Category: Press Release

Obi-Datti Media office: Obi’s membership of the Labour Party has already been settled by the Court of Appeal.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday closed their case in the ongoing hearing of the Petition filed by the Labour Party, Candidate, Peter Obi.
Among the documents submitted to the court is a register purported to be indicating that Obi is not a member of the Labour Party as stipulated by the Electoral guidelines.

But apparently unknown to them or they were feigning ignorance that the matter was long settled by the Court of Appeal in a Judgement delivered on Wednesday the 8th of February, 2023 by a team of three Justices led by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem, Justice Ugochukwu Anthony Ogakwu, and Danlami Zama Senchi, in the case between the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Labour Party and Peter Gregory Obi.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja then dismissed the appeal by the APM, seeking to disqualify Peter Obi, from being the Presidential Candidate of the February 25 general election.
In the appeal marked: CA/ABJ/CV/1414/2022, the Movement had approached the court, contending that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, ought not to have recognized Peter Obi as a valid candidate for the presidential poll.

APM said this was in consideration of the time Obi defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the LP. The party argued that the period of Obi’s defection for the purpose of contesting the presidential election violated sections 77(2) and (3) of the Electoral Act, 2022.
They also adduced that before Obi’s defection, the LP already sent a list of its registered members to the INEC. They then claimed that Obi lacked the right to be recognized as the LP flagbearer because his name was not on the list of the party members that were submitted to INEC.

APM had urged the court to set aside the Federal High Court judgment which dismissed the suit it filed to challenge Obi’s candidacy on the same matter.

But In a unanimous decision by the three-member panel of Justices, the appellate court said there was no merit in the appeal filed by APM.

The Justices affirmed the decision of the Abuja High Court that had earlier dismissed the case saying that “the lower Court cannot be faulted, the appeal is devoid of merit, the same fails and it is deserving of dismissal”

Obi-Datti Media office wishes therefore to draw the attention of the public to this case and disregard the empty evidence and propaganda of the APC and its candidate in the highly contentious February 25 Presidential election.

Diran Onifade

Head, Media.

ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

Enugu Government will shut down schools, markets that observe the illegal one week sit-at-home order

The attention of the Enugu State Government has been drawn to reports on social media this Tuesday morning that proprietors of private schools in the state are sending messages to their pupils and students to the effect that they should not come to school from today on account of the illegal one week sit-at-home order allegedly declared by faceless non-state actors in the state.

The Enugu State Government is alarmed and dismayed by this development and hereby warns that any school that fails to open and function normally from today will have its license revoked immediately.

The Enugu State Government also extends the same warning to market unions and shop owners in the state. All markets and shops in the various markets must be open to customers from today or be shut down indefinitely.

Government reiterates its ban on any form of illegal sit-at-home in all parts of the state, as it is evil and antithetical to all values we hold dear as a people, such as the Igbo spirit of industry, hardwork, creativity and productivity.

The general public is urged to go about their normal daily activities as adequate security measures have been put in place to protect lives and property.

Government will no longer sit by and watch faceless groups and misguided individuals issue illegal orders, dictating to us how to lead our lives, when to go to work or market and when our children go to school, while they ply their trade and their children go to school. This is no longer acceptable and must be confronted and defeated with every power and resources at our disposal.

The State Government also warns that it will deploy the full instrumentality of the law such as the Cybercrime Act 2015 to go after and prosecute anybody, individuals, groups and organisations intentionally encouraging the illegal sit-at-home order, instilling fear on residents, raising false alarm to disturb public peace, etc, through fake news sharing and propagation of falsehood connected with the illegal sit-at-home order on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, Twitter, etc. This, however, is by no means, depriving citizens freedom of speech and information as enshrined in the constitution.

Signed.
Professor Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the State Government
Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Dr. Mo’s Thinking in Time; Remarks By Oseloka H. Obaze; Politician, Diplomat, Policy and Governance Expert, At the Launch of The Nigeria Dream by Dr. Moses Paul, Merit House, Abuja, Sunday 2 July 2023

I am elated to be here today; first as a writer who is supporting a literary work and the author and secondly, as a member of Nigeria’s attentive public. The heavy lifting today has been assigned to the eggheads. So my task is made a lot easier.

The other reason why I’m here today is that as the author stated in the foreword, “Nigeria is at a cross roads, undergoing a profound transformation that includes politics, government, governance, leadership, and all other spheres of society.” And as Leon Trotsky admonished us: “You may not care about politics but politics cares about you.” That for me is a compelling reason for our presence.

Finally, I’m here because our host and the author of The Nigerian Dream, Dr. Moses Paul, have dared us to dream. Like many Nigerians, I am a dreamer.

For me, contemplating the romantic but non utopist notion of The Nigerian Dream was too attractive to be passed up. Certainly, not in the context of the past year and the intrusion of the Obidient Movement into our national psyche; and certainly, not with the prevailing climate that is counterfactual to every sense of nationhood and nation building. As the author surmised, “A new Nigeria is Emerging; we must embrace the Promise of that Dream.” And indeed, “I am A Nigerian.”

It was George Santayana, I believe, who said that “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As such, though I have been thoroughly immersed in partisan national politics over the past year, I have still found time to read some political books in order to understand where we went wrong.

These books include How Democracies Fail by Steve Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt; How to Think Politically, by Graeme Garrard, and Surrounded by Idiots, by Thomas Erikson.

The last book is very important in the Nigeria context, since its subplot is: How to Understand Those Who Cannot be Understood.” You will agree with me that in the present day Nigeria, there are many leaders and people whom we can no longer understand.

As a student and practitioner of diplomacy, politics, policymaking one of my favorite books is a 1987 book titled, Thinking in Time: The Uses of History for Decision Makers, by Richard E. Neustadt, and Ernest R. May. The core value of the book, which Dr. Mo adopts and adapts to, is to ask questions during the decision-making process rather than ask questions after the fact, only to posit: “How could we have been mistaken?”

It is for this reason and its underpinning import that I have titled my remarks: “Dr. Mo’s Thinking in Time.” As you might have guessed, my task is not to review Dr. Mos’ book, but to place it in its proper context apropos Nigeria’s realpolitik.

I can affirm that The Nigerian Dream, which in its Eight Chapters grapples with issues germane to Nigeria, passed the required litmus test and more: after all, good books about governance and politics should have certain core nuggets; essentially, they should be “down-to-earth and sometimes hilarious demythologizing of people and events.” Dr. Mo toes that line well, thus buttressing the essence of our shaping our historical and nation-building narrative by documenting events as they unfold.

Paradoxically, in The Nigerian Dream, there is a nugget of nostalgia embedded in the modicum of hope held out for a non-performing, laggardly and polarized Nigeria. If not, how does one countenance the suggestion that “It’s time to revive the good old days?”

The upshot is that despite Nigeria tending towards a failed state and with all the vital development indices on a nosedive; a new Nigeria is possible and it must be predicated on the concrete and cogent realities of the past – basically the lessons learned and missed opportunities.

Any discourse of Nigeria that glosses over corruption, weak institutions, lack of accountability, state capture, and glaring inequalities in power and resource sharing, would be essentially shambolic. The Nigerian Dream does not.

This proves that true democracy encompasses the freedom to choose, starting with respect for the rule of law, the people selecting a leader of their choice and that choice being respected, and the institutionalization of all other freedoms.

“Which way Nigeria?” is an overused cliché and a popular 1970s song by Sonny Okoson. Perhaps, the answer lays in The Nigerian Dream. But what is the question? What is wrong with Nigeria? Often, we blame leadership! But we the followers are equally culpable.

As expert opinion contends, “What is even so bad about the contemporary state of governance and its human security component in the country is the fact that a culture of impunity, a lack of empathy, pervasive corruption, and the inability of serial governments since 1966 to foster unity, integration, and national cohesion, etc., have combined to render the country incapable of assuming its role in the comity of nations.”

And what is the solution? Simply, it is the realization of the Nigeria Dream. It should be self-evident, but that is not always the case, that Nigeria is hobbled by lack of elite consensus. Nigeria is in crisis because past leaders have collectively not done well. Our past leaders allowed governance to become transactional ad primordial in its entire ramification. Despite some flashes of good leadership, we have lacked consistency.

This is why we need an ethical and purposeful leader, who is development-oriented, can think disruptively and has a transformative mindset. Ethical and purposeful Leadership is akin to the Rotarian values- it must be selfless and aimed at common or collective good. This means maintaining the rule of law at all times; with high ethical standards in one’s business, one’s profession, and in one’s personal life.

The purpose of government is the wellbeing of the people. Citizens’ rights deriving from the Constitution must be sacrosanct. A purposeful leader has the task of ensuring that government meets her responsibility to protect the common man. He must serve in accordance with the Constitution, but also protect people’s rights and ordered liberties.

Government’s conduct, pronouncements and policies will be underpinned by creatively managing our national diversity and ensuring that the myriad constitutional provisions on the federal character principle, offers opportunities to all Nigerians to serve in any capacity in the public sectors.

Endpoint: “A society which debases the power of ideas while exalting the idea of power is not only short-sighted but foolish in the extreme.” Nigerians are not foolish people; our leaders are just plain greedy and selfish. It is that selfishness that has delayed The Nigeria Dream. So Thinking in Time, it’s time to seize the moment. A New Nigeria is indeed Possible. The time is now!

Thank You.

PRESS BRIEFING AND PARADE OF CRIMINAL SUSPECTS AND EXHIBITS BY CP AHMED AMMANI, fdc,R THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, ENUGU STATE COMMAND, THROUGH DSP DANIEL NDUKWE, Anipr, THE POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, HELD THIS 

27TH DAY OF JUNE 2023, AT THE STATE HEADQUARTERS, GRA, ENUGU

I am delighted to, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, welcome you to this press briefing and parade of criminal suspects and exhibits, being part of the operational breakthroughs recorded by the Command, in pursuant of the policing strategies devised to curtail the activities of criminal elements in the State.

2. Consequently, I will, through this briefing, give you insights into the arrest of a total of fifteen (15) male suspects, arrested for the offenses of conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, unlawful possession of firearms and fraudulent acts. These arrests led to the rescue of seven (7) kidnapped victims and the recovery of seven (7) firearms, two (2) motor vehicles, one (1) motorcycle, one (1) dagger, cash sum of N701,000.00 and other incriminating exhibits, in the separate operations carried out by Police Operatives of the Command, with support from other security forces and law-abiding citizens.

3. Accordingly, Operatives of Anti-Cultism Squad of the Command, on 26/06/2023 at about 2.am, acting on a tip-off, carried out a raid operation in a hotel (name withheld) along Enugu/Port-Harcourt Expressway and arrested one Ali Jubril aged 25, a native of Kogi State. The suspect is reasonably suspected to be a member of a kidnapping gang, while the total sum of N701,000.00, which he could not give satisfactorily account of, and one (1) dagger, were recovered from him. Further discreet investigation is ongoing at the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command.

4. Similarly, Police Operatives of the Command, serving in Igbo-Eze North Division, with active assistance from Forest Guard and Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 25/06/2023 at about 1pm, rescued four (4) kidnapped victims (two males and two females, names withheld), after an intense gun fight with the kidnappers in a forest at Aishi-Ette in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area.

5. The kidnappers, most of whom escaped with varying degrees of gunshot wounds, abandoned the victims due to the superior firepower of the Operatives. However, one of the victims sustained a gunshot wound in his left thigh during the duel, but was moved to the hospital, is responding to treatment and in stable condition; while others and all the Operatives returned unscathed.

6. The victims were reported to have been kidnapped at Umuopu village, along Ette/Ogugu Road, on 23/06/2023 at about 9.30 pm, on their way to Obollo-Afor, Enugu State from Ankpa, Kogi State, with the hoodlums said to have demanded ransom of N10,000,000.00 for each of them.

7. Also, acting on a tip-off, Police Operatives of the Command serving in Adani Police Division, in a Joint Operation with Troops of the Nigerian Army Enugu, Forest Guards and the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 25/06/2023 at about 6pm, rescued a woman and her child, alleged to have been kidnapped at Ngene-Ukwu, along Adani-Opanda Road. The Joint Team is still on the trail of the suspected kidnappers.

8. In a different case, acting on credible information on alleged attempted armed robbery, Police Operatives serving in Awkunanaw Division of the Command, in synergy with the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 22/06/2023 at about 1.30pm, arrested one male suspect, Danjuma Mohammed aged 21, at New Gariki Cattle Market, and recovered one (1) locally fabricated pistol from him. Further discreet investigation to apprehend his cohorts at large and recover more exhibits is ongoing.

9. In another development, following the receipt of distress information on alleged kidnapping at Api-Opi, along Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road, on 19/06/2023 at about 6pm, Police Operatives serving in Umabor Division of the Command, immediately mobilized to the scene and while combing the forest, they rescued a female victim (names withheld), who had escaped from the kidnappers. However, while still at the scene, the Operatives sighted and arrested two (2) male suspects: Sani Usman aged 25 and Landi Usman aged 30, both from Sokoto State, who the rescued victim identified as members of the kidnapping gang. The motorcycle they rode to the scene was recovered, while the case is undergoing further discreet investigation and tactical operational actions at the Anti-Kidnapping Squad of the Command.

10. Also, on 18/06/2023, Police Operatives serving in Abakaliki Road Division, acting on credible information, busted a one chance armed robbery, abduction, rape and fraud syndicate, and arrested the following suspects:

i. Uche Nnanna Ede aged 21, of Ugbawka, Nkanu East LGA,

ii. Paschal Chukwu aged 25, of Nomeh in Nkanu East LGA,

iii. Moses Uchechukwu Nnaji aged 20, of Agbani in Nkanu West LGA, and

vi. Joshua Okonkwo aged 22, of Ugbawka, Nkanu East LGA.

11. Their arrest is as a result of the Operatives tactical response to series of complaints, alleging that the suspects used commercial mini buses to abduct their unsuspecting victims within Enugu metropolis, particularly young females, to secluded locations, where they robbed, raped and transferred sums of money out of their bank accounts at gunpoint. One (1) Pump Action gun was recovered from them.

12. The suspects confessed to the crime and have been identified by some of their victims. Hence, other victims are urged to come forward to further identify them, even as the citizenry, especially young ladies and other vulnerable persons, are urged to be security conscious and wary of where, when and how they board commercial vehicles.

13. Also, Police Operatives serving in Emene Police Division of the Command, on 20/06/2023 at about 7.20am, while on routine stop and search duty along Ugwuomu-Nike Road, Enugu, intercepted a motorcycle and upon search conducted on the rider and his male passenger, two (2) locally made guns and workshop tools were recovered from the passenger, one Edeh Longinus aged 47, who is physically challenged and of Ohuani-Owo in Nkanu East LGA.

14. Preliminary investigation shows that he is a gun fabricator and runner, with workshop at Amanvu in Nkalagu community of Ebonyi State. Further discreet investigation is ongoing at Crack Squad Unit of the Command.

15. Similarly, Police Operatives serving in Udenu Area Command of the Command, arrested one Obinna Emmanuel Nnaji aged 29, of Obollor-Afor, on 16/06/2023, for threatening violence and unlawful possession of firearm, recovering one (1) locally made Double-barreled gun from him. His arrest and the recovery is sequel to a report received at the Area Command, alleging that he, on 31/05/2023 at about 5.30pm, violently threatened to shoot the complainant (names withheld), who had gone to his house in April 2023, to demand for the payment of the sum of N70,000.00 she lend to him. Further discreet investigation into the case is ongoing at the Anti-Robbery Section of the State CID Enugu.

16. In a related development, Police Operatives serving in Nkanu East Division, working with members of the Neighbourhood Watch Group, on 21/03/2023, arrested one Chiemerie Edeh aged 22, at Ishi-Ogbo Nara in Nkanu East LGA, and recovered one (1) locally made pistol from him. His arrest was due to a complaint alleging that he violently threatened the complainant on the said day. The suspect and the exhibit were transferred to the Anti-Robbery Section of the State CID Enugu, from where further discreet investigation led to the recovery of two (2) more locally made guns from him.

17. In another development, Police Operatives serving in Trans-Ekulu Division of the Command, on 28/04/2023 at about 4.30pm, arrested one Chibuike Eze aged 27 and Paulinus Orji aged 26 at T-Junction, Abakpa-Nike Enugu, following the receipt of a report that a black-coloured Peugeot 307, alleged to have been snatched at gunpoint from its owner sometimes in April 2023, was sighted displayed for sale at the said location.

18. Preliminary investigation shows that after snatching the vehicle, Chibuike Eze took it to the workshop of Paulinus Orji, an Auto-electrician, where it was put up for sale before they were arrested and the vehicle recovered. And following the confessional statement of Chibuike Eze, Police Detectives serving in the Anti-Robbery Section of the State CID of the Command, further recovered in Abuja, a white-coloured Lexus LX250 car, the suspects and cohorts had snatched from its owner in Awka, Anambra State in April 2023 at gunpoint. Meanwhile, further discreet investigation to apprehend other members of the criminal gang and recover other exhibits is ongoing.

19. Also, the same Police Detectives, acting on intelligence, on 14/05/2023, arrested one Onyeanaso Ekene aged 25, of Egbona Street, Topland Enugu, following the receipt of a report that he, on 30/03/2023 at about 2pm, bought different electronic items at the total cost of N1,500,000.00, from an Electronic Shop (name withheld) at Ziks Avenue Enugu, and left with the items after making a fake transfer payment of the said sum to the seller.

20. The items include: one (1) 1.5 Horse Power Royal Split Unit Air Conditioner, one (1) Hisense 55 LED Smart TV, One (1) 43 LG Smart TV, one (1) Hisense Refrigerator, one (1) yellow-coloured Sumec Firman Generator, one (1) LG Sound Bar system and two (2) pieces of TV power-surge.

21. The two (2) of the items, the Hisense TV and Royal Air Conditioner, have been recovered, while discreet investigation is ongoing to further arrest his cohorts and recover other items.

22. In a similar fashion, the same Detectives, acting on intelligence, arrested one Mmesoma Linus (a.k.a Silver Money) aged 26, on 23/05/2023, at Independence Layout Enugu, for issuing a fake credit alert of N3,530,000.00 to an unsuspecting timber dealer (names withheld) in Nsukka Timber Market, on 28/11/2021.

23. The suspect, who has been on the watch-list of the Police for the criminal act perpetrated on the victim and others, had on the said day, after pretending to buy woods from the victim, sent the fake credit sum and deceived the seller to give him its cash equivalent, which he immediately made away with. The suspect confessed to the crime, while a video clip intercepted in the course of the ongoing discreet investigation, shows him spraying cash, which is reasonably suspected to be proceed of his criminal activities, in a nightclub.

24. The suspects will be arraigned in court and prosecuted accordingly, once investigation into the cases are concluded.

25. To this end, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc, while commending the Police Operatives and all who supported them to actualize these operational feats, has reiterated the commitment of the Command to continue to protect the lives and property of citizens, as well as maintain maximum public security and safety in the State. He, however, pleads with all and sundry to remain supportive, as security is still everybodys business.

26. Thank you and God bless!

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE GOVERNOR OF ENUGU STATE, HIS EXCELLENCY, DR PETER NDUBUISI MBAH, AT THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, ENUGU, ON MONDAY, JUNE 26, 2023

Gentlemen of the Press,

Launch of the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum (ES-DIF):

I am pleased to announce today, that my government will host an Investment and Economic Growth Stakeholder Roundtable in September 2023, which is the precursor to the launch of the first edition of the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum (ES-DIF) scheduled for April 2024. The Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum will be a multi-stakeholder, fully transactional platform championed by the Enugu State Government to accelerate the identification, preparation, curation, and financial closure of investment projects to achieve the State’s Private Sector-Led Economic Transformation Agenda. In its first year, the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum aims to attract at least US$2.0 billion in investment interests.

In September 2023, the Investment and Economic Growth Stakeholder Roundtable will bring together bilateral and multilateral development partners, as well as senior-level executives from commercial banks, public and corporate pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, private equity funds, infrastructure funds, and other domestic financial institutions for a systematic discussion on advancing viable investment opportunities in the state as my administration steers Enugu State on a path of private sector-led economic growth.

The Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum (ES-DIF) and the series of preliminary business and investment roundtables will be implemented by a Diaspora and Investment Unit established within my office, which will be tasked with the responsibility of working with relevant government agencies, project sponsors, domestic and international financial institutions, private investors including the diaspora investing community, and development partners to crowd in capital for critical development programmes and projects in priority sectors that can improve Enugu State’s global competitiveness and drive suitable development outcomes.

The Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum will have five key functions:

1. To identify and curate projects to bankability.

2. To work with relevant government agencies to facilitate policy reforms, technical assistance support and innovative partnerships.

3. To mobilize capital for bankable projects, including net-zero aligned projects that can unlock the economic potential of Enugu State and South-Eastern Nigeria.

4. To implement an annual investment marketplace with special boardrooms for government agencies, potential investors, and project sponsors to match and mutually de-risk projects.

5. To accelerate the financial closure of investment deals brought to the ES-DIF platform by public and private investors.

The Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum will include six (6) interdependent activity areas:

1. An Enugu State Diaspora and Investment (ESDI) Platform – for investment deal origination and structuring, due diligence, and deal advisory services. The digital platform will host a live database of deal pipelines at different stages of preparation.

2. An ESDI Market Place – designed to engage project sponsors, the government, financial institutions and development partners in roundtables and physical/virtual board rooms for project consideration and dealmaking.

3. ESDI Forum Investors’ Day – for investment matchmaking and accelerating deals to financial close.

This includes public sessions, closed boardrooms, business-to-business meetings, entrepreneurship incubation events for start-ups, deal or no-deal type pitching sessions, and a deal gallery open to potential Investors.

4. A Deal Tracker – to regularly review and provide updates on boardroom outcomes and hold periodic update meetings with project sponsors, engage investors and enhance portfolio management and reporting.

5. Policy Environment Reforms – to consistently monitor investment opportunities and risks, and implement policy reforms needed to enhance project bankability, build knowledge partnerships with development partners and the private sector, and develop knowledge products to inform investments in the State.

6. A Diaspora Engagement Program – aimed at engaging Diasporans to increase their participation and contributions to the state’s transformation agenda, including (i) Ndi-Enugu who live outside the State’s borders but in Nigeria (ii) Nigerians and other Africans who live abroad and (iii) people of African descent around the world. Building on the work of the African Development Bank Group and Partners, the Diaspora and Investment Unit will work with diasporans on securitization of their remittances, diaspora bonds, trade and investment promotion, and knowledge sharing.

ENUGU STATE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS and welcomes all project sponsors, domestic and international financial institutions, and development partners. I invite the diaspora community to invest in Enugu State to deliver transformative development outcomes for our people.

Implementation Roadmap:

This announcement will kick off the work of the Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Unit, which will work with you to identify, prepare, and curate projects for the inaugural Enugu State Diaspora and Investment Forum (ES-DIF). The state government will host a series of business and investment roundtables in preparation for the Forum, including:

1. Investment Roadshows from August 2023 to meet potential investors and project sponsors.

2. A Stakeholder Roundtable in September 2023 to inform key stakeholders about upcoming investors’ days.

3. A Diaspora Forum in December 2023, which will bring together the diaspora investing community.

4. Closed Boardrooms in March 2024 to close deals and mobilise institutional partners with investment interests in curated projects.

Thank you all.

ENUGU STATE POLICE COMMAND PRESS RELEASE OF SATURDAY, 24TH JUNE 2023

VIRAL VIDEO AND REPORT OF REPEATED KIDNAPPING ON ENUGU ROAD ARE UNTRUE AND MISLEADING

…As CP Ammani orders massive deployment of policing resources and onslaught against criminals, solicits citizens’ support

The Enugu State Police Command is in receipt of a viral video clip depicting gunshots and people running in a forest, with the accompanying message that “Enugu-Ugwogo is not safe now… Yesterday, hoodlums kidnapped three times yesterday. The first was by 12pm, 2pm and 6pm.” This was similarly published in some news blogs and webpages with the title: “kidnappers conduct marathon operations at Nsukka-Ugwogo-Nike-Enugu Road”.

2. The Command, therefore, wishes to state categorically that the video, with the accompanying message and the news publications, are not only untrue, but highly unfounded and misleading. This is because there was no such serial or repeated incident of kidnapping on the same day as reported, or shooting and chaotic incident as relayed in the video, at the mentioned location or any other part of the State.

3. As a matter of fact, forensic analysis of the video indicates that it did not happen anywhere in the country, let alone Enugu State. In the same vein, the Command sees the unverified and unfounded report of repeated kidnapping incidents on the same day, as a misleading and mischievous act of misinformation, aimed at creating panic in the State.

4. Nonetheless, the Command, while acknowledging the recent reoccurrence of acts of abduction/kidnapping at some locations of the said road, wishes to clearly state that sensationalizing and blowing the situation out of proportion, as intended by peddlers of the video clip and the publication, will never be in the best interest of the security and safety of the State and her people.

5. Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, fdc has ordered the massive deployment of the Command’s policing resources to the said location and other of such locations, to sustained onslaught against criminal elements. He reiterates the unwavering commitment of the Command to contain such acts of crime and criminality in the State and to bring their perpetrators to book.

6. The CP, therefore, enjoins citizens of the State, especially those of locations where acts of abduction/kidnapping and other criminality are perpetrated, to assist the Command with credible information and intelligence required to tackle the situations headlong. This they can do by reporting at the nearest Police Station or by calling the Command’s emergency hotlines on: 08032003702, 08075380883, 08086671202 or 08098880172, or send email to infoenugupolice@gmail.com.

DSP DANIEL NDUKWE, Anipr
Police Public Relations Officer
State Headquarters,
GRA, Enugu.

The Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, has approved the following political appointments:

1. Barr. Victor Udeh, Chief of Staff to the Governor
2. Ken Chukwuegbo, Principal Secretary
3. Kenneth Ugwu, Head of Service
4. Tony Okenwa, State Accountant General
5. Ms. Angela Nnamani, Executive Chairman, Enugu State Internal Revenue Service
6. Prof. Linda Obiamaka Egbo, Special Adviser, Public Financial Management
7. Arinze Chilo-Offiah, Special Adviser, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
8. Dubem Onyia (Jr), Special Adviser, Donor Relations
9. Mike Ogbuekwe, Special Adviser, Agriculture
10. Barr. Osinachi Nnajieze, Special Adviser, Legal
11. Fred Nnajiofor, Chief of Protocol
12. Osita Onuma, Senior Advisor, Digital Transformation, Technology, Innovation, Industries of the Future and Industrial Strategy
13. Ozurumba Elechi Afigbo, Senior Special Assistant, Delivery Unit
14. Dan Nwomeh, Senior Special Assistant, Mainstream Media
15. Reuben Onyishi, Senior Special Assistant, New Media
16. Uche Anichukwu, Senior Special Assistant, External Relations
17. Barr. Juliet Okonkwo, Senior Special Assistant, Legal and Inter-ministerial
18. Mrs. Loiusa Chinedu-Okeke, Senior Special Assistant, Policy and Project Management
19. Vincent Onyeabor, Senior Special Assistant, Security Matters
20. Nonso Nwankwo, Senior Special Assistant , ICT
21. Mrs. Adenike Okebu, Senior Special Assistant, Revenue
22. Dan Chukwuma, Senior Special Assistant, Protocol
23. Barr. Joshua Ejeh, Special Assistant, Research and Publication
24. Mrs. Sandra Chinweuba George, Special Assistant, Revenue Generation and Monitoring

Signed:
Professor Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the State Government

The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a report, entitled, Alleged N70b Fraud: EFCC Declares Ex-Zamfara Gov, Matawalle Wanted, which appeared in one of the daily newspaper of June 18, 2023 and purports that the Commission had declared a former Zamafara State governor, Bello Matawalle wanted and requested the Department of State Service, DSS, to arrest him, “anywhere he is seen”.

Without prejudice to the case involving the former governor, the report is incorrect as the Commission has yet to declare Matawalle wanted or solicit the assistance of any Agency, including the DSS, to effect his arrest.

The Commission has standard procedure for declaring persons wanted and communicating same to the public, not through faceless “security sources”.

Vanguard

[Obi-Datti Media Release] Re: Peter Obi and NADECO/Democracy Day – Yet another failed blackmail

Obi-Datti Media office has been made aware of a fictitious and scurrilous write-up titled, ‘Peter Obi and NADECO/Democracy Day’ and to say that there is no iota of truth whatsoever in the narratives contained therein. Obi was never directly or indirectly involved in the activities of the June 12 struggle.

While he supported and voted for the late Chief MKO Abiola in 1993, soon after the election he relocated to the United Kingdom with his family where he ran a decent successful business that received encouragement and support from credible finance institutions all over the world because of the integrity and reputation he put in it.

As of 1993, Obi was not a politician but he came to admire and vote for Abiola through late former Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo whom he was his fan and admirer.

Even while at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Obi was not into politics as he was more associated as a student entrepreneur.

The reputation Obi took in the business that stood him out was what he, later on, took into politics. Before becoming Governor he never worked or held any government position. He never worked in Nigeria Ports Authority.

The closest he came to late General Sani Abacha’s government was when his petition on port inefficiency and congestion made his colleagues in businesses draft him into the special committee on port reform that lasted for just three months.

Whatever status Obi is enjoying today within and outside the country is due to the high integrity he brought into what he does whether in business or politics.

After eight years of outstanding governance to the people of Anambra state, where he created a sustainable environment for development by providing basic infrastructure to the people, access to rural agrarian communities, clearing inherited pension and salary arrears of over N32billion, leaving office not owing any salary, pension, or contractors, and leaving office with huge investments, plus a savings of over $150m and N35million in various Nigerian banks, Obi stood out as good governance model using Human Development Index, HDI, and was outstanding in Millennium Development Goals that attracted international agencies. His good governance delivery plus transparency in the deployment of public funds earned him the Governor of the Decade recognition as assessed by editors in the country.

Since leaving office nearly 10 years ago, Obi continues to say that Anambra state has not bought him a bottle of water because he is not into the after-office largesse that most of his colleagues covet for themselves. This is because he refused to sign into law anything aimed at benefitting him personally.

Before becoming a state Governor, Obi had emerged as the youngest Nigerian to chair a post-consolidation bank and served in various other firms as director where he was nominated based on his management and fiscal prudence reputation.

This is the man some hirelings are making fruitless efforts to dent his image by fabricating lies against him including saying that he was against June 12 when he was not even resident in Nigeria during the June 12 imbroglio but leaving in the United Kingdom and could not have been involved as the faceless writer dubiously wanted the gullible public to believe.

Such brazen sunken story ordinarily should not deserve our response but for the public that may not be privy to these facts. Due to the level of distortions of facts in the write-up, the mischievous story has no byline.

Obi-Datti Media office is well aware of the renewed activities of some well-mobilized mercenaries given the arduous task of de-marketing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

The motive which is well known to us is to dent his image and diminish his rising profile, which stands him out as one of the most outstanding Nigerian democrats today whose belief in the rule of law and non-violence policy remains remarkable.

The writer, unable to appreciate the outstanding principles in Obi, tries to equate him with his Principal, who only joined the NADECO struggle as an afterthought and only after fruitless and failed lobby to serve in Gen. Sani Abacha’s government. Since the former Chief Security Officer, CSO, to the late military Head of State revealed this fact, nobody within his orbit ever tried denying it to avoid unearthing further concrete details.

Unlike their sponsors, Peter Obi is riding high on his uncommon principles, which remain verifiable. The Obi-Datti Media office will therefore like to urge members of the reading public to treat this recent drivel as a malicious effigy of the author’s warped and clever-by-half imagination that should be consigned to the trash where it rightly belongs.

Diran Onifade

Head, Obi-Datti Media

1. Fellow Nigerians,

2. It is exactly three decades today that Nigerians went to the polls to exercise their inalienable right to elect a President of their choice to lead the transition from military dictatorship to a representative government of the people.

3. The abortion, by military fiat, of the decisive victory of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the June 12, 1993, presidential election, up to that time, the fairest and freest election in the country’s political evolution, turned out, ironically, to be the seed that germinated into the prolonged struggle that gave birth to the democracy we currently enjoy since 1999.

4. In rising to strongly oppose the arbitrary annulment of the will of the majority of Nigerians as expressed in that historic election, the substantial number of our people who participated in the struggle to de-annul the election signified their fierce commitment to enthroning democracy as a form of government that best ennobles the liberty, the dignity of the individual and the integrity as well as the stability of the polity. The fierce opposition to the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election and the unrelenting pro-democracy onslaught it unleashed was the equivalent of the battle against colonial rule by our founding fathers that resulted in the gaining of Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

5. Just like the anti-colonial movement, the pro-June 12 vanguard demonstrated, once again, the enduring validity of the 19th century historian, Arnold Toynbee’s eternal postulation, that civilization and societies experience progress as they are forced to respond to challenges posed by the environment. The unjust annulment of a widely acknowledged free and fair election was a challenge that elicited resistance by a resurgent civil society, leading ultimately to the attainment of our ‘second independence’ as exemplified by the return of democratic governance in 1999.

6. Fellow compatriots, we celebrate a day that has remained a watershed in our nation’s history, not just today, but for every June 12, for the endless future that our beloved country shall exist and wax stronger and stronger, generations of Nigerians will always remind themselves that the democracy that is steadily growing to become the defining essence of our polity was not gifted to us on a silver platter.

7. We can easily recall the sacrifice and martyrdom of Chief MKO Abiola, the custodian of the sacred mandate that was so cruelly annulled. He sacrificed his life in unyielding, patriotic defense of the ideals of democracy as symbolized in his choice, by his fellow countrymen and women, as their duly-elected President. There was an easier choice for him. It was to forgo the justice of his cause and opt for the path of ease and capitulation in the face of the tyranny of power. To his eternal credit and immortal glory, Abiola said no. He demonstrated the time-tested eternal truth that there are certain ideals and principles that are far more valuable than life itself.

8. Everyday, on this day, down the ages we will recall the several other heroes of democracy such as Kudirat Abiola, wife of Chief Abiola, who was brutally murdered while in the trenches fighting on the side of the people. We remember Pa Alfred Rewane, one of the heroes of our independence struggle and Major General Shehu Musa Yar’Adua (rtd) who were silenced by the military junta while in pursuit of democracy. They gave their yesterday for the liberty that is ours today.

9. The point is that we must never take this democracy for granted. We must forever jealously guard and protect it like a precious jewel. For, a people can never truly appreciate the freedoms and rights democracy guarantees them until they lose it.

10. We have traversed the dark, thorny path of dictatorship before and those who experienced it can readily testify to the unbridgeable gap between the dignity of freedom and the humiliation and degradation of tyranny. True, rancorous debates, interminable wrangling, ceaseless quarrels, bitter electoral contestations may be perceived by some as unattractive features of democracy. But they also testify to its merit and value.

11. This year, we held the seventh in the cycle of elections that have become sacred rituals of our democratic practice in this dispensation since 1999.

12. That the polls were intensely contested is in itself positive evidence that democracy is well and alive in our land. It is only natural that even as those who won and experienced victory in the various elections are elated and fulfilled, those who lost are disenchanted and disappointed. But the beauty of democracy is that those who win today can lose tomorrow and those who lose today will have an opportunity to compete and win in the next round of elections.

13. Those who cannot endure and accept the pain of defeat in elections do not deserve the joy of victory when it is their turn to triumph. Above all, those who disagree with the outcome of the elections are taking full advantage of the constitutional provisions to seek redress in court and that is one of the reasons why democracy is still the best form of government invented by man.

14. For Chief MKO Abiola, the symbol of this day, in whose memory June 12 became a national holiday, democracy is eternal.

15. It is about rule of law and vibrant judiciary that can be trusted to deliver justice and strengthen institutions. It has become imperative to state here that the unnecessary illegal orders used to truncate or abridge democracy will no longer be tolerated.

16. The recent harmonization of the retirement age for judicial officers is meant to strengthen the rule of law, which is a critical pillar of democracy. The reform has just started.

17. The democracy that will yield right dividends to the people who are the shareholders means more than just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices. It means social and economic justice for our people. To the winner of June 12, democracy offers the best chance to fight and eliminate poverty. Thirty years ago, he christened his campaign manifesto, ‘Farewell to Poverty’ because he was convinced that there is nothing divine about poverty. It is a man-made problem that can be eliminated with clearly thought out social and economic policies.

18. It is for this reason that, in my inauguration address on May 29, I gave effect to the decision taken by my predecessor-in-office to remove the fuel subsidy albatross and free up for collective use the much-needed resources, which had hitherto been pocketed by a few rich. I admit that the decision will impose extra burden on the masses of our people. I feel your pain. This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements.

19. Painfully, I have asked you, my compatriots, to sacrifice a little more for the survival of our country. For your trust and belief in us, I assure you that your sacrifice shall not be in vain. The government I lead will repay you through massive investment in transportation infrastructure, education, regular power supply, healthcare and other public utilities that will improve the quality of lives.

20. The democracy MKO Abiola died for is one that promotes the welfare of the people over personal interests of the ruling class and one where the governed can find personal fulfillment and happiness. That is the hope MKO Abiola ignited throughout our country in 1993.

21. On this year’s Democracy Day, I enjoin us all to rededicate ourselves to strengthening this form of government of free peoples that has been our guiding light these past 24 years. In particular, those of us who have been privileged to be elected into public offices at various levels in both the executive and legislative arms of government must recommit ourselves to offering selfless service to the people, and delivering concrete democracy dividends in accordance with our electoral promises.

22. On my part and that of my administration, I pledge anew our commitment to diligently fulfilling every component of our electoral pact with the people – the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.

23. We shall be faithful to truth. Faithful to equity. And faithful to justice. We shall exercise our authority and mandate to govern with fairness, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to always uphold the dignity of all our people.

24. On this note, I wish us all a happy Democracy Day celebration and pray that the light of liberty shall never be extinguished in our land.

25. Thank you all and may God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

PRESS STATEMENT: NATIONAL WORKING COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES ZONING FOR LEADERSHIP OF 10TH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President- Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other Party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-Elect and the leadership of the NWC. The NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide.

The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows:

SENATE:

1. Senate President – South South – Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom).

2. Deputy Senate President – North West – Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano).

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

3. Speaker, House of Representatives – North West – Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna)

4. Deputy Speaker – South East – Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia)

We urge our party leaders, members and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition.

SIGNED:

Barr. Felix Morka

National Publicity Secretary All Progressives Congress (APC)

Gentlemen of the press, we have called you up again today to address the unfortunate, reckless, unpresidential conduct and subjudice comment credited to the President, General Muhammadu Buhari which is already causing apprehension and capable of destroying our corporate existence as a Nation.

As you are aware, the February 25, 2023 Presidential election has been adjudged across the Nation and Globally as the worst in the history of our country.

The Presidential election was marred by brazen violation of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, INEC Regulations and Guidelines; manipulation of processes, alteration of genuine results from Polling Units, announcement of fabricated figures and climaxed by the vexatious declaration of the defeated candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Winner.

The general despondency, resentment and anger across our country; the damning reports by election observers and the pervading international contempt against Nigeria since the declaration of the APC candidate as President-elect are ominous testaments that he does not have the mandate of majority of Nigerians derivable ONLY from a credible electoral process.

As you are also aware, the PDP is already at the Tribunal with the prospects of reclaiming the mandate freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar at the Presidential election.

Nigerians and the International Community are therefore appalled, horrified and scandalized by the careless, unguarded and subjudice comment by President Buhari in which he attempted to justify the rigging of the February 25, 2023 Presidential election by the APC under his watch.

This statement reveals the utter disregard that General Buhari has for our Constitutional democracy, judiciary and the Will of the Nigerian people as expressed at the February 25, 2023 Presidential election.

It is, to say the least, reprehensible for Mr. President to posture and gloat over the trampling of the Will of Nigerian, blame the opposition for being overconfident and, according to him, for not being “tactical”, perhaps enough to outwit the violence, brutality, threats, suppression of voters, rigging and election manipulations by the APC and the government which he heads.

It is unpardonable that President Buhari, who swore to uphold the laws of our country and made several commitments to the world to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent election, is rather in approval of election rigging through manifest compromise of INEC system and wide-spread alteration, falsification and switching of election results in favour of his rejected party, the APC.

President Buhari is practically gloating over the undermining of democracy by INEC which refused to transmit directly results from the Polling Units to its Server/Website and announce same, in total violation of the express provisions of Section 64 Sub-section 4 (a) (b) of the Electoral Act, 2022.

More distressing is that after superintending over the rigging of the election, President Buhari, by his subjudice comments apparently seeks to bully, blackmail and influence the judiciary and the outcome of the petition pending before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, so as to allow his Party, the APC and its candidate to “grab, snatch and run” with the people’s mandate.

The PDP in clear terms tells President Buhari and his APC that our Party and candidate, Atiku Abubakar clearly won the February 25, 2023 Presidential election as shown by the authentic results from majority of Polling Units across the country.

The PDP did not lose the Presidential election as claimed by President Buhari and we are not willing to surrender the mandate freely given to our Party by the people irrespective of the threats, bullying and manipulation by the APC-led administration.

Nigerians believed and expected President Buhari to leave a legacy of a free, fair and credible election based on his numerous undertakings and promises but he is leaving an ignoble, dishonorable and disgraceful legacy of enabling and superintending over the worst election conducted in the history of democracy in Nigeria. President Buhari, history will never be kind to you!

It is instructive to state that part of the electoral process is the adjudication by the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which is considering petitions arising from the election. President Buhari, by his subjudice statement is clearly interfering in electoral process ostensibly to influence the outcome and undermine the constitutionally laid down procedures for change of government.

Having clearly undermined democracy in Nigeria, the PDP calls on the International Community to accordingly impose sanctions including Visa ban and travel restrictions on President Buhari and his family immediately he vacates office on May 29, 2023.

This demand for sanction is in line with President Buhari’s request on February 17, 2022 in Brussels, Belgium, wherein he called on the European Union (EU) to impose “weighty sanctions” on those engaged in “unconstitutional change of governments” as well as those influencing the “process and outcomes of elections”.

In President Buhari’s words;

“We also call for stronger support from the European Union in the condemnation and imposition of weighty sanctions on countries that engage in unconstitutional change of governments as well as manipulation of constitutions…

“It is therefore imperative for our partnership to also focus on strengthening election processes in Africa and prevent interference to influence the process and outcomes of elections…”

The PDP also demands an open investigation into the roles played by President Buhari in the undermining of democracy in Nigeria in the 2019 and 2023 Presidential elections.

President Buhari needs to advised to be circumspect and allow the judicial process to proceed without further undue interference and bullying by him.

The PDP appreciates Nigerians for standing firm in defending our democracy at this critical time. As a Party, we will never relent in our determination to retrieve our Presidential mandate through the Tribunal no matter the machination of the APC.

Thank you for listening  and God bless Nigeria.