Headlines
APC Calls for Amosun’s Arrest over Arms Scandal
The All Progressives Congress in Ogun State on Tuesday called on federal authorities to promptly arrest the state’s immediate-past governor, Ibikunle Amosun, warning that failure to do so would constitute a mockery of the country’s rule of law.
Mr Amosun is a member of the APC, although he supported another party’s candidate for the Ogun governorship election in March.
In a statement made available to Premium Times on Tuesday, the party’s spokesperson, Tunde Oladunjoye said:
“The handover of such huge arms and ammunition is a confirmation of our pre-election outcry that the state was unsafe and that the governor was stockpiling arms and ammunitions for the purpose of wrecking havoc. If Amosun is not brought to account, then people will continue to mock the rule of law.”
The demand came a day after PREMIUM TIMES broke the news that Mr Amosun, who was elected senator in February, had hurriedly surrendered a large stockpile of arms and ammunition whose source had been seriously questioned by national security officials.
The weapons included four million bullets, 1,000 units of AK47 rifles, 1,000 bulletproof vests and an armoured personnel carrier (APC).
The police commissioner, Bashir Makama, took delivery of the weapons without questioning Mr Amosun or reporting the matter to his superiors at the Force Headquarters.
Mr Amosun’s conduct, which sometimes turned violent ahead of the general elections, pitted him against the APC leadership.
He was suspended from the party for supporting the candidate of an opposition party in the governorship election, even though he was himself elected senator on the platform of the APC.
Mr Oladunjoye said the PREMIUM TIMES story further corroborated the “violence” which Mr Amosun inflicted on the state during the elections.
“We will like to thank the Federal Government for deploring soldiers to Ogun State during the election. If not for that, the story would have been different and more lives would have been lost.
“For the first time in the history of elections in Southwest Nigeria, Ogun State was policed by four Commissioners of Police.
“Ogun State was not only identified as the darkest spot, it was also used as the Operation Centre for in the South West by the Police and the SSS,” the APC said.
The party said Mr Amosun must now answer for all his alleged brutality against its members during the election. as well as where he came about the huge weapons haul.
“Our supporters were maimed and killed during our campaign and nothing has happened. A governorship candidate of a political party led thugs to attack collation Centre in Ipokia LG, nothing has happened. The following day, a policeman was killed in an ambush while escorting results from Ipokia LG, nothing has happened,” the party said.
“With the latest discovery, questions must be asked from the former governor. Let him show the origin and manifest of the arms.
“Was there any difference between the volume imported and the one handed over to the police? Who has control over the purchase, storage, distributions and use of arms and ammunitions between the Inspector General of Police and a state governor?
“The Abeokuta metropolis has recently witnessed an upsurge in armed robbery, that the government of Dapo Abiodun is now tackling decisively. What can the upsurge be traced to?” Mr Oladunjoye said.
Mr Amosun admitted while handing over the weapons to Mr Makama that some of them had been smuggled out of Oke Mosan Government House, Abeokuta, where he stockpiled them to neighbouring states.
Premium Times
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
