Nigerian pop star, Tuface Idibia and other groups planning to hold rallies
for or against the government in Lagos and other states have been asked to
shelve their plans by the Police.
In a statement on Friday night by the Force Public Relations Officer,
Jimoh Moshood, the Police Headquarters said it is in possession of
credible intelligence reports that other interest groups were planning to
hold a counter protest on the same days at the same places as that of the
Tuface Group.
If the various planned protests are held as scheduled, the Police said
there may be breakdown of law and order, with attendant loss of lives and
property.
The statement reads: “Nigeria Police Force is deeply concerned with the
security implications with regard to the planned protest/demonstrations,
and as the lead security agency in the country, is fully aware and
recognizes the constitutional rights of every citizen (including Tuface
and his group) to assemble and move freely in any part of the country.
“In this regard, the Force is also cognizant of its constitutional
responsibilities of taking any proactive/preventive security measures in
the interest of public safety, public order, public morality or public
health and for the purposes of protecting lives and property, as well as
the constitutional rights and freedom of other citizens.
“The Nigeria Police Force is currently in possession of credible
intelligence reports that other interest groups are equally planning to
hold a counter protest/matches on the same days at the same places/cities
as the Tuface Group.
“If these various planned protests/demonstrations are held as scheduled,
that there may be breakdown of law and order, with attendant loss of lives
and property.
“To this end, the Nigeria Police Force deems it imperative to issue this
press release that Innocent Idibia (a.k.a Tuface) and his group are hereby
advised strongly to shelve their planned peaceful protest/demonstration in
the interest of peace and security.
“That the other opposing groups are equally advised strongly to shelve its
planned counter protest/demonstration in the interest of peace and
security.
“That the Nigeria Police Force is prepared to employ every possible legal
means for the maintenance of law and order; and for the protection of
lives and property.
Buhari Not Dead, He Needs Our Prayers-Minister
The Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, on Friday dismissed
speculations on that President Muhammadu Buhari is dead.
Shittu, who represented Buhari in Ilorin, at the formal opening of the
31st National Qur’anic Recitation Competition, said: “President Buhari is
not dead.’’
The minister advised Nigerians to continue to continue to pray for the
president.
“There is need to pray fervently for economic recovery. President
Muhammadu Buhari is not dead, he deserves prayers for sound health as well
as for the entire growth of the nation,” Shittu said.
The minister commended Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, for organising
the event nationwide in the last 31 years.
He noted that the competition would further boost the spiritual
inclination of the entire Muslim Ummah.
Shittu also lauded the Kwara governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, for
accepting the hosting responsibilities for the 2017 edition of the
competition.
In his address, the governor commended the organisers for granting the
hosting right of the event to the state.
According to Ahmed, “It is pleasing to note that this year’s National
Qur’anic Recitation Competition has brought together Muslim Ummah from far
and wide to demonstrate our reverence to the Almighty.’’
The Vice Chancellor of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Prof.
Abdullahi Zuru, enumerated some of the objectives of the competition to be
“contribution to the sustenance of the tried and trusted mechanism of
preservation of the glorious Qur’an.
“To select gifted and talented youths who will represent Nigeria at
international Qur’anic recitation competition in 2017 as well as also
discover brilliant Muslim youths for possible scholarship awards by
governments and philanthropists’’.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the opening ceremony of the
competition was attended by the Emir of llorin, Alhaji lbrahim
Sulu-Gambari, some first class traditional rulers in the state and people
from all walks of life. (NAN)
Obasanjo To Nigerians: If You Don’t Like Buhari, Wait For Another Election
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has described the persons behind the
rumoured death of President Muhammadu Buhari as “wicked and callous.”
A statement issued on Friday in Abeokuta by Mr Kehinde Akinyemi,
Obasanjo’s Media Aide, quoted the former president as saying, “President
Buhari needs our prayers rather than bad wishes.”
He said that prayers from well meaning persons, particularly, Nigerians
would help Buhari to get well quickly and ginger his morale to return to
the country stronger and better.
Obasanjo, who warned Nigerians against “politicisation of the president’s
health,’’ recalled that he had also been a victim of such rumoured death
while he was President in 1999.
Obasanjo said: “No normal human being will wish an elderly person dead
irrespective of their differences.
“If you don’t like him, wait for another election and stop spreading
rumour that he is dead.
“No matter what his health situation, maybe, we should pray for him to
recover quick and come back stronger and better.
“For anyone wishing him dead, such person or group of persons are callous,
wicked and treacherous.
“I was also rumored to have died almost 12 times.
“I don’t know what they derive from doing so, but, they should seek for
forgiveness.
“Even if we know that the President is sick, he is in a better position to
know what to say or what to do and not wishing him dead.
“We should just stop politicising everything, especially with the elderly
in the country.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that recently, there were
rumoured reports in the social media of Buhari’s death at a London
hospital.
The presidency however dismissed the reports saying Buhari was on a
ten-day vacation leave and was not on admission at any hospital in London.
Femi Adesina, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President,
said the President intended to undergo routine medical check-up during his
vacation in London.