Opinion
Scapegoating, Gaslighting And Gestapo Invasion of Homes And Offices Will Not Do It, Mr. President
The ill-advised invasion of the Labour House defines the desperation of the Presidency through its security apparati to force the silence of the graveyard over the nation. Yes, any peace contracted without justice, and without addressing the substance of the agitation is at best pyrrhic. When you force protesters out of the Street, they will exhale anyhow, and the how is my worry.
I have read that some Senators are funding the protests. I have read that some Foreigners are funding the mayhem. I have read that the Opposition is behind the protests. I have read that those who want the overthrow of the present administration are behind this and behind that. I have read that sore losers ditto those who lost the 2023 General Elections are the ones fueling the demonstrations. And I have read the gibberish and tommyrot of those who attempted without luck to tie it to the Igbo and to IPOB. All the conspiracy theories pale to nothing when you juxtapose the issues with the stack reality before us.
Is there hunger, pain and anger in the land? If the answer is yes. What happens when you place it side by side with the humongous waste of our collective resources on projects that do not immediately address the hunger in the land? Why blame others when you run the biggest/largest Cabinet since 1999? Why blame others when in the face of strangulating poverty you spent 21 billion naira for the VP’s Residence? Why blame others when in the face of soaring inflation you spent over 80 billion in the purchase of SUVs for Lawmakers? Why blame others when in the face of traumatizing want you spent a whooping 150m Dollars to purchase and customize a new Presidential Jet? And why blame others when whereas the citizens have tightened their seatbelts to amazing discomfort, yourself, your Appointees and your government is enmeshed in kleptomania, profligacy, waste, Kakistocracy, and wanderlust?
How does it make sense to you that Gaslighting the people with policy Reforms that are yet to impact the people will assuage the anger in the land? Who told you Mr. President that your enemies are behind the protests? No, they lied to you. The Protest is funded by the failure of your government to stem the pervasive poverty in the land. The Protest is fueled by hunger and pain. The Protest is fired up by threats from your government and the words of nullification by governmental operators. And the protest is largely enabled by the scapegoating and gaslighting that pales to insignificance juxtaposed with the significant hunger, inflation, depression, want, joblessness and anger in the land. Mr. President please stop the red-herring and get down to work, the buck stops at your desk.
Those wielding Russian flags and those making the flags will have no business if the system were working. Those calling for a Military putsch though reprehensible will have no traction if profligacy, waste and wanderlust does not define your watch. And those calling for a Revolution will find it a hard-sell if things were working. So get to work and stop the scapegoating, Mr. President.
Let the Nigeria Labour Congress NLC be, let the young people be, call your overzealous Security Agents to order, stop the blame game, get off the ‘your enemies are after you’ mentality, fold up your sleeves, tie up your bootstraps, and pursue with alacrity a holistic overhaul of the policies of your government. Listen less to sycophants, surround yourself with those who can and will always tell you the truth. Distance yourself from those who see Nigeria from ethnic cocoon mindful of the fact that you are neither a regional or a religious President BUT the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And please pursue the process of RESTRUCTURING so that the Federal before the Republic will be true.
I hope and pray that you will listen, Mr. President and begin with immediacy the search for the black goat before it is dark. May the Almighty grant you the candour to heed the words of reason.
Over my head I see a New Nigeria.
I’m CHUKWUDUMEBI.
Prof Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVT.
Ken Nnamani, a former president of the senate, says he did not beg Elisha Abbo, a former senator representing Adamawa north, on behalf of any judge after the ex-lawmaker lost his election case in court.
In October 2023, the court of appeal sacked Abbo and declared Amos Yohanna, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the winner of the Adamawa north senatorial election.
Appearing on Channels Television on Wednesday, Abbo said he was a victim of “miscarriage of justice”.
The former senator said Nnamani pleaded with him on behalf of a judge after he lost his election case in 2023.
Reacting in a statement, the former senate president described Abbo’s claim as “blatant lies”.
“My greatest surprise was to hear him state that Senator Ken Nnamani visited him to plead with him on behalf of a judge for the miscarriage of justice. This statement is a blatant lie. I do not know how Senator Abbo can boldly fabricate an event that never happened to buttress his allegation of judicial miscarriage against him,” he said.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I have never visited Senator Elisha Abbo at his house or anywhere. Up to this moment, I do not know where he lives. I have never discussed with him about his case, or any case pending or decided by any court of law in Nigeria.
“The only time I met with him was when he visited me in my house. It was more of a social visit by him. At this meeting, we never discussed his case or any case. I recall that when the matter of his political career came up, I advised him to avoid controversies as a young politician.
“The statements Senator Abbo made regarding me and his case are all fabrications. I believe I have had a sterling and distinguished public service career. I am determined to maintain my integrity and commitment to excellence till the end of my life.”
Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources, says the federal government plans to commence implementing the drill-or-drop provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Section 94 of the PIA gives operators a period of three years to begin oil production or relinquish the assets to the federal government.
Speaking during the Cross Industry Group (CIG) meeting held on Tuesday in Florence, Italy, Lokpobiri said it is in the best interest of the country that all inactive wells go to work.
He said the federal government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, has provided every necessary incentive to ensure international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria run smoothly and profitably.
“Now, it is imperative for these industry players to match the government’s efforts with increased investment by announcing final investment decisions (FIDs),” he said.
Furthermore, Lokpobiri discussed “the challenges, expectations, and measures to enhance the sector’s contributions towards domestic energy needs and regional expansion across Sub-Saharan Africa”.
He emphasised that while IOCs have highlighted engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors as a challenge, “EPCs will not come unless they see strong commitments from industry players”.
“The government has done its part to provide the requisite and investment-friendly fiscals, the ball is now in the court of the IOCs and other operators to make strategic investment decisions that will drive increased production and sustainability in the sector,” he said.
“We must also recognise that domestic crude supply is essential to national energy security. The best solution to this challenge lies in increasing production, which will ensure a balance between domestic supply obligations and external commitments.”
The minister further urged industry players to explore collaborative measures, such as shared resources for contiguous assets and the release of underutilised assets to operators ready to invest in production.
The Progressive Students Movement (PSM), a leading Pan-African student body, has commended the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) in Ogun State under Commissioner of Police (CP) Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, for its commitment to security and community engagement.
In a statement released on Thursday, the President of PSM Nigeria, Comrade Ambassador Okereafor Bestman, highlighted the CP’s efforts in strengthening collaboration between the police, stakeholders, and other security agencies to maintain peace and stability in the state.
“It is worthy of note that CP Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, has further fostered a harmonious working synergy between the police, stakeholders, and other security agents aimed at ensuring peace and tranquility in Ogun State,” Okereafor said.
The student leader expressed confidence in CP Ogunlowo’s leadership, stating that Ogun State is on track to becoming one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria under his administration.
He also praised the professionalism and dedication of the Ogun State Police Command in tackling crime, regardless of its scale.
Additionally, PSM acknowledged the Ogun State government’s continued support for security agencies, particularly in providing mobility and logistics to enhance their operational efficiency.
The commendation comes at a time when security remains a top priority for residents and authorities in the state, with ongoing efforts to curb crime and ensure public safety.