News
Group demands arrest of ‘blackmailers’ behind purported planned protest against Emefiele
The Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations for Transparency in Governance, has refuted claims by one Willy Ezegwu, calling for protest against the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele on ‘malicious grounds.’
The group asked security agencies to immediately arrest the said Willy Ezegwu and Ali Abacha to stop public disturbance.
The coalition of CSOs also described the purported planned protest as a blackmail tool by the organisers and some other “misguided elements”, saying its name been used without its knowledge.
A statement signed by one Willy Ezugwu had asked Governor Emefiele to resign or face a protest slated for 21st of April, 2022. It has no backing of the Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria, infact, we are not part of it.
The statement read in part: “If these are not, by Thursday, April 21, the CNPP in conjunction with the civil society coalition will be occupying the CBN headquarters until Mr. Emefiele resigns or denounces the purported distracting ongoing 2023 presidential campaign on his behalf by groups.”
But denouncing the threat through a statement Friday in Abuja, signed by its director of Anti-Corruption, Bagudu Mohammed Kudu, the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria also denied Ali Abacha as its spokesman.
Kudu, the anchor of the coalition of CSOs for Transparency in Governance described Willy Ezegwu as an embarrassment to the Civil Society family, adding that the said Ezegwu lacks morality and consciousness to call for protest against any Nigerian at the moment “as his integrity has degraded to zero level.”
Kudu asked Nigerians to dismiss the purported protest, saying “the brains behind the statement are known jesters who only thrive in blackmail of public office holders for survival.”
Mohammed Kudu also, call for the immediate arrest of the said Willy Ezegwu and Ali Abacha for inciting protest against public peace.
“The apex body of Civil Society Organisations in Nigeria also call for the arrest of the perpetual blackmailer, Willy Ezegwu for inciting protest against public peace after hobnobbing with a proscribed organisation.
We have to place it on record that the CBN Governor Emefiele has not committed any sin. And it is not also a sin for well-meaning Nigerians to call on him to serve the country in higher capacity as President.
“Severally, various organisations have publicly declared that Governor Emefiele knew nothing about the posters and branded vehicles across the country, but Nigerians who believe in the capacity and capability of Governor Emefiele to transform the economy of Nigeria if given higher responsibility, are actually responsible for the posters and branded vehicles.
“We understand that opposition political party and some individuals are been threatened by the show of love Nigerians have shown Governor Emefiele in the recent time, especially the pressure on him to declare for presidency, hence the recruitment of some blackmailers for a dirty job such as Mr. Ezegwu to tarnish the image of the CBN governor.”
While challenging Mr. Ezegwu to test the might of the law, Kudu said “publicising a notice of protest before the actual event shows that Mr. Ezegwu is not ready for any protest but an attempt to blackmail the CBN Governor at a time that Nigerians are yearning for him to succeed President Muhammadu Buhahri.”
Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Professor Tom Adaba, has passed away at the age of 84.
According to reports, he died peacefully on Saturday in Abuja.
Chief Adinoyi Joe Anivasa, Secretary of the Egbira Elders Forum, confirmed the news, stating, “I feel sad to inform you that our elder and leader, Prof. Tom A. Adaba, has answered the call of nature this morning. Further details about his burial arrangements will be communicated later.”
Born on July 2, 1941, Prof. Adaba made significant contributions to Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. Between 1988 and 1992, he became the first Nigerian to serve as President of the African Council for Communication Education.
Despite calls for suspension from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Police Force, the Osun State local government election proceeded as scheduled on Saturday.
Governor Ademola Adeleke voted in Ede North Local Government Area, describing the process as peaceful and urging residents to exercise their franchise.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, cited a Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating sacked local government chairmen, while the police warned of potential security threats.
However, the Osun State government insisted on holding the election, emphasizing its commitment to obeying a court directive. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.
Voting took place under tight security, with minimal commercial activity observed in Osogbo, the state capital.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has indicated that Firmer President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the public presentation of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, The Journey of Service, held in Abuja on Thursday was not surprising.
Speaking to journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s no-show was a result of unresolved bitterness over the 1985 coup, in which Babangida overthrew him and subsequently detained him.
According to Vatsa, Buhari may still harbor resentment, especially over being denied the chance to bid his late mother farewell while in detention.
“It Would Have Been the 9th Wonder of the World If Buhari Had Attended”
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s absence was expected, given the deep-seated history between the two former leaders.
“The memory of the ‘mother of all betrayals’ has not left him. It would have been the ninth wonder of the world if Buhari had attended that book launch,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked Buhari’s perceived neglect of Niger State during his eight-year presidency to his history with Babangida.
“The whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by Buhari because of IBB. For eight years, he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and not a single federal project was executed here. The Baro Port project was abandoned, and federal roads across the state were left in disrepair,” Vatsa alleged.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming votes Buhari received from Niger State in 2015 and 2019, the state was sidelined due to the personal history between the former presidents.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Niger State paid for the sin of one man,” he lamented.
When asked for his opinion on the contents of IBB’s autobiography, Vatsa said he would reserve his comments until he has read and digested the book fully.
“There are certain things I expected to see in the book. Once I am done reading, I will invite you all for my comments,” he stated.
The book launch attracted several high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Yakubu Gowon, as well as former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other dignitaries included former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, and ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, and Namadi Sambo, alongside traditional rulers and state governors.
Buhari’s absence, however, remained a major talking point, reinforcing speculations that the 1985 coup remains a sore point in Nigeria’s political history.
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