09012021 - Nigeria must stop paying ransom to kidnappers

Triumph of US election, lesson to APC,
says PDP …Tasks President Buhari on strong institutions
By Dirisu Yakubu
THE Peoples Demo
cratic Party, PDP, Friday,
said the triumph of
democratic institutions in
the handling of issues related
to the United States, US,
presidential election has
highlighted the demands by
Nigerians on the Buhari
administration to allow institutions
of democracy to
function.
The party also noted that
the US election serves as a
strong lesson to leaders in
the All Progressives Congress,
APC, that no matter
how desperate they seek to
manipulate the system, “the
will of the people and the
constitution will prevail in
the end.”
The party was reacting to
the eleventh hour declaration
of Joe Biden as the validly
elected President of the
United States after a long
stand off by outgoing President,
Donald Trump.
In a statement issued by
Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP
noted that “the insistence of
the US judiciary and the legislature
on the provisions of
their nation’s constitution,
especially in resisting those
who are desperate to hold on
to office even after losing an
election, reinforces the triumph
of the collective will
of a people through their system.”
The statement further
read: “Whereas our institutions
of democracy including
the Independent National
Electoral Commission,
INEC, and security agencies
were brazenly manipulated
by the APC in the 2019 elections,
the United States experience
strengthens the determination
by Nigerians to
stand up against such manipulations
ahead of 2023.
“The PDP therefore calls
on all Nigerians including
compatriots in INEC, the
judiciary, the legislature, security
forces, faith-based organizations,
the media, civil
society groups and other
political parties to join forces
with our party in the quest
to reposition and strengthen
our institutions for the
task ahead.
“It is instructive to state
that this is the only way to
reposition our nation on the
path of good governance,
political stability, national
cohesion and economic
prosperity.
“Never again should individuals
be allowed to manipulate
our system, denigrate
our constitution, lie to and
incite unsuspecting citizens,
promote violence, division
and killings; compromise
our security agencies, invade
our courts and intimidate
our judiciary, assault
our National Assembly and
trample on our laws, all in
their inordinate bid to foist
their selfish political interests.
“There is no overstressing
the fact that for the strong
institutions put in place by
patriotic leaders of the United
States, that nation would
have been thrown into terrible
turmoil or succumb to a
chaotic order that would
have no regard for the law
SATURDAY VANGUARD, JANUARY 9, 2021 — 3
and the will of the people.
“Our party urges the Buhari
Presidency to check all
acts that weaken our institutions
and encourage the manipulation
of our security,
judiciary, legislative and
electoral bodies.
“Mr. President should take
steps to ensure reforms that
would strengthen our system,
including ending all
acts of nepotism in appointments
into such sensitive institutions.
“The American example
equally underpins the demand
for public officers,
particularly the APC leadership
in the National Assembly,
to begin to pay greater
loyalty to our country and
her interest over the parochial
interest of their party or
the executive arm.
Police begin investigation into tunnel allegedly
used by ritualists
By Evelyn Usman
THE Police in Lagos said
they have commenced
investigation into the discovery
of a tunnel in Orile area
of Lagos, alleged to be used
by ritualists.
News made the rounds on
the densely populated Orile
and its environs on Wednesday
that dismembered human
parts were discovered
inside the tunnel, at School
bus-stop.
Two persons alleged to be
President Buhari receives Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in State
House yesterday.
*Say arrested suspect not found with human parts
*As mob burns suspected ritualist with human heart
ritualists were said to have
been found with human parts.
One of them whose identity
could not be ascertained was
burnt to death by a mob,
which alleged he was found
with a human heart. The second
suspect however escaped
same fate as he was rescued
by policemen attached to
Orile division.
A resident who simply gave
his name as Segun, told Saturday
Vanguard that “ a man
who was seen around the tunnel
on Tuesday, suddenly disappeared.
During a search of
the missing man, the tunnel
was discovered. The search
team said they saw a man inside
the tunnel and invited
members of the Odua Peoples
Congress. The OPC members
entered inside tunnel only to
find some human parts and a
lot of male and female clothing.
“While inside, they saw a
man climbing a constructed
stair case into tunnel, with a
human skull.
“Further search was conducted
in the tunnel on
Wednesday, with more human
parts in their decomposing
states recovered. The search
parties discovered that the
tunnel had one of its ends
linked to Mile-Two. They saw
a man coming from the
Mile-Two end of the tunnel
and apprehended him. He
was found with a human
heart. He was brought out,
beaten and burnt to death.
They have been using that
place for ritual purpose for
six years”, Segun stated.
Lagosians from different
parts of the state have been
thronging the scene since
Wednesday to have a sight of
the tunnel.
The Lagos State Police
Public Relations Officer, CSP
Olumiyiwa Adejobi, condemned
the jungle justice act
on the suspect.
Though he confirmed that
clothing were recovered inside
the tunnel but he said no
human part was found on the
suspect that was rescued by
the Police.
Adejobi identified the suspect
with the Police as Kayode
Ojo, a 50-year-old man
from Akoko, Ondo State,
without a fixed address.
He said, “ He was arrested
at the scene and brought to
us by 12.30pm on Wednesday.
They alleged he was a
ritualist and was found with
a human skull. But we did
not find him in possession of
any human parts.
In the process of making
preliminary findings from
him, report reached us that
another man found there was
lynched and set ablaze. They
said he was also found in possession
of a human heart.
“The suspect with us will
be transferred to the State
Criminal Investigation Department
to ascertain whether
what was found with him
are actually human parts.
We are going to conduct a
scientific investigation. The
command condemns jungle
justice. We appeal to residents
of the area to allow
the Police carry out investigation
on the matter.
Egbesu vows to protect, resist
attempts to desecrate IYC
By Davies Iheamnachor
IJAW religious organisation, the Sacred Order
of Egbesu Brotherhood, has vowed that it would
resist any attempt to desecrate and ridicule the sanctity
of the Ijaw Youths Council, IYC , Worldwide, or
any other revered institution in Ijaw by desperate
politicians.
Egbesu, after a meeting in Port Harcourt, Rivers
State, described the office of the IYC president as
hallowed and consecrated, calling on all stakeholders
to respect any person occupying the office.
The Leader of Egbesu, Apostle Bodmas Kemepadei,
pledged the organisation’s unreserved loyalty
to all Ijaw traditional stools and the leader of the
IYC, Peter Timothy Igbifa, noting that IYC was product
of the people.
He enjoined aggrieved persons to employ internal
mechanisms to resolve conflicts in IYC and stop
ridiculing the image of the council.
Kemepadei said: “We wish to recall the memory
of Ijaw youths to the painstaking sacrifices of our
fathers during the formative days of the IYC. The
IYC is a product of Egbesu and it is a sacred institution
to us. The office of the President is a consecrated
seat and as Ijaw people we will defend that
office with honour.
Salary cut: Labour unions draw
battle line with Ganduje, threaten
strike action in Kano
By Bashir Bello
ORGANIZED Labour unions in Kano State yesterday,
drew a battle line with Governor Abdullahi Umar
Ganduje on the government’s decision to cut down the
workers salaries. They threatened to embark on a strike
action.
The organized unions which comprise of Nigerian
Labour Congress, NLC, Trade Union Congress, TUC
and Joint Negotiation Council, also threatened to drag
the government to court, should it fail to reverse the
decision by refunding deductions of the workers salaries
for the months of November and December, 2020.
The State’s NLC Chairman, who issued the threat
while reacting to the development frowned at the unilateral
decision by the government.
Minjibir said, “minimum wage is a product of tripartite
negotiation and cannot therefore, under whatever
circumstances be subjected to unilateral review.
“Salary and Pension are legitimate rights not privileges
that can be exploited and manipulated anyhow.
The level of maturity exhibited by the labour centres
arising from the unilateral deduction of salary and pension
of workers should not be taken for granted by government.
EndSARS: I seek justice for my
murdered brother, man tells panel
*Police is the problem of Nigeria—Panel
chair
By Shina Abubakar Osogbo
A
petitioner before the
Osun State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Police Brutality,
Human Rights Violations and Extra Judicial Killings, Elder Joseph
Oluyide said he was at the panel to get justice for his brother
gruesomely murdered by police in 1993.
This is as the panel Chairman, Justice Akin Oladimeji said
police misconduct was the snag in the wheel of the country’s
progress.
At the panel’s resumed proceeding after the yuletide holiday on
Friday, he said his brother, Elijah Adeyemo, who was a lawyer
was killed by a police officer along Lagere in Ile-Ife in 1993.
“I am here to seek justice for the killing of my brother, one
Barrister Elijah Adeyemi, who was gruesomely murdered by a
police officer along Lagere in Ile-Ife in 1993.
“Since then, we had requested the then Governor to set up
panel of inquiry to investigate the misconduct, but it is unfortunate
that nothing was done. But now that the panel of inquiry has
been set up, we feel that it is time to take the matter up. That is why
we have come here”.
Meanwhile Justice Oladimeji berated the attitude and misconduct
of some officers and men of Nigeria Police Force, saying
evidence gathered so far showed that some policemen were the
cog in the wheel of country’s progress. The Panel reiterated its
commitment to ensuring fair hearing and justice in all the petitions
received within the time frame of stipulated six months.
Oladimeji said it was unfortunate that most of the cases received
were premised on the non-execution and non-implementation
of court verdicts against police.
He said: “A lot of things have been exposed about the conduct
and activity of the Nigeria Police. “From the evidence we have
gathered so far, it appears that it is some of the Police officers and
men that are the cog in the wheel of progress of this country; that
is my belief. “We have been receiving petitions and we have about
30 cases. Though we have resolved some of the cases, there won’t
be any report until we conclude all the proceedings.
“Generally, there has never been any delay except for some few
cases. As you know, either the lawyer or petitioner can cause
some delay because sometimes, they write letters for adjournments.