The Ekiti Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has cautioned the Federal Government over its categorisation of hate speeches to act of terrorism, saying: “This appears as another plot to silence the opposition and I make bold to say that saying the truth concerning the country and its rulers cannot be termed as hate speech.”

Fayose said the All Progressives Congress is the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speeches in the country.

He said: “When the APC was looking for power, several provocative statements were made. Nigerians are yet to forget President Muhammadu Buhari’s ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood’ hate speeches and the threat by the APC to form a parallel government.”

In a statement issued in Ado Ekiti on Friday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Fayose, who said he was totally against hate speech and will support any effort to curb it, added that it was important to caution the Federal Government on the danger inherent in the blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable.

He said: “Even if the APC government is sincere with its new found hatred for hate speeches, the APC government must first apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speech.”

The governor counselled that rather the blanket criminalisation of hate speeches, the Federal Government should embark on reorientation of Nigerians, especially the youths, on the consequences of hate speeches to the unity of the country and restore the confidence of the people in the government.

The statement reads: “I wish to express concern over the pronouncement of the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo that hate speech will henceforth be treated as terrorism.

“While I am totally against hate speech and will support any effort to curb it, it is important to caution the federal government on the danger inherent in the blanket categorisation of hate speech as treasonable.

“I make bold to say that saying the truth concerning the country and its rulers cannot be termed as hate speech.

“I only hope Nigeria is not being systematically returned to the colonial days when the law of sedition was used to jail many of those who fought for our independence or the era of Buhari’s military regime when the notorious Public Officers (Protection against False accusation) Decree 4 of 1984 was used to jail Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor, both of The Guardian newspapers, for publishing what the government termed as false.

“Most importantly, going by the APC government’s use of the so-called anti-corruption fight to harass, intimidate, arrest and detain opposition figures, there is no doubt that categorising whatever that is termed as hate speech as act of terrorism is unconstitutional and an attempt to gag Nigerians, especially the press.

“It should therefore not be seen that since the use of corruption to harass, arrest and detain opposition figures is no longer fashionable, hate speech will now be another instrument of oppression to be used against opposition.

“The questions that must be answered by the federal government are; what constitutes hate speech and who determines it? Has the Presidency becomes law unto itself such that it is now the one to determine what is an offense and what punishment to be applied?

“From all intent and purposes, the Acting President pronouncement which is obviously not backed by any legislation is an attempt to provide reasons for an impending clampdown on opposition and Nigerians will resist any attempt to mortgage their fundamental rights to freedom of expression under the guise of hate speeches.

“When the APC was looking for power, several provocative statements were made.

Nigerians are yet to forget President Buhari’s ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood’ hate speeches and the threat by the APC to form a parallel government.

“What can be more treasonable than these statements made by President Buhari and his party?

“It is also on record that during the 2011 election campaign, President Buhari’s inciting statement led to widespread violence by his supporters in the North after he lost. Over 1000 people were slaughtered in cold blood, including innocent National Youth Service Corp members.

“Therefore, even if the APC government is sincere with its new found hatred for hate speeches, the APC government must first apologise to Nigerians for being the number one promoter and beneficiary of hate speech.

“Also, rather than this blanket criminalising of hate speeches, the federal government should embark on reorientation of Nigerians, especially the youths on the consequences of hate speeches to the unity of the country while the confidence of the people in the government (at all levels) must be restored.”

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BIG STORY

Warri Refinery: Oil Marketers Eye Loading Of Petrol February

Published

1 min ago

January 5, 2025

PorscheClassy News

Oil marketers have started loading Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Kerosene from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company.

Dealers confirmed this on Friday, while also requesting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the recently rehabilitated plant.

WRPC, under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, resumed operations on December 30, 2024, after the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, announced its return to service during a tour of the facility.

Speaking with one of our correspondents at the refinery on Friday, the Chairman of the Delta State chapter of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Harry Okenini, said that while the plant was operational, it was not yet functioning at full capacity.

He, however, pointed out that marketers had begun loading diesel and kerosene from the refinery.

“Right now, there is no production of petrol. So, we are not loading PMS. We hope to load PMS soon. We can confirm to you that the plant is working although not at 100 per cent. And IPMAN, Warri Depot Unit, is waiting for the production of PMS so that we can load.

“For now, only the Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel, and Dual Purpose Kerosene are being produced and loaded out for consumption.

“Hopefully, by February, we are expecting cooking gas, PMS, and other products to come out. As of now, the retail unit is only loading AGO and DPK,” he added.

Also speaking with our correspondents at the refinery, the National Chairman of the Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers, a branch of NUPENG, Israel Omokere, confirmed that the refinery was operational.

He said, “Hopefully, the PMS will come on board. We are loading kerosene and AGO for now.”

On his part, the Delta State Chairman of Surface Tank and Kerosene Peddlers branch of NUPENG, Kingsley Erituoyo, said, “For so many years the refinery was down, today the refinery is up.”

Findings at the Warri refinery by our correspondents showed limited truck movements in and out of the complex.

According to The Punch, the activities at WRPC were minimal compared to the refinery’s peak years when it operated at full capacity.

Industry sources revealed that more steps were needed by the Federal Government and NNPCL for the refinery to begin full production of PMS.

During the visit to the WRPC complex, it was also observed that the main entrance appeared almost deserted, with security operatives stopping journalists from taking photographs on the premises.

Sources inside the refinery shared that only one of the three units at the refinery was operational and producing diesel, gas, and kerosene.

“For now, only one unit is working at the refinery. You know there are three units, but only one is in operation, producing diesel, gas, and kerosene.

“The unit can’t give fuel for now. If the second unit starts working, it can produce PMS. It is the last unit to operate because it’s very big and complicated.

“If all units are working, we can load over 100 trucks daily, now it loaded about 50 trucks,” a source said.

Post Views: 3

BIG STORY

NDLEA Arrests Famous 61-Yr-Old Lagos Fabric Merchant Alhaja Ajoke Elediye For Drug Trafficking

Published

20 mins ago

January 5, 2025

PorscheClassy News

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) began the new year by arresting a wanted drug kingpin and Lagos socialite, 61-year-old Alhaja Aishat Feyisara Ajoke Elediye, on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, in her mansion at the Okota area of Lagos.

This followed the interception of a truckload of illicit drugs from her staff on the same day.

A statement released by the anti-drug agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, reveals that the suspect, known in the drug underworld as “Iya Ruka” and as Alhaja Ajoke in social circles, had her true identity concealed for years.

She had remained on the NDLEA’s wanted list for leading one of the drug cartels operating from the Mushin area of Lagos.

“The lid was, however, blown off her invincibility on Wednesday, 1st January 2025, when NDLEA operatives, acting on intelligence, intercepted a white Izuzu truck carrying 44 jumbo sacks containing 1,540 kilograms of imported cannabis, driven by one of her staff, 41-year-old Abideen Adio.

Subsequently, the operatives stormed her hideout at 33 Adebayo Oyewole Street, off Ago Palace Way, Okota, where they arrested her.”

Babafemi further stated that, on the surface, Alhaja Ajoke is a businesswoman who imports fabrics and shoes from China, but beneath that lies a vast illicit drug trade.

She is also recognized as the Iyalaje of Blessing Sisters, an influential club of society women in Lagos.

Post Views: 41

BIG STORY

Lagos Ministry Demolishes Illegal Gatehouse After Attack On Workers [PHOTOS]

Published

2 days ago

January 3, 2025

PorscheClassy News

The Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has commenced the demolition of an illegal gatehouse erected by the management of an estate on January 3, 2025.

The action follows repeated warnings from the ministry, which had earlier alerted the estate about the unlawful construction.

Sources revealed that the estate proceeded to build a soakaway system on the road immediately outside the entrance gate, despite several official warnings from the ministry.

This prompted the ministry’s task force to intervene on January 2, 2025, to dismantle the septic tank that was being constructed.

However, during the operation, workers from the ministry were reportedly attacked and locked up by the estate’s management.

In response to the harassment of its workers, the Lagos Ministry of Environment and Water Resources escalated its actions, directing the demolition of the illegal gatehouse on January 3, 2025.

The demolition is part of the ministry’s broader efforts to ensure that constructions adhere to legal and environmental standards.