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You Are Suffering From Selective Amnesia, You Need A Cure —- Tinubu Blasts Odumakin

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6 years ago

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The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has faulted the position of the spokesman of Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, on his remarks on the farmers and herders clashes across the country.

Tinubu made his position known on Wednesday in a statement by his spokesman, Tunde Rahman.

At a national summit on conflict resolution in Abuja, organised by The Nation and TV Continental, with the theme: “Towards an Enduring Peace,” Tinubu had said: “The government must help herders gradually shift from their traditional nomadic existence to a more static lifestyle. We have to face the reality that modernity is making the nomadic way counterproductive and inefficient.

“Unoccupied, isolated land can quickly be turned into grazing areas in the affected states. In the long run, this will enable herders to better maintain their livestock and thus their own livelihood.”

But in a statement, Odumakin said the APC stalwart’s proposal was unacceptable.

The statement said: “The attention of Afenifere has been drawn to the statement credited to former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the herdsmen terror being witnessed across the country is a fallout of water scarcity and that the country should ‘convert unused land to grazing reserves’.

“Since most of the states in the country are being affected, it is sad that Tinubu is adumbrating the Miyetti Allah position to convert the entire country into one huge cattle colony. We totally reject this position as it is very backward in modern time and contrary to the consensus of all peace-loving Nigerians that what we need to solve the herdsmen siege on farmers is to have ranches.”

Responding through Rahman on Wednesday, Tinubu said: “The only deserving response to Yinka Odumakin is that he needs a cure for his seeming selective comprehension. The range of short and long-term options for an enduring peace in the incessant clashes between herders and farmers offered by His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Tinubu were suggestions for the consideration of the 2-day Conflict Resolution Summit, which ended on Tuesday in Abuja. Asiwaju Tinubu did not mention South West in particular and what he said had a context to it: ‘Unoccupied, isolated land can quickly be turned into grazing areas in the affected states.’

“It is not only some states in the South West that are affected but several states across the country. Why Odumakin suddenly gets hot under the collar may not be far-fetched. The usual frenzy and self-righteous mentality he portrays is on full display. Perhaps next time he should read through the whole submission and caution himself from self-righteousness and displaying in full glare anarchical emotions. And if Odumakin’s delusion still allows him to read, perhaps a read though of the full chunk of what was said by Tinubu at the summit will educate him better.

It’s as follows:

SHORT TERM

The violence has thankfully subsided. Government must sustain wise policy and action to keep peace and prevent violent recurrences.

1. Government must maintain reasonable and effective military and law enforcement presence in the affected areas. This presence should work with leaders of both the herder and farmer communities as well as traditional and religious leaders.

2. Government should develop a comprehensive remedial/rehabilitation strategy for victims of the violent crisis.

3. Government must help herders gradually shift from their traditional nomadic existence to a more static lifestyle. We have to face the reality that modernity is making the nomadic way counterproductive and inefficient.

Unoccupied, isolated land can quickly be turned into grazing areas in the affected states. In the long run, this will enable herders to better maintain their livestock and thus their own livelihoods.

4. The government should establish a permanent panel as a forum for farmers and herders to discuss their concerns and identify ways to mitigate contention. This will also help educate the general public.

LONG TERM

1. Nigeria needs to take the lead for Africa in the international community for dealing with climate change.

2. Water catchment and conservation systems must be developed. This includes the prudent use of dams and irrigation sub-systems maintainable at the local level.

3. More water-efficient farming techniques must be employed.

4. Projects to protect the land for additional desertification must take adequate priority.

“These recommendations are suggestive and not at all comprehensive. However, I think they convey the idea that dealing with the immediate crisis is essential. But we also must position ourselves to deal with these larger forces which are at the deepest root of this challenge. If we cannot get to this root, our short-term efforts may be successful but over time they will be of decreasing utility.

“This is a problem that is mostly not of your doing but one that you must solve for the future of this nation and its people. If you allow your greatness as a nation to show, you shall succeed in securing the benefits of a good life and suitable environment people for generations to come. That is the Nigeria I see and believe in.”

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BIG STORY

Yahaya Bello: EFCC Confirms Refund Of $760,000 From American International School Abuja

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17 hours ago

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April 27, 2024

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The American International School in Abuja has reimbursed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the amount of $760,910 that it was previously paid by former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello for his children’s advanced school fees.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC spokesperson, verified this on Saturday.

The school requested the anti-graft agency’s “authentic banking details” in a letter dated October 24, 2022, in order to pay the reimbursement “as part of investigation into the alleged money laundering activities by the Bello family.”

The sum of $845,852 was said to be paid to the school between September 2021 and October 2022. The school said it deducted the educational services rendered between the period, with the remaining amount being $760,910.

The EFCC is prosecuting Bello on 19 counts bordering on alleged money laundering, breach of trust, and misappropriation of funds to the tune of N80.2 billion. The matter is before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

EFCC chief Ola Olukoyede, who vowed to prosecute Bello or resign, alleged that the embattled ex-governor withdrew $720,000 from the state’s accounts to pay his child’s school fees in advance just before he left office on January 27, 2024.

The anti-graft commission had declared Bello wanted after his successor, Governor Usman Ododo allegedly whisked him away on April 17, 2024, preventing EFCC operatives to arrest him (Bello) when they laid siege to his Abuja residence.

Meanwhile, a Kogi State High Court sitting in Lokoja has ordered EFCC chairman to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against him for allegedly disobeying court order.

The EFCC boss is facing a contempt charge for carrying out “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive Originating Motion.

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Yahaya Bello: Kogi Court Summons EFCC Chairman Olukoyede Over Alleged Contempt

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20 hours ago

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April 27, 2024

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Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been directed by a Kogi State High Court in Lokoja to appear in court on May 13, 2024, to provide justification for not having an order of committal placed against him for allegedly defying a court order.

A contempt charge has been brought against the EFCC chairman for executing “some acts upon which they (the EFCC) have been restrained” by the Court on February 9, 2024, while the Originating Motion’s merits are being determined.

Justice I. A. Jamil, delivering a ruling in Suit No: HCL/68M/2024 and Motion No: HCL/190M/2024, ordered that “the said act was carried out by the Respondent (EFCC) in violation of the order, which was valid and subsisting when they carried out the act. That same act of the Respondent amounts to Contempt.

EFCC operatives had laid siege on the residence of the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, as early as 8 am on April 17, 2024, with a bid to arrest him, despite a court order restraining them from taking such action, pending the determination of the Originating Motion.

Justice Jamil’s order was based on a motion ex-parte filed by Yahaya Bello through his lawyer, M.S. Yusuf, where he prayed to the court for an order to issue and serve the Respondent (EFCC Chairman) with Form 49 Notice to show cause why Order of committal should not be made on Olukoyede.

Having listened to the arguments of the Applicant’s counsel, the submission and the exhibits attached in the Written Address, Justice Jamil granted Yahaya Bello’s prayers and ordered Olukoyede to be summoned to appear before the court to answer the contempt charge.

Delivering his order on the motion on April 25, 2024, Justice Jamil said, “The applicant’s application before me is to the effect that the Respondent has carried out some acts upon which they have been restrained by this Court on the 9th of February, 2024, pending the determination of the substantive motion on Notice before this Court.

“That the said act was carried out by the Respondent in violation of the order which was valid and subsisting when they carried out those acts. That same acts of the Respondent amount to acts of contempt.

“That the Respondent should be summoned to appear before this Court to answer to the contempt charge.

“It’s against the above facts that this Court hereby grants the prayers sought in line with the principle of “Audi Ultra Patem”. To wit:

“An order of this Honourable Court for the issuance of Form 49 Notice to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“An order for service of Form 49-Notice to show why an order of committal should not be made on the Executive Chairman of the Respondent – Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at EFCC Corporate Headquarters, Plot 301/302, Research and Institution District, Abuja.

“This matter is adjourned to the 13th of May, 2024 for the Respondent’s Chairman to appear before this Court in answer to form 49 ordered to be served on him.”

 

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BIG STORY

Naira Depreciates Because I Was Out Of The Country — Odumeje

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1 day ago

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April 27, 2024

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The Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention and Deliverance Ministry’s Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanemere, popularly known as Odumeje, declared that he had returned to Nigeria in an effort to halt the dollar’s appreciation relative to the Nigerian Naira.

Odumeje, in a video recorded at the airport while returning from London, boasted: “This is Indaboski Bahose. The war and the battle. A man full of power and activities. The only man who tells you, “I will bring down a dollar,” and he gets it done. When I left the country, dollar began to rise; now, I am back, I will continue where I stopped.”

In a video recording of one of his church programmes a few weeks ago, the self-acclaimed prophet had claimed that the exchange rate of dollar to naira came down because of one of his powers, which he dubbed ‘Abidoshaker.’

His claims came on the heels of the Nigerian currency’s significant gains after exchanging at N1,920 per dollar.

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