Kuku: I’m Awaiting My Doctors Nod to Return to Nigeria

Last Tuesday, in the steaming temperature of Atlanta Georgia, United States, Adeola Akinremi caught up with the former Special Adviser on Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, where he was undergoing physiotherapy for his knee injury. The man who has been invited by the EFCC to give account of his stewardship explained why he couldn’t make the September 30 appointment as earlier fixed.  He also spoke on his stewardship and shares his views on the future of the amnesty programme

It’s been more than three months since you left the government, what has life outside the government been like for you?
I want to say it’s a mixed life, because I miss the Presidential Amnesty Programme, where we were touching and changing lives. We were dealing with a situation where our brothers, and sisters, who never had an opportunity to leave their communities, had the opportunity of flying to Lagos, and going to America and Europe to improve their skills, all on the back of a government scholarship. I was merely a servant getting that done, and that was fulfilling.  Now, I’m not handling that again. I miss them. They used to call me daddy. I miss that.

But, now I have some level of rest to think and review on how to move on, and what level of service I can still render to my community, my state, and to our dear country Nigeria. From the 2nd of July, 2007, when the late President Yar’Adua appointed me Presidential Secretary to the Niger-Delta peace process till when  I left office in June 2015, I’ve never had respite or peace, or time for myself and family. If you meet my wife today, she will tell you that from 2004 that we got married, till today, she had never had two complete weeks with me, because of service to our nation. So, today, beyond my recuperation, I think I’ll have some time with my family, wife, and kids.

Has the phones stopped ringing?
No, my phones haven’t stopped ringing.  It’s amazing. Sometimes, I complain to people. Normally for public servants who leave office, phones start to ring less. But what I have come to realise is that, it’s not the same for everybody. And, I know why. I’m a young man who came from nothing. But I never forgot my old friends; those who grew with me remain my best of friends. So, nothing really is different. What I have always done is to always keep my friends, carry them along, and moved with them. I think that’s one of the reasons why my phones cannot stop ringing. It keeps ringing. Even today, so many of the students still call me. My mails are still coming.

How fast is your healing coming and why did you have to wait till now before going for a surgery?
I thank God that He has given me an opportunity to carry out this procedure. This was an injury I sustained in 2006, playing football, when I was a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly, at the Ondo State Stadium. Then, as a serving member, they took me round so many hospitals in Akure; we were not able to really solve this. And again, I‘m an Ijaw man, and my people believe in the traditional ways of healing fractures. So, a lot of trado-medical persons came; they tied the leg, cut blade on it, remove bad blood and all that. We must give kudos to those trado-medical doctors whether we like it or not. From 2006, till the moment I carried out the procedure, whatever kept me moving, though with pain, was done by the traditional medicine practitioners in my community. And for over two months, this knee was tied and I was down, but I was able to walk. I left the House of Assembly, and four days after, I got a job with the NDDC, under the able leadership of my elder brother and boss, Chief Timi Alaibe. He appointed me SA, and made me Head of Conflict Management Unit, a new unit in the NDDC. That was how we started the process of test-running the training of ex-militants and getting them out of the creeks. I was able to spearhead that and take them to South Africa: Johannesburg, Bloemfontein and Soweto. Eventually on 2nd July 2007, the government of the late Yar’Adua appointed me Presidential Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Peace and Conflict Resolution in the Niger-Delta.

That was how we commenced the process of visiting all ex-militant camps, from Ondo state through Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, to Akwa-Ibom. So, from then till June 2015, I had committed the entirety of my life into the peace process, into talking with the ex-militant leaders, assuring them that government was sincere. We finally got this in 2009, and from there, the process of reintegration commenced. I didn’t know that, one day, I was going to be the one managing the Amnesty Programme. And that was because I knew most of them, from Asari Dokubo, to Tompolo, Shoot-aside, Henry Okah, Charles Okah. They were all my friends and brothers. So, that firsthand knowledge of those who were directly involved in that struggle was an advantage for me. And the government of Yar’Adua, I think properly being counselled by the then Vice-President, my immediate past boss who made whatever I am today, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, made me Secretary; they tapped my potential, and I was able to take the government’s position directly to those who were the people to take the decisions. That was how we cemented that peace process. I pray that it will not relapse, because we committed so much to get to where we are today.

So, I didn’t have the time. To do a surgery like this, it will demand up to three to six months for recuperation. You must be serious and committed to ensure that, after the procedure you get your knee back to the level you want it. It is whatever you do in psychotherapy that will determine the kind of knee you will leave with. So, after the procedure I had to make up my mind.

In 2009, I went to London, when I started having serious pain. I was to come for my postgraduate studies at City University in London. So, I went to Essex, me an orthopaedic surgeon, paid money, and the next day was fixed for the operation. But the next day, I ran away. What happened? The surgeon made the mistake of telling me that I won’t be able to fly out of London for three weeks. That was what discouraged me, and made me run away without even demanding for my money. So, I waited this long because of service to my fatherland.

After we lost the elections, I knew it was time to go do the surgery. I was scared when it was being carried out. They wanted to do general anaesthesia, but I didn’t sign for it. So, they did local. And I also told them I would love to watch what they were doing. So, they gave me a screen, and I watched. By the time it was done, I’ve been undergoing psychotherapy. I did psychotherapy in Birmingham, for nothing less than one month, before they referred me to the one in Atlanta. And from that moment till now, I have been there.

Did you do your best for the Amnesty Programme?
As far as I’m concerned, looking from where we are coming from, yes. In 2009, we had a drop in production to 683,000 barrels per day. The kind of job we did from 2007, just to assure our people that there was a need for peace in our region. We recommended the need for Amnesty. And from then, the process began. A lot of governors, political actors didn’t believe that there should be amnesty. Some had grouses. But this thing was a general process that was going to be done for the good of all. Some governors took it up, and finally, we got Amnesty.

There’s a need to remember the wonderful work done by elder statesman, Chief Tony Anenih, who played a very key role in pulling Tompolo out of the creeks. There was a time Anenih had to submit himself, by dropping from the chopper, so that Tompolo, who was to meet with Yar’Adua, was not allowed to return, they would kill him.
But Yar’Adua was committed, and Jonathan was always there to tell him this was the right thing to do. And he was a president determined to do the right thing.

In all these processes, the luck I had was that I commenced the peace process from 2007, practically. And during the Godwin Abe era, I was with him as a member of the committee; during the Chief Timi Alaibe era, I was also with him, nominated even by ex-militant leaders. So, I was their representative on the committee. So, it was a familiar terrain for me when I was to spearhead the Amnesty programme.
For government, I played my role of entrenching peace in the Niger-Delta, stabilising the security situation, production rose. There was a particular time, between 2012 and 2013, when production was between 2.2million barrels to 2.7million barrels per day. That was evident in the type of job that we had done.

Are you surprised to hear that the Amnesty Programme is a conduit pipe to siphon government money?
That’s a very unfair assessment of what we have done there. I have seen a lot of prominent Nigerians make such statements, but what I have done to reply some of them, is not to insult them. In the past, Nigeria has been a country where, when agencies are set up, those managing the agencies just sit down and share money, without doing what the money was meant for. So, too many Nigerians don’t believe that the things that we’ve been able to do with the Amnesty programme was possible. But what I have done is, I put together a compendium of what we’ve been able to do in the programme, with names of students and delegates who are in flight training schools in Oxford, England, in Lufthansa, Germany, those who were doing helicopter training in Italy. All of them, we put together.

In the United Kingdom, over 800 students were deployed to over 72 universities. In the United States, under my watch, we brought over 300 students. You will find them in universities across the states. If you go to Malaysia, you will find them. In Ghana, we went to the best of schools. For those who were not as bright as those who got scholarships to go abroad, or who didn’t want to travel, we took them to the best private schools in Nigeria. Today, you can find over 700 students, under my watch, at Igbinedion University in Okada. You can find over 400 students at the Benson Idahosa University in Benin. You can find them at the prestigious Afe Babalola University. It’s not a child’s play. At Novena University, we had over 156.

So, before I left office, I had successfully deployed some of my students that I put in Igbinedion University to the Nigerian Law School. There are some of them with first class. In Nigerian universities alone, I was able to deploy about 2,000 students. Outside Nigeria, I was able to deploy about 2,000 students. I challenge any political actor in Nigeria, any governor – I will publish the names of the people I deployed, with their emails, their courses, their schools, the grades they are graduating with, their age, their communities. I know everything, I have the records. So, if you take me to the court of public opinion, I am coming out clean. It’s not as if there won’t be errors, because it’s a novel programme.

How did we come about aviation programmes? From 2003, when Olusegun Obasanjo commenced a second term, aviation started growing as an industry. Nigerians were doing more of air travel, maybe due to our bad roads that were under rehabilitation. But airlines that were indigenous to Nigerians were not surviving. Part of the problem was because of expatriates pilots – they were becoming too expensive to hire. An expatriate pilot will work for Arik for one month, and he’s paid, for  instance, $50,000. He’s off work for one month, so he can see his family. You do business class tickets for him; he comes to the United States for vacation, and he’s still being paid the same $50,000. We saw this as an aberration. And we have human resources. We have bright young ones in our country. Aviation is for very young kids growing into it. So, I used the opportunity of this programme to create a platform and fill a gap in the growing aviation industry, so that we can have certified, world class pilots from Nigeria.

So, we decided to send our people to the two of the best aviation schools in the world: CAE Oxford and Lufthansa Aviation Training School in Frankfurt, Germany. Now, Arik does not need to spend their money to send the pilots for further training – the federal government has trained the person – so it becomes easier for Arik and the airline operators in Nigeria to immediately employ them. These Nigerian pilots don’t go on leave for one month and collect the money. If he’s going to have leave, it would be a decent one.

As we are talking, we were able to train over 150 commercial licensed pilots. But for those of them who have moved beyond the commercial pilot licenses, in Lufthansa, I left behind 21. They all got trained in South Africa, but we went into advanced training with Lufthansa and CAE Oxford. So, they’ve acquired the European licence, CPL; they’ve gone into ATPL. – special training in Boeing 737. Three of them, before I left Nigeria for my surgery, have finished their programme, and they are back. They’ve got their licenses, and done their conversions exams. One of them, Bassey, after his CPL, said he wasn’t going to fly, that he would love to be an instructor. He’s training people in aviation now.

I have Moses, who has been employed and further trained by Airpeace Airline. I felt like crying when two of my former staff said they were flying to Lagos from Abuja, and by the time they were announcing those who were flying them, they heard Moses’ name, one of their students. By the time they landed in Lagos, they had to wait to see who truly Moses was. So, the success story is there. Moses is one of them. There is Clifford Wilson and David Abang, they’ve finished from CAE Oxford, they’ve finished from Gatwick. So, they are certified Boeing 737 airborne pilots. But, they’ve not released their certificates, because, as of today, the Amnesty office owes some funds.

I want to say, first, that there is really the need to thank the soul of the late President Yar’Adua for finally agreeing to the fact that we can get peace by peace from the Niger Delta. And because the Niger-Delta struggle was not about destroying the Nigerian state, it was about yearning for good life for the people of the region. It was easier to accept the offer of peace. We thank God for the life of Goodluck Jonathan, who is a universal peace ambassador. He was Vice-President at the time, and he put his life on the line by visiting a militant camp. He could have just been kidnapped, and that would have been the greatest news. But luckily, he came out because the ex-agitators also meant well for their environment. When he became president, he consolidated on the gains of the programme. This programme has become a world model.

There’s a need for people to understand what DDR means. DDR is one of the most sensitive and most difficult peace platforms you can create. So, leaders of the region, governors, came in, and that was where our commitment came – we put in everything. And today, we now have a Nigerian made DDR programme. The United Nations didn’t get involved, under my watch; no Commonwealth, no United States government, no international body contributed one dime to fund that programme. That programme, under my watch, was funded entirely by Nigeria’s taxpayers’ money.

I came to the United States Department at a time, and they asked me whether I needed financial support, and I said no. All I needed was technical support, and support at the immigration level, by giving visas to our people who were going to come here to get the best of education and training. This was the same message I went with to the United Kingdom, same to Brussels when I came to address the EU parliament. And, finally, the visas opened, and everybody started to accommodate our people. Initially, it was difficult, because of the ex-militants tag. But I strongly fought to remove that tag, because truly they were not militants, but agitators, freedom fighters.

If you had brought a man from New York to manage this DDR programme, he was going to fail; because he was going to look for people who would help him look for who Tompolo was, who Ateke Tom was, who Boyloaf was, who Shootaside was. That was going to take him a whole year. But I knew them. I knew phone numbers. They knew mine, and we started relating. We agreed sometimes to meet in Yenagoa and other places. The template I implemented was endorsed by certain meetings where they were physically present. We scrapped the idea of menial training, of artisan training, and dealt with professional training. So, it is a model that is novel. As we talk here, even the United Nations funded DDR programme till today are having issues. In Sierra Leone, they failed. The only DDR programmes that have succeeded in the whole of Africa are the ones in Nigeria, the Niger Delta, and Burundi. And these two were put together and funded locally by the government of those countries.

Anytime the United Nations or these international organisations are involved in DDR programmes, if they are budgeting $500million, about $400million will go into consultancy services. They pay themselves all that money, and when they hear the sounds of war, they will be the first to escape. That’s what they’ve been doing. But we localised our DDR, and we have peace today.

I think what the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, is doing now is a consideration of what we have done in terms of amnesty. There is no bad or good peace. The moment a people agree to peace, whatever is needed to entrench and consolidate that peace, we should think of how to compare what war takes, and what peace can give. So, this is a model that should be applied all over the world. Even the United States has written that “surprisingly, the Nigerian Amnesty programme has surpassed expectations”. It’s there in the records. So, I don’t know why outsiders and critical reviewers can see success in what we have done, and we don’t see it here. We were the precedence. So, if you look deep, you will see some mistakes that can be improved. But that’s not surprising because it was a novel programme.

What is the rationale for the foreign scholarship and training programmes, when there are institutions with such capacity in Nigeria. Is that not capital flight?
Thank you for this question. Indeed, the foreign scholarship and vocational training programmes, including aviation, were some of the lofty initiatives we introduced. Apart from the fact that we could comfortably accommodate these programmes in our budget, the major consideration was the proper reintegration of these youths from the region. The template adopted for the programme was based on the global DDR model, which made the reorienting and rehabilitation of such non-state actors outside the environment they were used to a key aspect of the process. We were committed to a process that would produce completely transformed individuals, who would no longer find attractive their former lifestyle in the creeks. Life in the creeks is actually very harsh. So, the new environment they are exposed to locally or overseas helps the reintegration process greatly. By the time most of them returned to the country, you notice a completely different person. Of course, our country is better for it.

But talking about capital flight, we tried to check that through the approval of the National Assembly to build four state-of-the-art vocational training centres in the Niger Delta. Even though our mandate did not include capital projects, we saw the necessity for such centres. Before I left, the training centres sited in Bomadi in Delta, Agadagba-Obon in Ondo, Kaiama in Bayelsa and another in Rivers State were near completion. These are specialised centres for training in oil and gas technology, power and electricity management as well as maritime studies.

So why is the EFCC coming after you, if you have had a good record during your tenure of office?
I want to say that, first, I will never be scared, because I was a public officer. I am not afraid of EFCC. I remain a public figure. In running a programme that is so novel, without any precedence, no template, and I created a template with my team, and we funded it, and have so many success stories all over, things like these are bound to come. EFCC does not work in a vacuum. People write petitions. I have seen some of the petitions, and so many of them are frivolous. For example, a group of ex-militants claim that I denied them the opportunity of being accommodated in the programme. That’s a petition before EFCC; and that they should force me to pay them their 65,000 from 2010 when they disarmed, according to them. And they are 38 in number. So, that’s the crime I committed. I’m not the one who accommodates people. Before I came on board this programme, 20,192 were taking part in the programme. When I came, another 6,166 were documented. So, put together, over 26,000 people were already documented. I only came to advocate for over 3,000 people because I saw danger in what we were doing, as part of learning on the job.

There was a growing population of Niger-Delta youths, women, young boys and girls, who didn’t believe that the Amnesty programme was going to create pilots, marine officers, educational opportunities for so many people. They thought even some of them were going to be captured by government and put in jail. So, they stayed away. So, I went into the records of DDR, and found out that the woman in the community, whose livelihood was affected by the negative operations of even the ex-agitators, and the Nigerian military, in maintaining law and order, was also due for compensation. The youths of that community who were not ex-agitators, but suffered collaterally for the damages arising from the conflict, were also due for something. A lot of letters were coming to me. So, I ran to the president, and begged him to help the programme. True, the United Nations has provisions for non ex-militants into the programme, so that we would not be seen as a country paying for violence alone. For that purpose, Mr. President approved the third phase Amnesty. This was how we got this young boys and girls. Some of them have not even seen a gun before, but they were covered by what Mr. President defined as the violence impacted communities slot. Most ex-agitators never wanted to leave Nigeria, that’s why most of them were involved in the vocational training. Most of the people you are seeing outside are those who were affected by the violence. And this was given across ethnic nationalities in the Niger-Delta. Everybody took advantage of this.
I am never scared of defending my stewardship. It was a trust from the tax-payers of our beloved country Nigeria. So, I’m ready to defend what I did in that office. Every public officer is open to scrutiny; I am no exception.

I’m not a saint. We made mistakes. We made errors. We corrected the ones we could see. So those who succeeded us must be able to review them and make the programme better. I’m human. But, consciously, I did not hurt my country. I committed the entirety of my life, the comfort of my life and family, to ensure that that programme succeeded under my watch.
However, when such scrutiny is suspected to be laced with political undertones, witch-hunt, we would quickly seek protection in the law, against unnecessary harassment, detention, media trial. But you still have to create that window of having the opportunity to create that window. And that’s what I’m doing with the EFCC.

I must be treated as innocent; and when those signs are threatened, the only option left for common men like us is to seek refuge in the law, while still opening the opportunity of defending our stewardship.

Everyone who receives invitation from the EFFC says it’s politically motivated. Are you in this group?
Sometimes I think so. Sometimes, I take solace in the fact that it also gives me an opportunity to stand before Nigerians today and defend the beautiful job I have done for our beloved country, which is being misunderstood by too many now. They will definitely understand in five, ten years now; when the thousands of students we trained graduate; when these students are in positions of authorities; at that time, maybe in my old age, I would be able to hear people say Kuku deserves national honours. This will come, I’m confident.

Even if it is political, it is not created from the EFCC. The EFCC is only doing their job, based on petitions that were written to them. They are acting based on petitions. They don’t hate me. Since 2007, I’ve been serving, and they never invited me any single day. But when people started writing petitions, they have to invite me. If they don’t people will even say the EFCC is taking sides. So, they are doing their statutory work. However, even the political one might also be wrong. I’m a PDP stalwart in Ondo state, but it might be wrong to even assume that  the political witch-hunt is only coming from APC. It is possible that PDP people in Ondo State or outside, who are threatened by the likelihood of a Kuku attempting to be a governor, might even be the people fuelling it. So, the political angle to it is not restricted to a political party. You know Nigeria. Even APC people might not even care about you; but your own PDP people might come up to be doing these things.

Will you honour the EFCC invitation?
I will honour the EFCC. When I got their invite, I was already in London, on my way for my surgery. It came in the night. I told my lawyer, and we wrote them that by 30th of September, I will honour their invitation. But what you plan could be different from God’s. I’ve been here recuperating, but till today, clearly, flying from here is going to be very hectic and terrible for me. So, I do want to honour them, but I have to see my doctor to see if it would be possible for me to travel so that I can honour the invitation. But if he says no, I will write to them. I will love to honour them, because they are our statutory institution. If we, public officials, do not honour our institutions, it would not strengthen our democracy. I must be alive to honour their invite. So, giving me further extension is not going to be difficult for them.

Do you have any fear about the future of the Amnesty programme?
I am a bit worried, leaving the programme at the time I did. I didn’t meet a soul in the university when I came on board, but I left behind over 4,000 students of Niger-Delta extraction in various schools, home and abroad. I didn’t meet any aviation trainee, I have left behind over 150 commercial pilot licensed trained, over 30 ATPL holders, and 10 of those who have finished their programme. But there were still some little things to make most of them employable. Today, I still remember people like Timothy who left Edo state and went to the School of Oceanography in Lagos, because he was so determined to do marine training. Beyond that, we took them to the world maritime institute, in Poland. Today, NLNG in Bonny engaged Timothy and put him onboard a vessel for sea time. He called me from the Port of Spain, from the waters of Cape Town in South Africa. He called me from Barcelona. He has called me from India. That’s a product of our collective effort in the Amnesty programme. These guys are our hope in Nigeria.

My concern is that this academic revolution we had brought into the annals of Nigeria, whether they are Niger-Delta people or not, the key point is that they are Nigerians. My concern is that their life ambitions are not going be truncated. Luckily, a few of them are graduating this year. I am sure over 300 of the people we took outside will graduate this year. Their tuition will be paid. I just pray for continuity. I am worried.

After the elections and inauguration, I heard Mr. President’s inaugural address. Knowing President Muhammed Buhari, he is a lover of education; he’s a man who must believe in what you are explaining. If the opportunity is given to the right people to explain the Amnesty programme to Mr. President and the NSA, I do believe that there will be continuity definitely beyond December. It is not going to be possible to take 17 and 16 year olds to schools in the UK, and abandon their academic pursuit. This, Mr. President, will never do. But it needs direct and practical explanation on where they are from, and what they are doing in those countries. And these all forms part of my brief. And I do believe that when Mr. President pays attention strictly to the Amnesty programme, he will definitely see. I urge Mr. President to send a team led by the coordinator of the Amnesty programme to Europe and America, and see what we were able to do with that office. They are Nigerians.

I’m also aware that there are steps to return the aviation students who left because of lack of payments. I hope they return. These are critical points that can really sadden me. Imagine that billions of naira have been invested in the education of these kids, and that they were returned as a result of non-continuity by the Nigeria government.
So, it is vital that that continuity happens. If it does not happen, it would be a big blow to me. I put in five years of my life to make it happen. These kids are the hope of the Niger-Delta. They are the ones who will come back and drive the economic development and political consciousness of the Niger-Delta. We cannot truncate this dream. This is vital.

Most importantly, the federal government need to know that the Amnesty programme cannot be terminated in December. It cannot. While I was there, even under President Goodluck Jonathan, I wrote to him severally. When we planned, it was a five year initial programme. At that time, it was about first phase. It has nothing to do with the second and third phase. Now, the five year plan has been fulfilled. But because of incessant protests for inclusion and accommodation by those who didn’t believe in the process, and later saw that it was succeeding, why would government not listen? So, more people, about 10,000 to the original 20,000, were included. And this inclusion was not considered when the five year plan was made. So, these 10,000 people, government still owes them. We owe them an obligation to get them rehabilitated and reintegrated into the Nigerian society. We need to fully reform them. They have fulfilled their own part of the contract by disarming and coming out. And government also gave a commitment. And that part, for the second and third phase, has not been fulfilled by government.
So, for me, speaking from experience and what we were able to do, within this period of four years, it would take nothing less than two to three years more.

Do you believe the new Coordinator can work to move things faster?
Before I left office, the full brief has been written and given to the new coordinator. I believe very strongly that, the new coordinator, being an Ijaw man from Bayelsa state, understands the Niger-Delta environment. He does know of the Amnesty programme, and what it means to the Niger-Delta and Nigeria. He has also being in charge of peace-keeping operations of the Nigerian Army. I actually visited him at a time in Zaria when I went to deliver a lecture on security in Zaria. He hosted me so profoundly and held me in very high esteem. I was really marvelled. I do want to say that, on behalf of our people, the new coordinator is a proud son of the Niger-Delta. We are proud of him. I do believe and pray for his success. He should look carefully into what we’ve done, put bias or sentiments apart, and do all he can to entrench and deepen the gains we have recorded already. Because that would not be Kuku’s legacy. By the time he leaves, it would be his own legacy. Kuku would have to come and struggle out his legacy  from there. A lot of people would say General Boro did this and that; so, he must take advantage of what we have done. We’ve set the template. Godwin Abe came at a time when to look into the case of an ex-militant was dangerous, but he succeeded.

Chief Timi Alaibe almost got killed, with respect to this peace process. He was attacked, a lot of vehicles damaged, and he barely escaped. That’s the kind of programme we are talking about. From the day I came in, there were protests here and there, attack here and there, until we stabilised the programme. The programme has been stabilised and we’ve done our human best. I believe that the new coordinator has the capacity to deepen the programme. I believe that he has the support and wherewithal to deal with the issues in this programme on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of the Niger-Delta.

The carnage of the cattle rearers By Femi Fani-Kayode

I support the call by Afenifere that all Fulani herdsmen should be banned from the south-west. Actually I believe that they should be banned from the entire south and not just the south west. I also stand by every word that I wrote in my widely published essay titled ”The Herdsmen From Hell”. This contribution serves as a follow up to that essay.

The bottom line is this: we do not want those that slaughter innocent people, including women and children, in our midst.Those that say that we must remain silent when aliens and vandals invade our land, rape our women and kill our people are, at best, misinformed and misuguided and, at worse, insensitive and wicked.

How can they expect us to remain silent when our elders and leaders are being terrorised and brutalised on a regular basis. Those that harbor such views and that have such misgivings are suffering from a callous and diseased state of mind and they shall be put to shame. No matter what they say we will continue to expose and resist this barbarity and we shall continue to call it precisely what it is: pure and unadulterated evil. We shall not be intimidated by those that seek to silence us and neither shall we cowered into silence.

I have no regrets for describing those murderous Fulani herdsmen as tsetse flies. Actually they are worse than that because, like Satan, they only come to kill, steal and destroy. It is obvious to any discerning mind that this categorization is limited to those Fulani herdsmen that indulge in barbaric and criminal activities and not the entire Fulani race.

Like any other ethnic group there are good Fulanis and there are bad ones. For someone to suggest that we ought to spare the bad ones simply because we are scared of offending the sensibilities of the good ones makes no sense to me. I have many Fulani friends and the last thing on my mind would be to demonise an entire ethnic group. For anyone to suggest that a literary attack and a verbal assault on a bunch murderers and killers who happen to be of Fulani extraction is an attack on the entire Fulani race is absurd. Worse still to describe such an attack as ”hate speech against the Fulani tribe” is simply asinine: it is nothing more than the gross manifestation of a subterranean slave mentality and an attempt at sucking up to those that believe that they own Nigeria.

Those that have voiced such puerile nonsense ought to provide an answer to the following question: should we remain silent when we see some wicked and uneducated cattle rearers committing atrocities which may, if not properly checked, result in a full scale ethnic war. If the herdsmen had been Yoruba or Igbo I would have condemned them in similar terms and labelled them in precisely the same way. I may even have gone further because I would have expected far better from my own people.

I also happen to know that if Yoruba or Igbo traders or farmers went to the core north and singled-out the elders, leaders, traditional rulers and women and children of the Fulani tribe for murder, pillage, torture and rape all hell would have broken loose by now and their reaction would not have been limited to harsh words, strongly-worded essays and uncomplimentary categorizations.

The bottom line is this: the days of us keeping quite and suffering in silence in the name of political correctness are long over. If we don’t want trouble and we don’t want matters to escalate we must speak out against evil very clearly and very quickly and we must condemn and correctly label those that like to shed human blood at the drop of a hat. This is especially so when they prey on the weak, the elderly and the more vulnerable in our society.

It is the gutless cowards that live amongst us that seek to play down the pillage, murder and rape of others that are guilty of hate crimes and collusion with genocidal maniacs and not those of us that have the courage to call a spade a spade.

Those that support the atrocities of the herdsmen are insensitive to the feelings and sufferings of others and that is the biggest crime of all. They hate the victims of these terrible atrocities and they love and make excuses for the perpetrators. They are completely incapable of any form of empathy with those that have been violated and slaughtered and in their heart of hearts they relish the atrocities and they consider them fair game and fair sport.

A good example of such people is the individual who leads an organisaton which is supposed to protect the rights of the less fortunate in our society. This individual apparently does not deem it appropriate to stand up against the evil that the herdsmen have been indulging in for the last few years and he prefers to pamper them. Why am I not surprised?

Instead of speaking up for the human rights and civil liberties of those that have been maimed, killed and persecuted as he has been charged to do, the man is busy trying to say things that are politically correct. Whilst he is attempting to please and impress his new paymasters people are being killed by his cattle-rearing friends on a daily basis. I say shame on him and those that think like him and I honestly believe that the blood of those innocent people that have been maimed and slaughtered by the herdsman are partly on his hands because he has encouraged them with his complicit silence and his veiled support.

Given the attitude of men like that, coupled with the apparent indifference of the Federal Government to the whole issue, it is clear that the carnage and tyranny of the Fulani herdsmen may not end any time soon. I say this because barely ten days after the abduction and matcheting (yes matcheting) of Chief Olu Falae and on October 1st 2015, which is Nigeria’s independence day, the Fulani herdsmen struck again. On that day they abducted a traditional ruler from the Yoruba-speaking area of Kogi state. His name is Oba Adebisi Obademi and they abducted him from his palace in Apa-Bunu in the Kabba-Bunu area of his state. They have asked the family to pay a ransom for his release.

On the same day they released a 70 year old Yoruba cleric by the name of Pastor Japhet Obafemi who is from Ilepa, Ikare Akoko in Ondo state. They had abducted him and kept him in tortuous captivity for 11 grueling days. Sadly a number of others whose homes were invaded by the herdsmen were not so lucky. Mr. Agbaose Sowetan from Oja-Odan, Ogun state and Mrs. Ayeshi Balogun from Asa village, Ogun state, both of whom were farmers, were not allowed to go home to their families but instead they were murdered in cold blood. According to press reports Mrs. Balogun, who was a mother of three, was gang-raped before being hacked to death.

Can there be any greater evil than this? Who will tame these wicked and hard-hearted herdsmen and who will clip the wings of these bloodthirsty cattle-rearers? Who will deliver us from these sadists and terrorists that have no sense of restraint or remorse and that have no mercy or compassion? Who will stand up to them boldly and say “let my people go”?

Permit me to conclude this intervention by repeating an interesting and relevant contribution from the famous British historian, writer and educationalist Dr. T.R. Batten. He wrote:

“The Fulani were at their most influential in Gobir. Then a dispute broke out between their Imam, Usman Dan Fodiyo and Sarkin Gobir Yunfa.The Fulani rallied behind their leader who encouraged them to defy their Hausa Chief. He began a jihad and fighting broke out. Thus the Fulani seized the country by force against the will of those who lived there. The enmity had nothing to do with religion for among those who fought (against the Fulani) were many Muslims. It was about the Fulani’s wish to seize power from the Hausas.”

It follows that the herdsman and those that they represent conquer by infiltration, assimilation and guile. Those that doubt this should find out what became of the ancient Hausa kingdoms. They should also find out about the terrible fate that befell the famous Yoruba general, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the old Oyo empire, Afonja, at the hands of Abdulsalami, the son of his erstwhile “ally” and friend the Fulani Salih Janta (A.K.A Shehu Alimi).

After Afonja died Abdulsalami killed his son and took over his throne in Ilorin. Since that time a Fulani Emir, with a flag from the Sultan of Sokoto, has ruled Ilorin whilst the Yoruba descendants of Afonja have been denied the throne in a predominantly Yoruba town that was founded and established by Aare Afonja, their illustrious Yoruba forefather. It is better to learn from the mistakes of history rather than to allow them to be repeated.

Boko Haram: Be extra vigilant – NSCDC boss tells personnel

By Daily Post Staff

The Commandant-General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Abdullahi Gana, has challenged the corps personnel to be extra vigilant in the discharge of their duties.

Gana, who gave the challenge in a statement by the corps’ Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Okeh, said the call had become imperative in view of the Friday’s bomb attacks in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He, particularly, directed them to ensure effective protection of critical infrastructure and national assets.

The commandant, who inspected scenes of the bomb blasts that occurred at Kuje and Nyanya districts of the FCT, urged members of the corps to redouble their efforts in ensuring the safety of lives and properties across the country.

“We must redouble our efforts in the provision of maximum security by becoming extra vigilant to deny undesirable elements from wrecking havoc on innocent citizens,’’ he added.

While commending the timely response of agencies in addressing the plights of the victims of the explosions, the NSCDC boss called for greater synergy, partnership and collaboration among the various security agencies in tackling security challenges in the country.(NAN)

With 18 Dead, 41 Injured in Abuja Blasts, Buhari Orders Nationwide Surveillance

By Tobi Soniyi, Jaiyeola Andrews, Dele Ogbodo, Senator Iroegbu and Paul Obi  in Abuja

Following the multiple bomb blasts in Nyanya and Kuje, two of the satellite towns of the Federal Capital City Abuja, President Muhammadu Buhari has directed security agencies to mount surveillance across the country.

The President gave the order after he received a briefing from a fact-finding team he had sent to the areas of the Federal Capital Territory which came under terrorist bombings on Friday evening.

His directive came just as the Abuja Zonal Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ishayah Chonoko, confirmed that 59 people were affected by the blasts.  He said 18 persons lost their lives, while 41 others were injured.

A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the president as directing the security services to raise their surveillance activities to meet the challenges of a retreating, desperate terrorist army and the general public to remain acutely aware of security in and around them.

Sympathising with  the families of the victims of the deadly incidents as well as families of those who were killed in similar incidents a few days ago in Borno State,  the president also expressed optimism that Boko Haram would soon be defeated and reiterated his determination  to rid the country of  violent extremism.
"The defeat of Boko Haram insurgency is in sight, but to remove violence and make the country safe, we must tackle the prevalence of violent extremism. 

"In doing this, we will learn from the experience of the international community,"  Buhari said.
The fact-finding team, made up of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation,  Babachir David Lawal, Chief of Staff to the President,  Abba Kyari, Permanent Secretaries Ministry of Health and Federal Capital Territory, as well as the police commissioner in charge of the FCT, visited the Kuje and Nyanya bombing scenes and greeted victims of the incidents at the National Hospital and the Maitama General Hospital. 

They also inspected the wards and mortuaries and consoled grieving family members on behalf of the president.
In another statement issued later which he personally signed, the President said the attacks in Maiduguri, Yola and Abuja were apparently timed to coincide with Independence Day celebrations - which was marked a day before the incident.
His statement reads: "These cowardly attacks expose the real face of the planners and perpetrators of these crimes. What quarrel do they have with the good people of Nyanya motor park? What issue do they have with innocent people in market places in Maiduguri, Yola and Kuje?

"It is clear this battle is not ideological. It is between the forces of peace and order and the evil forces of murder and destruction.
"Security forces and other local authorities have been instructed to maintain extra vigilance to forestall future attacks. 
"The Armed Forces have been empowered to crush what remains of Boko Haram. This government is determined to stamp out Boko Haram and all other terrorists of whatever persuasions and bring all sponsors to justice."
He commiserated  with the families of the dead and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Giving a breakdown of the casualty figure, Abuja Zonal Coordinator of NEMA said three people died and 21 were injured in the Nyanya blasts. He put the death toll in the Kuje blasts at 15 with 20 people sustaining injuries.
But the figure given by the military was slightly different. The Public Relations Officer (PRO), Guards Brigade, Abuja, Capt. Bashir Jajira, in a statement yesterday, said 17 people were killed in the multiple blasts.

According to Jajira: " Two bomb blasts were recorded in Kuje; the first one was near the Area Council Police Station, killing the only female suicide bomber. The second blast was around Kuje Main Market with about 13 persons confirmed dead so far, bringing it to a total of 14 souls (that) were lost including two suicide bombers (a male and female) and 12 civilians.
"Their bodies have been recovered, and about 18 civilians who were injured have been taken to Kuje General Hospital and as well as some to the National Hospital."

"Meanwhile, there were three casualties in Nyanya, comprising two suicide bombers (male and female) and a civilian. There were also civilians that sustained various degree of injuries, but there was no casualty from the military."
It was also revealed yesterday that a seven-month-old baby was among those injured in the bomb blasts. The baby was among those rushed to the National Hospital by rescuers but the whereabouts of the parents were still unknown as at press time.

Chief Information Officer of National Hospital, Dr Tayo Haastrup, told journalists that "we can't find the parents for now. The more important thing is now let's just take care of the baby."
Officials are also unable to determine if the baby's parents are among the dead or injured at the hospital.
"We just pray they are not among the dead," said Haastrup.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu,  has directed all hospitals in the FCT where victims of the blasts are being treated  to provide adequate medical care to the victims as the FCT administration would foot all their medical bills.
The Permanent Secretary gave this directive when he visited the scenes of the blasts in Kuje and Nyanya yesterday. He also visited the victims at the Kuje General Hospital and the National Hospital, Abuja.

While assuring the public that the FCT administration would provide full medical treatment to all those injured in the unfortunate incident, he directed the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat and the FCT Emergency Management Agency to redouble their efforts.
He however appealed to residents of FCT to always avoid crowded areas, as those behind the dastardly acts usually target such places for maximum damage.

Assuring the people that security agencies in the FCT were on top of the situation, the permanent secretary urged residents of FCT to be more vigilant and report any "suspicious person or movement  to the law enforcement agents."
Meanwhile, there were fears at the weekend over the proximity of Kuje,  one of the scenes of the bomb blasts, to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), coupled with the recent arrest of a Boko Haram suspect at the same airport.
But Federal Government yesterday said it was taking adequate measures toward ensuring the safety and security of passengers, airport staff and aviation infrastructure at the nation's airports.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Aviation, Hajia Binta Bello, in a telephone interview with THISDAY, said the ministry would soon be through with the installation of its security equipment capable of detecting bombs, explosives and any form of IEDs at long distance.
"Also, long distance detective Close Circuit cameras, are being installed simultaneously," she revealed.
While recalling the arrest of a Boko Haram suspect few weeks ago at the Abuja airport, she acknowledged that the arrest was a collaborative efforts between the Department of Security Service (DSS) and Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security network.

THISDAY observed  that there was increased security presence at the airport yesterday. A Lagos-bound passenger, who simply identified himself as Moses, while acknowledging the unusual presence of security men at the airport, said it was understandable, considering the nearness of Kuje to the airport.

Managing Director of FAAN, Engr. Saleh Dunoma, in a text message to THISDAY, said since a suspected terrorist was caught at the airport last month, security measures had been put in place to check any security breach.
"Since then the security level has been raised and enhanced. And this is being maintained in collaboration with all the security agencies at the airport," he said.

Also, in a bid to allay the growing fears at the airport as a result of the bomb blast in Kuje, Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu, who heads FAAN's Abuja Public Relations unit, said security personnel in collaboration with FAAN had devised strategies  for constant monitoring of all movements at the airport.

"We are in touch with the Airforce and the military to make sure that both the passengers and airport infrastructure are secured."
On his part, the Commander, Guards Brigade, Brig-Gen. Musa Yusuf, assured Nigerians, especially FCT residents of improved security measures in and around the nation's Capital.
Yusuf in response to THISDAY enquiries allayed the fears that areas around the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja road could be under security threat following the bomb blast in nearby Kuje town.

PMB, Sultan Make List Of World’s Top 50 Muslim Leaders

Nnamdi Mbawike

— Oct 4, 2015 7:58 am | Leave a comment

President Muhammadu Buhari, the Sultan of Sokoto, Saád Abubakar III and a Maiduguri-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh are among those listed as the world’s 50 most influential Muslim leaders.

The Muslim 500, an annual publication of the World’s 500 most influential Muslims, recognised the three Nigerian leaders in its 7th edition published recently.

According to the publication, there are 1.7 billion Muslims in the world today, making up approximately 23 per cent of the world’s population or one-fifth of mankind.

It said those recognised have a sense of belonging to the Muslim community worldwide, besides being citizens of their respective countries.

The publication measured influence some Muslims have on other Muslims to include: any person who has the power (be it cultural, ideological, financial, political or otherwise) to make a change that will have a significant impact on the Muslim world, adding that the impact could be either positive or negative, depending on one’s point of view.

It added that the influence could be of a religious scholar directly addressing Muslims and influencing their beliefs, ideas and behaviour, or that it could be a ruler shaping the socio-economic factors within which people live their lives or of artists shaping popular culture.

“The first two examples also point to the fact that the lists, and especially the Top 50, are dominated by religious scholars and heads of state. Their dominant and lasting influence cannot be denied, especially the rulers, who in many cases also appoint religious scholars to their respective positions,” it said.

While the publication listed the top 500 influential Muslim leaders, the first part recognised the top 50 in which President Buhari, Abubakar and Saleh appear.

President Buhari was listed as the Number 20, while the Sultan and Sheikh Saleh are listed as numbers 24 and 38 respectively.

In a short citation, The Muslim 500 recognised Buhari’s past military career, his anti-corruption credentials and his promise and subsequent efforts to deal with the insurgent group, Boko Haram.

It also recognised that on economy and infrastructure.

“President Buhari was the first chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and was the mastermind behind the construction of 20 oil depots throughout Nigeria, a project involving over 3200 kilometres of pipelines,” the magazine said. “Both the Warri and Kaduna refineries were built under his leadership. He also established the blueprints for the country’s petro-chemical and liquefied natural gas programmes”.

On environment, it said Buhari is “an active environmentalist who has drafted several plans to preserve wildlife in Nigeria. He has also exerted great efforts on the conservation of nature in Nigeria; such as controlling the logging industry whereby he has ensured that double the number of trees felled are replaced by loggers. He has also worked on restricting the Ecological Fund Office so it can deliver on environmental challenges.”

As for the Sultan Abubakar, the publication stated that he holds an important administrative influence in Nigerian religious life.

“Abubakar is the titular ruler of Sokoto in Northern Nigeria and is also the head of the Nigerian National Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. Leadership of this council means that the Sultan of Sokoto remains the only figure that can legitimately claim to speak on behalf of all Nigerian Muslims.

“This role has become increasingly influential over the years with a rise in interreligious tensions between Nigeria’s Muslim majority north and Christian-majority south,” it said.

The Muslim 500 also said the Sultan has started many initiatives to counter and reduce the influence of Boko Haram, including inviting an international joint Muslim/Christian Delegation to visit Nigeria.

As for Sheikh Saleh, the publication recognised him as a lecturer in the fields of Tafsir Al Qur’an (exegesis) and the Hadith as well as Islamic sciences, jurisprudence and ethics.

“He has over 100 written works. He has held and still heads several significant positions, some of which are, founder and mentor of the Islamic Renaissance Organisation, adviser to the Federal Government on its Islamic Affairs since 1992, Assistant Secretary-general for African Affairs in the World Islamic People’s Leadership 1989 and many more”.

Diezani’s Road To Jail: How UK NCA Investigated Her For 2 Years

Reuben Buhari

— Oct 4, 2015 8:00 am

Nigeria’s immediate past Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, may be on her way to spending 14 years in prison, if found guilty of alleged charges of bribery, corruption and money laundering for which she was arrested in the United Kingdom (UK) on Friday.

This is even as it emerged yesterday that the former minister has been under the watch of the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) since 2013.

Money Laundering Regulations are designed to protect the UK financial system as well as prevent and detect crime. If a business is covered by these regulations, controls are put in place to prevent it from being used for money laundering.

According to Wikipedia, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 contains the primary UK anti-money laundering legislation including provisions requiring businesses within the “regulated sector” (banking, investment, money transmission, certain professions, etc.) to report to the authorities suspicions of money laundering by customers or others.

Money laundering is broadly defined in the UK. In effect, any handling or involvement with any proceeds of any crime (or monies or assets representing the proceeds of crime) can be a money laundering offence. An offender’s possession of the proceeds of his own crime falls within the UK definition of money laundering. The definition also covers activities within the traditional definition of money laundering, as a process that conceals or disguises the proceeds of crime to make them appear legitimate.

Principal money laundering offences in the UK carry a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

In an update on its website on yesterday, the NCA said investigation into allegations of corruption against Alison-Madueke, and the four other people arrested alongside her had been on since 2013.

“The investigation commenced in 2013 under the Proceeds of Corruption Unit, and transferred to the NCA earlier this year,” the update stated.

Also according to yesterday’s update, the former minister had been released on “conditional bail.”

The other four unnamed persons arrested with her were also granted bail.

“All five people arrested were released on conditional police bail later that evening, pending further investigation both in the UK and overseas.”

The conditions of the bail were not immediately clear.

Until recently, the Proceeds of Corruption Unit was domiciled at the Metropolitan Police Service.

But after the International Corruption Unit was created at the NCA in line with the UK Anti-Corruption Plan, the Proceeds of Corruption Unit at the Metropolitan Police and the Overseas Anti-Corruption Unit of the City of London Police were scrapped.

The ICU then became the UK’s prime agency for the investigation of bribery of foreign public officials by individuals or companies from the UK, and money laundering by corrupt foreign officials and their associates.

It was also gathered yesterday that Alison-Madueke and her colleagues were barred from travelling out of the UK pending conclusion of investigation and their arraignment in court.

Meanwhile, those familiar with the investigation have confirmed that more former officials of the Nigerian government may also be under investigation.

LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that Mrs. Alison-Madueke was one of the most influential officials of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration and one of the longest serving petroleum ministers.

Her tenure as minister of Nigeria’s petroleum resources has gone down in history as one of the most controversial with countless allegations of corruption, many of which were not prosecuted, despite confirmation of same by probe reports.

Allison-Madueke: More corrupt Nigerians to be arrested – UK Government

Indications emerged Saturday night that a former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, who was arrested and released in the United Kingdom, on Friday, on money laundering allegations, may be charged to court, this week.

It was gathered that aside the four other persons arrested with the former minister, more suspects may also be arraigned soon.

Shocking revelation emerged during the week that when the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives raided the Abuja home of Allison-Madueke, cash running into millions of Naira were recovered.

Sources told Vanguard that the identities of all the suspects would only be unveiled at the point of charging them to court.

The official explained that the law establishing the NCA does not allow it to name those being investigated before charging them to court.

The official said: “Indeed we cannot name the five persons who were arrested and granted police conditional bail until we are ready to charge them to court.

“The law does not permit us to do so and we will release appropriate information to the media as the case progresses”.

But it was learnt from sources close to the British government that the NCA might have concluded arrangements to arraign Diezani and other suspects believed to be mostly Nigerian oil business men, suspected to have aided and abetted money laundering while the former minister was in office.

No soldier was killed in Abuja bomb explosions – Army

October 4, 2015Premium Times

Scene of bomb blast in Kuje main market, Abuja

The Nigeria Army on Saturday dismissed reports that soldiers were among casualties of Friday’s bomb attacks in Kuje and Nyanya areas of Abuja.

A statement issued in Abuja on Saturday by the spokesman of the Nigeria Army Guards Brigade, Bashir Jajira, said all the 17 casualties including the suicide bombers were civilians.

He said all the dead and injured persons in the two attacks executed by suspected Boko Haram insurgents had been taken to the Kuje General Hospital and the National hospital.

“At about 09:30 p.m. last night, two bomb blasts were recorded at Kuje, one near the Kuje Area Council Police Station and the other near the Kuje main market.

“In Nyanya three lives were lost comprising two suicide bombers and one civilian died and three civilians were injured in the bomb explosion.

“In both incidents no casualty was recorded from the military,” Mr. Jajira said.

Friday’s explosion was the first in the Nigerian capital since that of a shopping plaza -Emab – in the Wuse 2 District of the city on June 24, 2014, killing at least 21 and injuring 17 others, according to police.

But despite the huge fortification of the capital territory against attacks – through extensive roadblocks and security patrols – the terrorists sneaked in Friday, killing many.

In the first attack on Friday, the insurgents descended on Kuje, a town few kilometres from the city centre, blowing up a market and a police station.

Almost simultaneously, another bomb sounded in Nyanya, one of the most populated towns in Abuja, which had suffered similar attacks in the past.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks but security and rescue agencies believe the bombings have the imprimatur of the Boko Haram sect, which has launched similar attacks in the past.

The explosions were the first in Abuja since President Muhammadu Buhari took office in May, with a pledge to defeat Boko Haram.

The president gave the Nigerian military up to November to end the insurgency that has killed over 20000 people since 2009.

Nigeria police commissioner dies in U.S.

The Commissioner of Police and Commandant, Nigeria Police College, Ikeja, Tunde Sobulor, is dead.

Mr. Sobulor died on Friday in Atlanta Georgia, United States of America, after a protracted illness.

The eldest son of the late Commissioner, Robert Sobulor, who confirmed the death, said he got the news around midnight Nigerian time.

He said his sister, Laila, who was with their father in the U.S., called to inform him of his death while he was already sleeping in Nigeria.

He said his father would be buried in Atlanta Georgia after a family meeting currently going on.

”The vacuum my father’s death has created cannot be filled in the family and his profession.

”He was dedicated to the police profession and his family. He was an operational person.

”He usually say to me: think, when you think, you carry out the action,” he said.

Also speaking, the immediate younger brother to late police chief , Kamarudeen Shomide, described him as a great loss to the family.

Mr. Shomide said the late commissioner loved his family and his profession, stressing that they would miss his brotherly love.

”He was so dear to us. I am talking to you now with heavy heart as a man. He died young at about 58 years,” he said.

A nephew to the late commissioner, Folahan Sobulor, said he would be remembered for his mentorship and teaching.

Mr. Folahan said they were together towards the end of the commissioner’s life before he travelled to the US. for treatment.

”He has always be a fatherly figure to me. My dad is his immediate elder brother. He created a name that is like umbrella to us all.

”He was an extremely dedicated officer to his work. I cherished the moment where we have disagreement and later agreed,” Mr. Folahan said.

The Nigeria Police Flag at the police college, Ikeja, was flown at half mast.

Some family members and friends were seen in different groups at his official residence discussing the development.

Late Mr. Sobulor was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Police and posted to Ikeja police college in 2014.