As Nigeria continues to seek solutions to the rising crisis of insecurity, Daniel Bwala, former spokesperson of the Atiku presidential campaign, has said the real perpetrators of the kidnappings and insecurity crisis in Nigeria are individuals in white collars, government agencies and other financial and business interests.

Bwala in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Friday, said the kidnappers are mercenaries working for these perpetrators.

“The notion or narrative that this insecurity is a ploy to offset the Tinubu’s administration in my view is a decoy narrative peddled by either some security narratives or politicians in a bid to give president Tinubu the impression that it is a case of us against them.

“We have seen it seriously, he didn’t commission the law enforcement agency to be brutal about it. This is the same movie as before. In president Buhari’s time, it was the same thing.

“You remember when he started the war against corruption, the minute information started coming out about public officers under his employ and appointment are involved in corruption, they immediately built a narrative to him that it is corruption fighting back and the minute he accepted that notion, everything you said about public affairs under his administration, he didn’t take serious.

“That is why I like what president Tinubu said. he refused to buy that idea, when he said I don’t have that luxury of time; you have to go and deal with this or I take a decision. This problem that is confronting us is local and the solution is local.

“This emerging issue of kidnapping is a crisis economy and the kidnappers in the bush are mere mercenaries. The real perpetrators are in towns, in white collars, in government agencies, some in financial and other business interests.”

The legal practitioner also advised the federal government to be cautious in accepting the offer of foreign partners who are offering to help as that could be a ‘ploy to negotiate their interest’.

“Even the notion that some international partners are opting to help us, I advised the federal government a few days ago on twitter that we should accept that help with a long spoon. These foreign governments oftentimes use that as a ploy to negotiate their interest. They never mean and will never mean well for our problem.

“To juxtapose my point, when a missionary was abducted; an American citizen, you see the swiftness with which the American forces came and rescued the person. If they really wanted to help us, from when Boko Haram started till today, we would have been able to deal decisively with Boko haram. So, let us treat their offer with caution.”

He also supported the president’s statement that no ransom will be paid to the kidnappers, adding that the bandits opted for school children because they understand that it will gain the attention of the United Nations.

“I agree with President Bola Tinubu that no ransom be paid because he must have been briefed based on intelligence that the individuals involved in this ransom thing are white collar people and so, continuing to discuss and paying ransom is feeding off of the crisis economy, thereby financing them and in turn they procure more arms and build that economy to be much more stronger than the oil and gas industry and these bandits know that once you abduct school children, it takes an international dimension because it falls under the convention of the united nations.

“If the President wants these guys back in 15 days, Mr. President can call all the security chiefs and say in 15 days and I don’t see these children back, I am relieving you all and I am getting a new set of securities and I guarantee you that in 15 days, these kids are going to be back. We all know the states in Nigeria where you have large expanse of land and where this possible carnage is going on. What happened to our law enforcement securities.

“Also, we put so much pressure on the Nigerian Army to deal with internal security matters and so they are so overwhelmed and fatigued. These guys are trained to fight conventional war. When you bring them into the internal mechanism of security checks, you are to expect collateral damage

“The president has to be decisive because from Buhari to this president, I have not heard where a demand is made for money and they refuse to release it.”

Meanwhile, the former aide to the PDP’s 2023 presidential candidate also stated that President Tinubu made him realize that it was time to focus on nation building rather than politicking, adding that “there must be a Nigeria before there is politics.”

“I have no regrets that I went to PDP nor supported Atiku. At every given time, I do what I do based on my convictions and if at the end of the day, I execute what I want to execute and it doesn’t work out, I accept the realities of fact. The reality I have accepted now is that this politicking is gone and because of the crisis in Nigeria, the only way we can have an election in 2027 is if Nigeria is safe and secure.

“When I saw this president whom I had supported when I was in APC and saw the good intention he has to right the wrong that he past administration has committed, and when he said he wants all other people from other opposition to come together for a nation building, I felt it was the right time for me to look at nation building rather than politicking because after all is said and done, there must be a Nigeria before there is politics.”

The Citadel Global Community Church’s Serving Overseer, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said some Nigerians are being forced to rob warehouses in order to avoid going to bed hungry due to the country’s economic hardships.

In his keynote speech on Friday at the 70th birthday celebration of Pastor Chinedu Ezekwesili, the husband of the former minister of education, Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, Bakare blamed corruption and poor governance for the current state of the economy.

In the past two weeks, there have been numerous complaints of some Nigerians breaking into warehouses and taking food and other valuables.

Naija News reports that the preacher cautioned that no single institution can eradicate corruption from a nation, adding that Nigerians should not expect the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft institutions to act in isolation.

Bakare said, “Somewhere in the equation, something has to be done, whether in the homes that produce the fabrics or even in the institution of states that have failed to liquidate this criminal enterprise and facilitate alternative pathways for young people; somewhere in the societal equation where corruption and bad governance are crippling the economy, leaving no fewer than 133 million Nigerians in multidimensional poverty and 26.5 million in acute hunger across the country.

“With families going to bed hungry, a citizen is forced to take to the streets and to loot warehouses in their quest for survival. It means somebody has failed in his duty. In other words, somewhere in the governance equation is where we have the real issue. The good news however is that man has the capacity to reverse the situations. With the help of his Creator, man is himself a creator with the ability to recreate his world.

“This is a mission and purpose of every man. No citizen deserves to sleep under the bridge in a nation that has government. Until the righteous people are appointed into office, we are wasting time. There is only one antidote to fight corruption. EFCC and ICPC cannot fight it alone. Anybody that sits on the committee to investigate corruption who is corrupt himself can’t fight corruption in Nigeria.”

A former spokesman of the defunct Atiku-Okowa Presidential Campaign Council, Daniel Bwala has stated that he does not regret joining the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or supporting Atiku Abubakar.

He, however, explained that due to the crisis in the nation, he has decided to focus on nation building rather than politicking.

Bwala argued that an election can only hold in 2027 if the country is safe and secure.

He stated this on Friday during an appearance on Arise TV’s Morning Show.

The PDP stalwart explained that he decided to join hands with President Bola Tinubu’s administration when he noticed that he was trying to rewrite the wrongs of his predecessor.

He insisted that there must be a Nigeria before politics.

Bwala, “I have no regret going to PDP or supporting Atiku, I do my things based on conviction and at the end of the day, if it doesn’t work out, I accept my fate.

“The reality I have accepted now is that this politicking is gone and because of the crisis in Nigeria, the only way we can have a 2027 election is when Nigeria is safe and secure.

“I saw that this president I supported in APC is trying to ensure he rewrites the wrongs of the past administration.

“When he said he wanted all opposition to come together for nation building, I felt it was the right time to look at nation’s building rather than politicking. There must be a Nigeria before we do politics.”

Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has asserted that bandits are getting more vicious due to the kinetic approach used by the Nigerian government.

Naija News reports that Gumi made this known in an interview with Arise Television on Thursday, following the recent kidnappings in Kaduna State and the demand of N40 trillion as ransom by the bandits.

Gumi suggested that the government should have a dialogue with bandits rather than pay any ransom for victims’ freedom.

The cleric while referencing the case of Isreal and Hamas sitting down to exchange prisoners said there is need for a change of approach by the Nigerian government to issues of banditry and terrorism.

He said, “I believe no ransom should be paid but engage these people, give them hope and not only in this children’s case. I’m so sad that the leaders are just realizing that it is turning into a war. It has been a war and not mere criminality. If we can see Israel and Hamas sitting down to exchange prisoners, I don’t see why we cannot negotiate.

“I support that the government should not pay any ransom but what I say is that the government must dialogue and from my knowledge about their psychology, that amount they are pitching is because they want to have a bigger bargaining power, otherwise, I don’t think in their wildest dreams, they would think the government would give them that money.

“What is happening now is that we are seeing that these bandits are getting more and more vicious. Before now, they didn’t do what they do now. We can only attribute that to the kinetic approach which is over emphasized. When we hear the politicians talk, nothing is done about it to overcome these people. For example, now we are fighting bandits.”

The Niger State goverment on Friday announced that it will be spending N976 million for Ramadan feeding in the eight emirate councils of the state.

Making this disclosure in a statement on Friday, the state Commissioner for Information, Binta Mamman, disclosed that grains have been procured to be distributed to all the 25 local government areas, emirate councils, religious leaders, security agencies, and political parties in the state.

Naija News reports that Mamman detailed that each local government will receive 7,079 bags of assorted grains.

He said, “Each of the LGA will receive 1,000 bags of 10kg rice, 184 bags of 25kg rice, 2,000 bags of 10 kg maize, 490 bags of 25kg of maize, 1,200 bags of 10kg millet, as well as 1,200 bags of sorghum and 775 bags of beans.

“Bida, Kontagora and Suleja LGAs will receive a total of 14,000 bags of assorted grains each, with Chanchaga LGA receiving the highest number of 21,000 bags of grains. Others to benefit from this gesture are traditional and religious institutions, security agencies, Niger State House of Assembly, political party (APC), IDPs and the organised labour.

“A total sum of N976 million would be expended for Ramadan feeding across the eight emirate councils in the state.”

The state government further urged those that will be responsible for the distribution and coordination of the palliatives and Ramadan feeding to be fair in carrying out the task.

A former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has declared that the date for the coronation of the next Olubadan of Ibadanland has not been fixed.

Ladoja made this declaration on Friday while addressing journalists shortly after a meeting of the Olubadan-In-Council.

The meeting was held at the Alalubosa residence of the current Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin.

DAILY POST gathered that the meeting followed the demise of the 42th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Mahood Olalekan Balogun.

Oba Balogun passed on at the age of 81 on Thursday.

Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, while addressing journalists on behalf of other members of the Council, said that the date would be announced as soon as the burial rite for the deceased is completed

He maintained that the Council already know the next person to ascend the throne.

Ladoja said, “The departed monarch (Oba Balogun) came from the Otun line, the next monarch will be from Balogun line, so, the head of Balogun line is the Balogun of Ibadanland, who has become the Olubadan designate.

“We all know that Ibadan does things accordingly. If a king dies, we already know who is next, we refer to him as designate.

“We are here to formalize what next, after the burial rite of the deceased would have been completed. We also discussed how to give a befitting burial to the deceased.

“Since the deceased is a Muslim, he has to be buried in an Islamic way, and the Islamic way is that he has to be buried today, so, it has been decided that he will be buried today at Aliwo, which is his ancestral home, by 4:00 pm today.

“There will be a lying-in-state at Mapo Hall from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm before they move to Aliwo for burial. After that, there will be prayer for the monarch.

“There is no date yet for the coronation of the new Olubadan, but the date shall be announced as soon as the burial rites for the deceased are completed.”

Former Super Eagles midfielder, John Obi Mikel, has tipped Manchester City and Arsenal to reach the final of the Champions League this year.

Obi Mikel appeared as a guest for the quarter-final draw held on Friday and picked out the balls.

The draw is the last ever for the current format.

From next season, the Champions League will be played in a 36-team format.

Arsenal will face Bayern Munich, while Manchester City will take on Real Madrid in the last eight.

When asked before the draw which teams would make it to the final, Mikel replied “The final will be held in Wembley, England so I would like an English club to make it into the final.

“I hope Manchester City or Arsenal make it.”

Mikel Obi is one of the few Nigerian footballers to have had the Champions League trophy, alongside Finidi George and Kanu Nwankwo.

Nigerian singer Michael Adebayo Olayinka, popularly known as Ruger, expresses his desire to find someone special to share his life with, reveals that he is on the lookout for a meaningful connection.

The singer opens up on his past relationships, stated that even though he has never been lucky with relationships, he is still willing to commit to someone.

He also admitted that he somehow contributed to the failure of his past relationships.

Ruger revealed this in the most recent episode of the Bahd And Boujee Podcast co-hosted by Tolanibaj and actress Moet Abebe.

He said:

“I want to see if I can actually be committed to someone”.

Ruger also opened up on his sex life, recalls having a threesome with a white lady and a black woman.

Speaking further, he revealed that he has never been involved in orgy

In another story, Ruger and his colleague BNXN surprises fans with reconciliation as they tease possible collaboration.

The reconciliation was teased through a photo shared by Ruger on the X platform and Instagram during what appears to be a music video shoot.

Ruger, who recently parted ways with his record label, Jonzing World, posted the picture of himself and BNXN, capturing the moment .

He wrote:

MAYBE ROMEO MUST DIE.” The critic message has left fans speculating about the nature of their newfound alliance.

The unexpected announcement has sparked a wave of excitement among fans who have closely followed the two artists’ feud, which began in 2022.

At that time, an anonymous X user informed Ruger that BNXN had more hit songs than he did, leading to a public exchange of words and tension between the two Afrobeat sensations.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has re-emphasised that banks are barred from paying dividends to shareholders or spend on operating expenses from foreign currency revaluation gains but are expected to set the gains aside.

Foreign exchange revaluation gains occur when a bank’s assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies increase in value due to fluctuations in exchange rates.

In the context of Nigerian banks, these gains typically arise from the revaluation of foreign currency-denominated assets, such as loans, investments, or deposits, when the value of the naira depreciates. So far in 2024, the value of the naira had depreciated by 76.5 per cent from N915 to the dollar which it sold officially on the first trading day this year to N1,615 to the dollar.

Banks’ foreign-currency loans when converted back to naira on their balance sheets have ballooned as a result of the devaluation, causing some banks to breach both their lending limits and open positions on foreign exchange trading.

In a letter titled ‘Re: Impact Of Recent FX Policy Reforms: Prudential Guidance to the Banking a Sector,’ issued to all banks on Thursday, the apex bank referring to a circular it had issued last year stated that “banks shall not utilise such FX revaluation gains to pay dividends or meet operating expenses.”

Last September, the CBN had noted that changes to the currency regime have impacted banks to varying degrees and that “banks are required to … set aside the foreign currency (FCY) revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to cushion any future adverse movements in the foreign exchange rate.”

In the letter issued on Thursday and signed by acting director, Banking Supervision department of the apex bank, Dr Adetona Adedeji, the CBN said: “further to our letter dated September 11, 2023.referenced BSD/DIR/CON/LAB/16/020 on the above subject, the Central Bank of Nigeria wishes to reiterate that banks are required to exercise utmost prudence and set aside FCY revaluation gains as a counter-cyclical buffer to cushion any adverse movements in the FX rate.”

The Tin-Can Island Command of Nigeria Customs has made a significant interception of arms and ammunition suspected to be smuggled into the country by a criminal gang.

Among the seized items are military camouflage uniforms and illicit drugs, including Colorado. The recovered arms include automatic single-barrel rifles and pump-action guns.

Although details of the interception are still emerging, sources indicate that the arms were discovered during an inspection of imported consignments at the port. It remains unclear whether any arrests have been made at this time.

This interception comes less than a year after Customs seized 31 arms of various types at the Tin-Can and Multi-Purpose Terminals (PTML) ports in Lagos. During that operation, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, confirmed that two suspects were apprehended in connection with the seizure.

The recent interception underscores the ongoing efforts by Nigerian Customs to prevent illegal arms smuggling and maintain security at the nation’s ports.