IG raises alarm over the rise of suicide cases in the Police force

The Nigerian Police Force is worried over the rising cases of suicide among its officers across the country.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police (IGP) Zone 5, Abubakar, Mohammed, lamented the development in an interactive session with policemen in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday.

He said recent statistics confirmed that more policemen are taking their lives.

Mohammed, a former Director at the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) office in Lyon, France, said the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has ordered senior police officers to have close relationship with their subordinates.

He disclosed that the IG asked them to close their ranks with their subordinates to know their problems and stop them from taking their lives in order to stop the problem.

“The IGP has asked us to now go close to our officers as well as the rank and file to know what their problems are because the level of suicide within the police is getting higher. Police officers are killing themselves without us knowing what their problems are,” he said.

“If you have family problems or in the office, it is very important to talk to your senior officer who will try to help you. I do not know why it is increasing. Whether it is because of family problems.

“But if you have any issues bothering you, talk to your immediate senior officers who will approach a more senior one to resolve it.

“The police need to relate more with members of the public and develop confidence in their minds without being compromised. Many civilians are afraid that if they give police information, we will divulge the source of the information.

“When that is done, the confidence of the informant disappears and this will be detrimental to our crime fighting strategy.

“When you harass members of the public, you lose confidence. When you torture suspects, it creates problems between you and civil society in terms of human rights abuse”.

“An intelligent police officer can deal with a suspect in a prescribed, acceptable manner rather than using coercive methods. In essence, you change your attitudes. The way you portray yourself will determine whether the person you are getting information from will help you.”

NOPRIN tasks IG of Police on Highway Robbery during the Yuletide

Network on Police Reform in Nigeria – NOPRIN requests the Inspector General of Police to urgently intervene and address the concerns of citizens travelling to the Southeast during this yuletide. We are receiving several complaints of too many police checkpoints within very close range to each other which are seriously obstructing, rather than easing, free flow of traffic. One witness wrote: ‘Sir, l counted twenty three (23)  Check Points between Onitsha Head bridge and my destination in lmo State . This is terrible and disturbing.’

 

These ubiquitous checkpoints and road blocks are causing traffic gridlock with the attendant delays and hardship for travellers.

 

The need for police patrol to beef up security and ensure the safety and security of road users, especially during this period cannot be overemphasised. But when such effort becomes counterproductive by constituting a source of suffering for the citizens, it calls for urgent review.The sheer number of police checkpoints on southeast roads makes the zone look like it is under siege, like a conquered territory and this is breeding ill-feelings and frustration.
We are not aware that the ban on police checkpoints have been lifted. What we know the police have ordered are police patrols, not road blocks or checkpoints.
These checkpoints have historically been known to be nothing more than avenues for extortion, harassment and killings.

We therefore, request the IGP to order a review and close monitoring of the operations and activities of personnel within the Southeast zone to ensure that they carry out their duties in a proper, citizen-friendly and lawful manner that does not constitute traffic obstruction and inconveniences, or become avenues for extortion and harassment of road users.

Okechukwu Nwanguma
National Coordinator

Ondo Election: Police IG confirms non-payment of officers, orders probe

In contrast to the earlier position of the Nigeria Police, the Inspector General of the Police, Ibrahim Idris, has accepted that some police personnel who were on duty during the just concluded governorship election in Ondo State, were yet to be paid their allowances several days after the elections.

The Police IG has therefore has set up a panel to investigate why the policemen were not paid their entitlements.

Mr. Idris, in a statement released on Friday by the Force spokesman, Don Awunah, appealed for “a little patience” from the affected policemen.

The issue is being looked into, and no one would be cheated of his due, the police IG assured.

The investigation panel, the statement said, would be headed by a retired assistant inspector general of police, Ali Ahmadu.

As previously reported by PREMIUM TIMES, several policemen took to the street in Ondo on Monday to protest the non-payment of their allowances after the Ondo election.

The statement from the Police IG therefore confirmed a PREMIUM TIMES report that the police lied when they denied that the protest took place.

Read the full statement released by the police:

IGP SETS UP SPECIAL PANEL TO INVESTIGATE, STREAMLINE AND ENHANCE PAYMENT OF ENTITLEMENTS OF ITS PERSONNEL

The Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni deeply concerned about the delay, omission and discrepancies in payment of allowances to officers of the Nigeria Police Force who participated in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ondo state; and also arising from complaints of irregularities from certain quarters and discoveries of possible anomalies and plausible foul play, has set up a special panel to investigate, streamline and enhance payment of entitlements of the force personnel who engage in adhoc duties.

  1. The special panel is empowered to launch an investigation into the entire payment system with a view to:
  2. Investigating thoroughly the recent payment of allowances to personnel of the force to determine if the money released for the payment of the allowances was utilized accordingly, providing bank records as evidence.
  3. Liaising with the Ministry of Finance on the perennial problematic nature of paying allowances.
  4. Setting up standard modalities that will be adopted by the force to address payment of allowances given by the Federal Government for the conduct of subsequent elections in the country.
  5. Recommending where appropriate disciplinary actions against erring officers both within and outside the force.
  6. The SIP at the end of the investigation is to recommend professional modalities for payment of allowances in line with government due process for subsequent payment of allowances to personnel of the force engaged in adhoc duties. This development is pursuant to the policy of the Inspector General of Police for transparency and accountability in all aspects of the Nigeria Police Force and in readiness for the establishment of a standard template that would be used in the conduct of subsequent elections.
  7. The investigation panel will be chaired by Retired AIG Ali Ahmadu with the following as members:
  8. a representative from the office of Police Account and Budget
  9. a representative from the office of Director of Finance

iii. a representative from the office of DIG Operations

  1. a representative from the office of IGP Project Monitoring Unit
  2. a member from the office of the Special Investigation Panel to assist the chairman in conducting the investigation
  3. a representative from the office of Police Legal Section to serve as secretary
  4. The Inspector General of Police enjoins officers who are yet to receive their payment to exercise a little more patience as the issue is already being looked into, assuring them that no one would be cheated of his due. He further urges anyone with useful information that can assist the panel in their investigation not to hesitate in coming forward with such and assures the Nigerian public that the police will always uphold transparency and due process in all her affairs.

DCP Don N. Awunah, fsi

Force Public Relations Officer

Why Police Opened Fire On Shiites- IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Idris Ibrahim, has explained why his officers opened fire on members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria during a clash in Kano on Monday.

The IGP said his officers did so because members of the movement, also known as Shiites, were armed to the teeth, killing policemen.

The police chief was speaking to State House journalists in Tuesday shortly after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo launched the 2017 Armed Forces Remembrance Emblem and Appeal Fund.

The IGP was responding to a question on a popular belief that in quelling riot, Nigerians should not be killed unnecessarily.

He stated: “I agree with what you said. But when you have Nigerians armed to the teeth, killing police officers, I don’t think it happens anywhere. I think as Nigerians, we have to appreciate, when you appreciate a dangerous situation, and to be sympathetic with the police that are being killed by some of these miscreants.”

Ibrahim said police officers have the responsibility of ensuring law and order as well as maintaining sanity in areas where people “take over the whole country.”

He said early Monday morning, the Force got wind of the plan by Shiite members to block the Kano-Zaria Road and deployed its officers to ensure free movement of ordinary Nigerians.

“Obviously, from time to time, we have been experiencing upheavals from this set of people. As police officers, we have responsibility to ensure there is law and order, and when you have people taking over the whole country, dominating streets and buildings, we have to come in to maintain sanity in those areas.

“As of early yesterday (Monday), we got information that they were trying to block the Kano-Zaria Road. They later assembled in large numbers and our officers were deployed to the place to ensure freedom of movement of ordinary Nigerians. They attacked our officers, killed one of our officers, one has sustained an arrow wound on his head and obviously in such a situation, police have the responsibility to ensure free movement of people on the road. And that was what our officers did,” he said.

The IGP said he agreed with those who said the Shiites, if not checked, could degenerate into insurgents like Boko Haram.

“Whether now or whenever, as police officers, we have a responsiblity to ensure there is law and order in any part of this country and to ensure that no organisations or individuals constitute themselves into a government, block passages and buildings,” he stated.

On the noting that there is freedom of movement in this country, Ibrahim maintained: “What happens is that there is nothing like freedom there. When you worship, you go to mosques or churches. Blocking highways and passages doesn’t constitute part of worship

“My message to Nigerians is that all of us should be our brother’s keepers.  We should appreciate the feeling of others that where your right ends, another person’s right begins. Every Nigerian has a right that must be protected. We should ensure that we protect the rights of every individual: right of freedom, right of association and right of movement.”

Credit: dailytrust

IG Warns Officers Against Lobbying For Promotion

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has warned officers to desist from lobbying for promotion or face prosecution. Idris gave the warning yesterday in Abuja at the IGP conference with senior officers after decorating the newly promoted Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs).

Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police has denied reports that the recent postings carried out by his administration are lopsided.
A media report on Monday said the recent posting of police officers across the country was intended to punish some of those affected.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer Don Awunah, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) said: “It is suffice to state that transfers and postings in the Nigeria Police Force are administrative and routine aimed at enhancing utmost efficiency of the officers and men for better and effective service delivery.”

The new AIGs are Abubakar Adamu, Kayode Aderanti, Mohammed Usman, Abdul Danwawu, Felix Ogundeji, Ezekiel Zang and Pius Imue.He told the officers that promotion was based on merit as a result of hard work and dedication and not favoritism.

According to him: “Posting in the service is based on exigencies and not on lobbying. Do not lobby. It is based strictly on seniority and vacancy. We have a management that assesses people based on these established criteria. We don’t want people lobbying here and there. I want my colleagues to please observe some of these issues, they are very important.”

Idris said the police had recorded successes against kidnapers, adding that more needed to be done to eradicate the crime. “I want to thank you for ensuring that the crime rate has reduced. The issue of discipline is however very important, your uniform is for the service of Nigerians. So in whatever capacity you find yourself, it is for service,” he said.

Credit: dailytimes

BBOG Protesters Not A Security Threat, Soyinka Replies IG

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, on Thursday, warned against the use of force against the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners, saying that the group should be given their space to protest.

He also noted that protests by the group could not be too much as long as the Chibok girls remained Boko Haram captives.

Soyinka said this at a symposium to start the 20th anniversary programme of Halifield Schools, Maryland, Lagos.

The social commentator, who delivered the keynote address, added that  peaceful demonstration was a democratic right which could not constitute threats to national security and public order.

The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, had on Wednesday, warned the BBOG campaigners against continuing with their street processions, which he said constituted a security threat to public peace and order.

He stated that the police “will not sit on the fence and watch such a scenario unfold.”

But Soyinka, while reacting to the IG’s comments at the occasion, noted that it would be dangerous to forget the missing Chibok girls, saying that it could boost their morale and teach pupils in the country the need to stand up for their rights.

‘‘I saw a report in a national daily that demonstrations on behalf of the Chibok girls pose a threat to national security and I thought, not again. My mind flew back immediately to another governor under whose democratic leadership, parents were tear-gassed for demonstrating peacefully about losing their children in a plane crash in Port Harcourt.

 “Democracy is not just about campaigning. It is exercising human rights. It is about helping to build the society. Demonstrations cannot be too much as long as those girls are missing. Demonstrations are an act of solidarity. Wherever they are today, when their mothers demonstrate on their behalf, their morale is raised.

“That is my message to security operatives who get scared of those who are agitating for a cause and fire tear gas at them. They must be treated with utmost respect and must be given their space. It is an act of solidarity for the children. Otherwise, when you stop these demonstrations, you are saying forget about the children,’’ he said.

Soyinka, who also urged the Federal Government and its agencies to speak with one voice, said Nigerians should express solidarity with the missing girls and their families.

Read More:

http://punchng.com/bbog-protesters-not-security-threat-soyinka-replies-ig/

Shettima Petitions IG Over Presidential Campaign Poster

Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State has petitioned the police to unravel the origin of presidential campaign posters depicting him and Governor Rochas Okorocha as teaming together for the 2019 presidential election.

Shettima in the petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase affirmed that the posters were the handiwork of his political enemies and were aimed towards causing animosity between him and President Muhammadu Buhari. Besides, he alleged that the posters could also scupper the good relations between the state and the Federal Government which has helped in turning the tide against the Boko Haram insurgency.

The petition written on behalf of the governor by the permanent secretary, Government House, Mr. Ahmed Sanda dated May 29, 2016 and with reference number BOSLO/ABJ/14/IV/407 read in part: “I have been directed by His Excellency, the Executive of Borno State, Kashim Shettima to bring to the IGP’s notice, dozens of fraudulently produced posters bearing his name and picture claiming he is aspiring for the 2019 Presidency. The posters have been pasted on some routes in Abuja and Kaduna.

Governor Kashim Shettima regards this development as a highly mischievous plot that is aimed at destabilizing the emerging peace in Borno State through creation of unnecessary political tension while on the other hand it might aim at creating gap between the Borno State Government and the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration (which just marked it’s first year in office) with a wicked agenda.”

Credit: Vanguard

Court Orders IG To Arrest PDP’s Acting Chairman

A Federal High Court in Lagos has directed the Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase to arrest anybody who parades ‘himself or herself’ as the  acting chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) pending the determination of a suit before it.

Justice Ibrahim Buba who gave the order insisted that the order earlier issued by the court must be obeyed.

The  court had earlier  granted an order stopping the convention of the party.

Buba had ruled in a suit FHC/L/CS/613/2016, filed by the acting national chairman of the party, Ali Modu Sheriff; the national secretary, Adewale Oladipo; and national auditor, Fatai Adeyanju, praying the court to abort the convention, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Joining PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants, the plaintiffs, all national officers of the party, averred that their tenures were yet to elapse, contending that allowing the convention would amount to abridging their mandates.

Credit: Sun

Cassie Dumps Diddy? See Her IG Post

Looks like something has been happening under our noses…

So, Diddy was recently spotted with his ex allegedly leaving a sex shop and remember Cassie was absent during Diddy’s grand birthday party, and then she posts this?

Well funny thing is, she deleted it like an hour after she posted it. Is Diddy going back to his ex? Is Cassie dumping him. What really happened?

Kim Kardashian Celebrates 50 Million IG Followers With This Photo

Kim Kardashian West has expressed her excitement and appreciation to her IG followers for hitting 50 followers.

However, she is yet to beat Taylor Swift who has 52.6 million followers, while queen Bey is still dangling in third place with 49.1 million followers.

See her IG post below:

https://instagram.com/p/9UOzckuS8Z/?taken-by=kimkardashian

Police IG Reacts To Falae’s Ransom Payment

The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, said yesterday that the police authorities were not privy to the fact that the family of former Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae, who was freed by his kidnappers at Owo, Ondo State last week, paid ransom, saying such payment amounted to encouraging crime.

The IGP also advised families who might find themselves in  such situation in the future to desist from paying ransom since it was not a guarantee that the victim would come out alive.

In a statement issued directly by his office, titled ‘RE-RANSOM PAYMENT BY FAMILY OF CHIEF OLU FALAE’ IGP Arase said:  “The office of the Inspector General of Police has been inundated with enquiries on claims by Chief Olu Falae and his family that a ransom was paid to his abductors following the kidnapping incident involving him on  September 21 and 24, 2015.

”As a law enforcement agency guided by the rule of law and professional ethics, we do not under any circumstances encourage the payment of ransom to kidnappers or other criminals as it is tantamount to rewarding crime and motivating other criminals to follow that part.

”As such, the police was not in any way privy to any arrangement that would have led to payment of ransom by the elder statesman or his family. For the respected Chief to declare that he paid a ransom is therefore demotivating news…”

Read More: vanguardngr

Buhari Tasks IG To Rescue Falae

Following a briefing on the abduction of elder statesman, Chief Olu Falae, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to take all necessary action to ensure the safe and speedy rescue of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Falae was abducted from his farm on Monday by suspected Fulani herdsmen who are demanding N100m ransom for his release.

Buhari according to a statement on Wednesday by his spokesman, Femi Adesina condemned the “callous and reprehensible kidnapping of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and elder statesman.”

The President assured Falae’s family, friends and other concerned Nigerians that the Federal Government would do all within its powers to ensure his swift release.

Read More: punchng

Police Commence Withdrawal Of Officers Affixed To VIPs

Following President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive that the over 130, 000 police personnel attached to unauthorized persons and VIPs in the country, be withdrawn and deployed to confront the serious security challenges in the nation, Force headquarters in conjunction with the Police Service Commission is set to commence the implementation.

Policeman get sets to quell protect of students of Olabisi Onabanjo University Ago-Iwoye in Abeokuta

Consequently, the Police Service Commission, PSC, in collaboration with the Inspector General Police, has concluded arrangements to deploy a high level monitoring team to the nation’s Airports, Highways and other public places to enforce the presidential directive of immediate withdrawal of Policemen from Very Important Personalities (VIP) who are not entitled to their services.

Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Sir Mike Mbama Okiro, (IGP rtd) who confirmed this in Abuja Tuesday, disclosed that “the monitoring team will have the powers to stop VIPs’ on the highways, Airports etc, for confirmation of their status and that of the Policemen attached to them”.

A statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, head of information PSC, quotes Okiro warning that “Any erring VIP or Policeman caught in such unauthorized beat, will be prosecuted”.

The PSC Chairman insisted that “the Commission and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force will enforce the presidential directive to the letter, stressing that henceforth only authorized government officials and VIPs’ will be entitled to Police security.

Continuing, Okiro noted that the nation cannot be battling with an inadequate Police Force while majority of these scarce officers are in the service of few privileged Nigerians who ordinarily should have no need for them.

He said the Nigeria Police will now be “structured to do its primary duties of providing internal security and protecting lives and property” adding that “the Commission will give the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force the required support and encouragement to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness”.

Okiro further warned that the Commission will not hesitate to discipline any Police Officer who flouts the presidential directive by hanging onto these VIPs’ for pecuniary gains.

“We cannot afford to have more than half of the population of the Police in private hands,” he said.

“Nigerian Police Force Needs Financing To Carry Out Recruitment” -IG

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has said the Force is making moves to raise funds to recruit more Nigerians into the organisation.

Arase said this on Wednesday in Abuja during a world media briefing to announce the forthcoming National Summit on Security, put together in conjunction with the Sun Newspapers.

The IG, who was represented by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said Nigerians desired a mass recruitment of personnel to bridge the huge deficit of policemen to secure the large population in the country.

He pointed out that the summit would address issues affecting the police, adding that the aim of the event was to let the nation know that everyone had a role to play in policing the country.

Arase said, “We are making moves for funding to embark on recruitment. Recruitment is good for everybody, it will help the general system. So many youths who are not employed can be recruited and the more number we have, the better.

“But the emphasis of this summit is that every Nigerian is actually a policeman; you have a role to play; there is no way you are going to have policemen enough to police the country. There are many issues plaguing this country now and I know that if you solve the security aspect, a lot more will be appropriately dealt with.”

In another development, the police have renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the authorities of a private university, Novena University, Ogume, Delta State.

According to a statement by Ojukwu, the move became necessary due to the desire of the IG to equip police officers with “the knowledge that will put them ahead of criminals, in fields such as intelligence and security studies.”

IG Sets Up Committee On Police Promotion

The Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has constituted a high-powered committee to screen all junior police officers who have obtained higher educational qualifications for promotion into the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police and Inspectorate cadres.

The State Command interviews are slated for July 1-6, 2015 while Zonal screening is between July 16-22.

A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Emmanuel Ojukwu, on Thursday in Abuja, said the exercise “is part of the welfare package aimed at boosting the morale of the Force.”

It said the IG emphasised that the exercise must be fair and transparent, noting that the result of the interview must reach the Force Headquarters on or before July, 28.

Creditpunchng

IG Orders Tight Security Nationwide Ahead Of Presidential Inauguration

The Police High Command urged members of the public to continue collaborating with officers and men of the Nigeria Police and other security agencies to stamp out crimes, including terrorism.

The statement noted that the police had perfected strategies to prepare a safe and secure ground for hitch-free inauguration of new governments nationwide.

Meanwhile, the IG has warned policemen against involvement in land dispute, stressing that such cases should be referred to the court of law or for Alternative Dispute Resolution.

He frowned at the participation of police officers in land issues, which he said bred corruption, noting that land dispute is not a criminal matter that should be settled by policemen unless there is a criminal dimension to the case.

Arase at a meeting with Inspectors and the rank and file at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Thursday, cautioned his men against carrying bags for VIPs, insisting that this is not part of their job schedule as security personnel.

Apparently reacting to reports of policemen carrying VIP bags and luggage, especially at the airport and at public functions, the IG who flayed such conduct, stated that any policeman, particularly men of the Special Protection Unit, caught degrading himself would be severely punished.

The IG announced that 36,599 rank and file would be promoted soon, adding that the police management is also working hard to improve the welfare of men of the Force.

Group Hails Sack Of Former IG, Accuses Him Of Backing APC in Ekiti

Ekiti Democratic Coalition, EDC, has hailed the removal of Suleiman Abba as Inspector-General of Police. The EDC accused Abba of collaborating with the All Progressives Congress, APC, to subvert the mandate Ekiti people freely gave to Governor Ayodele Fayose.

EDC, in a statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Boladale Adeniyi, alleged that the sacked IGP and the immediate past Commissioner of Police in the state, Taiwo Lakanu, aided the APC lawmakers in their evil plot to remove Governor Fayose.

Read More: dailypost

Re: No Waiting At Polling Booths After Voting By Adeola Austin Oyinlade

ADEOLA AUSTIN OYINLADE, LLB, BL, LLM, United Nations Peace Ambassador
Email: adeolaaustinoyinlade81@gmail.com
_____________________________________________________________________________________
20th March, 2015
Mr. Suleiman Abba,
The Inspector-General of Police,
The Nigeria Police Force Headquarters,
Louis Edet House,
Abuja, Nigeria.

Dear Sir,
RE: NO WAITING AT POLLING BOOTHS AFTER VOTING
I want to commend you sir for the adequate preparation of the Nigeria Police Force in order to record violence-free, fair and credible 2015 general elections. I also want to use this opportunity to commend our service men and women for ensuring protection of lives and properties in Nigeria. No matter the reservation anyone has for the Nigerian police force, I make bold to say that without you and our officers on ground, lives will be ‘nasty, brutish and short’ in the words of Thomas Hobbes.
Kindly permit me to use this open letter as a concerned citizen of Nigeria to ask for your clarification on a statement credited to you sir and widely reported on the pages of Newspapers. A good example is the one on the front page and page 2 of The Punch Newspaper titled “No waiting at polling booths after voting – IG”, dated March 20, 2015. I understand that open letters in the last two years have served different purposes for different individuals, but this only seeks your clarification on what appeared not to be cleared to me and other well meaning Nigerians.
In view of the above statement credited to you sir, could it be possible to say that was an order or a piece of advice to Nigerians? As a lawyer, I have tried in vain to see whether such assertion has any force of law as no law stipulates a time where any eligible voters must vacate the polling booths. I have also checked my primary and secondary sources of law and I can say that there is no law in force in Nigeria against eligible voters from witnessing the count of ballot papers after voting.
I read that your justification for the declaration was that “the possibility of committing electoral offence was very high if voters stayed back at the polling booths for votes to be counted.” I strongly believe that the essence of security in this task is not only to protect INEC officials and electoral materials but also the citizens. I also believe that the police can invoke their power of arrest under the Police Act against anyone who may want to breach public peace before, during and after elections.
Sir, you will agree with me that the political atmosphere of Nigeria is tensed at the moment. The attention of the whole world is on Nigeria as we go to the polls. As a United Nations Peace Ambassador and resource person to African Union on the implementation of African Youth Charter, UNESCO and UNDP, I have being privileged to hear from people within and outside Nigeria their expectations about the coming polls. While I believe that waiting till ballot papers are counted will see the process to the legitimate end, I also believe too that seeing voters standing and with our service men and women on ground can make anyone planning to steal ballot boxes to have a rethink rather than asking eligible voters to leave.
I want to thank you in anticipation for this clarification.
I wish Nigerians an emphatic success as we decide again.
Yours faithfully,

Adeola Austin Oyinlade Esq

Views expressed are solely that of author and has no association with www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

#PAUSIBILITY: We Must Scale This Fence. – Adebayo Coker

I was not able to watch the clip of the jumping legislators till last week Sunday. Remember I told you I didn’t want anyone to put sand in the garri I was enjoying at Ake Arts and Books Festival (AABF).

By the way, for some of us that are complaining about the dearth of the reading culture and literary life in Nigeria, we should endeavor to revive it by organizing, promoting and attending literary events like AABF, LABAF and the likes. I must commend the good work done by Lola Shoneyin and her team on the smooth organization of AABF. Kudos!

Back to where we were.

Watching those guys (I may not be able to call them honourable members of the House for now) scale that fence, reminded me of my truant years in the secondary school. I was a confused young man that did not know what he wanted to do with his life and thought malicious mischief was the way to go. Anyway, that confusion stemmed out of my belief that I have to be a strong man in order to be admitted into the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), climb the ladder to a point where I could  organize a coup, and gain power. That was the level of warped intelligence that was imputed in my feeble mind at that time; so it was laughable to me watching those guys do what I did many years ago. I wish I was wiser.

I promised you in my first note to you that I will not throw a chair in this house nor any other house. Let me explain that statement to you and what warranted that.

For easy understanding, I will like you to watch a video with me. You can even view the video on YouTube on your own. It was a video of some supposedly grown up men in our Legislative chamber.  They exchanged fisticuffs so raw, they graduated to throwing chairs at one another and eventually tore the clothes of one another to shreds. My son, those guys are some children’s fathers.  They were supposed to be honorable men but what they did was not at all honorable. Worst for their family members, amongst whom are their children, the video is uploaded online for the world to see and for generations to come for reference. 

If the children of such men are yo-mommaed in reference to that act, it won’t be a lie because whatever one does is recorded, somehow. Various videos of such acts and of some other people who have been so creative with the truth but were later found out during panels of enquiries into their acts or their stay in office, abound online. You will find them interesting.

Let me reiterate my promise to you: I will not for any reason bring disgrace and shame to you.

  • A Man Like Me: Noteography Of A Father To His Son.

Listening to the alibi of the Puppet – of- the – Presidency Police Force is another rib cracker. I ask them if their intelligence only picks information around the National Assembly. What happened to their radar around the North-East? And if truly any invasion was advancing towards the National Assembly, I believe the Police should have been at the main entrance of the NASS or that of the Three-Arms Zone; not at the set of the tragicomedy that was beamed live to the amusement of the whole world.

Again, the sub judis claim of the IG that warranted his refusal to recognize and address ‘Honourable’ Tambuwal as the Speaker of the ‘Honourable’ House of Assembly is sickening. Mr. IG (so unrefined),  I have advised you that  it’s too early to display the foolhardiness of your office in the course of history. I’m sure someday we’ll revisit all of these and your unborn generations and those of your instructors may never be able to undo history.

My good people, we all must cross the hurdles laid before us by these robbers of our good fortunes. There is no difference between this set of six and that half-of-a-dozen. We need not continue to be docile and render ourselves free rides for these heartless politicians that some of us see as demigods, whom we sometimes foolishly thank for performing their statutory responsibilities.

jonathan_ekiti

Let me paint a picture.

I placed an ad that I am looking for a house help. A guy applies, I screened him, reeled out what I expect of him; he agreed to the Ts &Cs, I employed him and he resumed. Whenever he performs the responsibilities of his office, I praise him. In the course of singing his praises to the high heavens, I ask my house help to do something for me that is part of his job description, but he tells me point blank that he doesn’t have the time to attend to me now as he will be going out with his girlfriend shortly. Because I have allowed him on many occasions to bring his guests to my house, I see nothing wrong in allowing him to go out again this time.

One day, he comes home and tells me he has just met a new friend and she will be coming to visit him, therefore I may have to help him get the house ready for his visitor. In my blind kindness, I oblige him, after all, the good Lord said we should help our neighbours.

Ultimately, the lady arrives and my house help calls out to me to come and serve the drink.

Fellow Nigerians, I am sure some of us will say he must have cast a spell on me but I put it to you that  not all cases like this are voodoo-perpetrated:  our complacency has got the better part of us hence we sheepishly accept whatever is thrown at us by our ‘political-employees’. So sad!

2015 General Election is around the corner. Look at the faces of those that approved 9.2Billion Naira for the purchase of Cooking Stoves in the face of austerity measures. Also, look at the faces of those that nothing else matters to other than their maddening quest to hold on to power; those that could not defend you against Ogwuche and his cohorts, before you cast your vote.

Remember, Baba Iyabo himself did not look well before he leapt.

Thank you.