February 2022 - Page 5 of 19 - SocietyGazette.com

What Boko Haram told me during our meeting – Obasano reveals

Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed what the Boko Haram terrorists told him during a meeting he had with them in 2011.
Obasanjo who spoke on Monday at the 2022 Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) annual lecture said he held a private meeting with the Boko Haram group in Maiduguri, Borno State in 2011.

According to him, the group lamented frequent attacks from government military forces and wanted legitimate jobs for their members while being allowed to practice Sharia.

He said at that time, the terrorists didn’t have much exposure to the outside world neither did they have connections to other international terrorist organizations.

Chief Obasanjo however lamented that as things stand now, a lot has changed, and with Nigeria having 15 million out-of-school children, they may be ready materials to join the now exposed and much sophisticated and attacking Boko Haram terrorists except urgent action is taken to solve the challenge.

Speaking virtually on the topic “Beyond Boko Haram: Addressing Insurgency, Banditry and Kidnapping across Nigeria,” Obasanjo who is the chairman Board of Trustees of the Muritala foundation said it’s not too late to avoid future problems by getting the children back in schools.

“I believe it is not too late to start and say to ourselves ‘we do not want the Boko Haram of 2030 or 2035″, he was quoted as saying.

“But if we don’t do anything about those 15 million out-of-school children, we are already in more trouble with Boko Haram of the future.

“We, the society, must be willing to give them education and employment or they extract it from the society unwillingly,” Obasanjo added.

Recalling his encounter with the Boko Haram group back in 2011, Obasanjo said: “What I feared at that time seems to have been happening because in 2011, Boko Haram had not much of external connection.

“My fear was: could we be able to get them away from Al-Qaeda and other international terror organizations? We seem not to have been able to do that.

“Today, Boko Haram and those who have come to work with them are making the matter much worse than it was 11 years ago,” he asserted.

Suspected IPOB/ESN Fighters Attack Police Station In Imo, Kill Two Officers, Injure One Other

The Police has accused members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed unit, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of carrying out an attack on a police station in Imo State.
It was gathered that the suspected IPOB/ESN gunmen who attacked the police station located in Isu came with improvised explosive devices and shot sporadically to gain entrance.

They also burnt down a part of the facility and some cars while engaging in a gun battle with police operatives on duty.

Speaking about the incident in a statement on Monday, the Imo Police Command spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam said the attack took place around 11.30pm on Sunday.

Abattam said the Police operatives engaged the gunmen accordingly, chasing them off the premises but two officers died in the process while another one sustained a bullet injury to the head.

He added that the Police chased the rampaging gunmen to a hotel in town where some of the suspects were later arrested and items recovered from them.

“Armed men suspected to be members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN attacked the station from the rear axis because it has no perimeter wall.

“Shooting sporadically, they threw petrol bombs and improvised explosive devices (I.E.Ds) that ignited the station,” he said.

“Due to the superior fire-power of the Police, the hoodlums were dealt a heavy blow and they scampered for safety, running in different directions with various degrees of gunshot wounds,” he said.

On the casualty, Abattam disclosed that “some vehicles and part of the building of the division”.

“Unfortunately, two police officers paid the supreme price, while one sustained minor bullet injury on his head.”

The spokesman listed items recovered from the attackers to include 12 unregistered motorcycles and two vehicles – a Lexus RX350 SUV and a Lexus RX330 SUV.

JUST IN: Abba Kyari demands N500 million from NDLEA over ‘Unjust Detention’

Embattled Police Chief, Abba Kyari has demanded N500 million as compensation from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA over his ‘Unjust arrest and Detention’.

It was earlier reported that Kyari was arrested last week by the police after he was declared wanted by the agency. The Deputy Commissioner of Police was caught bribing an NDLEA agent with $61,000 to facilitate the release of 17 KG of seized Cocaine. He has been in detention ever since.

However, on Monday, in. surprising twist, Kyari sued the Federal Government. In an originating motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/22, filed before Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, he also sought an order directing the NDLEA to tender a written apology to him in two national dailies.

The Motion filed on the 16th of February by his lawyer, C.O Ikena sought an order “restraining the respondent (NDLEA), its agents, servants, privies, police or anyone acting on their behalf from further harassing, detaining, intimidating, arresting the applicant unlawfully.”

“An order of this court directing the respondent to pay the sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five Hundred Million Naira) to the applicant, for unlawful violation of the applicant’s constitutional right provided for in Sections 35 and 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).”

The motion also sought a declaration that his arrest and continued detention by the NDLEA “without bringing him before a court of competent jurisdiction from Feb. 12 till date is illegal, unlawful and a gross violation of his fundamental rights”.

He requested that the court orders his release on the grounds that his health was deteriorating. However, the Presiding Judge refused to grant the order as there were allegations in the suit that needed a response from the government.

2023 Presidency: What Tinubu Means By ‘Fight Dirty’ – Media Aide Explains

The media aide to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Tunde Rahman has clarified that his principal was misinterpreted on his statement about ‘fighting dirty’ in the 2023 presidential election.
The clarification was given in a statement on Monday following the backlash and public outcry that greeted Tinubu’s statement during his visit to Oyo State on Sunday.

As earlier reported by Naija News, the presidential aspirant visited the Alaafin of Oyo as well as the Olubadan-designate as part of his ongoing nationwide consultation.

While speaking at the residence of the Olubadan-designate, Senator Lekan Balogun, Tinubu had said he can’t be intimidated in the presidential race.

“I’m out to become the president of Nigeria. No intimidation, no blackmail can stop me. I have read about a Greek philosopher that if you want to fight a pig, you must be ready to be smeared and I’m ready to be dirty,” Tinubu had said.

However, the portion of his statement where he talked about getting dirty overshadowed most of what he said and generated reactions from various quarters and stakeholders.

Reacting to the reactions and backlashes that followed, Rahman on Monday came out to explain that his principal was quoted out of context and misunderstood by most people.

In explaining what Tinubu meant during his speech on Sunday, Rahman in his own statement submitted that his principal was making reference to unwarranted and sponsored attacks against him and only used the metaphor of fighting with a pig and getting dirty to buttress his point about accepting the insults that come with playing politics in Nigeria and aspiring for the presidential seat.

“In continuation of his consultations and engagements with the traditional rulers and critical stakeholders across the country, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu on Sunday, February 20, 2022, visited the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111, and on his return from ancient Oyo town, he paid a courtesy call on the Olubadan-Designate, Senator Lekan Balogun,” the statement reads.

“Speaking at the residence of Olubadan-Designate, the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Tinubu, referring to some of the unwarranted attacks against him used the metaphor of wrestling with the pig, saying “if you decide to wrestle with the pig, you must be ready to get dirty.” He said he had accepted to take the insults and dirt thrown at him by some people as a price to pay for venturing into politics and seeking to be President of Nigeria.

“Sadly, the wrong headline and story have been latched on by some online platforms/blogs and commentators to pour invective on Asiwaju Tinubu. These commentaries and remarks are unfortunate because they are groundless, misinformed and misdirected. Hence, this clarification has become imperative.

“It bears restating that at no time during the visit and in his speech did Asiwaju indicate that he would fight dirty for his presidential ambition. His words were carefully chosen.

“For clarity and avoidance of doubt, this is what the APC leader told Olubadan-Designate High Chief Balogun: “Kabiyesi, all I have come for is to beg you to continue to pray for me, the entire Yoruba race and the country. Now I am out. Out for what, Kabiyesi? I am out to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. There is a wise saying that if you want to wrestle with the pig, be ready to get dirty and deal with the poo-poo. I am ready to get dirty. No intimidation, no blackmail, no sort of insult will get me angry to the extent that I will say no more, I don’t want again.”

“This statement is comprehensible and clear enough. Our appeal to the media is that as the 2023 election approaches, and indeed at all times, they should not allow their mediums and platforms to be deployed in the desperate smear campaigns and campaigns of calumny by politicians. They owe themselves and our society to report accurately and objectively without fear or favour. The duty of the media as the Fourth Estate of the Realm is a sacred one that must be guarded jealously.”

Drycleaner Found Dead In His Shop In Abuja

A drycleaner identified as Mr Yahaya Musa has been found dead in his shop in Kubwa, Abuja.

Daily Trust reported that the incident which occurred on Saturday morning in Byazhin area of Kubwa, a suburb of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), left residents of the area shocked.

An eyewitness revealed that Musa was found hanging from the roof of his shop at 8am. Musa’s landlord, Mr Yusuf Tijani on his own part said the drycleaner was murdered.

Tijani said;

“How can people say he committed suicide when it was obvious he was killed? His carpet was stained with blood and his mattress and other clothes were in blood. We found him hanging from his ceiling fan and his legs were firmly on the ground. So it was stage managed to make everyone believe it was suicide; but it’s murder.

The deceased have been buried by his family members according to Islamic rites.

#NotTooYoungToRun: Shehu Sani reacts to Tinubu’s latest message to youths

A former Senator, Shehu Sani, on Monday said by the time the country’s youths waited for President Muhammadu Buhari and possibly Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader to finish their tenures, ‘they would have become elders themselves’.

Sani’s view is a reaction to Sunday’s statement by 2023 presidential hopeful, Tinubu, who said Nigerian youths will become president only after him.

Society gazette reports that there has been clamour for youths to occupy top political positions in the country, which gave birth to the #NotTooYoungToRun movement.

Speaking when he visited Lamidi Adeyemi, the Alaafin of Oyo, at the palace, Tinubu, 69, asked the youths to create room for elderly people.

“You won’t allow the elderly ones to pass and you haven’t become president. What if you become president, will you chase us out of town?” Tinubu asked rhetorically.

“You will grow old and become president. But I will become the president first.”

Sani, a avid user of social media who is in the opposition would respond.

Tinubu

“By the time the Youths waited for Baba and waited for Jagaban to finish their tenures,they have become elders themselves,” Sani wrote on his verified Twitter handle.

Why Justice Delivery Is Delayed in Nigeria – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed the reason for the delay in the delivery of justice in the country.
Speaking at the 20th Memorial Anniversary Symposium of Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN) in Lagos on Sunday, Osinbajo stated that the reason for the delay in justice delivery is bad leadership and misgovernance.

He described the delay in the delivery of justice as one of the serious challenges facing the judicial system in the country.

Osinbajo stated in order to address the delay in justice delivery, there must be the maintenance of law and order as well as governance.

He said: “The administration of the justice system is the foundation of law and order, commerce as well as democracy. When the system of administration of justice fails, these pillars of governance and orderly society also collapse.

“Investor hesitancy or reluctance is also a reflection of the inefficiency and lack of confidence in the integrity of the commercial dispute resolution process, delay is disastrous.”

Speaking further, the vice president described the late Aluko, who died on 18th February 2002, as an icon and a multi-talented legal luminary.

He said: “Every once in a while, a truly iconic figure comes by this way, usually, one who excels in the accumulation of unique talent who we would describe as an icon. But not often is it the case that the icon is multi-talented and gifted in several ways. We had one of such icons 20 years ago; Bankole Olumide Aluko (SAN).”

BREAKING: Boko Haram terrorists dislodge Nigerian Army, burn down military base

Members of Boko Haram’s Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction on Sunday night infiltrated Gamboru-Ngala in Borno State, northeastern Nigeria.

It was learnt that the terrorists launched an offensive attack at the military base in Gamboru Central Primary School, dislodged men of the Nigerian Army (NA) and proceeded to burn down the security facility.

It is believed that this latest attack by ISWAP insurgents is a reprisal for the devastating offensive of Nigerian troops which led to the killing of many commanders and fighters in Lake Chad Basin (LCB) and Sambisa forest.

Recall that recent Nigerian Armed Forces’ airstrikes eliminated Amir Buba Danfulani and four other notorious ISWAP commanders in Tumbuns and Sambisa axis.

Danfulani was a senior ISWAP Commander saddled with indoctrinating Fulanis and herdsmen in joining a terrorist group. He also coordinated activities of the terrorists ranging from the deployment of spies as well as tax collectors.

It was gathered that the terrorists got upset, and targeted military base. They were said to have fired explosives into Ngala town at the weekend which also resulted to the killing of one civilian while six persons were injured.

Full details are still skechy on aftermath assessment.

Photos: Moment Tinubu, Obasa Arrive Agege, Visit Home Of Late Prof Samuel

The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and presidential hopeful of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Sunday evening paid a condolence visit to the home of late Professor Tunde Samuel, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), who passed on recently.

Asiwaju, who arrived Lagos from a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi, moved straight to the home of the deceased ally, accompanied by the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

The duo had earlier expressed sadness at the demise of the academic, who was 73.

In the Speaker’s condolence message, he had described the death of Prof Samuel as “a blow, a pain that would take long for us to bear both as people of Agege, the APC as a family, the GAC and the entire Lagos State.

“His importance to Lagos State can never be under-emphasised. He was a passionate Lagosian whose thoughts, actions and activities were all geared towards strengthening democracy in Nigeria and the creation of an egalitarian state where individuals would live their lives in peace.”

Obasa, who visited the family of the deceased on Wednesday, added: “We will continue to miss his wisdom, knowledge and understanding of how Lagos and Nigeria should be run for the utmost good of the people. We will miss his advice and productive efforts to keep a united APC in Lagos.

“I, on behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, pray that God grant him peace and give his immediate family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear this huge loss, amen.”

APC Members Protest Against Aregbesola In Alimosho For ‘Betraying’ Tinubu

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has come under attack from members of the All Progressives Congress in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State following the minister’s attack against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Some members of the APC in the local government which is the political base of Aregbesola staged a protest to denounce the minister for ‘ disrespecting Tinubu.”

This came a day after Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, trounced Aregbesola’s man, Moshood Adeoti, and Lasun Yusuf, who contested the APC governorship ticket against the governor.

Aregbesola had openly campaigned against Oyetola ahead of the primary election and he said the governor should be given the same treatment given to former governor of Lagos, Akinwunmi Ambode, who lost the APC ticket to Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Alimlsho youths had on Sunday carried banners expressing their support for Tinubu while mocking Aregbesola’s political death in Osun State.

Some of the protesting youths also carried a mock coffin which they said symbolised the political death of the minister in Lagos and Osun states.

Some of the youths placed the coffin on the ground and mimicked the Muslims way of praying on corpses before their burial.

Some of the youths said Aregbesola would be banished from Alimosho while calling him a traitor and many unprintable names.

The minister has also come under attack on various social media platforms with many mocking him after the defeat of Adeoti, his preferred choice.