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Tag: Anarchy

  • BREAKING: [Lekki Shootings] Lagos Government invited us when anarchy was setting in – Nigerian Army

    BREAKING: [Lekki Shootings] Lagos Government invited us when anarchy was setting in – Nigerian Army

    The 81 Division of the Nigerian Army (NA) has denied allegation soldiers opened fire on #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Plaza last Tuesday.

    In a statement by the Acting Director Army Public Relations (ADPR), Major Osoba Olaniyi, the Division however confirmed the involvement of soldiers in restoring order in Lagos following the declaration of curfew by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    It said: “The attention of Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army has been drawn to a viral video on social media in which it was alleged that civilian protesters were massacred by soldiers at Lekki Toll Plaza. This allegation is untrue, unfounded and aimed at causing anarchy in the country.

    “At no time did soldiers of the Nigerian Army open fire on any civilian. From the onset of the ENDSARS protest, there was no time personnel of 81 Division Nigerian Army Lagos were involved.

    “However, the decision to call in the military was taken by the Lagos State Government (LASG) after a 24- hour curfew was imposed.

    “This was as a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away.

    “The situation was fast degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that LASG requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy.

    “The intervention of the military followed all laid down procedures for Internal Security operations and all the soldiers involved acted within the confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security operations.

    “Finally, Headquarters 81 Division Nigerian Army reiterates Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities did not shoot at any civilian as there are glaring and convincing evidence to attest to this fact.

    “This allegation is the hand work of mischief makers who will stop at nothing to tarnish the image of the Nigerian Army. The general public is hereby enjoined to discountenance this allegation as there is no iota of truth therein.”

  • #EndSars: We will take firm steps to prevent anarchy in Nigeria – FG

    The Federal Government has warned that it will not allow the country to be thrown into anarchy following the violence that has trailed the #EndSARS protests.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Saturday when he featured on a late night Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) news programme, “Weekend File”

    In the course of the programme entitled, “EndSARS Protest: The Way Forward,” the minister said Saturday’s assassination attempt on the Osun Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, while addressing the protesters was a clear confirmation that the protests had been hijacked by hoodlums and people with ulterior agenda.

    He noted that while the original conveners of the protests might have meant well, it was obvious that they were no longer in control of the initiative.

    “Peaceful protest is an integral part of democracy and that is why the Federal Government in the last 11 days has treated the protesters in a very civilised manner.

    “But, if you look at what happened to the governor of Osun state,it has gone completely beyond peaceful protest against excesses and abuse of power by the police.

    “There is no where in the world where a government will folds its arms and allow the country to descend into anarchy.

    “We are no longer dealing with #EndSARS but a volatile situation that can lead to anarchy if government does not take some very firm steps to protect the lives and livelihood of innocent Nigerians,” he said.

    The minister added that the protests have gone beyond being peaceful because lives have been lost and innocent Nigerians, including workers and students, are passing through harrowing experiences.

    Specifically, he said because the protesters are blocking the roads and highway, workers are finding it difficult to get to their offices and back home while many Nigerians are stranded on the roads.

    “We have nothing against peaceful protest but there are civilised ways of doing so.

    “This is by going to a venue where you are not going to disturb other Nigerians because where your own right stops, other persons’ right begins,” he said.

    Mohammed said Nigerians should also see the protests as a smokescreen staged to undermine the administration and destabilise the country because all the demands by the protesters had been met by the government.

    He reiterated that after the government had responded and met all the demands of the protesters, they ought to have nothing doing on the streets.

    He recalled that the protesters on inception came with five demands including, that all arrested protesters should be released immediately and justice must be given to deceased victims of SARS including adequate compensation to be paid to their families.

    The minister said the protesters equally demanded that there should be an independent committee to oversee the investigations and prosecution of any members of SARS found guilty of extra judicial killings.

    He said they demanded that all personnel of the disbanded SARS must undergop psyhologicl and medical evaluation as well as retraining before they should be redeployed to other services of the Police.

    The protesters also demanded that the salary of the police should be increased in a manner that will be adequately compensate for protecting lives and property of citizens.

    In meeting the demands of the protesters, the minister said on Oct. 11, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) dissolved SARS accross the 36 states Police Command and the FCT.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari, on Oct. 12 addressed the nation, stating that the disbanding of SARS was a first step in the comprehensive reform of the police.

    Mohammed said that On Oct. 13, the IGP ordered all defunct SARS personnel to report at Force Headquarters in Abuja for debriefing as well as psychological and mental examinations.

    On the same day, the Presidential Panel on the Reform of SARS accepted the five-point demand of the protesters.

    He said the National Economic Council (NEC) presided over by the Vice President with the 36 state governors and FCT Minister as members met on Oct. 15 and directed the immediate establishment of state-based Judicial Panels of Enquiry across the country.

    The panels as directed by the Council are to receive and investigate complaints of police brutality and related extra-judicial killings with a view to delivering justice for all victims of the dissolved SARS and other Police units.

    The NEC also directed governors to immediately establish state-based special security and human rights committee to be chaired by the governor in each state.

    The governors are also to supervise the newly formed Police Tactical Unit and other security agencies located in states.

    The committee is to ensure protection of citizens’ human rights while members will include representatives of the youths, civil society groups and the head of the Police Tactical Unit in the state.

    The NEC also mandated every governor to take control and initiate dialogue with the protesters in their states and the FCT.

    The Council directed governors to set up a victim support fund so that those who have been victims of SARS brutality will be compensated.

    The minister stressed that with all the steps taken, the government has done more in meeting all the demands by the protesters.

    He appealed to Nigerians to be objective in assessing the situation and to see that what is going on is beyond peaceful protest but an attempt by some people to destabilise the country.

  • Nigeria sliding to anarchy daily under Buhari – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the country is fast sliding into anarchy under the President Muhammadu Buhari led federal government.

    The national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus said the country is in dire need of patriotic leaders at all levels to stabilise the polity.

    Secondus said there was an urgent need to halt the slide into anarchy, stressing that the country is bleeding from all sides.

    The party chairman spoke in Abuja on Friday while presenting certificates of return to the PDP governorship candidate for Bayelsa State, Senator Diri Douye and his Kogi State counterpart, Mr Musa Wada.

    Stating that fear of the unknown has gripped many Nigerians, Secondus added that Nigerians are in desperate need of leaders that could lift them out of the woods.

    “Everyone in this country today is living in fear of either hunger or insecurity and the situation calls for all hands to be on deck”, the chairman said.

    Secondus warned that the country should pay attention to the alarm raised by the World Bank, stating that the nation’s economy was heading for insolvency unless urgent steps are taken to address the situation.

    The PDP chair charged the party’s governorship candidates in the two states to see their victory as an invitation to serve and not to lord it over their people.

    He urged the candidates to see their victory as a no-victor-no-vanquished situation and to strive to bring all PDP families together ahead of the elections.

    The party chair said, “Not yet time for celebration, bring your people together and get to work immediately as time is of essence.

    “A totally reformed PDP does not believe in winner take all moreover the work ahead requires all hands to pull together in the two states to achieve the inevitable victory.

    “The transparency that greeted your primaries is a continuation of our vow to have internal democracy working in our party which was demonstrated to the World last October at the Presidential primaries when PDP conducted the freest and fairest ever Presidential primaries in the nation’s political history”.

  • Nigeria sliding into anarchy under Buhari, APC – Wike

    Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said Nigeria is sliding into anarchy because of the governance style of the President Muhammadu Buhari led-led federal government.

    Commissioning the newly-constructed governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State on Friday, Mr Wike urged Nigerians to use their permanent permanent voters cards ”to vote out the failed APC Federal Government”.

    “Nigeria is sliding into anarchy. Nigerians were deceived by the change lies. Nigerians should show that they are tired of this fruitless change,” he said.

    The governor also restated his alarm, which he made some days ago that the Federal Government was planning to assassinate him. He said the APC Federal Government has been involved in past plots to kill him.

    The presidency has dismissed Mr Wike’s claim as untrue.

    Mr Wike charged the people of Ekiti to be vigilant ahead of the upcoming governorship election, saying that they ”will be intimidated by the security agencies”.

    He urged the APC Federal Government to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who showed that the unity of the country is paramount by conducting credible polls.

    The event was attended by Mr Jonathan; Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose; Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu; Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel and PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus.

    “Jonathan knows what democracy is all about. He never used his power to imprison the opposition. He never allowed anyone to shed blood for political gains. That is not the case today,” Mr Wike said.

    He wondered why the Ekiti State APC governorship candidate would be campaigning on ”the strength of a failed APC Federal Government, instead of his first term achievements”

    The governor commended the Ekiti State Governor for his management of meagre resources to deliver key projects.

    He said the outgoing governor has performed creditably because ”he believes in massive development in line with the PDP manifesto”.

    “We are happy to be part of PDP states commissioning key projects unlike the APC States where wheel barrows, hired tractors and bags of mangoes are commissioned,” he said.

    He said Mr Fayose will continue to be useful to the PDP even after he completes his tenure of office.

    In his remarks, Mr Fayose said the PDP governorship candidate, Kolapo Eleka, ”has a divine mandate to take over”.

    Mr Fayose said that over the eight years that he spent in the office, he (Eleka) was central to the development of the infrastructure base of Ekiti State.

    Mr Secondus warned the APC Federal Government against attempting to rig the Ekiti State Governorship Election.

    He said that across the country, ”PDP State Governors are delivering key projects to improve the lives of the people”.

    Goodwill messages were delivered by Governors, Emmanuel, Ikpeazu and Dankwambo.

     

  • Anarchy looms in Kogi, declare state of emergency now – Melaye tells Osinbajo

    The Lawmaker representing Kogi West in the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye has called on the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo to declare a State of Emergency in Kogi before anarchy becomes the order of the day.

    This followed the onslaught suffered by the State lawmakers when suspected thugs invaded the Kogi State House of Assembly on Tuesday to disrupt house sitting.

    Dino Melaye who disclosed in a social media platforms “Chat with the Speaker” condemned in strong terms the attack on the Assembly, most especially the member representing Igalamela Odolu Constituency, Friday Sanni Makama who resumed sitting after his victory at the Kogi State High Court Lokoja challenging his six months suspension from the house for alleged anti legislative activities.

    He called on stakeholders in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to challenge the anti democratic activities allegedly orchestrated by Governor Yahaya Bello, noting that the Governor should not be allowed to destroy the labour of genuine APC members in Kogi State.

    According to him “The draconian Idi Amin approach to governance by Yahaya Bello today as displayed by his criminally minded hooligans and hired killers in usurping the legislative powers and priviledges of the Parliament is a clear manifestation of satanism.

    “The unwarranted attack on Hon. Friday Sani Makama shall not be swept under the carpet.

    “We are not in a banana republic. It is manifestly clear now that the acting President must declare a state of Emergency in Kogi State before Anarchy becomes Total.

    “The economic cankerworm and social scavenger called Bello must be tamed before he finishes spending the little political capital left for APC in Kogi. We must not all keep quiet and allow this Stranger destroy the labour of genuine APC members in Kogi.

    “We will not allow him to take us back to Egypt. We must rescue Kogi NOW!!!!.”

    In a swift reaction, the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello distanced himself from the Assembly attack.

    Speaking through his Director General, Media and publicity Kingsley Fanwho the Governor maintained that his administration will not condone any act of thuggery, adding that anyone caught would be made to face the full weight of the law.

    Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria from Kogi State Okutepa (SAN) also shared his view on the invasion of the house by suspected thugs.

    “I think time has come for all stakeholders of Kogi State to be out against tyrannical and authoritarian acts and actions.

    “The whimsical and tyrannical misdeamenour of our politicians cut across political parties. Kogi has everything but is lacking everything.

    “We cannot in the face of available human and material resources continue to condone the wickedness being visited on our people.

    “Democracy is not government of adolescent by the adolescent for the adolescent. It is much more than that. It is a form of government that has no room for tyrannical and whimsical warlords masquerading as thugs.

    “We must come together as a people to liberate ourselves from the current poverty of political and legal ideas,” Okutepa noted.

     

     

  • Any attempt to impeach Ekweremadu as DSP is call to anarchy – PDP

     

    Opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has said any attempt by senators elected under the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to impeach Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu because he is not a member of the party (APC) will lead to anarchy in the country.

    The party was reacting to comments made by Senator Kabiru Marafa, where he called on Ekweremadu to decamp to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in order to retain his seat.

    In a statement on Thursday released by its National Publicity Secretary, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, PDP said any attempt to remove Ekweremadu was a call for anarchy.

    The statement said: “Fortunately, there is no section or clause of the Nigerian Constitution (1999 As Amended) that provides that one must be a member of the Ruling Party before he/she can be elected into any position in the Senate or the House of Representatives.

    “Equally, it is very distasteful and uncharitable for any senator to stand on the floor of the Hallowed Chamber and ask his colleague to violate the Constitution by cross-carpeting from his own party to join the ruling party. Note that it is Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not Senate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “It is indeed laughable for Senator Marafa to cite the internal issues in the PDP as a reason for Senator Ekweremadu to decamp. For the umpteenth time, let us reiterate that there is no faction in the PDP. A party is only factionalised when its organs are in disarray but this is different in the PDP where all the organs are intact behind the National Caretaker Committee under the chairmanship of H. E. Senator Ahmed Makarfi, CON. A mere rebellion by a small interest group within the Party cannot be referred to factionalisation of the Party.”

    The PDP added: “In view of the above, any member of the PDP using the current leadership disagreement caused by the Rebellious Group led by the former Borno State Governor, Senator Sherrif to decamp is doing so at his or her peril. Senator Marafa or any other member of the APC has no power to make such demands on a member of the PDP.

    “Let us remind Senator Marafa that Senator Ike Ekweremadu was elected as Deputy President of Senate by majority votes from both the PDP and APC senators. Any attempt to remove Senator Ekweramadu for being a member of the Opposition Party and not because of a constitutional breach or incompetence is a call for anarchy.

    “The current situation in the Senate where the Senate President and the Deputy Senate President are from different parties should not continue to appear strange to Senator Marafa and his likes in a democratic system.

    “For instance in the Second Republic, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Umezeoke was from opposition NPP while the Senate President was from the Ruling Party, the NPN, and both of them worked harmoniously with the cooperation of the Executive in moving the Country forward.

    “Finally, we call on our members in the National Assembly to remain strong and united behind the Deputy Senate President with the determination not to allow the APC truncate our hard earned democracy through their undemocratic tendencies.

    “To the APC lawmakers in the National Assembly, do not forget that Nigeria belongs to all of us and we must work together to protect her in order to advance our democracy.”