9JA VIBEZ HUB

                          Mrs. Folashade Jaji,

By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations, the Lagos
State Government has stressed the need for residents,
particularly the youths to celebrate in moderation in the
atmosphere of peace and love and shun all acts of
hooliganism and violence during Yuletide and beyond.
Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Folashade Jaji,
gave the admonition over the weekend while flagging off a
sensitization rally, held in Lagos Island.
The week-long sensitization rally which had earlier been held
across other senatorial districts such as Epe, Badahry, Ikeja,is
tagged,” Lagosians, let’s celebrate peacefully and in harmony.”
Jaji, who spoke through, Mr. Lekan Bakare, Chairman of 57
Secretaries to Local Governments and Local Council
Development Areas, LCDA, otherwise, called Scribe 57, said
the sensitization became necessary to ensure safety of all
residents and visitors, particularly during festive period where
activities are at its peak.
She urged the youths thus, “At this Yuletide, say no to drugs,
don’t drink and drive, stay safe, shun violence, be positive, be
responsible, be security conscious Day in Day out.
“Avoid bad company and influence anytime, any day. See
something bad, report quickly to save precious lives.
Remember, the safe way is the best way.”
The SSG assured that government is, however, ready to
protect lives and properties of residents urging to call the toll
free emergency numbers of 112 and 767 in case of any ugly
development for security intervention. “Its everyone’s civic
responsibility to stay safe and secure.
She therefore, urged citizenry to support Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu led administration in achieving greater Lagos.
Speaking earlier, Secretary to the Local Government, Lagos
Island Local Government, Junaid Ladega Eko, assured that
there is no cause for alarm on safety of lives and property as
adequate security measures have been put on place to prevent
any threat to human lives and property.
He said that the council was already complementing the state
efforts as it had set up a security committee, comprising of
Nigeria Police, led by the Area Commander, to ensure safety
among communities during festive season and beyond.
He added that two notorious ring leaders of some groups who
had been terrorising the peace and tranquility in the area are
currently in police custody for prosecution over series of
murder cases believed they led during previous clashes in
Island.
“We are also engaging stakeholders to sensitize people at their
various communities on the need to maintain the peace. I can
assure you, there is no cause for the alarm in Lagos Island
during the period.
“I therefore, enjoin both Islanders and guests to be law abiding
and GI about their normal businesses as long as they
peaceful,”Ladega Eko stated.

Nigeria, through the Hon. Minister of Information and Culture,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has started intensification of global
attention to the Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove as a World
Heritage Site while pushing for UNESCO’s enlistment of similar
other sites in Nigeria. This was started on Tuesday 17
December 2019, when the minister made a tour of the Sacred
Grove, accompanied by the media and officials of the state
arts, culture and tourism ministries.
Addressing the media after touring the grove, the minister
said: “We have just concluded a tour of the Osun-Osogbo
Sacred Grove, one of Nigeria’s two world heritage sites. The
other is the Sukur Cultural Landscape in Adamawa State. You
will agree with me that this is indeed an extraordinary site,
worthy of its declaration as a world heritage site.”
The minister and his entourage also visited the Governor of
Osun State, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, in his office. In his
brief speech, the governor re-affirmed the huge potentials
tourism, driven mainly by arts, culture and sites such as Osun
Osogbo Sacred Grove, has for a country’s economy.
The minister said the purpose of the visit was to renew
national and global attention on Osun Osogbo Grove, and to
formally announce Nigeria’s plan to pursue the enlistment of
more sites as world heritage sites by UNESCO. “As you are
aware, Nigeria has many veritable sites that meet the
requirements of being declared World Heritage Sites. We are
taking immediate steps to first enlist the sites on the tentative
list, after which they can be inscribed as World Heritage Sites.”
The minster listed few of the sites whose enlistments are
being sought. They include the ancient Kano City Walls; The
Brazilian Baracoon Museum/Point of No Return in Badagry,
Lagos State, where slaves departed Nigeria to the Americas;
The forests in Oke-Igbo, Ile Oluji Axis of Ondo State, which
was the inspiration for D. O. Fagunwa’s book, ‘Igbo
Olodumare’; The Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria’s
largest national park, located in the eastern provinces of
Taraba and Adamawa, close to the border with Cameroon;
and the Ogbunike Caves in Anambra State, for its natural
significance.
The list, said Lai Mohammed, is endless. He revealed that last
month, the ministry successfully obtained court order
restraining persons encroaching on the Kano City Walls and
Associated Sites.
“A World Heritage Site,” said the minister, “is a landmark or
area which is selected by the UNESCO as having cultural,
historical, scientific or other form of significance, and is
legally protected by international treaties. Such sites are
judged important to the collective interests of humanity. They
are considered to be of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’.
“The World Heritage Site list is maintained by the international
World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 “states parties”.
“The fact that the General Assembly, comprising the entire 193
states parties, last month elected Nigeria into the UNESCO
World Heritage Committee is a positive development for our
quest to have more sites designated as World Heritage Sites.
And we shall use our presence on this committee to fight for
enlistment of many more sites from Nigeria into the World
Heritage list, because Nigeria is really blessed with a lot of
potential sites.
“In the meantime, we are planning a similar visit to the Sukur
Cultural Landscape. Fortunately for us, our gallant men and
women in uniform have succeeded in repelling the attempt by
the Boko Haram terrorists to destroy the Sukur Cultural
Landscape.
“Now that we are here, let me use the opportunity of this visit
to warn the land grabbers who are threatening the buffer zone
around the Osun-Osogbo Grove, which is also a national
monument. We will do whatever is possible within the law to
keep encroachers at bay.
The minister thanked the Government of Osun State for all it is
has done and is still doing to maintain the World Heritage Site.
“As you can see, the access road to the grove is well tarred
and the environment is kept clean and safe. Thank you also to
our guide today and to all those who are working here.”

The House of Representatives has directed the Committee on
Labour, Employment and Productivity to investigate the
activities of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) in
relation to the expenditure of ₦2.3 billion by its management.
This followed a unanimous adoption of a motion moved by
Rep. Francis Waive during the plenary presided over by the
Deputy Speaker of the house, Mr. Idris Wase on Tuesday.
The motion is titled “Need to Investigate the Activities of the
Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF)”.
Moving the motion, Waive recalled the report, in the Vanguard
Newspaper of Nov. 24, alleging a fraud of ₦2.3 billion against
the management of NSITF carried out without the
authorisation of its board or approval of the Ministry of Labour
and Employment.
The lawmaker added the transaction exceeded the spending
threshold of the management, according to the report.
He said the report also indicated that the management
allegedly awarded multi-million naira contracts for the
construction of office complexes of the NSITF in 12 states.
He added that “this is in addition to approving millions of naira
as duty tour allowances for trips, in contravention of a recent
directive from the Presidency banning such trips in order to
reduce wastage.
“At the end of August 2019, the sum of ₦2,294,161,925 had
allegedly been spent on staff trainings which were mostly not
approved by the board or the Ministry of Labour and
Employment, while many of the staff of the fund claimed that
they never attended any training, with a lot of infractions in
the process.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over the claim by the
management that it had spent billions of naira in settling
outstanding debts to contractors but details of such debts
were not provided to the board or the ministry.
He added that the claim raised suspicion about the
genuineness of the claimed debts and payments.
The house, however, said there was “an urgent need to
investigate the allegations to reposition the fund to deliver on
its mandate and also help in stamping out corrupt practices in
ministries, departments and agencies of government”
The lawmakers also directed the investigating committee to
report back in four weeks for further legislative action.

Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno south, has
reintroduced a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria
Peace Corps at the senate.
The bill was among six proposed laws introduced at the
upper legislative chamber on Tuesday.
The first reading of the peace corps bill was taken after
Nelson Ayewoh, clerk of the senate, read the short title
of it.
In February 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari refused
to sign the bill after the eighth assembly passed it in
2017.
The president expressed concern about funding for the
organisation.
Buhari said given the “scarce government resources”,
funding the organisation will be a financial burden on the
federal government.
The Peace Corps of Nigeria was embroiled in
controversies with other security organisations — the
police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
In 2017, the office of organisation in Abuja was sealed by
the police.

The House of Representatives have introduced a bill to
change the tenure of President, Governors to a single term
of 6years.
Sponsored by reps member John Dyegh of the All
Progressive Congress, the bill has passed through a first
reading and has been listed for a second reading by the
House.
The bill seeks to change the tenure of President from the
4years of two terms to a single term of 6years.
If passed, the will also change the tenure of members of the
National Assembly and States Houses of Assembly to
6years from the current 4years term.
The bill is coming at a time of rumours that the incumbent,
Muhamadu Buhari is seeking a third term.

Realme launched as an independent brand in May 2018,
and quickly became a reference in the second largest
market in the world – India. The brand has recently
arrived in Europe, and presents itself as a major opponent
of Xiaomi by offering a great cost-benefit on their
smartphones.
According to its CEO, Madhav Sheth, the company was
able to sell 15 million smartphones in 2019. Not content
with that, the goal for next year is ambitious: “We plan to
double that number by 2020.”
Madhav Sheth, CEO of Realme
Realme is already fourth best-
selling manufacturer in India
Realme’s expectations are realistic. In the Indian market,
the young manufacturer is already the fourth best seller
with 15 .2% market share. It is only surpassed by Vivo (15.
2%), by Samsung ( . 9%) and by Xiaomi with 27 1%.
Realme eventually opted for a similar online strategy
Xiaomi’s, which eventually gave her this sudden growth.
According to Madhav Sheth, Realme is the seventh
fastest-growing smartphone maker in the world.
Although Realme is already one of the best-selling brands
in India, the young maker already has insole on the
European continent, and its official website already ships
directly to Portugal.
At the moment the big questions about Realme are only
about its ability to offer long term updates on their
devices. In recognition of its value for money, the
company is increasingly admiring.

A Pakistani court on Tuesday sentenced former military ruler
Pervez Musharraf to death on charges of high treason and
subverting the constitution.
Musharraf, who seized power in a 1999 coup and later ruled
as president, is expected to challenge the order.
“Pervez Musharraf has been found guilty of Article 6 for
violation of the constitution of Pakistan,” Reuters quotes a
government law officer Salman Nadeem.
The court analyzed complaints, records, arguments and
facts in the case and reached a majority verdict. Two of the
three judges gave the decision against Musharraf.
The charges were based on Musharraf’s imposition of a
state of emergency in 2007, when he was facing growing
opposition to his rule.
The former dictator arrested and sacked the country’s top
judges, including the chief justice, who challenged his
decision to remain head of the army while also being
president.
Musharraf also suspended all civil liberties, human rights
and democratic processes from November 2007 to February
2008.
Protests across the country forced him to resign in 2008 to
avoid impeachment.
Last month, Musharraf issued a video recording from a
hospital bed in Dubai in which he said he was not being
given a fair hearing in the case that was filed by the
government in 2013.
“I served the nation and made decisions for the betterment
of the country,” Musharraf said in the video clip.

However, the FG has only enforced the first phase of
35 per cent on used vehicles while it has fully
implemented the import tariff on brand new ones.
The over half a trillion Naira figure used in importing
used vehicles was gleaned from the foreign trade in
goods statistics published by the National Bureau of
Statistics (NBS) recently. The vehicles came mainly
from the United States, Canada, Belgium, Germany
and Italy.
The trade statistics revealed that N148.28 billion was
spent importing used vehicles into the country in the
first quarter of 2019. The US was Nigeria’s main
importation hub, accounting for over 61% of the total
market share with about N90.8 billion spent on used
cars from the country alone. The balance of N58
billion was spent on vehicles from other countries.
Of the N148 billion, N117.46 billion was spent on
vehicles with 2,500cc cylinder capacity while the
remaining amount went to importing vehicles with
1,500cc cylinder capacity.
The trend was in no way different in Q2 2019 although
the value of importation rose to N177.34 billion.
The US dominated with N114.9 billion or 64.8% of the
total import value spent on importing Tokunbo vehicles
from the country. Italy followed with N6.3 billion,
Belgium had N4.1 billion spent on importing its used
vehicles while other countries shared the balance of
N52.04 billion between them.
N146.95 billion was spent on vehicles with 2,500cc
cylinder capacity in Q2 2019 while the remaining
N30.39 billion went to vehicles with 1,500cc cylinder
capacity.
The value of importation of used cars for Q3 2019
stood at N184.18 billion. The US again took the
biggest market share, accounting for N120.6 billion or
65.5% of the money spent on used vehicles. Italy took
N6.3 billion, Belgium N4.3 billion, Germany N3.9
billion and Canada N3.9 billion.
Other countries accounted for the balance of N35.18
billion.

The United Kingdom says it is currently supporting initiatives
to increase economic opportunities for marginalised youth in
northern Nigeria with development funding worth nearly 50
million dollars (N15 billion).
Mr James Roscoe, the UK Ambassador on General Assembly
Matters to the United Nations, stated this at a UN Security
Council meeting on peace and security in West Africa, in New
York on Monday.
Roscoe said the UK was providing additional 28 million dollars
(N8.5 billion) in funding for projects to “reduce young people’s
vulnerability to recruitment by violent extremist groups” in
Borno.
The gestures, according to him, are part of the UK’s
contributions, working with its partners in West Africa, to
support domestic efforts at preventing extremism and
intercommunal violence in the region.
Earlier at a briefing, Mohamed Chambas, Special
Representative and Head of the UN Office for West Africa and
the Sahel (UNOWAS), said the region had been “shaken by
unprecedented violence” in recent months.
Chambas said “relentless attacks on civilian and military
targets have shaken public confidence”, citing last week’s
attack by militants on a military base in western Niger that left
71 soldiers dead.
He blamed the situation partly on poor management of
national resources, inequalities and marginalisation, corruption
and the failure of governments in the region to provide
security and justice.
The special envoy, however, noted that “recipes against
violent extremism” were being put in place in many West
African countries.
Specifically, chambas said that some grassroots initiatives,
such as inter-faith coalitions in Nigeria, were in place to curtail
recruitments by Boko Haram.
He added that grassroots reconciliation initiatives were being
evaluated across the region for bilateral assistance at the
country level.
The security council, he said, could play a decisive role in
accompanying such efforts and more.
He reminded the council that, in addition to donor and
technical support, assistance on security-related and law
enforcement matters remains vital.
“Curbing the financial and supply corridors used by armed
groups, and the links with illegal trade requires international
cooperation.
“Targeted sanctions and other measures recommended by
panels of experts, are relevant for leverage,” Chambas
recommended.
In separate remarks, council members stressed the need for
efforts to be focused on tackling the underlying causes of
violent extremism and intercommunal conflicts in the region.

The dust raised by a section of the Nigerian media to
now address President Muhammadu Buhari as a
‘Major General,’ a ‘Dictator’ might not settle soon. But
what difference does calling President Buhari a
General or a Dictator make?
Trouble began to brew when, seemingly unable to
stomach perceived human rights abuses under
President Buhari’s government any longer, the Punch
Newspapers vowed to henceforth prefix Buhari’s name
with Major General, his rank as a military dictator in
the 80s, and refer to his administration as a regime.
This, it said, it would do until his government purged
itself of insufferable contempt for the rule of law.
According to the paper, the editorial was a symbolic
demonstration of its protest against autocracy and
military-style repression. It cited the case of Omoyele
Sowore, a journalist, in the hand of the Department of
State Security (DSS). It also frowned at other cases of
alleged contempt for the rule of law in Buhari’s
government.
Presidency is angry!
In its initial response to the decision to address the
President as a Major General, the Presidency through
Buhari’s special assistant on media and publicity, Femi
Adesina said there was nothing wrong if anybody
decided to address Buhari with his military rank.
“Nothing untoward in it (addressing Buhari as a Major
General). It is a rank the President attained by dint of
hard work before he retired from the Nigerian Army,”
Adesina said, adding that “rather than being pejorative,
addressing President Buhari by his military rank is
another testimony to free speech and freedom of the
press, which this administration (or regime, if anyone
prefers: it’s a matter of semantics) has pledged to
uphold and preserve.”
However, the Presidency showed itself in conflict
when Buhari’s senior special assistant on media and
publicity, Garba Shehu took an opposite stance.
According to him, “It is not within the power or rights
of a newspaper to unilaterally and whimsically change
the formal official title or the designation of the
country’s President as it pleases.”
He added that the “Constitution of Nigeria recognises
the President as the formal official title of the
occupant of that office,” and asked if the newspapers,
would in their “hubris” address the President as Prime
Minister as it pleases?
“Is it within the paper’s responsibility or power to
change the official title of the man who occupies the
office of the President? Does that mean any
newspaper is free to address the Comptroller General
of Customs a Colonel rather than his official title?,”
Shehu had argued.
So, what’s is in a name?
Some say there’s everything in a name. Perhaps, it
may just be trite to review it philosophically.
According to William Shakespeare in his play, “Romeo
and Juliet”, “a rose by any other name would smell as
sweet”. Juliet in the play compares Romeo to a rose
and says even if he were not named Romeo he will
still be handsome and be Juliet’s love.
Many philosophers and great thinkers hold that
external labels or titles given to a person hardly change
their true essence.
Will reference to Buhari as a General, Dictator and his
government as a regime, make any difference in his
style of governance? Only time will tell.
2 other things
Washing dirty linens the Aisha way
Nigeria’s First Lady, Aisha Buhari, never short on
controversies, regaled the nation with what many
believe should be her family’s private affairs. That was
not the first time she would do that.
Aisha had descended on her husband relative,
Mamman Daura and Shehu, the husband’s spokesman,
the same day the newspaper editorial threw the
presidency off balance.
In what appeared as a ventilation of frustrations, Aisha
accused Daura and Shehu of undermining her
husband’s administration.
According to her, the duo had been taking actions in
the president’s name, without the knowledge or
approval of her husband. She said, among others:
”…Mr Shehu has presented himself to these people like
a willing tool and executioner of their antics, from the
corridors of power even to the level of interfering with
the family affairs of the President. This should not be
so. The blatant meddling in the affairs of a First Lady
of a country is a continuation of the prodigal actions
of those that he serves. Mamman Daura and
Muhammadu Buhari.
“Garba Shehu as Villa Spokesperson knew the truth and
had the responsibility to set the records straight, but
because his allegiance is somewhere else and his
loyalty misplaced, he deliberately refused to clear the
air and speak for the President who appointed him in
the first place. Consequently, his action has shown a
complete breakdown of trust between the First Family
and him.”
Aisha, no doubt has won the praise and admiration of
many citizens over her outspokenness. However, many
have argued that family business should remain family
business and treated and resolved within the family
forum. It is hoped Aisha will get to hear that and save
her family from some public ridicule.
And, that Buhari advice to youths
One other story that out the presidency in the front
burner past week was his advice to youths. He urged
them to remain in Nigeria to help salvage the country.
He stated this at the 44th convocation ceremony of
the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife.
Buhari was represented at the event by the deputy
executive secretary of National Universities
Commission (NUC), Suleiman Raman-Yusuf.
“It is high time that universities took more proactive
roles in ensuring that graduands perform more
meaningfully in the world of works.
“It is in view of this that we wish to exhort our youths
to start looking inwards, stay and advance the cause
of their motherland. We have no other country than
Nigeria. We should remain here to salvage the country
together,” he said.
Buhari may have spoken the way a father would. But
he and his handlers must admit that the public pulse is
certainly sending different signals. What with his
frequent travels abroad on holidays and medical
check. This image is further sullied by general
knowledge of his family’s romance with foreign
educational institutions.

• As broadband penetration hits 37 per cent
The Federal Government has inaugurated a
committee to develop a new National
Broadband Plan 2020 - 2025 , to help reposition
the country for a digital economy .
This followed the expiration of the previous
National Broadband Plan in 2018 .
The committee is co - chaired by the Chief
Executive Officer, MainOne , Funke Opeke, and
the former Executive Commissioner in the
Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC ),
Bashir Gwandu.
This comes as Nigeria is said to have 37 per
cent broadband penetration.
Speaking at the inauguration , yesterday ,
in Abuja , Minister of Communications and
Digital Economy , Isa Pantami , admitted that
Nigeria has a problem of broadband
penetration .
He noted that the digital economy currently
valued at $11 . 5 trillion is strategically
dominating the world ’ s financial system , and
makeup approximately 16 per cent of the
global economy , according to Oxford economy .
Quoting the World Economic Forum, the
minister observed that by 2022 , about 60 per
cent of the world economy would be
digitalised , while by 2030 ; almost 85 per cent
would be at digital .
He recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari
last month launched a digital economy policy
for Nigeria , which has eight pillars, including
developmental regulation , digital literacy and
skills, solid infrastructure , service
infrastructure , digital services development and
promotion , soft infrastructure , digital society
and emerging technologies, and indigenous
content .
He said : “ This committee that converges here is
going to deliberate on one pillar that is very
strategic among the eight, and at the same
time , the success of the remaining seven
depends on the success of this one . Solid
infrastructure accommodates broadband and
data centre , this is key because all other pillars
rely on this very important one , and I think the
work of the committee is going to address
significantly one of the most important pillars.
This will go a long way in supporting the
National Digital Economy policy and strategy
for the government of Nigeria. All the states
and local government also have a role to play
to make it very successful , ” he added .
Also speaking , Executive Vice Chairman of NCC ,
Prof Umar Danbatta , observed that the
International telecommunication Union
( ITU ), recognised that in the 21 st Century,
broadband infrastructure is basic , and will
ensure that people around the world have
access to equitable and affordable broadband
wherever they are and whatever the
circumstances they are in .
Danbatta noted that broadband has the ability
to deliver healthcare , best quality education
even to generations unborn , the ability to
streamline transportation , meet up with social
development goals ( SDGs ) , and the ability to
transform the economy into a digital one .

In her response , the Chairperson of the
Committee , Opeke, said the target is to achieve
at least 65 - 70 per cent broadband penetration
across Nigeria by 2025 . She said broadband is
critical , and Nigeria cannot be left behind,
while Nigerians in the rural areas should be at
the centre of the new broadband plan , which
will help create jobs.
She said , “ The honourable minister has set the
goal , and I believe the NCC is in agreement . It
is for us to look at what was done during the
period of the last committee , look at what the
issues and challenges are that still exist, and
come up with a plan that allows us to achieve
the set objectives . I believe the objective is
achievable with sincerity of purpose and with
hard work for these are critical services and
infrastructure that we need to bring to all
Nigerians and we’ re optimistic that we can
accomplish that goal. ”
Opeke noted that a lot of work needs to be
done on fixed infrastructure , adding that the
reality is that mobile technologies are also
progressing quite fast to deliver very capable
services to people .

Luanda — With three weekly flights, the Angolan airline
company TAAG, starts flying, Monday at 8:00 to Lagos
(Economic Capital of Nigeria), carrying on average / weekly
at least 360 citizens, between Angolans and foreigners.
For this most populous city in Africa, the Angolan national
flag carrier will operate a 120-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft,
as well as allowing passengers from neighboring countries
to fly directly to Angola. This will enable the beneficiaries to
take advantage of dozens of possible connections to
southern Africa, in particular, as well as to Latin America,
through the Luanda hub (4 de Fevereiro International
Airport) and direct TAAG flights to these destinations.
According to a note from this aircraft operator, the "Lagos
flight" will also allow cargo transportation, giving local
businessmen the opportunity to diversify their import and
export bases. With the exception of the inaugural, the flights
will be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with
the DT-564, departing from Luanda at 11h30 and arriving in
Lagos at 14h30. Returns are scheduled for the same days of
the week, DT565, which will leave at 15:30 to arrive at
18:30.
These schedules, underlines the statement issued by the
company in October, will allow a quick connection in
Luanda with flights to Johannesburg (South Africa) and
soon with Praia City (Cape Verde), as well as TAAG
intercontinental flights. In his turn, the chairman of the
Executive Committee of the Angolan airline, Rui Carreira,
said (at the time) that this route will facilitate the
interconnection between the regions of West Africa and
Southern Africa, as well as help to promote tourism and
business. "We are confident that Lagos will be one of the
company's main regional destinations, contributing to the
strengthening of trade between Angola and Nigeria," said
TAAG's Managing Director which this year inaugurated the
Luanda / Sal Island route, and the prospect for 2020 Luanda
Accra (Ghana).

THE Kogi State Command of the Nigerian Police on Tuesday,
December 10, 2019 paraded six young men suspected to have
murdered the Woman Leader of the Peoples Democratic
Party, PDP, Mrs. Salome Abuh, after the violent governorship
elections in Ochadamu, Ofu Local Government Area of the
State.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeen Busari,
disclosed the identities of the suspects as Ocholi Edicha (gang
leader), Adamu Haruna, Egbunu, Musa Alidu, Attai Haruna and
Attah Ejeh. They had allegedly set Mrs. Abuh’s residence
ablaze and prevented her from escaping.
Following the outrage that trailed this heinous murder,
President Muhammadu Buhari had given orders for the
perpetrators to be apprehended. According to Mr. Busari while
parading them: “The suspects further confessed that they were
responsible for the series of armed robbery incidents at
Ochadamu and environs”.
For us, the parading will remain a non-event unless it is
accompanied by firm and diligent prosecution to ensure the
perpetrators of this heartless crime are brought to justice. The
Police, as an institution, never showed enough concern about
the woeful failure of security during elections in Bayelsa and
Kogi which cost the taxpayers dearly.
Police authorities had announced the deployment of 60,241
personnel (over 31,000 for Bayelsa and 35,000 for Kogi). The
Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, had
admitted that the Force was aware of the volatile nature of
elections in both states but assured the readiness of the
Police and other security agencies to protect the vote.
But after the election which turned out more of a war than a
peaceful democratic exercise, IGP Adamu shocked Nigerians
when he alleged that “fake policemen” or political thugs
overpowered his men during the elections.
It took more than one week after the murder of Mrs. Abuh
before the police roused to action following Buhari’s directive.
This lackadaisical attitude to their own failure does not inspire
Nigerians to believe that the police are prepared to
conclusively bring the culprits to justice. We hope the police
will prove their critics wrong.
The remarkable thing about Mrs. Abuh’s murder is that while
the police seemed unwilling to do its duties, the victim’s
relations made it clear that the perpetrators were “very well
known in the community”. The suspects’ alleged confession
to the crime seems to support this assertion.
It also confirms that the electoral process has been
outsourced to violent criminals in our society to decide those
who lead us while the police and security agencies fold their
arms. It is a shame.
The only way the police can salvage something for their image
in this ugly saga is to honour Buhari’s directive and the
expectations of Nigerians by ensuring the course of justice is
served.