NIGERIAN ARMY: ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT OF SOLDIERS IN THEFT AT DANGOTE REFINERY

The Nigerian Army (NA) is deeply concerned about the alleged involvement of two of its personnel in a reported case of theft at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.

This act of criminality, which was prevented by the proactive intervention of vigilant troops and private security operatives on duty at the refinery, is totally unacceptable and highly regrettable. It does not, therefore, represent the ethics and values of the NA.

The two suspects have been identified and are currently under custody.

Preliminary investigation reveals that the two suspects were hired by a civilian contractor simply identified as Mr Smart, who claimed he wanted to recover some Armoured cables he had left behind on the refinery's premises. Unknown to the soldiers, the said contractor, sensing trouble as they approached the security post, excused himself from the vehicle and bolted, leaving them behind. 

Further investigations are ongoing to fully ascertain the depth of culpability of the apprehended soldiers.

Additionally, the stolen cables have been recovered and are in safe custody.

The NA is working closely with the management of the Dangote Refinery to ensure a thorough investigation into this unfortunate incident.

The NA wishes to reassure the general public that appropriate disciplinary measures would be meted out to the culprits, as no act of criminality will be condoned amongst its personnel.

The NA remains steadfast in ensuring that the key values of discipline and integrity are adequately entrenched amongst its personnel. We shall also continue to cultivate and promote dedication and a culture of accountability and ethical behaviours within our ranks.

ONYEMA NWACHUKWU

Major General

Director Army Public Relations

17 April 2024

NEWS RELEASE: Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Commentary on Osun Unfair, Biased

Our attention has been drawn to the persistent attacks on Governor Ademola Adeleke by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa Esq over the state of the judiciary in Osun state. His recent outbursts are consistent with his unjustifiable political attacks of last year which were clothed in judicial advocacy. 

His piece of last year contained factually incorrect narrations on which he then built an equally jaundiced conclusion. Those errors in the first piece called to question if truly the piece originates from the Comrade Senior Advocate of Nigeria. We know his pedigree but we are worried about his turn of focus and attention. Even at that, we resolved to remain silent, assuming it was probably one of those mistakes in activism.

We are however constrained to respond now that he has released another misdirected attack. It has become obvious that the first write up of last year was not an error; it was a deliberate hatchet job full of uninformed guesses and conclusions. The benefit of doubt granted last year cannot continue in the face of open evidence that our comrade was indeed contracted to mount attacks on a performing Governor, well loved by his people.

In the new piece, the barrister actually admitted he goofed in previous write up, owning up that he was later informed that judicial workers actually wrote petitions against the State Chief Judge and that indeed there are complaints from the workers against the Chief Judge. Yet, he failed to apologize to Governor Adeleke whom he used unprinted labels on in his infamous write up. It would have been more honourable for the comrade to own up, apologize and abandon the brief to denigrate a Governor who is simply, happily and diligently serving his people.

In his new piece, he disingenuously built on the error he had admitted, heaping the blame for the judiciary strike in Osun state on the state Governor. This is the same man who owned up to the fact that the judicial union had welfare and operational disputes with the head of the state judiciary. Is Governor Adeleke the head of Osun state judiciary? 

In his commissioned write up, the comrade deliberately remained fully silent on the head of the state judiciary. If the courts are in crisis, a well meaning writer will question what action the Chief Judge has taken to resolve the matter. Why is Adegboruwa unwilling to call into question the role of the Chief Judge on welfare and operational issues affecting the judicial staff union under her? Is Governor Adeleke in charge of disputed issues the union is complaining of?

Additionally, the Comrade opted to be blind to several efforts of Governor Adeleke to resolve the matter despite the fact that he is not the head of the state judiciary. If Adegboruwa is happy to be silent on the role of the head of the judiciary, he should have been magnanimous enough to acknowledge the positive interventions of Mr Governor. He pretended to be unaware because admitting such would expose the head of the judiciary that he was commissioned to protect.

For records, the judicial staff union levelled several operational and welfare allegations against the Chief Judge which include among others the withholding of salaries of some judicial workers, non payment of ward robe allowances among other allowances, alleged abuse of power, police brutality and issues over fund mismanagement. These among others are issues included in the union’s petition before the National Judicial Council.

Mr Governor actually went out of his way to ensure the payment of withheld salaries of the judicial union as a way of putting an end to the strike. He proceeded to inquire about the allowances until it was discovered that the funds had actually been released to the Judiciary. Just a few days ago, the  Governor hosted a delegation of the national leadership of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, appealing for interventions to resolve the industrial disputes. What else is Adegboruwa expecting the Governor to do especially when he is not the head of the judiciary?

While avoiding the crux of the matter because of his fear of the NJC, the Comrade proceeded to propound a jaundiced theory of necessity of a state of emergency. Because the head of an arm of government has failed to manage workers under her, then the whole state government should be brought down? Isn’t that a warped logic from a troubled mind? What an imbecile way of constitutional interpretation? 

If an arm of government is not functioning, the question should be why. In this case, the non-functioning is because the workers have complaints against the head of their sector, in this case, the Chief Judge, a matter that is before the NJC. Third parties such as the national leadership of the union and even the State Governor are intervening for an amicable resolution. Adegboruwa should ask what the head of the judiciary is doing instead of making baseless advocacy out of hatred for the Governor and out of his protection of the Chief Judge.

How a SAN woke up to hold a Governor rather than the Chief Judge responsible for strike action by judicial workers over welfare issues is still a mystery. 

We notify the comrade that his unholy intervention in Osun politics is fast eroding whatever is left of his goodwill garnered as a fearless comrade. If he continues on this path, we will henceforth resort to treating him as a hack writer on a mission against the government and people of Osun state.

Signed:

Mallam Olawale Rasheed,

Spokesperson to the State Governor

PRESS RELEASE: NNPCL To Supply 46.2% of Dangote Refinery Crude: Too Many Questions Unanswered

 21st May 2023

The Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari has announced that Nigeria's national oil company

will begin to supply Dangote refinery 300,000 barrel of crude oil daily this week.

The 300,000 barrels

 is 46.2% of Dangote's daily crude oil needs.

This is another phase and beginning of corporate capture of our Commonwealth by frontiers of the ruling class.

Mr. Kyari was quoted to have said that"we want to address the energy challenges so that industrialization can come to the country."

Has any monopoly arrangements ever enthrone industrialization in any climes?

The Publish What You Pay (PWYP), Nigeria wonders why the nation's four (4) refineries that several billions of dollars have been wasted on cannot work while the managers of our economy are happy to cheaply give away the people's natural resources while host communities lives in degraded, environmentally polluted and disease invested underserved communities: and the citizenry lives in

abject poverty.

Industrialization, growth and development can only come when we deploy our resources for a productive economy away from casino economy.

When our refineries are functional, we derive several dozens of petroleum by-products like petrol, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, paraffin, heavy fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gases (LPG), petrochemical, feedstock and bitumen. Including: fertilizer, flooring (floor covering), perfume, insecticide, petroleum jelly, soap, vitamins and some essential amino acids etc.

All these petroleum wastes will reposition thousands of our ailing and collapsed industries for value chain activities, employment and revenue generation; for the government, the informal economy and the mass of our people.

We have said it for the umpteenth time that oil swaps will continue in a weak, leaking, corrupt, and compromised system like we have suffered and continue to suffer in Nigeria.

PWYP would like NNPC to publicly provide response or publish the followings:

A) the contract between Dangote and Nigerian Government to enable citizens understand that content and commitments, and ways of monitoring the contract implementation.

B) How long will this swap continue?

C) How would this development address industrialization of the country?

D). What happens to the nation's four (4) refineries that we have wasted several billions of dollars in turn-around- maintaince (TAM), staff remunerations and other expenses?

E). Would our refineries go the way of the Discos, Gencos and other government enterprises that were grossly under valued and sold under the guise of privatization?

F). If oil swaps continue to be the focus of the oil regime in Nigeria, then the gradual transition to just clean Energy Transition (J-CET) becomes a goose chase.

G). The NNPCL said it was going to visit Saudi Arabia to learn from the operations of ARAMCO, government owned company; we wonder what lessons the management of the NNPCL brought back to the country for the purpose of doing things different to move our oil and gas sector forward.

We will readily advocate, monitor and speak against any arrangement that is akin to economic sabotage and looting of our commonwealth.

To us, productivity is the road to industrialization and national development.

COMRADE Otitolaye Taiwo 

National Coordinator

PWYP, Nigeria

Press Release: Oyo LP Chairman consistent attacks; a show of shame

Akinwale

Our attention has been called to yet another vituperation by the Oyo State Labour Party Chairman, Sodiq Atayese on a Splash FM programme tagged “Gbagede Oselu” on Thursday.

It is becoming rather embarrassing that Mr. Sodiq Atayese has turned bitterness into a hobby and has neglected his primary duty as the chairman of a party in the state facing numerous self-inflicted issues.

Before the election, Mr. Sodiq Atayese consistently attacked the personality of Hon. Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale the Gubernatorial Candidate of his party, in a bid to soil his reputation. He anchored all sorts of organized and informal propaganda and varieties of blackmail against the person of Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale and to cap it, he resolved to the dubious and anti-party collapse of the Labour Party structure in the state for the incumbent with whom he seeks favor.

One would expect that after the election, Mr. Sodiq will have a sober reflection and bury his head in shame for the woeful performance of the party in the election at all levels. Unfortunately,   this has not been the case probably because he hasn’t been considered for his seek favour by his “paymaster” only God knows.

His remarks about the person of Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale are not new, Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale's competency is one of the reasons why Mr. Sodiq Atayese became so embittered because he couldn’t find the “Yes sir” attributes in him despite Akinwale’s humility and respect for everyone in the party.

We are using this medium to advise Mr. Sodiq Atayese to face his business of fixing the mess he has dragged the party into instead of his continuous embarrassing media tour to shamelessly nag and present excuses for his shameless anti-party actions in the last elections. The same man nagging about incompetency was blown away by Akinwale’s submissions at the BBC gubernatorial debate where he uttered the remark “I am proud of you.”

Mr. Atayese claimed that Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale is not competent enough, should we say that all candidates in the party are not competent enough for their respective positions and that was why the Chairman sold the party out?

In 2019, Mr. Atayese was the Labour Party Guber and he refused to step down for the incumbent Governor despite being the accountant to Seyi Makinde’s company. Mr Atayese should remember that there are consequences for each action, and whatever a man sows he shall reap.

Hon. Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale has moved on and has continued to make his impact felt on matters that concern the state just recently his intervention in the proposed Chieftaincy amendment bill has generated serious actions and scrutiny of the process.

The Labour Party Gubernatorial Candidate in the last election is a man with focus and does not get swayed away by petty talks. However, it is necessary to call the chameleon Chairman to order which necessitated this response.

Hon. Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale remains committed to the growth and betterment of Oyo State and every citizen therein and he is focused on making meaningful contributions and impacts to take the State to an enviable height.

*E-signed:*

*Samuel Abodunrin*

*_Press Secretary to Tawfiq Tayo Akinwale, Oyo State LP Guber 2023_*

May 12, 2023.

STATEMENT : Sadiq Atayese led Oyo Labour Party defrauds 3000 PDP back up polling agents

*FRAUDULENT ACTIVITIES OF OYO LABOUR PARTY CHIEFTAINS* 

We wish to bring to the notice of activities of the so- called chieftains of Labour party in Oyo state who have identified themselves as new bride of Omituntun 2.0 project despite making a zero input.

 

It is exactly a month today, when on 18th March we tropped out to partake in the elections of Gov. Seyi Makinde and the Honourables.

A week to these elections , a call was made state wide by these _hungry_ Labour party chieftains that Seyi will be needing 3000 backup polling agents in addition to those provided by his party, the PDP. Consequently, a training programme was scheduled at University of Ibadan in three batches. 

At the end of the training, we were told that transport fares have been provided in respect of the training but unfortunately no cash was readily available so we should all drop our bank account details for payment of these transport and stipends for acting as agents of the Saturday elections.

Till date no kobo has been received by any of us, we mean none was paid ostensibly the total amount scammed was pocketed.

That was a fraud and cheat too many. Seyi Makinde and all of all have been scammed!

Oyo state ICPC over to you. 

Some scapegoats have been identified here for timely action .

These are the people who are already jostling for positions in the next cabinet of 2.0 despite defrauding him. The governor should be careful of these hungry wolves as no part of any MDA is worth being entrusted to these opportunists.

The governor should beware of these unknown strangers and opportunists. 

There is no credibility or honour in them, if they can't be entrusted with this little.

It's all illgotten wealth amassed so much that by His grace, it will be used on ill health by those people and their posterity.

These are the leaders of today. *Shame* !

We used our time and money in attendance at the seminar on one hand, and acting as adhoc PDP party agents, on the other.

Thank you.

Opoola Ridwan 

 *Coordinator* 07056978915

1

Rafiu Mutiu

08140298750

 _Signatory_ 

2

Olalekan Shakirat

08058613441

 _Signatory_ 

 *CC* :

Governor Seyi Makinde

Senator Hosea Agboola, Chairman Advisory council 

Hon Bayo Lawal campaign DG

Prof Nureni Adeniran

Chief Dotun Oyelade

Chairman publicly committe of campaign 

 Honourable Babs Oduyoye 

Special Adviser political 

Chief Seye Famojuro

Alhaji Akeem Azeez, PA to the governor 

 Mr Taiwo Adisa Press secretary to the governor

Atayese

Before publishing the above statement, LP chairman in Oyo State honourable Sadiq Atayese was contacted on WhatsApp on his Verified numbers 07088956726 / 08033001036.

Other members of the state working committee who responded said the statement should be ignored or be be brought to the exco at the state.

However, the statement can not be far from the truth as it was too obvious and glaring that the Oyo State working committee of the Labour Party worked against the interest of the party under Atayese leadership. A total show of antiparty outing in the last elections.

#EDOSTATE: The Violence Is Spreading And Must Be Stopped Now!

PRESS RELEASE:

*DEMOCRACY IS UNDER THREAT IN EDO STATE- LP.  *

The attention of the Edo State Labour Party has been drawn to the series of  attacks on Labour Party candidates, party faithfuls and  the Obidient movement in the state. Our candidates campaign billboards, posters  and banners are been destroyed by people who claimed it is directives given them from above. 

For example, our candidate for Oredo Federal  Constituency, Engr. Esosa  Iyawe billboards along Airport road, Akenzuwa road,  Ekenwan road and environs duly paid for were pulled down by the Oredo Local Government Council and warned the billboard agent not to hang any Labour party content on them. The billboard agent who said his business is been threatened if he does otherwise only agreed to make a refund to our candidate. In Esan Central, our House of Assembly Candidate, Hon. Oses   Emmanuel Eromosele billboards he constructed by himself in strategic locations were all removed and taken away by the Head of  service of the Council. When he was contacted he said,  it was directive from above. Another giant size billboard of our presidential and other candidates sponsored by Edo Diaspora women for Peter Obi erected around Ibiwe, ring road, Oredo LGA was also pulled down by the council.

 In ward 7 Ugbekun, Ikpoba Okah LGA, Labour party office  was invaded by thugs suspected to be hired by PDP removed all Labour party items, including sign  post, party flags,  banners of our presidential candidate  and posters of Labour part candidates. They forcefully  hoisted PDP  flag and pest posters and banners of PDP candidates in the place.

 Our members who were chased out of the premises said, the hoodlums openly boasted that they are going to make sure they drive Labour  party  out of the state as directed. 

Most worrisome is the fact that we were earlier denied the use of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium  for rally to host our presidential candidate  Mr Peter Obi and his running mate Datti Yusuf.

It is Worthy of note that these are happening after HE, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has some time ago openly declared during the inauguration of his factional state PDP presidential campaign council. "That those who call themselves obedient in the state will soon run out of steam" 

We are worried as a party if this abrasiveness and hostile nature towards our candidates and members is what they have planned by saying we will soon go of steam?

As a party we have

 observed that the unfolding events in the State is a direct attack on democracy to deny the people from making free choices. 

 Labour Party is a party widely accepted by the people as the only credible alternative platform to take them out of the present hardship inflicted on them by both the APC at the Federal and  PDP at state level. 

We are social democrats who believes that it is still possible to conduct the affairs of party politics on identifiable ideology of progressive issues based  campaign. We are therefore calling on all well meaning Nigerians, Edolites and the security agents to please call the PDP led government in the state to order not to  truncate democracy but a peaceful atmosphere to allow the people freely make their informed decisions to elect who leads them. 

Comr. Sam Oroupa

Publicity Secretary

Labour Party, 

Edo State.

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RE: ALHAJI TAWFIQ AKINWALE'S LATEST PRESS RELEASE ON THE MATTER OF RECENT VISIT OF LABOUR PARTY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PETER OBI TO OYO STATE

I have refrained for a time from commenting and even posting on this and other LPcentric platforms. And also on the matter of the recent visit of our Presidential candidate, HE Peter Obi to Oyo state. The reasons are already coming out even without mentioning them...

On the latest press release issued by our Gubernatorial candidate, I want to posit and say the following:

1. It is sad, how the visit of our Presidential candidate; rather than to galvanize us has further magnified the schism amongst us as candidates and members of the party.

Very unfortunately.

2. However, I do not think we should go as far as taking our little matter of N300, 000.00 to EFCC to adjudicate! Haba, I think that is like killing a fly with the sledgehammer. If indeed this is not a threat, then the crisis of confidence in the party is just about to begin. Our image as a party may not survive the 'impending Holocaust'. The bad press will finally demystify the LP as a better alternative to the kind of leadership Nigeria is currently suffering.

Going to EFCC is lose, lose for everybody.

3. I appeal therefore to our dear gubernatorial flagbearer, Hon. Akinwale Tawfik to kindly sheath his sword. To be wrongfully accused is not an easy cross to bear. But it could just be treated as another sacrifice of leadership and part of his costs in leadership.

4. I appeal also to our party chairman to open a new channel of rapprochement with all  concerned; across board, to most naturedly and transparently manage all the fallouts of our Presidential candidate's visit.

We are all matured enough to manage a country, talk less of a party at state level.

The leaders of the party in the state should also not fold their hands and be looking. Duty calls!

Pele, pele d'owo gbogbo wa.

Thank you all.

*Kayode Adejumo-Bello,*

LP candidate, Oyo state House of Assembly, Ibadan North constituency II

 

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