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EXPOSED: Many Shady Deals Of Kebbi Ex-Governor, Sen. Adamu Aliero; How He Granted Waivers To His Coy Labana Rice.

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Adamu Aliero

Adamu Aliero probably missed his vocation; the ex-governor and senator should have been an economist given his penchant for being economical with the truth. Immensely gifted in theatrics and subterfuge, Adamu has perfected his capacity for twisting truth into crooked forms.

Despite his humble background, Adamu grew to benefit immensely from the North Western region’s benevolent scholarship scheme. The North Western region’s scholarship scheme afforded him the opportunity to attend such institutions as the Aliero Town Planning School, after which he attended the Government Secondary School in Koko and graduated in 1976.

In 1981, he secured an administrative officer position at the College of Education in Sokoto. In the same year, he joined the Nigeria Customs and Excise Service before he ‘voluntarily’ resigned in 1997.

He later held various executive positions in Nigeria such as the Governor of Kebbi State, Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Minister of the FCT. Little wonder how he was able to build a 100,000 metric tonnes capacity rice mill in Labana.

Labana Rice Mill is situated in Kebbi State. Its 100,000 MT capacity makes it the third largest rice mill in the country. This sole mill in Kebbi State, owned by the distinguished senator, had been producing at 10 per cent capacity since its inauguration in 2012. This poses certain questions in a state that has 90,000 rice farmers ahead of states like Benue and Jigawa, according to a USAID report in April 2014.

However, rice farmers in Kebbi prefer to sell in Jigawa State, attributing their stance to government’s interference and price manipulation. Adamu, in order to get cheap rice for his mill, allegedly tried to arm-twist the farmers to sell at giveaway prices to him. The arrangement was resisted by the farmers who resorted to selling their produce in neighbouring states.

The farmers’ reaction scuttled his plans and rendered the policy a total failure. The farmers resisted the efforts of his handpicked successor who yet tried to intimidate the farmers. This singular action by the farmers sounded the death knell on Labana Rice Mills. But that is stale news.

What is news is that Senator Adamu, who chairs the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Import Duty Waivers, Concessions and Grants which investigated the indiscriminate use and abuse of waivers granted by the federal government to some organisations, while grandstanding and hugging the limelight with efforts to appear patriotic failed to mention that his company Labana was among those that were granted waivers. This negates the saying, “he who comes into equity must come with clean hands”. Hiding his company, which got waivers while making public names of other companies, is mockery of equity and fair play. He cannot sit as a juror at his own trial. There is a clear conflict of interest, making this a tainted inquiry. While grand standing, he should not fail to remember, that those who live in glass houses do not throw stones.

 

 

BIG STORY

UPDATE: Bobrisky To Sue VeryDarkMan For N1bn, Claims Voice Recording Was AI-Generated [PHOTOS]

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Bobrisky, the social media celebrity, has threatened to file a N1 billion lawsuit against activist VeryDarkMan for alleged defamation.

In a document dated September 27, Bobrisky claimed that VeryDarkMan shared a recording, allegedly created using Artificial Intelligence (AI), to tarnish her reputation.

Bobrisky’s legal counsel gave the activist a 24-hour ultimatum to retract the statements and apologize or face legal action.

The situation began after VeryDarkMan, whose real name is Martins Otse, posted an audio recording online in which Bobrisky allegedly claimed to have bribed Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15 million to drop charges against her.

Bobrisky, whose birth name is Idris Okuneye, had been released from prison on August 5 after serving a six-month sentence for abusing the naira.

In the audio, Bobrisky supposedly said her “godfather” and Haliru Nababa, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) controller general, ensured she served her sentence in a private apartment instead of a prison.

Bobrisky denied the claims, calling the recording “fake” and asserting that she did not bribe the EFCC.

Both Bobrisky and VeryDarkMan were invited by the EFCC over the bribery allegations, and the agency’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede, ordered an immediate investigation.

The federal government also suspended two NCoS officials over the bribery claims involving Bobrisky.

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BIG STORY

Lagos, Ogun Warn Residents As Oyam Dam Plans Water Release

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The Lagos and Ogun state governments have warned residents living in flood-prone areas, especially those near riverbanks, to temporarily relocate or prepare for possible flooding due to the planned release of water from the Oyan dam.

The release, managed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), is an annual process to regulate dam levels during the rainy season.

Last year, flooding caused by water release from the dam affected residents of Isheri Riverview Estate and surrounding areas.

To prevent a similar situation, both state governments have advised communities in low-lying areas to take precautions, including moving to safer locations, as the release could cause rivers to overflow and result in severe flooding.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, confirmed that advocacy efforts were underway, urging people in vulnerable areas like Ajilete and Owode-Onirin to relocate.

The Ogun State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, noted that the dam’s water release volume would be increased to create more reservoir space.

However, OORBDA assured the public that the release would not cause flooding, and the dam has undergone regular maintenance to prevent any failures.

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BIG STORY

Federal Government Declares October 1 As Public Holiday In Celebration Of Independence Day

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Tuesday, October 1, 2024, as a public holiday to commemorate the country’s 64th Independence Day celebration.

This announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who congratulated Nigerians both at home and abroad on this historic occasion.

Dr. Tunji-Ojo commended the resilience and hard work of Nigerians, emphasizing that their sacrifices will not go unnoticed.

He encouraged citizens to reflect on the enduring efforts of the nation’s founding heroes, reminding them that the dream of a prosperous and united Nigeria can only be realized through collective action and national unity.

He also “reiterated the need for Nigerians to reflect on the labour of our heroes past and be inspired for the tasks ahead, realising that a Nigeria of our dream can only be built when we unite”.

“While wishing Nigerians a Happy Independence Day Anniversary, Dr. Tunji- Ojo urged the citizens to continue to be steadfast in nation-building,” the statement reads.

The federal government had announced that this year’s Independence Day anniversary will be a “low-key event” due to the economic hardship and spiralling inflation bedevilling millions of households.

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