Some witnesses for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, Tuesday, separately accused some agents of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of brazenly intimidating voters during the February 23 presidential election.

It was also alleged that some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and polling agents of the ruling party connived to falsify and cancel many election results in favour of the ruling party.

The witnesses. who hail from Nasarawa state also affirmed before the tribunal that the alleged rigging conspiracy took place in units and wards that are considered as strongholds of the PDP in the state.

But under cross-examination by INEC counsel, Yunus Usman, SAN, there were certain loose ends to substantiate the allegations by Mohammed Okpaluwa, a PDP agent in unit 009 who admitted that sources of the total votes controversially scored by the PDP and ruling APC as contained in his statement that was deposed on oath were supplied to him by voters. Further, Okpaluwa also admitted that he signed form EC88 (result sheets) voluntarily.

Yet, when grilled, he admitted again that he doesn’t know the number of accredited voters in his unit, number of registered voters and number of voters who actually voted in the unit under his watch as PDP agent.

dailypost

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condoled with the former Governor of Kaduna State and former Chairman, PDP National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi over the death of his father, Malam Muhammad Makarfi.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Tuesday in Abuja, said that the PDP was deeply saddened by the news of the death of Malam Makarfi.

He described the deceased as a devoted statesman and devout Muslim, who dedicated his life to the service of God, stability and growth of the nation and the good of humanity at large.

“Though, we intensely mourn, the PDP draws solace in the fact that Malam Makarfi lived a fulfilled life and bequeathed to our nation an outstanding patriot in Sen. Makarfi.

“Sen. Makarfi’s commitment to national development as Governor of Kaduna state, Senator of the Federal Republic as well as the sacrifices he made in stabilising and repositioning PDP during her trying times, speak volume of the lessons he must have received from his father.

“The PDP, therefore, condoles with the entire Makarfi family and prays the Almighty God to grant them and their loved ones the fortitude to bear this huge loss,’’ Ologbondiyan said.

dailypost

Long before independence and soon after, up to the late 1950s and early 1960s, most parents in Orokam had not embraced Christianity.

They were mostly pegans and worshippers of several gods such as Alekwu, Enyanwu, Owo, Ejebi, Egri, Okpa, etc

Method of worship was through sacrificing live animals such as goats, Rams, Chicken or fowls, Cocks and Tortoise which throats were usually slitted and the gushing blood sprinkled on the idol, muttering deep incantations and pouring Litany of requests before the idol at the same time.

Other items used for the sacrifice included kola nut immersed in a bowl of water, palm wine and locally brewed gruel (Eje Okpoto) and Palm oil.

Materials used for the sacrifice were selected depending on the nature of the sacrifice usually determined through consultations with the Fortune Teller.

The commonest ailment at that time was malaria fever, headache and general weakness of the body which was believed to be caused by the spirits of dead relations and colleagues who were hungry in the land of the dead.

Their spirits, therefore, caused ailment to afflict the living relation as a way of asking for sacrifice. The Fortune Teller reveals the cause of the sickness and what items needed for the sacrifice so that the sick person would not die.

In his sleep the sufferer would dream about relations and colleagues who have died and buried long ago. He would dream about other frivolous things he hardly remembers on waking up.

Once a sickness displayed such symptoms, it was believed that the god of “Egri” was hungry and needed some sacrifices to be taken to the other hungry spirits waiting in the land of the dead.

No one knew or saw the spirits for it was an abomination to see spirits or ghosts of the dead with naked eyes.

Such was the scenario when my uncle’s wife, Onyoko returned from Ukwo market one evening and ran up to my Mum crying profusely that she had seen ‘herself blind’ (le’yi manyi) because she had seen spirits and ghosts with her naked eyes moving in a convoy through the Ukwo market.

According to her, the spirits were in numbers made up of men wielding long sticks with which they whipped their cows as they moved along the road through the market.

They were accompanied by their wives and children with the very young ones strapped at their mothers’ backs and carrying bowls of ‘nunu’ and assorted wares on their heads.

Their mode of dressing was outlandish with strange hair styles, piercing earrings and metal bangles. Their men were fair skinned and quite handsome while the women and children were equally beautiful which made uncle’s wife conclude that only spirits could be that beautiful.

It took sympathizers time to convince her that what she saw were not spirits but Fulani normads who were grazing their cattle. The next day while on our way to ‘Enumabia’ stream we saw the same group of Fulanis in their makeshift shelters where they have camped as they grazed their cattle along the verdue in the gorge (ogo ijereyi) as their kids played around and offered ‘nunu’ to interested passersby.

They were friendly and harmless. The men carried no dangerous weapons except the long sticks with which the cows were controlled. When we came back the third day on our way to the stream again, they had packed away from the gorge to other grazing destinations.

They never grazed on farmers’ crops neither did they destroy farmlands. Where they trespassed unintentionally they had apologized sincerely and settled amicably with the farmers before moving on. They were really good neighbours wherever they went – North, South, East and West.

Today, we have entirely different types of Fulani’s to contend with. They are said to be normads from the Sahel regions of Mali, Niger, Senegal, Libya etc. Their own convoy usually without women and children is made up of fat cows with huge horns and move in large numbers accompanied by a handful of herdsmen wielding AK-47 guns, matchets and other dangerous weapons.

They invade farms, graze farmers’ crops and destroy farmlands with impunity. They kill, maim and massacred farmers and their households – men, women, boys, girls and innocent children and widows.

They are never challenged or arrested for their crimes but are instead shielded and cosseted by the government of the day that had earlier informed Nigerians that they were killer herdsmen from other countries who had crossed Nigeria’s borders illegally.

On invasion they set houses ablaze and chase farmers away from their ancestral homes. They forcefully occupy the destroyed homes as conquerors waiting for eventual movement to the dreaded government promised but now suspended Ruga Settlements.

However, with the avalanche of hostile stance against the suspended Ruga policy and calls for its total cancellation, it appears that for these killer herdsmen, the road to Ruga is still rugged.

Professor Jerry Agada

The Coalition of Northern Groups, CNG, said it has lost confidence in the sincerity of the Federal Government to execute any positive initiative towards resolving the herders’ problems in the country.

The groups also noted that there hasn’t been encouraging concern by the Federal government for the dilemma of the Fulani, who have been attacked in various states.

The CNG spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, while on a visit by the groups to the chairman, Northern Elders Forum, Prof. Ango Abdullahi said, “We find it difficult to trust the commitments of this government, which has for the past four years failed to execute any positive initiative towards resolving the herders problems nor shown any encouraging concern for the dilemma of the Fulani who have been attacked in various states.”

The groups observed, “Based on the above observations sir, and the fact that the instigation of hatred against the Fulani persists, we feel obliged to advise the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum to consider calling on the Fulani to forego their right to live and flourish anywhere in the south and relocate to their various states in the north to ensure their safety.”

Speaking on the recent murder of Pa Fashoranti’s daughter, the groups noted that the failure or neglect of the police to trace a connection between the murder and the seeming prearranged conduct of Fani Kayode, Odumakin and Gani Adams by their haste to shift the blame in order to render the Fulani object of attack is certainly suspicious.

CNG stressed, “Also within the same period, some section of the southern leadership had introduced a fresh round of instigations by indiscriminately blaming the death of the daughter of the Afenifere leader, Fashoranti on the Fulani and threatening reprisals on northerner.

“Throwing caution to the winds, Gani Adams, Fani Kayode, Yinka Odumakin and a host of other southern regionalists shamelessly insisted on changing the narratives around killing of the Fashoranti lady. In the process, they threatened all forms of violations and breaches against northerners including the threat of an all-out war.”

The groups said their visit to Professor Ango Abdullahi was to update him on developments since their last press conference at which they reviewed the current state of the nation in relation to the Northern region.

They said, “We noted the unceasing disturbances in the polity with particular concern to the security situation in the North and the various reactions from the South.

“We emphatically repudiated the attempt at vilifying, profiling and isolating the Fulani herders and exposing them to stigmatization and attacks in many parts of the country.

“We specifically placed the Federal Government on a 30-day notice to halt the harassment, intimidation and forceful expulsion of the Fulani instigated by southern leaders. We also urged state governors to give peace a chance by re-considering their hard stance against the federal government’s resettlement initiatives for the pastoralists.

“Our submission naturally drew the usual varied responses with the ones that actually matter, coming from the Northern Governors Forum and the Northern Elders Forum which we feel obliged to acknowledge.”

dailypost

The Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB, has chided leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Tinubu, over his comment during a recent visit to commiserate with the Afenifere leader, Pa Fasoranti, over the killing of his daughter by suspected herdsmen, last weekend.

A release by the spokesperson of IPOB, Mr Emma Powerful said Yorubas were enlightened and would not support Tinubu’s attempt to drag Igbos into the killing of their daughter.

Parts of the release read, “You cannot sacrifice the blood of your brethren on the shrine of your greed, conceit and unbridled 2023 presidential political ambition.

“I must remind you today that your Fulani masters will never do for you what you are slavishly doing for them. You know in your heart of hearts that murderous Fulani herdsmen are culpable in the brutal murder of a Yoruba daughter and that Igbos had no hand in the Ore Highway Massacre.

“An influential newspaper reported that nearby villagers, who are Yorubas, informed police that the killer Fulani herdsmen have their base in a nearby forest. These are eye witness account from Yoruba people living in the surrounding areas where the tragic incident occurred. Or are you saying the villagers can no longer distinguish between a gun wielding Fulani terrorist and an Igbo man?

“Your unguarded utterances only succeeded in doing more harm to the Fasoranti family, insulting the memory of their daughter and will be seen for what it is, an affront to the dignity of the Yoruba race.”

dailypost

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has declared that insecurity has been tamed across the country by the Nigerian army.

He stated that “all these cries of insecurity which some groups and individuals are taking it as a political game, I think they should have a rethink because it is no longer the case.”

He spoke during a visit to the troops stationed at 1 Division Super Camp in Kuyello, Birnin Gwari in Kaduna on Monday.

He said that the efforts of the military in the northeast and northwest, as well as other parts of the country, had reduced insecurity in the country, NAN reports.

Buratai restated that both the banditry in the northwest and Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast have been tactically defeated.

He warned that those playing politics with the security situations in the country should desist, adding that the army would not hesitate to take action against them.

According to him, there has been no major attacks in the last two tp three weeks because of the new strategy.

”Apart from some isolated remote areas as a result of some other factors, the attacks have drastically reduced.

”That means we are winning and it is a great success which people should be assured.

”Insecurity has been tamed right now in the northeast and in the northwest and even in other areas we are doing so well.

”Our troops are deployed in support of the government, civil police and indeed the civil authorities,” he said.

dailypost

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari on the insecurity has vindicated the party’s position.

Obasanjo, on Monday in another open letter to President Buhari, lamented about the state of the nation, while calling for urgent actions to tackle Nigeria’s challenges.

Reacting, the PDP in a statement signed by Kola Ologbodiyan National Publicity Secretary, on Monday, described Obasanjo’s open letter as patriotic and prove that President Buhari has failed as the nation’s chief security officer.

The statement read: “The party notes that President Obasanjo’s letter reechoes its numerous caution against the violations, insensitivity, impunity, vindictiveness, divisiveness, intolerance and dangerous sectionalism that characterize the Buhari administration and which are jeopardizing our national unity.

“The PDP urges President Buhari to read between the lines and listen to the voice of reason from well-meaning Nigerians at this moment.

“Our party is deeply worried that our nation, which grew in leaps and bounds in all sectors before the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over in 2015, is now dangerously sliding on all fronts under President Buhari, who has shown crass incompetence in managing our national affairs.

“The PDP maintains that had President Buhari heed wise counsel to rejig his parade and respect the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians in the national interest, our nation would not have been on this dangerous bend.

“The fact remains that President Buhari has not demonstrated the capacity to lead a nation as complex as our Nigeria. Events have shown that he cannot handle our diversities and ensure a united and equitable country that guarantees fairness, justice and space to all citizens without fear or favour.

“The PDP, therefore, counsels President Buhari to listen to the pulse of our nation; accept his failure and seek help from other well-meaning Nigerians so as to take back our nation from this imminent precipice.

“The party also calls on all Nigerians across the divides, irrespective of creed, ethnicity and political leaning, to close ranks, eschew all primordial and parochial interests and work together for the stability of our dear nation.”

dailypost

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has stated that Nigeria was already on fire and awaiting disintegration.

Ohanaeze was quoted by the Sun to have said this on Saturday through its national publicity secretary, Uche Opaga- Achi,

The organisation was reacting to an earlier statement by the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) which urged those opposed to the setting up of Fulani herdsmen settlements, popularly called Ruga, across the country, to drop their opposition and allow the policy take off.

Ohanaeze said that the positions of both ACF and the Northern youth coalition, show the level of impunity they demonstrate or operate.

It added, “Nigeria is already on fire, and what was remaining is disintegration, which the action of these people is leading to. They are mongering for war; the country is on fire, there is distress everywhere.

“It is turning to criminality and absurdity that people will stay in the comfort of their homes and dictate what happens in another zone.

“What is the concept of rule of law and human rights; what is the concept of self determination; what is the concept of government protecting lives and property of people under its watch?

“They have the backing of the federal government and that is the more reason they can just wake up in the morning and begin to say things that are capable of disintegrating the country and nobody cares and they get out of it and lie freely on their beds, while the statement they have made is enforcing, heating the embers of disunity in the country.

“Our argument is this, the land in the north is by far much more larger than the one in the east or in south. Why is it that it is in the east and south that they are making emphasis of enforcing Ruga?

“Our argument is that you have the Sambisa forest that can contain all the cows in Africa and the insurgents are coming in through that axis. Let them go and develop the forest and bring all the cows in Africa and put there. They will be free from all forms of destruction, distraction or problems here and there; there will be no farmers there to clash with.

“In the alternative, the Sahara desert is wasting; you have oil in the south and you piped it to the north and you use it the way you want. So, the same way, you can also pipe water to the Sahara desert, as Governor Nyesom Wike suggested that they can pipe water to the desert, and Governor Dave Umahi also said that they can buy the grasses from the south. So, you can use the money you have and pipe water to develop the Sahara desert, water it and grass it.

“The cows will have a field day; the herders will have nobody to clash with. How come that you want to stifle the people with the little land they have here. You see brothers and sisters fighting over land because the land is too small; there are so many land cases in the court, which tells you that land is not even here, and you want to bring in Fulani from all parts of Africa to come and flood here in order to continue with you Islamisation and Fulanisation agenda. Is there anything hidden about this thing; it is an open secret.

“The support of the coalition group on herdsmen being part of security in states, is as laughable and as it is provocative and even insulting. How can southerners go to north and constitute vigilante? What is the job of the police, what is the job of the local vigilante there, are you saying that they are incompetent? They are doing their jobs. See how Boko Haram is killing our soldiers because the government provides money for arms and ammunition, but the people at the helm of affairs allegedly pocket the money.

“People are calling that Ruga should be implemented when the federal government has made a statement suspending it. Is that not a counter action, which is an offence and more so, criminal when you are making statements or comments capable of tearing the country into pieces, and yet, nobody is going for them; herdsmen are killing and raping people, and nobody is arresting them.

“They have a field day. It is the IPOB whose members were not armed was declared a terrorist group, but the terrorists that are busy killing people, damaging farms are walking freely without challenge. So, why will the northern youth not make inflammatory statement when they knew that nobody would question them and they have the backing of their elders.”

dailypost

President Muhammadu Buhari government has come under attack over the killing of Mrs. Olufunke Olakunrin, daughter of the leader of the Pan Yoruba Socio political Organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

DAILY POST recalls that the incident was confirmed by Afenifere’s Spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin in a statement.

He said 58-year-old Mrs. Olakunrin was killed by persons suspected to be herdsmen while heading to Ore Junction from Akure, Ondo State, where she was attacked and shot by her attackers.

But the Ondo State police command refuted Odumakin’s claim, saying it was an armed robbery attack. 

Also, Buhari in his stead said, “ Afenifere leader, Pa Reuben Fasoranti’s daughter, Mrs Funke Olakunrin was killed along Ondo-Ore road by those described as armed robbers by Ondo Police Command. “

Speaking on the development, Buhari’s fierce critic, Omokri has criticised the current administration as being “Inept and Dishonest”

Omokri queried why there were three different angles to those responsible for the death of Pa Fasoranti’s daughter.

The former presidential aide on his Twitter page wrote: “Why is General Buhari’s government inept and dishonest?

“The Nigeria President claims “armed robbers” killed Pa Fasoranti’s daughter. Police claim it is ‘kidnappers’. Eyewitnesses testify it is ‘herdsmen’.

“1 death, three different stories! Who do we believe?

Here are some reactions from other Nigerians on Twitter:

@Babatope3291 “The death of the daughter of Afenifere leader, is political, not from Fulani herdsmen.”

@umehoma “The killing of the daughter of Afenifere is sad, but why wait until someone in high place is affected before realizing there’s fire on the mountain? Some of these Fulani Herdsmen have proven to be terrorists, but the best way to reward them is RUGA.”

@RealOladele “We need to put an end to Fulani Herdsmen brutality in this country. They need to leave the yorubas land and go back to where they belong. Osinbajo should stand up to Buhari to condemn the killing of Afenifere leader “Pa Fasoranti” daughter.”

@ChrisRizzy “How many more calls is Buhari going to place considering the rate at which these things happen with no solution in sight, these are crazy times in my country with no good reports whatsoever.”

@Mamakum19 “What is the government doing to curb this issue of herdsmen kidnapping and killing Nigerians? Nothing!!! The security issues under this admin is scary. Many families are mourning and the govt has chosen to turn a blind eye. The blood of these people is crying out for justice.”

@Prodataologist “We don’t want his condolence anymore, we want security and a strong decisive action statement against his kinsmen who are on the killing sprees with reckless impunity.Enough of all these crocodile tears. Perhaps, he should relinquish power to someone who is more competent.”

@Radiobiafralive “The brazen terror attack on Yoruba soil by Fulani terrorists must not go unanswered. Let the murder of the daughter of Afenifere Chairman, Funke Fasoranti Olakunrin be another wake-up call.“

dailypost

The Aare Onakakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, has warned that the region may go offensive over the killing of Funke Olakunrin, daughter of the leader of Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti.

Adams, who is the leader of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), described Olakunrin’s killing by suspected herdsmen in Ondo State as one too many “by Fulanis who are invading the South West in their numbers and perpetrating atrocities”.

In a statement by his media assistant, Kehinde Aderemi, on Saturday, the Aare Onakakanfo said the Yoruba race was not at a loss as to what to do to put a complete stop to the atrocities of the Fulani herdsmen.

He said Yoruba people are not paper tigers and dogs who can only bark without biting, adding: “We only want the whole world to know what has been done and being done to our people.

“They should be aware of the actions that preceded our reaction when it eventually comes. We are not bereft of ideas of how to stop this criminality on our land.

“It is just so that we should not be blamed when the reaction comes.

“We are like the proverbial goat that it being chased. When it gets to the wall, it will certainly react. We are at that stage now.”

Adams said the Yoruba race had met over a period of three weeks on the security threat to the people, calling on Governors of the South West States to ensure the conclusion of the Security Summit process.

He charged all traditional rulers to take bold steps to stamp out killings by Fulani herdsmen in their domains, adding that there should be a process of identifying visitors or new settlers in every community.

He commiserated with Pa Fasoranti, praying God to comfort him and his entire household.
He said: “Papa, this is a very trying time. But it is certain justice will come.”

dailypost

The driver and househelp of Mrs Olufunke Olakunrin, daughter of Afenifere leader, Reuben Fasoranti, has recounted how she was murdered.

Funke was killed by gunmen along Ore expressway Friday.

TVC News reports that the driver, Tayo Ogundare, recalled that some masked men came out from the bush to attack their vehicle.

He added that they shot at the vehicle just after the Ore toll gate.

Tayo confirmed that his boss died at the hospital due to gunshot injuries.

“We had a stop over to buy soft drinks at Ore. We were attacked at Ore toll gate by some masked men who emerged from the bush.

“At this point, madam asked me to reverse which I did. They started shooting at us and other vehicles.

“In the process my boss was hit by bullets. Some of us in the vehicle escaped. We later rushed her to the hospital where she gave up the ghost,” he stated.





dailypost

Algeria were the better team, using more interplay and combinations in attack to work chances for their inverted wingers.