Obaseki Has No Right To Order My Arrest, Says Oshiomhole

 

Edo state governor...Adams

A photo combination of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki and APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole

A former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, has dismissed the call for his arrest by incumbent Governor Godwin Obaseki, saying his successor has no right to give such an order.

The two political gladiators have been at odds with each other for years, a feud that led to Obaseki, elected in 2016 on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in his first term, forced to defect in 2020 to the Peoples Demcoratic Party where his re-election bid was achieved.

On Wednesday, violent protests in the state over a controversial naira swap policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the ensuing scarcity of new currency prompted a response by the state government in which it accused Oshiomhole of masterminding the demonstrations.

Obaseki was quoted as alleging that the former governor mobilised thugs to vandalise banks and disrupt the peace of the state over the naira scarcity.

“At this stage, we call on security agencies to arrest Adams Oshiomhole for questioning and to account for his movement, especially here in Benin City in the last few days. He deliberately instigated the protest of the people,” read the statement by the state Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare.

But Oshiomhole, addressing journalists in Edo State on Friday, said his reaction to the allegation was one of amusement.

“When I read initially on social media… that Obaseki has ordered the police to arrest me, I had a very good laugh.

“First, because Obaseki doesn’t know that he doesn’t have the power to order the arrest of a citizen. And that’s the reason why some people have reservations about what people like Obaseki talk about state police.”

The APC senatorial candidate in Edo North argued that it was up to the law enforcement agencies to investigate anyone they deemed a person of interest and that if found wanting, they may be invited for questioning.

“The police have not – and I would be surprised if they have now – generated to the level of taking orders from a politician who is faced with a crisis of confidence and the people are revolting against him,” he added.

Oshiomhole revealed his idea of an ideal political leader and how government should respond.

“A governor or a leader must be able to win the hearts of his people and talk them out of bitterness, and above all, give them hope that whatever are the challenges that they face, the government is in a position to do something about it. This is what the government should do.”

Noting that protests were part of democratic ideals, Oshiomhole however denounced the riots that broke out across the state.

“I believe Nigerians have a right to protest against anything that they are not happy about. But I also want Nigerians to understand that there’s a huge difference between protest and rioting.

“The problem of rioting is like shooting a gun into a market: you don’t know who it will hit. But when you peacefully decide to protest, that is what distinguishes a free people from slaves,” he said.

 

 

 

 

Banksy Unveils New ‘Valentine’s Day Mascara’ Artwork

 

Workers remove a chest freezer that had formed part of an artwork, acknowledged to by street artist Banksy, from the side of a house in Margate, south east England on February 14, 2023. – The artwork appears to show a a 1950s housewife with a swollen eye, missing a tooth, and apparently shutting a man in a freezer. The freezer was later removed by council workers. (Photo by William EDWARDS / AFP) 

British graffiti artist Banksy on Tuesday unveiled his latest UK street artwork, which appears to take aim at domestic violence against women as the world celebrates Valentine’s Day.

The mural, which appeared in Margate in southeast England, depicts a 1950s-style housewife with a swollen eye and a missing tooth seemingly shoving her male partner into a real chest freezer.

Despite being integral to the artwork, the abandoned freezer was later removed by council workers.

The elusive Banksy, whose true identity remains unconfirmed, posted three images of the work — which he entitled “Valentine’s Day Mascara” — on his Instagram account.

Two of the images were close-ups showing the woman, wearing a blue pinafore and yellow washing up gloves, smiling but seemingly with a battered face.

Workers claiming to be from Thanet council, the local authority administering Margate, arrived at the site mid-morning Tuesday to clear away the dilapidated household appliance.

The move prompted bemusement — and even conspiracy theories — among bystanders, who noted it was usually hard to get the council to make prompt removals.

“People were sort of like, ‘Stop, stop, you know, this is a Banksy, right?'” local resident Laura Holden, 35, told AFP.

“And they (the workers) were like, ‘Yeah, no, we’ve got permission to take everything away’,” she said.

“It felt like it was part of the piece, and perhaps Banksy intended that all along, because we all know how hard it is to get Thanet District Council to come and collect our rubbish.”

Thanet council could not be reached for comment.

Others commended the apparent theme of the now-altered work.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Amanda Barden, 56.

“It’s a real topic that people can talk about, domestic abuse. I think the reference to Valentine’s Day as well, it’s bringing people in, it’s going to open up that dialogue.”

 

 

 

Banksy, known to hail from Bristol in southwest England, has been busy producing and selling dozens of limited-edition screen prints to raise funds to support civilians affected by the war in Ukraine.

The 50 prints, which show a mouse sliding down the side of a box with “FRAGILE” printed on it, were sold in December for £5,000 ($6,100) each, through the charity Legacy of War Foundation.

Their online auction attracted thousands of “hostile” web attacks launched from Russian internet addresses, the charity said at the time.

The artist also confirmed last month that he was behind seven murals that appeared on destroyed buildings around Kyiv last year.

 

The artwork appears to show a 1950s housewife with a swollen eye, missing a tooth, and apparently shutting a man in a freezer. The freezer was later removed by council workers. (Photo by William EDWARDS / AFP)

 

 

 

Unrest In Port Harcourt Over Naira Swap Policy

 

Some residents of Rivers State on Friday took to the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital to protest the Federal Government’s monetary policy and the scarcity of the naira notes.

The epicentre was the popular and busy Mile three market along Ikwerre road in Port Harcourt City Loca Government Area.

The protest, however, turned violent a few minutes later, as hoodlums who are always available in the market area seized the opportunity to forcefully dispossess people of their property.

Shops were also burgled and the windshields of cars along the streets were smashed.

Passersby and drivers were also said to be injured by the hoodlums.

The ugly incident has halted commercial activities in the onece busy area, as shops are now closed and the road deserted following fear that the protest may escalate.

The Rivers State Police command is yet to comment on the issue as calls and messages to the Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko went unreplied, while the Commissioner of Police responded with “I can’t talk now” via text message.

However at the time of filling in this report, a meeting between the CP and the Navy Commander is ongoing, though we are unable to verify if it is related to the ongoing disturbance.

Governor Nyesom Wike during a media chat yesterday called for calm in the state, saying it is important for residents to keep the state safe.

 

 

CBN Denies Directing Banks To Collect Old N500, N1,000 Notes

 The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has denied reports making the rounds that it has authorized deposit money banks to collect the old N500 and N1,000 banknotes.

 

In a statement by CBN’s Director of Corporate Communications Osita Nwanisobi on Friday, the apex bank said the apex is only reissuing and recirculating the old N200 banknotes which is expected to circulate as legal tender up to April 10, 2023, in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive.

The CBN advised the public to disregard any message and/or information not formally released by the bank on this subject.

It also advised media practitioners to endeavour to verify any information from the correct sources before publication.

 

Buhari had in a nationwide broadcast on Thursday, directed the CBN to release old N200 notes into circulation to co-exist with new N200, N500, and N1,000 banknotes for 60 days.

He, however, said old N500 and N1,000 banknotes are no longer legal tender in Nigeria.

The President also apologised to Nigerians over the difficulty experienced in the implementation of the naira redesign policy.

Meanwhile, his directive has generated reactions from different quarters with some in disagreement while others were in support.

The Speaker of House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, described it as a step in the right direction, but says it falls short of the Supreme Court order that the old currencies remain legal tender pending the adjudication of a pending suit brought by state governments on the legality of the policy and its implementation.

Also, the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, frowned at the President’s directive, describing it as a total disregard of the Supreme Court on the matter.

But a human rights activist, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, while speaking on Channels Television’s The 2023 Verdict on Thursday, backed Buhari.

According to Odinkalu, Nigerians are ready to endure the sufferings that come with the cash scarcity caused by the naira redesign policy of the CBN long as it ensures the upcoming general elections will be credible.

 

 

Jigawa Govt Vows To Enforce Supreme Court Order On Naira Redesign

The Jigawa State Government has vowed to enforce the Supreme Court order restraining the Federal government from banning the old naira notes as legal tender.

This was contained in a public notice made available to newsmen by the Jigawa State Commissioner for Special Duties Auwal Sankara.

According to the public notice, commercial banks, corporate organizations, ministries, agencies, and traders must accept the old notes or face sanctions from the state government.

“It has come to its notice some individuals and corporate bodies are rejecting the now-old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes. The Jigawa State Government is concerned about the conduct of such individuals,” it read.

The statement added “Jigawa State Government respects the rights of its people and those rejecting the now-old currencies are enjoined to desist from disobeying the law and causing hardships to the people of Jigawa State.

“Jigawa State Government will not hesitate to use section 287(1) of the Constitution (as amended) and other extant laws to enforce the order of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

The Supreme Court of Nigeria earlier issued an order “restraining the Federal Government of Nigeria, either by itself or acting through the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and/or commercial banks, ministries, parastatals, organizations or through any person or persons (natural and artificial) howsoever, from suspending or determining or ending on the 10th of February, 2023 the time frame within which the now older versions of the 200, 500 and 1000 denominations of the naira may no longer be legal tender pending the hearing and determination of the notice”.