News
Makinde, Gani Adams warns criminals to stop rubbishing Amoteku
In view of the reported infractions of operatives of the South-West Security Network, codenamed Amotekun, Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, has warned that any officer of the outfit who breaches the law would be sanctioned. Don’t allow criminals to rubbish Amotekun, Markinde warned.
Speaking in an interview, the governor said: “Any killing by any Amotekun corps is regrettable especially when it happens in error. The case of the 23-year-old Tosin Thomas in Mokola area of Ibadan is condemnable. As a government, we have made it abundantly clear that we do not want any life to be lost to any avoidable circumstance and that is why we won’t look back imposing punishment on any Amotekun that is caught doing things against the law that set up the organisation.”
Similarly, Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Adams, has cautioned that criminal elements within the land must not be allowed to rubbish the good sides of Operation Amotekun, declaring that the challenges being faced by the security outfit at its teething stage were normal and understandable.
Iba Adams said this while speaking with the Sunday Tribune in reaction to criticisms trailing the operations of the security outfit put together by the South-West governors to secure the region from criminals, positing that even the conventional police that had been in existence for long have bad eggs and challenges.
This was just as the Yoruba generalissimo, while calling on the media to focus more on the good side of the operations of the security outfit, pointedly declared that the country was replete with criminal activities, saying that besides the presence of criminal herdsmen in the South-West, some bad people of the region were also into criminality, such as cultism, rituals, robbery, among others.
“Well, the new security outfit, Amotekun, just came in a few months ago. Even the Oyo State outfit started operations not too long ago, so there is bound to be some challenges.
“I want the media to understand that the country is replete with different criminal activities and no security outfit will start operations in any country with such level of criminality that would not have challenges in its earlier operations. I want the press to have an understanding of that.
“It is not all the negative things that happened within the security outfit that should be published. I think they should lay more emphasis on the good side of the operations of the security outfit.
“From the reports we have got so far, the Amotekun corps operation are trying their best from their starting point in various states,” he said.
“You know the level of criminal activities we have in Nigeria, even in South-West in particular. Not only do we have the criminal herdsmen, but the criminal elements within the Yoruba people are also about 60 and 65 per cent, including the cultists, even the university undergraduates, the artisans, political thugs, land agents thugs, who have constituted themselves into various cultists organisations. We have those who are ritualists and those who are into robbery, among others,” Adams said.
“So we are talking of different crimes in Yoruba land that members of the public to know that Amotekun would have challenges. They would have physical attacks; they would have spiritual attacks.
“So I want the public to have the understanding that no new security organization would, in its earlier operations, get its bearing. I believe that within the period of one year, they would get their bearing.
Iba Adams, however, enjoined the state governments to ensure that Amotekun operations were backed by strong media teams to be able to portray the positive sides of the security outfit, saying this was necessary to avoid enemies of progress from working against the group based on little mistakes.
“They (state governments) should have media team to report good sides of what they are doing so that the good sides would suppress the negative sides of Amotekun. This is because if you don’t allow the people to know the good sides of what you are doing, the enemies would work against the group (Amotekun) based on little mistakes.
“I envisaged there would be antagonism from the criminal elements within the Yoruba land that want to portray Amotekun in bad light and as a group that takes law into its own hands,” he said.
Credit: Tribune
The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has declared that it has been vindicated by recent revelations from the state’s former Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke.
The Rivers APC Chairman, Chief Tony Okocha, stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists on Wednesday.
The former Head of Service, who recently resigned had alleged that the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, was directly responsible for the political crisis in the state and the bombing of the State House of Assembly.
In response, the Rivers State APC asserted that Nwaeke’s testimony aligns with the party’s long-held position, as frequently stated by Chief Okocha, that the suspended governor was the architect of the state’s political crisis, including masterminding the October 29, 2023, bombing of the State House of Assembly.
Chief Okocha further emphasized that Nwaeke’s account, given his high-ranking position in the state, cannot be dismissed as mere speculation.
He said attempts to discredit the former Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the alleged corruption and misconduct that the APC has repeatedly highlighted.
“What is most interesting to the APC in Rivers State as a responsible political party is that Dr. George Nwaeke’s revelations and testimonies of how suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his squad bombed the Rivers State House of Assembly is an eye witness account.
“Again , it has clearly vindicated the APC in Rivers State as the only visible and viable opposition political party in the State, and has cemented the love for the party in the heart of well meaning Rivers people as the voice of the voiceless, and the hope for a better Rivers State.
“The revelations made by the former Head of Service in Rivers State has further positioned her as a political party with high level of integrity, and the hope of Rivers people for a viable alternative to produce the Governor of Rivers State in 2027.
“The verbal attacks staged against the resigned Head of Service will not deter him from exposing the corruption within Sim Fubara’s administration, which we have consistently highlighted as the opposition party. On this matter, the APC shall function as watchdogs”, the party stated.
Chief Tony Okocha expressed confidence that security agencies would thoroughly investigate the matter.
“The APC in Rivers State strongly believes that the relevant security agencies will be professional enough to get to the root of the matter and make their findings public”, he said.
A coalition of civil rights organizations, the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has called for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations leveled against suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, by Dr. George Nwaeke, the former Head of Service of the state.
During a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Dr. Gabriel Nwambu, Director General of the CCLCA, urged the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Services (DSS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to take swift action in probing the allegations. He emphasized that if proven true, these claims pose serious risks to governance and democracy.
The coalition, comprising 30 civil society organizations, stands in solidarity with Dr. Nwaeke, who has expressed willingness to provide evidence of alleged corruption and constitutional breaches involving Governor Fubara and his Chief of Staff, Mr. Edison.
“We collectively urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and transparently. Addressing these allegations is critical to restoring public confidence in governance at both the state and national levels,” Dr. Nwambu stated.
He commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his intervention in Rivers State, which led to the declaration of a state of emergency, a move he described as crucial for stabilizing the region.
Dr. Nwaeke’s accusations against Governor Fubara include:
Arson and Sabotage: Allegedly instructing his Chief of Staff to burn down the Rivers State House of Assembly to prevent impeachment proceedings, a violation of Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution.
Corruption and Financial Misconduct: Claims of large sums of money being used for personal and illegal activities, contravening Section 15(5) of the Constitution.
Threats to Public Safety: Alleged plans to sabotage state infrastructure, potentially inciting public disorder, which falls under Section 1 of the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011).
Collusion with Militant Groups: Alleged meetings between the governor, his Chief of Staff, and militant leaders, posing a threat to national security and violating Section 43 of the Constitution.
Suppression of Labour Rights: Alleged attempts to bribe labour leaders to silence dissent, contravening Section 40 of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of assembly.
The coalition has urged law enforcement agencies to ensure a thorough, transparent, and expedited investigation into these allegations.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has appointed Sam Ifeanyi Hart, Esq. as his new Chief of Staff (CoS).
Hart replaces Hon. Toby Okechukwu who was recently appointed Executive Director, Projects of the newly established South East Development Commission (SEDC).
Prior to his appointment, Hart served as Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker on Public Affairs and has an extensive background in training and consultancy.
Hart also previously served as Director-General, Abia State Marketing and Quality Management Agency from 2019 to 2023 after occupying other appointive positions.
He was also a member of National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Kuru where he attended the Senior Executive Course 45, serving as Course Secretary-General.
He has also served on the Boards of several corporate and non-governmental entities.
Hart brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his new role, with a distinguished career spanning law, leadership, and public service.
A lifelong learner, he holds multiple academic qualifications, including a Master’s Degree in Environmental Law (LLM) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Law (LLB) from Abia State University.
The new Chief of Staff is also currently pursuing a Doctorate Degree in Law.
A seasoned professional, Hart has attended prestigious institutions, including the GOTNI Leadership Centre, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), and the School of Politics, Policy and Governance (SPPG).
He is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Directors of Nigeria (M.IoD), Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (ACIArb), and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
As Chief of Staff, Hart will provide strategic guidance and support to the Deputy Speaker legislative activities, leveraging his expertise to drive policy initiatives and promote good governance.
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