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Atiku condemns police, SSS’ silence on MC Oluomo’s threat to Igbo voters
The presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has condemned the “criminal silence” of security agencies over intimidation of voters in Saturday’s governorship and house of assembly election.
Abubakar, who lost the presidential election to Bola Tinubu of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), particularly slammed the security agencies for keeping mute over threats to voters in Lagos and Abuja.
“I have watched with profound disdain a certain video in circulation where some persons known to be associates of the leaders of the ruling party in Lagos State are issuing threats against other ethnic groups in the build-up to the Governorship and State House of Assembly election in the state tomorrow.
“I condemn this uncivilised behaviour and also condemn the criminal silence of the security agencies and the political leadership in Lagos State and Abuja on this development,” he said in a series of tweets via his verified Twitter handle @atiku on Friday evening.
Since the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) shifted the states election to March 18, the three-horse race has reached a new crescendo between Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the APC, Olajide Adediran ‘Jandor’ of the PDP, and Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP).
With Mr Sanwo-Olu seeking a second term in Saturday’s election, many of his supporters have been threatening fire and brimstone against those who would vote against the governor.
On Thursday, a top APC operative, Musiliu ‘MC Oluomo’ Akinsanya, threatened the easterners (Igbos) in Lagos to stay away from the polling units if they would not vote Mr Sanwo-Olu in the weekend poll.
“We have begged them. If they don’t want to vote for us, it is not a fight. Tell them, mama Chukwudi, if you don’t want to vote for us, sit down at home. Sit down at home,” Mr Akinsanya, a notorious Lagos thug and leader of the motor parks management committee in the state, was caught saying in a viral video clip.
There have also been moves by political and traditional leaders to scuttle the Saturday election by fixing traditional “Oro rites” before and after the election, a development that has attracted wide condemnation.
It is feared that the Igbos in Lagos would be replicating the same feat recorded in the state during the presidential election where they voted massively for Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) by doing the same for the governorship candidate, Mr Rhodes-Vivour, in the exercise.
The LP candidate (Mr Obi) pulled a political surprise to beat former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu in his home turf.
Speaking further in his tweet, Mr Abubakar, said he was very concerned about how “lackeys of political leaders in Lagos” have unabatedly made ethnic slurs aimed at intimidating voters in the state in tomorrow’s election.
He also noted that it was important for political leaders across the country, especially Lagos to desist from actions that promote election violence, such that can compromise the peace, unity, and democracy of the country.
“Beyond that, I find it morally wrong and repugnant for political actors to make broad-day incitements against a particular ethnic bloc in an attempt to intimidate them from voting for their choice candidate.
“It is, therefore on this note, that I specifically call on security agencies in the country to ensure that politicians and their protégés submit to the rules of democratic fair-play across the country, especially in Lagos State, for the sake of decency and the promotion of peace and unity,” he added.
While stressing that it was not enough to talk about the promise of a free and fair election, Mr Abubakar stated that the actions that “we take prior to Election Day must have the integrity of a badge of honour.
“Every democracy is as virile as the culture of the electoral system that governs it. The democracy that we fought for and operate in Nigeria thrives on the principle of free and equal participation,” the PDP presidential candidate noted.
Political pundits, especially in Lagos have expressed fears that the Saturday election might lead to violence following threats on electorates.
A personal driver of a Pentecostal bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, has been arrested for allegedly killing his employer and fleeing with his vehicle, a Toyota Prado Jeep.
The driver, whose identity has yet to be disclosed due to ongoing investigations, was arrested alongside another suspect in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State, while attempting to sell the vehicle.
The Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Ikioye Orutugu, disclosed this during a press briefing at the Command’s headquarters in Awka, on Wednesday, adding that the suspect murdered the cleric before fleeing with his vehicle to Anambra to sell.
Orutugu said the arrest followed a swift intelligence-led operation by operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
He said the driver conspired with some criminal elements still at large, to kill his employer, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
He said, “The operatives of the Anambra State Police Command arrested a domestic staff member allegedly involved in the gruesome murder of his employer, a Pentecostal Bishop of End-Reconciliation Ministry in Asaba, Delta State, and the subsequent attempt to dispose of the victim’s Toyota Prado Jeep in Nkpor, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“The breakthrough followed a swift intelligence-led operation by Operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, Awkuzu, which led to the arrest of the suspect and another individual alleged to be the buyer of the stolen vehicle.
“Preliminary investigation reveals that the suspect, who served as the Bishop’s driver and domestic staff, allegedly conspired with yet-to-be-identified criminal elements to murder the cleric before fleeing with the victim’s Prado Jeep to Anambra State for sale.
“Police operatives, acting on credible information, tracked and intercepted the suspects in Nkpor, successfully recovered the stolen vehicle, and took them into custody for further interrogation.”
The CP stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal gang involved in the incident and fully unravel the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate murder.
Orutugu advised the public to exercise due diligence in the recruitment and management of domestic staff, drivers, and other household employees.
He urged members of the public to properly profile and verify the identities of persons employed in their homes and establishments, while also remaining vigilant to suspicious behaviours and activities.
“We assured the public that the Command remains committed to proactive policing, intelligence-driven operations and collaboration with sister security agencies to ensure the safety of lives and property across the State,” the CP added. (The PUNCH)
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Mustapha Abdullahi, over alleged money laundering offences.
A source within the anti-graft agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, disclosed on Wednesday that Abdullahi was arrested in Abuja and is currently in the custody of the commission.
According to the source, the alleged fraud involves funds estimated at N500bn.
“We have arrested the Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, for money laundering offences. He was arrested and is currently in our custody. The money Is to the tune of N500bn,” the official said.
Efforts to get confirmation from the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, were unsuccessful as he could not be reached as of the time of filing this report.
President Bola Tinubu had on October 24, 2023 appointed Abdullahi as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
… Several Band A Customers downgraded to Band C
Enugu Electricity Regulatory Commission, EERC, has announced the downgrade of 59 feeders under the franchise of the MainPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited.
MainPower is a subsidiary of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, EEDC, which services customers in Enugu State.
EERC attributed the action to MainPower’s failure to meet the threshold of minimum hours of power availability, especially for Band A customers, despite charging them Band A tariff.
It could be recalled that the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, in November 1, 2020 categorized electricity users into Bands.
It incldued: Band A: Minimum of 20 Hourss; Band B: Minimum of 16 Hours; Band C: Minimum of 12 Hours; Band D: Minimum of 8 Hours and Band E: Minimum of 4 Hours
However, there has been an outcry by electricity users in Enugu over the inability of the Disco (Manpower) to meet the electricity supply target, necessitating the EERC’s intervention in line with its statutory powers.
The public notice, signed by the Commission, said the downgrade would remain in place until power supply improved on such feeders.
Providing background to the decision, EERC said it arose following persistent complaints from electricity consumers in Enugu State, particularly Band A customers.
Their complaints were regarding the drastically reduced hours of supply.
Consequently, the EERC said it conducted a technical and safety audit of major injection substations operated by MainPower.
“In addition, the Commission continued its routine monitoring of MainPower’s feeder performance through its online platform, the Electronic Design and Manufacturing International (EDMI) Multidrive Manager.
“The findings from the Commission’s field inspection and the online monitoring platform corroborated customers’ complaints that MainPower had failed to deliver the expected hours of supply as required under the Service-Based Tariff (SBT) regime.
“The SBT framework was introduced to ensure that customers pay for electricity commensurate with the quality and hours of availability of the supply received.
“The public is hereby notified that the Commission has directed MainPower to downgrade all fifty-nine (59) affected feeders, as listed in the Commission’s directive, to their appropriate service bands immediately,” it disclosed.
EERC, however, hinted that upon request by MainPower, it may approve the upgrade of any of the downgraded feeders “once it is verified that the feeder met the threshold of minimum hours of availability in the preceding month in line with the SBT framework”.
Some of the feeders downloaded include: 9th Mile Industrial 11KV, downgraded from Band A to Band C; Abakaliki Road 11KV, downgraded from Band A to Band C; Abakpa 1 11KV, downgraded from Band A to Band C; Abakpa 2 11KV, downgraded from Band A to Band C; Abakpa 3 11KV, downgraded from Band B to Band C; Amorji 11KV, downgraded from Band B to Band D; Nsukka Township, from Band B to D; Presidential, from A to C; UNEC from A to D; University of Nigeria Nsukka from A to D and Government House from A to E.
Other affected areas included Emene, Topland, Ugwuoye, Chime Avenue, Achi, Amechi, Ibagwa, Ugwuogo, Ugwuaji, Okwe, NOWAS, Coca Cola, Coal Camp, Dhamija, among others.
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