Cash swap riots: Govs under investigation for inciting utterances - IGP

By Egena Sunday Ode

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, on Wednesday revealed that the force is investigating individuals, including state governors, whose utterances may have incited citizens to riots in parts of the country over the naira redesign policy of the federal government.

Baba briefed newsmen alongside the Attorney General of Federation, Abubakar Malami, after a meeting of National Security Council presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The IGP said however that despite the investigation the police cannot prosecute the state chief executives because they enjoy immunity at the moment.

Recall that some governors led by the Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State, had openly denigrated the Buhari policy, asking their citizens not to comply with the expiration of the legality of the old N500 and N1000.

The aggrieved governors did not stop at making reckless utterances, they have, in addition, dragged the Federal Government to the Supreme Court over the matter, asking that the new naira policy should be reversed.

In league with El Rufai are, the governors of Kano, Lagos, Ondo, Zamfara, Katsina, Kogi and Niger among others.

Asked why the governors had not been cautioned, the Police boss stated: “We all know why, unless you want to hear from the mouth of the Attorney General. We are investigating, we are investigating. Whoever does anything can be investigated.

“But for him to be prosecuted, there are some people who have immunity. I think that is some of the reasons. But that will not stop us cautioning them, from warning them, from advising them, and we are doing so. That’s for the incitement by governors.”

The IGP also explained that the deployment of security personnel in the streets of Lagos and Ogun states was to ensure that the states were stabilized before the election, owing to the disturbances over the naira swap policy that occurred in the two states.

APC National Chairman optimistic over Tinubu, party’s victory at polls

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

National Chairman of the All Progressives

Congress, APC, Senator Adamu Abdullahi has expressed the firm optimism that the party and it’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu will emerge victorious in the Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections.

Senator Adamu equally said that he is not aware of any ‘cabal’ in Aso Rock presidential villa working against the aspiration/ interest of the APC presidential candidate.

The APC National Chairman, who spoke yesterday in Abuja during a media briefing, similarly declared that the party and it’s Governors are firmly united and that they are all working together with a common objective of ensuring victory for the ruling party in the general elections commencing on Saturday.

According to the two-term Governor of Nasarawa State, “As you are very much aware, in the last few months, our party, the APC and its presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have been traversing every part of the country campaigning and soliciting for the support of Nigerians ahead of the coming general elections.

“During these campaign rallies, in all the places we visited, we were greeted by massive turnout of supporters and loyalists which has confirmed the fact that we are the biggest party in Nigeria. “Just yesterday (Tuesday), we held our final mega rally in Lagos. The number of our supporters who turned out for the rally gives me cause for joy.

“I am convinced that with what I have seen across the country, victory at Saturday’s election belongs to the APC”, he said.

In his speech titled, “Victory Is On The Horizon”, Senator Adamu added, “Our campaign rallies have provided opportunities for us to explain to Nigerians the policies and programmes of the APC for the next four years.

“We laid before the voters how we intend to build on the legacies of President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR in the area’s infrastructural development, agriculture, security and youth development.

“We told Nigerians to have confidence in the ability of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to bring renewed hope to them.

“I assure every Nigerian that the next APC administration will not only build on monumental achievements of the past eight years, it will open new areas of development for the Country.

“In keeping with our commitment to a peaceful electoral system, our party, the APC, ran an issue-based and hitch free campaign that is devoid of mudslinging and other provocative acts.

“We focussed on issues that are of concern to Nigerians and assured them that the APC has everything it takes to reset the country towards renewed.

“In spite of many provocations from the other parties, the APC resolved that what was important to Nigerians is not the amount of mud we can throw at each other. but what ideas we bring to the table. In this connection, we assure that the APC remains committed to implementing ideas that will continue to make Nigeria the biggest economy in Africa”, he stressed.

The APC National Chairman however said that he is unaware of any cabal at the Aso Rock presidential villa working to thwart the presidential aspiration of the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

His words, “I don’t belong to any mafia. It takes a mafia person to identify another. I am not aware of any cabal in the Villa. This is a democratic government. I have not seen any cabal”.

He dismissed insinuation that there is division between the

Bola Ahmed Tinibu

APC and some of its governors, stating emphatically that the party is a united and strong one Adamu said, “Finally, our party, the APC, goes into this election as a united front. “The National Working Committee and all organs of the party are working together to deliver victory to the APC and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“And, by the grace of God, we shall surely come out of this weekend’s election, the victorious party”, he said.

He described Tinubu as a fit and healthy person, who is able and competent to shoulder the responsibility of the nation’s presidency.

The APC National Chairman dismissed the belief that Tinubu will be a proxy president, when elected, stressing that he had been working with Tinubu as far back as 1999, when both of them were Governors of Nasarawa and Lagos respectively.