News

Tinubu vs Ambode: Who Blinks First?

Published

8 years ago

September 15, 2018

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Many has described it as a sad trend in the political life of the Jagaban of Borgu, former Governor of Lagos State as well as revered national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that whenever his so called anointed candidates conclude a first term, he seeks ways to deprive them of a second term in office even when it is against the people’s will. The case of Mr. Babatunde Fashola, now the Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing readily comes to mind. The duo had engaged in a running battle prior to the 2011 elections as rumour mills went to town broadcasting the fact Tinubu had lost faith in Fashola, and as a result sought his replacement. Fashola’s refusal resulted in a heated battle that was supposedly settled amicably, but far from it as both men hadly see eye to eye today. Tinubu lost a son, and Fashola lost a father.

Today, the whole scenario is playing out again as Governor Akinwunmi is the newest scape goat. Tinubu wants him out! What started like a spot of an idle hour suddenly has blossomed into a seasoned battle of wits. Though no verbal tantrums have been thrown, the war of silence has blared louder than a siren.

While Fashola only received the threat of being removed, Ambode’s case is a bit different, dangerous and dicey; his replacement has been named. He is Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu. He is a former aide to both Tinubu and former deputy governor, Mr. Femi Pedro. Sanwo-Olu also served as a commissioner under Tinubu.

With a satisfied notion that he has performed very well, Ambode is not bulging in his renewed resolve to seek a second term in office. He is also backed by a cross section of Lagosians in the quest.

However, the Mandate Group, 100 percent loyal to Tinubu, had enumerated Ambode’s sins which necessitated the need for him to be replaced including but not limited to alleged disrespect of the ‘leader’ and other party stakeholders. They accused him of running a one man show in his administration without recourse to anyone. In fact, they added that he has become very arrogant and must be taught a lesson.

The Boss investigation reveals that Lagosians are divided on the choice of Ambode with some saying that it is a wise decision that he should be replace while some others say it is not proper having achieved a lot in infrastructural development. The anti-Ambode group has said that there is nothing to show for the infrastructure as everywhere in Lagos has been turned upside down, and the populace is suffering greatly on the road on a daily basis. They maintained that the development of infrastructure does not warrant locking down a whole city.

“The roads have all been scattered and people go through hell every day in the name of traffic,” a respondent said.

More accusations ranging from the ‘poor’ handling of the PSP project which entails disposing of refuse in Lagos as well as reducing the powers of LASTMA among many other unconfirmed accusations have been adduced as some of the reasons why the powers that be want Ambode out.

But the incumbent governor does not feel like going anywhere as he declared on the day he picked his expression of interest and nomination forms that ‘I am undaunted, I am not tired…”

Reports also say that the governor has hinted that with or without the APC or godfather, he will win the 2019 governorship election in the state.

While Tinubu has not spoken directly, the invitation by the President to settle the fracas seemed to have yielded result as Sanwo-Olu cancelled his rally scheduled for Thursday on the order of ‘our leader’. The respite for Ambode was only temporary. The next day, Sanwo-Olu addressed the press to renew his campaigns one of which is scheduled for Sunday, September 16, 2018.

The die is actually cast. Ambode with the power of incumbency, and Tinubu, with a cult-like followership in Lagos State, it is actually uncertain who will have the last laugh, or rather who blinks first.

It is obvious however, that whatever happens on the long or short run, the damage is already done; things will never be the same again. The same Ambode that worshipped the footsteps of Tinubu may now have a rethink. It may resort to a no love lost situation like it is with Fashola.

News

Gunmen Kill Driver, Abduct Passengers on Benin-Ore Expressway

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2026

Eric

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have attacked a commercial bus operated by GUO Transport along the Benn-Ore expressway, killing the driver and abducting several passengers in what underscores Nigeria’s deepening insecurity on major highways.

Reports indicate that the assailants ambushed the South East-bound vehicle, opened fire on the driver, who died at the scene, and subsequently whisked away passengers to an unknown destination.

The incident is believed to have occurred along a notorious stretch of the highway linking the South-West to the South-South, long plagued by banditry and abductions.

While official confirmation from security agencies is expected, local sources and a circulating video showed that passengers might have forcefully been taken into nearby forests, a tactic commonly employed by kidnapping syndicates operating along the corridor. Similar attacks in the past have involved mass abductions, with victims later released after ransom payments.

News

Police Retirees Block Aso Rock Gate, Demand Action on Pension Scheme

Published

2 weeks ago

April 20, 2026

Eric

Some retirees of the Nigeria Police Force under the aegis of the Police Retired Officers Forum of Nigeria (PROF) have staged a protest at the Presidential Villa in Abuja demanding President Bola Tinubu sign the Police Exit Bill passed by the National Assembly in December 2025.

The bill seeks to withdraw the Nigeria Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The protesters, under the scorching sun, walked from the Three Arms Zone in Abuja through the street in front of the Police Headquarters.

They carried placards with various inscriptions, in addition to the Nigerian flag and the flag of the Nigeria Police Force.

Led by its National Coordinator, CSP Raphael Irowainu, the protesters described the retention of the NPF in the Contributory Pension Scheme as fraudulent and illegal.

They also said the CPS is inhumane and obnoxious.

According to them, the protest seeks to prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to give assent to the Police Exit Bill passed by the National Assembly on 4th December 2025 and transmitted to the President on 16th March 2026.

They said that when signed into law, the Act will totally exempt the police from what they called a “slavery and untimely death-inducing pension scheme.”

The protesters, accompanied by some of their spouses and children, also blocked Gate 8 leading into the Presidential Villa, causing obstruction to vehicular movement.

Efforts by Villa security personnel to dissuade them from the protest proved abortive as they insisted on seeing the President.

They laid their mats in front of the gate, singing songs of solidarity, while some of them lay on the floor.

As of the time of filing this report, no one from the Villa had addressed the protesters.

CSP Irowainu said that their main purpose is to prevail on President Tinubu to sign the bill exiting the Nigeria Police Force from the CPS, which he said has been passed and transmitted to him by the National Assembly.

He lamented that while other security agencies in the country such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, SSS and others have all been exited from the scheme, the police remain trapped in it.

“Our major aim here is to prevail on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sign our bill—the bill exiting the police from the Contributory Pension Scheme—passed by the National Assembly on 4th December 2025 and transmitted to him on 16th March, 2026, into law, nothing more than that.

“The soldiers have been exited, the SSS has been exited, the Air Force has been exited, the Navy has been exited, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) has been exited. The police, who are the father of them all, are trapped in this obnoxious Contributory Pension Scheme,” CSP Irowainu said.

It is not the first time retired officers are staging a protest over the CPS. In July last year, they demonstrated at the National Assembly to demand their removal from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The demonstrators, mostly elderly, stood in the rain holding placards and chanting anti-government songs.

Some of the retired police officers also besieged the Force Headquarters in Abuja to protest against the CPS.

Addressing the protesters at the time, the then Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, said the welfare of retired police officers was being addressed, but that the exit of the Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme was not something that could be implemented immediately.

He, however, advised the leaders of the protest to refrain from spreading misinformation, stressing that the Force could not abandon its own.

News

IGP Disu Orders Ban on Illegal Checkpoints Nationwide

Published

3 weeks ago

April 13, 2026

Eric

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has issued a sweeping directive to Commissioners of Police nationwide, ordering an immediate end to extortion, illegal checkpoints, harassment of citizens and other misconducts.

He declared that restoring public confidence in the Nigeria Police Force is now a top operational priority.

The order was contained in a signal to members of the police management team including Commissioners of Police (CP) and other operational commanders.

In the marching order, the IGP acknowledged the deep mistrust many Nigerians feel toward officers, describing it as “painful” and unacceptable.

He said citizens now fear encounters with the police as much as they fear criminals, warning that such a reputation cannot continue under his leadership.

According to him, the directive marks the beginning of a determined effort to rebuild discipline within the police and re-establish its legitimacy in the eyes of the public.

The order specifically outlawed the routine collection of money from motorists on highways, the operation of unauthorised checkpoints, and the practice of arresting citizens and forcing them to withdraw cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) or Point of Sale (PoS) devices.

The IGP also condemned the use of officers for private duties in homes and businesses, describing such deployments as abuse of authority and a violation of existing presidential directives on VIP protection.

Officers were further directed to comply strictly with approved dress codes, remain clean-shaven and adhere to established uniform regulations.

The police boss warned that harassment of citizens in any form would no longer be tolerated, stressing that the Nigerian public is not the enemy of the Force but the reason for its existence. At the same time, he assured officers that the institution would equally defend them against intimidation or disrespect from members of the public, noting that the dignity of the uniform must be protected on both sides.

Holding command leaders directly accountable, the IGP said Commissioners of Police would henceforth be responsible for misconduct within their jurisdictions.

He ordered them to demonstrate measurable improvements in discipline within seven days or face formal queries and possible transfers where lapses persist.

He emphasised that supervisory failure would no longer be ignored at any level of leadership. To ensure compliance, the directive introduced new oversight measures, including independent monitoring of field operations and public reporting channels through which citizens can lodge complaints directly with Force Headquarters.

A Citizens Commendation System will also be established to recognise officers who demonstrate professionalism, with monthly honours to be drawn from public nominations across commands.

Describing the directive as a decisive turning point, the police chief said Nigerians have grown weary of promises and now expect visible change. He ordered all commanders to brief personnel under their authority within 72 hours and confirm compliance in writing, declaring that the process of cleaning up the Force has begun and will be sustained until public trust is restored.