Opinion
Details of Gbaboyor’s threat messages to Otuaro Emerges
By Ike Aaron
It has been confirmed that a former Niger Delta militant and his accomplices, Ebokabowei Victor- Ben alias Boy loaf, Jude Gbaboyor devised a ploy to attracts the vibrant High Chief Government Ekpemukpolo, alias Tompolo and the coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Program , Dr Dennis Brutu Otuaro to another round of media confrontation.
In a statement released on Thursday to address the subtle moves by the Niger Delta militant and his detractors in their usual gimmicks to create needless tension in the region.
It was revealed that Gbaboyor under the tutelage of his God father ,Boy loaf was beefed by the new order in the Amnesty Program, away from their expectations and new reforms initiated by Dr Otuaro at the helm of affairs.
While turning their plans and inordinate ambition, Boy loaf and his allies resort to campaign of calumny after efforts to get the nod of Presidential aide.
While deciding on how to carry out its self centered activities soon after the appointment of Dr Otuaro as the presidential aide on amnesty, emissaries to Tompolo with loads of demands capable of maneuvering the activities of the amnesty outfits with bogus lists of demands .
The refusal of the pipeline security surveillance expert had triggered a subtle and confrontational campaign powered by the ex Niger Delta militant and his cohorts, Boy loaf and Gbaboyor against the management of the agency led by Dr Otuaro and targeted at running down Tompolo.
Part of their demands is the reinstatement of Gbaboyor Boy loaf’s at the Amnesty office sacked by the previous management under Gen. Barry Charles Ndiomu (rtd) and also granted an unfettered, unpopular decisions and shaddy deals penultimate in the agency.
Prioritizing the welfare and advancement of the Niger Delta as against the parochial interest of the Sea pirate Boy loaf and Gbaboyor his cohort, who now suddenly turned as stakeholders having been denied of their “business as usual ” activities.
Angered and frustrated from the refusal of the continuation of their shaddy deals that thrived under the previous administration of amnesty outfit and made them . demigods, Boy loaf had resorted to activities to run down the workaholic new management under Dr Otuaro.
The blocking of all anti Niger Delta activities in the agency by Dr Otuaro irked the duos having blocked the channels of free money in the agency.
The Sea pirate Boy loaf and his arrow head boy Gbaboyor’s indulgence in a long wasap message of threats to the Amnesty Program top notch was a pointer of their desperate tendencies towards reverting to business as usual.
The release further states..
“Fresh details have emerged over how an ally of former militant in the Niger Delta, Ebokabowei Victor-Ben, alias Boyloaf, Jude Gbaboyor, has subjected High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, PhD, to media attacks.”
“Fresh details have emerged over how an ally of former militant in the Niger Delta, Ebokabowei Victor-Ben, alias Boyloaf, Jude Gbaboyor, has subjected High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr. Dennis Brutu Otuaro, PhD, to media attacks.”
“Findings showed that Gbaboyor, who was acting the scripts of his boss – Boyloaf, was unhappy that it was no longer business as usual for himself and his benefactor at the Amnesty Office with Otuaro in the saddle as the head.”
“It was gathered that Boyloaf and his attack dog took on Tompolo as they failed to prevail on him to persuade Otuaro to do their biddings.”
“It was gathered that Boyloaf and Gbaboyor had sent emissaries to Tompolo, moment after Otuaro was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to present a list of demands and pleaded with the leader of the ex-agitators in the Niger Delta to prevail on Otuaro to accede to their inordinate requests.”
“According to our sources, Tompolo rebuffed Boyloaf and Gbaboyor requests when he discovered that they were antithetical and detrimental to the overall good and development of the Niger Delta.
“He emphatically told Boyloaf that he could not persuade Otuaro to engage in illegality.”
“Tompolo was said to have added that the over all interest and wellbeing of the Niger Delta could not be sacrificed on the altar of parochial interests of some individuals.”
“Top on the list of the demand was the reinstatement of Gbaboyor, who sacked by one of Otuaro’s predecessors, Gen. Barry Ndiomu (rtd.) for official misconduct.”
“Other demands bothered on the proposals to Otuaro to preserve some of their shady deals ongoing in the Amnesty Office, before his appointment, with Boyloaf and Gbaboyor, as part of nefarious deals.”
“One of our sources said, “Since Dr. Dennis Otuaro came in as Amnesty program administrator few months ago , notorious sea pirate, Boyloaf with his gang of idiotic militants parading themselves as Niger Delta stakeholders ,have practically lost sleep.”
“Their anger and frustration is because it is no longer business as usual under the leadership of Owelle Chief Dennis Otuaro.
All manners of frauds perpetuated over the years by Boyloaf and other racketeers, including Jude Gbaboyor,making these bunch of illiterates to smile to bank in tune of millions of naira every month, under the previous administrators, were instantly put to an end by Dr. Dennis Otuaro.
“Dr. Dennis Otuaro objected to their anti- Niger Delta tendencies,by blocking all loopholes for the betterment of amnesty beneficiaries. Expectedly, bitterness enveloped them because of the arrival of a new Sheriff, who brook no nonsense in the Amnesty Office.”
“With Dr. Dennis Otuaro in charge, the era of free money from Amnesty Office to be used in sleeping with prostitutes at high profile Transcorp hotel in Abuja, was gone.”
“The marijuana addicted Jude Gbaboyor has not adjusted to the reality that free money from Amnesty office is no longer available to him and his pay master. Naturally, anger and frustration set in.”
“High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, who ordinarily had no business in the Amnesty Office, was dragged into the foray because he refused to prevail on Dr. Dennis Otuaro, to look the other way while they perpetuate frauds inimical to the general wellbeing of the region.”
“You know that one thing Chief Tompolo will not tolerate is any proposal or idea that would jeopardise the wellbeing of the Niger Delta in general. So when Boyloaf and Gbaboyor emissaries persuaded him to talk to Dr. Dennis Otuaro to key into dubious deals in the Amnesty Office, he pointedly refused to do so. That is why his name was being dragged into the media by Boyloaf and his accomplice ,” one of the sources, stated.”
“As Boyloaf and Gbaboyor found Tompolo and Otuaro as hard nut to crack, aggrieved initiated series of threat messages to Otuaro to intimidate him to submit to their unpatriotic antics.”
“Obviously frustrated Gbaboyor listed some course of action to compel the strong-willed Otuaro to surrender. ”
“Part of his planned action was a threat to cause an open letter to be written President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, alleging exclusion of chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC) as beneficiaries of the Amnesty initiatives.”
One of the messages sneaked into the media.
Gbaboyor in a long WhatsApp message to the Amnesty boss, stated:
“Chief Dr. Dennis Burutu Otuaro, I understand your sentiments regarding your desire not to have me working alongside you in the office, and I respect that. ”
“However, we have our own APC leader and a brother from my Local Government Area who holds a significant position as the Amnesty Boss. As faithful members of the APC, I and others feel completely neglected, which seems unjust.”
“As a participant in the Niger Delta struggle and an APC leader in Warri South-West, I find it troubling that we are receiving unfair treatment while one of our own is in office.”
“It is as if I am surrounded by an ocean while soap is in my eyes; you cannot simply abandon us like this; it is not fair, Chief. Dr. Dennis Otuaro.”
“While it is clear you might not want me in the office, I believe it’s essential to keep us involved, as you are more aware of the situation.”
_I will advocate as a member of our party and member of the struggle, especially since it seems you have decided to completely abandon us.”
“I am being forthright with you, which is why I am sending this message—to ensure that you cannot claim ignorance of my concerns in the future. ”
“I intend to raise this issue in a broader APC forum to discuss how I have been overlooked by my own brother in charge of the Amnesty office and to explore possible solutions.”
“If no action is taken, I will draft an open letter to the Presidency and publish it in a national daily, addressing how we have been neglected despite our hard work within the party, especially with you in this office.”
“Please understand that I am a straightforward person who values honesty and is willing to collaborate in any way possible, which I believe should not be difficult for you.”
“Thank you, and God bless.
I am Engr. Jude Gbaboyor Akpodubakaye.”
“It was gathered that Gbaboyor resulted in media attacks against Tompolo and Otuaro when he discovered that the subtle threat could not achieve results as the duo were adamant.”
By Suleiman Hassan Gimba Esq
I do not speak for Buni, for I am neither the voice nor the vessel of government. I do not speak for the flyover, for I am neither its foundation nor its asphalt. And I do not speak for the detractors of the flyover, for I am neither their echo nor their intent.
But I do speak for myself—as a citizen who will drive on this flyover and the existing roads in Yobe.
I speak as a husband, as a potential father who understands that government policies shape my ability to provide for my family. The roads I travel, the infrastructure around me, and the decisions made in government halls all influence my capacity to build a future where my child can grow in safety and my wife can nurture them in a stable, supportive environment.
I do not speak for power, nor for opposition—I speak for the everyday man whose life is shaped by these choices, for the citizen who desires not just development in name but development that truly serves the people.
As a child, I struggled to grasp the saying, “He who fails to plan, plans to fail.” One of my teachers at FECOET Demonstration Secondary School, Prof. Adam M. Abubakar, used to say it often.
It was plain, simple, and straightforward, yet my young mind could not understand how failing to plant during the rainy season meant sowing the seeds of hunger in the dry season. But I have since come to understand that development that truly serves the people is built on planning.
I have followed the political career of His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, and I hope to write a book about him one day, for his is a career rooted in planning.
Everywhere he goes, he excels. There was a clear plan when he was a Special Adviser to the Governor, there was one when he led the APC, and there is a bold one in his leadership of Yobe State. The APC enjoyed its best days under his watch; he was National Secretary of the first and only opposition party in Nigeria’s history to defeat a sitting president; he was Chairman of the Caretaker Committee that rescued the APC from implosion.
The importance of planning is best illustrated when comparing Abuja and Lagos. Both are Nigeria’s biggest cities, but in terms of road convenience, Abuja is far ahead. Why? Because Abuja was built with a master plan to last the ages, while Lagos has had to adapt as it grows. The roads in Abuja were constructed before congestion set in, with flyover pillars pre-installed in strategic locations, waiting for activation. Lagos did not have that foresight. Today, its people sleep in traffic, and all remedial efforts are expensive and disruptive.
It is no different with Damaturu. As urbanization increases, road congestion will become a major challenge. A flyover can significantly ease traffic, reduce travel time, and improve road safety by minimizing accident-prone intersections.
It will also enhance the work of agencies like YOROTA, YEMABUS, fire services, police, and other security bodies by allowing them to move more efficiently.
I cannot speak for the flyover, but I can speak for large infrastructure projects. I have been around long enough to know that such projects create employment, directly and indirectly. The flyover will not only provide construction jobs but will also stimulate economic activity by improving connectivity. It sits on roads that link at least three other local governments, another state, and three neighboring countries. Property values around it will rise, increasing local wealth and boosting Internally Generated Revenue through modernized property taxation under YOGIS.
And what is Damaturu if not our own Abuja, our own FCT? Whether we acknowledge it or not, the city will experience population growth and commercial expansion. What we can decide is whether we prepare for it—and H.E. Mai Mala Buni is doing just that. Strip Dubai of its infrastructure, and it is nothing but a Yusufari in the Middle East. We, too, must build the kind of infrastructure that attracts investment.
What many may not realize is that the flyover will actually save them money—on fuel, on vehicle maintenance. Smoother traffic flow means lower fuel consumption and less wear-and-tear on vehicles. It also means reduced carbon emissions due to less idling in traffic, aligning with the governor’s environmental sustainability plan and the broader Damaturu Development Plan.
What we can hope for is transparency in budgeting, procurement, and contract execution to ensure that the project is completed on time and to standard.
To close this write-up, I return once more to my childhood—boring, I know. I grew up seeing the NPN shops in Potiskum. Built in the late ’70s and early ’80s, they were the first all-concrete, fire-resistant shops in Nigeria. At the time, many saw them as wasteful and too ambitious. But today, development has caught up with them. No one stands at Kasuwan NPN and questions whether we were ready for them.
The same will be said of the five modern markets built by His Excellency Mai Mala Buni, the Potiskum Cattle Market, and now, the flyover. These projects will stand the test of time. And though I can never speak for Buni, they will speak for him—because they were planned with the people in mind. And when they start improving lives, the people will listen. The people will rejoice. Years and decades may pass, but these projects will remain, honoring the man who built them and serving the people he holds dear.
By Jumai Ahmadu
It is no longer news that there was an altercation between Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, but what it underscores is how women in elective positions in Nigeria continue to face severe under-representation.
Senator Natasha Akpoti, who was almost suspended from parliament by the Senate President, is just one out of similar cases in the recent past. Sen. Ireti Kingibe and Sen. Remi Tinubu (now First Lady) all had bitter experiences at the upper chamber.
It is in the light of these awful experiences that Seat Reservation for Women Bill by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, becomes urgent to only boost gender parity, but to unlock national prosperity of which women are a critical segment of.
Nigerian women’s political engagement in Nigeria has quantitatively shown that there is grossly low levels of female election to the National Assembly. The issue of female electiveness is one of myriad of issues women face in Nigeria – poor economic power, discrimination, cultural and religious inhibitions as well as societal biases.
The very notion that the country’s political sphere since 1999 has not witnessed any seismic shift in terms of gender equity and parity rather has remained largely dominated by men despite several efforts by both government and the private sector to enhance women participation and representation in elective politics does not inspire confidence in terms of inclusion and diversity.
A statistical report in 2017 on women and men in Nigeria shows that representation of high-ranking government officials with decision-making powers is heavily lopsided in favour of men. The representation of women in the 9th Assembly is not a significant improvement from past Assemblies.
In 1999, sixteen (16) women were elected into the National Assembly with thirteen (13) in the House of Representatives and three (3) in the Senate. The total number increased to 25 in 2003 with twenty-one (21) in the House and four (4) in the Senate.
The highest number of women ever to be elected into the National Assembly is thirty (36) in 2007 with twenty-seven (27) in the House and nine (9) in the Senate. Since then, there has been a steady decline to thirty-two (32) in 2011, twenty-nine (29) in 2015 and seventeen (17) in 2019.
In the 9th National Assembly, there were eight (8) female Senators (7.3%) and thirteen (13) female Members of the House of Representatives (3.6%), which represents 4.5% of the entire Assembly.
The 10th Assembly has women occupying four (4) out of 109 seats (2.7%) in the Senate and 17 out of 360 seats in the House of Representatives (4.7%), which represents 4.2% of the 469-member Assembly.
Therefore, after seven general election cycles since 1999, the number of women in the Senate has dropped to what it was at Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999.
It is thus significant to note that the cumulative percentage of women in the two chambers of Nigeria’s incoming 10th National Assembly is below 5%. It is also important to note that no woman was elected in 15 out of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly following the state level general elections in March 2023.
With current figures for the 10th National Assembly, Nigeria shamefully places at the lowest neighborhood of the ranking of countries on women in public leadership especially African Parliaments.
The National Assembly must take action to support increase in the number of women represented in government by passing the specific Constitution Alteration bills to achieve this.
The Temporary Special Measures bill, with more than 80 other House of Representatives members co-sponsoring it, was debated but failed to pass in the 9th Assembly. It is instructive that women groups are continuing work on the bill in the current 10th National Assembly and needs to work harder not to lose this opportunity again.
Women’s lack of adequate participation in legislative processes has negatively impacted promotion and enforcement of their rights, and despite the low representation of women in the National Assembly, the bills sponsored by female legislators has had significant impact on the lives of all Nigerians. Men’s efforts, if any, to promote these rights are not sufficient, because they are not direct beneficiaries.
Structural biases and barriers to women’s political participation indicate that the few women who show active interest in politics are discouraged by factors that include prevailing gender stereotypes, cultural/religious reasons, unfavourable political environment, lack of financial capacity, electoral violence and restrictive party structures and processes, amongst others.
Political hurdles, socio-cultural issues such as patriarchy, religious dogma, and conventional views of women in politics and socio-economic hurdles such as low income, lack of resources, electoral processes and political party structures, have all been identified as barriers to women’s political engagement.
While women are making significant contributions to Nigerian politics, their representation in political and decision-making positions needs to be improved.
And 30 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women and adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) we are nowhere near the 35% affirmative action.
Women groups plan to participate in the 69th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Conference scheduled to hold March 10 to 21, 2025.
The main focus of the sixty-ninth session will be on the review and appraisal of the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcomes of the 23rd special session of the General Assembly.
It is therefore recommended that the country’s 35 per cent affirmative action for women’s representation in politics be codified into law. Having legislation that requires government at all levels to have at least 35 per cent representation of women in appointive public service positions will be a good way to engender greater participation of women in politics.
Considering the importance of their presence in governance, we urge women in public leadership to stand firm and continue representing their constituents. They should never ever lose their voice, but rather continue to stand strong in your commitment to citizens and prove that representation matters.
Dr. Jumai Ahmadu is the Acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
The history of abandoned nation’s city centre roads by the previous administration’s was brought to a halt, soon after the assumption of office of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and appointment of Hon Minister, Nyesom Wike as the handler of the FCT in May , 2023.
Not long after his announcement and swearing as Minister of FCT, Wike visibly disturbed with the state of decayed infrastructure in the Federal Capital Territory FCT, particularly the state of roads across all Areas, sessions, districts, Zones and locations swung into action by embarking on major roads repairs , resumption of construction, embarking on new ones that was commissioned during the first year anniversary of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under his Renewed Hope Agenda.
The massive repairs by the Nyesom Wike led Federal Capital Territory made both major and linkages of roads weared a new look and brought fresh air to motorists, travelers, pedestrians among many other road users across the FCT.
As at January 2025, Wike had not only completed most of the nations city roads , but connecting them with high capacity fly over bridges across areas abandoned for many decades as part of the master plan and opening up roads in the rural areas of the six area councils of Abaji , Kwali, Gwagwalada, Kuje , AMAC and Bwari areas.
Major and adjoining roads across the six area councils with those abandoned for many years close to a decade have been reconstructed between weeks and months returning back to these areas good life of motorable roads to the area councils.
His style of leadership in the area of roads construction across the nooks and crannies of FCT including the interior part of the councils was the engagement of construction companies in each of the six area councils, with allocation of roads to be constructed in batches with no time limit, but to ensure good motorable roads in the six area councils with a dedicated funds of about 300Billion approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to revive rural roads across the six FCT area councils.
Twenty one months down the line , the improved infrastructure and roads construction has improved and competing favorably with those of the nations city, that was once a cynosure and shadow of itself due to leadership without foresight in the previous administrations.
The implications of the provision of good roads across the nations city and area councils has reduced to the barest minimum the influx of people from all walks of life into the city centre, as people now found comfort at area councils as a result of good network of roads and Infrastructural development.
Wike road projects all over the FCT has also linked many towns and villages to the FCT from Nasssarawa, Niger , Kogi among many other states reducing the high cost of renting houses in the city centre, as people have found refuge in area councils with network of good roads and cheap accommodation against the cut throat prices at the city centre.
The FCT Minister under Nyesom Wike has changed the narration of construction of one fly over for many years in the city centre, and construction of only one rural road in the area councils as FCT intervention projects.
Currently over ten flyovers are undergoing construction, reconstruction and completion in the FCT, while area councils has witnessed roads construction of more than ten areas in each councils with the stationing of construction companies in each area councils.
Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has brought a new lease of life to residents and occupants of FCT through the infrastructure upgrade by reconstructing and re-awarding and construction of new roads in the nations city.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.