Punch Vows to Refer to President Muhammadu Buhari as Major-General and His Government as Regime

The entire country and a global audience are rightly scandalised by the unfolding saga over Omoyele Sowore and the unruliness of the SSS and the government; but it is only a pattern, a reflection of the serial disregard of the Buhari regime for human rights and its battering of other arms of government and our democratic institutions. PUNCH views this tendency and its recent escalation with serious concern, knowing as the great thinker, Edmund Burke, said that “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” Nigeria had trod a path, a veritable obstacle course, where repression, especially under military jackboots, was a malignant presence and this attracted heroic resistance by ordinary people, civil society groups and the press. But Nigerians have lately become lethargic, divided by ethnic and sectarian sentiments and weakened by widespread poverty brought on by a rapacious political class and bad governance.

PUNCH will not adopt the self-defeating attitude of many Nigerians looking the other way after each violation of rights and attacks on the citizens, the courts, the press and civic society, including self-determination groups lawfully exercising their inalienable rights to peaceful dissent. This regime’s actions and assaults on the courts, disobedience of court orders and arbitrary detention of citizens reflect its true character of the martial culture. Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) ran a ham-fisted military junta in 1984/85 and old habits obviously run deep. Until he and his repressive regime purge themselves of their martial tendency therefore, PUNCH will not be a party to falsely adorning it with a democratic robe, hence our decision to label it for what it is – an autocratic military-style regime run by Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

Sowore’s travails are symptomatic: having ignored court orders granting him bail, the SSS, after much pressure following 125 days in captivity, released him only to stage a GESTAPO-style raid on the court where the journalist was standing trial. The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim el-Zakzakky and his wife have spent over three years in detention in violation of court orders granting them bail and ordering their release. A former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, has been held in detention since 2015 in defiance of several court orders, including one by the ECOWAS appellate court that declared his continued incarceration illegal. Under Buhari, the SSS has become a monstrous and repressive secret police, acting often with impunity. Buhari bears responsibility for the state of repression because, as president, he can stop it today.



But the SSS is not alone. The Nigeria Police, whose notoriety predates Buhari’s second coming, has continued its serial abuse of human rights and is ever available to officials who routinely deploy police officers from the mundane abuse of sirens in traffic to arbitrary arrest and torture of victims. The police and military fail to understand that peaceful agitation and the right to associate are fundamental rights.

This situation is eerily familiar: as military head of state, Buhari’s appointee who headed the National Security Organisation, as the SSS was then known, Lawal Rafindadi, unleashed a reign of terror on Nigerians, featuring arbitrary arrests and torture in cells described by inmates as chambers of horror. Under the infamous Decree 2, agents had pre-signed detention papers, court orders were ignored and ouster clauses were inserted in decrees, while the press was specifically targeted with the infamous Decree 4 under which Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor were jailed.

Returning as an elected president, Buhari has followed the same template, appointing Lawal Daura as Director-General of the SSS, who re-enacted the Rafindadi playbook by his treatment of Dasuki and el-Zakzakky, among others, raided the homes of judges and twice deployed armed SSS heavies to foil the arrest of two former security chiefs by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Nigerian Navy authorities similarly ignored court orders to release Navy Captain Dada Labinjo, who they detained for over a year until his recent release on bail; Nigerian Army too detains suspects interminably on the grounds of being terrorism suspects.

Some governors have borrowed from this nefarious model, deploying security agents and perverting the law to punish critics and journalists. Critics, Dadiyata Idris and Stephen Kefas, have been arrested and arraigned. Agba Jalingo is facing a treason charge for offending the Cross River State Government. Jones Abiri, a local publisher in Bayelsa State, has been charged with terrorism while, in Delta State, two journalists are facing criminal defamation charges.

The regime’s Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, forgetting how, as opposition spokesman in 2014, he was harassed by the SSS and accused of “loitering,” has been vigorously pressing for anti-hate speech laws to restrict the social media. Abdullahi Sabi, a senator, along with others, has re-presented a hate-speech bill: their sole purpose is to insulate officials from criticism and compel unquestioned acceptance of Buhari’s draconian misrule.

Under the law, suspects cannot be held beyond 48 hours except by a court order. But the regime observes this in the breach. Yet, Nigeria is a signatory to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment and other treaties guaranteeing fundamental rights. The 1999 Constitution also spells out basic rights. But the regime chooses which rights or court orders to respect or obey. This is unacceptable. Critical segments of the society have been assaulted, silenced or compromised. It is time, as a Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has strongly advocated, for civil society to rejuvenate itself and send the message to Buhari to “rein in his wild dogs of disobedience.” From the United States has come a message from the Department of State, two senators and Congress telling the Buhari regime to stop its shocking affront to the rule of law, reminding the General that “respect for the rule of law, judicial independence, political and media freedom, and due process are key tenets of democracy.”

Nigeria has had more than its fair share of draconian rulers, whether in military or civil garb, but none has succeeded in breaking our resilience and irrepressible spirit. This regime will not prove to be an exception. Nigeria, and Nigerians, will overcome. The strong desire of our people to enjoy the unfettered freedoms guaranteed by the constitution and the rule of law, including the freedom to speak freely and assemble peacefully, will again outlive, outlast and crush the spirit of despotism.

Buhari can still redeem himself and his out-of-control security agents and reclaim his past facade of tolerance. When Daura brazenly inserted himself in politics by recklessly sending armed masked SSS enforcers to besiege the National Assembly, as acting President, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo promptly sacked him and had him arrested. Buhari should similarly distance himself and his regime from the lawlessness and impunity of the current SSS DG, Yusuf Bichi, by dismissing him, ordering the release of all victims of illegal detention and compelling obedience to court orders. The SSS has not been efficient in the war against terror; it should perform its primary duty to safeguard the country. As a product of statute, its loyalty should be to the country, not to temporary occupiers of public office.



The regime’s repression cannot succeed but will further polarise the society and weaken national cohesion. The Nigerian Bar Association has vowed to defend the sanctity of judicial authority, while Soyinka has warned that disregard for court orders could beget desperation and civil disobedience. Nigerians need to stop their supine acquiescence to oppression and learn to stand up for their rights as many are doing around the world, using all peaceful and legal means, including the right to protest and of peaceful assembly. It is Dasuki, el-Zakzakky, Sowore and others today, who knows who is next if repression is not resisted?

As a symbolic demonstration of our protest against autocracy and military-style repression, PUNCH (all our print newspapers, The PUNCH, Saturday PUNCH, Sunday PUNCH, PUNCH Sports Extra, and digital platforms, most especially Punchng.com) will henceforth prefix Buhari’s name with his rank as a military dictator in the 80s, Major General, and refer to his administration as a regime, until they purge themselves of their insufferable contempt for the rule of law.
https://punchng.com/buharis-lawlessness-our-stand/

All Is Not Well? Aisha Buhari Attacks Buhari's Aide, Garba Shehu

Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu has been slammed by wife of the President, Aisha Buhari.

Aisha Buhari and her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari

 

 

First Lady, Aisha Buhari has come down heavy on presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu accusing him of going beyond his limit.

 

According to reports by DailyTrust, it all started after the President's wife alleged that Alhaji Mamman Daura gave a presidential directive without her husband’s knowledge using Garba Shehu.

 

Mamman Daura is President Muhammadu Buhari's nephew who lives in Glass House inside the presidential villa.

 

The feud between the first lady and Daura’s family worsened in October when she returned from a two-month foreign trip.

 

It became public knowledge when a video of the president’s wife asking questions and making comments about being locked out of a room and demanding that some people should pack their belongings went viral. She engaged Daura’s daughter, Fatima.

 

Daily Trust had exclusively reported in September that the first lady angered by the development in the villa, left for abroad in August. The feud festered when she returned.

 

The first lady in a statement she personally signed and made available to Daily Trust on Wednesday morning, said the directive scrapping the office of the first lady was issued by Mamman Daura, using a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

 

Tagged,” Garba Shehu Has Gone Beyond His Boundaries”, she said the directive embarrassed the president.

 

The statement which was sent to our correspondent through Suleiman Haruna’s email, Aisha Buhari’s spokesperson reads: ”Nigeria’s development is hinged on the ability of public officials to execute their mandates professionally, and to be shining examples in their various areas of endeavor. It is not a good sign when officials abandoned their responsibility and start clutching at straws.

"As spokesperson of the President, he has the onerous responsibility of managing the image of the President and all the good works that he is executing in the country. Rather than face this responsibility squarely, he has shifted his loyalty from the President to others who have no stake in the compact that the President signed with Nigerians on May 29, 2015 and 2019.

'To make matters worse, Mr. Shehu has presented himself to these people as a willing tool and executioner of their antics, from the corridors of power even to the level of interfering with the family affairs of the President. This should not be so. The blatant meddling in the affairs of a First Lady of a country is a continuation of the prodigal actions of those that he serves.

 

"We all remember that the chief proponent appropriated to himself and his family a part of the Presidential Villa, where he stayed for almost 4 years and when the time came for him to leave, he orchestrated and invaded my family’s privacy through a video circulated by Mamman’s Daughter, Fatima, the public was given the impression that on arrival into the country I was locked out of the villa by Mr. President. Garba Shehu as Villa Spokesperson, knew the truth and had the responsibility to set the records straight, but because his allegiance is somewhere else and his loyalty misplaced, he deliberately refused to clear the air and speak for the President who appointed him in the first place. Consequently, his action has shown a complete breakdown of trust between the First Family and him.

Why We Burnt PDP Women Leader To Death - Suspect Confesses

A suspect has given an explanation as to why he and others burnt a PDP Women leader to death in Kogi state.

Mrs Salome Achejuigu

According to a report by Sun News, the man, Ocholli Edicha,  suspected to be the gang leader of those who led some political thugs to burn Mrs Salome Achejuigu, the PDP women leader to death has confessed that they carried out the dastardly act because he had been nursing a grudge against the woman before the Nov 16th governorship election.

Ocholli who spoke with newsmen shortly after been paraded on Wednesday confessed that he was an All progressive Congress thug who mobilized some other thugs from Ejule in ofu local government area to set the house on fire and reigned mayhem shortly after the election.

It will be recalled that the victim, Mrs Salome Abuh, the Women Leader of Wada Aro Campaign Council, Ochadamu Ward, was said to have been burnt alive in her personal residence when she was resting after treatment from an injury on election day

While reacting to the banal act, the spokesman, Wada/Aro Campaign Council, Faruk Adejoh-Audu had claimed the thugs, shooting sporadically, arrived Hon (Mrs) Abuh’s house at about 2pm on the fateful day and surrounded the house, bolting every exit and escape from outside.

“They then poured petrol on the building and set it ablaze as other terrorized villagers watched from hiding. She reportedly attempted to escape through a window but was prevented by the metal burglary proof and gun shots with bullets raining in her direction.

“The blood thirsty thugs waited, shooting and watching with relish while Mrs Abuh cried from inside the inferno until her voice died out.
they reportedly left only when the entire house and Mrs Abuh had been burnt to ashes” he was quoted to have said

But the police commissioner, Hakeem Busari while parading the suspect with five others said the whole crisis erupted when there was a misunderstanding between one Gowon Simon and one Awolu Zekeri which led to the death of the later.

He said the death of Zekeri led to the mobilization of some angry youths in the town who moved to the house of one Simon Abu who is an uncle to the suspect where the 60 years woman was burnt to death.

The CP who said other suspects are on the run however said as soon as investigation is completed, the suspects will be arraigned in court.

He gave the names of other suspects who claimed they were only arrested differently as armed robbers and not killers of Mrs Abuh as Adamu Haruna, Onu Egbunu, Musa Alido, Attai Haruna and Attah Eje.

Mrs Abuh was buried last Saturday amidst tears.

Navy Intercepts 7 Men With 432 Drums Of Diesel Worth N63m

 

Seven suspects have been arrested by the Navy after they were caught smuggling petroleum products from Nigerian to Cameroon.

The Suspects

The Nigerian Navy Ship Victory patrol team has intercepted a wooden boat conveying 432 drums of illegally refined automotive gasoline oil from Nigeria to Cameroon.

The Commander of NNS Victory, Rear Admiral Vincent Okeke, said seven suspects were arrested in connection with the seized products at Agbana West Point by Tom Shot Island.

“The boat, crew and the impounded product were escorted to the Base.

“Upon arrival at the jetty, a total of 432 drums of illegally refined AGO was offloaded from the boat.

“Investigations revealed that the suspected illegally refined AGO was loaded from Bile Creek in Rivers State and the boat was destined for Cameroon before arrest,” he said.

Continuing, Okeke said, “One of the suspects was arrested last year and convicted for the same offence and after completing his term in jail, he went back to the crime.”

He put the market value of the seized product at N63,512,000.

The Deputy Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps in Cross River State, Stanley Eboh, received the seized items and assured that the suspects will be prosecuted.

Mariam Adegunwa Wins The Prestigious Heros Award

Mariam Adegunwa, the publisher of The Voice Magazine, the blogger Mimisblog and the  CEO of Pecks Communication Services received Heros Award last weekend from Women In MICE, Ghana.

With headquarters in Ghana, Women In MICE is a fast-rising company delivering a range of all-in-one  solutions for the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions segment of tourism. Women In MICE has been promoting national development by improving management skills and professionalism of business events in virtually all industries.
Women In MICE is the foremost network for entrepreneurship for women in Africa. Women In MICE focuses specifically on global business scenarios for its segment of tourism, emerging start-ups, women in tourism, women entrepreneurship, global brand creation and fostering innovations in entrepreneurship. Women In MICE is committed to network for aggressive growth to support the overall goal: promoting  the growth of Africa’s MICE tourism segment in the world.

Slovenian Club Sacks Nigerian Player For Impregnating President’s Daughter

A Nigerian player has been fired by a club
in Slovenia for impregnating the daughter of the president of the second division outfit after just six months with the side.

The player, whose name has been withheld, said he was fired for 'gross misconduct and indiscipline' over the pregnancy which he has claimed full responsibility.

Four Nigerians are registered with second tier clubs in Slovenia with Bede Osuji, Temitope Nelson, Gerald Chiyoke and Sulaiman Adedoja playing in that league but it is uncertain which of them is involved in the pregnancy issue.

The player, who fears public backlash over the situation, has returned to Nigeria after his ordeal and he is worried over the girlfriend and her pregnancy.

The player is considering FIFA action against the club following the decision to sack him over reasons he feels are unjustified after joining the club just in May.

"I signed a three year deal with the option of another year but last month I ran into trouble when my girlfriend who happens to be the daughter of the president said she was pregnant for me", he said.

"The club got to know about it and summoned me for a meeting. I got there and admitted that I am responsible for the pregnancy and I was told to stay at home and not to be seen around the club premises until I am instructed to return.

"A week later I was called to the office and told that my agent has been informed about their plans to terminate my contract for gross misconduct and indiscipline. The news came to me as a surprise because I have not been found wanting in any area since I arrived the club six months ago".

The Nigerian player says he is considering legal action at FIFA over the claims of the club that he went beyond the boundary set for players of the club.

"My agent called me up and said we should file a case with FIFA that he has a recording of the president saying my contract was terminated for having an affair with his daughter. She's an adult for God sake, we both love each other and decided to have a child.

"Now I don't know what will happen to her and the child since I'm back in Nigeria. They have forced her to block me on all social media platforms so we have not been communicating. The few friends I made at the club are also scared of speaking to me about her apparently they don't want to run into trouble with the team. I'm confused right now", he concluded.

Source: https://mobile.ghanasoccernet.com/slovenian-team-sacks-nigerian-player-for-impregnating-club-presidents-daughter

“I Am Missing Nigeria” – Cardi B, After Leaving The Country

Belcalis Marlenis Almánzar, popularly known as Cardi B, has left Africa and is back with her family. Offset and Kulture would have really missed her absence but she was in safe hands. The American rapper was living her best life Nigeria where she went to perform at a concert.

Cardi not only had fun in the country that we would love to tag “Entertainment Capital In Africa” for obvious reasons, the “I Like It” hitmaker also showed a lot of genuine love when she spent a lot of her own money buying provisions for the orphans at the motherless babies home.

It comes as no surprise that Cardi B disclosed in her Instagram Stories that she’s “Missing Nigeria”.

Check out that post below. What do you think Cardi misses the most during her brief stay in Nigeria?

Source: https://lifestyles.ng/international/cardib-missing-nigeria/