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Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Fear grips Ondo Cabinet: You’re on your own, Akeredolu tells aides

By Dayo Johnson

AKURE — FEAR has gripped members of the Ondo State Executive Council desiring to contest the forthcoming National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections. The prospective aspirants are on edge after it emerged that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had warned them that their positions would be immediately filled once they resigned their appointments to contest the election.
Ondo State governor, Rotimi Akeredolu
Even more, many of the prospective aspirants are also unsure of the mode of selection to be adopted in picking the candidates of the party. The leadership of the party is believed to be rooting for consensus or indirect while the Senator Ajayi Borrofice led tendency in the party is said to be rooting for a direct primary.
Among those in the cabinet who are known to have advanced their election plans are the commissioner for women affairs, Wunmi Edet Olatunji, a special Adviser, and former speaker House of Assembly, Victor Olabimtan, among others.
Others who are said to be undecided include Youth and Sports commissioner Saka Yusuf, Physical Planning And Urban Development Sola Amodeni and Finance, Wale Akinterinwa, Natural Resources  Rasheed Badmus and the Special Adviser on Transport, Tobi Ogunleye
Meanwhile, it was learned that the governor has told the commissioners, Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants wanting to resign and contest for the primaries for the National Assembly and state House of Assembly election to have a rethink.
Dependable sources told Vanguard that the governor told them in plain language that anyone leaving to contest for the primaries should know that the position to be vacated would be filled immediately.
In other words, there would be no leave of absence for any of them in case they fail to secure the party’s ticket after the primaries.
Governor Akeredolu was quoted as telling them that anyone that leaves “ is on his own” as the position would be filled almost immediately by party faithful yet to be given political appointments.
Vanguard gathered that many of his aides unsure of their prospects in the primaries had applied the brakes for fear of leaving the certainty for an uncertainty.
However, some have decided to go ahead with their campaigns in the constituencies not minding the subtle threat by their principal.
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Union urges governement to ban importation of textile materials

Textile material
The Textile, Garments and Tailoring Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (TGTSSAN) has urged the Federal Government to reduce the exchange rate for the survival of the textile industry.
 
The association argued that it was high time government repositioned the ailing industry for the development of the nation’s economy.
 
A communiqué issued at the end of its just-concluded 2018 industrial relation seminar held in Akure, Ondo State, stated that the industry is burdened by challenges of access to foreign exchange at affordable rate for the importation of machines and other equipment, smuggling, power challenges among others. 
 
The National President of the union, Ambi Karu hinted that more than 200 textile firms have been shut as a result of systemic challenges, while some reduced their production, staff strength and remuneration of workers.
 
He argued there is nothing wrong for the government to give the local textile companies a 90% rebate on cost of generating power.
 
On the issue of inadequate power supply, the association urged government to give the textile plants zero percent Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) interest loan to build embedded power plants and pipelines to gas their factories.
 
The union called on government to put legislation in place to support local manufacturers, adding that there should be a deliberate government policy to ban importation of cheap textiles materials into the country. 
 
It added that officials of the Nigeria Customs Service should effectively man the border posts to prevent smugglers ruin the industry.
 
According to them, ban on importation of foreign materials will protect the indigenous companies to be better and produce textile of international standard.
 
With the dominant role the manufacturing sector contributes to the growth of the economy, the union called on government to create an agency to protect the Nigeria’s textile industry.
 
The communiqué read in part: “When the industry was truly thriving without much challenges as it is today, Nigeria witnessed a boom in the textile sector.
At that time, specifically in the 1960s to 1970s textile companies such as Kaduna Textiles, Kano Textiles, United Nigeria Textiles, Aba Textiles, Texlon Nigeria Limited, First Spinners Limited, amongst others employed close to a million workers, contributing about 15 per cent of the manufacturing sector earnings to the GDP of the Nigerian economy. 
 
“With the boom in the sector, it accounted for over 60 per cent of the textile industry capacity in West Africa.
So, if you look at it from this perspective, there is the urgent need for the government to establish an agency to protect the textile sector.”

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Trump’s world order, family and tribes - Part 4

[File] Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday lashed out at Donald Trump over the US president’s message to the country on the occasion of its Nowruz Persian New Year celebrations.<br />US President Donald Trump Photo AFP/ LOEB
None of these family members or workers for his company is in the highly skilled category he is touting.
Stephen Miller, his policy adviser advocating hard-line immigration policy who is Jewish was labelled a hypocrite by his uncle David S Glosser, saying he had “watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, who is an educated man and well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this country.”
Oh by the way, the “fine people” of Charlottesville had placards stating they would not be displaced by Jews and so if they have their way people like Miller could find themselves in big trouble like in the old country they escaped from.
William H. Frey who recently wrote a book titled Diversity Explosion has noted that Trump’s White supporters have misplaced anxiety.
For the country as a whole, but particularly Whites, low birth rates could result a precipitous decline in population growth as seen in countries like Japan.
Immigration he noted will bring in youthful workers and “ironically, it is the older white population that would benefit handsomely from investments in the labour force skills of younger minorities – by the latter’s contribution to Social Security and Medicare” – Trump won the overwhelming proportion of the older White vote.
Trump supporters who received the crumbs from his tax cuts are likely to be negatively impacted by price rises as a result of Trump’s tariffs.
Trump’s rural base who continue to strongly support him, are being hit by tariffs on their exports to China.
Trump’s strongest supporters in the EU, namely, central and eastern European states, are jittery because of Trump’s embrace of Putin’s Russia who they see as a major threat.
According to an analysis by the Heritage Foundation, US mills that supply aluminium and steel raw materials employ fewer than 200,000 people while U.S. companies that buy those inputs that will be adversely affected by Trump’s tariffs employ more than 6.5 million workers.
And “Trump Country,” notably the Rust Belt, rely more on exports for jobs than other parts of the country.
Trump does not do irony and such inconsistencies do not matter/apply to him, his family and his tribes.
There is no issue with his family occupying prominent positions and benefiting financially because that is the smart thing to do.
His actions are just are what he has always done, with his business where family members run the show, with tax (avoidance), bankruptcy laws and his (disgruntled) employees.
He is against immigration from “shithole” countries but he is OK with it when it relates to his family, business and immigrants from predominantly White countries like Norway.
His gripe with kneeling (Black) sports stars is because they are ungrateful for what they are getting particularly as they do not actually belong to America as was Obama.
He reminded his rich tribe after the tax cut on how grateful they should be that he had filled their coffers.
And his working class White base, well they should be happy with their lot just like the employees and contractors he has shafted.
The Trump new world order/chaos is a cause for concern at home and abroad.
It is more of a chaos than an order and this is partly because his victory was a surprise and there was no real Trump doctrine/plan other than what is in it for Trump and his family, anger, hate and tribal affiliation.
Yes he had some platitudes but these were not well thought out and coherent strategies and policies.
His party is unrecognisable in terms of its long held principles.
American democracy is under threat and one of the earliest experiments of modern democracy is seeing a lurch to authoritarianism reminiscent of the darkest days of the twentieth century.
Analysis and science have been thrown out of the window as Trump takes policies and positions based on prejudice and conspiracy theories.
On the world stage Trump’s statements on NATO and the EU and his embrace of Putin, affinity towards authoritarian leaders, protectionist policies are introducing a chaotic process never seen for many decades.
Allies, frequently berated, attacked and surprised by Trump who often sides with traditional enemies such as Putin in the case of the EU, are confused and the most recent statement by the French President, echoing that made by Chancellor Merkel suggests that Europe is finally deciding to take a path that is more independent of the U.S.
The EU is particularly concerned because of Trump’s support for Brexit, ant-liberal policies of east and central European members and anti EU movements and parties.
In Asia, America’s allies, notably, Japan and South Korea are worried about the mercurial president who despite all the fanfare seems to have achieved nothing in his meeting with North Korea and his reluctance to engage in military exercises.
The whole world is worried about America’s tariffs, his unravelling of carefully crafted accords such as the Paris climate change, Iran, World Trade Organisation, NAFTA agreements and belligerent posture but without clearly thought out replacements.
Trump’s disdain of analysis, science, lack of experience or interest in politics and diplomacy but rather only guided by bloated regard of his own intellect and deal making prowess, his tribe and conspiracy theories makes world leaders worried.
This angry leader, ready to take on the world, armed with the most powerful economic and military force, backed by a sycophantic congress and support from the only people he cares for, his base, is unnerving.
And with his legal issues and the Mueller probe at home, he may just lash out as he is prone to do when he is frustrated and/or wants to change the news agenda.
Concluded.
Rogers is principal consultant, Media and Event Management, Oxford, United Kingdom.
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2019: Bianca is not from Anambra, she can’t be Senator – Ojukwu’s family vow

The family of late Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu has vowed not to support wife of the Igbo leader, Bianca even if she emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, ahead of the 2019 general elections.
According to them, Bianca was not from Anambra, and cannot lead the people of Anambra South senatorial district.
They said, the woman, who is originally from Ngwo, Enugu State by birth, can decide to remarry tomorrow.
Speaking to newsmen, Dr. Ike Ojukwu, who is one of the directors of Ojukwu Transport Company Limited, OTL, said it was wrong to allow a woman from Ngwo in Enugu State to represent Anambra South Senatorial District.
DAILY POST reported last week that Bianca joined the race for the Anambra South senatorial district on the platform of APGA.
Ike said, “Is she from Nnewi? She is from Ngwo in Enugu State. I would prefer someone who is a son of the soil, and because I come from Nnewi, I would like an Nnewi indigene to represent us.”
Also speaking on the matter, Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Jnr said, “She is apparently coming out on the platform of APGA and that is APGA’s business.
“They can decide on whoever they want to bring out. That should not be my business but I find it curious that they want somebody from Enugu State to represent us in Anambra South.
“This is a young woman, who was supposedly married to my late father. A young woman who could remarry tomorrow maybe from Abia State or later from Sokoto State.
“And they want her to represent us. I wonder if there are no other people in Anambra South, who can represent us.
“Has anybody asked Odimegwu household whether we believe in her to represent us? This is a woman we don’t interact with. She doesn’t talk to us. She can’t have access to our property She can’t cross our gate in the village.
“She doesn’t associate with the members of the family.
“There are certain questions that should have been asked before moving in that particular direction.
“Like I said, APGA is free to field whoever they want to field. I know that APC is trying to field a very credible candidate and when we get to the field of justice we will see what happens.”
On his party, a legal practitioner Chief Debe Odimegwu Ojukwu, said, “As a lawyer, I would say no. why I said no is that there are so many marriages, even when you look at Nollywood, there are many marriages everyday but that does not make it legal.
“Why I am arguing this is because there was a woman my father married in a court, and that marriage was never nullified, and my training as a lawyer tells me that when there is a subsisting marriage, subsequent marriage or attempt at marriage becomes null and void.”
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Why Obaseki detests politicians — Idahosa

By Mod - 2 hours ago - [ Update Vanguard ]

By Alemma Aliu
BENIN — Governor Godwin Obaseki’s alleged hostility towards politicians has been traced to the way he was fleeced by them during the indirect primaries that led to his emergence as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in the Edo State governorship election, Charles Idahosa, an APC chieftain has said.
Charles Idahosa
Mr. Idahosa who served as political adviser to the immediate past governor of the state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole in an interview said the delegate system of enthroning political party candidates was sufficed with corruption, which put Obaseki off from politicians when he emerged as governor of the state.
“One of the reasons that Obaseki has not been able to forgive the political class is the money he spent for his nomination because of the delegate process that was followed, it was not a direct primary,” Idahosa told Vanguard in an interview during which he gave a robust support for the direct primary method for selection of candidates.
Noting the money-spinning exercise that characterised the Edo APC primaries, Idahosa speaking from his frontline position said:
“It was a fortune for the delegates; the delegates were camped in hotels, first-class hotels for three days, they were paid thousands of naira. They were increasing it moment by moment, minute by minute.
“Meanwhile when we put those people in as ward executives, we never knew they would become delegates. The candidates saw hell, not only Obaseki, Odubu (Pius) and others faced a similar challenge, they (delegates) were moving from one hotel to the other, so I don’t want that to happen because, in direct primaries, you cannot share money for every member of the party.”
“In 2007, I contested the governorship ticket with Adams Oshiomhole, the present National Chairman, it was direct primaries, and I lost. It was very clear to me that I lost because Oshiomhole at that time was already a household name because of his labour antecedents.”
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Leah Sharibu as albatross

Leah Sharibu, one of the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls
The debate over payment or no payment of ransom to the abductors of the Dapchi girls will continue to pale into insignificance until Miss Leah Sharibu, the only Christian girl who has reportedly failed to deny her faith is released alive.
She has become the core issue and indeed an albatross on the neck of the Federal Government that has been promising her release since February this year.
She is still in captivity and her parents are still in distress. And Christians in Nigeria are grieving with rising frustration.
The reason for grief and frustration are not too far to seek: Leah is still in the hands of her captors who captured 110 girls from the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Yobe State on February 19, 2018.
The Boko Haram terrorists reportedly made the renunciation of her faith a precondition for her release, but she was said to have declined and so was held hostage while 104 of her colleagues were released on March 21 this year.
Sadly, five of the hapless girls died in captivity.
This is a very sensitive background that should have touched off seriousness on the part of state actors in Abuja – since March this year.
Let no one get it twisted, Leah at the moment is the face of the perceived conflict between religions in Nigeria – by telling her to renounce her faith.
While the Nigerian government said on March 21 that negotiations through a back-channel led to the release of the girls and a boy, recent media reports citing the United Nations (UN) said the government did not tell the whole truth.
According to the UN report, in spite of Nigerian government’s denial on multiple occasions, a splinter Boko Haram group that kidnapped the Dapchi girls in February was paid a “large ransom.”
As the issue of the payment of ransom for the rescue of some of the kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirls rages, the various headlines in respect of Leah’s plea to be rescued demands the attention of the Nigerian state actors with conscience, as the non-release of citizen Leah remains a moral guilt hanging over the Nigerian state’s duty-bearers.
Those criticising the payment of ransom should instead focus on appealing to the nation’s conscience and encourage the Federal Government to bring Leah back alive.
In the same vein, those criticising the alleged payment of ransom should realise that human life involved is more important in the equation.
On Leah’s case, therefore, if the Federal Government paid to rescue others, the government should pay and rescue the innocent girl languishing in detention and crying for help!
As a matter of fact, Leah stood for something by refusing to change her religion.
In this regard, the Nigerian state should note that what she represents in religious context is not to be trifled with and so should be rescued immediately.
Therefore, the life of the only kidnapped Dapchi schoolgirl not yet released, will continually be on the front burner until news of her release is broken.
It is a shame that it took the plea of the girl the other day for the nation to be reawakened that she is still in the hand of the kidnappers.
This is in stark opposition to the case of the 12 boys known as Wild Boars who in June went exploring in Thailand’s Chiang Rai Province with their football coach; and ended up trapped deep inside ThamLuang cave, underneath a mountain.
Fear gripped the world because the cave has no GPS, no Wi-Fi, and no cell phone service; as such it is a place where a person can become completely isolated. So, many had expected the story of the lost Wild Boars to end in tragedy.
Instead, it became a story of hope and survival, and of families reuniting.
This is a story of people from all over the world coming together with one mission: to save 12 young boys and their coach.
The operation to save the team and their coach, took bravery and doggedness as the crew of foreign and Thai cave divers courted death every time they explored ThamLuang’s cramped chambers.
So many things could have gone wrong, but somehow combined efforts of the people and government managed to get the boys out alive.
Notwithstanding, since the political will was there, the rescue team demonstrated courage, determination and focus; and they succeeded.
To handle the many things that could have gone wrong, they collaborated with other countries.
So, apart from the more than 150 Thai Navy Seal members, outfitted with improvised equipment, overseas military teams brought search-and-rescue equipment.
The Americans provided logistics, while British divers navigated the most hazardous stretches.
This is a remarkable story of determination and doggedness – and the length a focused country that has value for human life will go to save lives.
It is a show of commitment and the value placed on human lives in Thailand.
Thai government was not territorial, they got the required expertise from other countries; there was no report of inter-agency squabble; people went to help voluntarily; trauma management was excellent; due diligence was the guiding principle as possible rescue procedures were explored, people were trained on various options before they decided on the procedure to adopt.
And the team diligently worked in a well-coordinated manner, without the usual blame game and finger-pointing that is common in our clime.
Also, money was not thrown at the issue! They did not rest on their oars until the last boy was rescued!
If Thailand could do this, then Nigeria can!
So, we need to put in a lot of thinking into solving the problem of Leah and the rest of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls still in captivity and possibly get help from other countries.
It is hoped that as a country, Nigeria will learn some lessons from this ‘episode,’ remember that Leah is still in the hands of her abductors and intensify efforts to rescue her as Thai government did for the Thai boys.
So, we appeal to the president to increase the tempo of the rescue efforts and ask for help; collaborate with other countries and get international rescuers to help until every schoolgirl abducted is accounted for and Boko Haram is conquered.
This is the only way we can fully clear the moral guilt that hangs over Nigeria on this issue.
Mr. President, Nigerians are waiting to say thank you for rescuing Leah Sharibu and the remaining Chibok schoolgirls alive and for conquering Boko Haram.
Certainly, Leah Sharibu’s issue is too sensitive to be left in the realms of miracles.
There is indeed no price that is too much to be paid to achieve freedom for the last Dapchi girl in captivity.
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Nigeria beats Egypt 3-1, qualifies for 2019 ITTF World Team Cup

Table tennis
Nigeria’s men team yesterday at the on-going ITTF African Championships in Mauritius defeated Egypt 3-1 to book their place in the 2019 ITTF World Team Cup.
The World Team Cup will be hosted by Japan next year.
The trio of Segun Toriola, Aruna Quadri and Bode Abiodun fought well against the boastful Egyptians to secure a convincing win.
But it was not the same story for the women’s team, who fell 1-3 to the star-studded Egyptian side in the final.
The women lost the World Team Cup slot to Egypt.
Aruna Quadri recorded wins over Ahmed Saleh and Mohamed Saleh, while Toriola beat Khaled Assar 3-2, but Bode Abiodun fell 0-3 to Mohammed El-Beiali.

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Why we won’t support Bianca’s senatorial ambition —Ojukwu’s children

By Charles Kumolu
THE senatorial ambition of the wife of the late Biafra warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, has faced a major setback as some members of the Ojukwu family have vowed not to support her if she emerged the candidate of the All Progressive  Grand Alliance, APGA.
•Bianca Ojukwu
In an interactive session with newsmen, Dr. Ike Ojukwu who is one of the directors of Ojukwu Transport Company Limited, OTL, said it was wrong to allow a woman from Ngwo in Enugu State to represent Anambra South Senatorial District.
He said: “Is she from Nnewi? She is from Ngwo in Enugu State. I would prefer someone who is a son of the soil and because I come from Nnewi, I would like an Nnewi indigene to represent us.”
On his part, Emeka Odimegwu Ojukwu Jnr said: “She is apparently coming out on the platform of APGA and that is APGA’s business. They can decide on whoever they want to bring out. That should not be my business but I find it curious that they want somebody from Enugu State to represent us in Anambra South.
“This is a young woman, who was supposedly married to my late father. A young woman who could remarry tomorrow, can come from Abia State or later from Sokoto State. And they want her to represent us? I wonder if there are no other people in Anambra South, who can represent us.
“Has anybody asked Odimegwu’s household whether we believe in her to represent us? This is a woman we don’t interact with. She doesn’t talk to us. She can’t have access to our property. She can’t cross our gate in the village. She doesn’t associate with members of the family.
“There are certain questions that should have been asked before moving in that particular direction. Like I said, APGA is free to field whoever they want to field. I know that APC is trying to field a very credible candidate and when we get to the field of justice we will see what happens.”
Also speaking, a legal practitioner Chief Debe Odimegwu Ojukwu, said: “As a lawyer, I would say no. Why I said no is that there are so many marriages, even when you look at Nollywood, there are many marriages every day but that does not make it legal.
“I am arguing in this direction because there was a woman my father married in a court and that marriage was never nullified and my training as a lawyer tells me that when there is a subsisting marriage, subsequent marriage or attempt at marriage becomes null and void.”
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Adorable Family: See Photos Of JayJay Okocha, His Wife And Their Grown-up Children

Nigerian football legend, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha and his family are picture perfect in adorable new photos which emerged on social media.

The former PSG and Bolton Wanderers playmaker, was pictured with his wife, Nkechi and their two children, A-Jay and Daniella.
The couple got married in 1997. 
See older photos of the family below;
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Soyinka, Ogunbodede,others eulogise Oluwasanmi at 35th anniversary of his transition as academic

By Gbenga Olarinoye, OSOGBO

Notable Nigerians mostly from the academia, recently converged at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ife to celebrate the Second Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Hezekiah Oluwasanmi who died about 25years ago for his outstanding contributions to the citadel of learning.
Leading the pack of discussants at the one day event was the Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka who described Professor Oluwasanmi as a deep thinker of note whose legacies in the university would remain un-obliterated in the history of humanity.
Soyinka
He affirmed that nothing could destroy the vibrant legacies the deceased had left behind adding: “that is more than sufficient for us who fortunately,are still alive to attest to his vision and commitments.”
Professor Soyinka stated also that the late Oluwasanmi remains one of those great minds that are far too frequently understated by the Nigerian society, saying he considered it a great privilege to have met and collaborated with him.
In his remark at the event, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede described the late vice-chancellor as a builder of builders whose contributions to the growth of the university is yet to be rivalled by other vice-chancellors that directed the affairs of the university after his exit.
Professor Ogunbodede said  the late vice-chancellor has written his name in the Guinness Book of Records with his outstanding and never-to-be-forgotten intimidating achievements in the campus.
He described those achievements as pacesetting and achievements that cannot be erased from the minds of those who appreciate the works of a genius. He prayed to God to also equip him with more wisdom to be able to add values to the institution as the late Oluwasanmi did while on earth.
Also, the chairman, Board of Trustees, Professor Oluwasanmi Foundation, Most Revd (Prof.) Adebayo Akinde said the memory of great men which Professor Oluwasanmi typifies, deserves to be preserved in order to serve as incentive and motivation to generations to come.
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Lawyers divided over superiority of FOI to Official Secret Act

By Henry Ojelu

On August 13, 2018,Samuel Ogundipe, Scurity Sector reporter with Premium Times, an online newspaper, was arrested by the pPolice in Abuja. Ogundipe’s arrest was sequel to a story he had written revealing a report by the Inspector-General of Police, Abubakar Idris to then acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The said report indicted the Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Lawal Daura on the invasion of the National Assembly. 
 After several unsuccessful attempts to compel Ogundipe to disclose the source of his information, the police formally arraigned him before an Abuja Magistrate Court on charges relating to theft and criminal trespass. The police in a one count charge alleged that Ogundipe on or about August 2018, stole a police interim report stored in the confidential registry of State House, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The offence, according to the police, is contrary and punishable under section 352, 288 and 319A of the Penal Code Law.
Abubakar Malami (SAN) 
Although Ogundipe has since been released by the court on bail, his arrest and detention has raised questions about the seeming conflict between the Official Secret Act and Freedom of Information Act. 
Enacted on September 1962, the Official Secret Act provides for the protection of official information.
The act specifically provides for the protection of sensitive official information, among others.
The act provides that any person charged with an offence under the foregoing subsection shall, unless the contrary is proved, be deemed to have acted for a purpose prejudicial to the security of Nigeria.
On the other hand, Freedom of Information Act, passed into law in 2011 provides for free access of public information to the citizen. The act also provides for the protection of personal privacy, protection of serving public officers from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of official information without authorisation and establishes procedures for the achievement of those purposes and; for related matters. 
Vanguard Law and Human Rights in this edition, sought the views of lawyers on which of the enactments is superior. Among those who spoke are Mr. Joseph Otteh, Executive Director, Access to Justice; Mr. Monday Ubani, immediate past 2nd Vice-President, Nigerian Bar Association;  Mr. Destiny Takon, human rights activist; Senior lecturer, Law
Faculty, Lagos State University, Gbenga Ojo and Wahab Shittu, Law lecturer, University of Lagos.
Joseph Otteh said: “Basically, the Freedom of Information, FOI, Act by its intent is a proposition that the era of keeping governance a secret affair has come to an end. The FOI Act tries to bring in a lot more transparency about the operations of government. It is an expression of the notion that government is accountable to the people. But the FOI Act does have its own reach and I think that is understandable.
“One of the exceptions that information cannot be released to you is when the information requested for will be prejudicial to national security. So, even the FOI does make exceptions. But that is not to say that it is legitimate to harass anybody because the person is in possession of national secrets.
”The question is; what really is national secret? Take the example of the Premium Times journalist who was arrested and asked to reveal the source of his information. That is clearly unconstitutional.
If information comes to a journalist, first, has it been ascertained the information has anything to do with national security? Take for example an ordinary correspondence between government officials.
When a journalist has access to that, does that constitute a violation of national security? So if the President writes to the Minister of Justice and says, ‘give me a speech’, and that happens to get into the hands of a journalist; that certainly doesn’t have anything to do with national security.
“So on that basis alone, it is wrong. The fact that the police have articulated this as national security doesn’t mean it is really a national security matter. Secondly, if leaking document is an offence, it is not the journalist who has leaked the document.
He certainly doesn’t work in those establishments from where that information leaked. Somebody else leaked those documents. Police should go and find that person. So the fact that a journalist gets information and relays it to the public doesn’t make him criminally liable.”
 Monday Ubani said: “The official Secret Act by implication is dead with the enactment of the Freedom of Information Act. By implication, any law that runs contrary to a latter law is null and void. It is not enough for the police to just charge anybody for offences of stealing official government document. They must prove the allegation and it will be really interesting to see how they will sustain that allegation.
“Journalists have major role to play in holding government accountable. That role is enshrined in the constitution.
There are several superior court rulings on that issue. The young man arrested was simply doing his job.
“That case is dead on arrival. What they have succeeded in doing is incarcerating the young man for the period they did and embarrassing him. As for proving the case in court against him, I doubt if the police will succeed.”
 Wahab Shittu differed, saying: “Despite the Official Secrets Act and FOI, the Nigerian press is still far from being free for the following reasons. First, even if sections 22 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution uphold freedom of the press, section 39(3)of the same constitution expressly prohibits and prevents the disclosure of certain information in deference to any law reasonably justifiable in a democratic society.
“The section also imposes restrictions upon persons holding office under the government of the federation or of a state etc concerning disclosure of certain privileged information.
“The journalist on the strength of this constitutional provision cannot also hide under section 1 of the FOI which guarantees right to freedom to seek for and have access to information, to demand release of such sensitive materials in the public interest. The rationale for this is simple. The Official Secrets Act and FOI Act must be interpreted subject to the provisions of the constitution particularly section 39 (3) thereof.
Besides, no fundamental rights, including freedom of the press and mass media, is absolute. It is subject to such restrictions as the interest of defence, public safety or public order.
“In summary, the FOI Act is not the Messiah for the Press or the Nigerian journalist in view of the restrictions imposed by the constitution as analysed above.
ln essence, there is no conflict between the Official Secrets Act and the FOI Act when both legislations are read together with constitutional provisions. Both Acts are subject to the supremacy of the constitution and are generally subject to the restrictions imposed by section39(3) of the constitution and the limitations imposed on fundamental rights generally in terms of public health, public order, public safety etc.
Destiny Takon on his part, said: In my opinion, the Freedom of Information Act clearly overrides the Official Secret Act. The FOI Act is a later legislation. Even if there is no specific mention of the fact  that Official Secret Act has been repealed, there is an
assumption at law to that effect. Any matter of public interest is an issue for the public domain and it does not matter how that information was received. Public interest in itself is a defence for any action with respect to that.”
Gbenga Ojo said: “ A law enforcement agency can prosecute a suspect alleged to be in possession of secret government document using any other law but certainly not under the Official Secret Act.
They could use the Penal Code but definitely not the Official Secret Act. That law is dead by implication of the Freedom of Information Act. As regards the journalist that was arrested for being in possession of secret documents, we all know that the police are just taking a face-saving measure by arraigning him in court.
“This issue is not about charging him, but about securing conviction. As a journalist, it does not matter how you get your document. That is what investigative journalism is all about.          The freedom of journalists to gather information is covered by the constitution and no law or act can restrain them from doing their legitimate job.”
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Raid on Edwin Clark’s home : We’re back to the creeks — Militants

By Kingsley Omonobi, Henry Umoru, Ben Agande, Levinus Nwabughiogu & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA — A coalition of Niger Delta militants  said yesterday they were returning to the creeks to disrupt oil production in the Niger Delta, following last Tuesday’s raid on the Abuja house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, by policemen over alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
From left: Wife of former Minister of Police Affairs, Mrs. Modupe Jemibewon; Elder Statesman, Chief Edwin Clark and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, during Ezeife and Mrs Jemibewon’s visit to Clark over the raid on his house by policemen in Abuja, yesterday.
The group also raised an alarm over assassination plots against some Nigerians, especially those canvassing restructuring of the country.
The militants’ declaration came on a day Police authorities paraded the informant, who gave the false information that led to the raid.
Although Force Headquarters said the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was not aware of the raid, sources in Abuja, yesterday, disclosed that fear of the consequences of the failed raid on the residence of Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja, as was the case with the invasion of the National Assembly, which led to the sack of former Director-General of Department of State Service, DSS, Lawal Daura, led to the prompt arrest and detention of the officers, who undertook the operation.
‘Sins of those targeted’
The sin of those being targeted, the Militants said, stemmed from their attempts to stand against the killings across the country and their tough stance on restructuring of the country.
Rising from a meeting, the group in a statement signed by major heads of the coalition groups, also announced an end to the ceasefire agreement with the federal government, saying it was returning to the creeks.
The agitators, who also insisted on the restructuring of the country as a condition for peace in the country, issued an ultimatum to all major oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to relocate their headquarters to the zone between now and December 2018.
Those who signed the statement include General John Duku for  Niger Delta Watchdogs and convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators;  General Ekpo Ekpo for  Niger Delta Volunteers;  General Osarolor Nedam for  Niger Delta Warriors; Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete   for  Niger Delta Peoples Fighters;  Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw for Bakassi Freedom Fighters; Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall for Niger Delta Movement for Justice and  Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson for Niger Delta Fighters Network.
Others are Major-Gen. Inibeghe Adams for Niger Delta Freedom Mandate; Major-Gen. Abiye Tariah for Niger Delta Development Network; Major-Gen. Joshua Ebere for Renewed Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta; Major-Gen. Jeremiah Anthony of
Movement for Actualization of Niger Delta Republic; Major Francis Okoroafor
Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army and Colonel Nelson Okochi Walter for
Niger Delta Liberty Organization.
Our stand — Niger Delta groups
The statement read in full: “At the general assembly meeting of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, we viewed, analyzed and also condemned in strongest terms the unwarranted invasion of the Abuja home of Niger Delta leader and elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark.
“This development is one in the series of plots to harass people in the Southern and Middle Belt Forum.
“Our intelligence further revealed that some of the people under the government watch-list that would either be assassinated or framed up are Obong Victor Attah, Dr. Alfred Mulade, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, retd, Senator Bassey Henshaw, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu and Dr. Isuwa Dogo and others for attempting to stand against the killings across the country as well as their stance on restructuring.
“The recent police action and attempt on the life of the Niger Delta leader is a wakeup call for action, we cannot continue to watch this continue.
“We also condemned the statements made by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in respect of the  restructuring of the country.
“After extensive deliberation on these issues, we hereby issue an ultimatum that any oil company that fails to relocate its headquarters to the Niger Delta between now and December 2018 should stop operation and vacate the Niger Delta  or face the consequences.
“The refusal of the President to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill into law is viewed as an attempt to forcibly control Niger Delta resources by proxy. And we advise Mr. President to have a rethink on this issue.
“According to reports, the President refused to sign the bill for fear that; it would weaken his power as the Minister of Petroleum Resources; his Ministers he consulted over the bill advised him against giving his assent as the Petroleum Regulatory Commission would then have powers to check his excesses, and the fiscal content” of the bill would be subject to litigation.
“The coalition wishes to state here clearly that we had fulfilled our part by maintaining total peace and ceasefire in the Niger Delta since 2017 as advised by Niger Delta elders and leaders, the oil output during the period has increased tremendously.
“However, the federal government has been playing politics with the Niger Delta people. We, hereby, officially announce that our cease fire ends today and we are returning to the creeks.
“We assure the Presidency that with just one month of our operation, the oil output will return to 200 barrels per day; we shall crush anything that crosses our line of operation. The actions and utterances of the Presidency have taken us by surprise, we cannot help but stand firm and fight with aggression for what rightly belongs to us.
“Finally, we, hereby, call on the International Oil Companies, PENGASSAN, NUPENG as well as other individuals that have businesses with oil companies in Niger Delta, especially in the platforms, rigs, pipelines and terminals, to withdraw their members on or before end of December 2018 as we cannot assure the safety of anyone anymore from now on.
“We want to assure you that our operation shall be second to none and we shall ensure the total liberation of our land and people from the injustices and neo-colonialism of the Nigerian state.”
Still on the matter, one of the militant generals who refused to disclose his identity, in a telephone conversation with Vanguard last night said: “Tell them in Abuja say trouble dey sleep, yanga go wake am.”
Police parade  informant
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force, yesterday, paraded the informant, who allegedly gave false information that arms and ammunition were kept in Chief Edwin Clark’s residence in Asokoro, Abuja, describing the raid as an illegal operation.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood parading Mr Ismail Yakubu, who said gave false information to the Police before the raid on Chief Edwin Clark’s house in Abuja. Photos: Gbemiga Olamikan.
The informant, Ismail Yakubu. hails from Waru Village, Apo District, Abuja.
The officers that carried out the raid are being detained by the IGP’s Monitoring Unit, ASP David Dominic, include the team leader, Inspector Godwin Musa, Inspector Sada Abubakar and Inspector Yabo Paul.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, justifying arrest of the policemen said: “Notwithstanding, the fact that on daily basis the Nigeria Police Force across the country receive information from members of the public which are promptly used to prevent and detect crimes, the Force will not condone misconducts by any of its personnel that can run contrary to the rule of law.
“The Police, therefore, has the statutory rights to execute a duly obtained search warrant in any premises where it has actionable intelligence or information that incriminating items or exhibits used to commit crime or about to be used for criminality, with the aim of recovering them to prevent the commission of such crime or to detect the crime that had been committed.
“Any officer who is to carry out the execution of search warrant must follow the laid down procedures within the law.
“Where such is not followed, such an officer must be made to face the consequences of violating the rule of law.
“The officer that led the team has been queried and the three inspectors are currently undergoing orderly room trial for the appropriate punishment to be meted out on them.
“The informant, Ismail Yakubu, from Waru Village, Apo District, Abuja will be arraigned in court for giving false information to mislead police action.”
Fear of  consequences
Meanwhile, sources in Abuja, yesterday, disclosed that fear of the consequences of the failed illegal raid on the residence of Chief Edwin Clark, in Asokoro, Abuja, led to the prompt arrest and detention of the officers, who undertook the operation.
Vanguard gathered that operatives of the Special Tactical Squad ‘STS’, which directly reports to the IGP, undertook the operation but in times past, had they been successful with the information and had found arms in Chief Clerks’ residence, nobody would have denied them.
It was gathered that though some high ranking officers were aware of the raid since the IGP was not around, they opted to adopt a wait-and-see attitude regarding the outcome of the raid before further moves.
However, when the operation backfired, the officers denied.
“The lesson of what happened when former DG of the DSS, Lawal Daura was sent packing over the NASS siege reverberated when initial reports of the failed raid came out.
“Remember that the botched siege on the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, and the failed plot to impeach Senator Saraki as Senate President, led to the removal of Lawal Daura as DG.
“Remember that DSS operatives, who carried out the operation said they were acting on orders from above. In the case of the Police raid, everybody denied knowledge, so nobody can be held responsible except the primary actors,” the source said.
Raid not heard of until it failed
Vanguard investigations showed that the IGP’s Monitoring Unit, the Police legal department, the IGP’s Intelligence Response Team (IRT) and Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) were not aware of the raid until its failure was made known.
On Tuesday night, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, delegated the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Joshak Habila, to lead a team to visit Chief Clark and apologize for the unauthorized raid carried out by some policemen on his house in Abuja.
In a statement, Force spokesman, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, had disclosed that IGP Idris was not aware of the raid on Clark’s residence by the policemen.
He said: “The IG did not authorize the search and has, therefore, sent a delegation of senior police officers, led by DIG Joshak Habila, along with some commissioners of police, who visited Chief Edwin Clark and apologized on behalf of the Nigeria Police Force and the IGP for the misconduct of the said police personnel and the attendant embarrassment the search has caused the elder statesman and his family.  The delegation was received by Chief Edwin Clark and the apology was accepted by him.”
IGP orders probe
He said the IG had ordered a probe of the four policemen involved in the raid, adding that they would be tried in accordance with the Force Disciplinary Procedures before appropriate punishment are meted out to them.
Speaking to newsmen during his parade, the suspect, Ismail Yakubu, who identified himself as a council member in Waru District Palace, Abuja, said he alerted the police to raid the house based on his patriotism to the nation.
Yakubu said he had no regret providing the police with the information because he had a duty as a citizen of the country to assist its security agencies in curbing crimes.
But he said the information on alleged presence of arms and ammunition in the residence of the former Federal Commissioner of Information was provided to him by the driver of the cab he boarded to Asokoro on the fateful day.
He said:  “My name is Ismaila Yakubu,  I am 45 years old and an indigene of Waru village in Apo in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
“First and foremost, I appreciate the time given to me. The point is that I got to hear about the large cache of arms and ammunition in the home of Chief Edwin Clark on my way to Asokoro, at  exactly four o’clock on Monday.
“I was called to come and receive a message at the back of ECOWAS secretariat and I took a taxi from Apo round about.
“When I got there, I called the man that asked me to come and receive the message. The street I was headed is actually called Haile Selassie and there is a Catholic Church on that street, beside an uncompleted building. That was exactly where the man asked me to meet him.
“The whole place was crowded, there was no way to either go in or out. So I began to ask questions.”
Raid on Clark’s  home, unwarranted harassment — Saraki
In his reaction, Senate president, Bukola Saraki, described the incident as an unwarranted harassment of the elder statesman.
Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said:  “Chief Edwin Clark, a second republic senator, former minister under the General Gowon administration is not just anybody.
“Yes, he is not above the law. If there is a genuine reason for his home to be searched by law enforcement agencies, nobody will object to it.
“However, as it now appears, for the police to conduct a raid on the home of a man of that age on the pretence that they were looking for arms and eventually, the claim turned out to be a hoax, then something must be amiss.
“This type of action by the police coming at this time when the nation is preparing for election is not reflecting well on the country. Such actions constitute a threat to democracy. They represent gross abuse of state institutions.
“Now that the Inspector-General of Police has denied that the raid was authorized, the next move should be a thorough, transparent investigation into the Chief Edwin Clark incident to prevent future occurrence.
“These kinds of ugly developments must stop. This country experienced peaceful change in 2015 because the government in power allowed democracy to work. If the government had allowed the flagrant abuse and misuse of state institutions to be the norm, we would not have had the change that occurred.”
Saraki reminded the Federal Government of its commitment to world leaders to create a peaceful and conducive atmosphere necessary for a credible, free and fair elections devoid of intimidation, suppression and  human rights abuse.
He said:  “Democracy is not only about elections. Circumstances that will create tension in any part of the country or make people feel that their fundamental human rights are being trampled upon should be avoided,” he said.
“If a man of the calibre and status of senator Edwin Clark could suffer such unwarranted raid on his home, then what happens to ordinary Nigerians as we move towards the 2019 polls and beyond?”
Makarfi calls for full probe
Reacting in a similar manner, a presidential aspirant on the platform of  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, yesterday called for a full investigation into the raid on Clark’s house,  saying the incident was “further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state.”
In a statement issued in Kaduna yesterday, Makarfi said the raid was an attempt by the government in power to intimidate and cow Nigerians.
According to him, Nigerians must resist any attempt to “constrict their democratic space.”
The statement signed by Mukhtar Sirajo, his Media Assistant read:
“The attention of Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi has been drawn to the raid by personnel of the Nigeria Police, on the house of elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, on Tuesday.
“Senator Makarfi considers this assault on a respected national leader, a former Federal Minister and a nonagenarian as callous and further evidence of the descent of the country into the abyss of authoritarianism and police state.
“It was clearly an attempt to intimidate and cow, as well as stifle contrary opinion in clear violation of our constitution and international conventions, as we approach the 2019 elections.
“Senator Makarfi identifies and sympathizes with Elder Clark over this assault on his privacy as well as calls on Nigerians to be vigilant and resist attempts at constricting our democratic space and fundamental human rights, (mis)using agencies of state.
“Even though the Police authorities have sought to distance themselves from this show of shame, Senator Makarfi urges that they go ahead to institute genuine investigation into this, with a view to unraveling the sordid act as well as bringing perpetrators to justice.”
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FIFA Best Player 2018: Filipe Luis explains why award has lost credibility

Atletico Madrid and Brazilian defender, Filipe Luis, has blasted FIFA for not including Barcelona ace, Lionel Messi, in the shortlist of players for the Best FIFA Men’s Player award.
Luis said that Messi was the right person to be given the award, adding that the award had lost “credibility” following the denial of the Argentine.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest ever players, has won a host of individual accolades during his career.
Messi is not in the running for this year’s award with Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah in contention instead.
“The award is for the best player in the world,” Luis told Brazilian outlet Globoesporte.
“For me, today, it’s Messi.
“Just like in previous years.
“When he’s not there, it loses credibility.
“It doesn’t matter who wins the World Cup or the Champions League.
“He’s the best.”
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Breaking: PSG star Mbappe banned for three matches after red card

French teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe has been suspended for three matches after his red card against Nimes last weekend, the French league announced on Wednesday.

(FILES) In this file photograph taken on January 30, 2018, Paris Saint-Germain’s French forward Kylian Mbappe (L) reacts as the referee gives him a red card during the French League Cup football semi-final match between Rennes and Paris Saint-Germain at the Roazhon Park stadium in Rennes.
19-year-old Kylian Mbappé will have to serve a three match suspension, the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional Football League (LFP) announced on September 5, 2018, after his red card in Nimes. / AFP PHOTO
The 19-year-old, who also scored in the 4-2 win, was sent off for pushing over Teji Savanier after the Nimes player hacked him to the ground.
The French champions will be without Mbappe for Ligue 1 games against Saint-Etienne on September 14, Rennes on September 23 and Reims three days later.
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Drama as APC chieftain defects to PDP, places curse

Osamede Adun, a chieftain of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and a Benin high chief has defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Adun, who led thousands of APC members to defect in Benin also placed a curse on anyone who returned to the party.
Speaking at PDP secretariat in Benin, Adun said they dumped APC due to the large-scale poverty and high handedness which the ruling party was notorious for.
He said: “We are back home to the PDP. I am placing a curse on anybody who comes here to spy on us with the intention of going back to the APC.
“There is a curse on anybody here who goes back to APC. We are through with APC and will never go back to that party.
“Woe betides anybody here who goes back to APC. There is poverty everywhere. That is the only achievement of APC. We are back to make PDP better than we met it.”
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Ambode: Lagos Assembly speaks on fighting governor over election money

The Lagos State House of Assembly has reacted to allegation that the move to impeach Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was for selfish reasons....