THE controversy trailing the aborted establishment of RUGA settlements for Fulani herders in parts of the country may be far from over.
Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Friday said that the apprehension being expressed over the plan by the Federal Government to create Fulani settlements for herders under the acronym name of RUGA was misplaced.
He told reporters in Abuja that he established a successful RUGA settlement in Abia State when he was governor of the state in 2001.
The controversial cattle market, he said, is located in Lokpanta, Umunneochi Local Government Area, along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
abdelrahman: Gamsu Abacha is making good of her family's legacy and popular motto of "no matter how poor they are, they will never be as poor as Dangote", Sagesse Gumsu, we get the drift, with a plate of meal like that? we dont see how you can be as poor as Dangote
PhockPhockMan: It was on 13 October 2000, when words went round that General Muhammadu Buhari was leading the Arewa team to the governor’s office to confront the state over alleged killings of Fulani cattle rearers in Saki, Oke Ogun Area of the state. Buhari did actually telephone the governor that he was leading a team to his office.
In less than 30 minutes after the general informed the governor of his visit, we noticed that the entire secretariat was already filled with lorry loads of our brothers from the North. This created some tension but we kept our calm. At about 2 p.m., Buhari arrived in a long convoy at the governor’s office in company of the former governor of Lagos State, General Buba Marwa, Alhaji Aliko Muhammed, Alhaji Abdulrazak and Alhaji Hassan. They all wore long faces. In fact, the anger in them was palpable as all pleasantries extended to them were ignored. “This is trouble” was the expression on the faces of all of us in the governor’s office. Shortly afterwards, the state Director of State Security Service (SSS) and Commissioner of Police arrived. But their presence did not change anything particular on the fears that had already gripped majority of us. The two security chiefs did not come with any operatives, they came almost alone.
The meeting was called to order after Lam walked into the Executive Chambers. Introductions over, Buhari spoke on their mission to the governor’s office. Emitting fire, the general accused Lam and the government of Oyo State of complicity in the killing of over 68 Fulani people in Oke Ogun area and perversion of justice. His words: “Your Excellency, our visit here is to discuss with you and your government our displeasure about the incident of clashes between two peoples… the Fulani cattle rearers and merchants are today being harassed , attacked and killed like in Saki. In the month of May, 2000, 68 bodies of Fulani cattle rearers were recovered and buried under the supervision and protection from a team of Mobile Police from Oyo State Command. “ That some arrests were made by Oyo State Police Command in the massacre with their immediate release without court trial. This was said to have been ordered by Oyo State authorities and they were so released to their amazement. The release of the arrested suspects gave the clear impression that the authorities are backing and protecting them to continue the unjust and illegal killings of Fulani cattle rearers…” According to the general, they therefore wanted immediate stoppage of the killings, justice and compensation to the Fulanis.
As weighty and indicting as Buhari’s allegations were, Lam remained unperturbed. He fired back with his own well coordinated arsenals. Lam identified all the points raised by Buhari and simply asked the heads of the organizations directly involved to respond to the allegations. First to speak was the Commissioner of Police who debunked all the claims. Instead of the allegation that the natives were killing Fulanis, the commissioner said pointedly that the opposite was the case. “ The killing of the natives by the Fulanis was duly reported to the police and, of course, we can’t make arrest because, as soon as they kill, they migrate to other areas. Who are you going to arrest? That is the problem”. On the killing of Fulanis, which he said was as result of “piled up anger”, the commissioner disclosed that arrests had been made and the suspects were in police custody. Next was the Director of SSS, who equally debuked the allegations by Buhari. “The natives don’t have problem with the Fulanis who are resident but those who are coming in, they don’t care about anybody. They just go ahead and when they graze the natives farms, whoever cares to challenge them runs into trouble. You said 68 people were killed , and people driven away. I am not saying there were no killings but they cannot be more than five. The petition is on the harsh side, there is nothing like that.” Not done yet, Lam called in his Deputy, Barrister Iyiola Oladokun; his SSG, Chief Michael Koleoso, both from Oke Ogun, and the chairman of one of the affected local government areas, Mr Ademola Alalade. They stated the true position of things, corroborating the submissions of the security chiefs. At this point, all the tensions and apprehensions evaporated.
Trust Lam any day, he must rub it in. He spoke for about 20 minutes and the generals were at the edge of their seats for the entire period. They were like chicken that had just been thoroughly beaten by the rain. Lam said: “ Before I thank you for this visit, you have come to tell me something. I also want to tell you something and that something is to make an appeal. General Buhari has been a former Head of State, Brigadier Marwa has governed Lagos for some time and with credibility… so you are national leaders of this country. Even though, by accident of birth, you are from the North, you can be born anywhere; may be next time when I am coming to the world, I will be born in the North or the South-South. “My appeal will be that effort must be made to unite this country and that will be ïn the best interest of all Nigerians. I am appealing to the Arewa Consultative Forum, under which auspices our distinguished Nigerians are here; in recent times, they have been sending wrong signals to a number of us who believe in the unity and peace of Nigeria; you have been too critical of the efforts of the Federal Government. I am saying this because Nigeria, at this point, cannot afford to break and the words you northern leaders utter are very weighty, at the South here, we normally analyze them critically”.
On all the allegations, he said: “From what they have written in the petition, this government is completely blameless because we don’t interfere either with the judiciary or with the police functions. I always preach peaceful co-existence in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole. We are all Nigerians and that is what we have been preaching all along and we shall continue to be Nigerians , no matter the present or immediate problems which will be solved by the grace of Allah. “I want to say also that we really have to appeal to our people, the itinerant Bororo people, that they should observe less aggression. It is not good , it is not right just coming from somewhere then you just pass through farm lands cultivated may be with the person’s life savings and then over night everything is gone. That is not right, even Allah does not approve of that.
We even wonder when they talk about this people carrying dangerous weapons, I say do they really believe in Allah? When you just take life like that and go away! Are we not forbidden not to take human life? So I think General Buhari, General Marwa, you have to be educating them… It is my pleasure to inform you that at the Presidential Lodge, we have made some arrangements for refreshments so that before you go we can refresh together”.
Buhari and his team did not wait for any refreshments. They came in angry and left bewildered.
Aneesaaa: President Muhammadu Buhari has responded to a viral video involving the Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje in which he was filmed collecting bribe in dollars.
Watch the video below;
I Don't Know The Technology Used In Making Of Ganduje Bribery Videos - Buhari
The MACBAN VP also accused the Benue Governor of refusing to meet their demands for grazing lands which they can rent. The National Vice President of Miyetti Allah Cattle Herders Association (MACBAN), Husaini Yusuf Bosso has said that there will be more bloodshed in Benue state if the anti-grazing law is not scrapped. According to Sun News, Bosso said that the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom flouted international agreement that created a grazing route from Niger to the eastern part of Nigeria.
Bosso also said “We, the association wrote a letter to him, even met him. We told him that this law cannot work. We told them that there is an international cattle route from Niger to Eastern Nigeria. He said he will not allow cattle to pass through Benue state even if it is the cattle route.
"We told him that if he wants to implement that law, he must provide a land for us to rent. He did not provide any land for cattle herders. They have been in that state even before colonial days and co-existing peacefully. We advised him and he refused to listen to us. We are not against that law but he has to provide a land for these people before implementing such a law. If there is no land, there is a problem.”
KunleOshob: Contrary to what mischief makers and OBJ detractors would like the Nigerian public to believe the truth is finally out:
As the House of Representatives continues to dilly-dally over its power probe report, fresh facts emerged in Abuja on Tuesday that contrary to claim that about $13 billion was squandered by the Obasanjo administration on the power sector, only about $3.08 billion was actually expended. This indication was from a summary presentation on the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) presented to the National Economic Council (NEC) by the Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue State. Suswam, on behalf of the Presidential Review Panel on the NIPP set up by the NEC, said the panel found that as at 2007, total project allocations/ estimates to NIPP was $10.231 billion inclusive of the $2 billion Federal Government counterpart funding for Mambilla Hydro Power project and $1.4 billion for additional nine turbines. According to Suswam, out of these commitments, only $3.08 billion was funded and scrutinised with advance payment guarantees from “first class” Nigerian banks and Letters of Credits issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). He said over $1.5 billion of the sum is still in the custody of the banks. The report also said there is an ongoing comprehensive review exercise taking place to determine the most up-to-date estimates of costs to complete the project. This is in view of the cost over runs arising from over 18 months of delay and stall in funding. Suswam, in his report, also identified intermittency and stoppage of funds as among the factors that helped to frustrate the implementation. Lack of thorough feasibility studies was also fingered as being responsible for the several challenges of the project in the area of transportation, water supply and transmission connections to the sites. There was also what the report called “slow pace of surveys, enumeration work and payment to land owners has impacted on site development. The project also lacked clear and defined ownership structure/agreed responsibilities and it has resulted in a dis-jointed and uncoordinated project implementation”. For a new approach in the project, Suswam advocated the need to undertake comprehensive studies of the project strengths and weaknesses as well as rekindle federal and state governments’ interests in the project as shareholders on the investment. He underscored the importance of good funding to complete the projects in order to realise the full value. The report also recommended that the project should be executed under a new management structure and pragmatic and dynamic implementation scheme and efforts should be made to eliminate project bottlenecks through stakeholders’ participation. The report said after due deliberations, the committee agreed that completing the project as initiated is the right way to go as it would be the only sure way to improve Nigeria’s power supply logjam and free its citizenry and businesses from the shackles of darkness. On the funding procedure henceforth, the committee recommended that $5.237 billion be provided through the interaction/cooperation of the federal and state governments. The committee also suggested the legitimising of fund allocations from the Excess Crude Savings Account by securing appropriations by the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly. Among the terms of reference of the panel headed by Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan and governors drawn from the six geo-political zones as members included how to meet the 6000mw estimated by the government by 2009 and to recommend appropriate utilisation of government’s $5.3 billion. Yar’Adua had last year ignited the debate when he disclosed that over $10 billion was spent on power by the previous administration with nothing to show for it. The Speaker of the House Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, followed suit by saying the sum was over $16 billion, while the House power probe committee Chairman, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, gave a figure of $13 billion. Almost one year after the motion for the probe was moved by the House Minority Leader, Hon Ali Ndume, the report is yet to be debated many months after it was submitted by the committee.
moneygurl: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed fresh charges against Senate and House of Representatives Chairmen Committee on Power, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Ndudi Elumelu in connection with the alleged N5.2 billion contracts scam in the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The 158 fresh charges were filed at the Federal High Court, Maitama in Abuja. Twenty one corporate bodies allegedly used to siphon the funds will be arraigned with the suspects. The charges border on money laundering and embezzlement of funds.
With this latest development, Elumelu and the other suspects will be facing two separate trials on a total of 315 count charge in connection with the REA scam.
On Monday, Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the Federal High Court, Gudu granted Elumelu and nine others bail on conditions that they provide N50 million bond, two sureties each in like sum and provide proof of three years tax clearance.
Daily Trust gathered that the suspects will not be released until they satisfy the conditions for bail.
“We have to go to the banks to ensure that the sureties who sign are indeed who they claim they are, we will go to the FIRS to verify their tax clearances.
When they bring their Certificates of Occupancy we will go to AEGIS to ensure they are authentic,” a source said.
According to the source the companies are being joined in this law suit because “when a prima facie case is established against a suspect the instruments used in the crime are culpable.”
The source said, “In this other trial they will have to be sent to prison again and if they are granted bail they will have to come up with different sureties and we intend to arraign them before Friday.”
EFCC’s Spokesman, Femi Babafemi declined comment on the matter.
In October 1983 during an official trip to Kaduna to print his divisional brief for the Chief of Army Staff Conference, Daniel Bamidele heard of rumors about a planned coup against President Shagari. When he returned to Jos he promptly reported to his General Officer Commanding (GOC), Major General Muhammadu Buhari (who, unknown to Bamidele at that time was in the thick of the plot). A week later, Bamidele found himself on a plane to Lagos, detained by the Directorate of Military Intelligence at Tego Barracks and accused of plotting a coup against Shagari. Fake witnesses were paraded and a mock interrogation contrived, while reports were being made to the NSO (then under Umaru Shinkafi) to mislead the Shagari regime. Meanwhile, the real plot continued underground with the full involvement of the same Military Intelligence group that was interrogating him. Finally, on November 25, 1983, with no credible witness to nail him, and no legal basis to charge him for a one-man conspiracy, Bamidele was released. He returned to Jos, befuddled about what had actually transpired, until on January 1, 1984, his own GOC, Buhari, to whom he had reported the plot, emerged as the new Head of State!
In early 1984, Bamidele's name was listed for retirement. However, when the list got to Buhari for approval, he crossed Bamidele's name out - recognizing that the officer was caught in a complex vortex and web of intrigue. After being saved from retirement at the last minute he got deployed to Jaji as a Directing Staff.
The events that shaped Nigeria began in April 1983, when then-Brigadier General Buhari mobilised troops to close the border with Chad – cutting off food and fuel supplies. When Nigerian authorities – including then-President Shagari – demanded he reopen the border, Buhari refused stating, “My first loyalty is to my troops. I cannot endanger their lives by sending them on a difficult battle to defend their fatherland and [size=13pt]then turn round to feed the enemy[/size] and supply them with fuel for their tanks.”
Following several successful military advancements in the face of opposition coming from Lagos, Buhari was recognised as a military hero within the ranks of the Nigerian Army.
Buhari’s newfound status reached a head at the end of 1983 just as President Shagari’s regime was crippled by internal weaknesses including a national debt of N13.3 Billion. According to Omoigui, “All of this was compounded by the sheer expense of the Presidential system of government, corruption, import licence abuses and smuggling…”
On December 31st, following allegations that recent Presidential elections were rigged, Shari was overthrown in a coup by senior officers who were taking charge due to the torrent of economic instability and corruption under Shagari’s reign. The announcement was made when Brigadier Sani Abacha marched armoured vehicles to Radio Nigeria to announce the situation. Shortly thereafter, General Buhari was installed as Nigeria’s Head of State.
At the time, Sambo Dasuki was serving as Military Assistant to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Wushishi. Many consider Dasuki’s role in Buhari’s appointment instrumental to carrying out a successful coup against Shagari.
There are conflicting reports as to the extent of Buhari’s own involvement in the coup that initially brought him to power. Buhari himself denies any involvement. However, testimony by the Major Daniel Bamidele, conflict’s Buhari’s claim. Apparently, upon hearing rumours of the plot, Bamidele informed Buhari, who subsequently jailed him. According to Bamidele, “I heard of the 1983 coup planning, told my GOC General Buhari who detained me for two weeks in Lagos. Instead of a pat on the back, I received a stab.”
The leader of the coup d'état was Major General Muhammadu Buhari of Katsina, whose background and political loyalties tied him closely to the Muslim north and the deposed government. Buhari had been director of supply and services in the early 1970s, military governor of Northeast State at the time it was divided into three states, and federal commissioner for petroleum and mines (1976-78) during the height of the oil boom. At the time of the coup, he was commander of the Third Armored Division in Jos.
