The leadership of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, has backed Presidential Amnesty Programme, PAP, Administrator, Dr Dennis Otuaro, saying he is a product of the Ijaw struggle for self determination.
They equally lauded Otuaro for providing innovative leadership and ensuring a paradigm shift in the operations of the Programme.
The President of the INC, Prof Benjamin Okaba, stated this when he led a delegation of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation to visit Otuaro at the PAP Office in Abuja on Thursday.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Special Assistant on Media to the PAP Administrator, Mr Igoniko Oduma, on Friday.
Okaba who congratulated Otuaro, said that the leadership of the INC and the entire Ijaw nation are proud of him.
He said the Ijaw nation had been expressing satisfaction with the laudable performance of the PAP boss since assuming office in March, 2024, particularly in ensuring a paradigm shift in the programme.
The INC chief thanked President Bola Tinubu for appointing Otuaro, noting that the gesture underscored the attempt at addressing the concerns of the Ijaw nation.
He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for having confidence in the capacity and ability of the PAP boss to deliver on the mandate of the programme.
Okaba said, “When we heard that you are the one appointed to this highly exalted position, we felt very happy. Today, it is to familiarise ourselves and to understand the terrain.
“We want to say that you have started very well. We have seen the paradigm shift in many areas. We want to appreciate you. Ijaw people are talking well about you; you are a very pragmatic person, an engager and somebody who is not pursued by problems. Rather, when they come, you confront them frontally.
“We like to take this opportunity to really appreciate the President, Bola Tinubu, for your appointment. And only yesterday, a daughter of Ijaw nation was also appointed as Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The Ijaw issues of marginalisation, exploitation and underdevelopment etc, are receiving a much-needed attention.
“Also, we thank the National Security Adviser for the confidence he has in you. In any opportunity we have, we shall impress it upon him that you are a round peg in a round hole. You are a product of the Ijaw struggle for self-determination; not a stranger to the Ijaw problems.
“You can interpret those salient points of Ijaw agitation, and you understand the peculiarities of this engagement. You understand your assignment and Ijaw nation is waiting. You are already doing very well, you have our prayers and support.”
Responding, the PAP Administrator called for unity among the Ijaw people, assuring the INC leadership that he would not disappoint the Ijaw nation.
Otuaro vowed to work hard to promote Tinubu’s strong will for the sustainable development, peace and security of the Niger Delta.
While thanking the INC for the “legacy visit”, Otuaro said he was poised to make the PAP better with innovations and transparency.
According to him, his administration would increase the number of scholarship students from the current 275 it inherited in the 2023/2024 academic session across various partnering universities in the country.
Otuaro also said that the PAP had designed a scheme to empower not less than 1,000 Niger Delta people in the vocational sectors in the months ahead, adding that he would always do the right things.
The PAP boss said, “I will not be carried away on this assignment. I will make sure that as an Ijaw man, I will not disappoint the Ijaw National Congress. The INC is the umbrella voice of the Ijaw people. I will not work at cross-purposes with the aspirations of our Niger Delta Delta people.
“In doing that, I will also make sure that I promote the strong will Mr President has towards the development of the Niger Delta. As a people, it is when we are united and support the aspirations of our people, that Mr President will even listen to us. We need to work together.
“I will always do the right things here; make sure this programme under this administration focuses on empowerment of our youths through formal and informal education. I will not use backdoor to do something that is worth doing.”
Ijaw leaders back Otuaro, say he has ensured paradigm shift at Presidential Amnesty Programme
Ijaw leaders back Otuaro, say he has ensured paradigm shift at Presidential Amnesty Programme
Ndume rejects chairmanship of Senate Committee on Tourism, kicks against removal as Chief Whip
The lawmaker representing the Borno South, Senator Ali Ndume on Friday declined the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism.
Ndume announced the decision at his country home in Maiduguri, the Borno State Capital, about 48 hours after he was removed as the Chief Whip of the Senate.
TVN reports that Ndume was removed as the Senate Chief Whip after criticizing President Bola Tinubu.
The lawmaker, while reacting to his removal, said after reviewing the conversation that angered his colleagues, his believed his action did not warrant the punishment.
He said he declined the chairmanship of the Senate Committee on Tourism because he lacks the experience and exposure to lead such a sensitive group.
Ndume claimed that he was given the chance to choose which committee to serve as the vice chairman, having successfully led the campaigns that brought about the emergence of Godswill Akpabio as President of the Senate.
On speculations that he may resign from the All Progressives Congress, APC, the senator said he will remain in the party, being a founding member.
According to him, he was one of the 22 senators from the PDP that formed the APC when the current national chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje, was a deputy governor in Kano State.
Ndume rejects chairmanship of Senate Committee on Tourism, kicks against removal as Chief Whip
NAF Operation Delta Safe destroys canoes, illegal sites in Rivers
The Nigerian Airforce on Friday, said its Air Component of Operation Delta Safe, carried out reconnaissance missions along the Kolo Creek trunkline and Soku Sambarth lines and destroyed Canoes and illegal sites at Obenibokiri in Rivers State.
Air Vice Marshal Edward Gabkwet, Director of Public Relations and Information Nigerian Air Force in a statement on Friday, said the crew scanned the Right of Way of the pipeline with no sign of breach observed.
According to him, midway along the line, a leak was observed with some persons suspected to be staff of an oil company attempting to fix the leakage but the team while extending the patrol towards the end of the line revealed no sign of illegal activities.
It said the aircraft proceeded to Soku-Sambarth, identified Soku Gas station, and carried out a further scan of the general environment with no sign of illegal activities observed, but on their return journey, the crew sighted 6 canoes loaded with suspected stolen oil products, which were subsequently destroyed.
“Flying overhead Obenibokiri, a settlement about 15 Km away from Port Harcourt, the crew spotted 8 active Illegal Refining Sites with overhead tanks and one with over 300 piled up sacks containing suspected stolen oil products. These were all effectively destroyed.” It further said.
NAF Operation Delta Safe destroys canoes, illegal sites in Rivers
Tinubu to attend AU meeting in Ghana
All appears set for President Bola Tinubu to depart Abuja for Accra, Ghana, to participate in the Sixth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the African Union (AU).
The meeting will also deliberate on the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the Regional Mechanisms (RMs), and the African Union Member States.
Tinubu in his capacity as the Chairman of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, will address the meeting on the status of regional integration across various areas in Africa, highlighting the achievements and challenges encountered in West Africa since the last meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, in July 2023.
The President and Chairman of ECOWAS will equally present the ‘2024 Report on the State of the Community’, focusing on peace, regional security, governance, economic integration, humanitarian and social development, energy, mines and agriculture.
The event is being convened under the AU theme of the year 2024: ‘Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century.’
The Mid-Year Coordination Meeting was conceptualized in 2017 as the principal forum for the AU and the RECs to align their work and coordinate the implementation of the continental integration agenda, replacing the June/July summits.
In July 2023, President Tinubu, who was then elected as the Chairman of ECOWAS, delivered his maiden speech at the AU Fifth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, where he affirmed Africa’s strength and the need for unity.
In Accra, the items on the agenda will include evaluating the AU’s early warning and conflict prevention mechanisms and promoting cooperation among regional economic communities to accelerate integration.
A declaration will be adopted at the end of the meeting.
“The President, who will be accompanied by senior government officials, will return to the country at the conclusion of the meeting,” a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity added on Friday.
Tinubu to attend AU meeting in Ghana
I will carry Tinubu on my head if he ends govt’s reckless spending – Momodu
Dele Momodu, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, says he will personally carry President Bola Tinubu on the head if he’s able to cut the reckless spending of his government and make palpable sacrifices.
Momodu stated this in a post on his X handle on Friday, while criticising Doyin Okupe, ex-spokesman to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for supporting Tinubu’s government.
He said the people of Nigeria have never had things so bad and instead thereof he is defending a profligate government with untenable economic ‘hocus pocus’.
Momodu went on to say that no government can succeed with advisers like Okupe.
Part of his post read: “My dear Egbon, DR DOYIN OKUPE, I’m more amazed at your flip-flops Sir. You’re Reno’s senior in engaging in sophistry since your days as Obasanjo’s Spokesman in 1999, till you fell out.
“You’ve defended almost all governments since then with your eloquence. What has Nigeria gained?
“The people of Nigeria have never had things so bad and you’re both defending a profligate government with untenable economic hocus pocus…
“I will personally carry Tinubu on my head if he’s able to cut the reckless spending of his government, make palpable sacrifices, ignite an agricultural revolution, empower our brilliant and energetic youths with vocational grants instead of distributing cash to phantom politicians, etc… But with advisers like you, no government can succeed.”
I will carry Tinubu on my head if he ends govt’s reckless spending – Momodu
Three months after, NCoS unveils identities of 31 Suleja prison escapees
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has revealed the identities of 31 of the inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State on April 24, 2024.
The inmates numbering over 100, had staged an audacious prison break following a heavy downpour which affected parts of the perimeter fence and since then, a large majority of them have not been recaptured while a few have been caught and returned to the prison.
However, spokesman of the NCoS, ACC Abubakar Umar, in a statement on Thursday, said only 31 of the fleeing inmates were still at large and went on to reveal their identities.
The statement reads:
“The Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to publish the information of some escapees from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, FCT Command, which is as a result of the unfortunate collapse of the facility’s perimeter wall following a heavy downpour on Wednesday, 24 April, 2024.
“This has become pertinent in an effort to recapture them and bring them back to custody.
READ ALSO:118 inmates escape Suleja correctional centre as rainstorm wrecks havoc
“The information of the fugitives are hereby published for sister security agencies as well as the general public to look out for them in an attempt to recapture them and bring them back to the facility.
“The public is further enjoined to cooperate with the Service to recapture these fleeing inmates as they pose danger to public safety and national security.
“The general public is further informed that the Nigerian Correctional Service has since deployed overt and covert strategies towards recapturing all escapees, while ensuring that security in custodial facilities nationwide is beefed up to forestall any security breaches.
“If any of the escapees is sighted, the public can report to the nearest security agent or agency or may call the following numbers: 07087086005, 09060004598, or 08075050006. The public can also contact us through our email on: info@corrections.gov.ng or complaintsresponsedesk@corrections.gov.ng”.
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Zamfara CP blames hunger, starvation on banditry
Zamfara State Commissioner of Police, Muhammad Dalijan has blamed the hunger starvation ravaging the North on bandits, saying the bandits did not give farmers the chance to do their farming activities last year.
The Commissioner stated that eighty-five per cent of farmers in Northern Nigeria last year could not have access to their farms, pointing out that it was not caused by the government.
Dalijan further explained that there is hope this year as more than eighty-seven percent of the farmers have returned to their farms due to the improved security situation, saying that many of the bandits want to repent and drop their banditry activities.
He stated this when he held talks with stakeholders at the Police Command Headquarters in Gusau, the State capital, aimed at persuading them to stop the planned protest against hunger in the country.
He described those who are planning to embark on the protest as criminals, bandits, illegal miners, armed robbers and unemployed youth who want to take advantage of the opportunity to break into people’s shops to loot valuables.
The State Police boss admitted that Zamfara residents are suffering from bandits’ attacks, saying that if any form of protest is allowed, it could worsen the insecurity situation in the state which was why he convened the stakeholders to discuss with those concerned to shelve their idea.
Speaking, the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Sani Halilu, reminded the CP that everyone knows that the situation is bad in Nigeria, which calls for urgent measures to tackle it to ameliorate the suffering of Nigerians.
He stressed that the Commissioner called for stronger collaboration between the civil populace and security agencies in tackling the lingering security challenges ravaging Zamfara State.
Zamfara CP blames hunger, starvation on banditry
I did not betray Peter Obi, he was the one who betrayed Atiku —Okupe
Former Director-General of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign in the 2023 presidential election, Doyin Okupe, has responded to accusations by supporters of Peter Obi generally known as Obidients, that he betrayed his principal before and after the election.
Okupe who opened up in an interview on Thursday, said rather than be called a traitor, it was actually Obi who betrayed Atiku Abubakar after he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party candidate whom he was a running mate to in the 2019 presidential election.
In the interview, Okupe narrated how he convinced Obi to dump the PDP when he realised the opposition party won’t give him its presidential ticket and decided to support Obi’s presidential ambition after his discussion with elder statesman, Pa Ayo Adebanjo in 2022.
He also confessed that there was no way the Labour Party could have won the presidential election in 2023 as the party lacked the capacity to win a national election.
The former aide to President Goodluck Jonathan however, made a shocking revelation that the Labour Party, like other parties, also rigged the 2023 election but could still not win.
READ ALSO:Obi is a political jobber, he will dump LP like Okupe, Balami —Bwala
Responding to the allegations of betraying Obi, Okupe said:
“Atiku brought Peter Obi into national politics and he went ahead to betray him due to his personal interests. What joined Peter Obi and I was to stop another Northern candidate from replacing Buhari.
“I have been around since 1978, my political journey is not tied to Peter Obi and I can say my truth,” he quipped.
Going further, he said:
“We didn’t have the structure to win a national election, neither did we have agents in about 80% of the polling unit, how can we win an election that way, Tinubu clearly won the 2023 Elections, every party rigged including Labour Party
“Our initial ambition and main reason for leaving the PDP was for a Southerner and Tinubu has won and I’m very happy.
“Talking about betrayal, I didn’t betray Peter Obi, it is Peter Obi who betrayed Atiku Abubakar who was his master”, he said.
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263 Boko Haram terrorists surrender at Nigeria-Cameroon border – Army
The Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, has reported a significant surrender of 263 Boko Haram terrorists and their families at the Nigeria-Cameroon border between July 10 and July 17, 2024.
This development comes as Operation Lake Sanity 2 continues to make strides in the region.
A statement signed on Friday, Lieutenant Colonel Abubakar Abdullahi, Chief Military Public Information Officer at HQ MNJTF N’djamena, Chad, detailed the wave of surrenders that began on July 11, 2024
He said, “On that day, five terrorists surrendered to MNJTF troops in Wulgo, a border town between Nigeria and Cameroon.
“Preliminary information indicated that these individuals were from Tumbuma and Kutumgulla in Marte Local Government Area, Nigeria.
The statement went further to explain the progression of surrenders, stating:
“July 11: Malum Kori Bukar, a 50-year-old, escaped from the Jibilaram hideout and surrendered. Additionally, 19 terrorists surrendered in Madaya, Extreme North Cameroon, and another 11 surrendered in Wulgo from the Tumbuma hideout.
“July 12: 64 individuals surrendered in Bonderi, Cameroon, including 6 adult males, 20 women, and 38 children.
“July 13: 27 terrorists surrendered.
“July 15: Another 102 individuals surrendered in Bonderi, Extreme North Cameroon, including 20 adult men, 40 women, and 42 children. Additionally, 5 individuals surrendered in Wulgo, with 2 coming from the Tumbuma hideout, southern Lake Chad.
“July 16: 2 more terrorists surrendered.
“July 17: A total of 48 terrorists and their families surrendered, comprising 10 adult males, 15 females, and 23 children.
The statement further revealed that all the surrendered individuals are Nigerians. Consequently, they have been handed over to the troops of Operation HADIN KAI for further action.
263 Boko Haram terrorists surrender at Nigeria-Cameroon border – Army
NCoS releases more pictures of Suleja prison escapees
The Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, has released additional names and pictures of inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State.
Recall that the escape occurred on April 24 when heavy rainfall destroyed the prison walls, leading to the breakout of 118 inmates.
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, attributed the incident to the old and weakened state of the facility’s walls and assured that the federal government would take measures to prevent such occurrences in the future.
On June 6, NCoS spokesperson, Abubakar Umar announced that 23 of the escapees had been recaptured. Subsequently, on June 15, the NCoS published the names of 18 remaining fugitives on its website.
These inmates are Ogbonna Kingsley, Auwal Mohammed, Mustapha Ibrahim, Suleiman Sani, Raphael Kelly, Abdullahi Babangida, Idris Bashir, Umar Mustapha, Ayuba Obedience, Lamido Gambo, Garba Fidelis, Mohammed Jibrin, Sylvester Allison, Albert Israel, Edoga Okwudili, Olaiya Stephen, Ibrahim Aminu, and Audu Usman.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Abubakar Umar released the names and pictures of 13 still missing escapees.
This brings the total number of publicly identified fugitives to 31, including those previously listed.
The new set of escapees listed includes Tasiu Mohammed, Philip Ola, Mohammed Lawal, Buba Bello, Biyo Flamingo, Onyedikachi Emeka, Augustine Uden, Gambo Lamido, Sani Muhajid, Abubakar Hashiru, Haruna Salisu, Solomon Gkwangurum, and Aliyu Ismaila.
The NCoS spokesperson said the service has implemented “overt and covert” strategies to ensure the recapture of the escapees.
“The information of the fugitives is hereby published for sister security agencies as well as the general public to look out for them in an attempt to recapture them and bring them back to the facility,” he said.
”The NCoS has provided several contact options for the public to report sightings of the escapees, the statement said.
”The NCoS urges anyone with information on the whereabouts of the fugitives to promptly contact the nearest security agent or agency.”
NCoS releases more pictures of Suleja prison escapees