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Showing posts with label Ekiti state. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ekiti state. Show all posts

Diverted N1.2bn was for Ekiti Security, not Election Funds -Witness

Diverted N1.2bn was for Ekiti Security, not Election Funds -Witness

Fayose

Aliyu Muhammed Abdulmukadaddas, 14th prosecution witness, PW14  in the trial of Abiodun Agbele, ex-aide of former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that the sum of N1,219,000,000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira) transferred by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Colonel Sambo Dasuki was to address security matters in Ekiti State and not to finance elections.


Led in his testimony by prosecution counsel Wahab Shittu, SAN, Abdulmukadaddas, a retired staff of the CBN who posted the money disclosed that he was familiar with Sylvan McNamara Nigeria Limited's  Diamond Bank account 0026223114 where the lodgment was made.  


“We have paid N200 million to the company through a Diamond Bank account. We have paid N200billion to the company, N700million, N100billion, N255million to 0026223114 Diamond Bank account among other payments,” he said.


Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, the witness disclosed that the CBN verifies payments before lodgment is made. “All the payment has to be verified, and the verification is on the receiving account, and we must verify if it is okay before posting, and in this case it was okay, that was why we posted.”


Agbele is standing trial on 24 amended charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.219 billion paid into the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.


Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, had on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, told Justice Dimgba that the Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd Diamond Bank account 0026223114 was created by one Taiwo Kareem for warehousing funds to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos, however, the lodgments into the account were allegedly spent on electoral matters by Fayose with the aid of Agbele. 


An earlier witness and former CEO of Zenith Bank, Peter Amangbo informed the court while being cross- examined by Ojo that the airlifting of the N1.219 billion cash from Lagos Airport to Akure Airport and to Zenith Bank Akure was based on the instructions of the management of the bank.


Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter till May 2 and 3, 2024 for continuation of trial. 


Source: EFCC 

Fayose

Aliyu Muhammed Abdulmukadaddas, 14th prosecution witness, PW14  in the trial of Abiodun Agbele, ex-aide of former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 told Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, that the sum of N1,219,000,000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Nineteen Million Naira) transferred by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from the account of the Office of National Security Adviser (ONSA) under Colonel Sambo Dasuki was to address security matters in Ekiti State and not to finance elections.


Led in his testimony by prosecution counsel Wahab Shittu, SAN, Abdulmukadaddas, a retired staff of the CBN who posted the money disclosed that he was familiar with Sylvan McNamara Nigeria Limited's  Diamond Bank account 0026223114 where the lodgment was made.  


“We have paid N200 million to the company through a Diamond Bank account. We have paid N200billion to the company, N700million, N100billion, N255million to 0026223114 Diamond Bank account among other payments,” he said.


Under cross-examination by defence counsel, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, the witness disclosed that the CBN verifies payments before lodgment is made. “All the payment has to be verified, and the verification is on the receiving account, and we must verify if it is okay before posting, and in this case it was okay, that was why we posted.”


Agbele is standing trial on 24 amended charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.219 billion paid into the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd.


Former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, had on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, told Justice Dimgba that the Sylvan Mcnamara Ltd Diamond Bank account 0026223114 was created by one Taiwo Kareem for warehousing funds to deal with the issue of Boko Haram in Lagos, however, the lodgments into the account were allegedly spent on electoral matters by Fayose with the aid of Agbele. 


An earlier witness and former CEO of Zenith Bank, Peter Amangbo informed the court while being cross- examined by Ojo that the airlifting of the N1.219 billion cash from Lagos Airport to Akure Airport and to Zenith Bank Akure was based on the instructions of the management of the bank.


Justice Dimgba adjourned the matter till May 2 and 3, 2024 for continuation of trial. 


Source: EFCC 

Fake Democrats: Sowore Slams Ekiti Governor, Fayemi For Praising Ex-Military Dictator, IBB On 80th Birthday

Fake Democrats: Sowore Slams Ekiti Governor, Fayemi For Praising Ex-Military Dictator, IBB On 80th Birthday


Human rights’ activist and Amnesty International designated Prisoner of Conscience, Omoyele Sowore, has lambasted the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, for describing former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, as a patriotic and dedicated leader committed to the Nigerian project.

Fayemi had in a birthday message on Facebook in honour of Babaginda, who clocked 80 this week said, “I join the rest of the country to celebrate former head of state and elder statesman, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), on his 80th birthday. 

“Gen. Babangida has demonstrated his patriotism, dedication and commitment to the Nigeria project as a soldier and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. 

“May Almighty Allah grant you wisdom and grace to enjoy this special day to the fullest, and to continue to make meaningful contributions to our dear country. Ameen.” 

Commenting on the Facebook post, Sowore described the governor and others like him as fake democrats. 

He said, “John Kayode Fayemi, Femi Fani-Kayode and Atiku are all among the fake democrats and rogues sending IBB, a well-known coupist and enemy of democracy birthday goodwill messages. Shame. 

“It is so sad to think that Kayode Fayemi was a member of the pro-democracy movement; he was one of the people masquerading as democracy “fighters” living abroad while Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida smothered the future of Nigeria by annulling the June 12 presidential election in 1993. 

“Fayemi and others were probably working for Babangida in those days while we as students and youths in Nigeria were moving from prison to prison. Tueh! Now we know! #RevolutionNow.” 

Known as Maradona, Babangida was born on August 17, 1941.

He was Nigeria’s military president between August 1985 and 1993.

IBB led the coup of August 1985 to topple Muhammadu Buhari who was then the Head of State from December 31, 1983.

At the time of the coup, Babangida was the Chief of Army Staff.

The dictator also annulled the June 12, 1993 election.

The election, which was keenly contested by the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, the late MKO Abiola; and the Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention, and said to have been won by Abiola, was adjudged as the most transparent election in Nigeria’s political history.

But the poll was declared a nullity by the military regime led by Babangida.


Human rights’ activist and Amnesty International designated Prisoner of Conscience, Omoyele Sowore, has lambasted the Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, for describing former military dictator, Ibrahim Babangida, as a patriotic and dedicated leader committed to the Nigerian project.

Fayemi had in a birthday message on Facebook in honour of Babaginda, who clocked 80 this week said, “I join the rest of the country to celebrate former head of state and elder statesman, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), on his 80th birthday. 

“Gen. Babangida has demonstrated his patriotism, dedication and commitment to the Nigeria project as a soldier and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. 

“May Almighty Allah grant you wisdom and grace to enjoy this special day to the fullest, and to continue to make meaningful contributions to our dear country. Ameen.” 

Commenting on the Facebook post, Sowore described the governor and others like him as fake democrats. 

He said, “John Kayode Fayemi, Femi Fani-Kayode and Atiku are all among the fake democrats and rogues sending IBB, a well-known coupist and enemy of democracy birthday goodwill messages. Shame. 

“It is so sad to think that Kayode Fayemi was a member of the pro-democracy movement; he was one of the people masquerading as democracy “fighters” living abroad while Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida smothered the future of Nigeria by annulling the June 12 presidential election in 1993. 

“Fayemi and others were probably working for Babangida in those days while we as students and youths in Nigeria were moving from prison to prison. Tueh! Now we know! #RevolutionNow.” 

Known as Maradona, Babangida was born on August 17, 1941.

He was Nigeria’s military president between August 1985 and 1993.

IBB led the coup of August 1985 to topple Muhammadu Buhari who was then the Head of State from December 31, 1983.

At the time of the coup, Babangida was the Chief of Army Staff.

The dictator also annulled the June 12, 1993 election.

The election, which was keenly contested by the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, the late MKO Abiola; and the Bashir Tofa of the National Republican Convention, and said to have been won by Abiola, was adjudged as the most transparent election in Nigeria’s political history.

But the poll was declared a nullity by the military regime led by Babangida.

Ekiti, Osun Elections to hold next year, says INEC Chair in a remarks

Ekiti, Osun Elections to hold next year, says INEC Chair in a remarks

 REMARKS BY HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AT A MEETING WITH THE RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS (RECs) HELD AT THE INEC CONFERENCE ROOM, ABUJA, ON WEDNESDAY 16TH JUNE 2021

 

National Commissioners

Resident Electoral Commissioners

The Secretary to the Commission

Directors and other Senior Officials of the Commission

Members of the INEC Press Corps

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

1.​ It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our second meeting in less than one month, the last being the emergency session held on Wednesday 19th May 2021 in the wake of the attacks on our facilities nationwide. You may recall that at the last meeting, we resolved to reconvene in a regular session on the outcome of the expansion of voter access to Pulling Units in relation to our preparations for the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

 

2.​ You may also recall that the Commission addressed a press conference on the CVR two months ago on 1st April 2021. In announcing Monday 28th June 2021 as the date for the resumption of the exercise, the Commission informed Nigerians that it needed some time to conclude work on the expansion of voter access to Polling Units by converting the Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements to full-fledged Polling Units. We also promised that details of the new Polling Units would be made available to Nigerians ahead of the resumption of the CVR exercise. By doing so, fresh registrants and those seeking transfer will know the new Polling Units. This will enable them to choose their preferred voting locations on Election Day.

 

3.​ As you are aware, the history of creating and expanding Polling Units in Nigeria has been long and complex. Their adequacy and accessibility in terms of number and location across the country were some of the challenges that had to be addressed in the interest of credible elections. Before 2010, the Commission operated on a round figure of approximately 120,000 Polling Units. However, a census undertaken by the Commission before the 2011 General Election arrived at the precise figure of 119,973 Polling Units. The Commission also made efforts to relocate many Polling Units from inappropriate places such as private residences and properties, palaces of traditional rulers and places of worship to public buildings accessible to voters, polling agents, observers and the media during elections.

 

4.​ Following several unsuccessful attempts to create additional Polling Units despite the obvious pressure from increased number of registered voters, the Commission established Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements across the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a pragmatic response to necessity. The voting points were tied to the existing Polling Units and Voting Point Settlements. The number of registered voters in a Polling Unit and the Voting Point Settlement in the FCT, was used to determine their Voting Points, based on the upper and lower thresholds of 500 and 750 voters respectively. These were also the limits used for the 2019 General Election. The number of new Polling Units in a State is the number of Voting Points aggregated from those Polling Units having Voting Points. Furthermore, it was discovered that one Polling Unit in Lagos State had been wrongly categorized as a Voting Point and the error was corrected. With this adjustment, the actual number of approved Polling Units came to 119,974. As a result, the Commission arrived at the exact figure of 56,563 Voting Points in addition to 309 Voting Point Settlements in the FCT, making a total of 56,872 Voting Points.

 

5.​  After wide ranging consultations with stakeholders and fieldwork by our officials, the 56,872 Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements were converted and added to the existing 119,974 Polling Units. Consequently, the Commission is glad to report that 25 years since the current Polling Units were created in 1996, the hard nut is finally and successfully cracked after several unsuccessful attempts. Nigeria now has 176,846 full-fledged Polling Units.

 

6.​ Similarly, after consultation with stakeholders, the Commission has successfully removed 749 Polling Units from inappropriate locations to appropriate public facilities or open spaces in line with our policy to guarantee unencumbered access to Polling Units for all voters. Of this figure, 232 were removed from private properties, 145 royal palaces, 6 Mosques, 21 Churches and 9 Shrines. The remaining 336 Polling Units were relocated for various reasons which include distance, difficult terrain, congestion, communal conflict, new settlements and general insecurity.

 

7.​  However, in view of the advanced preparations already made by the Commission, four pending bye-elections in Kaduna, Jigawa and Plateau States will be the last to be conducted using a combination of Polling Units and Voting Points. Two of these elections in Sabon Gari State Constituency in Kaduna State and Gwaram Federal Constituency in Jigawa State are holding this weekend while the Commission awaits the formal declaration of vacancies by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives in respect of Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State. For subsequent elections, beginning from the Anambra State Governorship election holding on 6th November 2021, there will be no Voting Points any more in Nigeria.

 

8.​ The new approved Polling Units for each State of the Federation and FCT will be presented to the public in 37 volumes at this meeting. Meanwhile, the entire report has already been uploaded on the INEC website (www.inecnigeria.org). Infographics of the distribution of the new Polling Units on State-by-State basis and the FCT have also been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

 

9.​ The Resident Electoral Commissioners and staff of the Commission nationwide spared no effort to ensure the success of the exercise. Above all, this historic accomplishment would not have been possible without the support and understanding of all Nigerians. On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I would like to express our profound appreciation to the leadership of political parties, civil society organizations, the media, security agencies, religious leaders, socio-cultural associations, the labour unions, professional bodies, persons with disabilities, women and youth groups, students’ unions, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the State Governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Assembly. We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the development partners for facilitating some of the stakeholder engagements and the publication of advocacy documents.

 

10.​ Looking to the near future, the Commission is preparing to conduct the remaining off-season end of tenure elections ahead of the 2023 General Election. Already, activities listed in the timetable for the Anambra State Governorship election are being implemented. So too are those of the FCT Area Council election holding on 12th February 2022.

 

11.​ In the sequence of off-season elections, the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections are holding next year. In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved that the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on Saturday 18th June 2022 while the Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday 16th July 2022. The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two elections have been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms. We implore political parties and aspirants to ensure rancour-free primaries and thereafter conduct peaceful electioneering campaigns.

 

12.​ Once again, I welcome our Resident Electoral Commissioners to this crucial meeting. May God continue to bless our efforts.

 REMARKS BY HONOURABLE CHAIRMAN, INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC), PROF. MAHMOOD YAKUBU, AT A MEETING WITH THE RESIDENT ELECTORAL COMMISSIONERS (RECs) HELD AT THE INEC CONFERENCE ROOM, ABUJA, ON WEDNESDAY 16TH JUNE 2021

 

National Commissioners

Resident Electoral Commissioners

The Secretary to the Commission

Directors and other Senior Officials of the Commission

Members of the INEC Press Corps

Ladies and Gentlemen

 

1.​ It is my pleasure to welcome you all to our second meeting in less than one month, the last being the emergency session held on Wednesday 19th May 2021 in the wake of the attacks on our facilities nationwide. You may recall that at the last meeting, we resolved to reconvene in a regular session on the outcome of the expansion of voter access to Pulling Units in relation to our preparations for the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).

 

2.​ You may also recall that the Commission addressed a press conference on the CVR two months ago on 1st April 2021. In announcing Monday 28th June 2021 as the date for the resumption of the exercise, the Commission informed Nigerians that it needed some time to conclude work on the expansion of voter access to Polling Units by converting the Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements to full-fledged Polling Units. We also promised that details of the new Polling Units would be made available to Nigerians ahead of the resumption of the CVR exercise. By doing so, fresh registrants and those seeking transfer will know the new Polling Units. This will enable them to choose their preferred voting locations on Election Day.

 

3.​ As you are aware, the history of creating and expanding Polling Units in Nigeria has been long and complex. Their adequacy and accessibility in terms of number and location across the country were some of the challenges that had to be addressed in the interest of credible elections. Before 2010, the Commission operated on a round figure of approximately 120,000 Polling Units. However, a census undertaken by the Commission before the 2011 General Election arrived at the precise figure of 119,973 Polling Units. The Commission also made efforts to relocate many Polling Units from inappropriate places such as private residences and properties, palaces of traditional rulers and places of worship to public buildings accessible to voters, polling agents, observers and the media during elections.

 

4.​ Following several unsuccessful attempts to create additional Polling Units despite the obvious pressure from increased number of registered voters, the Commission established Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements across the States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as a pragmatic response to necessity. The voting points were tied to the existing Polling Units and Voting Point Settlements. The number of registered voters in a Polling Unit and the Voting Point Settlement in the FCT, was used to determine their Voting Points, based on the upper and lower thresholds of 500 and 750 voters respectively. These were also the limits used for the 2019 General Election. The number of new Polling Units in a State is the number of Voting Points aggregated from those Polling Units having Voting Points. Furthermore, it was discovered that one Polling Unit in Lagos State had been wrongly categorized as a Voting Point and the error was corrected. With this adjustment, the actual number of approved Polling Units came to 119,974. As a result, the Commission arrived at the exact figure of 56,563 Voting Points in addition to 309 Voting Point Settlements in the FCT, making a total of 56,872 Voting Points.

 

5.​  After wide ranging consultations with stakeholders and fieldwork by our officials, the 56,872 Voting Points and Voting Point Settlements were converted and added to the existing 119,974 Polling Units. Consequently, the Commission is glad to report that 25 years since the current Polling Units were created in 1996, the hard nut is finally and successfully cracked after several unsuccessful attempts. Nigeria now has 176,846 full-fledged Polling Units.

 

6.​ Similarly, after consultation with stakeholders, the Commission has successfully removed 749 Polling Units from inappropriate locations to appropriate public facilities or open spaces in line with our policy to guarantee unencumbered access to Polling Units for all voters. Of this figure, 232 were removed from private properties, 145 royal palaces, 6 Mosques, 21 Churches and 9 Shrines. The remaining 336 Polling Units were relocated for various reasons which include distance, difficult terrain, congestion, communal conflict, new settlements and general insecurity.

 

7.​  However, in view of the advanced preparations already made by the Commission, four pending bye-elections in Kaduna, Jigawa and Plateau States will be the last to be conducted using a combination of Polling Units and Voting Points. Two of these elections in Sabon Gari State Constituency in Kaduna State and Gwaram Federal Constituency in Jigawa State are holding this weekend while the Commission awaits the formal declaration of vacancies by the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives in respect of Lere Federal Constituency of Kaduna State and Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State. For subsequent elections, beginning from the Anambra State Governorship election holding on 6th November 2021, there will be no Voting Points any more in Nigeria.

 

8.​ The new approved Polling Units for each State of the Federation and FCT will be presented to the public in 37 volumes at this meeting. Meanwhile, the entire report has already been uploaded on the INEC website (www.inecnigeria.org). Infographics of the distribution of the new Polling Units on State-by-State basis and the FCT have also been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.

 

9.​ The Resident Electoral Commissioners and staff of the Commission nationwide spared no effort to ensure the success of the exercise. Above all, this historic accomplishment would not have been possible without the support and understanding of all Nigerians. On behalf of the Independent National Electoral Commission, I would like to express our profound appreciation to the leadership of political parties, civil society organizations, the media, security agencies, religious leaders, socio-cultural associations, the labour unions, professional bodies, persons with disabilities, women and youth groups, students’ unions, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the State Governors under the auspices of the National Economic Council (NEC) and the National Assembly. We also acknowledge the invaluable support of the development partners for facilitating some of the stakeholder engagements and the publication of advocacy documents.

 

10.​ Looking to the near future, the Commission is preparing to conduct the remaining off-season end of tenure elections ahead of the 2023 General Election. Already, activities listed in the timetable for the Anambra State Governorship election are being implemented. So too are those of the FCT Area Council election holding on 12th February 2022.

 

11.​ In the sequence of off-season elections, the Ekiti and Osun State Governorship elections are holding next year. In keeping with our policy of announcing the dates of elections in advance to enable early and effective preparations by all concerned, the Commission has approved that the Ekiti State Governorship election will hold on Saturday 18th June 2022 while the Osun State Governorship election will hold one month later on Saturday 16th July 2022. The detailed Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the two elections have been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms. We implore political parties and aspirants to ensure rancour-free primaries and thereafter conduct peaceful electioneering campaigns.

 

12.​ Once again, I welcome our Resident Electoral Commissioners to this crucial meeting. May God continue to bless our efforts.

Akintoye Writes South West Govs, says Terrorists Have Encircled Yoruba Land, Urges People to Wake Up

Akintoye Writes South West Govs, says Terrorists Have Encircled Yoruba Land, Urges People to Wake Up

Says "New Covid-19 Mid-night Curfew Is An Attempt to Import Terrorists Into Yoruba Land"



Advises RCCG, Winners Chapel, MFM, Synagogue, Deeper Life, Ibadan and Lagos Central Mosques to beef up security around their premises 



Wednesday 12th May, 2021




Renowned Historian and Second Republic Member of the Senate, Prof. Banji Akintoye has raised an alarm, alleging that terrorists have invaded and encircled the South West Geo-political zone of Nigeria.


In a letter personally written by him to all South West Governors, the leader of the apex Yoruba Self-Determination Group, Ilana Omo Oodua, urged the leaders to be vigilant and ensure that their fatherland is not captured by foreign invaders.


Akintoye, according to a statement made available to Newsmen on Wednesday by his Communications Manager, Maxwell Adeleye, declared that the new midnight curfew announced by the Nigerian Government to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria looks suspicious with clandestine motives.


While urging Yoruba people, especially the younger generations to wake up and be extra-vigilant, Akintoye alleged that the previous Covid-19 lockdown from March to May 2020 was used to import terrorists from the North to the Southern parts of Nigeria, especially, to the south-west, stressing that "people must therefore be very careful and observant now"


He advised some top religion centres in South West such as The Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG) Redemption Camp, Winners Chapel's Faith Terbanacle, Deeper Life Bible Church's Camp, Mountain of Fire's Camp, Synagogue Church of All Nations's Headquarters and the prestigious Central Mosque buildings in Lagos and Ibadan, to beef-up security around their premises.


The lengthy statement, as written by Akintoye, read in parts:


"This is an alert from Ilana Omo Oodua to the Yoruba people at home and in the Diaspora. The situation that has developed in Nigeria in recent days calls for the uttermost vigilance of the Yoruba nation, and every Yoruba man, woman, and child.


"There is danger that if we don't mount that high level of vigilance today, very serious pains can be inflicted upon us as a nation and on countless numbers of citizens of our nation. 


"A few days ago, precisely, Saturday, the 8th of May, I sent a very desperate letter to the six Governors of the Yoruba Southwest. The letter reads as follows:


"Your Excellencies, the Governors of the Yoruba Southwest. This is a very desperate message from me to the State Governors of our Yorubaland in the face of the impending escalation of the ongoing invasion of our homeland. A combination of Fulani terrorists, Boko Haram and ISIS have occupied Niger State which is immediately north of Yorubaland, thereby providing for themselves very easy access into Yorubaland through the Yoruba parts of Kwara and Kogi States. 


"Then, recently, the US has issued a statement that ISIS has infiltrated Southern Nigeria from the sea-- meaning that the coast of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States have been infiltrated.


"Our situation has thus become desperate and requires desperate actions from our State Governors. I feel obliged to devote much attention to the study of our Yoruba nation's vicissitudes in these terrible times, and from such studies, I am hereby raising an informed alarm to the Governors of our States. I humbly and passionately urge our Governors to come together to give the needed response to the danger that threatens to engulf our Yorubaland in, most probably, the next few days. 


"It is very well known that the signature action of these foreign terrorist organisations is to first destroy prominent assets of the society that they attack. That could mean that major public and private buildings in Lagos and Ibadan, particularly the hugely symbolic Cocoa House in Ibadan, would be their immediate targets. 


"By the grace of God, we will ultimately expel them from our homeland, but by then, very many valuable assets of our nation might have been wrecked. This is something that we can and must prevent by preempting them with our own massive defensive measures. 


"I wish our Governors God's wisdom and strength as they rise together to do the desperately needful now. I trust you all to make the best decision, but I respectfully urge that you also borrow a leaf from what Governor Ortom has done in his Benue State. 


"With my greatest regards. Prof Banji Akintoye."


"That was last Saturday. Now, in the past 24 hrs, that is, since late Monday, May 10, 2021, more troubling developments have occurred. First, the Secretary to the Nigerian Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, went on air and announced a number of Federal Government measures which were said to be made necessary by COVID 19. The measures included Nigerian-wide curfews, a limit of the congregation of persons to 50, closing down of bars and night clubs, among others. 


"However, while members of the Nigerian public were still pondering the Federal Government's announcement, another highly placed official of the same Government, Dr Sani Aliyu, Coordinator of the National Presidential Task Force on COVID 19, came out with a statement that the announcement a night before on lockdown, curfew, and public gathering were fake. He concluded that the public should ignore them.


"We urge the Yoruba people to be aware of what may be happening now. We ask Yoruba people to remember that when the Federal Government announced a lockdown in March 2020, the lockdown was converted to a sinister opportunity to truck countless loads of Fulani terrorists and others to the South, especially to the Yoruba Southwest. We Yoruba people must defend our homeland, our towns, cities, villages, farmlands and our people no matter what anybody else may be doing. 


"Happily, most Yoruba people are no longer in doubt about the danger that confronts their nation in Nigeria, but we need now is to mobilize ourselves in defence of our homeland . The Yoruba people are grateful to the Yoruba youths for the way they have woken up to resist the invasion of Yorubaland by terrorist bandits. 


"The Yoruba youths must take particular cognizance of the following facts: 


"That terrorists have taken over Niger State: That Niger State is the immediate Northern neighbour of Yorubaland; that terrorists now command easy access into Yoruba land through the Yoruba parts of Kwara and Kogi States; a powerful nation, the United States of America, has issued an alert informing Nigeria and the world that ISIS, probably in alliance with other terrorist groups, has infiltrated the Southern parts of Nigeria from the sea; That the Nigerian Federal Government has not responded in any way to all these dangerous developments, which means that we must not wait for any Federal Government to defend us. 


"We Yoruba people must also remember in particular that all past efforts by terrorists in Nigeria have always had special plans for Yorubaland because, as everybody knows, Yorubaland is the home of the richest non-petroleum resources in Nigeria. 


"All these call for a new and higher level of response and vigilance by the Yoruba people. Our youths have been holding mega rallies across cities and that is a very welcome development, but our youths must now respond at a much higher level than mega rallies. They must organise themselves urgently to protect our roads, especially the roads that lead into our homeland. They must ensure that the influx of terrorists and arms into our land definitively stops. 


"Owners and custodians of significant edifices in Yorubaland are strongly advised now to establish formidable security for their edifices. These include bridges, important public and private buildings, churches and such eminent Church estates as the Redeem, Winners, Deeper Life, Mountain of Fire Church camps and the unique Synagogue building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, and even our most prestigious Central Mosque buildings in Lagos, Ibadan and our other cities. 


"We must remember that when these terrorists broke into Mali Republic some years ago they destroyed the revered mosque of the ancient Sankore University in Timbuktu, the greatest Islamic monument in West Africa. To them, whatever does not qualify as fundamentalist or jihadist deserves to be destroyed.


"The Yoruba people trust their youths because the youths have done a lot of great things in recent times. We know they can do it, and we expect them to do their duty to their nation in these desperate times. Do this for your nation now to secure our nation and carve for yourself an honourable place in history.


"Yoruba youths must also make it clear to the world that NOW is the last and final battle of the Yoruba people against the destructive elements of Nigeria on the Yoruba nation", the statement concluded.

Says "New Covid-19 Mid-night Curfew Is An Attempt to Import Terrorists Into Yoruba Land"



Advises RCCG, Winners Chapel, MFM, Synagogue, Deeper Life, Ibadan and Lagos Central Mosques to beef up security around their premises 



Wednesday 12th May, 2021




Renowned Historian and Second Republic Member of the Senate, Prof. Banji Akintoye has raised an alarm, alleging that terrorists have invaded and encircled the South West Geo-political zone of Nigeria.


In a letter personally written by him to all South West Governors, the leader of the apex Yoruba Self-Determination Group, Ilana Omo Oodua, urged the leaders to be vigilant and ensure that their fatherland is not captured by foreign invaders.


Akintoye, according to a statement made available to Newsmen on Wednesday by his Communications Manager, Maxwell Adeleye, declared that the new midnight curfew announced by the Nigerian Government to curtail the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria looks suspicious with clandestine motives.


While urging Yoruba people, especially the younger generations to wake up and be extra-vigilant, Akintoye alleged that the previous Covid-19 lockdown from March to May 2020 was used to import terrorists from the North to the Southern parts of Nigeria, especially, to the south-west, stressing that "people must therefore be very careful and observant now"


He advised some top religion centres in South West such as The Redeemed Christians Church of God (RCCG) Redemption Camp, Winners Chapel's Faith Terbanacle, Deeper Life Bible Church's Camp, Mountain of Fire's Camp, Synagogue Church of All Nations's Headquarters and the prestigious Central Mosque buildings in Lagos and Ibadan, to beef-up security around their premises.


The lengthy statement, as written by Akintoye, read in parts:


"This is an alert from Ilana Omo Oodua to the Yoruba people at home and in the Diaspora. The situation that has developed in Nigeria in recent days calls for the uttermost vigilance of the Yoruba nation, and every Yoruba man, woman, and child.


"There is danger that if we don't mount that high level of vigilance today, very serious pains can be inflicted upon us as a nation and on countless numbers of citizens of our nation. 


"A few days ago, precisely, Saturday, the 8th of May, I sent a very desperate letter to the six Governors of the Yoruba Southwest. The letter reads as follows:


"Your Excellencies, the Governors of the Yoruba Southwest. This is a very desperate message from me to the State Governors of our Yorubaland in the face of the impending escalation of the ongoing invasion of our homeland. A combination of Fulani terrorists, Boko Haram and ISIS have occupied Niger State which is immediately north of Yorubaland, thereby providing for themselves very easy access into Yorubaland through the Yoruba parts of Kwara and Kogi States. 


"Then, recently, the US has issued a statement that ISIS has infiltrated Southern Nigeria from the sea-- meaning that the coast of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo States have been infiltrated.


"Our situation has thus become desperate and requires desperate actions from our State Governors. I feel obliged to devote much attention to the study of our Yoruba nation's vicissitudes in these terrible times, and from such studies, I am hereby raising an informed alarm to the Governors of our States. I humbly and passionately urge our Governors to come together to give the needed response to the danger that threatens to engulf our Yorubaland in, most probably, the next few days. 


"It is very well known that the signature action of these foreign terrorist organisations is to first destroy prominent assets of the society that they attack. That could mean that major public and private buildings in Lagos and Ibadan, particularly the hugely symbolic Cocoa House in Ibadan, would be their immediate targets. 


"By the grace of God, we will ultimately expel them from our homeland, but by then, very many valuable assets of our nation might have been wrecked. This is something that we can and must prevent by preempting them with our own massive defensive measures. 


"I wish our Governors God's wisdom and strength as they rise together to do the desperately needful now. I trust you all to make the best decision, but I respectfully urge that you also borrow a leaf from what Governor Ortom has done in his Benue State. 


"With my greatest regards. Prof Banji Akintoye."


"That was last Saturday. Now, in the past 24 hrs, that is, since late Monday, May 10, 2021, more troubling developments have occurred. First, the Secretary to the Nigerian Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, went on air and announced a number of Federal Government measures which were said to be made necessary by COVID 19. The measures included Nigerian-wide curfews, a limit of the congregation of persons to 50, closing down of bars and night clubs, among others. 


"However, while members of the Nigerian public were still pondering the Federal Government's announcement, another highly placed official of the same Government, Dr Sani Aliyu, Coordinator of the National Presidential Task Force on COVID 19, came out with a statement that the announcement a night before on lockdown, curfew, and public gathering were fake. He concluded that the public should ignore them.


"We urge the Yoruba people to be aware of what may be happening now. We ask Yoruba people to remember that when the Federal Government announced a lockdown in March 2020, the lockdown was converted to a sinister opportunity to truck countless loads of Fulani terrorists and others to the South, especially to the Yoruba Southwest. We Yoruba people must defend our homeland, our towns, cities, villages, farmlands and our people no matter what anybody else may be doing. 


"Happily, most Yoruba people are no longer in doubt about the danger that confronts their nation in Nigeria, but we need now is to mobilize ourselves in defence of our homeland . The Yoruba people are grateful to the Yoruba youths for the way they have woken up to resist the invasion of Yorubaland by terrorist bandits. 


"The Yoruba youths must take particular cognizance of the following facts: 


"That terrorists have taken over Niger State: That Niger State is the immediate Northern neighbour of Yorubaland; that terrorists now command easy access into Yoruba land through the Yoruba parts of Kwara and Kogi States; a powerful nation, the United States of America, has issued an alert informing Nigeria and the world that ISIS, probably in alliance with other terrorist groups, has infiltrated the Southern parts of Nigeria from the sea; That the Nigerian Federal Government has not responded in any way to all these dangerous developments, which means that we must not wait for any Federal Government to defend us. 


"We Yoruba people must also remember in particular that all past efforts by terrorists in Nigeria have always had special plans for Yorubaland because, as everybody knows, Yorubaland is the home of the richest non-petroleum resources in Nigeria. 


"All these call for a new and higher level of response and vigilance by the Yoruba people. Our youths have been holding mega rallies across cities and that is a very welcome development, but our youths must now respond at a much higher level than mega rallies. They must organise themselves urgently to protect our roads, especially the roads that lead into our homeland. They must ensure that the influx of terrorists and arms into our land definitively stops. 


"Owners and custodians of significant edifices in Yorubaland are strongly advised now to establish formidable security for their edifices. These include bridges, important public and private buildings, churches and such eminent Church estates as the Redeem, Winners, Deeper Life, Mountain of Fire Church camps and the unique Synagogue building of the Synagogue Church of All Nations, and even our most prestigious Central Mosque buildings in Lagos, Ibadan and our other cities. 


"We must remember that when these terrorists broke into Mali Republic some years ago they destroyed the revered mosque of the ancient Sankore University in Timbuktu, the greatest Islamic monument in West Africa. To them, whatever does not qualify as fundamentalist or jihadist deserves to be destroyed.


"The Yoruba people trust their youths because the youths have done a lot of great things in recent times. We know they can do it, and we expect them to do their duty to their nation in these desperate times. Do this for your nation now to secure our nation and carve for yourself an honourable place in history.


"Yoruba youths must also make it clear to the world that NOW is the last and final battle of the Yoruba people against the destructive elements of Nigeria on the Yoruba nation", the statement concluded.

ODUDUWA REPUBLIC: Yoruba Group Plans One Million March Rally Across South-West States

ODUDUWA REPUBLIC: Yoruba Group Plans One Million March Rally Across South-West States

 Ilana Omo Oodua which has been the umbrella body of yoruba self-determination groups on Tuesday announced plans for a one-million-strong march rally in the south-west states of Nigeria.


The group in a statement encouraged Yoruba indigenes interested in the rally to get the shirts, caps, and flags for the march in a tweet on Tuesday.

 

According to the group in a statement released on monday that the rally, which had been scheduled for wednesday, had been postponed due to the need for saturday consultations with all yoruba socio-cultural and self-determination group


“ilana omo oodua postpones the one million march of the pro-yoruba nation,” read the statement. The much-anticipated one-million-strong march across yoruba-speaking states has been postponed indefinitel


“the umbrella body of yoruba self-determination groups within and outside nigeria, ilana omo oduduwa, has declare


“On wednesday, march 24th, a rally will be held in the cities of ikeja, ibadan, akure, ado-ekiti, osogbo, abeokuta, kabba, and offa in lagos, oyo, ondo, akure, ado-ekiti, osun, ogun, kogi, and kwara states to drum up support for the actualization of yoruba nation sovereignt


“We have a meeting with all yoruba socio-cultural and self-determination groups slated for saturday, march 27th. after the meeting, we shall announce a new date for the one million march, but it is possible next week. thus, we put all the seats of power in yoruba land on notic


“We have declared our freedom from the failed lugardian amalgamation of 1914. we have also declared our freedom from the fraudulent 1999 constitution of nigeri


The international community, including the united nations (un), european union (eu), african union (au), economic community of west african states (ecowas), and the governments of the united states and the united kingdom have been put on notice.


“The government of nigeria is being challenged legally. we are not going to engage in any illegal or violent act


The group said: "We shall achieve our liberation without shedding blood. we shall deploy our material and intellectual weapons to fight this battle."



Source: DailyTimes

 Ilana Omo Oodua which has been the umbrella body of yoruba self-determination groups on Tuesday announced plans for a one-million-strong march rally in the south-west states of Nigeria.


The group in a statement encouraged Yoruba indigenes interested in the rally to get the shirts, caps, and flags for the march in a tweet on Tuesday.

 

According to the group in a statement released on monday that the rally, which had been scheduled for wednesday, had been postponed due to the need for saturday consultations with all yoruba socio-cultural and self-determination group


“ilana omo oodua postpones the one million march of the pro-yoruba nation,” read the statement. The much-anticipated one-million-strong march across yoruba-speaking states has been postponed indefinitel


“the umbrella body of yoruba self-determination groups within and outside nigeria, ilana omo oduduwa, has declare


“On wednesday, march 24th, a rally will be held in the cities of ikeja, ibadan, akure, ado-ekiti, osogbo, abeokuta, kabba, and offa in lagos, oyo, ondo, akure, ado-ekiti, osun, ogun, kogi, and kwara states to drum up support for the actualization of yoruba nation sovereignt


“We have a meeting with all yoruba socio-cultural and self-determination groups slated for saturday, march 27th. after the meeting, we shall announce a new date for the one million march, but it is possible next week. thus, we put all the seats of power in yoruba land on notic


“We have declared our freedom from the failed lugardian amalgamation of 1914. we have also declared our freedom from the fraudulent 1999 constitution of nigeri


The international community, including the united nations (un), european union (eu), african union (au), economic community of west african states (ecowas), and the governments of the united states and the united kingdom have been put on notice.


“The government of nigeria is being challenged legally. we are not going to engage in any illegal or violent act


The group said: "We shall achieve our liberation without shedding blood. we shall deploy our material and intellectual weapons to fight this battle."



Source: DailyTimes

CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE, UNION DISPUTE AND THE EXPIRATION OF THE 90-DAY NOTICE OF GRAVE CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES: NEXT-STEPS FOR TRAPPED ETHNIC NATIONS OF NIGERIA

CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE, UNION DISPUTE AND THE EXPIRATION OF THE 90-DAY NOTICE OF GRAVE CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES: NEXT-STEPS FOR TRAPPED ETHNIC NATIONS OF NIGERIA


(Being the Text of the World Press Conference by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, (NINAS), Delivered by Prof Banji Akintoye at the Expiration of the 90-Day Notice of Grave Constitutional Grievances Issued by NINAS to the Federal Government of Nigeria, December 16, 2020).PROTOCOLS.


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,

 

1) As the Distressed Federation of Nigeria continues to wobble through what seems its Terminal Throes, it will be recalled that the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS), aggregating the Indigenous Nations and Peoples of Southern and Middle- Belt of Nigeria, who have found themselves at the receiving end of a most vicious Ethnic Cleansing Onslaught by Heavily- Armed Invading Fulani Militia, masquerading as “Herdsmen”, Formally Declared a UNION DISPUTE with the Federation of Nigeria as represented by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE Proclamation of December 16, 2020 in which it made a Five- Point Demand upon the Federal Government of Nigeria, to Formally commence the Remediation of the Grave Constitutional Grievances enumerated in the said Proclamation, within a Period of 90 Days beginning from the midnight of December 16, 2020.

  2) The full text of the December 16 Proclamation was published unedited as an Advertorial in the January 20, 2021 Edition of the Guardian Newspaper at pages 38, 39, 40 and 41. Hard Copies of the Proclamation were also dispatched to the President of Nigeria, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, the President of Nigeria’s Senate, the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies, the

 UN, EU and AU Missions in Nigeria, the Ambassadors of the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany, Belgium, and Japan to Nigeria; the High Commissioners of the United Kingdom and Australia to Nigeria, ECOWAS Secretariat and a other Stakeholder Institutions.

(3) We Report to you now that at the expiration of the 90-Day Period Notice by the midnight of March 16, 2021, no Formal Contact was made


 with NINAS by the Federal Government of Nigeria and so we are gathered here today March 17, 2021 to Inform our People as well as the International Community, what our Next-Steps will be in our resolve to extricate ourselves from the Death-Trap and Bondage Unitary Nigeria has become for our Various Peoples.


(4) In refusing to step forward to the table of Dialogue and in the Characteristic Arrogant Disposition of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we wish to call your attention to several knee-jerk, patch-work and bad- faith options the Federal Government of Nigeria chose to pursue in the desperation to once again evade the Sovereignty Question it had been evading since 1967, instead of embracing the Comprehensive Framework Tabled by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-

Determination, NINAS via the December 16, 2020 Proclamation. In this regard, we note the Emergency Conference anchored by Channels Television and tagged “Pulling Nigeria Back from the Brink” featuring Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State (who Chaired the APC Restructuring Committee); Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State who is Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum as well as Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator and Senate Minority Leader.


In their various Presentations at that Conference, they spoke of the Urgency of the Nigerian Situation; they alluded to many of the Grave Constitutional Grievances raised by the NINAS Proclamation but without any direct mention of NINAS or the December 16, 2020 Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation. In what seemed like an unprecedented Bi- Partisan Consensus and Legislative -Executive Cooperation, they all agreed that immediate Remediation Steps need to be taken forthwith including the return of Niger Delta’s Oil & Gas Assets to its owners, the Decentralization of Policing to allow State and Local Government Police but most curiously, they proposed Urgent Amendments to the 1999Constitution and the Invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity by the National Assembly to commence the Remediation Processes. NINAS interprets this attempt to railroad the Resolution of the Grave Constitutional Grievances to the National Assembly as a clear-minded evasion of the Fundamental Sovereignty Question relating to the Deep Distortions in Our Union Agreement (Constitution) which must now be engaged by the Constituent Components of Nigeria whose Sovereignties are Currently Hijacked and Confiscated by the Nigerian State via the Fraudulent 1999 Constitution. This Interpretation stems from the fact that the National Assembly which itself, is a Product of that Constitution, had a few months ago, acknowledged that it has no Constitution-Making Powers as that Power vests Exclusively in the Constituent Component Nationalities of Nigeria as an Incident of their Sovereignty. It indeed amounts to Treason for the National Assembly or the Executive Branch of the Federal Government to continue to usurp the Sovereignty of the Peoples of Nigeria confiscated by the Fraudulent 1999 Constitution which is already repudiated and rejected by the Peoples of Nigeria especially in the Alliance Territories as represented by NINAS. NINAS also see external collaboration to this Treasonous Conduct of the National Assembly when Groups of individualscraft and Present to the National Assembly, Proposals inviting the National Assembly to embark on the exercise of Writing or Re-Writing the Constitution of Nigeria via Amendments, without the Constituent Component Nationalities first Addressing Sovereignty Dispute. Those external collaborators also talk about inserting a “National Referendum” Provision in the 1999 Constitution at a time the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria are Clamouring for Regional Referendums to Determine their Sovereignty. Some talk about Resuscitating the 1963 Constitution (i.e. Constitution-Writing) as the way to go. This also amounts to evading the Sovereignty Discussion. NINAS Unequivocally rejects these Propositions insofar as they would operate to commandeer and railroad our Hijacked Collective Sovereignty to the National Assembly.


There was also a recent suggestion by Nigeria’s Senate President, Lawan, that the assignment of Constitutional roles to Traditional Rulers in Nigeria will solve the broken down Security of Nigeria. These are all parts of begging the Question. We have to ask Mr Senate President why have State Governors who have Constitutional Roles, not resolved the Security Nightmares of Nigeria or even of their States.


In all, it is clear to NINAS that the both Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly of Nigeria, are fully aware of the Grave

Constitutional Grievances of the Constituent Component Nationalities of Nigeria, but are unwilling to address the Grievances, thereby inviting upon us all, a dangerous regime of Self-Help, especially against the Hydra- headed Monster of Gross Insecurity running wild all over Nigeria wearing at various times, the Garment of Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Miyetti Allah or Bandits.


(5) For the benefit of those who may not have read the December 16, 2020Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation and for the purpose of putting a contextual backdrop to the Post-Notice Action Outlines that we shall be spelling out today, permit me to Read in Full, the Five Demands of the December 16, 2020 Proclamation, along with the Paragraphs immediately preceding the Demands and the one immediately after it (ie the Closing Paragraph) so that we can better understand the reasoning behind the extraordinary measure of Constitutional Force Majeure as well as the Implications for the Distressed Nigerian Union and various Stakeholders including Government, Political Parties and International Interests, and I quote: “ACCORDINGLY, WE THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING Accredited Representatives of the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria’s Southern and Middle-Belt Territories, hereinafter called “the Alliance Territories”, (Constituting over 75% of the Population of Nigeria), on behalf of the Peoples of the Alliance Territories, and in Invocation of the Universal Rights appurtenant to our Sovereignties as Indigenous Peoples of the Distressed Nigerian Federation, including the Right To Self-Determination as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 as well as the United Nations Charter On Human Rights; HAVING exhausted every Democratic, People-Driven Process in seeking an orderly redress for the aforementioned Grave Constitutional Grievances emanating from the Unilateral Imposition of a Unitary Constitutional Order on our supposed Federal Union by a Section of Nigeria that has also Imposed Sharia in their own Part of our supposed Secular Union; AND NOW in circumstances that have become an extraordinary emergency for our Peoples, being confronted by the Clear and Present danger of Extermination in the hands of our supposed Compatriots in the of Nigeria who are Pursuing an Ethnic Cleansing Campaign against the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria HEREBY DECLARE A SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE with the Federation of Nigeria as represented by Federal Government of Nigeria, on account of our Repudiation and Rejection of the Imposed 1999Constitution of Nigeria whose authorship was Fraudulently imputed to us by the Preamble to that Constitution in its False Claim that “We the People”, Made, Enacted and Gave To Ourselves the said 1999 Constitution, with a further lie in that same Preamble, that we had Firmly and Solemnly Resolved to submit Our Peoples and Our Lands into the Union of Nigeria. FURTHERMORE, IN INVOCATION OF OUR LONG-SUPPRESSED COLLECTIVE SOVEREIGNTIES WE HEREBY PROCLAIM A CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE effective from the Midnight of the 16th Day of December 2020, with a 90-Day NOTICE to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, the Security Council of the United Nations, the Government of the United States of America, the European Union as well as the International Community, of the Intention of the Peoples of the Alliance Territories to reconsider our Continued Allegiance to the Disputed 1999 Constitution as well as the Unitary Union of Death, Attrition and Backwardness it foists on us.

 FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND TO AVOID ANARCHY, IT IS OUR DEMAND THAT IN THE 90-DAY PERIOD OF THIS NOTICE, THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC ACTIONS MUST BE TAKEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO FIRMLY SET IN MOTION, AN IRREVERSIBLE PROCESS BY WHICH THE AFOREMENTIONED GRAVE CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES WOULD BE ADDRESSED:

(A) A Formal Announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria acknowledging the Constitutional Grievances and Sovereignty Dispute now Declared by the Peoples of South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria.

(B) A Formal Commitment by Federal Government of Nigeria to the wholesale Decommissioning and Jettisoning of the 1999 Constitution as the Basis of the Federation of Nigeria as was done by the Government of Apartheid-Era South Africa in 1990, to commence the process by which the Apartheid Constitution of the then South Africa was eased out.

(C) A Formal Announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria suspending further General Elections under the Disputed 1999 Constitution since winners of such Elections will Swear to, and Govern by that Constitution.

(D) A Formal Invitation to the Peoples of the South and Middle-Belt of

 Nigeria to work out and emplace a Transitional Authority, which shall specify the Modalities for the Transitioning Process including the Composition and Mandate of the Transitional Authority as well as the Time-frame for the Transitioning and other Ancillary Matters.


(E) A Formal Initiation of a Time-Bound Transitioning Process to midwife the emergence of Fresh Constitutional Protocols by a Two-Stage Process


 in which the Constituent Regional Blocs will at the first stage, Distill and Ratify their various Constitutions by Referendums and Plebiscites and in the second stage, Negotiate the Terms of Federating afresh as may be dictated by the outcomes of Referendum and Plebiscites.


BY THIS PROCLAMATION, Let it be known to ALL, including International Money Lenders, that Nigeria is now a Disputed Project and that while the Constituent Components commit to honouring existing International Debt Obligations, WE CAUTION that whatever Obligations that may arise from any Foreign Loans contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria from the date of this Proclamation may come into controversy. Similarly, all Loans contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, containing any

Clause that may Cede the Sovereignty of Nigeria or any part thereof in the event of Repayment Default shall be disputed as illicit, and in breach of the Sovereignty of the Federating Units.


We also invite Politicians from the Alliance Territories and all Political Parties Operating in the Alliance Territories, to TAKE NOTICE, that the 1999 Constitution by which the winner of any National Elections in Nigeria will Swear, and Govern, is the very Object of the Sovereignty Dispute We Have just Proclaimed, with a Demand that Further National Elections premised upon that Repudiated Constitution, be Deferred Forthwith, for the purpose of first Reworking the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria. It is therefore our Expectation that you will stand with the People you Claim or Seek to Serve as Politicians or Political Parties in their current resolve to Wind up the Operation of the 1999 Constitution and Extinguish the source of their Misery. If instead of standing with your People, you choose to go to another round of General Elections in 2023 under that Constitution, it will simply mean that you are a part of the enemy-imposed Mechanism for Inflicting Death, Misery and Impoverishment upon your own People, for no other reason than Personal Gain.


The Signatories to this Proclamation commit themselves to providing a Detailed Proposition for Undertaking this Fundamental Reconfiguration of

 the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria. In this regard, the Signatories Adopt and Incorporate the MNN Alliance’s November 16, 2018OPEN MEMORANDUM TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE RESTRCTURING DEBATE, reported by Guardian of Nov 18, 2018, as an outline of our Prescriptions in this Proclamation.  ​​​


ISSUED THIS 16thDAY OF December 2020” end of quote.


(6) Before I proceed with the Next-Steps, permit me to make a few clarifications about the Nature and Substance of the Sovereignty Dispute we Declared and about the Exact Remediation Propositions we made:

(i) The Constitutional Force Majeure is a carefully Designed Decisive Action Process that will continue until it achieves its Twin Objectives of Peacefully Easing out the Imposed Fraudulent 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Orderly Emergence of Successor-Constitutional Protocols, in keeping with the Self-Determination Rights of the Constituent Component Ethnic Nations of the Distressed Federation of Nigeria. It is therefore not a one day Armageddon in which the roof of heaven will fall upon the earth as being Speculated by some commentators, whether out of ignorance or mischief.

(ii) The 90-Day Period of Notice was for the Federal Government to Fully Consider the Grievances Raised and to Bring Itself to the Table of Dialogue set up by the Aggrieved Constituent Components of Nigeria. In that Period, NINAS persuaded the Peoples of the Alliance Blocs to refrain from any acts that might aggravate the volatile situation of Nigeria even in the face of severe provocations such as when amidst much killings across the Nigeria, the Governor of Bauchi State Bala Muhammed, recklessly Declared that the Murderous Fulani Herdsmen rampaging everywhere in Nigeria, had the right to be in every part of Nigeria they choose and to carry AK-47 Automatic Riffles.

This means that after the 90- Day Period of Notice, the Peoples of Nigeria as aggregated in the Alliance, will Proceed with various Processes towards achieving the Objectives of the December 16, 2020 Proclamation, namely,the easing out of the Fraudulent 1999 Constitution and the Distillation of Successor-Constitutional0Protocols.


(iii) The Next Line of Action expressly indicated by NINAS in its Proclamation is that of Reconsideration of its Continued Allegiance to the 1999 Constitution. It is important to state here that the exact Processes by which this Reconsideration will be enacted shall be communicated to the Public in Measured Steps as the days progress and so NINAS hereby invites all Stakeholders to be on the Lookout for Directions, every care being taken to avoid Anarchy or any kind of Breakdown of Order.


(iv) Building upon the Formal Repudiation of the 1999 Constitution by the Constituent Components of Nigeria including by Solemn Assemblies over the last 20 Years, the Joint Proclamation of December 16, 2020 by NINAS was to Serve NOTICE of the Impending Formal Withdrawal of the


Contrived Consent (Forged Signature) of the Peoples of Nigeria by which the 1999 Constitution is being sustained and validated as Basis of the Nigerian Union and it’s Governance.


The Press Conference of today is to commence the retirement process of the 1999 Constitution in a manner that restores the Hijacked Sovereignties of the Constituent Components of Nigeria from which they may freely enterinto Fresh Protocols, all through a Transitioning Process that retains Existing Governance Structures throughout the Transitioning Period as South Africa did to ease itself out of the Apartheid Constitutional Order.

(7) NOW TO THE NEXT-STEPS:


(i) After Due Consultations with Stakeholders; Bearing in mind that the Five-Point Demand Contained in the December 16, 2020 Proclamation was addressed to Federal Government of Nigeria, and Considering the fact that in the event that matters progress to the Reconsideration of Allegiance to the 1999 Constitution, Political Office Holders from the Alliance Territories who will be directly impacted, may be caught in the Middle of a Dispute to which they have not been made parties, NINAS therefore deems it appropriate and necessary to first bring in such persons that may be so impacted, into the Dispute before further steps. ACCORDINGLY, NINAS Hereby Invites All Elected Political Office Holders from the Alliance Territory for Consultations with Stakeholders in their Respective Home Regions within a Period of 30 Days Commencing from the Midnight of March 17, 2021. Appropriate Communications Channels shall be used to Formally extend the Invitations to affected persons and such details as Modalities, Dates, Time, and Venue shall be Communicated along with the Invitations.


(ii) In the aforementioned 30-Day Period of Consultations, NINAS enjoins the Peoples of the Alliance Territories, particularly the younger Generation, home and abroad, whose Future have been badly compromised by the Nigerian State, to intensify the enlightenment about the December 16, 2020Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation amongst the Populace, with a view to mobilizing the Local Populace towards the inevitable engagement with Political Parties and Political Merchants from their Localities, who for humongous personal gains, cling tenaciously to the 1999 Constitution, and even planning to partake in further National Elections in 2023 under that Constitution at a time when the People they claim to Lead and Represent are struggling to ease out the same 1999 Constitution from which all their miseries flow, (including Killings, Gross Insecurity and Mass Impoverishment) and which make them Slaves In their Homeland. The Political Parties must now be persuaded to Close Shop forthwith, albeit Temporarily, until the Constitution(s) by which the Winners of any future Elections (especially 2023) will Govern, since all Political Parties in Nigeria  operate under the 1999 Constitution and the winners of any Elections must Swear to, and Govern by the 1999 Constitution.


This 30-Day Period of Consultations offers the Federal Government of Nigeria a fresh window of opportunity, beyond the 90 Days Period of Notice that expired March 16, 2021, to bring itself to the table of Dialogue set up by the Constituent Components of Nigeria, by way of the December 16, 2020 NINAS Proclamation.


Being all agreed that no progress is possible for the Peoples of Nigeria under the 1999 Unitary Constitution, we cannot be Proclaiming Restructuring, Resource Control, Rule of Law Security, EndSARS, End Corruption, or even Good Governance and still be warming up to go to another round of General Elections in 2023 that will renew the life of the 1999 Constitution which Guarantees Unitarism, Resource Hijack, Impunity, Insecurity, SARS Killings, Corruption, and Bad Governance.


We must now get honest with ourselves and Turn off the Tap from which these evils flow without further delay. The 1999 Constitution is that Tap.

In Closing Let it be Clearly Understood that in the Face of the Demise of the 1999 Constitution and the rapid progression towards self-help across Nigeria by People who find themselves under the invasion by Murderous, Heavily armed Fulani Militia masquerading as Herdsmen while the Security Agents look the other way, it is only a matter of time for the bloody altercations that are currently building up to explode into the Violent Disintegration of Nigeria with Catastrophic Consequences.


Let it also be understood that the Propositions of the December 16, 2020Proclamation by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self- Determination NINAS, offers Nigeria, Nigerians and the Concerned International Community, the Most Viable, Most Comprehensive and Most Peaceful Framework for Undertaking the Inevitable Fundamental Reconfiguration of the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria.


As we may all recall, the situation of Nigeria compelled the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Nigeria, Agnes Callamard in a September 2019 visitation, to describe the Constitutioal arrangements of Nigeria as “a Pressure Cooker for Injustice”, in circumstances that pose a Threat to Global

Security in the event that Nigeria snaps, since the most notorious Global Terror Networks including ISIS and Al-Quaeda are already converging in the large swathes of UNGOVERNED spaces Nigeria offers and with frightening prospects of an unprecedented Refugee Crisis for the World should Nigeria come undone. As we sit here today, we are already seeing the beginnings of the flood of Nigerian refugees into the rest of West Africa particularly the Yoruba who are now taking refuge in Benin Republic. 


Now that Sheik Ahmad Gumi has helped us piece together the last pieces of the jigsaw puzzle regarding who the Terrorists tormenting Nigeria are, where they are, what their Motives are, what the Nigerian Government and Security Agencies know, and the Ethnoreligious fissures within the Terror Battlefields, NINAS is confident that the illusions of many regarding the Monster we are up against, will be dispersed and more indigenous Nigerians will step forth to embrace the efforts that NINAS has initiated. 


Those who insist on Governing Nigeria with the Imposed, Fraudulent and Unworkable 1999 Constitution as well as those who still aspire to contest further National Elections under that Constitution should know they are the ones pushing Nigeria towards a Violent Disintegration but the Ethnic Nations Currently Trapped in the Failed Lugardian Experiment of 1914 will do everything Legitimate under appropriate International Instruments to extricate them from the Union of Death, Attrition and Backwardness that Nigeria has become for them. NINAS urge our Various Peoples across the Alliance Territories to remain calm and confident as measured steps are being taken towards ending our Bondage.


For the avoidance of doubt, the NINAS proclamation of constitutional dispute on December 16th 2020 terminated the life of the fraudulent 1999 constitution of Nigeria and therefore restored our sovereignty that was confiscated by that constitution. What we are doing today is to outline the processes and modality for the necessary and orderly transition to our full self-determination and sovereignty in the World therefore we hereby call on the peoples of our alliance territory to rise to the challenge of shaking off the shackles and manacles hitherto imposed on them by the defunct 1999 constitution.


The task before our peoples are as follows:


1.​To distill and perfect the documents of their sovereignty namely Map of their Territory and draft constitutions or charters of relationships for multi-ethnic blocks.


2.​To embark upon and intensify their effort towards UN-Mandated referendums and plebiscites.


3.​In the face of the demise of the 1999 constitution which had been impediment to the control and management of their territories and resources (Particularly the 68-item exclusive list), the Governors of the State in the Alliance Territory are hereby advised to, in the interim, work as there state assemblies to make necessary Legislative and regulatory arrangement for the effective control and security of their respective territories as a part of the transitioning process to the new order which has been commenced today.


4.​As a part of the overall management of transition process we call on our people to co-operate with our State Governors for the maintenance of Law, Order, Peace and good Governance.


Thank you for your attention.


PROFESSOR (SENATOR ) BANJI AKINTOYE, CHARIMAN, NINAS


March 17, 2021.


(Being the Text of the World Press Conference by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, (NINAS), Delivered by Prof Banji Akintoye at the Expiration of the 90-Day Notice of Grave Constitutional Grievances Issued by NINAS to the Federal Government of Nigeria, December 16, 2020).PROTOCOLS.


Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,

 

1) As the Distressed Federation of Nigeria continues to wobble through what seems its Terminal Throes, it will be recalled that the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination (NINAS), aggregating the Indigenous Nations and Peoples of Southern and Middle- Belt of Nigeria, who have found themselves at the receiving end of a most vicious Ethnic Cleansing Onslaught by Heavily- Armed Invading Fulani Militia, masquerading as “Herdsmen”, Formally Declared a UNION DISPUTE with the Federation of Nigeria as represented by the Federal Government of Nigeria via the CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE Proclamation of December 16, 2020 in which it made a Five- Point Demand upon the Federal Government of Nigeria, to Formally commence the Remediation of the Grave Constitutional Grievances enumerated in the said Proclamation, within a Period of 90 Days beginning from the midnight of December 16, 2020.

  2) The full text of the December 16 Proclamation was published unedited as an Advertorial in the January 20, 2021 Edition of the Guardian Newspaper at pages 38, 39, 40 and 41. Hard Copies of the Proclamation were also dispatched to the President of Nigeria, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, the President of Nigeria’s Senate, the Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Assemblies, the

 UN, EU and AU Missions in Nigeria, the Ambassadors of the United States, China, Russia, France, Germany, Belgium, and Japan to Nigeria; the High Commissioners of the United Kingdom and Australia to Nigeria, ECOWAS Secretariat and a other Stakeholder Institutions.

(3) We Report to you now that at the expiration of the 90-Day Period Notice by the midnight of March 16, 2021, no Formal Contact was made


 with NINAS by the Federal Government of Nigeria and so we are gathered here today March 17, 2021 to Inform our People as well as the International Community, what our Next-Steps will be in our resolve to extricate ourselves from the Death-Trap and Bondage Unitary Nigeria has become for our Various Peoples.


(4) In refusing to step forward to the table of Dialogue and in the Characteristic Arrogant Disposition of the Federal Government of Nigeria, we wish to call your attention to several knee-jerk, patch-work and bad- faith options the Federal Government of Nigeria chose to pursue in the desperation to once again evade the Sovereignty Question it had been evading since 1967, instead of embracing the Comprehensive Framework Tabled by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-

Determination, NINAS via the December 16, 2020 Proclamation. In this regard, we note the Emergency Conference anchored by Channels Television and tagged “Pulling Nigeria Back from the Brink” featuring Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State (who Chaired the APC Restructuring Committee); Kayode Fayemi, Governor of Ekiti State who is Chairman of Nigerian Governors’ Forum as well as Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator and Senate Minority Leader.


In their various Presentations at that Conference, they spoke of the Urgency of the Nigerian Situation; they alluded to many of the Grave Constitutional Grievances raised by the NINAS Proclamation but without any direct mention of NINAS or the December 16, 2020 Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation. In what seemed like an unprecedented Bi- Partisan Consensus and Legislative -Executive Cooperation, they all agreed that immediate Remediation Steps need to be taken forthwith including the return of Niger Delta’s Oil & Gas Assets to its owners, the Decentralization of Policing to allow State and Local Government Police but most curiously, they proposed Urgent Amendments to the 1999Constitution and the Invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity by the National Assembly to commence the Remediation Processes. NINAS interprets this attempt to railroad the Resolution of the Grave Constitutional Grievances to the National Assembly as a clear-minded evasion of the Fundamental Sovereignty Question relating to the Deep Distortions in Our Union Agreement (Constitution) which must now be engaged by the Constituent Components of Nigeria whose Sovereignties are Currently Hijacked and Confiscated by the Nigerian State via the Fraudulent 1999 Constitution. This Interpretation stems from the fact that the National Assembly which itself, is a Product of that Constitution, had a few months ago, acknowledged that it has no Constitution-Making Powers as that Power vests Exclusively in the Constituent Component Nationalities of Nigeria as an Incident of their Sovereignty. It indeed amounts to Treason for the National Assembly or the Executive Branch of the Federal Government to continue to usurp the Sovereignty of the Peoples of Nigeria confiscated by the Fraudulent 1999 Constitution which is already repudiated and rejected by the Peoples of Nigeria especially in the Alliance Territories as represented by NINAS. NINAS also see external collaboration to this Treasonous Conduct of the National Assembly when Groups of individualscraft and Present to the National Assembly, Proposals inviting the National Assembly to embark on the exercise of Writing or Re-Writing the Constitution of Nigeria via Amendments, without the Constituent Component Nationalities first Addressing Sovereignty Dispute. Those external collaborators also talk about inserting a “National Referendum” Provision in the 1999 Constitution at a time the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria are Clamouring for Regional Referendums to Determine their Sovereignty. Some talk about Resuscitating the 1963 Constitution (i.e. Constitution-Writing) as the way to go. This also amounts to evading the Sovereignty Discussion. NINAS Unequivocally rejects these Propositions insofar as they would operate to commandeer and railroad our Hijacked Collective Sovereignty to the National Assembly.


There was also a recent suggestion by Nigeria’s Senate President, Lawan, that the assignment of Constitutional roles to Traditional Rulers in Nigeria will solve the broken down Security of Nigeria. These are all parts of begging the Question. We have to ask Mr Senate President why have State Governors who have Constitutional Roles, not resolved the Security Nightmares of Nigeria or even of their States.


In all, it is clear to NINAS that the both Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly of Nigeria, are fully aware of the Grave

Constitutional Grievances of the Constituent Component Nationalities of Nigeria, but are unwilling to address the Grievances, thereby inviting upon us all, a dangerous regime of Self-Help, especially against the Hydra- headed Monster of Gross Insecurity running wild all over Nigeria wearing at various times, the Garment of Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Miyetti Allah or Bandits.


(5) For the benefit of those who may not have read the December 16, 2020Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation and for the purpose of putting a contextual backdrop to the Post-Notice Action Outlines that we shall be spelling out today, permit me to Read in Full, the Five Demands of the December 16, 2020 Proclamation, along with the Paragraphs immediately preceding the Demands and the one immediately after it (ie the Closing Paragraph) so that we can better understand the reasoning behind the extraordinary measure of Constitutional Force Majeure as well as the Implications for the Distressed Nigerian Union and various Stakeholders including Government, Political Parties and International Interests, and I quote: “ACCORDINGLY, WE THE UNDERSIGNED, BEING Accredited Representatives of the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria’s Southern and Middle-Belt Territories, hereinafter called “the Alliance Territories”, (Constituting over 75% of the Population of Nigeria), on behalf of the Peoples of the Alliance Territories, and in Invocation of the Universal Rights appurtenant to our Sovereignties as Indigenous Peoples of the Distressed Nigerian Federation, including the Right To Self-Determination as enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 as well as the United Nations Charter On Human Rights; HAVING exhausted every Democratic, People-Driven Process in seeking an orderly redress for the aforementioned Grave Constitutional Grievances emanating from the Unilateral Imposition of a Unitary Constitutional Order on our supposed Federal Union by a Section of Nigeria that has also Imposed Sharia in their own Part of our supposed Secular Union; AND NOW in circumstances that have become an extraordinary emergency for our Peoples, being confronted by the Clear and Present danger of Extermination in the hands of our supposed Compatriots in the of Nigeria who are Pursuing an Ethnic Cleansing Campaign against the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria HEREBY DECLARE A SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE with the Federation of Nigeria as represented by Federal Government of Nigeria, on account of our Repudiation and Rejection of the Imposed 1999Constitution of Nigeria whose authorship was Fraudulently imputed to us by the Preamble to that Constitution in its False Claim that “We the People”, Made, Enacted and Gave To Ourselves the said 1999 Constitution, with a further lie in that same Preamble, that we had Firmly and Solemnly Resolved to submit Our Peoples and Our Lands into the Union of Nigeria. FURTHERMORE, IN INVOCATION OF OUR LONG-SUPPRESSED COLLECTIVE SOVEREIGNTIES WE HEREBY PROCLAIM A CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE effective from the Midnight of the 16th Day of December 2020, with a 90-Day NOTICE to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria, the Security Council of the United Nations, the Government of the United States of America, the European Union as well as the International Community, of the Intention of the Peoples of the Alliance Territories to reconsider our Continued Allegiance to the Disputed 1999 Constitution as well as the Unitary Union of Death, Attrition and Backwardness it foists on us.

 FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND TO AVOID ANARCHY, IT IS OUR DEMAND THAT IN THE 90-DAY PERIOD OF THIS NOTICE, THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC ACTIONS MUST BE TAKEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO FIRMLY SET IN MOTION, AN IRREVERSIBLE PROCESS BY WHICH THE AFOREMENTIONED GRAVE CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES WOULD BE ADDRESSED:

(A) A Formal Announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria acknowledging the Constitutional Grievances and Sovereignty Dispute now Declared by the Peoples of South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria.

(B) A Formal Commitment by Federal Government of Nigeria to the wholesale Decommissioning and Jettisoning of the 1999 Constitution as the Basis of the Federation of Nigeria as was done by the Government of Apartheid-Era South Africa in 1990, to commence the process by which the Apartheid Constitution of the then South Africa was eased out.

(C) A Formal Announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria suspending further General Elections under the Disputed 1999 Constitution since winners of such Elections will Swear to, and Govern by that Constitution.

(D) A Formal Invitation to the Peoples of the South and Middle-Belt of

 Nigeria to work out and emplace a Transitional Authority, which shall specify the Modalities for the Transitioning Process including the Composition and Mandate of the Transitional Authority as well as the Time-frame for the Transitioning and other Ancillary Matters.


(E) A Formal Initiation of a Time-Bound Transitioning Process to midwife the emergence of Fresh Constitutional Protocols by a Two-Stage Process


 in which the Constituent Regional Blocs will at the first stage, Distill and Ratify their various Constitutions by Referendums and Plebiscites and in the second stage, Negotiate the Terms of Federating afresh as may be dictated by the outcomes of Referendum and Plebiscites.


BY THIS PROCLAMATION, Let it be known to ALL, including International Money Lenders, that Nigeria is now a Disputed Project and that while the Constituent Components commit to honouring existing International Debt Obligations, WE CAUTION that whatever Obligations that may arise from any Foreign Loans contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria from the date of this Proclamation may come into controversy. Similarly, all Loans contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, containing any

Clause that may Cede the Sovereignty of Nigeria or any part thereof in the event of Repayment Default shall be disputed as illicit, and in breach of the Sovereignty of the Federating Units.


We also invite Politicians from the Alliance Territories and all Political Parties Operating in the Alliance Territories, to TAKE NOTICE, that the 1999 Constitution by which the winner of any National Elections in Nigeria will Swear, and Govern, is the very Object of the Sovereignty Dispute We Have just Proclaimed, with a Demand that Further National Elections premised upon that Repudiated Constitution, be Deferred Forthwith, for the purpose of first Reworking the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria. It is therefore our Expectation that you will stand with the People you Claim or Seek to Serve as Politicians or Political Parties in their current resolve to Wind up the Operation of the 1999 Constitution and Extinguish the source of their Misery. If instead of standing with your People, you choose to go to another round of General Elections in 2023 under that Constitution, it will simply mean that you are a part of the enemy-imposed Mechanism for Inflicting Death, Misery and Impoverishment upon your own People, for no other reason than Personal Gain.


The Signatories to this Proclamation commit themselves to providing a Detailed Proposition for Undertaking this Fundamental Reconfiguration of

 the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria. In this regard, the Signatories Adopt and Incorporate the MNN Alliance’s November 16, 2018OPEN MEMORANDUM TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE RESTRCTURING DEBATE, reported by Guardian of Nov 18, 2018, as an outline of our Prescriptions in this Proclamation.  ​​​


ISSUED THIS 16thDAY OF December 2020” end of quote.


(6) Before I proceed with the Next-Steps, permit me to make a few clarifications about the Nature and Substance of the Sovereignty Dispute we Declared and about the Exact Remediation Propositions we made:

(i) The Constitutional Force Majeure is a carefully Designed Decisive Action Process that will continue until it achieves its Twin Objectives of Peacefully Easing out the Imposed Fraudulent 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Orderly Emergence of Successor-Constitutional Protocols, in keeping with the Self-Determination Rights of the Constituent Component Ethnic Nations of the Distressed Federation of Nigeria. It is therefore not a one day Armageddon in which the roof of heaven will fall upon the earth as being Speculated by some commentators, whether out of ignorance or mischief.

(ii) The 90-Day Period of Notice was for the Federal Government to Fully Consider the Grievances Raised and to Bring Itself to the Table of Dialogue set up by the Aggrieved Constituent Components of Nigeria. In that Period, NINAS persuaded the Peoples of the Alliance Blocs to refrain from any acts that might aggravate the volatile situation of Nigeria even in the face of severe provocations such as when amidst much killings across the Nigeria, the Governor of Bauchi State Bala Muhammed, recklessly Declared that the Murderous Fulani Herdsmen rampaging everywhere in Nigeria, had the right to be in every part of Nigeria they choose and to carry AK-47 Automatic Riffles.

This means that after the 90- Day Period of Notice, the Peoples of Nigeria as aggregated in the Alliance, will Proceed with various Processes towards achieving the Objectives of the December 16, 2020 Proclamation, namely,the easing out of the Fraudulent 1999 Constitution and the Distillation of Successor-Constitutional0Protocols.


(iii) The Next Line of Action expressly indicated by NINAS in its Proclamation is that of Reconsideration of its Continued Allegiance to the 1999 Constitution. It is important to state here that the exact Processes by which this Reconsideration will be enacted shall be communicated to the Public in Measured Steps as the days progress and so NINAS hereby invites all Stakeholders to be on the Lookout for Directions, every care being taken to avoid Anarchy or any kind of Breakdown of Order.


(iv) Building upon the Formal Repudiation of the 1999 Constitution by the Constituent Components of Nigeria including by Solemn Assemblies over the last 20 Years, the Joint Proclamation of December 16, 2020 by NINAS was to Serve NOTICE of the Impending Formal Withdrawal of the


Contrived Consent (Forged Signature) of the Peoples of Nigeria by which the 1999 Constitution is being sustained and validated as Basis of the Nigerian Union and it’s Governance.


The Press Conference of today is to commence the retirement process of the 1999 Constitution in a manner that restores the Hijacked Sovereignties of the Constituent Components of Nigeria from which they may freely enterinto Fresh Protocols, all through a Transitioning Process that retains Existing Governance Structures throughout the Transitioning Period as South Africa did to ease itself out of the Apartheid Constitutional Order.

(7) NOW TO THE NEXT-STEPS:


(i) After Due Consultations with Stakeholders; Bearing in mind that the Five-Point Demand Contained in the December 16, 2020 Proclamation was addressed to Federal Government of Nigeria, and Considering the fact that in the event that matters progress to the Reconsideration of Allegiance to the 1999 Constitution, Political Office Holders from the Alliance Territories who will be directly impacted, may be caught in the Middle of a Dispute to which they have not been made parties, NINAS therefore deems it appropriate and necessary to first bring in such persons that may be so impacted, into the Dispute before further steps. ACCORDINGLY, NINAS Hereby Invites All Elected Political Office Holders from the Alliance Territory for Consultations with Stakeholders in their Respective Home Regions within a Period of 30 Days Commencing from the Midnight of March 17, 2021. Appropriate Communications Channels shall be used to Formally extend the Invitations to affected persons and such details as Modalities, Dates, Time, and Venue shall be Communicated along with the Invitations.


(ii) In the aforementioned 30-Day Period of Consultations, NINAS enjoins the Peoples of the Alliance Territories, particularly the younger Generation, home and abroad, whose Future have been badly compromised by the Nigerian State, to intensify the enlightenment about the December 16, 2020Constitutional Force Majeure Proclamation amongst the Populace, with a view to mobilizing the Local Populace towards the inevitable engagement with Political Parties and Political Merchants from their Localities, who for humongous personal gains, cling tenaciously to the 1999 Constitution, and even planning to partake in further National Elections in 2023 under that Constitution at a time when the People they claim to Lead and Represent are struggling to ease out the same 1999 Constitution from which all their miseries flow, (including Killings, Gross Insecurity and Mass Impoverishment) and which make them Slaves In their Homeland. The Political Parties must now be persuaded to Close Shop forthwith, albeit Temporarily, until the Constitution(s) by which the Winners of any future Elections (especially 2023) will Govern, since all Political Parties in Nigeria  operate under the 1999 Constitution and the winners of any Elections must Swear to, and Govern by the 1999 Constitution.


This 30-Day Period of Consultations offers the Federal Government of Nigeria a fresh window of opportunity, beyond the 90 Days Period of Notice that expired March 16, 2021, to bring itself to the table of Dialogue set up by the Constituent Components of Nigeria, by way of the December 16, 2020 NINAS Proclamation.


Being all agreed that no progress is possible for the Peoples of Nigeria under the 1999 Unitary Constitution, we cannot be Proclaiming Restructuring, Resource Control, Rule of Law Security, EndSARS, End Corruption, or even Good Governance and still be warming up to go to another round of General Elections in 2023 that will renew the life of the 1999 Constitution which Guarantees Unitarism, Resource Hijack, Impunity, Insecurity, SARS Killings, Corruption, and Bad Governance.


We must now get honest with ourselves and Turn off the Tap from which these evils flow without further delay. The 1999 Constitution is that Tap.

In Closing Let it be Clearly Understood that in the Face of the Demise of the 1999 Constitution and the rapid progression towards self-help across Nigeria by People who find themselves under the invasion by Murderous, Heavily armed Fulani Militia masquerading as Herdsmen while the Security Agents look the other way, it is only a matter of time for the bloody altercations that are currently building up to explode into the Violent Disintegration of Nigeria with Catastrophic Consequences.


Let it also be understood that the Propositions of the December 16, 2020Proclamation by the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self- Determination NINAS, offers Nigeria, Nigerians and the Concerned International Community, the Most Viable, Most Comprehensive and Most Peaceful Framework for Undertaking the Inevitable Fundamental Reconfiguration of the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria.


As we may all recall, the situation of Nigeria compelled the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Nigeria, Agnes Callamard in a September 2019 visitation, to describe the Constitutioal arrangements of Nigeria as “a Pressure Cooker for Injustice”, in circumstances that pose a Threat to Global

Security in the event that Nigeria snaps, since the most notorious Global Terror Networks including ISIS and Al-Quaeda are already converging in the large swathes of UNGOVERNED spaces Nigeria offers and with frightening prospects of an unprecedented Refugee Crisis for the World should Nigeria come undone. As we sit here today, we are already seeing the beginnings of the flood of Nigerian refugees into the rest of West Africa particularly the Yoruba who are now taking refuge in Benin Republic. 


Now that Sheik Ahmad Gumi has helped us piece together the last pieces of the jigsaw puzzle regarding who the Terrorists tormenting Nigeria are, where they are, what their Motives are, what the Nigerian Government and Security Agencies know, and the Ethnoreligious fissures within the Terror Battlefields, NINAS is confident that the illusions of many regarding the Monster we are up against, will be dispersed and more indigenous Nigerians will step forth to embrace the efforts that NINAS has initiated. 


Those who insist on Governing Nigeria with the Imposed, Fraudulent and Unworkable 1999 Constitution as well as those who still aspire to contest further National Elections under that Constitution should know they are the ones pushing Nigeria towards a Violent Disintegration but the Ethnic Nations Currently Trapped in the Failed Lugardian Experiment of 1914 will do everything Legitimate under appropriate International Instruments to extricate them from the Union of Death, Attrition and Backwardness that Nigeria has become for them. NINAS urge our Various Peoples across the Alliance Territories to remain calm and confident as measured steps are being taken towards ending our Bondage.


For the avoidance of doubt, the NINAS proclamation of constitutional dispute on December 16th 2020 terminated the life of the fraudulent 1999 constitution of Nigeria and therefore restored our sovereignty that was confiscated by that constitution. What we are doing today is to outline the processes and modality for the necessary and orderly transition to our full self-determination and sovereignty in the World therefore we hereby call on the peoples of our alliance territory to rise to the challenge of shaking off the shackles and manacles hitherto imposed on them by the defunct 1999 constitution.


The task before our peoples are as follows:


1.​To distill and perfect the documents of their sovereignty namely Map of their Territory and draft constitutions or charters of relationships for multi-ethnic blocks.


2.​To embark upon and intensify their effort towards UN-Mandated referendums and plebiscites.


3.​In the face of the demise of the 1999 constitution which had been impediment to the control and management of their territories and resources (Particularly the 68-item exclusive list), the Governors of the State in the Alliance Territory are hereby advised to, in the interim, work as there state assemblies to make necessary Legislative and regulatory arrangement for the effective control and security of their respective territories as a part of the transitioning process to the new order which has been commenced today.


4.​As a part of the overall management of transition process we call on our people to co-operate with our State Governors for the maintenance of Law, Order, Peace and good Governance.


Thank you for your attention.


PROFESSOR (SENATOR ) BANJI AKINTOYE, CHARIMAN, NINAS


March 17, 2021.

Protest rocks Ekiti State as suspected Filani herdsmen kill two farmers

Protest rocks Ekiti State as suspected Filani herdsmen kill two farmers



The killing of two famers by suspected Filani herdsmen has led to a protest in Isaba-Ekiti, Ikole local government area of Ekiti state


The Saturday protest by the members of the councerned citizens followed the killing of two farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the community.


The two victims were said to have been shot dead on their farm, on Friday. One of the victims was identified as Toyin Akeju popularly referred to as Jisoro in the community while the other was said to be a labourer simply known as Daodu invited to work on the farm.

The two were declared missing on Friday, when they failed to returned from farm, source said, adding that the families approached the Amotekun corps who initiated a search team alongside the local hunters and the police to the farm where they met their corpses with gunshot wounds, on Saturday morning.


The source explained that the incident was a reprisal attack by the herdsmen who were challenged by the farmers, on Thursday on the farm.


 ” The two of them went to the farm, on Friday, and they did not return throughout which makes the families report to the Amotekun corps. The Amotekun operatives went to the farm searching for them only to meet their lifeless bodies with gunshots, on Saturday morning."


"Obviously, it was a reprisal attack because, on Thursday, these particular farmers were in the farm and had issues with the herdsmen to the extent that they overpowered them and collected cutlasses from the herders.


” The herders went home and returned, on Friday to commit this dastardly act against the farmers who only challenged them a day earlier. It is a very sad situation.”


According to Tribune Online, when contacted, the Amotekun corps commander, Brigadier General Joe Komolafe (retd) who confirmed the killing, said his men were already on the trail of the criminal elements.


” I can confirm that the two farmers were allegedly killed by the herdsmen after an altercation they earlier had on Thursday. We have handed over their corpses to the police while we continue with our investigations,” he said.


Komolafe advised residents to go about their normal activities without any fear, saying the corps would do everything possible to put an end to attacks by suspected herdsmen.


On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Sunday Abutu noted that it was a confrontation between the farmers and people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen who were alleged to have been terrorising the Ipao-Oke Ako-Irele axis of the council area.


Abutu added that the deceased’s corpses have been recovered from the Amotekun corps and deposited in the morgue at Ikole General Hospital.


According to him, “There was a crisis between some farmers and the herders, in the process, there were casualties. The police were contacted and operatives have been deployed to that axis to maintain peace.



“Meanwhile investigation has already commenced to unravel the reason for the crisis and to ensure that culprits are brought to book.


Abutu said the Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Mobayo, has called for calm, saying his men are on the trail of the suspected killers.


Meanwhile, the development made residents in the community to troop out in their large number, on Saturday, protesting over the killing of the two persons.


The protesters, comprising youths, women and the aged were seen at the centre of the town burning tyres in demonstration of their displeasure to the killing.


Vehicular and commercial activities were affected as major roads in the community were blocked by the angry protesters.


With Nigerian Tribune



The killing of two famers by suspected Filani herdsmen has led to a protest in Isaba-Ekiti, Ikole local government area of Ekiti state


The Saturday protest by the members of the councerned citizens followed the killing of two farmers by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the community.


The two victims were said to have been shot dead on their farm, on Friday. One of the victims was identified as Toyin Akeju popularly referred to as Jisoro in the community while the other was said to be a labourer simply known as Daodu invited to work on the farm.

The two were declared missing on Friday, when they failed to returned from farm, source said, adding that the families approached the Amotekun corps who initiated a search team alongside the local hunters and the police to the farm where they met their corpses with gunshot wounds, on Saturday morning.


The source explained that the incident was a reprisal attack by the herdsmen who were challenged by the farmers, on Thursday on the farm.


 ” The two of them went to the farm, on Friday, and they did not return throughout which makes the families report to the Amotekun corps. The Amotekun operatives went to the farm searching for them only to meet their lifeless bodies with gunshots, on Saturday morning."


"Obviously, it was a reprisal attack because, on Thursday, these particular farmers were in the farm and had issues with the herdsmen to the extent that they overpowered them and collected cutlasses from the herders.


” The herders went home and returned, on Friday to commit this dastardly act against the farmers who only challenged them a day earlier. It is a very sad situation.”


According to Tribune Online, when contacted, the Amotekun corps commander, Brigadier General Joe Komolafe (retd) who confirmed the killing, said his men were already on the trail of the criminal elements.


” I can confirm that the two farmers were allegedly killed by the herdsmen after an altercation they earlier had on Thursday. We have handed over their corpses to the police while we continue with our investigations,” he said.


Komolafe advised residents to go about their normal activities without any fear, saying the corps would do everything possible to put an end to attacks by suspected herdsmen.


On his part, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) ASP Sunday Abutu noted that it was a confrontation between the farmers and people suspected to be Fulani herdsmen who were alleged to have been terrorising the Ipao-Oke Ako-Irele axis of the council area.


Abutu added that the deceased’s corpses have been recovered from the Amotekun corps and deposited in the morgue at Ikole General Hospital.


According to him, “There was a crisis between some farmers and the herders, in the process, there were casualties. The police were contacted and operatives have been deployed to that axis to maintain peace.



“Meanwhile investigation has already commenced to unravel the reason for the crisis and to ensure that culprits are brought to book.


Abutu said the Police Commissioner, Mr Tunde Mobayo, has called for calm, saying his men are on the trail of the suspected killers.


Meanwhile, the development made residents in the community to troop out in their large number, on Saturday, protesting over the killing of the two persons.


The protesters, comprising youths, women and the aged were seen at the centre of the town burning tyres in demonstration of their displeasure to the killing.


Vehicular and commercial activities were affected as major roads in the community were blocked by the angry protesters.


With Nigerian Tribune

ON AWOLOWO, RESTRUCTURING, AND 2023 PRESIDENCY

ON AWOLOWO, RESTRUCTURING, AND 2023 PRESIDENCY

 By: Prof. 'Femi Meyungbe Olufunmilade 



I look at politics and politicians in my part of Nigeria ( Southwest) today and I cannot but remember Chief Obafemi Awolowo's brand of politics longingly.


I am a believer in the approach of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to politics and governance because that approach, precisely,  was responsible for his tremendous success.


I believe in Awolowo not because he was a Yoruba like myself or because he was a fraternal friend of my grandfather, Chief Amos Meyungbe Onasemowo, the Bashorun of Ilugun Alaro Ijebu. Nor because my father, Sam Olufunmilade Meyungbe, was such a fanatical follower of his, he deemed it a righteous thing to drop an advisory letter against passing an unjust judgement at the doorstep of Justice Sodeinde Sowemimo in 1963 over the treasonable felony trial of Awolowo and 21 of his political lieutenants for plotting a phantom coup, whereupon the judge declared "my hands are tied".


I believe in Awolowo because I've read all his 13 books and had gone further to the Federal Archives at the University of Ibadan to photocopy his policy papers and strategic documents as Leader of the Action Group and Premier of the Western Region. On the African continent, he comes next only to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, pioneer prime minister of Ghana, his good friend, in terms of intellectual legacies as a statesman-philosopher.


While 90 percent of Nkrumah's 15 or so books were devoted to Africa's liberation, with only one focused on Ghana (i.e. "Dark Days in Ghana"), 12 of Awolowo's 13 books  focused Nigeria. The exception being "The Problems of Africa: The   Need for Ideological Reappraisal", an original, provocative work of political theory that qualifies him for a doctorate by publication in Political Science. The book was deliberately focused on Africa, being the text of a lecture he gave as a mark of honour to the memory  of Kwame Nkrumah at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.


I believe in Awolowo not just because of his sterling intellectual legacies, but much more because he was an archetypal action man of letters. His ideological professions in "The Strategy and Tactics of People's Republic of Nigeria", "Voice of Reason", "Voice of Wisdom", "Voice of Courage", "Awo: An Autobiography ", "Path to Nigeria's Freedom", "Thoughts on the Nigerian Constitution" etc rubbed off on his priorities and performance in government. 


Awolowo's professed ideology resonated with the masses in Western Region where it pleased God to afford him opportunity to put  his philosophy to practice. Even the illiterate masses understood his political ideology as "ijoba aparo kan o ga ju kan lo", meaning egalitarian government (or socialism), which was being implemented in phases, starting with free education, introduction of minimum wage, free healthcare, higher returns for cocoa farmers, integrated rural development etc.


In essence, Awolowo had core values that informed his politics and government. This made him predictable and stable such that Sir Ahmadu Bello once remarked that, "With Awolowo,  you know where he stands on any issue". He was a convinced federalist, an anti-colonialist, an anti-imperialist agitator; and a professor of democratic (or gradualist) socialism.


It was his anti-imperialist orientation that made him mobilise locally and overseas,  using Nigerian students in the United Kingdom, to protest against a proposed Anglo-Nigerian Defence pact that could have brought the Tafawa Balewa government under the protection of British troops to be deployed to Nigeria in 1961. That probably had to do with his trial for a concocted coup d'etat. Nigeria would have had to endure a neo-colonial civilian dictatorship protected by the British military till heavens know when. 


I went into this recollection about the inimitable,  immortal Awo as a basis of assessment of the present political leadership of the Southwest of Nigeria. Can anyone tell me what core values any of them represent and is actively pursuing in politics and government presently?


Granted, some of them identify with Awolowo by wearing his cap and his eyeglasses. But the identification ends there. Ideologically they are poles apart. Awolowo fought hard to actualise his political ideals and was able to mobilise the masses behind him as co-believers, which explained why they stood with him through his travails and triumphs.


I don't want to mention names, but I'm constrained to ask myself what some leading politicians in the Southwest spotting Awolowo's cap and donning his round lens eyeglasses stand for ideologically?


Then I ask, Were Awolowo to be alive now, what would be his stance on critical national issues? Let me limit the issues to restructuring, which is the core element of the manifesto of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Let me be charitable enough to judge the current leaders by the only ideal they professed when the APC was formed.


Were Awolowo to be one of the founding APC leaders from the Southwest, what would be his reaction to the non-implementation of the APC restructuring agenda by the Buhari administration?


The Awolowo I know and I saw for the last time in January 1987 at the convocation ground of Ogun State University, and I had accompanied, amidst a surging crowd, to his sky-blue Benz, flanked by Mama HID Awolowo, as he departed for his Ikenne country home, unaccompanied by a single armed security man because Jehovah Elohim and the unbounded love of the masses were his security, would have called for a strategic meeting of the Southwest caucus of the APC long ago. That was a leader guided by ideals. Not primitive accumulation and a blindfolding quest for power. 


He would have invited the governors, senators, house of representatives' members, party excos, opinion leaders etc for a meeting with a single agenda: how to push forward the restructuring agenda of the APC as men of honour who had a pact with Buhari and other stakeholders. You can take it for granted he would pursue the resolutions of the meeting courageously without minding whose ox is gored.


In the first place, Awolowo wouldn't have supported Buhari to be president without first committing him to a Roadmap on Restructuring he would start implementing as soon as he won the 2015 presidential election. And he would have withheld his support for his reelection in 2019 if he had reneged on the 2015 Restructuring Roadmap.


But here we are, the Southwest APC leaders are still sailing in the same boat with President Buhari after he had reneged on restructuring and continues perpetrating infractions that are detrimental to the unity and progress of Nigeria in the form of lopsided appointments that breed sectional resentments and offend our federal character laws. They continue the sail in heavily troubled waters with President Buhari as horrendous killings, rape, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and destruction of farms and houses of Yoruba rural communities by illegally armed Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen continue unabated.


The Southwest leaders' silence is so loud. They stay mute. They stay inactive, leaving the people to fend for themselves  It's like we have no government. And I'm forced to write this because what I read in today's papers (21st February,  2021) attributed to the governors of Ogun and Oyo (albeit, a PDP governor) states on the armed Fulani killings in their respective domains is irresponsible and a betrayal of trust. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said Fulani herdsmen are not killers; while Seyi Makinde of Oyo said the killers of Dr. Fatai Aborode in Igangan were Yoruba; not Fulani. We await their unassailable evidence. 


It is now crystal clear that things could have been worse but for Sunday Igboho who sent the signal across that where our compromised leaders fail to protect Yoruba people, the people themselves would defend themselves.  Even the Minister of Defence,  Major Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd.), made a strong advocacy for self-defence earlier this week in Niger state.


In exasperation, I have talked to some people to enlighten me on why our leaders in the Southwest are so irresponsible and charlatanistic in a matter of life and death of the people they purport to lead and at a time a leader like Awolowo would have risen to the occasion to stand in the gap for the people he loved and who also loved him in return?


I was told the dumbness of our leaders stem from two things. One, some of them  have stolen, and are still busy stealing, our commonwealth to the point that they sleep and wake up dreadful of the EFCC knocking on their doors. For them, there is wisdom in the saying that they that live in glass houses don't throw stones.


Two, and this is the preponderant refrain in my chats, obsession with the hope of becoming president in 2023 has so consumed some of our leaders that they wouldn't mind selling us into slavery to fulfill  their ambition. They are not like Awolowo who would say death is preferable to prostrating before your tormentor. 


I am told that our leaders in the Southwest are playing the Machiavellian game. They're stooping in order to conquer. They are of the view that the high principles of Awolowo was what robbed him of Nigeria's presidency. They are scheming, taking all the humiliation, insults, and killings of their people, patiently, in order to ascend presidential power.


It is thus clear that these so-called leaders, like Sunday Igboho said in one of his videos, are only serving the interest of themselves and their families.  The rest of us in Yorubaland - in our millions  - are mere canon fodders. We are only relevant in their scheme of things to the extent that our votes would be needed in 2023 to fulfill their ambition.


Their Machiavellian tactics reminds me of a song by a young Yoruba musician in which he threw a wisecrack thus: "Eni ti o se oogun aiku, to ba ku,  bawo lo se maa gba refund"? The poser is about a man who paid for a charm that would make him immortal: should he die, how would he be refunded?


Let the Machiavellian Yoruba presidential hopefuls, sacrificing their own on the altar of presidential power, ponder this poser: what would you do if you don't become president in 2023? What shall it then profit you that your people's lives and livelihoods are ruined while you kept a deaf and dumb posture? How would you recover from the humiliation you're going through now in the hands of those you helped to power?


Already, some northern governors rumoured to be interested in succeeding Buhari are, rather belatedly, canvassing for components of the omnibus concept we call restructuring: state, police, resource control, independent judiciary etc. That should tell you the Machiavellian tacticians, the presidency will not come to you on a platter of gold. You will have to struggle for it. Who will then support you in Yorubaland? Maybe those feeding from your hands within your party. You will then learn the hard way that charity begins at home.


As for the young Turks from the north of Nigeria,  if you're serious about your latter-day advocacy for restructuring, first  influence President Buhari to restructure Nigeria before leaving office. Tell him to be a gentleman and Mai Gaskiya by keeping faith with his pact with Nigerians. But if you think we are so gullible that promising restructuring would ginger us to support you to become president in 2023, like our dumb leaders in the Southwest, you're mistaken. 


Without restructuring now, in 2023, the last thing Yoruba people would be doing would be electing a president of Nigeria. To what end?


*** *Olufunmilade* is Director, Center for Contemporary Security Affairs, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria. 

Email: *[email protected]*”

 By: Prof. 'Femi Meyungbe Olufunmilade 



I look at politics and politicians in my part of Nigeria ( Southwest) today and I cannot but remember Chief Obafemi Awolowo's brand of politics longingly.


I am a believer in the approach of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to politics and governance because that approach, precisely,  was responsible for his tremendous success.


I believe in Awolowo not because he was a Yoruba like myself or because he was a fraternal friend of my grandfather, Chief Amos Meyungbe Onasemowo, the Bashorun of Ilugun Alaro Ijebu. Nor because my father, Sam Olufunmilade Meyungbe, was such a fanatical follower of his, he deemed it a righteous thing to drop an advisory letter against passing an unjust judgement at the doorstep of Justice Sodeinde Sowemimo in 1963 over the treasonable felony trial of Awolowo and 21 of his political lieutenants for plotting a phantom coup, whereupon the judge declared "my hands are tied".


I believe in Awolowo because I've read all his 13 books and had gone further to the Federal Archives at the University of Ibadan to photocopy his policy papers and strategic documents as Leader of the Action Group and Premier of the Western Region. On the African continent, he comes next only to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, pioneer prime minister of Ghana, his good friend, in terms of intellectual legacies as a statesman-philosopher.


While 90 percent of Nkrumah's 15 or so books were devoted to Africa's liberation, with only one focused on Ghana (i.e. "Dark Days in Ghana"), 12 of Awolowo's 13 books  focused Nigeria. The exception being "The Problems of Africa: The   Need for Ideological Reappraisal", an original, provocative work of political theory that qualifies him for a doctorate by publication in Political Science. The book was deliberately focused on Africa, being the text of a lecture he gave as a mark of honour to the memory  of Kwame Nkrumah at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.


I believe in Awolowo not just because of his sterling intellectual legacies, but much more because he was an archetypal action man of letters. His ideological professions in "The Strategy and Tactics of People's Republic of Nigeria", "Voice of Reason", "Voice of Wisdom", "Voice of Courage", "Awo: An Autobiography ", "Path to Nigeria's Freedom", "Thoughts on the Nigerian Constitution" etc rubbed off on his priorities and performance in government. 


Awolowo's professed ideology resonated with the masses in Western Region where it pleased God to afford him opportunity to put  his philosophy to practice. Even the illiterate masses understood his political ideology as "ijoba aparo kan o ga ju kan lo", meaning egalitarian government (or socialism), which was being implemented in phases, starting with free education, introduction of minimum wage, free healthcare, higher returns for cocoa farmers, integrated rural development etc.


In essence, Awolowo had core values that informed his politics and government. This made him predictable and stable such that Sir Ahmadu Bello once remarked that, "With Awolowo,  you know where he stands on any issue". He was a convinced federalist, an anti-colonialist, an anti-imperialist agitator; and a professor of democratic (or gradualist) socialism.


It was his anti-imperialist orientation that made him mobilise locally and overseas,  using Nigerian students in the United Kingdom, to protest against a proposed Anglo-Nigerian Defence pact that could have brought the Tafawa Balewa government under the protection of British troops to be deployed to Nigeria in 1961. That probably had to do with his trial for a concocted coup d'etat. Nigeria would have had to endure a neo-colonial civilian dictatorship protected by the British military till heavens know when. 


I went into this recollection about the inimitable,  immortal Awo as a basis of assessment of the present political leadership of the Southwest of Nigeria. Can anyone tell me what core values any of them represent and is actively pursuing in politics and government presently?


Granted, some of them identify with Awolowo by wearing his cap and his eyeglasses. But the identification ends there. Ideologically they are poles apart. Awolowo fought hard to actualise his political ideals and was able to mobilise the masses behind him as co-believers, which explained why they stood with him through his travails and triumphs.


I don't want to mention names, but I'm constrained to ask myself what some leading politicians in the Southwest spotting Awolowo's cap and donning his round lens eyeglasses stand for ideologically?


Then I ask, Were Awolowo to be alive now, what would be his stance on critical national issues? Let me limit the issues to restructuring, which is the core element of the manifesto of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Let me be charitable enough to judge the current leaders by the only ideal they professed when the APC was formed.


Were Awolowo to be one of the founding APC leaders from the Southwest, what would be his reaction to the non-implementation of the APC restructuring agenda by the Buhari administration?


The Awolowo I know and I saw for the last time in January 1987 at the convocation ground of Ogun State University, and I had accompanied, amidst a surging crowd, to his sky-blue Benz, flanked by Mama HID Awolowo, as he departed for his Ikenne country home, unaccompanied by a single armed security man because Jehovah Elohim and the unbounded love of the masses were his security, would have called for a strategic meeting of the Southwest caucus of the APC long ago. That was a leader guided by ideals. Not primitive accumulation and a blindfolding quest for power. 


He would have invited the governors, senators, house of representatives' members, party excos, opinion leaders etc for a meeting with a single agenda: how to push forward the restructuring agenda of the APC as men of honour who had a pact with Buhari and other stakeholders. You can take it for granted he would pursue the resolutions of the meeting courageously without minding whose ox is gored.


In the first place, Awolowo wouldn't have supported Buhari to be president without first committing him to a Roadmap on Restructuring he would start implementing as soon as he won the 2015 presidential election. And he would have withheld his support for his reelection in 2019 if he had reneged on the 2015 Restructuring Roadmap.


But here we are, the Southwest APC leaders are still sailing in the same boat with President Buhari after he had reneged on restructuring and continues perpetrating infractions that are detrimental to the unity and progress of Nigeria in the form of lopsided appointments that breed sectional resentments and offend our federal character laws. They continue the sail in heavily troubled waters with President Buhari as horrendous killings, rape, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, and destruction of farms and houses of Yoruba rural communities by illegally armed Fulani terrorists masquerading as herdsmen continue unabated.


The Southwest leaders' silence is so loud. They stay mute. They stay inactive, leaving the people to fend for themselves  It's like we have no government. And I'm forced to write this because what I read in today's papers (21st February,  2021) attributed to the governors of Ogun and Oyo (albeit, a PDP governor) states on the armed Fulani killings in their respective domains is irresponsible and a betrayal of trust. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun said Fulani herdsmen are not killers; while Seyi Makinde of Oyo said the killers of Dr. Fatai Aborode in Igangan were Yoruba; not Fulani. We await their unassailable evidence. 


It is now crystal clear that things could have been worse but for Sunday Igboho who sent the signal across that where our compromised leaders fail to protect Yoruba people, the people themselves would defend themselves.  Even the Minister of Defence,  Major Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd.), made a strong advocacy for self-defence earlier this week in Niger state.


In exasperation, I have talked to some people to enlighten me on why our leaders in the Southwest are so irresponsible and charlatanistic in a matter of life and death of the people they purport to lead and at a time a leader like Awolowo would have risen to the occasion to stand in the gap for the people he loved and who also loved him in return?


I was told the dumbness of our leaders stem from two things. One, some of them  have stolen, and are still busy stealing, our commonwealth to the point that they sleep and wake up dreadful of the EFCC knocking on their doors. For them, there is wisdom in the saying that they that live in glass houses don't throw stones.


Two, and this is the preponderant refrain in my chats, obsession with the hope of becoming president in 2023 has so consumed some of our leaders that they wouldn't mind selling us into slavery to fulfill  their ambition. They are not like Awolowo who would say death is preferable to prostrating before your tormentor. 


I am told that our leaders in the Southwest are playing the Machiavellian game. They're stooping in order to conquer. They are of the view that the high principles of Awolowo was what robbed him of Nigeria's presidency. They are scheming, taking all the humiliation, insults, and killings of their people, patiently, in order to ascend presidential power.


It is thus clear that these so-called leaders, like Sunday Igboho said in one of his videos, are only serving the interest of themselves and their families.  The rest of us in Yorubaland - in our millions  - are mere canon fodders. We are only relevant in their scheme of things to the extent that our votes would be needed in 2023 to fulfill their ambition.


Their Machiavellian tactics reminds me of a song by a young Yoruba musician in which he threw a wisecrack thus: "Eni ti o se oogun aiku, to ba ku,  bawo lo se maa gba refund"? The poser is about a man who paid for a charm that would make him immortal: should he die, how would he be refunded?


Let the Machiavellian Yoruba presidential hopefuls, sacrificing their own on the altar of presidential power, ponder this poser: what would you do if you don't become president in 2023? What shall it then profit you that your people's lives and livelihoods are ruined while you kept a deaf and dumb posture? How would you recover from the humiliation you're going through now in the hands of those you helped to power?


Already, some northern governors rumoured to be interested in succeeding Buhari are, rather belatedly, canvassing for components of the omnibus concept we call restructuring: state, police, resource control, independent judiciary etc. That should tell you the Machiavellian tacticians, the presidency will not come to you on a platter of gold. You will have to struggle for it. Who will then support you in Yorubaland? Maybe those feeding from your hands within your party. You will then learn the hard way that charity begins at home.


As for the young Turks from the north of Nigeria,  if you're serious about your latter-day advocacy for restructuring, first  influence President Buhari to restructure Nigeria before leaving office. Tell him to be a gentleman and Mai Gaskiya by keeping faith with his pact with Nigerians. But if you think we are so gullible that promising restructuring would ginger us to support you to become president in 2023, like our dumb leaders in the Southwest, you're mistaken. 


Without restructuring now, in 2023, the last thing Yoruba people would be doing would be electing a president of Nigeria. To what end?


*** *Olufunmilade* is Director, Center for Contemporary Security Affairs, Igbinedion University Okada, Nigeria. 

Email: *[email protected]*”

Summarised opinion on Kidnappers, their modus operandi and way forward

Summarised opinion on Kidnappers, their modus operandi and way forward


These are, however not all on the matter.. 


Groups recently implicated= Herdsmen


Target population= Anyone, no age or religious barrier. 


Primary gain= Obedience to hierarchial tendency. 


Secondary Gain= Money. 


Area of Action= 


1. Highways

2. Interstate roads

3. Trunk B roads

4.  City outskirts


Modes of operation 


1. The Spy/ Syndicate System


2. The Collegiate system 


3. The Crude Brute System


1. The Spy System 


Who are the spies??


 A. Law enforcement agents.


B. Jobless road repairers


C. Busy bodies sitting at road junctions.


Mechanism of Action..


Unathorised Peeping inside the car by any of those listed above to;


1. Identify wealthy individuals


2.  Identify presence of armed guards


3. Rating of vehicles as a measure of wealth 


4. Isolation of all govt registered vehicle as a MUST for kidnap, even if with driver alone.


Means of Action by Spies;


1. Undue friendliness at contact


2. Undue familiarity 


3. Unwarranted/ unsolicited waving @ you.


4. Presence and Fiddling with phone by one or all of these spies at contact. 


5. Eventual call to Kidnappers in front for action.


2. The Collegiate System


In this case the kidnappers are of the same tribe working together at very short distance to each other. 


Mechanism of Action. 


You suddenly see a man in front of you beside the road in an unexplained area,  that is an area leading to nowhere.


When you move close to him and after sizing up your car from afar he enters the bush again in your presence. 


He then call his colleagues who are at a very short distance away to effect the kidnapping.


Please note the moment you see this group of kidnappers in front, you have already walked Into an ambush as some of them are already behind you. 


Any reverse = death. 

 


3. The Crude Brute System. 


Latest entrants into the kidnappers strategy. 


These types are crude and very brutal. 


They are great risk takers. They care less about security agencies. 


They work alone and kidnap anyone they see No matter how poor. 


They have no time to access anyone.


Mechanism of Action.. 


They jump at any road of their choice at anytime of the day and start shooting at any incoming traffic, no matter the speed. 


They kill as many as those hit by bullets at random and carry away those who survive the wreck that ensued after the shooting. 


Post Kidnapping 


After kidnapping, the kidnappers make everyone to understand that they are in serious business by


1. Incessant Threat language at gun point


2. Regular slaps 


3..Removal of Shoes and slippers of victims to make them miserable while walking on sharp stones, thorns, shrubs etc to create injuries on their feets to ensure early soberness.


4. Walking in circles for hours to disorient the victims in terms of time and place and position. 


5. Late initiation of negotiation until the victim is thoroughly sober and dying slowly..


6. Release after collection of ransom. 


7. Death.


Special cases.


Death after Ransom


This occur rather too often in some cases. 


Causes of Death


1. Exhaustion


2. Ongoing medical ailments at the point of kidnap 


3. Snake bites and bites from other poisonous animals in the bush


5. Dehydration and acute renal injury 


6. Hemorrhage from Multiple gang rapes, for women.


7. Gunshot from the kidnappers due to 


1. Attempt to escape


2. Too Weak victim who cannot move again.


Why they still collect ransom after death.


The kidnappers see each operation as an investement and hence no matter what happens to the victim they still want to maximize the gains of each operation. 


Can kidnappers release a victim without collecting ransom?


Yes,very possible. 


This is common in the spy system.  


Where the spy called them and said that they have kidnapped the wrong person or that the person kidnapped will generate too much heat and stress for them from the security agencies or from the community.


An example avail of a person kidnapped  and was later released and given transport money the following day by the kidnappers  when some issues arose.


Best way to handle kidnappers. 


1. Avoidance 


2. Avoidance


3. Avoidance


4..Once kidnapped you have lost all control. If you attempt to escape you get killed, if you Don't try to escape, you may STILL die..


5. Avoidance at all cost 


WAY FORWARD


1. Youth Employment opportunities 


2. National  Disorientation and Reorientation in tribalism


3. Regular and permanent highway patrols at 10 minutes intervals with policemen in mufti


4. Increase wages and motivational weapons for policemen 


5.. Rapid response helicopter with night vision equiprment


6. Stringent punishement for kidnappers and conspirators.


7. Community anti kidnap policing. 


8. Close audit and Cctv monitoring of law enforcement agents in charge of armoury 


9. Employment of spy agents across  communities. 


10. Prayer


11. Stay at home and engage yourself in meaningful endeavors.


These are, however not all on the matter.. 


Groups recently implicated= Herdsmen


Target population= Anyone, no age or religious barrier. 


Primary gain= Obedience to hierarchial tendency. 


Secondary Gain= Money. 


Area of Action= 


1. Highways

2. Interstate roads

3. Trunk B roads

4.  City outskirts


Modes of operation 


1. The Spy/ Syndicate System


2. The Collegiate system 


3. The Crude Brute System


1. The Spy System 


Who are the spies??


 A. Law enforcement agents.


B. Jobless road repairers


C. Busy bodies sitting at road junctions.


Mechanism of Action..


Unathorised Peeping inside the car by any of those listed above to;


1. Identify wealthy individuals


2.  Identify presence of armed guards


3. Rating of vehicles as a measure of wealth 


4. Isolation of all govt registered vehicle as a MUST for kidnap, even if with driver alone.


Means of Action by Spies;


1. Undue friendliness at contact


2. Undue familiarity 


3. Unwarranted/ unsolicited waving @ you.


4. Presence and Fiddling with phone by one or all of these spies at contact. 


5. Eventual call to Kidnappers in front for action.


2. The Collegiate System


In this case the kidnappers are of the same tribe working together at very short distance to each other. 


Mechanism of Action. 


You suddenly see a man in front of you beside the road in an unexplained area,  that is an area leading to nowhere.


When you move close to him and after sizing up your car from afar he enters the bush again in your presence. 


He then call his colleagues who are at a very short distance away to effect the kidnapping.


Please note the moment you see this group of kidnappers in front, you have already walked Into an ambush as some of them are already behind you. 


Any reverse = death. 

 


3. The Crude Brute System. 


Latest entrants into the kidnappers strategy. 


These types are crude and very brutal. 


They are great risk takers. They care less about security agencies. 


They work alone and kidnap anyone they see No matter how poor. 


They have no time to access anyone.


Mechanism of Action.. 


They jump at any road of their choice at anytime of the day and start shooting at any incoming traffic, no matter the speed. 


They kill as many as those hit by bullets at random and carry away those who survive the wreck that ensued after the shooting. 


Post Kidnapping 


After kidnapping, the kidnappers make everyone to understand that they are in serious business by


1. Incessant Threat language at gun point


2. Regular slaps 


3..Removal of Shoes and slippers of victims to make them miserable while walking on sharp stones, thorns, shrubs etc to create injuries on their feets to ensure early soberness.


4. Walking in circles for hours to disorient the victims in terms of time and place and position. 


5. Late initiation of negotiation until the victim is thoroughly sober and dying slowly..


6. Release after collection of ransom. 


7. Death.


Special cases.


Death after Ransom


This occur rather too often in some cases. 


Causes of Death


1. Exhaustion


2. Ongoing medical ailments at the point of kidnap 


3. Snake bites and bites from other poisonous animals in the bush


5. Dehydration and acute renal injury 


6. Hemorrhage from Multiple gang rapes, for women.


7. Gunshot from the kidnappers due to 


1. Attempt to escape


2. Too Weak victim who cannot move again.


Why they still collect ransom after death.


The kidnappers see each operation as an investement and hence no matter what happens to the victim they still want to maximize the gains of each operation. 


Can kidnappers release a victim without collecting ransom?


Yes,very possible. 


This is common in the spy system.  


Where the spy called them and said that they have kidnapped the wrong person or that the person kidnapped will generate too much heat and stress for them from the security agencies or from the community.


An example avail of a person kidnapped  and was later released and given transport money the following day by the kidnappers  when some issues arose.


Best way to handle kidnappers. 


1. Avoidance 


2. Avoidance


3. Avoidance


4..Once kidnapped you have lost all control. If you attempt to escape you get killed, if you Don't try to escape, you may STILL die..


5. Avoidance at all cost 


WAY FORWARD


1. Youth Employment opportunities 


2. National  Disorientation and Reorientation in tribalism


3. Regular and permanent highway patrols at 10 minutes intervals with policemen in mufti


4. Increase wages and motivational weapons for policemen 


5.. Rapid response helicopter with night vision equiprment


6. Stringent punishement for kidnappers and conspirators.


7. Community anti kidnap policing. 


8. Close audit and Cctv monitoring of law enforcement agents in charge of armoury 


9. Employment of spy agents across  communities. 


10. Prayer


11. Stay at home and engage yourself in meaningful endeavors.

The Sunday Igboho I Knew

The Sunday Igboho I Knew

By Babafemi Ojudu



It was in 2009. The Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin ordered a rerun in a number of polling units in the election between Segun Oni of PDP and Dr Kayode Fayemi of ACN.


Oni had in the main election and the election petition tribunal that followed been declared winner of the gubernatorial contest. Our party , ACN contested this , hence the declaration of a rerun. 


The election which came three months after the Appeal Court judgement was like war. The PDP ruling at the Federal level did not want to lose Ekiti while the opposition ACN led and financed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu wanted to take Ekiti by all means.


A few days to the election,we got an intelligence report that the PDP big wigs had perfected a plan to unleash thugs recruited from across Yoruba land on Ekiti. The plan was to kill and maim as many as possible, snatch ballot boxes and win by any means possible. 


Tinubu summoned me to Lagos and said Femi,"I have conducted a scientific opinion poll. You people can win this election. The only snag however is they are deploying state security as well as thugs against you. State security men we can handle ( and he did creatively handled them ) but how do you handle thugs?"


I then suggested we dissuade them by engagement and inducements. After all they are in the business only for the money and not for ideological reasons.


We reached out to both Ade Basket in Akure and Fada Geri in Ondo. Both were dreaded in political circles. We had a series of meetings with them and were able to squeeze an agreement with them that they will not make themselves available to PDP for hire. I got them to even sign documents for me that they were going to stay off Ekiti elections.


The biggest headache for us then was Sunday Igboho who we learnt has been hired and paid by a Senator from Osun to come and cause mayhem in Ekiti. Tinubu instructed we must get him at all cost. 


Six days to the election we began our search for him. Eventually we met someone who had his number. I put a call through to him and he agreed to meet with me in Ibadan. We scheduled an appointment and had a meeting at a small hotel not far from Premier Hotel.


Tinubu , I told him , has sent me to him that he will like to have a meeting with him. He said he will love to meet him as he has heard a lot of good things  about him too.  The problem he said is he is PDP and not ACN. I said that precisely is the reason why he wanted to meet with him. He asked if I could keep this a secret, I said why not . Papa Adedibu , and our Osun Senator , he said must not learn about his meeting Tinubu. I told him there is no way they will know except it leaks from his side. 


He agreed to a meeting on Thursday preceding the election. I reported back to Tinubu who then relocated from his base in Lagos to Sunview Hotel in Akure. Igboho drove down alone at about 10.00 pm. I and Tinubu had a dialogue with him.


“Igboho,”!Tinubu said, “ I have heard a lot about your bravery . The Ekiti people have suffered too long under the rule of PDP. They are looking for change. I learnt you have been hired to make this impossible. I have invited you to plead with you to allow the poll to be conducted peacefully. If after that the PDP wins fine. If the ACN wins, all well and good”.


Tinubu went on and on lecturing him on the beauty of democracy and unencumbered electoral process. By the time Tinubu finished with him, he became sober and contrite. “ Baba”, he said, “ I have heard you and I am pleased with what you have said. Whatever you want me to do I will do even though I have collected money from the other side” .


This was the extent Tinubu went to secure Ekiti for his party, ACN. Most of this the candidate, Fayemi , himself was not even aware of.


Tinubu then beckoned me to follow him to the bedroom of the suit he occupied in the hotel. “ Femi this guy appear sincere. It does appear we have dissuaded him.“


“Thank you Baba” Igboho  said with a smile across his face as soon as he received a golden handshake for agreeing not to destroy in Ekiti as they had planned. 


He then said that he will be in Ekiti on the eve of the election but when it is 2.00 am I should put a call through to him. He will put his phone on speaker and I should tell him I am a police AIG and that the police has discovered his presence in Ekiti and will be raiding in 30 minutes time. With that call he will tell his minders he can no longer stay. He will pack his boys and their lethal weapons and leave town. 


Tinubu ordered food and drink for him. He will touch neither. He however overtime became comfortable in our midst and regaled us with several anecdotes from his career as a political enforcer. One particular anecdote stayed locked up in my memory till today because it was so funny. 


According to Igboho he went through the tutelage of Chief Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan politics. He said he was one of his most reliable and trusted thugs. At a point in their relationship, Adedibu , he said began to suspect he was getting too powerful and independent. Adedibu , he narrated, then invited him to a meeting and told him he will like him to run for the chairmanship of a local government. 


He said he knew this was an attempt by Adedibu to bench him and he therefore told Adedibu that he was not educated , not able to speak English and could therefore not be chairman of a local government. 


Adedibu , he said , looked at him and barked an order STAND UP! He stood up. “SIT DOWN!” He sat down. Adedibu then said “and you claim not to be educated. Whatever is left we shall add it unto you”.


A week before the election, we had reserved and paid for all the rooms in all the hotels in Ekiti. The money ran into several millions. Tinubu,  as usual, paid for this. The strategy was to ensure no thug or any undesirable element had a place to stay in the state. Security men and INEC officials had to appeal to me, sometimes through Tinubu,  to release some rooms to them to stay. With this we knew who was staying where. And we closely monitored them and their activities.


Thus,when Igboho and his band of 50 thugs arrived Ado Ekiti that Friday we were able to monitor them till they were taken to be accommodated over night in government house due to lack of hotel accommodation in the state. 


This was the situation when at 2:00 am I did exactly what Igboho instructed  me to do and he and his men fled town. Two hours after leaving I got a call from him. They did a  head count and found out two of their men were missing. Interestingly,they found out the two had gone to town in search of women. Igboho pleaded with me to help retrieve them and get them out of town the following morning. 


At about 5.00 am that morning I picked them up in front of the Fire Station at Fajuyi Park , took them to my house and by 6.00 am got a driver to take them out of town.

We had the re-run elections. It wasn’t entirely peaceful. But thuggery and violence was largely reduced. 


This was my encounter with Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho , lately crowned a hero in Yoruba land , by  the reign of terror by herders and bandits. 


He has that occasional conscience you can appeal to. Let those who can rein  in the herders do so and make the forests and highways safe again. Let farmers be able to  carry out their occupation without fear of kidnap , murder  and rape. Let us find a modern and permanent solution to this issue of itinerant herding that pitches a group of Nigerians against the other. Let us not ethnicize  criminality. A criminal is a criminal  and a crime is a crime whether perpetrated by  Fulani, Yoruba , Igbo, Ijaw , Junkun, Bachama or Ibariba.


We should do everything possible to stave off this crisis and stop beating the drums of war before it reaches a crescendo.

By Babafemi Ojudu



It was in 2009. The Appeal Court sitting in Ilorin ordered a rerun in a number of polling units in the election between Segun Oni of PDP and Dr Kayode Fayemi of ACN.


Oni had in the main election and the election petition tribunal that followed been declared winner of the gubernatorial contest. Our party , ACN contested this , hence the declaration of a rerun. 


The election which came three months after the Appeal Court judgement was like war. The PDP ruling at the Federal level did not want to lose Ekiti while the opposition ACN led and financed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu wanted to take Ekiti by all means.


A few days to the election,we got an intelligence report that the PDP big wigs had perfected a plan to unleash thugs recruited from across Yoruba land on Ekiti. The plan was to kill and maim as many as possible, snatch ballot boxes and win by any means possible. 


Tinubu summoned me to Lagos and said Femi,"I have conducted a scientific opinion poll. You people can win this election. The only snag however is they are deploying state security as well as thugs against you. State security men we can handle ( and he did creatively handled them ) but how do you handle thugs?"


I then suggested we dissuade them by engagement and inducements. After all they are in the business only for the money and not for ideological reasons.


We reached out to both Ade Basket in Akure and Fada Geri in Ondo. Both were dreaded in political circles. We had a series of meetings with them and were able to squeeze an agreement with them that they will not make themselves available to PDP for hire. I got them to even sign documents for me that they were going to stay off Ekiti elections.


The biggest headache for us then was Sunday Igboho who we learnt has been hired and paid by a Senator from Osun to come and cause mayhem in Ekiti. Tinubu instructed we must get him at all cost. 


Six days to the election we began our search for him. Eventually we met someone who had his number. I put a call through to him and he agreed to meet with me in Ibadan. We scheduled an appointment and had a meeting at a small hotel not far from Premier Hotel.


Tinubu , I told him , has sent me to him that he will like to have a meeting with him. He said he will love to meet him as he has heard a lot of good things  about him too.  The problem he said is he is PDP and not ACN. I said that precisely is the reason why he wanted to meet with him. He asked if I could keep this a secret, I said why not . Papa Adedibu , and our Osun Senator , he said must not learn about his meeting Tinubu. I told him there is no way they will know except it leaks from his side. 


He agreed to a meeting on Thursday preceding the election. I reported back to Tinubu who then relocated from his base in Lagos to Sunview Hotel in Akure. Igboho drove down alone at about 10.00 pm. I and Tinubu had a dialogue with him.


“Igboho,”!Tinubu said, “ I have heard a lot about your bravery . The Ekiti people have suffered too long under the rule of PDP. They are looking for change. I learnt you have been hired to make this impossible. I have invited you to plead with you to allow the poll to be conducted peacefully. If after that the PDP wins fine. If the ACN wins, all well and good”.


Tinubu went on and on lecturing him on the beauty of democracy and unencumbered electoral process. By the time Tinubu finished with him, he became sober and contrite. “ Baba”, he said, “ I have heard you and I am pleased with what you have said. Whatever you want me to do I will do even though I have collected money from the other side” .


This was the extent Tinubu went to secure Ekiti for his party, ACN. Most of this the candidate, Fayemi , himself was not even aware of.


Tinubu then beckoned me to follow him to the bedroom of the suit he occupied in the hotel. “ Femi this guy appear sincere. It does appear we have dissuaded him.“


“Thank you Baba” Igboho  said with a smile across his face as soon as he received a golden handshake for agreeing not to destroy in Ekiti as they had planned. 


He then said that he will be in Ekiti on the eve of the election but when it is 2.00 am I should put a call through to him. He will put his phone on speaker and I should tell him I am a police AIG and that the police has discovered his presence in Ekiti and will be raiding in 30 minutes time. With that call he will tell his minders he can no longer stay. He will pack his boys and their lethal weapons and leave town. 


Tinubu ordered food and drink for him. He will touch neither. He however overtime became comfortable in our midst and regaled us with several anecdotes from his career as a political enforcer. One particular anecdote stayed locked up in my memory till today because it was so funny. 


According to Igboho he went through the tutelage of Chief Adedibu, the strong man of Ibadan politics. He said he was one of his most reliable and trusted thugs. At a point in their relationship, Adedibu , he said began to suspect he was getting too powerful and independent. Adedibu , he narrated, then invited him to a meeting and told him he will like him to run for the chairmanship of a local government. 


He said he knew this was an attempt by Adedibu to bench him and he therefore told Adedibu that he was not educated , not able to speak English and could therefore not be chairman of a local government. 


Adedibu , he said , looked at him and barked an order STAND UP! He stood up. “SIT DOWN!” He sat down. Adedibu then said “and you claim not to be educated. Whatever is left we shall add it unto you”.


A week before the election, we had reserved and paid for all the rooms in all the hotels in Ekiti. The money ran into several millions. Tinubu,  as usual, paid for this. The strategy was to ensure no thug or any undesirable element had a place to stay in the state. Security men and INEC officials had to appeal to me, sometimes through Tinubu,  to release some rooms to them to stay. With this we knew who was staying where. And we closely monitored them and their activities.


Thus,when Igboho and his band of 50 thugs arrived Ado Ekiti that Friday we were able to monitor them till they were taken to be accommodated over night in government house due to lack of hotel accommodation in the state. 


This was the situation when at 2:00 am I did exactly what Igboho instructed  me to do and he and his men fled town. Two hours after leaving I got a call from him. They did a  head count and found out two of their men were missing. Interestingly,they found out the two had gone to town in search of women. Igboho pleaded with me to help retrieve them and get them out of town the following morning. 


At about 5.00 am that morning I picked them up in front of the Fire Station at Fajuyi Park , took them to my house and by 6.00 am got a driver to take them out of town.

We had the re-run elections. It wasn’t entirely peaceful. But thuggery and violence was largely reduced. 


This was my encounter with Sunday Adeyemo alias Sunday Igboho , lately crowned a hero in Yoruba land , by  the reign of terror by herders and bandits. 


He has that occasional conscience you can appeal to. Let those who can rein  in the herders do so and make the forests and highways safe again. Let farmers be able to  carry out their occupation without fear of kidnap , murder  and rape. Let us find a modern and permanent solution to this issue of itinerant herding that pitches a group of Nigerians against the other. Let us not ethnicize  criminality. A criminal is a criminal  and a crime is a crime whether perpetrated by  Fulani, Yoruba , Igbo, Ijaw , Junkun, Bachama or Ibariba.


We should do everything possible to stave off this crisis and stop beating the drums of war before it reaches a crescendo.

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