Nigeria’s Looming Power Battle in Reformed-PDP aka APC– By Dr. Peregrino Brimah

Muhammadu Buhari

The president of the Federal republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has been on medical leave in the United Kingdom for over a month. Buhari is battling several chronic illnesses.

Diagnosed with prostatic cancer several years ago as leaked medical reports from the ABU teaching hospital in Nigeria reveal, Buhari is suffering complications of that diagnoses with “multiple organs affected” as well as other chronic ailments including Crohn’s intestinal disease as revealed in media reports.

WELCOME TO DAURA REPUBLIC WHERE NEPOTISM REIGNS

"First, the most influential person in the Presidency today is one Mamman Daura whom as you know, is a nephew of the President. His father was Buhari’s elder brother. In addition, Mamman Daura was the one who single handedly brought up Abba Kyari, the current Chief of Staff to the President. In fact, Abba Kyari knows Mamman Daura more than he knows his own father.

Next, the Personal Assistant to Buhari himself is the son of Mamman Daura, next is what they call SCOP, State Chief of Protocol, and is also a son-in-law to Mamman Daura because he is married to Mamman Daura’s daughter.

Next, the Minister they unilaterally chose, against the interest of the party and against the wishes of Sokoto people, happens to be the daughter of the younger sister of Mamman Daura’s wife. Both of them are daughters of Sultan Dasuki, who was sacked by General Abacha. We have the Aide De Camp to Buhari himself, Colonel Abubakar. He is married to the granddaughter of one of Buhari’s elder sisters.

VOODOISM, LIVING GOD AND POLITICS - LESSONS DERIVABLE FROM EKITI GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

The Governorship election in Ekiti has come and gone, result is already known, victory conceded and I have congratulated the winner, stake holders and all dramatic personae that took part in the election.

I wish to make this post to point our attention to the place of vodooism (jujuism) and prayer to the Almighty (The living God) and which one is more potent out of the two. I uploaded two pictures showing the two families that contested the election for illustration and to drive home my points as I do not intend to insult outgoing Governor Fayemi who earned my respect for his brave action of accepting defeat even when his Party had already made statement rejecting the outcome of the election and when Nasir El-Rufai was already ranting about Ekiti Election he knew nothing about.

While the outgoing governor with his wife were pursuing the election with vodooism and jujuism, the incoming governor with his wife were pursuing the seat with fasting and prayer to the living God.

El-Rufai finally secures warrant of arrest from SSS

State Security Service, SSS, has finally secured a warrant of arrest for the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Nasir El-Rufai, and has now launched a manhunt for him, the spokesperson for the agency has said. The armed operatives of the Service has again stormed a second house in Abuja believed to belong to the former minister in their desperate bid to arrest him.

They had earlier in the afternoon invaded his first house in the Maitama District of the nation’s capital, but could not find him as he had reportedly gone to pick his children from school. They were said to have tried to force their way in to arrest the former minister.

In the latest siege on another property, also in the Maitama District, the operatives were said to have beaten up some private guards for refusing them entry.

The spokesperson of the SSS, Marylyn Ogar, confirmed that the operatives visited Mr. El-Rufai’s second house to arrest him, but denied that anyone was beaten.

“I hate cheap blackmail,” Ms. Ogar told Premium Times on telephone. “We went to the first place, nobody was beaten up. How will we go to the second place and beat people up?”

She explained that the SSS got an arrest warrant demanded by Mr. El-Rufai, but could not find him to personally serve him the document.
“We extended a friendly invitation to him,” the SSS spokesperson said. “He was invited honourably to come and make some explanations about the comments attributed to him.
“He said he wanted an arrest warrant. We have now obtained that from a competent court and we are wondering why he is running.
“We want to serve it on him. Or is there any Nigerian that is above the law?
“The president has said his ambition is not worth any Nigerian’s blood. So why will anyone else be making provocative statements?”

The manhunt for the former minister followed his refusal to honour an invitation from the SSS on Thursday.

He cited his pending suit against the Service over his detention in a hotel in Awka during the Anambra State Governorship last November 16 as the reason for refusing to honour the invitation.
Mr. El-Rufai also insisted on seeing a warrant of arrest before he could go to the SSS office.
The invitation of the APC chief was in connection with his remarks at a conference in Abuja on Wednesday that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not credible.

Meanwhile, Mr. El-Rufai, in statement by his media advisor, Muyiwa Adekeye, on Friday, confirmed that armed SSS officials stormed his home in Abuja following his rejection of the attempt by the organization to compel him to report at their office without a valid warrant.

The statement said the former minister had on Thursday firmly told the Director General of SSS that he would be exercising his right not to go to the SSS offices except a warrant mandates him and offered to meet the SSS officials in his home or office.

“The armed invasion of his house is a clear indication that the SSS imagines itself as an agency immune from respecting fundamental rights, behaviour akin to a gathering of toughs before whom every citizen must quake,” the statement said.

“The SSS agents did not produce any warrant to back their invasion of his premises.
“The assault on El-Rufai’s house continues a sorry tradition of serial violation of his rights by the SSS which has arrested him at airports and hotels.

“The most recent was the action of the SSS in violating his right to freedom of movement in Awka during the Anambra elections. Without any just cause or formal charge, the Directorate of State Security Services (SSS) had unlawfully detained El Rufai, the Deputy National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the premises of Finotel Hotel, Akwa, Anambra State, from the 15th day of November, 2013 to the 16th day of November, 2013.”

The statement said during the period, Mr. El-Rufai was not only restricted to the hotel, he was denied access to his congregational prayer as a devout Muslim, and kept incommunicado without access to anyone and or the press.

It stated that in order to remedy the flagrant violation of his fundamental rights as enshrined in sections 35, 39, 40 and 41 of the Constitution, the former minister sued the SSS, seeking eight reliefs, including an injunction to restrain the SSS from further infringing on his fundamental right

PREMIUMTIMES

Security Operatives Storm El-Rufai’s Abuja Home, Force Their Aay In To Arrest The Former Minister Of Federal Capital Territory

Armed operatives of the Department of State Security Service  are currently at the Abuja  residence of a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nasir El-Rufai, trying to force their way in to arrest the former minister, Mr. El-Rufai has told PREMIUM TIMES.

The operatives did not produce any arrest warrant, the former minister said.

Mr. El-Rufai is currently not at home but he said he would rush back home after picking his children from school.

The SSS had on Thursday invited Mr. El-Rufai,  the Deputy National Secretary of the opposition All Progressives Congress [APC] in connection with a statement credited to him that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair.

The former minister made the comment while speaking at the Transformed to Transform, T2T Nigeria, Conference and Career Fair, a leadership and empowerment initiative for the National Youth Service Corps members in Abuja on Wednesday.

He was reported to have said the 2015 elections could be marred by riots and other forms of violence that might lead to loss of lives and properties unless the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the security agencies ensured they were free.

The former minister however refused to respond to the SSS’ invitation on the ground that he had a pending suit against the agency over his detention in a hotel in Awka, Anambra State,  during the governorship election in that state last November 16.

He also told the Director General of the Service, Ita Ekpeyong, that he was willing to meet with him in his home or office or that in the alternative the SSS should produce a warrant of arrest.

Spokesperson of the SSS, Marylyn Ogar, declined comments when contacted by PREMIUM TIMES Wednesday night.

But she had earlier issued a statement Thursday warning those making provocative statements ahead of the 2015 general election to desist from such or face the full weight of the law.

Ms. Ogar said the attention of the service had been drawn to incessant provocation statements by some Nigerians threatening violence ahead of the election. She did not mention any name

“Such comments are offensive, misguided and directed at stirring hate among Nigerians,” she said.

“This service and other law enforcement agencies have the mandate to protect the country and its citizens.

“We, therefore, warn all subversive elements that are bent on promoting divisive and disruptive agenda to refrain from such as the full weight of the law shall henceforth be brought to bear accordingly.”

She urged Nigerians to remain law abiding and assist security agencies in ensuring the safety of all