Sahara Reporters Latest News Sunday 31st March 2019
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 31/03/19
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target=_blank>Driver, Five Passengers Dead As Robbers Attack Cab On Adamawa Highway
Six people lost their lives in Adamawa State, when the cab they were travelling in was attacked by armed robbers along Yola-Numan road.
SaharaReporters learnt that the robbers blocked the Yola-Numan road around Ngurore area on Friday night and operated unhindered for several hours.
Abubakar Ibrahim, a commercial driver ferrying passengers to Yola, was caught in the operation, leading to his death and that of the five passengers in his cab.
Witnesses narrated that the robbers shot the cab driver, causing the vehicle to somersault, thereby killing all the six occupants of the vehicle.
They also said the robbers have blocked the road around the same spot to operate virtually every week.
Aliyu Ibrahim, a brother of the cab driver, confirmed the death of his brother to SaharaReporters.
“They have killed Abubakar along Ngurore road, before you get to the NNPC depot,” he said.
The Police have yet to categorically confirm the incident, as Othman Abubakar, Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), simply told our correspondent that “I heard somebody discuss the issue earlier today, but I’ve not been officially briefed yet.”
He, however, promised to get back when properly informed on the robbery.
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target=_blank>Man Kills Self By Climbing Mast And Crashing Down Into Bank In Ibadan
A man has jumped to his death from a network mast situated in a bank in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The man, suspected to be mentally unstable, was naked when he entered the bank premises on Saturday, located at Sango in Ibadan.
Olugbenga Fadeyi, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident to NAN, stating that the naked man came to the Wema Bank branch in Sango and entered the building through a small gate leading into the premises.
He, thereafter, climbed the mast and jumped down from the roof, before he could be rescued.
“The impact was so much that he crashed through the roof and fell inside the bank. An official of the bank was called in to open the premises. By the time the bank’s door was opened, the man was already bleeding through the mouth and was rushed to the University College Hospital, where he was confirmed dead,” Fadeyi said.
The victim’s corpse has been deposited at Adeoyo Hospital for autopsy, while efforts are on to ascertain his identity.
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target=_blank>With North-East Getting The Senate Presidency, North-Central APC Youth Demand House Of Reps Speakership
After watching the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership allocate the senate presidency in the ninth National Assembly to the North-East, specifically to Yobe North senator Ahmed Lawan, a coalition of youth North-Central youth has vowed to resist the zoning of the speakership of the House of Representatives to the South-West.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Saturday, the coalition, the APC Young Patriots, said although the party had yet to officially announce the zoning to the South-West, it should not do so, else the 2015 scenario would repeat itself.
In 2015, the APC favoured Lawan for Senate President and Femi Gbajabiamila for House of Reps Speaker, but some desperate politicking saw Bukola Saraki, then of the APC, enter an alliance with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to emerge Senate President, same way Yakubu Dogara rather than Gbajabiamila emerged House of Reps Speaker. As part of the trade-off, Ike Ekweremadu, a minority lawmaker, emerged Deputy Senate President, while Yusuf Lasun, another minority lawmaker, emerged Deputy Speaker.
On Saturday, Convener of APC Young Patriot, Dominic Alancha, warned the party: “If the party goes ahead to zone the position of the Speaker to the South-West because it wants to foist a particular candidate on lawmakers, disregarding popular support and equitable zoning formula, it will thereby be shortchanging the North-Central of its hard-earned right, which will be resisted by this group.
“One would expect that since the senate presidency was zoned to the North-East, being the zone that contributed the highest number of votes after the North-West, the speakership position will naturally go to the next in line – the North-Central zone – which produced the second largest votes after the North-East (2,465,599).
“So, why is the party suddenly shifting the goal post when it comes to zoning the speakership position by considering the South-West that performed less than the North-Central and even already has the number two position of a Vice President? ls this an equitable thing to do?”
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target=_blank>BREAKING: DSS Arrests Jones Abiri Again
Bayelsa-based journalist Jones Abiri has once again been arrested by men of the Department of State Services (DSS).
Abiri was arrested at Ayabowei Plaza in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.
SaharaReporters understands that the men stormed the venue with a white Hilux and black SUV while Abiri was discussing with his colleagues at the secretariat of the Bayelsa Publishers office.
”The armed men jumped out of the hilux van threatening to shoot Abiri if he moved, only to be forced into the Hilux. They then zoomed off while the other jeep closely followed behind. The guns they carried were similar to those of the secret service.”
Another witness said: “The men jumped out of the vehicles in a gestapo fashion while he was chatting with his friends, said shouted ‘you are under arrest’. While he was demanding to know his offence, he was forcefully pushed into a waiting vehicle at gun point. Currently, his whereabouts are unknown.”
When SaharaReporters contacted Peter Afunanya, the DSS spokesman, he said he could not confirm the arrest as he hadn’t received a briefing to the effect. He promised to get in touch once he receives a briefing on the mattter.
In 2016, the DSS arrested Abiri, alleging that he was a militant.
It also said Abiri, a known local newspaper publisher, was the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, which has separatist inclinations and maintains ties with criminal gangs.
He regained freedom in 2018 after an intense campaign from several local and international groups.
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target=_blank>Gunmen Spray Crowd At Kogi Fishing Festival With Bullets
The 2019 edition of the annual Dankwo fishing festival in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, came to an abrupt end on Saturday, as gunmen opened fire on participants.
The festival, an annual event organised by the Lokoja Traditional Council, had been on for about an hour when the gunmen arrived in two engine boats.
On arrival at the Kabawa Waterfront, the three gunmen, while still in the boats, fired at the crowd that had gathered for the festival.
Guests scampered for safety, but five persons were hit by bullets.
According to NAN, the Police were immediately contacted, but the gunmen had escaped in the boats before they arrived.
DSP William Aya, spokesman of the Kogi State Police Command, confirmed the incident, stating that the injured persons had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja, for treatment.
He also said two persons had been arrested in connection with the incident, noting that investigation had begun and anyone found culpable would be prosecuted accordingly.
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target=_blank>BREAKING: Keystone Bank MD Obeahon Ohiwerei Resigns
Obeahon Ohiwerei, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Keystone Bank, has resigned his appointment.
According to a statement by the bank, Ohiwerei is leaving to pursue other interests.
Abubakar Danlami Sule has been appointed to take his place in acting capacity.
The bank thanked Ohiwerei for his contributions to the bank over the past 18 months.
The bank is currently owned by Sigma Golf River Bank Consortium after being acquired from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) in March 2017.
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target=_blank>Ndume Refuses To Back Out Of Senate Presidency Race Despite Exit Rumours
Associates of Borno senator, Ali Ndume, have debunked social media posts that the lawmaker has withdrawn from the race for the presidency of the ninth Senate in support of Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan.
Sahara Reporters saw a Facebook post suggesting senators Ndume and Danjuma Goje, who is also interested, have withdrawn from the race following a purported meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting to the social media rumour, some concerned Borno group and associates of the former Senate Leader held a press conference late Friday night to debunk the story.
Spokesman of the group, Samaila Ville, told journalists in Maiduguri that the news being spread on the social media “is mischievous and fake”.
“We were surprised to see the post on social media that our son, Senator Ndume, had withdrawn from the senate presidency race after he and the former Governor of Gombe state, Danjuma Goje, had met with the President,” Ville said.
“Though we did not believe the news, we still had to check with Senator Ndume who had just left for Abuja, to ascertain the veracity of such wicked rumour. And his response was in the negative, that he had never, not even for once, contemplated backing out of the race.
“We know that the rumour was fake; and we want to categorically tell it to the world that the race for the presidency of the 9th senate is not all about Senator Ndume, but a collective decision. It all started locally from here; we are the ones that asked him to run after we had massively voted for him for the third time as senator representing Borno South.
“Even if he is to withdraw, which is not likely, it has to be with the full consent of the stakeholders in Borno State first. And as at the last time we met with Senator Ndume, which was some hours ago, the issue of backing out was never discussed. Besides, how can a man that just left Maiduguri late Friday afternoon be said to have met with the President on the same day?
“All we want is a level playing ground for all candidates to exercise their rights and freewill in seeking the Senate President seat. Senator Ndume has never asked for too much by insisting that the seat should be made open to all; and even if it is going to be zoned to the northeast, let the aspirants who are all equal in their respective rights go and slog it out. And we the people of Borno stand by him on that.
“We are also happy to hear the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomole, say on Channels TV’s ‘Hard Copy’ that he cannot appoint or impose anyone on the Senate. Let him stick to that and allow democracy to prevail in the election of who becomes the next Senate President.”
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target=_blank>Godfatherism And Political Leadership: The Nigerian Idea Of Both By Ayodele Patrick Akodu
Godfatherism in Nigeria has been here quite long. Ever since Nigeria launched its democratic rule, and freedom from military dictatorship, godfatherism has been the new style for political imposition. The imposition of candidates has taken so much time and political space in Nigeria, and this has continued to bedevil the country from progressing beyond the godfathers’ allowed capacity.
Literarily, godfatherism and leadership are not the same and do not have the same meaning. Even though, all godfathers are leaders, not all leaders are godfathers. This conviction arises from the real meaning of a godfather; political godparents ought to provide inspiration and support, including financial help for a particular cause. The achievement of this cause ought to be the focus of a positive minded leader, but the godfather instinct has made the monetary aspect a major point of focus once the goal has been achieved. Leadership, on its own, is the ability to guide, direct or influence people as the head. But the role of leaders does not include financial support to the followers but just to provide direction and influence. Hence, financial support which has turned to financial dependence in Nigerian leadership lexicon is the thin line that separates a leader from a godfather; a clause which most political followers in Nigeria have become so engrossed with. Hence, when you hear them calling someone a political leader, the next thing that comes to mind is the level of his financial muscle and prowess. Questions like “How much does he have to give to the party? Hope he’s not a stingy man?” become the next thing to consider. This misconception has left Nigerians at the mercy of politicians while the financially strong politician have turned to godfathers overnight, thus using their strength to milk the nation dry after putting their political puppet in position of authority.
From the Adedibus in Oyo State, to the Igbinedions in Edo, these states had once been politically kidnapped, and this trend has continued to bedevil us, with most attempts to correct the situation proving abortive. However, some politicians have attempted and successfully dislodged godfathers in their respective domain. But whether they are not a new set of godfathers is a question for another day.
Oshiomhole, the current National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, was the first major politician to bell the monstrous cat called godfatherism in his state, Edo State of Nigeria. But he didn’t do it mainly because he is strong, agile and mentally positioned to fight the Igbinedions, whose patriarch is the godfather. One thing, he has the support of the people. He did it because the entire state was tired of being contrived to a single position continually, with their faith of growth and development unknown. He was able to succeed in demolishing the godfather’s stronghold in Edo State because the people needed urgent change in their political destiny. They needed to breathe fresh air of relieve, economic growth and political freedom. Hence, Oshiomhole enjoys maximum support and was able to dethrone the godfather from his exalted high place during those years. The whole of Ibadan, arguably the largest city in West Africa, was thrown into wide jubilation, when the mighty Chief Adedibu was removed by God from his ‘godfatheristic’ throne in Oyo State.
But, can we call Tinubu’s grip on Lagos a form of godfatheristic grip? Can we say the influence of the King of Bourdillon in Lagos is undemocratic and self-serving? The truth is Tinubu’s form of political control in Lagos has been laced with some form of grassroots politicking. This has made his influence grow by the day in Lagos State, unchallengeable in the current circumstance and this will possibly continue till an unforeseeable future. This is the point of separation between Tinubu’s style and the other seeming godfathers earlier mentioned. Hence, detachment from the Lagos citizenry and deciding to pursue selfish while neglecting collective societal interests will spell the beginning of the fall of his dynasty.
The reason for this sort of conclusiveness is because any politician seeking to remain as relevant as possible must ensure that the people are given the highest form of relevance in the decision making process by allowing the people to decide what they want and allowing their wishes to come to pass. Doing this, such politician will be seen more as a leader than a godfather. The bane of the current crop of leaders in Nigeria comes from their inability to accept but sidelining the people’s wish in their continuous quest for power, money and influence. This has led to the downfall of many politicians in the political history of Nigeria.
Thus, in the recent political occurrences in the country, godfatherism in some situations and some circumstances is not as problematic as we think it is, if it is aimed at ensuring that the people’s wish prevails and not to serve the selfish political interest of the political class. Leaders that makes the citizens’ interest to rise above their personal interest are much loved and at the same time, gain more power, influence and wealth in the process of serving the people. This conforms to the ninth rule of Henry Fayol’s management principle as those pursuing community interests also achieve their own interest at the same time. However, sidelining the people’s wish in order to give relevance to individualistic wishes could spell doom for politicians. Leadership in its most basic form requires much listening ability from a leader. Listening leaders are good leaders and I call them ‘democratic godfathers’. If the likes of the ‘constituted authority’ in Oyo, Ogun and perhaps Imo states had listened and chosen to follow the will of the people right from the beginning of their tenures, maybe their end might not have been so ridiculously disappointing.
Ayodele Patrick Akodu wrote in from the Department of Economics, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
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target=_blank>Female Student Of Nasarawa Polytechnic Runs Mad In Lagos
An unidentified female student lost her senses on Saturday morning in Lagos.
The fair-skinned lady is a student of a polytechnic in Nasarawa State.
According to eyewitnesses, the lady emerged from the Country Club area in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, and started talking to herself.
“Nobody suspected anything at first as she was merely just loafing about,” said one witness.
“However, as she walked down Joel Ogunnaike Street, she started dancing. Then she went to the refuse bin and started picking stuff from there and puting into her bag. At that point, a few of us started approaching her to see if all was well with her.
“Next thing we knew, she started removing her clothes, starting with her trousers. And that’s when we knew all was not well and we immediately surrounded her.
“Someone laid hands on her and started praying for her and she calmed down and we encouraged her to put on her clothes. We asked her a few questions, which she attempted to answer, and that was how we got her brother’s number. One of us called the number and informed him of the incident.
“From what I gathered after the call was made, it was confirmed that she is a student of a polytechnic in Nasarawa. Her brother also said we should please make sure she doesn’t get lost as he would start his journey to Lagos immediately.
“However, after a few minutes, it seemed she was starting to lose it again. She was then taken to a Police Station by some people.”
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DSS Denies Working Against Electoral Process In Rivers
The Department of State Services (DSS) has denied the allegation that it was instructed to work against the completion of the electoral process in Rivers.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier suspended the collation of the March 23 governorship elections in Rivers State, and fixed April 2 and 5 for the collation and announcement of results. April 15 will be for supplementary elections in some areas in the state.
However, a statement by Peter Afunanya, the DSS Public Relations Officer, issued on Friday in Abuja, Notre that the service is working according to the law and will never work against INEC as it has been alleged.
“As a professional agency, it will continue to adhere to the principles of justice and fairness,” he said.
The spokesman said the service would partner with sister security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure a level playing ground for all the contestants.
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