Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Ex-governors lead petrol subsidy protests in Kaduna
Kaduna grinded to a halt on Monday as thousands of people joined labour leaders and civil society groups to protest the removal of subsidy on petrol by the government, demanding the immediate resignation of President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy, Arch Mohammed Namadi Sambo.
Two former governors of the state, Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa and Col.Hameed Ali joined civil rights activist, Shehu Sani, President of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria, Tajudeen Oladoja, members of the Kaduna branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, the Nigeria Union of Journalists among others to march on the streets of Kaduna with full police escorts.
However, around mid-day, palpable tension started building up around the Sir Kashim Ibrahim house (Government House) as some protesters defiled the directive of the Nigeria Labour Congress to return to their house and prepare for the second day of the protest, insisting on entering the government house.
Anti riot police men and other security operatives at the government house were said to have fired tear gas to disperse them, but they soon returned and refused to listen the plea by the NLC leaders to leave the place.
From the NLC secretariat to the Lugard Hall roundabout which has been renamed Unity and Freedom Square by the protesters, the police led the protesters which continued to grow every second.
The protesters carried placards with the inscriptions - “Ebele Haram; Jonathan Haram, Back luck Jonathan, “Jonathan is worse than Boko Haram,” “Jonathan is the leader of Boko Haram, fuel subsidy must be reversed”.
Others read “give us better education and health, “Jonathan and Sambo must go,” “Boko Haram kills in hundreds, but Jonathan kills in millions and bamaso, bamaso (meaning we don’t want).”
They matched peacefully through independent way to the state House of Assembly leading to the Lugard Hall roundabout and were joined by others who came in their number from Kawo, Rigassa, Tudun Wada and other parts of the metropolis.
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OBJ calls for religious harmony
Nigerians have been admonished to learn to live together in peace, devoid of any religious acrimony, no matter the level of their grievances.
Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said this in Yola, on Monday, while addressing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faithful at the grand finale campaign of Governor Murtala Nyako seeking re-election in the Saturday governorship election.
He said since both religions preach peace, and by the strict adherences to the tenets of both religions, he suggested a situation whereby Muslims would form a guard at churches when Christians were worshiping, while Christians too formed the guard at mosques while Muslims were worshiping.
Chief Obasanjo said he had every reason to be grateful to God, because the candidate he sold to the people five years ago, in the person of Governor Murtala Nyako, had performed creditably well to deserve a second term in office.
Obasanjo also condemned the killings last weekend in the state, stating that Adamawa was noted for peace, wondering why disgruntled, wicked and “heartless persons would shed the blood of the innocent.”
He urged the people of the state not to attempt to change the present governor of the state, saying “there is no value in changing a winning horse in a race. Here we have a horse asking for mandate to carry on to do even better than before.”
Also, speaking at the event, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar assured that from that day to Saturday, “we shall do everything possible that PDP wins the election, because everybody is now a full member of the PDP, as there are no more fringe members but solid members of the PDP.”
He said the commitment was multi-party , saying all the political parties in the state would all vote Nyako.
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, charged the people of the state to come out on Saturday and vote the PDP. He later presented the party’s flag to Governor Nyako and formally presented him to the people of the state as the party’s standard-bearer on Saturday election.
The grand finale campaign rally had in attendance, Governor Dambaba Suntai, top members of the PDP in the like of the incumbent Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourale Aminu Tambunal and his deputy, Alhaji Kawu Daraje, National Publicity Secretary of the party, Professor Rufai Alkali, and former speaker, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’abba, among others
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Two Protesters Killed in Lagos
A team of policemen in Rapid Respond Squad (RRS) patrol van yesterday in Lagos shot and killed two persons, and wounded three others who were playing street football on Yaya Abatan Street at Ogba.
The deceased simply identified as Demola was said to be gearing up to play football match alongside other friends on Yaya Abatan street in Ogba area of Lagos state when the police DPO identified as Segun allegedly opened fire on him.
The other three affected persons are Idara, Samuel Ebujoi and Abubakiri Alimi. They were first taken to Ifako-General hospital, Ifako-Agege. But the critical state of the victims, all of whom were shot on their legs and arms were referred to another hospital, County Hospital, Ogba.
Witnesses said the RRS squad attempted to disperse the young teenagers who had gathered at the junction of their street to show their support for the labour strike action. They fired shots in the air and on the ground and in the process, stray bullets hit Demola and four bystanders, killing Demola instantly.
Abubakiri Alimi died shortly after he was admitted for treatment at County hospital, about 60 metres away from the playing ground.
"We were just standing by, waiting to participate in the football match going on when a police patrol van from Area "G" police station stormed the area. The DPO, whom we were able to identify as Segun was the one that led the shooting as I talk to you, one of the five of us shot, Demola has been confirmed dead," Ebujoi said.
At Area "G" Police station, hundreds of angry youth protesters were chanting war songs as they pushed Demola's body in a cart to the gate of the police station. The corpse was stripped of his cloth while his lifeless body showed that he was actually shot at the thigh.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Hafiz Ringim has ordered the immediate dismissal of a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) attached to the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly killing a protester at Ogba area of Ikeja.
The CSP who was identified as the DPO in charge of Pen Cinema Police Division, Mr. Segun Olubumi, allegedly fired at some protesters at Ogba, killing one of them in the process while the second victim died at the County Hospital where he was receiving treatment.
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Eminent political leaders intervene in national crisis
Amidst general mass action in the country against the removal of fuel subsidy as well as the worsening security situation in Nigeria, the National Consensus Group of Progressive Political Leaders has announced its decision to convene an emergency national summit on the state of the nation in collaboration with the National Summit Group led by Professor Pat Utomi
At a crucial parley hosted by Dr Tunji Braithwaite on Monday in Lagos, the leaders of the group endorsed the proposed national summit as a strategic means of urgently intervening in the crisis currently rocking the country before it degenerated into a full blown civil war between northern and southern Nigeria
The leaders, who met behind closed doors for two hours before admitting journalists into the venue said “the insurgency of the Boko Haram bombers as well as the unilateral hike in the price of fuel by government by over 120 per cent has exacerbated the instability in the country, compelling the immediate convocation of Nigeria’s peoples’ Conference to renegotiate Nigeria’s corporate existence and it governance structure.”
Addressing the gathering, Dr Tunji Braithwaite, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu and Professor Pat Utomi, all expressed optimism that the summit slated for next week in Lagos, would help to articulate and give direction to the aspirations of the Nigerian people.
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Bayelsans shun oil subsidy removal protest
Against the back-drop of mass action staged on Monday, by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress [TUC] and other industrial unions to kick against the removal of the oil subsidy nationwide, Bayelsans shunned entreaties by the civil society group to participate in the street protest.
Normal business activities resumed on Monday on the streets of Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State as everybody went about their socio-economic activities, with private and commercial vehicles plying the streets, while markets opened for sales, ignoring the call to boycott the stay at home order.
Investigation conducted by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that leaders of the civil society groups, including the Civil Liberty Organisation [CLO], NLC and rights activists were disappointed as residents chose to stay at home instead of coming out in solidarity to participate in the nationwide protest aimed at denouncing the oil subsidy removal.
Some of the filling stations visited by our correspondent were busy selling fuel to cars and motorcycles at the rate of N140 or N145 per litre.
As a result of the development, civil society groups and their leaders, who had converged on Opolo, the take off point, in Yenagoa, as early as 7.00am had to relocate to the premises of the Nigeria Union of Journalists [NUJ], Bayelsa State chapter, on Ekeki, where they addressed a press conference, calling on the Federal Government to revert to the N65 per litre pump price of petrol.
Addressing the newsmen over issue, on behalf of the civil society groups, the Vice Chairman of CLO in Bayelsa State, Mr Williams-Odonmini Flint, decried the decision of President Goodluck Jonathan to remove the oil subsidy, without considering its implications on the common man, in terms of arbitrary increase in the prices of goods and commodity.
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Catholic bishop leads protest in Ekiti
The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti, Bishop Felix Femi Ajakaye, donned the cassock to lead anti-subsidy removal protest in Ado-Ekiti, capital of Ekiti State, yesterday.
The Bishop marched with protesters who took off from Ajilosun through Okeyinmi and Ojumoshe, and stopped at Fajuyi Park.
He and a coalition of labour/civil groups addressed protesters.
The protest was peaceful, although there were bonfires on Fajuyi-Adebayo Road and Danimo-StadiumRoad, where some youths converted the roads to football fields.
Ajakaye said President Goodluck Jonathan was running a government of deceit.
He said: “We expected Mr President to react briskly to the security challenges in the nation, the same way he quickly removed the oil subsidy and we urge him to use the money being used to finance pro-subsidy campaign to transform Nigeria.
“I am a Nigerian and I am interested in the Nigerian project. I can’t fold my arms because I am a Bishop and allow my people to suffer.
“We need to be visionaries and pursue causes that would not make Nigeria fall apart
“The power of the people is mightier than any government. It is sad that our leaders don’t have listening ears. President Jonathan said he did not have shoes and he is trying to take our pairs of slippers off our legs.
“As much as I support that there should be no war in our dear nation, this policy is worse than a civil war, but with one voice we shall surely overcome.”
Also, State chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ayodele Aluko and Kolawole Olaiya and leaders of other civil society groups and trade unions addressed the gathering.
Others who spoke included Mrs Aduke Seriki (Council of Iya Lojas), Dr Ayan Adeleke, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Tope Agunbiade (Save Nigeria Group/Campaign for Democracy), Dr Wole Ogundipe (Nigeria Medical Association) and Adeolu Oyebode (students’ representative).
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Monday, January 9, 2012
Jonathan’s speech shows govt’s insincerity on subsidy removal -ACN
The Action Congress of Nigeria ACN) has said that President Goodluck Jonathan's televised speech defending his government's decision to withdraw fuel subsidy only succeeded in deepening the people's mistrust of the administration, as it failed to address the pertinent issues.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the deficit of trust between the Jonathan administration and the Nigerian people was the main reason the people did not take the president's speech seriously, as shown in organised labour's response that the strike would go ahead in spite of the speech.
It recalled that while the president promised to consult with all stakeholders across the country and collate their views before taking a decision on the fuel subsidy issue, probably in April, he rather decided to ambush Nigerians and ruin their New Year celebrations by rushing to withdraw the subsidy after just one stakeholders' meeting in Lagos.
“If the president did not stand by his earlier promise to Nigerians on this issue, why should they believe him now to do all that he has promised in his speech?” the party queried.
ACN, therefore, re-stated its opposition to the removal of the fuel “subsidy,” saying all that the government subsidises were corruption and inefficiency.
It also hailed the governors of ACN states for their courage in standing on the side of the people and labour, in their quest to get the government to rescind its decision to remove fuel subsidy.
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Protest Day Images
Protesters try to pull away a man who refused to move away from Ikorodu Road during a demonstration against soaring petrol prices following government's decision to abolish decades-old fuel subsidies, on January 9, 2012 in Lagos.
A man carries a placard beside a bonfire during a demonstration against soaring petrol prices in Lagos (AFP, Pius Utomi Ekpei)
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Labour rally: Ekiti NBA offers free legal services to arrested victims
Ekiti State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has promised to give free legal services to anyone arrested by the police during today’s protest in Ado Ekiti.
Also the two labour centres in the state, have reiterated their commitment to the strike billed to commence today.
Chairmen of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrades Ayodeji Aluko and Kolawole Olaiya respectively, in a joint press conference in Ado-Ekiti, on Sunday, said, “the strike action scheduled to commence today will be total in Ekiti State.”
They called on traders, students, commercial motorcyclists, pro-democracy and civil society groups to come out enmasse and join in the strike and “to be orderly and peaceful during the protest.”
At the coalition press conference, chairman of Ado Ekiti chapter of the NBA,Mr Owoseeni Ajayi, gave the assurance that the body would participate fully in the protest going by the directive of the national secretariat of the body.
“Now that the President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, had approached the Industrial court , when he has flagrantly ignored and disobeyed the order of the Court that all the parties should maintain the statusquo pending the determination of the suit filed against it.
“To me, I can foresee judicial anarchy and a great abuse of Court process, in the country if the oil subsidy removal is allowed to stay,”
The NLC chairman specifically advised the president to better focus on the issue of insecurity in the land rather than resorting to oil subsidy removal that would further unleash terror on the country.
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Security agents foil attempt to bomb church in Kaduna
But for the vigilance of security men stationed at the Living Faith Church in Barnawa, Kaduna, an unidentified man would have caused havoc at the popular Living Faith Church in Barnawa, Kaduna with about 30,000 worshippers attending Sunday service.
The suspected bomber was said to have rigged a car with explosives on the premises of the church and had earlier, passed the security checks into the church before anther team of security officials spotted him.
According to an eye-witness, at about 8.00 a.m., when the first service which started at 7.00 a.m. was in session, a brand new Peugeot 406 beat the security checks before the church’s entrance entered premises and went straight to the central location of the church, when some of the church securitymen accosted the driver who was alone in the car.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna State police command, DSP Aminu Lawan, confirmed the incident, saying “there was a report of an incident of a man who came to Living Faith Church with a Peugeot 406 car and did not subject himself for search initially, and while they were trying to search him, forced his way out of the premises.”
Church officials, however, declined to make comments on the matter but an eyewitness told newsmen that the driver was ordered to relocate the vehicle to the parking lot tagged “Shiloh park,” but he insisted that he would not move from the position the vehicle was stationed.
“At that point, the securitymen accused the driver of not subjecting his car to checks and screening at the main gate and ordered the man to open his boot.
“While the security-men were trying to open his car booth, the driver zoomed off in full speed and forced the car out of the main gate, breaking the iron of the gate. Those around the entrance threw stones at the car, breaking its rear windscreen, but the driver escaped. He was, however, given hot chase with another car.”
The police were able to arrest the person that blocked the securitymen who chased the alleged bomber.
According to the PPRO, “as he was running away, he broke the main gate to the church. If you go there, you will see the gate broken. And they said as the man was trying to escape, he was given a hot chase, and suddenly another vehicle came from nowhere and crossed those who were chasing the suspect and allowed him to escape.
“We have apprehended the man who allowed the suspect to escape. He is now in our custody. The police have commenced investigation and we are on the trail of the suspect.”
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Fuel subsidy removal: Expect 50% hike in drugs cost -PSN
Following the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, pharmacists in Nigeria, under the aegis of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria(PSN), have warned Nigerians to expect a 50 per cent increase in the cost of drugs.
According to a statement issued in Lagos, at the weekend and signed by the PSN president, Mr Azubuike Okwor, the removal of subsidy on petrol which has affected virtually all sectors of the nation’s economy, would lead to increase in the cost of producing drugs which would ultimately affect the cost.
He explained: “The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria after a thorough evaluation of the possible impact of the subsidy removal on the pharmaceutical sector predicts at least a 50 per cent hike in the cost of basic drugs in Nigeria in the weeks ahead if the subsidy removal is not reversed. This is traceable to increases in running costs of machinery and equipment, vehicles and overall logistic plan related to professionally handling of drugs by manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers.”
The PSN said it believed strongly that government’s approach towards boosting financial liquidity at this time should have been directed at reducing expenditure, the remuneration of political office holders and ensuring the development of a sustained capacity to refine all petroleum products for local consumption and export.
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Security agents foil attempt to bomb church in Kaduna
But for the vigilance of security men stationed at the Living Faith Church in Barnawa, Kaduna, an unidentified man would have caused havoc at the popular Living Faith Church in Barnawa, Kaduna with about 30,000 worshippers attending Sunday service.
The suspected bomber was said to have rigged a car with explosives on the premises of the church and had earlier, passed the security checks into the church before anther team of security officials spotted him.
According to an eye-witness, at about 8.00 a.m., when the first service which started at 7.00 a.m. was in session, a brand new Peugeot 406 beat the security checks before the church’s entrance entered premises and went straight to the central location of the church, when some of the church securitymen accosted the driver who was alone in the car.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Kaduna State police command, DSP Aminu Lawan, confirmed the incident, saying “there was a report of an incident of a man who came to Living Faith Church with a Peugeot 406 car and did not subject himself for search initially, and while they were trying to search him, forced his way out of the premises.”
Church officials, however, declined to make comments on the matter but an eyewitness told newsmen that the driver was ordered to relocate the vehicle to the parking lot tagged “Shiloh park,” but he insisted that he would not move from the position the vehicle was stationed.
“At that point, the securitymen accused the driver of not subjecting his car to checks and screening at the main gate and ordered the man to open his boot.
“While the security-men were trying to open his car booth, the driver zoomed off in full speed and forced the car out of the main gate, breaking the iron of the gate. Those around the entrance threw stones at the car, breaking its rear windscreen, but the driver escaped. He was, however, given hot chase with another car.”
The police were able to arrest the person that blocked the securitymen who chased the alleged bomber.
According to the PPRO, “as he was running away, he broke the main gate to the church. If you go there, you will see the gate broken. And they said as the man was trying to escape, he was given a hot chase, and suddenly another vehicle came from nowhere and crossed those who were chasing the suspect and allowed him to escape.
“We have apprehended the man who allowed the suspect to escape. He is now in our custody. The police have commenced investigation and we are on the trail of the suspect.”
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Soyinka condemns Jonathan on subsidy removal
NOBEL Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has declared that the removal of oil subsidy by the Federal Government is a demonstration of the fact that the Goodluck Jonathan administration has alienated itself from the people it is meant to serve.
Soyinka, who made this known in a statement dated January 6, 2012, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, also said that the palliative measures put in place by the president were a step too late, noting that they ought to have been done before the removal of the subsidy.
Describing the measures as “medicine after death,” he said, “A serious government would have emplaced the ‘palliatives’ first, worked assiduously to ensure that they were effectively enforced, with, at the very least, a guaranteed stabilisation of the existing level of Nigerian subsistence.”
He also condemned the Federal Government for seeking an injunction from the National Industrial Court (NIC) restraining the labour unions from embarking upon strike in protest against the fuel subsidy removal.
Stating that it was an irony of history for the government to have sought the court’s intervention to stop the labour unions, “seeing how little consideration the same government paid to the judiciary as an institutional bulwark in the case of Justice (Ayo) Salami.
“If labour, therefore, chooses to ignore the order, it has impeccable precedents - it is merely the chickens coming home to roost. While Jonathan’s predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo, repeatedly pummeled the judiciary into a state of coma, Goodluck Jonathan has driven an iron stake through its heart.
He also bemoaned the fate of the masses in the increasing downward trend in the national economy, declaring that the people had been, for a long time, placed at the mercy of the market forces.
“Equally impaled is the Nigerian civic polity, the barbed stake of economic incontinence – and electoral prodigality - through its productive sinews. The people are placed once again at the mercy of rampaging market forces.
“That patient beast of burden called the Nigerian citizen is overloaded; its knees are buckled; only its spirit refuses to be crushed. No wonder the gasp that emerges from its constricted throat is that cry of historic desperation: enough is enough!,” he said.
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UN disowns official over comment on subsidy removal
A REMARK made by Prof Jeffrey Sachs, the Special Advisor to the United States (US) Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, on the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol by the Federal Government has created a gulf between the world body and the official.
The UN yesterday distanced itself from the remarks credited to Sachs on the dispute created by fuel subsidy removal.
During a visit to President Goodluck Jonathan last week, Ki-Moon’s aide had described the fuel subsidy withdrawal as a “bold and correct policy.”
He was quoted as saying that the funds accruing from the removal would be ploughed into rapid infrastructural development.
But a statement issued by the UN System in Nigeria yesterday said that Prof Sachs’ comment did not represent the position of the UN.
The statement reads: “Professor Jeffrey Sachs’ remarks relayed by the press on January 6, 2012 require clarification. Contrary to some press reports, Professor Sachs was not representing any official United Nations position on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products.
“Professor Sachs was visiting Abuja to discuss and assist in Nigeria’s programs for the Millennium Development Goals and poverty alleviation.
“The United Nations System in Nigeria takes this opportunity to stress its continued commitment to contributing to peace and stability in Nigeria.”
The UN also reiterated its belief in the principles of peace, human rights, democratic governance and solidarity as essential ingredients for equitable and sustainable development.
The statement further reads: “The United Nations System in Nigeria highly appreciates the support of the government and people of Nigeria in delivering its mandate in the country.”
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Cash-less Lagos: We’ll address lapses -CBN •Bank customers groan over inability to withdraw cash from ATMs
IN view of the hiccups bedevilling the cashless Lagos policy since it was introduced on January 1 this year, the promoter, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has said there is no cause for alarm as such initial hitches were not unexpected.
Speaking at a public forum in Lagos at the weekend, the Deputy Governor, Operations, CBN, Mr Tunde Lemo, said the apex bank, commercial banks and other partners were well prepared to address the lapses as they come.
“I don’t want Lagosians to be discouraged because of these initial hitches. In agreement with our partners, we are ready to promptly address the issues as they arise. We really do not expect everything to be perfect on the first day. We will surely get there,” he said.
He, however, expressed regret over the way some government agencies, such as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), were frustrating the policy, stressing that the NCS was largely responsible for the non- availability of POS machines for the cashless Lagos scheme as they were being held in the port.
According to him, the agency has classified POS terminals as “cash registers” and so it is demanding 20 per cent administrative charges on each terminal being imported by the commercial banks, and coordinated by the CBN instead of the usual five per cent.
Meanwhile, even before the commencement of the nationwide indefinite strike, rallies and mass protests, called by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and civil rights groups, bank customers are already feeling the impact as they could not access their funds at the weekend.
In most of the banks visited by the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos on Sunday, customers were seen looking dejected at the various automated teller machine (ATM) points as cash was unavailable.
In some of the bank’s branches that have about five points, only one point was dispensing cash, a development that left the customers spending hours on the queue before effecting cash withdrawal.
One of the affected customers, who gave his name as Peju Adefila, said he had come to the bank for cash to enable him do some shopping because of the impeding strike but was disappointed as the ATMs were not functioning.
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I regret voting for Jonathan —Don-Jazzy
DURING preparations for the last general election in 2011, Michael Elebeli Collins, popularly called Don Jazzy and the Mohits crew were loud in their support and endorsement of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as Nigeria's next president after the death of President Yar'adua.
In fact, during one of his pre-election campaigns, one of Mohits members, D Banj, interviewed the President who was then an acting president to give him a forum to express his good intentions for Nigeria.
Recent events in the country have however turned these friends into enemies as Don Jazzy has openly condemned the President’s act on a public website.
According to him, "I hardly regret decisions I make. That my one vote is part of the votes that put the current government in power. It is one decision I regret with all my heart.
What I don't know is if the man we all voted for deceived us knowing [that] he would turn out like this or he is not the one leading us. May God help us.
“God knows that this government has not given Mohits any penny like I have always told you guys. I am boldly putting [it] out here for anybody to contest. We all voted for the guy [President Jonathan] because at the time, we thought and believed he would be the one to move the country forward.
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Police seize military uniforms in Kano
The Nigeria Police in Kano on Sunday night impounded a large consignment of military uniforms shipped into the country through the Nigeria/Niger Republic border in Katsina State.
The military uniforms were seized from a warehouse, close to the Kano Pillars Stadium in the Sabon Gari area of Kano State and it is believed to have been smuggled into the country.
Some terrorists operating under the emblem of the radical Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram are suspected to have received training and support accross the borders.
Police Commissioner in Kano State, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, who confirmed the seizure in a chat with our correspondent, pointed out that the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has opened investigations into the matter.
The police also confirmed the arrest of some suspects in connection with the uniforms, pointing out that they are being interrogated by the police.
Idris further said that the suspects presented documents indicating that the consignments were authorized by the Ministry of Defence.
“So we are trying to establish the authenticity and authorship of the document purported to have come from the Ministry of defence.
“Right now, we cannot say much about this incident until we have carried out the investigations,” the police Commissioner stated.
Recall that recently the Kano/Jigawa command of Nigerian Customs Services also impounded large quantities of military uniforms, comprising of Air Force uniforms and army camouflage.
The suspects Magaji Mohammed and Mohammed Auwal were apprehended by Customs agents at the Malam Aminu Kano International airport (MAKIA).
The Customs Area Comptroller, Kano/Jigawa Command, Sanusi Umar has since transferred the impounded uniforms and the suspects to the state Police Command.
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Niger Delta group alleges plan to assassinate Jonathan, Mark, COAS •Warns of disintegration of Nigeria
NIGER Delta leaders on Sunday alleged that some people were planning to assassinate President Goodluck Jonathan, Senate president, David Mark, Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Onyeador Ihejirika and warned that the country would face crisis if any harm came to their son.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, president of the Ijaw Youth Council, Miabiye Kuromiama also alleged that the planners of the assassination want to hide under the guise of hardship caused by the withdrawal of subsidy on petrol to execute their plot.
Kuromiama, who declined to answer questions after the briefing, was accompanied by Alhaji Asari Dokubo of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force and other leaders of the South-South group.
Text of the address reads: “Leaders of the Niger Delta involved in the long struggles to re-invent and revive the dire political and socio-economic conditions of this country Nigeria, draw the attention of all Nigerians and the global community to an advanced conspiracy and plot to destabilise and disintegrate the country in the coming days and weeks.
“The promoters of this plot seek to achieve their aims by assassinating the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and also eliminate very senior military and security officers from the South and Middle Belt of Nigeria, including and particularly the Chief of Army Staff General Ihejerika; the Senate President David Mark and the National Security Adviser General Owoye Azazi (retd).
“Those identified in this sinister plot include retired senior military and security officers who are working quietly with some serving officers, some “powerful” opportunistic businessmen who benefit from existing incentives for corruption and profiteering in the economy, including current subsidy on PMS otherwise called petrol and whose business is threatened by current government policy.
“Also in alliance with them are corrupt and disgruntled politicians who are for once currently outside the corridors of Nigeria’s political power reality after over 40 years of monopolising power and manipulating the people.
“This plot is now almost perfected by certain disgruntled elements in Nigeria and their co-conspirators.
“They are currently unconcerned that the nation is at economic crossroads and are actively playing on the emotions and pains of fellow Nigerians by politicising, sponsoring and organising activities to heat-up the polity through strikes, civil disobedience and legislative activism to prepare the ground for the plans.
“Having been aware and studying the development of the situation since the emergence of a Niger Delta son in the leadership of this country, we have resolved to take serious steps to guarantee the security and survival of our people in the Niger Delta. We also advise all Nigerians to be aware of this plot, its deeper motivations, implications and the consequences that will befall all of us.
“Accordingly, we strongly and unequivocally warn that a plot against the life of the president and the derailment of this government is likely to spell disaster for this country and bring untold and sustained hardship to the masses far worse than any temporary pains of a deregulated downstream petroleum sector is likely to cause.
“We have always been aware, as many other Nigerians and the world over, that the struggle for power and control of government in Nigeria by political forces in the name of ethnic, religious, regional or group-based interest has been to access and control the oil and gas resources from the Niger Delta by this kind of persons.
“Nigerians currently have time and space for two peaceful opportunities: re-negotiating a new basis of our continued corporate co-existence as a nation; negotiating a peaceful dissolution of the Nigerian State as was the case with USSR, Ethiopia, and Czechoslovakia.
“Or do we allow the country to slide into a bloody disintegration of Africa and the Black race’s largest democracy, as did Sudan and Yugoslavia? As it appears now, the Sudan and Yugoslavia option is now very apparent and fearfully looming as the anarchy and potential loss of innocent lives, including plans to assassinate or overthrow the government of Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan portrays. This is totally unnecessary.
“If and when the plan is executed, Niger Delta nation and peoples know exactly what steps to take and will not hesitate to progress with necessary measures towards such steps forthwith.”
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Insecurity/fuel crisis: Mass exodus of Northerners from South
AHEAD of today’s mass protest, panic has gripped northerners residing in the southern part of the country, as they move in their hundreds to their various states.
The Okene-Lokoja-Abuja road, which serves as gateway between the South and the North, has been very busy in the last four days, as a result of movement of vehicles, from the South to the North and vice-versa, as a result of the present political situation in the country.
In the last four days, articulated lorries, on a daily basis, convey the northerners and their property from the South to the North, as a result of the Boko Haram and fuel subsidy crises rocking the nation.
Investigations revealed that most of them had left Imo, Anambra, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
Some of the Hausa people who spoke with Nigerian Tribune, said they decided to leave for their states to avoid any problem as a result of the crises.
According to them, the Boko Haram issue was one of the main factors that placed their lives in danger in some parts of the South.
They said that despite the fact that governors of most of these states assured them of safety, they had decided on their own not to take any risk.
When our correspondent asked if they would still like to return to the South, most of them answered in the affirmative, but added that the present situation in the country should be resolved first.
As a result of the tension, an Air Force helicopter now hovers over the state capital, Lokoja and the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja road.
Efforts by our correspondent to know the motive behind the presence of the Air Force helicopter was unsuccessful, as none of the security agents was ready to speak about it.
On Friday last week, no fewer than 30 persons lost their lives in Okene, when an articulated lorry ran into a gully, leaving many others injured.
Most occupants of the articulated lorry were northerners, who left Bayelsa State, heading for the North, probably as a result of political tension in the country.
In another development, the Ebira Youth Congress (EYC) in Kogi State, has declared its total support for the NLC/TUC mass action.
In a statement issued by the congress and signed by its president general Comrade Kadir Gomina, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday, it called on youths in the area to join the protest to compel government to reverse its decision.
The group noted the high level of corruption in government at all levels and the senseless accumulation of wealth by the leaders to the detriment of the poor masses, saying the trend must be reversed.
The EYC, which noted that the fuel subsidy removal was ill-timed, called on well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on President Goodluck Jonathan to reverse his decision, which, it said, was capable of grounding the nation.
Also speaking, an activist and former chairman of Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Kogi State, Comrade Ibrahim Obansa, described the pro-subsidy removal protesters as a collection of paid charlatans and political jobbers who had no business with the Nigeria project.
He said it was unfortunate that the administration of President Jonathan could degenerate into what could be regarded as the Abacha era by inducing some faceless people without credibility to support an unpopular policy of his government.
He likened the action by the government to the failed Abacha two million-man match and said that this would also fail, because it was an action against the poor people of Nigeria.
Obansa observed that the president wanted to rob Peter to pay Paul by planning to allocate subsidy proceeds to the same failed governors who he said had criminally mismanaged the resources of their various states.
The former labour leader called on the president to take the path of honour by immediately reversing the fuel hike in the interest of the larger Nigerians he swore to protect.
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