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Presidency Dishonest In Fight Against Terrorists – HURIWA

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Senate Wants Buhari To Declare Bandits As Terrorists

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria ( HURIWA) has condemned the presidency’s attacks on Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom.

HURIWA said that instead of being attacked by the presidency that is dishonest in its anti-terror war, Ortom should be praised and possibly rewarded with one of the nation’s highest honours for speaking and standing for social justice.

HURIWA particularly condemned the presidential spokesman Malam Garba Shehu for displaying gross disrespect by picking up petty quarrels with the Benue State’s helmsmen.

In a statement by HURIWA’s Coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko, the group said that the threat by Buhari to deal with perpetrators of violence in Plateau State was not sincere “because for the past 6 years that armed marauders made up largely of armed Fulani militia have attacked different parts of Nigeria and primarily Southern Kaduna and Benue States, the president made similar verbal threats that turned out as empty propaganda because till now not one of those armed terrorists masquerading as Fulani herdsmen have been prosecuted successfully.”

The group asked the president to direct the inspector general of police to order the immediate production of the leader of the Fulani group that claimed to have attempted to kill Ortom months back.

HURIWA carpeted the Nigerian Police and the Federal Government of Buhari for refusing to arrest the Fulani leader even after he had claimed responsibility.

READ ALSO: Ortom Blows Hot Again, Says He Has Proof Of Fulani Agenda To Take Over Nigeria

The group said this  created the impression that someone in the Buhari administration actually wants the Benue State governor dead only because he speaks and stands for justice.

HURIWA recalled that a Fulani group identified as Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM, had claimed responsibility for the attack on Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State.

FUNAM said it planned to kill Ortom on Saturday, but its plan suffered a setback due to a slight communication error.

HURIWA said : ” A statement by one Umar Amir Shehu said Ortom stood against open grazing and Fulani interest in the country.

“The statement entitled ‘Why we attacked Ortom’ reads: ‘Our attention has been drawn to media reports today speculating about who attacked the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

“Yes. Yes, we did. The Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) carried out the attack. We have genuine reasons. We acted on behalf of millions of Fulani people in 15 countries.

“It’s a case of vengeance against an infidel who has used his time and money, deployed in destroying the Fulani values and inheritance.

“Our courageous fighters carried out this historic attack to send a great message to Ortum and his collaborators: Where ever you are, once you are against Fulani long term interest, we shall get you down. This is a clear warning. We hope those who take us for granted will get the indisputable message.

“Our intention is unequivocal: TO KILL HIM. That mission will one day be fulfilled and very soon too.

“Eleven of FUNAM operatives were involved in the attack. Ortom escaped today because of a slight technical communication error. Next time, he will not be lucky. We can assure him and his supporters.”

HURIWA recalled that recently armed herdsmen had attacked Ortom on his farm at Tyo-mu village, along Makurdi – Gboko road.

It recalled that reacting, the governor had linked the assassination attempt to Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN.

The governor claimed that MACBAN had concluded plans to assassinate him over his position on open grazing.

Ortom alleged that the Myetti Allah took the decision to eliminate him during a meeting they organised recently in Yola.

He noted that his life is in the hands of the Supreme God and no Fulani man can kill him, said he received intelligence that the association planned to kill his security aides and subsequently capture him alive.

READ ALSO: NBC Queries Channels TV Over Inciting Interview With Ortom

HURIWA also condemned the persistent attacks of the governor of Benue State in the media by the spokesman of the President Garba Shehu “who has displayed unambiguous allegiance and loyalty not to the Federal Republic of Nigeria but to his Fulani ethnic nationality.”

The rights group recalled that Ortom had said that no amount of blackmail and media attack from the presidency could stop him from speaking against the worsening security situation in his state.

During an interview with Channels Television on last Tuesday, Ortom had said that President Mohammadu Buhari’s agenda on open grazing was aimed at ‘Fulanising’ Nigeria.

Ortom’s comment, however, triggered a response from the presidency, which accused Ortom of instigating ethnic hatred.

Garba Shehu equally accused Ortom of being behind the spike in security breaches.

While reacting to this last Thursday, Terver Akase, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ortom, said the presidency abandoned the message and went for the messenger.

”We have read the presidency statement in response to Governor Ortom’s comments during an interview on Channels Television in which he spoke on the worsening security situation across the country.

”It is rather unfair for the presidency to describe the career of a man, who has held several key positions at the state and national level as ‘undistinguished.’

”Ortom had spoken the minds of the people on critical areas that the Federal Government needs to work on. Instead of taking the governor on those points, Shehu went in a desperate attempt to malign the governor.

”No amount of pressure can force the governor to revoke the law on open grazing of cattle in Benue State.

”Our advice for the presidency is to focus on ending the gruesome murder of innocent citizens, fix the economy and fight the corruption that has eaten deep into our economy.

READ ALSO: Soldiers, Residents Flee As ISWAP Terrorists Take Over Borno Town

”Governor Ortom stands by his words. He will not be deterred by any blackmail or media attack from speaking against unpleasant happenings in his state,” Akase disclosed.

HURIWA also said the Minister of Special Duties and former Benue State governor Mr. George Akume was wrong to have demanded apologies
from the Benue State governor to Buhari just as the rights group carpeted the minister for his “show of hypocrisy because it is unimaginable that he expects his state’s governor to apologise for demanding an end to the well coordinated armed attacks by armed Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.”

HURIWA then asked Akume how he wants “someone to apologise for speaking out for social justice and the just enforcement of the counter-terror laws by the Federal government of Nigeriaor has Nigeria become the Federal Republic of FULANIS?”

 

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I Removed Subsidy To Stop Nigeria From Playing Father Christmas – Tinubu

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Senator Withdraws Support For Tinubu Over Choice Of Muslim Running Mate
President Bola Tinubu

President Bola Tinubu has offered insight into why he declared the removal of petroleum subsidy during his inauguration on May 29,2023.

According to Tinubu, a crucial reason for the removal was to stop Nigeria from continuing to play the role of a Father Christmas to neighbouring African countries by providing them subsidised petrol.

The president, who was speaking on Friday at an interactive session with select Nigerian traditional rulers, under the auspices of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), at the State House, Abuja, described the subsidy as an elephant that could have collapsed the country “because it is struggling to pay salaries.”

Tinubu told the traditional leaders: “I am grateful that you are paying attention to what I have been doing. You have paid attention to the subsidy removal. Why should we in good heart and sense, feed smugglers and be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries, even though they say not every day is Christmas? The elephant that was going to bring Nigeria to its knees is the subsidy; a country that cannot pay salaries. I think we did the right thing.”

Tinubu appealed to the traditional leaders to persuade Nigerians to have faith in the removal of subsidy, promising that the pump prices of fuel would eventually come down.

The president reiterated his pledge to Nigerians to prioritise security until every Nigerian “goes to sleep with their two eyes closed.”

According to him, the unity and togetherness of the country cannot be compromised, saying every region of the country would get what it is due.

Condemning crude oil theft in the Niger Delta region “by a tiny percentage of the population,” President Tinubu said it was counterproductive to the growth of the economy.

He said: “We need to tame those involved in this sabotage and we will work as hard as possible to ensure that the diversity of this country is used for its prosperity, growth and stability.”

Tinubu stressed that with the campaigns and elections over, he is primed for governance, and his government has already signed a law that extends the retirement age of judicial officers from 65 to 70 years, while also addressing pension reforms. Also speaking on electricity, President Tinubu said a constitutional amendment signed into law now allows the nation’s 36 States to generate electricity.

He said: “That’s devolution of power and that should be our contribution to the developmental projects you are looking for and we will continue in ways that will help our people.”

He assured the traditional rulers in the country that his administration would run an open-door policy that is ready to listen to the yearnings of Nigerians toward transforming the country’s rich potential to reality.

Tinubu said: “We are all ears. We are ready to listen at any given time. I promise you an open-door policy and that is the way I will go.That open-door policy is for you to call me and send to me at any given time any concern that you might have.

“We may not have it right 100 percent of the time but we must get it right 90 percent of the time for this country”.

Responding to issues raised by the monarchs on challenges facing the country, President Tinubu assured them, saying “worry not because the country is in good hands,” adding that his administration is very conscious of the expectations of Nigerians.While acknowledging concerns on the need for critical infrastructure in different parts of the country, the President assured that any road block in the way of the progress of the Nigerian people would be removed by his government.

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BREAKING:Tinubu Suspends Emefiele As CBN Governo

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CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele

President Bola Tinubu on Friday suspended Godwin Emefiele as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.

The Director of Information, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Willie Bassey on Friday declared in a statement: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended the Central Bank Governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele, CFR, from office with immediate effect.

“This is sequel to the ongoing investigation of his office and the planned reforms in the financial sector of the economy.

“Mr Emefiele has been directed to immediately hand over the affairs of his office to the Deputy Governor (Operations Directorate), who will act as the Central Bank Governor pending the conclusion of the investigation and the reforms.”

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BREAKING: Tinubu, PDP’s G5 Members Meet In Aso Rock

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President Bola Tinubu and the members of G5 or the Integrity Group of the Peoples’ Democratic Party )PDP) met at the Aso Villa, Abuja.

The G5 group, led by one serving governor and four former governors caused a major division within the Peoples Democratic Party after demanding the then National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu step down for a southern replacement as a precondition to support the presidential ambition of the party’s flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar in the February 25 poll.

Both Atiku and Ayu called the then governors’ bluff and did not succumb to their demands in the just-concluded elections.

Makinde and Wike reportedly played supportive roles to Tinubu ensure his victory at the February 25, presidential election.

Those at the meeting are Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state as well as former Governors Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

The current governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah was also present.

Tinubu had met with Wike and Makinde some times since his election and inauguration.

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