TheNewsGuru

Tag: Riot Act

  • “Enough is enough”, Gov. Otu reads riot act to kidnappers in C’ River

    “Enough is enough”, Gov. Otu reads riot act to kidnappers in C’ River

    Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, on Wednesday, read the riot act to criminal elements, saying “Enough is Enough” in an effort to stop the incessant kidnapping cases in the state.

    Otu made the call in Calabar after the swearing-in of 31 Commissioners in the state.

    The governor who directed law enforcement agents to arrest and prosecute all criminal elements in line with extant laws of the state, announced a reward for any useful information that will curb kidnapping in the state.

    He said in their quest for illicit wealth, criminals have resorted to kidnapping and crimes that are alien to the culture and people of the state, showing no love, sympathy or respect for human lives.

    “I have directed all security agencies to employ all resources at their disposal to ensure that this menace is stopped forthwith, and all hostages freed and reunited with their families.

    “It is rather sad that instead of keying into the new administration’s development strategy in a way of amnesty, few criminal elements have resorted to making income while holding a gun on our head.

    “These criminals have suddenly made our once peaceful state a pariah for tourists, investors, and even the ordinary people, we must put an end to this inhuman treatment by criminal elements.

    “Let me state unequivocally that enough is enough, this must stop not tomorrow but today; my administration is ready to enforce the law to the letter in order to bring criminal activities to an end,” Otu stated

    Speaking further, the governor affirmed that the security architecture of the state was now better positioned and would henceforth be ruthless with criminal elements in a bid to reclaim the age-long peaceful Cross River.

    He said while they worked for the return of the days of economic boom, residents should not allow this little period of sacrifice to push them into criminality.

    He said they were working tirelessly to make sure that even though times are hard, with their discussions with stakeholders, palliatives could be provided to alleviate sufferings occasioned by subsidy removal.

    It would be recalled that on Thursday, July 13, Prof. Ekanem Ephraim, a Neurologist with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, was abducted.
    While Ephraim is yet to be released, doctors in the state have withdrawn their services.

  • PDP campaign council wants Buhari to read riot act to government agencies

    PDP campaign council wants Buhari to read riot act to government agencies

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to read the riot act to agents of the government from interfering with the 2023 general election.

    The council made the call during a press conference jointly addressed by its Director Strategic Communication, Dele Momodu; Spokesperson, Daniel Bwala; Atiku’s Special Assistant Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu; Atiku’s special adviser media, Paul Ibe on Sunday in Abuja.

    Shaibu said that any effort to intimidate opposition parties was an effort to interfere with the conduct of a peaceful election.

    He demanded for immediate sack of Minister of State, Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, for alleged abuse of office and using his official position to dabble into politics and 2023 general elections.

    “You will recall that recently a serving minister has written a letter to agencies of the government who are the same members of the executive branch of government and demanded that in 72 hours they should prosecute the presidential candidate of PDP.

    “In their press conference, they bragged about their powers and control of law enforcement.

    “He, whilst serving as a cabinet member and campaign spokesman, uses the taxpayers’ money and official privilege and powers to heavily compromise the agencies of government.”

    Bwala decried situation where cabinet members who should focus on governance would use their offices to influence agencies of government in favour of the APC.

    “Members of the opposition are reported to be increasingly invited by law enforcement agencies for one question or the other in other to weaken the opposition.

    “Any effort to intimidate opposition is an effort to interfere with the conduct of a peaceful election.”

    Bwala also called on the anti-graft agencies to invite the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress.

    Bwala also alleged threat to his life and some other members of PDP.

    He called on domestic and international election observers including the ECOWAS, USA, UK, European Union, and other development partners to look into various threats to the peaceful conduct of 2023 general elections.

    Momodu, however, said that no amount of intimidation would deter the PDP from rescuing the country.

  • Obasanjo reads riot act, says nobody can threaten him against supporting Obi

    Obasanjo reads riot act, says nobody can threaten him against supporting Obi

    Ex-president of the country, Olusegun Obasanjo has explained that he has a right to support whosoever he wants, saying nobody can threaten him over his preference

    It’s been alleged that Obasanjo is lending support to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party Mr Peter Obi.

    Commenting on the threat by some persons, Obasanjo said he had shed blood and gone to prison; hence nobody could threaten him about his choice of a presidential candidate.

    The Egba high chief made this known  at the Ohanaeze Ndigbo National Secretariat in Enugu State.

    Obasanjo had visited the Secretariat in the company of Afenifere’s leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Obi.

    They visited the Secretariat to pay condolence over the death of First Republic Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi.

    However, Obasanjo said: “I have shed my blood for this country. I have gone to prison for this country.

    “So, what are you going to frighten or threaten me with? The only thing that my senior brother (Adebanjo) hasn’t done is that he hasn’t shed his blood but he has gone to prison but we will leave that aside.”

    He said Nigeria’s problem was more national than ethnic.

    The former president lamented that Nigeria was yet to have a leader with the right type of character.

    “The problem we have in our hands in Nigeria is not ethnic. It is national. And for me, the most important thing in a leader is character.

    “If I put my hand on someone, it means that comparing with the other, I see that there is a merit that will be of benefit to Nigeria,” he said.

  • Anambra poll: US reads riot act to likely trouble makers, threatens visa ban

    Anambra poll: US reads riot act to likely trouble makers, threatens visa ban

    The United States Government has warned likely trouble makers in the forth coming Anambra governorship poll of the dire consequences.

    In a statement ahead of the election, the U.S said it was prepared to slam would-be perpetrators of violence with the ban.

    US said it looks forward to a peaceful and transparent exercise with results that accurately reflects the will of residents.

    The statement from the US Embassy in Abuja reads: “The United States looks forward to a gubernatorial election in Anambra State on November 6 that is peaceful and transparent, with results that accurately reflect the will of the state’s residents.

    “We will be paying close attention to actions of individuals who interfere with the democratic process or instigate violence against civilian populations before, during, or after the elections.

    “We will not hesitate to consider consequences – including visa restrictions – for those found to be responsible for election-related violence or undermining the democratic process.

    “Under US immigration law, certain violations also may lead to restrictions on family members.”

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that tension is generally high on the possibility of violent break out owing to the recently gunmen attacks on the state.

  • 2019: NBC reads riot act to broadcasting stations over political campaigns, hate speeches

    2019: NBC reads riot act to broadcasting stations over political campaigns, hate speeches

    The Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday read the out riot act to broadcast stations on political campaigns and hate speeches.

    Its Director-General, Mallam Ishaq Modibbo Kawu, said liable stations will soon face the law.

    He noted that it was wrong and against the ethics of the profession to broadcast campaign messages or programmes when the lid was yet to be lifted.

    Kawu, who spoke while briefing reporters on the update of Digital Switch Over (DSO), said the NBC will soon begin to phase out Analogue Switch Off (ASO) in Plateau State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), by the end of the First Quarter of 2018.

    The NBC boss warned that media stations must do everything professional to promote the country’s democracy.

    Kawu said: “Permit me my dear colleagues, to also take your time to remind our broadcasters that as we approach the electioneering period, stations must do everything professional to promote democracy. Broadcasters are reminded that they have a duty to respect all extant laws related to the reportage and coverage of the electoral process. Don’t broadcast campaigns when the period for commencement of campaigns have not commenced.”

    On inciting messages, the NBC boss warned against deliberate airing of contents, which are capable of inciting the people against each other.

    “We are disturbed by the pattern of insensitive and inflammatory broadcasts emanating from some broadcast stations, especially in their coverage of national crises, like the herdsmen/farmer crises.

    “We have observed that some stations deliberately and repeatedly air very inciting contents long after the events break. We have warned stations that they must follow the tenets of the Broadcasting Code.

    “Having warned broadcasters, we shall follow up with appropriate sanctions should any station continue to violate the Broadcasting Code.”

    Already, he said the commission is planning a national conference on “politics and hate speech, during which we hope to present the study we commissioned on hate speech”.

    Kawu also revealed that the commission has submitted a long list of new radio and television stations to President Muhammad’s Buhari for presidential assent.

    “The President has always been encouraging the NBC to open up accesses for Nigerians to be able to register newer radio and television stations, because of his belief that they help to deepen democratic discourse and also help to create new jobs through the broadcasting value chain,” he said.

    NBC, he added, has informed the pay DTT operators, GOTV and NTA/STAR TIMES to begin discussions with the two signal distributors – ITS and Pinnacle Communications.

    “This is because, in line with the Government White Paper on the Transition from Analogue to Digital Broadcasting, after June 2019, these pay DTT operators would no longer be licensed to operate as both content providers and signal distributors,” he explained.

    On DSO, Kawu said by the end of the third quarter of 2018, 12 states would have been hooked up to the digital viewing.

    He noted that so far, the digital switchover has been launched in three states, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The commission, he said, is “committed to roll out in many more states this year” with Enugu and Osun on the line to join the list of states in couple of weeks.

    He said: “We have already scheduled Monday, February 12, 2018 for the switch on for Enugu state. Similarly, February 23rd has been affirmed for the switch on in Osun State.”

    The full rollout, he said, is subject to achieving about 95 per cent coverage.