Okonta Emeka Okelum
The wait is over – former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has been selected as the consensus candidate of the Mallam Adamu Ciroma-led Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF).
Barring the emergence of a third force before the presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku is expected to slug it out with President Goodluck Jonathan.
Making public its decision in a signed statement, chairman of the committee, Malam Adamu Ciroma, and Secretary, Abdulkadir Sabo Bello, said Atiku beat three other candidates – former military President Ibrahim Babangida, former National Security Adviser Aliyu Muhammed Gusau and Kwara State Governor Bukola Saraki – to emerge the candidate.
In a four-paragraph statement issued in Abuja yesterday, the committee said: “We are pleased to announce that we have concluded our assignment of arriving at a consensus candidate today and one out of the four aspirants who submitted themselves to the process has emerged. He is Atiku Abubakar.
“We are glad and proud that we have finally arrived at this outcome after several weeks of hard work and wide consultations. We are proud because of the unusual honour and extraordinary privilege given us by the four gentlemen who placed their political destinies in our hands. We are humbled by the strength of their faith.
We appreciate their humility and cooperation. We have been reassured by all of them that they will work together to enable Atiku Abubakar clinch their party’s ticket in the presidential primaries.
“We thank all Nigerians, supporters and critics alike for their views over these past several weeks. While we note these views and respect each one of them, we insist that no individual, organization or society dreaming of success and greatness can achieve these dreams without respect for others and honouring agreements voluntarily entered into. This is especially so where these agreements have been transformed into a binding document, a constitution, which governs the conduct of those who subscribe to it.
“We call on all Nigerians to reflect on this. We also call on all delegates to the forthcoming party conventions to take these into account while casting votes. God bless the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
The statement was not read. It was handed out to journalists by the NPLF secretary. He was introduced by the spokesman of the group, Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim.
A member of NPLF, Senator Abubakar Madhi, accompanied them to the venue.
The secretary briefly remarked: “We have concluded our assignment. Four aspirants emerged and in view of the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and for the completion of the remaining four years, we insist that the president by 2011 must come from the North. We demand for the implementation of the zoning arrangement in the PDP. In view of this, we embarked on mobilization for the retention of the zoning formula in the PDP.
“You are all aware that four aspirants emerged to contest for the Southern presidential aspirant for the primaries in the PDP. In view of the fact that these four aspirants that emerged from the North are from the PDP and with the zoning formula, we insist that the next president for this country will be Northerner for four years to complete the eight years term which is meant for the North under the PDP zoning arrangement.
“We now embarked on bringing out a consensus candidate among the four aspirants, in view of the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan have declared his intention to contest for the primaries in the PDP.
“We embarked on consultation across the North with our brothers in other parts of the country. I’m glad and happy to announce to you that the exercise has come to an end. After all consideration, we are able to come up with a consensus candidate in the name of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku. He is the person chosen by the wise men.”
Three questions were allowed. Ibrahim answered the questions thus.
Reporters: What were the criteria used in arriving at Atiku as the consensus candidate?
Ibrahim: There were four gentlemen who were desirous of contesting for the presidential ticket as the Northern consensus candidate and for the office of the president under the banner of PDP. These four aspirants submitted themselves to our committee. And this committee has done its work according to the criteria that we set and which they subscribed to and this committee has reduced these four aspirants to one. So the committee has achieved its mandate.
Reporters: Why was Ciroma not here to read this statement and why are all the four aspirants not here?
Ibrahim: I can tell you that the committee has been working for the last 48 hours and after the assignment, the committee members decided to go and take a rest. They have already left. The statement was duly signed by Ciroma and the secretary who is here with us.
Reporters: What is the position of the aspirants, in terms of first, second and third?
Ibrahim: Every thing is in the statement. Please read the statement... Thank you very much.
In his acceptance speech, Atiku said he is humbled by the endorsement.
His statement read: “A short while ago, the Consensus Com-mittee of the Northern Elders Political Forum announced me as the consensus candidate from amongst the four who submitted themselves to this process to endorse a candidate to contest the forthcoming primary elections of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). This came after what were obviously wide-ranging and painstaking consultations across the length and breath of this country. I am humbled by this endorsement, and I accept it wholeheartedly with humility and sense of responsibility.
“I commend the Consensus Committee for this endorsement and for their sacrifice, their patriotism, their commitment and their integrity. They have made an important contribution to the unity and stability of this country.
“I am profoundly grateful to the other aspirants who were screened by the Consensus Committee for their commitment to the consensus process. All three of them, former President Ibrahim Babangida, former National Security Adviser, General Mohamed Aliyu Gusau, and Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, are eminently qualified for the office of President. Their decision to abide by the decision of the Consensus Committee is a further testimony to their patriotism, honour, service and selflessness. Nigerians will forever remain grateful to them for their contribution to the peace, unity and stability of this country. I will continue to count on their support in the campaign to win the PDP primaries and the 2011 Presidential election.
“I commend Nigerians for their patience, understanding, support and prayers. I shall need the support of all as I seek the mandate to be the flag-bearer of the PDP in the 2011 Presidential election.
“This is a time for sober reflection on the challenges facing our country and the immense opportunities that exist for us to address them. I hope that the conclusion of this consensus process will mark an end to the divisive politics which our opponents have been promoting. In the days ahead I shall be addressing the press, and will continue to unfold my agenda for providing good governance and building a new Nigeria for all Nigerians irrespective of their ethnic, religious or sectarian affiliations. With your support and prayers we shall make good things happen.”
Meanwhile, all the three candidates who contested against Atiku for the consensus slot have vowed to ensure his victory at the polls. In separate statements issued yesterday, Babangida, Gusau and Saraki restated their earlier pledges to work with whoever emerges as the consensus candidate.
In his statement on behalf of Babangida, the Director-General of IBB Campaign Organisation, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, commended the manner in which the exercise was carried out.
The statement read: “The exercise to search for, find and approve a Consensus Candidate from among the Presidential Aspirants in the constitutional zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must go down in the annals of this great nation as historic and uniquely interesting.”
Dokpesi took a swipe at Jonathan, adding: “In between the Adamu Ciroma committee on the one hand, and the aspirants on the other, there is a fundamental lesson which the Nigerian people, over time, will appreciate much more than now. Democracy can only be sustained and flourish under the principles of justice, rule of law, equity, and determination, particularly on the part of leadership to respect, adhere and advance the framework of upholding the constitution not only of the country, but also of various institutions such as the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party. You cannot breach the rules and regulations of the Party and yet pretend to foster the rules and regulations of Nigeria. Human conduct is a logical system and not merely of opportunism; more so under a regime of democracy and constitutional government.”
Similarly, the Aliyu Gusau Campaign Organisation congratulated Atiku for emerging as the consensus candidate.
In a statement issued by the organisation, it reiterated the initial pledge and commitment of its principal, Gusau, to respect the verdict of the committee and give unqualified support to whoever emerges as the committee’s candidate.
The statement, signed by the Director General, Senator Ben Obi, asked Gusau’s supporters to await further directives.
The Abubakar Bukola Saraki Campaign Organisation congratulated Atiku in a statement signed by its Director General, Dr. Udenta Udenta.
The organisation said in the spirit of peace, national unity and sustenance of democracy in the country, they had accepted the decision.
In a statement last night, Saraki said: "When a few weeks ago, I agreed to submit my presidential aspiration to this arrangement that would produce a consensus candidate to contest the PDP primaries, my utmost desire was to be part of the process to make the political space less acrimonious, thereby contributing to the unity of Nigeria.
"Today, a verdict has been reached and the consensus candidate has been decided. In keeping with our agreement to abide by the committee’s decision and support whoever emerges, and as a matter of personal integrity, I hereby accept the decision reached and congratulate Alhaji Abubakar Atiku who has emerged as the consensus candidate.
"I wish to also thank all members of the committee that have worked on this arrangement for the respect they have accorded my aspiration, for the opportunity they have given me to be part of this process and, for this service that they have rendered to democracy in Nigeria.
"In the last couple of weeks, I have travelled the great length of this country and have engaged most seriously with the issues that I believe will make our country greater. I have developed a manifesto that I believe would set our country on the path to greatness. I have confronted with the challenges that matter most to the ordinary Nigerian. And this process has come to assume a greater significance for me beyond the limits of personal ambition."
The PDP reacted to the emergence of Atiku in a brief statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Ahmed Alkali.
The statement read thus: "As elections approach, politicians are bound to adopt variety of strategies to achieve their objectives. The consensus approach is therefore an arrangement purely among individual aspirants within the party.
"The leadership of the party has no input in this, as it is a cardinal policy of the National Working Committee (NWC) to remain neutral. Our primary concern has been and still is to provide a level playing field to all contestants at all levels.
"It is our commitment and determination to remain neutral and fair to all those who put themselves forward to contest for primaries on the platform of our great party, the PDP."
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
2011: Three Down, One To Go....Any Hope For Atiku?
Okonta Emeka okelum
Reputed as the ultimate strategist, Atiku Abubakar developed the “consensus candidate” idea to get his Northern opponents out of the way. The next man in the firing line: President Goodluck Jonathan. Imam Imam profiles the consummate politician who can be described as a cat with nine lives
From political wilderness to the Northern candidate. That sums up the most recent political journey of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was yesterday named the consensus candidate of the Northern Political Leaders who are battling to wrest the presidency from President Goodluck Jonathan.
Atiku’s emergence as the preferred choice of the Adamu Ciroma-led committee underlined his shrewd mastery of the political game, considering the fact that not many gave him a chance to go this far when he left the Action Congress (AC) to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April this year.
The Turaki Adamawa has over the years proven to be a survivalist, and his never-say-die attitude has defined his politicking. For one, he has had to battle for his political life since he publicly fell out with his former boss and president, Olusegun Obasanjo, when the two were still in power in 2005. Atiku’s differences with Obasanjo were practically transformed into a battle for the PDP, then led by Dr. Ahmadu Ali.
In 2007, after numerous legal challenges, he abandoned the PDP, a party he helped to establish, to contest the presidential election under the AC. He lost at the polls to eventual winner, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP.
His effort to return to the PDP was earlier frustrated but he manoeuvred his way back and secured a waiver to contest the presidential primaries.
Many have attributed the idea of having a consensus candidate from the North to Atiku. He went further to have the members of the committee populated by his political allies who at one time or the other faced similar fate with him in their struggles within the PDP.
Atiku has based his campaign on five key areas: employment generation and wealth creations, power generation and infrastructural development; security, good governance and war against corruption; education, health and social services; and the Niger Delta.
Born on November 25, 1946, Atiku was the vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He was an influential member of the PDP.
He attended Jada Primary School between 1954 and 1960. He was at the Adamawa Provicial School, Yola between 1961 and 1965 before he went for the Advance Level studies in Economics, British Economic History, Government and Hausa Language.
He was also at the School of Hygiene, Kano between 1966 and 1967 and graduated with Royal Society of Health Diplo-ma, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967 and subsequently bagged a Diploma in Law in 1969.
Atiku joined the Customs and Excise Department in 1969. He served in Seme, Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Lagos. He rose to the rank of Deputy Director of Customs. He attended courses in Leadership Management, Drug Enforce-ment and Control in Finland, Egypt and United States of America. He later went into private business after his retirement, with interests in oil services, agriculture, food and beverages, print media, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and education.
He first and most senior wife, Hajia Titi Abubakar, is an Ilesa-born Roman Catholic. They have four children and five grandchildren. Atiku has three other wives – Rukayat, the daughter of the late Lamido of Adamawa, an influential monarch whom Atiku served as a ranking nobleman of his kingdom; Fatima, a lawyer based in Lagos but from Kanuri in Borno State and the third, Jamila, formerly Jennifer Iwenjiora, an Igbo from Onitsha.
She was a television newscaster and attained her doctoral degree in the United States. In all, Atiku has 27 children. The Turakin Adamawa was, as vice-president, a power broker in the PDP and the North in general.
In the first term of the Obasanjo presidency, nobody got anything in the North without having to go through Atiku, with the exception of Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Lt.Gen T.Y Danjuma who were appointed ministers solely by Obasanjo.
However, his disagreement with his principal and his defection to AC eroded his influence in the PDP which he is now trying to rebuild.
Despite his emergence as the consensus candidate, the general opinion is that most of the power brokers in PDP, especially the governors, are not well known to him.
This is where he will face a great challenge as he prepares to face President Jonathan in the battle for the PDP presidential ticket.
Reputed as the ultimate strategist, Atiku Abubakar developed the “consensus candidate” idea to get his Northern opponents out of the way. The next man in the firing line: President Goodluck Jonathan. Imam Imam profiles the consummate politician who can be described as a cat with nine lives
From political wilderness to the Northern candidate. That sums up the most recent political journey of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar who was yesterday named the consensus candidate of the Northern Political Leaders who are battling to wrest the presidency from President Goodluck Jonathan.
Atiku’s emergence as the preferred choice of the Adamu Ciroma-led committee underlined his shrewd mastery of the political game, considering the fact that not many gave him a chance to go this far when he left the Action Congress (AC) to return to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in April this year.
The Turaki Adamawa has over the years proven to be a survivalist, and his never-say-die attitude has defined his politicking. For one, he has had to battle for his political life since he publicly fell out with his former boss and president, Olusegun Obasanjo, when the two were still in power in 2005. Atiku’s differences with Obasanjo were practically transformed into a battle for the PDP, then led by Dr. Ahmadu Ali.
In 2007, after numerous legal challenges, he abandoned the PDP, a party he helped to establish, to contest the presidential election under the AC. He lost at the polls to eventual winner, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of the PDP.
His effort to return to the PDP was earlier frustrated but he manoeuvred his way back and secured a waiver to contest the presidential primaries.
Many have attributed the idea of having a consensus candidate from the North to Atiku. He went further to have the members of the committee populated by his political allies who at one time or the other faced similar fate with him in their struggles within the PDP.
Atiku has based his campaign on five key areas: employment generation and wealth creations, power generation and infrastructural development; security, good governance and war against corruption; education, health and social services; and the Niger Delta.
Born on November 25, 1946, Atiku was the vice-president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. He was an influential member of the PDP.
He attended Jada Primary School between 1954 and 1960. He was at the Adamawa Provicial School, Yola between 1961 and 1965 before he went for the Advance Level studies in Economics, British Economic History, Government and Hausa Language.
He was also at the School of Hygiene, Kano between 1966 and 1967 and graduated with Royal Society of Health Diplo-ma, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, 1967 and subsequently bagged a Diploma in Law in 1969.
Atiku joined the Customs and Excise Department in 1969. He served in Seme, Kano, Maiduguri, Kaduna, Ibadan and Lagos. He rose to the rank of Deputy Director of Customs. He attended courses in Leadership Management, Drug Enforce-ment and Control in Finland, Egypt and United States of America. He later went into private business after his retirement, with interests in oil services, agriculture, food and beverages, print media, insurance, pharmaceuticals, and education.
He first and most senior wife, Hajia Titi Abubakar, is an Ilesa-born Roman Catholic. They have four children and five grandchildren. Atiku has three other wives – Rukayat, the daughter of the late Lamido of Adamawa, an influential monarch whom Atiku served as a ranking nobleman of his kingdom; Fatima, a lawyer based in Lagos but from Kanuri in Borno State and the third, Jamila, formerly Jennifer Iwenjiora, an Igbo from Onitsha.
She was a television newscaster and attained her doctoral degree in the United States. In all, Atiku has 27 children. The Turakin Adamawa was, as vice-president, a power broker in the PDP and the North in general.
In the first term of the Obasanjo presidency, nobody got anything in the North without having to go through Atiku, with the exception of Mallam Adamu Ciroma and Lt.Gen T.Y Danjuma who were appointed ministers solely by Obasanjo.
However, his disagreement with his principal and his defection to AC eroded his influence in the PDP which he is now trying to rebuild.
Despite his emergence as the consensus candidate, the general opinion is that most of the power brokers in PDP, especially the governors, are not well known to him.
This is where he will face a great challenge as he prepares to face President Jonathan in the battle for the PDP presidential ticket.
ONI LEAVES N40 BILLION DEBT IN EKITI
…OWES CONTRACTORS N27 BILLION, BANKS N7.5 BILLION
Okonta Emeka okelum
The true financial position of Ekiti State has become clearer with the revelation that the last occupant of the Government House, Mr. Segun Oni, left a huge debt of over N40 billion for the new administration.
Besides, Oni also owes contractors handling various projects to the tune of N27 billion while the various loans obtained by the deposed administration has also seen the state indebted to the tune of N7.5 billion.
It was also discovered that a total sum of N240.97 billion accrued to the coffers of the state as allocations from the Federation Account throughout the 42-month illegal regime of Oni.
These startling revelations were made by the Accountant-General of the state, Mr. David Ibikunle and the Auditor-General, Mr. Adebayo Ajayi on Tuesday at the Official Presentation of the Financial Position of the Ekiti State Government which held at the Jibowu Hall of the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
The event was witnessed by the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi; the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu and the Head of Service, Mr. Olufemi Adewumi.
Permanent Secretaries, traditional rulers and other senior civil servants were also at the event which was done through power point presentation.
Responding, Fayemi said the public presentation was in line with the transparency policy of his administration.
He said the presentation was not intended to witch-hunt, blackmail or indict anybody but to allow the public know the actual and true financial position of the state, this he noted,. would afford the people of the state an opportunity to appreciate the challenges facing the new administration.
The governor said that interest rates on some of the bank loans have already been renegotiated from as high as 22 per cent to 14 per cent while a committee will be set up to review all contracts awarded in the state during the period under review.
The report was packaged by the offices of the Accountant General and Auditor General of the state after a careful scrutiny of the books turned in by the key agencies of government as at October 15, 2010, when the illegal government was dissolved.
The financial state of the “Fountain of Knowledge” was arrived at after all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had submitted their briefs to the state government following the ascension of office of Fayemi on October 16 shortly after his victory at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Kwara State.
A breakdown of the bank debts revealed that N4.683 billion is owed to UBA Plc at rate of 20 per cent, N2.498 billion to Oceanic Bank at the rate of 18 per cent, N1.5 billion is owed to First Bank Plc at the rate of 20 per cent, while the state is indebted to Intercontinental Bank to the tune of N532 million.
But Fayemi had three weeks ago alleged that Oni had plunged the state into debt to the tune of over N30 billion which was promptly denied by the ousted governor through his aides.
The statistics on the state financial records were computed based on receipts and contracts from June 2007 to October 15, 2010.
The summary of indebtedness revealed that debts incurred by the ousted regime as at October 15 stood at N70, 533, 555, 927.03 out of which N43,137,274,287.79 had been paid leaving an outstanding balance of N40,049,636,361.27 for the Fayemi administration.
From the records made available by the Offices of Auditor General and Accountant General, showed that a balance of N27,396,281,684.24 was left behind by the Oni regime on MDA contracts while debts from outstanding foreign loans stood at N4,927,220,193.75.
Debt from bank loans was N7,524,627,156.00 while the outstanding balance from Garnishee Order on Bank Loans stood at N201,462,327.25.
Contract obligations entered into by the defunct Oni government on the MDAs as at October 15, 2010 showed that it gave out contracts to the tune of N71,074,695,210.15 and succeeded in paying N43,293,135,382.22.
The balance left behind for the Fayemi government over contracts awarded in the MDAs is N27, 781,559,827.93.
Okonta Emeka okelum
The true financial position of Ekiti State has become clearer with the revelation that the last occupant of the Government House, Mr. Segun Oni, left a huge debt of over N40 billion for the new administration.
Besides, Oni also owes contractors handling various projects to the tune of N27 billion while the various loans obtained by the deposed administration has also seen the state indebted to the tune of N7.5 billion.
It was also discovered that a total sum of N240.97 billion accrued to the coffers of the state as allocations from the Federation Account throughout the 42-month illegal regime of Oni.
These startling revelations were made by the Accountant-General of the state, Mr. David Ibikunle and the Auditor-General, Mr. Adebayo Ajayi on Tuesday at the Official Presentation of the Financial Position of the Ekiti State Government which held at the Jibowu Hall of the Government House, Ado-Ekiti.
The event was witnessed by the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmilayo Olayinka; the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi; the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi; the Chief of Staff, Mr. Yemi Adaramodu and the Head of Service, Mr. Olufemi Adewumi.
Permanent Secretaries, traditional rulers and other senior civil servants were also at the event which was done through power point presentation.
Responding, Fayemi said the public presentation was in line with the transparency policy of his administration.
He said the presentation was not intended to witch-hunt, blackmail or indict anybody but to allow the public know the actual and true financial position of the state, this he noted,. would afford the people of the state an opportunity to appreciate the challenges facing the new administration.
The governor said that interest rates on some of the bank loans have already been renegotiated from as high as 22 per cent to 14 per cent while a committee will be set up to review all contracts awarded in the state during the period under review.
The report was packaged by the offices of the Accountant General and Auditor General of the state after a careful scrutiny of the books turned in by the key agencies of government as at October 15, 2010, when the illegal government was dissolved.
The financial state of the “Fountain of Knowledge” was arrived at after all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had submitted their briefs to the state government following the ascension of office of Fayemi on October 16 shortly after his victory at the Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Kwara State.
A breakdown of the bank debts revealed that N4.683 billion is owed to UBA Plc at rate of 20 per cent, N2.498 billion to Oceanic Bank at the rate of 18 per cent, N1.5 billion is owed to First Bank Plc at the rate of 20 per cent, while the state is indebted to Intercontinental Bank to the tune of N532 million.
But Fayemi had three weeks ago alleged that Oni had plunged the state into debt to the tune of over N30 billion which was promptly denied by the ousted governor through his aides.
The statistics on the state financial records were computed based on receipts and contracts from June 2007 to October 15, 2010.
The summary of indebtedness revealed that debts incurred by the ousted regime as at October 15 stood at N70, 533, 555, 927.03 out of which N43,137,274,287.79 had been paid leaving an outstanding balance of N40,049,636,361.27 for the Fayemi administration.
From the records made available by the Offices of Auditor General and Accountant General, showed that a balance of N27,396,281,684.24 was left behind by the Oni regime on MDA contracts while debts from outstanding foreign loans stood at N4,927,220,193.75.
Debt from bank loans was N7,524,627,156.00 while the outstanding balance from Garnishee Order on Bank Loans stood at N201,462,327.25.
Contract obligations entered into by the defunct Oni government on the MDAs as at October 15, 2010 showed that it gave out contracts to the tune of N71,074,695,210.15 and succeeded in paying N43,293,135,382.22.
The balance left behind for the Fayemi government over contracts awarded in the MDAs is N27, 781,559,827.93.
Drug War: Ndlea Officer Dies In A Mob Attack
okonta Emeka Okelum
Following the recent mob attack on a joint team of operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Police at Owo town in Ondo State, the Agency had lost one of its officers in the process. The raid operation that led to the seizure of 2,300kg of cannabis and two arrests of drug suspects also claimed the life an NDLEA officer, Abdullahi Yerima Idris an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics ASNI. The late officer who was said to have sustained a fracture during the drug operation died in a hospital where he was receiving treatment. His death brings the number of officers that have died this year to 31.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, irked by the sad development vowed to fight back stressing that drug barons will have no hiding place in the country. The NDLEA boss who described the death of the officer as painful noted that those responsible for the attack shall be brought to book. “The death of my officer is painful but those that perpetrated the heinous act must be brought to book. Drug barons and their cohorts shall know no peace” Giade promised.
NDLEA Commander in Ondo State, Mr. Walter Nicholas said that five Police officers and an operative of the NDLEA sustained gun shots during the attack but were immediately rushed to the hospital for intensive care. “In all, five police officers and one NDLEA officer sustained gunshots during the attack. They were immediately rushed to the hospital for intensive care, and most of them recovered except Abdullahi, the Superintendent of Narcotics, whom we lost. It is very sad but we are not giving up” Walter stated.
Abdullahi was born on March 27 1969 in his home town, Potiskum, Yobe State. He attended Kara Primary School between 1975 and 1981 before proceeding to Government Commercial Secondary School Nguru, Yobe State where he graduated in 1986. Late Abdullahi also obtained a National Diploma in Business Administration from Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri. Before he enlisted into the NDLEA in 1994, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Department of National and Civic Registration, Maiduguri. He is survived by a pregnant wife.
Following the recent mob attack on a joint team of operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Police at Owo town in Ondo State, the Agency had lost one of its officers in the process. The raid operation that led to the seizure of 2,300kg of cannabis and two arrests of drug suspects also claimed the life an NDLEA officer, Abdullahi Yerima Idris an Assistant Superintendent of Narcotics ASNI. The late officer who was said to have sustained a fracture during the drug operation died in a hospital where he was receiving treatment. His death brings the number of officers that have died this year to 31.
The Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade, irked by the sad development vowed to fight back stressing that drug barons will have no hiding place in the country. The NDLEA boss who described the death of the officer as painful noted that those responsible for the attack shall be brought to book. “The death of my officer is painful but those that perpetrated the heinous act must be brought to book. Drug barons and their cohorts shall know no peace” Giade promised.
NDLEA Commander in Ondo State, Mr. Walter Nicholas said that five Police officers and an operative of the NDLEA sustained gun shots during the attack but were immediately rushed to the hospital for intensive care. “In all, five police officers and one NDLEA officer sustained gunshots during the attack. They were immediately rushed to the hospital for intensive care, and most of them recovered except Abdullahi, the Superintendent of Narcotics, whom we lost. It is very sad but we are not giving up” Walter stated.
Abdullahi was born on March 27 1969 in his home town, Potiskum, Yobe State. He attended Kara Primary School between 1975 and 1981 before proceeding to Government Commercial Secondary School Nguru, Yobe State where he graduated in 1986. Late Abdullahi also obtained a National Diploma in Business Administration from Ramat Polytechnic Maiduguri. Before he enlisted into the NDLEA in 1994, he worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, Department of National and Civic Registration, Maiduguri. He is survived by a pregnant wife.
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