The bill sponsored by Senator Ibikunle Amosun (APC, Ogun Central) seeks to, among others, introduce stiffer punishments and punitive measures to combat and prevent kidnapping in Nigeria.

Leading debate on the bill, Amosun observed that kidnapping was a major security challenge confronting Nigeria in recent times.

According to the lawmaker, the light punishment for the offence had continued to make it grow and assume horrendous dimensions with a negative impact on the economy.

“The impact of kidnapping on both economic and daily life has been devastating.

“For many Nigerians, kidnapping is far more devastating than the carnage of Boko Haram in the northeast, or the carnage in the middle belt over land, pasture and water use between farmers and herders.

“In the rich oil south-south, kidnapping is often seen as a manifestation of the insurrection over how oil revenue is distributed.

“Overtime, the pool of potential victims has shockingly been expanded. No, most victims are often poor villagers, sometimes kidnapped indiscriminately, a departure from the targeted kidnapping of wealthy people. They struggle to pay ransoms because of their relative poverty; and this has resulted into many victims being killed in the process,” he said.

Amosun lamented that, “Nigeria has one of the rates of kidnaps for ransom of both locals and foreigners in all of Africa.”

He added that “while the insurgents in the North East now thrive on the proceeds of kidnappings, criminal elements in the South East and South West are also having a field day. In fact, kidnapping has now become a big and lucrative business.”

Citing recent statistics released by Neil Young Associates International – a specialist crisis prevention and response consultancy group – the lawmaker noted that Nigeria accounted for 26 per cent of kidnapping and ransom incidents globally.

Similarly, Amosun said that a Vanguard newspaper report published online on July 13, 2021, stated that an average of 13 persons were abducted daily in Nigeria in the first half of 2021, bringing to 2,371 the number of reported persons kidnapped in the country within the first six months of the year.

He bemoaned the worrisome development, warning that the trend had the potential of negatively affecting Nigeria’s Foreign Direct Investment.

The lawmaker stated that the bill, therefore, sough to introduce stiffer punishment for the offence of abduction, wrongful restraint and confinement for ransom.

“This bill also provides more punitive measures for ancillary crimes flowing from the commission of the crime of abduction, like death or grievous harm.

“To achieve the deterrent effect, life imprisonments is proposed for the offence of kidnapping, particularly where death results from the act.

“The law is made stricter by ensuring that recipients of any proceeds of the act of kidnapping are heavily sanctioned with term of imprisonment of up to 30 years,” Amosun said.

The bill, according to him, also proposed to give the Inspector General of Police wider powers to enable adequate policing of the crime of kidnapping.

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bill after it was exhaustively debated, to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters.

The committee which is chaired by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele was given four weeks to report back to the upper chamber.

Meanwhile, the Senate President on Tuesday referred President Buhari’s request to approve $4.054bn, €710m external borrowing, and $125m grant component captured for projects under the 2018 – 2021 borrowing plan to the Committee on Local and Foreign Debts.

The committee chaired by Senator Clifford Ordia was given one week to report back to the Senate.

Buhari in a letter dated August 24, 2021, explained that the projects listed in the 2018-2021 Federal Government Borrowing Plan were to be financed through sovereign loans from the World Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), China-Exim Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Credit Suisse Group and Standard Chatered/China Export and Credit (SINOSURE) in the total sum of USD4,054,476,863.00; Euro 710,000,000.00 and Grant Component of USD125,000,000.00.

He added that the amount would be used to fund federal and state government projects cut across key sectors such as Infrastructure, Health, Agriculture and Food Security, Energy, Education and Human Capital Development and COVID-19 Response efforts.

The post Senate mulls life imprisonment for kidnappers appeared first on Frontpageng.

For about two days, the Ogun State political environment has been really exciting, thanks to the well written wake up call by a true man of the soil, Segun Showunmi.

I have watched many of Hon. Showunmi’s interviews (as spokesperson for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar) on local, national and international television, with great respect for his intellect. But his two analyses (one subtle, one hot) of the happenings around the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led government have sealed my respect for him. I doff my hat.

It is expected that in our part of the world, political jobbers would, most likely, dance to the tune of either their pay masters, or any sitting government to curry favour at the expense of their own sustained wellbeing. So the barrage of self serving baseless comments against these candid observations are expected.

Any right thinking, patriotic Ogun indigene would give applause to Hon. Showunmi for waking up the current front players of the gateway state and impressing on them the need to shelve propaganda for real work. The discerning should know that potential first class leaders in this clime have been relegated to the worst positions in history books as a result of the sycophancy of bootlickers who would continue to mislead a weak leader into believing he is a star until the centre can no longer hold.

The last article, “Dapo Abiodun: setting the records straight” might not have happened, in my opinion, if the handlers of the Governor had been more strategic with their response. They left the issues to attack the person. Dapo is the sitting Governor, so no amount of paid responses would remove anything from the fact that Hon. Showunmi hit the nail on the head with his super clear message.

From my conversations with Ogun indigenes, at home and abroad, if we run a secret poll now, even those who have come out to criticise the articles would agree behind the curtains that Hon. Showunmi spoke their minds. I got many of those calls yesterday.

To the governor, please tell your handlers to halt the dance of shame where it is right now. Calling out Senator Ibikunle Amosun for attack from a piece that only challenged the governor to up his game, would only improve the rating of the former governor and drag the current governor deeper into a controversy that can never end in his favour.

Hon. Showunmi, we’ve not met in person. But I’m proud we’re from the same state, and even the same Abeokuta South.

Long live Ogun State!

Long live Nigeria!

*Matthew (PhD) writes from Lekki, Lagos.

The post Still on Segun Showunmi’s note to Ogun stakeholders appeared first on Frontpageng.

The review will affect the 75 persons installed as kings by the immediate past governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, shortly before his exit – between February 2019 and May 28, 2019.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Ogun State, Mr. Kunle Somorin, the committee is saddled with the responsibility of identifying all the Obas and Chiefs whose appointments or promotions were within the review period as contained in the recent resolution of the Ogun State House of Assembly.

The cases would be reviewed separately to determine whether the appointments or promotions were in accordance with due process and extant laws of Ogun State.

The committee would also identify and address any other issue that the committee might consider relevant to its assignments and make appropriate recommendations as deemed necessary to the government.

In the committee are His Royal Majesty Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland (chairman); His Royal Highness, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, the Dagburewe of Idowa; His Royal Highness, Oba Adewale Osiberu, the Elepe of Epe, Sagamu; High Chief Yinka Kufile, the Aro of Egbaland; Babajide Oyeti, former Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; and Lanre Osota, the current Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Osota will serve as the secretary of the committee.

It would be recalled that the installation of the traditional rulers has been a source of controversy.

The House of Assembly, barely some hours after the end of Amosun’s administration passed a resolution suspending the latest appointment of traditional rulers.

The appointments affected are those made between February 2019 and May 28, 2019.

The argument was that due process was not followed.

The installation of the kings also caused disenchantment among the people of Aworiland who claimed that some non-indigenes were imposed on them as kings.

At a press conference addressed by the Olota in Council, the people of Aworiland vowed to resist any imposition of non-indigenes on them as kings.

The post Ogun sets up committee to review Amosun’s appointment of 75 obas appeared first on Frontpageng.

According to him, the experience had taught him that with humility and resilience in spite of serious opposition, victory was assured.

Abiodun made the remark while speaking at a press conference in Iperu, Ogun State, on his emergence as the governor-elect of the state.

He also stated that he bore no grudge against anybody as according to him, his desire to serve the people of the state was beyond any personality.

His words:  “My desire and priority are to serve the people of Ogun sacrificially and this is what is uppermost in my heart.

“That desire is beyond any personality and I have learnt through the experience of the campaign period that if a man is humble, keeps hope alive and resilient in the face of opposition and discouragement, he will eventually be victorious.

“Though the race was tough, the challenge was tasking, the odds were enormous and the obstacles were many, but to God be all the glory for this divine victory which is for all the good people of Ogun.

“Campaigns and elections are now over and it is time to start the real business of governance,” he said.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, it would be recalled, was vehemently opposed to his candidature.

Rather, he gave his support to Adekunle Akinlade, who defected to the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, and contested against Abiodun.

Expressing his willingness to accommodate the contributions of others in running the affairs of the state, Dapo Abiodun invited his opponents to join hands with him.

The development of Ogun, he stressed, was the collective duty of all.

He said, “with the love of the state in our hearts; I know we all have something to offer for our development.”

Abiodun added: “Our government will be more than willing to take the benefits of shared knowledge and experience.”

“The local government administration is the closest to the people and we will return relevance to this third tier of government in Ogun.

‘‘We will create a beneficial synergy that will quicken the pace of development in our local government areas,” he pointed out.

The post Ogun: What my election experience taught me –Dapo Abiodun appeared first on Frontpageng.

He said his decision was in the overall interest of “our people.”

Gbenga Daniel has not been in good terms with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, candidate, Buruji Kashamu, even though they belong to the same party.

Daniel had supported Ladi Adebutu against Kashamu, but Adebutu lost the party’s governorship ticket.

He said with Adebutu having lost the battle, it became necessary to support another bonafide son of Remo, Dapo Abiodun, despite being in a different party.

His statement reads:  “My Dear compatriots, and members of Remo Resource & R Centre: you would have noticed my studied silence in our local politics in recent times.

“I have busied myself with national politics having served the state for 8 years. I have also been very busy supporting the ambition of the son of our great philantropist in Remoland to become the next governor of our dear state.

“You however would have become aware of the court decision yesterday which did not favour him. Going forward, I have directed all our structures statewide to cast all their votes on Saturday for Prince Dapo Abiodun, another bona fide Remo son despite current party differences.

“I therefore enjoin all to please go and cast your vote on Saturday for Dapo Abiodun in the overall interest of our people. With best regards.”

The position of Daniel is contrary to that of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who is campaigning for all PDP candidates.

It would be recalled that Dapo Abiodun is not enjoying the support of  Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

The governor has another candidate, Abodun Akinlade, who was not supported by the APC leadership.

Akinlade had with the consent of Amosun moved to the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, where he is contesting for the governorship position with the strong backing of Amosun.

The post Ogun: Gbenga Daniel endorses APC’s Dapo Abiodun against Kashamu appeared first on Frontpageng.

Oshiomhole made the declaration on Friday against the backdrop of the use of the picture of the president in the campaign posters of Kunle Akinlade of the Allied People’s Movement in Ogun and Uche Nwosu of the Action Alliance in Imo State.

The two governorship candidates in their respective states defected to their parties from the APC claiming that they were denied of the mandate given to them to represent the party at the 2019 general election.

They are however enjoying the support of their governors –Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Rochas Okorocha (Imo) respectively against the wish of the APC.

In Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun is the candidate of the APC while Hope Uzodinma is the party’s candidate in Imo State.

Speaking during the flagging off of Uzodinma’s campaign in Imo, Oshiomhole said the use of Buhari’s pictures in the posters of other candidates other than APC’s candidates should be discountenanced.

“Those who are putting Buhari with their faces because they are unknown are fake. Buhari has APC as his party.

“Buhari has adopted Uzodinma as his governorship candidate. We brought you a message of hope not a message of lamentation and family business.

“We have come to deliver the message of hope that although things have gone wrong in the recent past, we have come to say how we will return the governance of the state to the people.”

Oshiomhole said the people of Imo State should expect a change in the political situation in the state where appointment into offices would not be based on the affiliation with those in office.

“The government that is coming will bring development for every son and daughter of Imo. Today is not a concert but a day to pass the message of hope.

“You have a reason for demanding change. You want a governorship candidate whose purpose is to bring development to all Imo people including civil servants who no longer know what a pay day is like.

“In Uzodinma’s government, appointments will be based on merit and not family connection. We will not domesticate happiness in the hands of a few people because all Imo people will be happy,” he said.

The post Buhari only for APC candidates in Ogun, Imo –Oshiomhole appeared first on Frontpageng.

Akinlade is Amosun’s choice in the All Progressives Congress, APC, primaries.

He was however declared to have lost to Mr. Dapo Abiodun.

Akinlade, has since defected to the Allied People’s Movement to realise his governorship ambition.

Amosun’s declaration of continued support for Akinlade came on the same day some of his loyalists who also plan to contest for different political posts, defected to APM.

Addressing a stakeholders’ meeting of the APC in Abeokuta, Amosun said much as he would not dump APC, he would support Akinlade against Dapo Abiodun.

He said he would also support the re-election bid of  President Muhammadu Buhari during the general election.

Speaking on the defection of some of his associates to APM, Amosun said it would be wrong for him to stop them from protecting the tickets they won during the party primaries for different posts.

Said he:  “When these people came, they told me they were leaving the APC, I said ‘no’ but I couldn’t stop them. In fact, Akinlade has my full support. I am not going to stop him. Everything I have, I will use to support him, let them try whatever they want to try, we also have our strategies and I am not going to hide behind one finger.

“I remain in the APC because that’s what those people want. They want us to leave the APC but they are joking. I will stay in the APC to ensure that (President Muhammadu) Buhari wins in Ogun State and to let them know that they can’t subvert the will of the people of Ogun State.

“Every day, I will campaign for President Muhammadu Buhari, we will do everything possible to ensure Buhari wins massively in Ogun State, but they should not miss it. I , Senator Ibikunle Amosun, will not support anyone (Dapo Abiodun) they are bringing.

“Why would a reasonable person with less than 10 per cent lord it over the majority? It can’t happen. They know there was only one primary and they have called me to say that, and we have done everything possible to right the wrong, but they are already destroying the party.

“God will punish me if I stop Akinlade. All of you who are supporting Akinlade, you have my support and blessing. They are talking about party supremacy, what happens to party supremacy at the local level?”

Meanwhile, former Governor of Ogun State, Chief Olusegun Osoba, has declared that Dapo Abiodun remained the APC governorship candidate in the state and that the party would remain united to support him.

Osoba who spoke on Monday while the APC governorship running mate, Mrs Noimot Salako-Oyedele, was announced in Abeokuta said those who were opposed to Abiodun’s emergence were disappointed about the unity of the party.

He said his grouse with Amosun was the zoning arrangement of all political offices.

He said he was opposed to a system where a particular zone would benefit from the appointments to the disadvantage of the other two districts.

Said he:  “Whether they like it or not Dapo Abiodun has become the Ogun State APC governorship candidate. Those who don’t wish the APC well have been disappointed. The task has begun. We are in the midst of enemies and we should come together as one.

“I want to urge all that we have just started. I am 80 years old and I am old enough to say things the way they are. We don’t want any group within the APC. It is an insult.

“We are just going into an election period and we should stop insulting our candidate.

“From now onward, let us be one. Leaders, don’t hold group meetings, but what you should be having is the APC meeting as a party and it should be for the governorship candidature of Dapo Abiodun.

“Three-quarter of your poster should bear the APC logo, a quarter for a candidate’s picture and another quarter for the party’s slogan.

“So, as we are moving today, disunity is over. We are fighting a vicious war and we should fight it within the purview of the APC constitution. Go and deliver your polling booths.”

The post Ogun guber: I’ll support Akinlade against APC candidate –Amosun appeared first on Frontpageng.

He has joined the Allied People’s Movement, APM.

His defection was announced at plenary of the House of Representatives on Thursday.

It would be recalled that Akinlade lost the battle for the governorship ticket in his state to Mr. Dapo Abiodun, in the primaries of the APC.

Abiodun is the choice of the leadership of the APC.

Governor Amosun did everything he could to ensure that Akinlade got the ticket to no avail.

Really upset by the development, he said he was under pressure to dump the APC.

He however said he was committed to the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

From all indications, Akinlade will do battle for the governorship position on the platform of the APM.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has given the parties up till December 1 to change the name of their candidates for governorship and state houses of assembly elections.

Also announced was the defection of Rabiu Kaugama, from Jigawa, who moved from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the Social Democratic Party, SDP; Mohammed Ajanah, Kogi from APC to PDP and Salisu Koko, Kebbi, from APC to SDP.

The post Ogun guber: Amosun’s choice, Akinlade, dumps APC appeared first on Frontpageng.

This is as he called on Amosun to support his ambition to become the next governor of the state.

Abiodun who spoke at the stakeholders meeting of the APC in Abeokuta on Friday described Amosun as friend and a good governor who had done well for the state.

He said they might have differences, they remained members of the same party.

Said he:  “I want to appreciate the incumbent governor who is a friend of mine. We may have differences but that does not remove the fact that we are both members of one party and that is APC.

“He is a very good governor by far, he has done very well in the state.”

Promising to do well for the state, he said among other things, the state would attract investments and provide the enabling environment for good development.

“We are promising the people of Ogun State good governance; we are going to focus on improving the lives of our civil servants.

“We will come up with programmes that will encourage developments that are good for them. Coming from the oil and gas background I understand how to generate power.

“We are going to encourage good power supply and by so doing, we will attract foreign and local industries,’’ he said.

The choice of Abiodun by the APC sparked off a disagreement between Amosun and the leadership of the party.

This is because Abiodun is not Amosun’s choice of who to succeed him.

He had declared his interest for Kunle Akinlade and campaigned vigorously for him.

However, the National Working Committee only recognised the party primary in the state which came up with Abiodun as winner of the contest.

The governor has felt embittered about the decision and made spirited efforts to have his way.

All his efforts, however did not succeed.

The APC has submitted Abiodun’s name to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC and Amosun has continued to distance himself from him.

The post Ogun guber: Abiodun promises to improve on Amosun’s achievements, seeks his support appeared first on Frontpageng.