The ongoing #EndSARS protest against police brutality has scored some points as Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, sacked a former Commanding Officer of the disbanded Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) in Awkuzu, James Nwafor (retired), who has been repeatedly mentioned in the media for his high-handedness against crime suspects and unspeakable violations of human rights.
Nwafor had retired from the service and picked up an appointment as an advisor to Obiano on security matters.
Addressing protesters in Awka on Thursday, Obiano announced the sack of Nwafor and assured the people of Anambra State that the sacked security aide and other officers who circumvented the law and indulged in human rights violations while in service in the state would be brought to book.
The governor also announced that a special panel headed by Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice had been set up to document human rights violations and abuses by the defunct SARS with a view to getting justice for victims and bringing closure to old injuries.
He also assured that he would personally visit all the facilities of the defunct SARS in the state and effect immediate release of suspects who are unlawfully held in the cells.
Obiano, in a statement by his Media Aide, James Eze, commended the protesters for conducting themselves peacefully so far and implored them to leave the Enugu-Onitsha Highway since their demands had been met.
Lagos State Police Command has arrested one of the #EndSARS protesters, Nike Lawal, ‘f’, of 30, Anjorin Street, Aminkanle in Lagos State, for driving recklessly and killing two innocent Nigerians at Ikola Road in Alagbado area of Lagos on October 14.
The command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, identified Lawal as the driver of Toyota 4Runner SUV with registration number: GGE 346 BK, that ran into a tricycle and killed the duo of Ojo Azeez, m, 27-year-old and Yusuf Sodia, m, 26-year-old, both of Command Road, Alagbado in Lagos State.
The statement said: “The suspect, who intentionally removed the number plates on her SUV, as at the time of the incident, joined the protest at AIT Junction, Alagbado, and started driving recklessly, like many other protesters, before the fatal accident.”
Meanwhile, Lagos State Commisioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, has commiserated with the families of the deceased and assured them of the command’s commitment to having justice in the case; and that the command would not relent on its efforts in maintaining peace, law and order within the state.
In a related development, the commissioner has arrested and commenced orderly room trial of the four policemen who were caught for assaulting a young lady (protester) in a viral video at Surulere on Monday.
The policemen are: Bagou Michael, Ekpoundom Etop, Nnamdi Majura, and Akinyemi Benson.
The policemen, who are attached to the Divisional Police Headquarters in Surulere, are cooling their feet in the cell while the orderly room trial continues.
Odumosu has also ordered for the arrest of the policeman who slapped an aged mother in another viral video at Iyun Street in Surulere, same day.
The commissioner has, however, reiterated his zero tolerance for incivility, brutality and inappropriate conducts amongst police personnel as his corrective mechanisms are sacrosanct.
For how long will our country continue to put forward it’s worst XI instead of it’s 1st XI team? For how long will our leaders portray a country blessed with some of the most brilliant minds anywhere in the world as “no good doers” who know how to say all the right things but whose sincerity somehow always comes into question when it comes to execution?
For how long will mediocrity be celebrated in our nation, confounding the rest of the world who see the genius of our people in their countries everyday? For how long will Nigeria be presented to the world in awfully bad light causing us to bow our heads in shame and disbelief? For how long will our leaders continue to blot out the dazzling stars that we are? For how long shall we continue to ascribe the alarming rate of unnecessary deaths to acts of God?
The average life expectancy in Nigeria is a pitiable 53 years compared to 71 years in wartorn Syria. Ponder on that for a moment. For how long will we question why we even bothered to go to school if at the end of the day, we’ll be overlooked in favour of another, who knows next to nothing? For how long will our leaders continue to ignore the most obvious solutions to the myriad of problems bedevilling our society in favour of a glaringly hopeless alternative, leaving the hapless people to pray and fast for a miracle that will invariably never come?
Two plus two will always equal four no matter how hard you pray or how deep in the sand you bury your head. For how long will our children continue to ask “Why?”. “Why is the country like this?” “Why do things not work?” “Why will my country not support me to fly like the eagle that I am?” “Why are my ambitions being deliberately thwarted by officials whose job it is to ensure I succeed?” “Why can I not move from point A to point B without the fear of being accosted or brutalised by those who swore an oath to serve and protect me?”
“Why do I feel as if I’m being sidelined or worse still, victimized for my God given talent?” “Why should I have to grovel and beg for what should be mine by right?” “Why is it that everyone appears to be so religious yet it’s the evil ones who seem to thrive?” “Why is our generation still praying for the same things your generation has been praying for, for so long?”
“Daddy, for how long will we continue to deceive ourselves and hope for a better future when tomorrow never seems to come?” “Why…Why…Why?”
Folks of my generation have offered their children every explanation in the book, in a vain attempt to convince them all will still be well. We began by uttering them with confidence, albeit contrived. We then appealed to their faith in God.
Unsuccessful yet again, we resorted to reversed psychology by chiding them for their unbelief. Before we knew it, we found ourselves attempting to temper their fury by empathizing with their frustrations. It soon dawns on us that we have come full circle and things are yet to change.
Filled with questionably placed patriotism, we sold them a vision of a good tomorrow. The same ones our parents sold us in adolescence and which many of us, refusing to give up hope, continue to sell ourselves even now in maturity.
Taking a good look around, it all begins to sound hollow and hollower by the day. No longer totally convinced ourselves, it becomes an increasingly herculean task to convince the other. For how long shall we continue to excuse the inexcusable? How many more stories can we tell our children, in good conscience? I think you’ll agree that one of the things which make us human and distinguishes us from robots is our individuality.
This extends to our threshold also and that’s why some who find themselves out of excuses, having exhausted all they could think of, to the same questions over the years, simply throw their hands up in surrender. They give up altogether and before you know it, whisk their children out as they wave with undisguised lament, “so long” to their country. With a deep sigh of relief and yet as if to console themselves too, they say to no-one in particular, “at least I tried”. For how long will this be our story? I wish I could answer that.
One day our children scattered across the diaspora will hear of that distant land where because of poor leadership, the sun was said to have smitten the people by day and the moon in solidarity, did same by night. But our prayer is that the story they’ll hear then, will be very different to the one we tell today.
We hope by then we would have transmuted from a nation where possible is selfishly made impossible to a nation where impossible becomes possible. We hope by then, our people here in Nigeria will be supported, enabled and given the opportunity to equal and even best the achievement of their kinsmen in foreign lands. We hope by then we would have gotten our groove back and will proudly display our full ability as a great people for the whole world to acknowledge and admire.
We hope by then, we shall no longer be a source of disappointment to our expectant African brothers because of our penchant to under perform, much like a man dancing with two left feet. And I hope this rallying cry will touch the heart of all, so this dream will one day become our reality. To all the above, may I please hear a loud Amen!
*#ENDSARS*…what do they say about an idea whose time has come? *It’s unstoppable*!!!
Changing the nation…one child at a time.
Oladapo Akande is a Surrey University (UK) English graduate with a Masters in Professional Ethics. He’s an alumnus of the National Institute for Transformation and a two time author; The Last Flight and Shifting Anchors. He writes from Lagos.
A driver of the Bus 240-171, Mayowa Olajide, owned by Lagos State Bus Service Limited (LBSL), which was allegedly used for carrying thugs to disrupt the #EndSARS protest in Alausa, has spoken up in order to set the record straight.
Olajide, who spoke during a live briefing held on Thursday by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, at the State House in Marina, explained how the alleged thugs attacked the peaceful protesters.
According to him, “I took passengers from Berger Bus Stop and we were heading to Oshodi Bus Stop.
“On getting to Alausa under the bridge, there was a protest going on there. I had to stop moving the bus to allow the protesters leave the road, so that we could pass.
“After about three minutes, we saw another group of youths, whom we presumed to be protesters, disembarking from yellow minibuses. They were armed with machetes and axes. They moved towards the protesters who blocked the road and started attacking them.1
“Upon sighting the armed youths, the passengers in my bus and I became frightened. They asked me to open the doors, so that they could flee from the scene. I opened the doors; some of them ran out, while others remained in the bus. I also abandoned the bus and ran away from the scene, because I didn’t know what was going on.
“After some minutes, normalcy returned to the scene. Some of the passengers remained in the bus when I came back. Some left. We continued our journey thereafter. Nobody was injured in the bus and the bus was not destroyed by the hoodlums.”
Also speaking on the matter, Sanwo-Olu said the police had been on the trail of the hoodlums who attacked protesters in Alausa.
He reaffirmed that his administration would continue to identify with the demonstrators who conduct themselves peacefully.
The governor, therefore, directed Lagos State Police Command to ensure adequate security for citizens who respect the law and orderliness in the cause of their protest.
Meanwhile, LBSL Managing Director, Idowu Oguntona, has suspended all bus operations for the safety of passengers following the #EndSARS protest in the city.
Oguntona said the suspension was due to a viral video on social media about thugs who purportedly alighted from its bus 240-171 to attack protesters at Alausa Secretariat.
While dismissing erroneous narrative in various social media platforms, Oguntona said the bus was heading towards Oshodi from Berger around 8am when some armed individuals disembarked from a particular yellow vehicle in front of the bus at Alausa Secretariat Bus Stop.
President Muhammadu Buhari, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Ogun State counterpart, Dapo Abiodun, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have commiserated with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and his entire family over the passing of their mother and the Matriarch of the Makinde family, Madam Omojolagbe Abigail Makinde.
The late matriarch of the Makinde dynasty died at the age of 81 at her Ikolaba residence in Ibadan.
The President sent condolences to friends, family and associates of the matriarch, whose testimony of love and kind heartedness continues to be shared, particularly her warmth to the poor and less privileged.
Buhari urged friends and family members to find solace in the good works of the governor’s mother, who invested heavily in fear of God, love and hard work, and ensured her children and grandchildren followed same training of diligence, discipline and charity.
The President, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, prayed God to receive the soul of the departed, and comfort the family.
Sanwo-Olu, in his condolence message, prayed God to grant the Makindes the fortitude to bear the loss.
“I commiserate with Governor Seyi Makinde on the passing to eternal life of his dear mother, Mrs Abigail Makinde.
“While I extend my condolences to the Makinde family, I pray that God grants them the grace and courage to bear the loss.
Also, Ogun State governor has said he received the news of the death of Mama Makinde with great shock and disbelief.
Abiodun described Mama Makinde as a frank and straightforward woman who raised her children in a godly way and was a source of strength to those she came in contact with during her life time.
“Mama was a rare gem, a supportive wife, a loving mother who would stop at nothing to ensure the welfare of her children and others who crossed her path.
“She was not only a mother to her children, but mother to children sir other parents, as she did not discriminate, but treated everyone equally. She made positive impact on the lives of people in her community. I am sure she will greatly missed,” Abiodun said.
He noted that he was particularly pained by her death when preparation was on top gear for her 82nd birthday, adding that with her death, the country, Oyo State and Governor Makinde had lost a good adviser, motivator and a great counsellor.
“It is a pity that mama died at a period when her wise counseling was mostly needed not only in Oyo State, but in Nigeria.
“I sympathise with my brother, Governor Seyi Makinde. I know this is indeed a trying period for him. It is my prayer that the Almighty God will grant him the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss,” Abiodun said.
The governor while praying for the repose of soul of the deceased, called on Nigerians to emulate Mama Makinde who lived a life of service to humanity, saying this would imprint their names on the sand of time.
PDP National Working Committee, on behalf of the National Executive Committee and entire PDP family, had consoled Governor Makinde, over the passage of his amiable and highly revered mother.
The party said: “Our party grieves over the death of this great personality, particularly at this time Oyo state and indeed the nation at large, need her prayers, intercessions and wise counsel the most.
“Madam Makinde was a rare gem; an exceptionally resourceful, upright, straightforward and patriotic Nigerian, who sacrificially committed her life towards the good, welfare and development of others rather than herself.
“Though we deeply mourn at this point, our party draws solace from the fact that she lived a fulfilled life and bequeathed to our nation, a patriot in Governor Makinde.
“Indeed, Governor Makinde’s exceptional commitment to duty, forthrightness in governance, love for his people and Nigerians at large, all stem from the tutelage and nurturing he received from his mother.
“Our party indeed identify with Governor Makinde and the Makinde family at this moment of grief.
“We also commiserate with the government and people of Oyo state and pray God to grant us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss, particularly given that she rests on in the bosom of her Lord and creator.”
A statement by Jagun Olubadan, Muyiwa Makinde, on behalf of the family had Thursday announced that the late matriarch slept peacefully in the Lord in the early hours of October 15.
“With total submission to the will of the Almighty God, we announce the passing to the great beyond of our mother, Mrs. Abigail Makinde, who departed this world in the early hours of today, Thursday, October 15, 2020.
“Though Mama gave no indication of any sickness, she slept peacefully in the Lord at the age of 81, in the early hours of the day at her Ibadan home, 7B, Oyeleke Street, Ikolaba, Ibadan.
“While we appreciate the Almighty for sparing her life thus far, we must confess that we will sorely miss her counsel, motherly role and impact on the lives of her children and the grandchildren.
“We will equally miss her impactful role as a stabilising force in the family, her community and especially Oyo State, which is currently being governed by her son and our brother, Engineer Seyi Makinde.
“We sincerely appreciate the prayers and condolences of our numerous well-wishers.
“May Mama’s soul rest peacefully with her maker,” the statement said.
Chairman, Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha.
The Federal Government has directed civil servants who have not been going to work since March when the lockdown declared to curtail the spread of COVID-19 started to return to work from Monday 19th, 2020.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha; and the National Coordinator, Sanni Aliyu, disclosed this at the press briefing of the task force on Thursday.
Only civil servants of Salary Grade Level 12 and above as well as those on essential duties have been going to work.
But the PTF has directed that civil servants below SGL 12 can now resume work.
It however directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies to ensure that they alternate the days the civil servants will be at work in order to ensure social distancing.
L-R: Chams Plc Group Managing Director/CEO, Gavin Young; Executive Director, Mrs Mayowa Olaniyan; Chief Operations Officer, Kayode Akomolafe
and "I'M Alive" Product Manager, Aminat Afonja at an interactive session with journalists held at Chams Plc corporate headquarters, Victoria Island, Lagos, Monday October 12, 2020.
A technology approach to solving some of the challenges faced in pension administration has been introduced with the development of I’M Alive, a pensioner verification solution by Chams Plc.
The Group Managing Director (GMD) of Chams Plc, Gavin Young, at an interactive session with journalists on Monday, at the firm’s corporate headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, said the solution, which is a mobile application, is designed to ease verification processes for both pension administrators and pensioners.
The I’M Alive solution, according to the Lagos based firm will verify pensioners remotely in the comfort of their homes using a facial biometric mobile app that facilitates quick and easy verification for both government and private pensioners, and provides pension administrators with comprehensive reporting to ultimately facilitate pension payments.
In his remark while explaining the impact, Young noted that the I’M Alive solution would go a long way towards solving a major process-intensive hurdle for the Pension Industry.
“For both pensioners and pension payers, I’m Alive solution is convenient, saves time & money, easy-to-use, less administrative bottle neck and headaches. The Solution is fully equipped with features that will make life easy for pensioners as it is supported by Artificial Intelligence which will detect liveliness and authenticate the Pensioner for payment processing.
“The app and pensioner are not linked to a particular phone number or mobile handset. Any smartphone with a functionality that aides selfie alignment and lighting quality can be used, ensuring a higher success rate for pensioners using the app.
The firm’s GMD expressed confidence about the security of the application noting that it cannot be hacked, stressing that no third party can impersonate a registered and verified pensioner on the app.
“Every data is encrypted and it cannot be copied. In addition, Chams Plc adheres to data protection compliance regulations as specified by NITDA”, he stated.
Speaking on the sustainability of the solution, Young admitted that while the priority for now is to solve the basic problems of inconvenience and overhead cost associated with the current physical presence verification, the mobile verification app solution can still do a lot more. He added that more features such as linking payment to the app could come later.
The GMD, giving further explanation on the product said “the design had in mind users that are not tech savvy and in the remote areas as pensioners don’t have to be tech-savvy to use the app as it is user friendly and has detailed explanations, including the ability to work in an offline mode.
“The verification can be done on any smartphone, owned by anybody. Once you have your BVN & retiree number ready, it takes less than three minutes as verification is real-time.
“Through this product, Chams has continued to expand operations through strategic partnerships and innovative products and solutions that are tailored to the Nigerian and African Markets” Young said.
Earlier this year, Chams Plc, a Nigerian company of over 35years experience at providing digital solutions across a broad range of customer segments in Nigeria embarked upon a new vision and strategy that focuses on consumer-facing innovative digital solutions that are mobile phone based and not only beneficial to Nigerians but the greater African market.
The Lagos State Goverent has dissociated itself from hoodlums who attacked #EndSARS protesters at the Alausa area of Ikeja ìn Lagos State on Thursday morning.
In a statement, sighted by Echotitbits, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led State government it will never encourage thuggery or any act of violence that may put the lives and businesses of Lagosians at risk adding that it is strongly committed to ensuring that youths, who have taken to the streets to air their views, are well protected.
The statement said: “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to some unverified reports in the social media alleging that the government-sponsored thugs to disrupt the #EndSARS protest. This is untrue and wicked.
“Such wild allegations were obviously concocted by enemies of peace and orderliness to whip up sentiments against the government, which has been doing everything possible to resolve the crisis by identifying with our youths in their efforts towards police reforms.
“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been preaching peace. So has the Deputy Governor, who addressed the protesters last Friday. The Governor has addressed them twice – at the Lekki Toll Gate and at the House of Assembly” the statement read.
Recall that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tuesday visited the President to tender a five-point demand of protesters in Lagos.
Sanwo-Olu, at the meeting with the President stated that he had also ensured that all protesters arrested by the police in Lagos were released unconditionally.
Further in the statement dismissing any participation in the hoodlums attack on protesters, the state government accused the enemies of progress, who are not happy that Lagos is not on fire, as those fueling the “infernal lies” that the government was sponsoring thugs to attack youths who are engaging in a peaceful protest.
“They have been posting on the social media pictures suggesting that a Lagos Bus Service Ltd. (LBSL) vehicle was conveying thugs. The bus in question was on its normal operation when it ran into a group of protesters.
“The passengers, who felt endangered, rushed out of the bus. They returned to continue their journey after the charging crowd had left.
“This should be a sober time for us all as we struggle to reverse the negative effects of COVID-19 on our economic and social lives, even as the experts are warning that a second wave is likely if we shun the safety guidelines we have all agreed to embrace.
“The government seeks the co-operation of all in ensuring that the crisis is put behind us as soon as possible”, Lagos State government said.
A Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has directed all its chapters across the 19 northern states to begin an expanded protest across the region today.
This was made known by the spokesperson of the coalition, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, while addressing journalist in Abuja.
Suleiman stated that the protest by the coalition will be tagged #Endinsecuritynow.
“With the insecurity challenges affecting northern state of the country, the CNG is left with no option but to direct the extension of the protests to all northern states, commencing from Thursday, October 15, 2020″, he said.
The coalition, speaking through Suleiman accused leaders in the North of habitual abandoment of their people when the need arises.
He said: “That while the southern elected and appointed leaders and representatives are quick to identify with their people at the time of need, their counterparts from the North, including the President, Senators, Rep members, governors, state legislators, other government appointees would rather abandon the hundreds of thousands of people in northern communities exposed to crime, lawlessness and insecurity in the hands of bandits, insurgents, kidnappers, rapists rustlers, and other violent criminals without any form of protection.
“That it is contradictory that despite several protests and pleas by northerners, the authorities never deemed it fit to extend the swift spirit deployed against FSARS into securing the North, or addressing the myriad distresses faced by northerners.
“That the authorities appear bent on sustaining the harsh, unacceptable regime of exploitative hikes in electricity tariffs for which the North shall bear the brunt more than other parts of the country,” he said.
To end all manifestations of insecurity in northern Nigeria and other parts of the country, the coalition urged the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency on security and take practical steps.
The Coalition added that it will also demand thorough reorientation of the entire police force and its empowerment by way of additional personnel, modern training and adequate equipment to reclaim its universal internal security function.
The outlined that it will: “Mount pressure on leaders to show real commitment to protecting lives of citizens, ending the prolonged closure of our universities, reconsidering hiked commodity prices, reducing youth unemployment, and checking the rise in poverty level.
“Publicly condemn and pass a vote of no confidence on those office holders and elected leaders who have abandoned the bulk of northerners to the mercy of a vicious insurgency, destructive banditry, rape and sexual assaults, violent communal clashes amidst mounting poverty and entrenched fear of widespread kidnappings for ransom.
“To declare the agreement reached by labour with the government on new electricity tariff unacceptable and demand the immediate, unconditional reversal to the old rates,” he added.
Nigeria's House of Representatives Green Chamber, Abuja.
Nigeria’s 2021 budget estimate of ₦13.8 trillion presented by President Muhammadu Buhari before a joint session of the National Assembly has passed second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill, which was passed after a two day debate by members on the floor of the house was deliberated upon on the floor of the house following a motion moved by the leader of the house, Alhaji Ado Doguwa, which was adopted by members.
The debate, led by Doguwa attempted to establish that the 2021 budget tried to cushion the harsh economic blow the COVID 19 pandemic has on the nation.
He reiterated that the budget proposal takes special emphasis on the upgrade of critical sectors of the economy.
Contributing to the debate, Chief Whip of House, Alh Tahir Monguno, advised the Federal Government to focus more on the agric sector and also increase budgetary allocation to the Northeastern part of the country due to the deplorable state of infrastructure in the region.
Also making a submission, a member from Enugu state, Mr Obinna Chidoka, observed that the Ministry of Environment needs more than what was allocated to it due to the menace of erosion and flooding affecting many parts of the country.
Member of House from Kano state, Alh Muhammad Wudil, submitted that priority should be given to job creation considering the high rate unemployed youths in the country.
Further contributions from some other members stressed the need for a reduction in the cost of governance, adding that infrastructure decay has to be addressed urgently as an approach to diversify the economy to become technologically driven.
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