The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and Nigeria’s security chiefs are currently meeting at the State House, Abuja.
The meeting is coming over 24 hours after armed robbers attempted to attack the residence of the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari,
The Presidency announced the meeting via its Twitter handle but did not give details of its agenda.
The meeting, which started at 10 am, is holding place at the Conference Hall of the Office of the First Lady.
“Security Meeting ongoing, at the State House. President @MBuhari
presiding, Vice President, SGF, NSA, Ministers, Service Chiefs, IGP, Intelligence Chiefs in attendance. #AsoVillaToday #SecuringNigeria,” the presidency tweeted.
However, the meeting is expected to review the current security situation in the country.
Before the meeting, there had been previous security meetings on Friday, April 30, and Monday, May 4.
Among others at the meeting are the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; the Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari; and the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno.
Also attending the meeting are the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyema; Minister of Defense, Major-General Bashir Salihi Magashi (Retd.) and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
It was earlier reported there was an attempt by armed robbers to burgle the residence of the Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Gambari, early Monday morning.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, revealed this in a two-part tweet on Monday night after a report by a news platform, Peoples Gazette.
He tweeted, “The Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari has confirmed that there ‘was a foolish attempt’ to burgle his residence at 3:00am is this morning but it turned out to be unsuccessful.
“Professor Gambari, whose house is on a street next to the Villa has assured that there is nothing to worry about from the incident.”
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Kaduna State Council, has said it will commence a five-day warning strike from Sunday, May 16, 2021, by 12:00 am (midnight) following the sack of over four thousand workers.
It said the resolution to ground activities for five days would be enforced.
The chairman, Kaduna branch of NLC, Comrade Ayuba Magaji Suleiman and the Secretary, Comrade Christiana John Bawa in a statement made available to newsmen said that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting held in Kaduna with the delegation from the NLC national headquarters.
They lamented that due process was not observed in the recent disengagement of over four thousand workers from the Local Government Service, SUBEB and Primary Health Care Agency by the Kaduna State Government.
According to the NLC, “The proposed withdrawal of services and the protest would be monitored by the National President and the General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress.”
NLC assured the workforce in the state that further directive would be given to all civil servants as soon as possible.
The statement called on civil society organizations, journalists, market women and men, Okada riders and well-meaning citizens to support workers in the state at this trying moment.
The Muslim Rights Concern Group has stated that a Yoruba Muslim must be given the 2023 Presidential ticket.
In a statement on Monday signed by its leader, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group attacked former President, Olusegun Obasanjo over plans to support Akinwunmi Adesina to secure the 2023 Presidential ticket.
Adesina is currently the President of the Africa Development Bank(AFDB). The statement read in part;
“Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo is reportedly making attempts to draft the current president of the African Development Bank (ADB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, into the 2023 presidential race. We object to this move. Obasanjo wants to waste all the efforts put in place by the Nigerian government to get Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina to that continental position,”
“We remind the former president that as a Yoruba Christian, he has led Nigeria twice. Two other Yoruba Christians have also occupied Aso Rock. Chief Earnest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan was the interim head of state from 26th August 1993 to 17th November, 1993. The current vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, is also a Yoruba Christian.”
The statement added that Obasanjo’s move was an attempt to “rob Yoruba Muslims of the presidential slot”.
“MURIC rejects this grand design to keep Muslims in Yorubaland in perpetual bondage. There are many Yoruba Muslims who are eminently qualified for the post of president.”
“We advise ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo to relax his grip on the Nigerian jugular vein. He should stop pushing Yoruba Muslims to the background. Christians are not the only human beings in Yorubaland.” the statement read.
Pop star, 2face Idibia, has reacted after a die-hard female fan of Nigerian singer, Azeez Fashola, also known as Naira Marley, tattooed his face on her butt to felicitate his 33rd birthday.
The die-hard fan had tattooed the singer on her body and shared the photo on the internet.
It is understood that the controversial singer, Naira Marley turned 33, yesterday, May 10th, and most of his fans known as Marlians came all out for him.
Reacting to the photo, The 43-year-old music veteran wrote; ”Wow, crazy love. Power of music”
Naira Marley also shared photos and video of the female fan on his Instagram page. Sharing the video, he wrote; ‘She got HBD Naira Marley. That means every day’s my birthday.’
The video also got social media reeling in mixed reactions after the singer shared the on the internet.
See the reactions below;
@vict.or.i.a wrote; ‘Where una Dey gather this kind mind’
@rojublac wrote; ‘Omo ale oni di jo na’
@abiola.coker wrote; ‘Someone’s future wife’
@sugarpeacee wrote; ‘My question is, how did they draw this thing’
@_finederah wrote; ‘The is really the height of stupid. People sure do know how to be stupid.’
A civil society organisation, New Era for Sustainable Leadership & Accountability Initiative (NESLAI) has berated the federal government for proposing the reduction of civil servants’ salaries.
NESLAI executive director, Comrade Edwin Olorunfemi during a press conference on national issues held in Abuja on Monday said what federal government should concern itself with is how to cut cost of governance.
“The wastage is what they should cut and not the salary of civil servants which is not even enough in the first place,” he said.
While speaking on appointment of permanent secretaries, Olorunfemi said, rather than the conduct of examination, appointments as permanent secretary should be based on experience and competence.
He said, appointing non career civil servants as permanent secretaries should be discouraged as it dampens the morale of the civil servants that have grown through the ranks and put in most active parts of their lives in service diligently.
He noted that appointing non career civil servants will deprive core civil servants of getting to the peak of their career which could invariably lead to inefficiency and dereliction of duty in the civil service.
President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has been mocked by Nigerians over the attack on Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari’s residence.
The Presidency on Monday night confirmed that there was a foolish attempt to burgle Gambari’s residence.
This is coming at a time where there are concerns in the country about the rising insecurity in the nation.
The recent attack at Aso Rock has stirred reactions from Nigerians who mocked the government over its failure to secure the Presidential villa.
According to them, this is proof that there is no security in the country and that nowhere is safe in Nigeria.
Some Nigerians hoped that the government would act fast on insecurity in the nation following this recent attack.
Here are some comments gathered by DAILY POST from Twitter:
@Leodasilva, “Insecurity is getting closer to you all. Maybe your government will do something about it now?”
@FakhussHashim, “The COS to the President was attacked in the most secure part of Abuja, that’s the ultimate indictment of the state of insecurity in this country. However reductive, Garba Shehu chooses to phrase the incident. Is inconsequential. No one is safe.”
@Ukemeukut, “The fact that they even attempted it should be scary for us.”
@SirChuks, “This is proof that we don’t have security in the country. Failed government.”
@Tutsy22, “Foolish attempt? You are trying to cover up the seriousness of insecurity in Nigeria.”
@TrueNaijaboy, “If you can’t keep yourself safe in ASO Rock there is trouble on the mountain. Buhari should do the honourable thing and just go.”
@Angela201, “I hope we will not wake up one day to be told Aso Rock has been stolen?
@Blessonate, “The fact that there was an “attempt” makes it a big deal.”
@Oluwaseun_top, “That attempt shows a failed system. A place that ought to be one of the most secure in the country. Evidently, we need divine and willing power to get things right. What is the government doing about attacks on security architecture. My major concern! Security operatives are not encouraged.”
@Sir Mubi, “Arrant nonsense. If an attempt can be made within such vicinity then name one place that could be said to be safe in Nigeria.”
@Kingsley, “Aso Rock? No CCTV and alarm systems? So you guys took your chronic incompetence to the villa? Jesus!”
CarloGambino, “Do you cokeheads by any chance even understand the gravity of this supposedly “attempt to burgle” the house of General Buhari’s Chief of Staff? Oh I 100% believe it was successful.”
A man who claims to be a Yoruba film actor, Olumide Olajide, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding traders in Ibadan, Oyo state capital with fake bank alerts.
The actor was paraded alongside his partner, Wemimo Adeyanju, a Higher National Diploma student of Purchasing and Supply at a polytechnic in the South-West at the state police command headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
On how he generated the fake bank alerts, Olajide said he would ask for the account numbers and names of the sellers after buying goods from them, after which he would use the information to generate their details by dialling the USSD code of his bank.
After generating the recipient’s name, he said he would alter the old bank alert sent to him by his bank and change the date and the amount, and resend same to the recipient. According to him, the fake alert sent will show on the recipient’s phone as a genuine alert from his bank.
“I did it just three times before I was arrested. After seeing the alert, they would allow me to go away with the goods paid for with the fake bank alert. I went to another shop and a woman recognised me through the display photograph on my WhatsApp and raised the alarm.” The undergraduate also disclosed that he went out with the prime suspect.He admitted that Olajide used the fake bank alert to purchase some items on an occasion that he accompanied him.
Police in Lagos has said it is on alert over threats by by the agitators for Oodua Republic, members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and 22 other groups to disrupt law and order in Lagos by attacking soft targets.
Lagos Police Commissioner, Hakeem Odumosu said this at a stakeholders’ forum on security chaired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the state secretariat, Alausa on Monday.
“The command has taken notice of agitators for Oodua Republic by some Yoruba separatist groups and the threats to disrupt law and order in the state.
“Twenty four of these groups have been identified and being closely monitored.
“Similarly, the threat of IPOB to attack soft targets in Lagos is equally being put on the radar of the command intelligence gathering and other security services in the state.
“Strategies are being put in place to neutralise their activities,” Odumosu said.
He, however appealed to the public to be vigilant and report suspicious movements within their environments.
“The command is using this medium to solicit for the support of all and sundry to be vigilant at all times and report any suspicious person or movement to security agencies. Let us adopt the slogan of “when you see something, say something.”
Banker turned Blogger; Charles Odibo, is an erstwhile Marketing Communication Manager of Fidelity Bank and two other banks, who was notoriously known for running several rackets while he was in active service. February this year, he launched a website aimed at promoting the Igbo people, which was well applauded by all sundry for his interest in moving the South East region forward. Not many knew his motive was for selfish financial gains and not for the interest of the Ndigbo’s. In other to achieve his motive, he organized and unleashed media attacks on Imo State Government under the leadership of our hardworking and indefatigable Governor; Hope Uzodinma. It came as a shock to many on the obvious lies he posted on his blog, but those who know him attest to the fact that; he is a pig who will always return to the dirt no matter how clean you wash it. He has a double-faced personality, who is thirsty for government appointments and financial gains.
Some said; “he is so shameless that he would sell his dignity for monetary gains. More reason he was denied a juicy government appointment by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, whom he always lobbied for appointment by sponsoring media campaign and opinion piece for. Iheodiah rebuffed his appointment due to his unprofessional conduct.”
Last week, he published a piece of false and concocted information embedded with lies from the pit of hell to create unrest between the Imo State Government, Governor Hope Uzodinma and Imolites, who are currently battling the issues of insecurity. Sources said; ever since the Supreme Court sent his benefactor packing as Governor of Imo, he has vowed to use the media to peddle and sponsor fake news to create unrest in the state. “Imolites are wise enough to stand by their hardworking Governor who is also recovering from an attack on his country home recently. Employing a campaign of calumny by pitching the Imo state government and its indigenes against itself, is an act unworthy of a patriot.” A senior political appointee said.
From a thorough investigation carried out by Concerned Imolites, Charles Odibo, the co-founder of a failed mobile app, Tomachy, also threatened the Government of Imo State by vowing to continue posting fake news about them in the guise of exposing them. He was even said to have demanded for funds from Imo State Government in other to ceasefire from the cheap blackmail and media attack. A government appointee who claimed anonymity averred that; “He has sent several messages soliciting for funds to stop the bad press and also threatened that if his demands are not met, he will keep on attacking Imo State Government and Governor Uzodinma. He said there are more stories about Governor Hope-led administration stored in his kitty, to be release soon.”
According to the code of conduct of the noble pen-pushing profession, Charles has contravened some section in the constitution, which frowns at blackmail, defamation and threat. If found guilty of the above crimes, it’s outright suspension from the profession and can also be tried in the court of law for cyberbullying and other related crimes. Imo State will give no room for such media practitioner, who would only use their platform to promote dichotomy instead of celebrating the good works the Governor has been doing to restore the lost glory of Imo State. ”Governor Hope loves the media and he has always supported them at every slightest opportunity nobody will hold us to ransom at the point. Our state will never fall for such threat from that filthy attention seeker. It’s against our ideology, we don’t negotiate with blackmailers and scammers like Charles, knowing where his allegiance belongs. “Imo State has zero-tolerance for quacks like him hiding under the guise of a media practitioner, who loves interviewing the keyboard. Such practices are part of the menace tearing apart the journalism profession.”
People like Charles Odibo are the reason Federal Government has raised plans to regulate the online media space to curb blackmailers and fake news peddlers like him from misleading the general public with untrue information. Another Government source said; using an hammer to kill a fly in this situation is not necessary, we know his background during his days as a marketing head in the banking sector, he was never straightforward, he was not dependable and trusted. He was even alleged to have been involved in several shady deals. “People like this should not make way into government. He should be ignored. Since he launched the media platform earlier this year, we have heard several complaints of character assassination and defamation of character. That’s not what Journalism is all about. People like him should not be encouraged. Imolite are behind our Governor and we stand by him in solidarity. Any attempt to cause further unrest, the fangs of the law will strike him.”
The Presidency on Friday derided the Spiritual Director of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, Fr Ejike Mbaka, for criticising the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), over his alleged failure to contain insecurity and wanton killings of Nigerians by banditry gangs.
The Presidency attributed Mbaka’s criticism of the President to a decision by Buhari to reject a contract request made by the cleric.
Mbaka, who supported the President during the 2015 and 2019 elections, made a U-turn on Wednesday, asking Buhari to resign or be impeached for not doing enough to tackle widespread insecurity.
The cleric told his congregation that no civilised leader would remain in power with the spate of violence across the country.
He regretted that Buhari could maintain grave silence in the midst of widespread violence and deaths of Nigerians.
“How can people be dying and the chief security officer of the country would be sitting down without making any comment? Gunmen attacking people everywhere. Buhari should have resigned honourably following his (alleged) failure as a leader.
“Let me tell you that if it were in a civilised country, President Buhari would have resigned by now. So, it is amazing that he has chosen to sit tight while people are dying daily,” he said.
Mbaka also called on the National Assembly to impeach the President, saying Nigerians were facing intense poverty and insecurity.
But the Presidency lashed out at Mbaka on Friday, saying the cleric was aggrieved because Buhari rejected a contract request by him.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said this in a statement titled, ‘Father Mbaka is everything apart from what he claims to be.’
The statement read, “An outsider distilling the avalanche of verbiage will be surprised that after supporting the President two times to win the Presidency, Father Mbaka has made a complete U-turn, preposterously asking President Buhari to resign or be impeached.
“Here is the point of departure: Father Mbaka asked for a meeting and to the shock of presidential aides, he came accompanied by three contractors. The President graciously allowed them in, and to everyone’s surprise, Father Mbaka asked for contracts as compensation for his support.
“Anyone familiar with President Buhari knows that he doesn’t break the laid-down rules in dealing with contracts or any other government business for that matter. He requested the appropriate authorities to deal with the matter in accordance with the laid-down rules.
“Inside the Villa, discretion prevailed, that if those pictures and requests were made public, the followers would turn against the religious leader. None of it was released. Now, this is what is eating Father Mbaka.”
However, many Nigerians slighted the Presidency’s claim, saying there was nothing wrong with the cleric’s demand for contracts as long as he is a Nigerian and qualified for the job.
A Twitter user @firstladyship said, “While I cannot independently verify this story (Presidency’s claim), I think we can now see the monsters in charge of Nigeria.
“When asked to resign or be impeached, they resort to cheap blackmail to curry public sympathy. The Presidency, through Mallam Garba Shehu, has once again reached out to their supporters, through virtue signalling. This bothers on morality.”
Another Twitter user @nyotjoel said, “The effort by this government to whip up public sentiments against Father Mbaka, rather than address the genuine concerns raised, is quite ridiculous. What’s the connection between Mbaka seeking contracts and the state of insecurity currently grappling the nation?”
@FS_Yusuf_ also tweeted, “Garba Shehu is shamelessly telling us that Rev Mbaka asked for some contracts as gratification for supporting Buhari. Ladies and gentlemen, please does this change the fact that this country is run by terrorists?”
Likewise, Henry Shield tweeted, “No Mbaka slander will be tolerated. You (Presidency) are backing Pantami, we will back Mbaka.”
Also, @Komrade_Konrade tweeted, “One peculiarity about the Buhari-led government is that it’s never objective. Once you’re in bed with them, they’ll hold it against you anytime you disagree with their agenda. Yes, he (Mbaka) asked for contracts. Is that a criminal offence?”
Meanwhile, a former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, described both the Presidency and Mbaka as “blackmailers and scammers” who don’t deserve the attention of Nigerians.
Fayose stated this while reacting to the rift between the Presidency and Mbaka.
“The Presidency and Father Mbaka are nothing but blackmailers and scammers. They don’t deserve the attention of Nigerians,” Fayose said via his Twitter handle @GovAyoFayose on Friday.
In its reaction, the leadership of the All Progressives Congress said it would report Mbaka to the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, if the priest continued to threaten the President and cause disaffection for the regime.
The Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, in a statement said, “One will wonder whom Father Mbaka is emulating because the Lord Jesus Christ did not threaten to bring down the government during his own time, in fact, Jesus Christ obeyed and honoured constituted authority That’s why he paid his tax.
Also reacting to Mbaka’s outburst, the Catholic Diocesan Director of Communication, Enugu State, Fr Benjamin Achi, said though the diocese had yet to be officially informed about the ruling party’s threat to petition the Pope, it would issue an official statement on the matter when that happens.
“Well, we haven’t received any official information on that. But when that happens, we will respond accordingly. We are going to issue an official statement,” the priest said.
