has affected effective action, saying that domestic education financing is chronologically low.
Panday-Soobrayan noted that the aforementioned educational deprivation and learning poverty has stalled progress on achieving all other goals, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa has achieved just 41 percent of SDG 4 commitment.
She stated that a structured pedagogy will improve learning outcomes including scripted lesson plans, teacher support, training and monitoring.
“Structured pedagogy programmes have the largest and most consistent positive average effects on learning outcomes. Pedagogical interventions that tailor teaching to students’ skills are consistently recommended,” she stated
Also speaking, UNICEF Nigeria Representative, Cristian Munduate, emphasized the need for targeted efforts to address the learning loss in the country, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.
She noted that the pandemic worsened the existing education crisis in the region, with many children losing access to education due to the closure of schools.
“For Nigeria, convening a conference on the learning crisis is opportune as the government defines its priorities for the education sector in the new Ministerial Strategic Plan. Just as Nigeria has galvanized significant support around the out-of-school problem, so too must it give attention to the learning crisis that is fueling the out-of-school problem in Nigeria,” she said.
Also speaking during the event, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrazaq AbdulRahman, called for a state of emergency in the education sector specifically targeting the basic level.
The chairman who was represented by the Vice Chairman of the Forum and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde however stated that there was need for immediate action to bridge the learning gaps observed at the elementary school level.
“You must provide the resources and look at all the issues that are working against achieving sustainable growth. It is one thing to declare a state of emergency and another thing to put all the resources and elements that will allow us achieve that. I support putting in place the resources, even if you don’t declare a state of emergency to allow us to move faster in that sector,” he said.
David Babachir Lawal, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has slammed President Bola Tinubu.
He carpeted President Bola Tinubu and leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly transitioning the ruling party from its national party status at inception to the present Islamic party.
He accused the party of being insensitive and taking Nigerians for granted in unlawful ways and manners the nomenclature of the party was thwarted to suit their purpose.
In a fresh statement he issued in Abuja on Wednesday, Babachir Lawal challenged the ruling party to be courageous enough to change the name of the party from the All Progressives Congress to Islamic Party of Nigeria.
He apparently reacted to a scathing remark made against him by APC, following his Tuesday’s statement that Peter Obi and not Tinubu won the 2023 presidential election.
APC through one Felix Morka had challenged and castigated Babachir Lawal on his audacity to make the statement.
But the ex-SGF said that he stood by his position and asked APC to address the issues he raised rather than castigating him.
The statement read in part, “I woke up this morning to a very pathetic social media trending write-up, apparently a response to my article on the current political discourse by one Felix, allegedly of the APC.
“I suspect he was assigned this role because it is in the nature of sycophants and people consigned to second-class status to be assigned roles that their masters are wary of taking on.
“Usually, the dirty, unsavoury jobs are contracted out to such. In the bible, a certain Felix (after which this Felix was probably named) was a freed slave who had a reputation of cruelty as the ruler of Judea in order to please his master, the emperor Claudius (of whose mother Felix was a slave).
“I really do sympathise with a Christian who finds himself in an Islamic party and is desperate to please his masters and probably to be noticed when the next round of political appointments come.
“When we founded APC way back in 2013/2014, we envisaged it will be a national party that would carry along all the different socio-political and religious tendencies of the nation.
“In those days, we were careful not to sideline any of the religions or tribes of the country in the composition of the membership and leadership of the party.
‘We wanted a party that will embrace all Nigerians. It was this that informed the principle that both the National Chairman and Secretary will not be of the same religion, tribe or region.
“Sadly, APC has now transitioned into an Islamic Party of Nigeria. All the members of the National Working Committee (NWC) from the North and some from the South are Muslims.
“They campaigned on an Islamization platform and are striving hard to run the government as such, but for the resistance of the other religions.
“All that is now left for the party is a change of name, but even this may not take long since it already has Kadmul Islam as its national chairman and a Muslim as its national secretary.
“The Deputy National Chairman North, who acts in the absence of the Chairman, National Organizing Secretary, National Legal Adviser, and three National Vice Chairmen and more, are Muslims. Good for them.
“And talking of electoral value, both the National Chairman and the National Secretary just dramatically lost in the February 25 election.
“Mallam Felix didn’t do well in his own constituency either. It is based on these considerations that I pity a Christian who finds himself in the position of a spokesperson of an Islamic party.
“Mark my words, all critical decisions will be taken behind his back during the afternoon prayer sessions, which he will be unable to attend.
“As to the substance of the response itself, I find it deliberately obtuse, skating around the real issues raised in my press statement.
“It was empty of substance and logic; a true product of a sycophantic mind that has no capacity to understand the subtle nuances underlying a message delivered to an discerning audience.
“Mallam Felix, your masters got the message loud and clear because some of them have reached out to me for dialogue on the issues raised.
“But in line with your lower status in the scheme of things, you are not aware that all the issues I raised were designed in a manner to deliver a message to a discomfited government that is populated by longstanding friends of mine who appear to have abandoned common sense and patriotism for unbridled personal goals and filthy lucre.
“And they got the message, which you cannot. In this discourse, you are a remote outsider, so shut up.
“We want a Nigeria that works for all. We want a Nigeria that even sycophants can relate to and in which everyone is free to pursue their ambitions in peace in pursuit of prosperity and the good life.
“We want a Nigeria that guarantees freedom of speech for its citizens, just as you and I are doing right now.
“If Bola Tinubu claims he fought Abacha on the side of democracy and free speech, it is unbecoming and unacceptable that the NBC should threaten journalists under his watch.
“It is indefensible to keep the EFCC Chairman and the CBN governor under arrest for extended periods of time without or before trial, just as it is also unacceptable that political parties are used to intimidate and harass citizens exercising their opinions in the public domain.
“I am sure even you and the APC can relate to this. I am also sure that, but for their blind hatred of other Nigerians, not of their tribes or religions, even the Islamists that you serve and desperately seek to please can relate to this.
“I am sure that no Nigerian is enjoying the national shame and embarrassment we are going through as a result of these unending revelations as to who or what our “president” actually is; or that most Nigerians cannot be sure of at least one meal a day anymore; or that we can no longer attend wedding ceremonies in Imo or Zamfara States due to insecurity.
“Know what you may, say what you may; I hold firmly to my assertion that Peter Obi had the majority votes in the February 25 presidential election.
“That was why both INEC and APC had to go rogue in the election; and they know this fact even if they will not admit it. After all the thief knows who stole the item.”