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Amosun Denies Stockpiling Arms, Indicts Gov Abiodun
A former governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun, has described allegations of arms stockpiling levelled against him by an online medium, Premium Times, as laughable.
Amosun said incumbent Governor Dapo Abiodun was the main supplier of some of the Armoured Personnel Carriers he bought in 2012 to combat security challenges his administration inherited .
The former governor stated this in a statement issued by his media aide, Rotimi Durojaiye, on Tuesday night in Abeokuta .
Amosun said Premium Times’ report on the arms stockpiling was as “an attempt to stand logic in its head.”
The ex-governor explained that he handed over the arms to the police on May 28 in order to make a proper account of assets before he left office.
The statement read, “The suggestion that the security assets were quickly handed over to the police in order that the new administration would not know about it was laughable because the current Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, was the main supplier of some of the assets in question, notably, the Armoured Personnel Carriers.
“…As a governor, who understood and took the responsibilities of his office seriously, Senator Amosun was mindful to account for and properly hand over the remainder of the security items to the police and the new administration.
“On May 28, 2019, the last of the APCs, and all other security assets under in the custody of the Ogun State Government were passed over to the police in full glare of the media and general public.
“We believed that was the surest way to prevent these assets getting into the wrong hands.
“We assure our well-wishers, stakeholders and residents of Ogun State that we did what was the best in their interest as the chief security officer of the state.
“All contrary insinuations, twisting of facts and deliberate misinformation should be discarded. We encourage Premium Times and all genuine inquirers to approach the police, regulatory and enforcement agencies for any other details they may want.”
Amosun, however, said he did not hand over any AK 47 rifle to the police as being insinuated in some quarters, adding that it was not the first time he would be handing over security gadgets to the police and other security agencies in the state.
He noted that his patriotic disposition had been savagely twisted in a “premeditated effort to stand logic on its head.”
The ex-governor said that he decided to invest in arms for the police because the biggest challenge that was confronting the state when he took over in 2011 was insecurity.
He added that he sought help from the then President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government and also got approval to set up “OP MESA” for Ogun State.
“We followed this up with the specialised QRS unit. We committed substantial funds into procurement of hard and soft ware, and, myriad security assets to decisively combat our security challenges.
“We got all necessary approvals from the Office of the National Security Adviser to procure the 13 units of Armoured Personnel Carriers, the 1,000 units of AK 47 rifles, two million rounds of ammunition,1,000 units of bullet-proof vests and 500 bullet-proof helmets and other security communication gadgets.
“The Federal Government through the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) issued the state the end user certificate with serial number 000001123 and dated March 5, 2012.
“The Federal Ministry of Finance also granted import duty exemption certificate through a letter from the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy with Reference Number BO/R.10260/S.4/T.4/22 dated April 10, 2012.”
But the Chief Press Secretary to Abiodun, Mr Kunle Somorin, in a statement said Amosun’s reaction was a grand plot to smear the governor’s name.
Somorin asked, “Did he (Abiodun) default in supplying according to the terms of the contract?
“What’s the motivation for bringing the governor’s name into the arms scandal? I consider it distracting or part of the grand plot to smear his excellency Dapo Abiodun.
“He claimed he handed over arms to the police not Governor Abiodun. The police CP should give the details and sort the shortfalls out with him. It’s a security matter. The agencies on arms purchase should wade in and connect the dots.”
The Punch
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The Christmas/End of Year party of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA) was filled with excitement, pomp and pageantry as the 84-86 set celebrated its 40th anniversary of leaving the school.
The highlight of the event was the donation of N20 million from the set’s endowment to serve as a seed fund for the national body’s endowment through the National ICOBA. The donation was received by Mr Femi Banwo, President ICOBA International and Mr Kunle Elebute, Chairman ICOBA National Endowment Committee
The 84-86 set’s Board of Trustees Endowment Committee had established an independent endowment in 2009 with a vision to create a lasting legacy for the set. Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the ICOBA 84-86 Board of Trustees and Endowment Committee, Dr. Falil Ayo Abina, expressed his delight, stating that it was a dream come true.
Dr. Abina explained that one of the core lessons learned at Igbobi College was “self-denial.”
He reminisced about the Self-Denial Fund (SDF), where students were taught to contribute their weekly “widow’s mite” to share with the less privileged in society. Dr. Abina emphasized that when the endowment committee conceived the idea of the endowment 15 years ago, they had this legacy in mind, aiming to serve a purpose greater than self.
The donation of N20 million to the national endowment is expected to inspire others within the alumni and other school alumni associations to follow suit.
This generous donation is the first in ICOBA’s history and arguably in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
The 13-member endowment committee, also include Demola Ipaye, Fola Laguda, Gbenga Aina, Demola Oladeinde, Jimi Onanuga, Abayomi Alabi, Kwami Adadevoh, Bayo Ayoade, Tunde Sadare, Wole Ogunbajo, Tunji Akinwummi, and Lanre Olusola, worked tirelessly to make this vision a reality and it was indeed mission accomplished for the ‘Nobles Nigerians ‘ as Igbobians are called.
The recent US presidential election should be praised for its credibility and peaceful conduct. The election serves as a model for Nigeria, highlighting the importance of free, fair and transparent polls, according to the publisher of online platform, Bluefames Media, Mr. Victor Udoh
The US election saw Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, emerge victorious over Democrat, vice president Kamala Harris. Trump secured 270 electoral votes, surpassing Harris’s votes.
While congratulating Trump on his victory, Udoh noted that the election’s smooth process, devoid of issues like ballot box snatching, violence and technical glitches.
In contrast, Nigeria’s electoral process often faces challenges, including delays, vote-buying and disputes over results, he lamented. Udoh emphasized the need for Nigeria to learn from the US example, ensuring credible elections that reflect the will of the people.
He said: “Nigerians and the international community monitored the outcomes of the US election. You could see that the US electoral process demonstrates the value of credible and peaceful elections, which experience Nigeria can draw lessons from to improve its own electoral system.
“By embracing transparency, accountability and peaceful conduct, Nigeria can strengthen its democracy and ensure governance that truly represents the people’s will.”
Udoh, a publicist and motivator, pointed out that learning from the US experience, Nigeria can address its electoral weaknesses and foster a more robust democracy, which in turn, can lead to better governance, economic growth and improved living standards for Nigerians.
“Nigeria must prioritize electoral reform and transparency to ensure that its citizens’ voices are heard and valued,” he stressed.
He, however, warned that “a second Trump term may have significant implications for global issues like dollar value, immigration, energy and geopolitical stability.”
Victor Udoh is the publisher of online platform, Bluefames Media
