4—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019
vanguardnews @vanguardnews Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2019 — 5 NEWS HOTLINES POCKET CARTOON 018773962, @vanguardnews 08052867058 APC'S NWC VISITS SENATE— Senate President, Ahmed Lawan receiving APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, while Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (middle) looks on at the National Assembly, Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Gbemiga Olamikan. Outrage trails Presidency’s attack on ex-presidents By Clifford Ndujihe, Dapo Akinrefon, Henry Umoru, Dirisu Yakubu & Olayinka Ajayi Aides of some past LAGOS — presidents, yesterday, picked holes in the Presidency’s claims that former leaders demanded tips before awarding contracts. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, had on Monday, said unlike past leaders who demanded kick-backs before awarding contracts, President Muhammadu Buhari has abolished the old ways of doing things. “The records of some of his predecessors in office bespeak a greedy trail. When they go abroad, they first ask: What is in it for me? What is there for my family? President Buhari is different,” he had said. The comment elicited hard knocks from Prince Kassim Afegbua, former Edo State Commissioner of Information and confidant of erstwhile Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, retd; Mr. Akin Osuntokun, former political adviser to ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo; and former Health Minister under Obasanjo, Professor ABC Nwosu. Efforts to get other leaders or their aides to speak yesterday did not yield results. Prove it, Afegbua challenges Garba Shehu Prince Afegbua counseled Mallam Garba Shehu to desist from making allegations he could not substantiate and focus on engaging Nigerians on how best to make governance count for them. Afegbua came short of questioning the suitability of Shehu for the exalted office of a Presidential spokesman, even as he urged him to stop pointing accusing fingers in the direction of past heads of government. He said: “Garba Shehu is just seeking relevance. In the midst of a plethora of developmental challenges facing the government on account of poor service delivery, a spokesman worth his salt should, by empathy, engage Nigerians and not be throwing bile and allegations that cannot be substantiated. If he is sure of his facts, he should lay them bare. “When you make such allegations, one would think that he was there with the ex-Presidents when they supposedly made such requests. It is ridiculous for anyone to contemplate that ex- Presidents made such baseless requests. “The expectations from Nigerians are high; hence all hands must be on deck to salvage this country. Rather than the blame game, the government needs to coordinate all the centripetal and centrifugal forces to create the right synergy to drive national narrative.” Call the leaders to account – Osuntokun Interacting with Vanguard on the issue from United Kingdom, Mr Akin Osuntokun said: “Any time you hear this kind of credulous smart-Alec claims, just refer them to Transparency International, Mo Ibrahim, rating agencies, US annual reports on Nigeria, Carnegie Foundation, IMF, etc. “You can also refer them to Ganduje, Yahaya Bello, Timipre Sylva ad nauseum all whom his principal has adopted as favourite sons. “If they had this kind of useful information, why have they not called such leaders to account, including Akpabio, Oshiomhole, who are held as poster boys of APC?” Presidency went too far — ABC Nwosu On his part, Professor ABC Nwosu berated the Presidential spokesman for tagging past presidents as corrupt, stressing that there was need to caution him. His words: “What the spokesman said is his personal opinion because I once worked under a President. I think he went too far and he should be cautioned. His sycophancy is too much. He’s trying too much to turn his principal into a god. It won’t work because Nigerians know past presidents, including late Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua. “Late President Yar’ Adua is the only President that declared his assets completely in the proper way with nothing hidden. When people are hired to do a job, even if they are slaves, let them do the job like freeborn. Let them not do the job like the worst slave. “I know the presidential spokesman personally; it is shocking that he could ever say such a thing. Like Chinua Achiebe would say; it’s still morning yet on creation day. They have not even completed one year of their second term, he is spitting rubbish. “How can he be abusing former presidents? It means he is saying Obasanjo was corrupt, Yar’ Adua was corrupt, and Jonathan, Babangida and late General Sani Abacha were corrupt when his boss said late Abacha wasn’t corrupt. “Sycophancy is a profession in Nigeria but Continues on Page 41 By Bose Adelaja, Olayinka Latona & Esther Ifeanyi On Nigerian Army's proposed Operation Positive Identification (2) The proposed Operation Positive Identification has brought about mixed feelings among well meaning Nigerians. In my view, it’s not yet time to carry out this operation, as many citizens are yet to have valid identification cards. Moreover, the job of the Army is to face external aggression not checking of citizens’ identification. - Adeloye Oluwaseun Teacher I think the government should first do something about the difficulty with registration and collection of identity cards across the country. There are better ways than involving the Nigeria army on this issue because they are very forceful and this might lead to violation of the people right to movement. This is the work of the police not the army This is a welcome development that will curb internal aggression that might want to raise its ugly head. However, there is need to sensitize people on this development in order to allay fears that might come from seeing military men on the street. Nigerians need to be properly informed about the activities of the army. -Adetoba Matthew Businessman It’s a very good idea that will checkmate bandits, kidnappers, armed robbers, ethnic militia, cattle rustlers as well as other criminals across Nigeria. Also, the exercise is not new, the Army had been taking similar measures to separate citizens from terrorists in the Boko Haram-ravaged North- East. I support the exercise. -Abdul-lateef. Adenike Blogger I feel the proposed Operation Positive Identification is irrelevant. It would be another avenue for people, especially the youths, to be open to all forms of harassment and exploitation. The soldiers will abuse their power and the aim of the operation would be defeated. This job should be left with other relevant security agencies. -Adebayo Muheez Writer Aside the fact that it’s going to be an outright violation of our fundamental human rights; we can’t get too comfortable with anything that has to do with the military. They are already seen as agents of intimidation and I’m sure some of them would seize this opportunity for their selfish gains. Operation Positive Identification is a NO! - Obe Temitoyosi Educationalist
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