Connect with us

News

Criticising Zamfara governor for granting amnesty to bandits unfair –Lai Mohammed

Published

on

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed says it is unfair to criticise the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle, for granting amnesty to bandits who once terrorised the North-West state.
The minister, who spoke on AIT’s ‘Kakaaki’ show also said the Federal Government won’t stop governors from addressing the security challenges in ways peculiar to their respective states.
According to Mohammed, the nature of the problem differs from state to state and the governors as chief security officers of their various states were in the best position to deploy the best solutions to tackle the issues.
The Zamfara State governor granted amnesty to Auwalun Daudawa, a notorious bandit who led scores of his gang members to abduct over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, last year.
The amnesty programme which involves deradicalisation of criminals and their reintegration into the society has been embraced by the Federal Government and some state governments.
For instance, the Federal Government granted amnesty to 600 repentant Boko Haram terrorists last year, a development that attracted nationwide outrage with civil society organisations censuring the government for pampering ruthless and bloodthirsty marauders who were supposed to be punished after committing unprintable crimes in Nigeria’s North-East States, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.
Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, also of late, faulted the proposition of renowned Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi, who after meeting with some bandits in Zamfara, asked the government to grant them amnesty like was done for militants in the Niger Delta region.
But speaking on Wednesday, the minister said there was nothing wrong with granting amnesty to criminals if the purpose was to restore desired peace in affected areas.
Mohammed said, “When you are fighting insurgency, you use both kinetic and non-kinetic (means). Granting amnesty to notorious drug barons, notorious militants is not a new thing, it is not unique to Nigeria.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

UPDATE: Oke-Ero DPM and Legal Officer Regain Freedom

Published

on

Good news from Oke-Ero Local Government: the Director of Personnel Management (DPM), Alhaji Musibau Amuda, and the Legal Officer, Barrister Omoladun Elizabeth Arinde, have safely returned after a period of absence.

In a statement released on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Hon. James Abiodun Fadipe — and obtained by Just Event Online TV — the Council expressed gratitude to Almighty God for their safe return in good health.

Hon. Fadipe described their return as “the Lord’s doing” and extended appreciation to the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, CON, and ALGON leadership for their support during the period.

The Council also thanked religious leaders, traditional rulers, security agencies, political leaders, party members, the DPM and LGT forums, and all well-wishers for their prayers and encouragement.

Reaffirming commitment to peace and development, Hon. Fadipe prayed for continued divine protection and progress for Oke-Ero.

“We remain committed to building a stronger, united, and progressive Oke-Ero,” the statement concluded.

Continue Reading

News

2027: Rivers PDP NASS Caucus Pledges Support for President Tinubu

Published

on

Members of the Rivers State caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the National Assembly have formally declared their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

The announcement was made in Port Harcourt on Saturday, through a statement read by Senator Barry Mpigi on behalf of the caucus. The statement was endorsed by all nine lawmakers — comprising two Senators and seven members of the House of Representatives.

The lawmakers cited the “visible successes” of the Tinubu administration as the reason for their endorsement.

Those who signed the statement include Senator Barry Mpigi, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, Rt. Hon. Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Hon. Felix Nwaeke, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, Cyril Hart, Victor Obuzor, and Blessing Amadi.

In their declaration, the caucus urged individuals considering a presidential run in 2027 to shelve their ambitions.

“We, the National Assembly members from Rivers State — Senators and Representatives — express our profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his trust and confidence in our leader, His Excellency Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, demonstrated through his appointment as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” the statement read.

“We are pleased with the President’s public commendation of the FCT Minister, whom he hailed as the ‘master of infrastructure’.”

The caucus emphasized that after thoroughly evaluating the President’s economic policies — formulated to revive Nigeria’s struggling economy under the Renewed Hope Agenda — they were convinced of the administration’s clear progress.

They highlighted the challenges Tinubu inherited on May 29, 2023, including a bloated debt profile, inflation exacerbated by the printing of N22.7 trillion through Ways and Means financing between 2015 and 2023, and critical infrastructure deficits undermining food production.

The lawmakers asserted that President Tinubu’s policies offer the best path toward social and economic recovery. They pointed to declining inflation rates, reductions in Nigeria’s foreign debt, and optimistic growth projections endorsed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as evidence of the administration’s progress.

The caucus also praised President Tinubu for his “swift” intervention in resolving the political crisis in Rivers State, noting that it has set a foundation for enduring peace.

“As members of the National Assembly from Rivers State, we unequivocally affirm our total commitment to supporting the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027,” the statement continued.

“As representatives closest to the people, we are set to embark on an even greater mobilisation drive than we did in 2023, to ensure President Tinubu’s return to office.”

The lawmakers concluded by calling on all Nigerians to rally behind the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing it as the surest path to the country’s prosperity. They also appealed to potential presidential aspirants to abandon their ambitions and unite behind President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.

Continue Reading

Foreign

Pope Francis Passes Away on Easter Monday at 88

Published

on

In a moment that has deeply moved Catholics and people around the world, Pope Francis [passed a✝️ay] on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His [transition] marks the end of a historic papacy defined by humility, reform, and an unwavering commitment to the marginalized.

Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history in 2013 as the first Jesuit pope, the first from the Americas, and the first non-European pope in over 1,200 years. His leadership was marked by compassion, interfaith dialogue, care for the environment, and efforts to build a more inclusive Church.

Easter Monday, a day symbolic of renewal and hope in the Christian tradition, now carries a deeper poignancy. Tributes have poured in from global figures and millions of faithful around the world.

As the Vatican begins preparations for days of reflection and the selection of a new leader, Pope Francis leaves a legacy as a spiritual guide, a voice for justice, and a symbol of peace.

May he rest in eternal light.

Continue Reading

Trending