News
Group Brands Amaechi, Oshiomhole Liars …Over Attack On Jonathan
For attacking ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, the Save Ijaw Nation Group (SING), has taken Transportation Minister, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and former Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, to the cleaners, describing them as double-faced liars and serial betrayers.
Both Amaechi and Oshiomhole were reported to have criticised Jonathan’s Presidency as a minus for the South-South at separate events, last Tuesday.
While the former Edo governor had queried Jonathan’s capacity to deliver the dividends of democracy as President, Amaechi had claimed that Nigeria was heading towards Civil War during the 2015 elections.
But reacting to the two politicians’ criticisms in a statement, the Save Ijaw Group accused Amaechi of delusional thinking, stressing that Amaechi was among those threatening war while Jonathan was preaching peace.
The statement issued by the Coordinator of the group, Mr. Otobo Osborne, also reminded Oshiomhole that he had before now always praised Jonathan for his statesmanship but has turned against the ex-president because “he is out of job and is desperate to curry favour with the hope of getting a new job”.
The statement reads: “Rotimi Amaechi, the man who threatened that his party would form a parallel government, if they did not win the 2015 elections now accuses former President Jonathan, who said ‘my ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian’. ‘If this is not delusional thinking, then it is hard to imagine what it is.
“Never since the Civil War has Nigeria been as divided as it is today with different regions of the nation giving quit notices to each other. A prudent person would in such circumstances tailor his speech to build unity, but not Rotimi Amaechi.
“Sadly, what we are experiencing today is the culmination of the threats made during the course of the 2015 elections by persons like Amaechi,” the group said.
“Also, on the recent vituperation by the former Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, against the person of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, it is sufficient to use Oshiomhole’s own words to counter him,” the group explained.
“Nigerians may recall that after winning his re-election in 2012, Adams Oshiomhole visited the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on July 17, 2012, and said as follows to State House correspondents:
“President Jonathan has demonstrated statesmanship. I think there is hope for Nigeria. What the Edo election has confirmed is that when the President and Commander-in-Chief puts the country first and conducts himself as a statesman, not just as a party leader, credible elections are possible”.
“Of course, it is not surprising that Oshiomhole would change his tone today, especially when he is out of job and is desperate to curry favour with the hope of getting a new job but we wish to remind him that under Jonathan, elections were free and fair as he said and there was no ‘inconclusive elections’.
“In a democratic setting, the most basic requirement of any leader is that he provides the platform for democracy and the economy to thrive.
“On both scores, no one can fault Jonathan.
“We are, however, not surprised at the utterances of these two characters because they have proven to be double-faced liars and serial betrayers.”
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.