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ICYMI: Hadiza’s Book ‘Stepping On Toes’ Is Filled With Lies – Amaechi

Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has criticised the former Managing Director, Nigeria Ports Authority, (NPA), Hadiza Bala Usman, for allegedly putting out false narratives in her book titled: “Stepping on Toes: My Odyssey at the Nigerian Ports Authority.”

Lifestyle Nigeria reports that Amaechi said this while speaking at the 2023 TheNiche Annual Lecture themed “Why We Stride and Slip: Leadership, Nationalism, and the Nigerian Condition,” held on Thursday in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

The former governor of Rivers State said, “The lies were too many. For instance, she claimed she was not invited by the panel. I even came with the memo of the president, where the president endorsed her removal.

“Count one is in the question of the fact that the panel says she is guilty; count two is due to the fact that a Managing Director of NPA with an N2.5m approval limit can approve N2.8b contract with no appropriation.”

Two years ago, former President Muhammadu Buhari asked Bala Usman to step aside from her role while an Administrative Panel of Inquiry, headed by Amaechi, investigated the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

Amaechi insisted that Bala Usman was guilty of the same crimes she was accusing him of and making concessions for the high and mighty in society.

The former minister said, “Why is that document not published because prominent Nigerians are involved? She gave waivers to prominent Nigerians, which she has no power to give and these are dollars accruable to Nigeria’s economy but she was bold enough to write a book or is it a pamphlet and Nigerians are following her, launching the book, so how will Nigeria move forward?

“But let’s wait until they bring the original copy because if I give you the photocopy, you will say it is fake. I will show you the original but I won’t allow you to read it because you would see the names of those prominent Nigerians that were indicted by the panel. I would rather read the areas that concern her and leave those prominent Nigerians, they didn’t look for my trouble.”

Amaechi affirmed that Usman had been indicted by the panel and denied that he was purposefully behind her removal as the boss of the NPA.

Speaking further, the former governor of Rivers State blamed the silence of Nigerians for the inability of the country to get the right form of leadership.

He noted that Nigerians know most politicians are not honest but they still go ahead to vote for them during elections.

Amaechi said, “What is new to say, Nigerians don’t react to anything. Has any politician told you he is not a thief? Which politician told you he went to university, which politician told you she served in NYSC, and which politician told you he has his certificate?

“Nigerians know and still vote for them, so what is your problem? I say why should I speak when already there’s nothing new?

“Nigerians choose who to believe and who not to believe, Nigerians choose who to vote and who not to vote. Even if you come to a Nigerian man’s house and kill his mother, the father will continue his life. Nothing bothers you, nothing, so why should I waste my time?”

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Why Nigeria Needs State Police — Senate President, Akpabio

Lifestyle Nigeria Gathered that President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has made a passionate appeal for the establishment of state police.

Speaking at a national dialogue on Security and State Police, held in Abuja, Senator Akpabio declared that the mounting security challenges across the country have made the creation of State Police to complement Federal Police compelling.

The President of the Senate appealed to the gathering to ensure that the State Police departments are insulated from politics, religion, and ethnic extremism.

He said: “In working out modalities for the state police and the security of our nation, we must not forget that security is not a privilege, but a fundamental right of every Nigerian. It is our duty to ensure that this right is upheld, that justice is served, and that the rule of law prevails.

We must build a security architecture that is robust, transparent, and accountable. If we are to set up state police departments, we must ensure that they are free from the shackles of politics, religious extremism, tribalism, and ethnicism. We must empower them to serve and protect, without fear or favour.

“As we consider this proposition, let us draw inspiration from the United States of America, a nation that has successfully implemented a system of state and federal policing. Let us learn from their experiences and adapt their models to suit our unique socio-political context.

Let us ensure that our state police forces work in harmony with their federal counterparts, collaborating to fight crime, preserve peace, and safeguard our democracy. In the USA, the FBI, the federal police body enforces federal laws and the state police departments enforce state laws. The FBI also investigates inter-state crimes. We must draw the lines because to have functional state police we must have a strong federal police.”

Akpabio who shared strong reservations about abuse of State Police as instrument of witch-hunt asked his colleagues to cooperate in building a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.

“But let us never forget that the power of the state police should never be used as a tool of oppression or witch-hunting. Let us ensure that political powers do not manipulate the state police to silence dissent or target their enemies. Let us ensure that the influential do not exert undue influence over the state police, and that justice is blind to wealth, power, politics, or status. Let us build a system that is fair, just, and equitable for all.

“Therefore, in this hallowed hall, let us embrace this dialogue as an opportunity for unity, understanding, and collaboration. Let us rise above our differences and work towards a common goal – a safer and more secure Nigeria.

Let us use our collective efforts to build a nation that can withstand the challenges that lie ahead, a nation that can combat the monster of insecurity that currently threatens our collective well-being.“

 

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JUST IN: Tinubu opens African Counter-Terrorism summit in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu has kicked off the African Counter-Terrorism Summit in Abuja’s Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

Ajuri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement on Sunday that a high-level conference organized by Nigeria in partnership with the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will take place from April 22 to 23.

Platinumpost reported that the objective of the summit is to enhance multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation and reshape the international community’s collective response to terrorism in Africa, emphasizing African-led and African-owned solutions.

Special guests present at the security summit include: Mr Vladimir Voronkov, Under-Secretary General, United Nations office of Counter-Terrorism; Ms Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General United Nations and Patrice Talon , President of the Republic of Benin, among others.

More details to follow…

(Nation)

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“God Is Nothing Without Me”: Viral Graduate Tenders Apology For His Bad Grammar

 

Lifestyle Nigeria gathered that a recent Benue State University (BSU) graduate, Msuega Terna Jnr, has apologized for his contentious graduation celebration post, which went viral on Facebook.

Msuega, who was celebrating the completion of his university career, posted photographs of his signing out on the Facebook page “TIV SINGLES” with a comment littered with poor language.

His now-deleted message said, “Hello Tiv shingles, celebration with me. I am a graduation from BSU.

“God is nothing without me.”

In a follow-up Facebook post on Sunday, Msuega clarified that his viral graduation post was not intended to disparage or drag his alma mater through the mud, but rather to raise publicity for himself. He said that it was intentional.

“In the said publication, I deliberately used wrong sentence to create awareness of my signing out from the university, though it was deliberate, but with no intentions of hurting anyone, a group, community or Institution.

“The publication has generated mixed reactions from users of social media, the academics, religious believers and different groups of people. “It was not intended to drag the reputation of any individual, group, community or Institution to the mud, neither was the publication to discredit God.”

He also stated that he believes in the existence of God. “I want to tender my unreserved apology for making people believe a graduate can’t express himself, doubting the reputation of my school, feeling I’m using God’s name for joke.

He also stated that he believes in the existence of God. “I want to tender my unreserved apology for making people believe a graduate can’t express himself, doubting the reputation of my school, feeling I’m using God’s name for joke

“To the best of my knowledge, I have acquired education from one of the best universities in Nigeria and I can express myself very fluently, equivocally without commiting blunders of such gravity and I’m also a religious believer that believes in the existence of God.”

Check out some of the reactions that trailed his apology below:

Ordue Edward Shagba said: “Polished English it’s. I hope this Apologies goes viral too. Congratulations.”

Aondowase Akpenwe said: “U lack the expected university trained characters assumed to be acquired by you. That’s all.”

Iorfa Madaky said: “You brought everything upon yourself, I pray your school don’t find a reason to use you as an example to put a stop to this cruise of a thing.”

L.B. Ume-Lai said: “Tswara ambi. “Shey u wan trend? “E go soon com out for newspapers. “U go explain explain tire.”

 

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