Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance, has expressed concern over the activities of illegal miners and the compromise of internal security by Chinese nationals in Nigeria.

The group therefore, called on President Buhari to take decisive action by sacking Engr. Obadiah Nkom, the Director-General (DG) of Nigeria Mining Cadastre, for his alleged ineptitude in regulating the mining sector.

The called was made in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday in Kaduna by Comrade Mohammed Grema Adamu, Chairman of the Arewa Citizens Watch for Good Governance.

According to him, the activities of illegal miners have led to a loss of revenue and retarded national growth and development.

He noted that It was alarming that the illegal miners could export solid minerals without proper documentation from the regulatory agency staff.

"This is a clear indication of the failure of the regulatory agency to carry out its duties effectively.

"We are therefore, calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to take immediate action by sacking Engr. Obadiah Nkom as the DG of Nigeria Mining Cadastre,"the Chairman said.

The Chairman said they would embark on massive protests to ensure that the DG voluntarily steps aside or gets fired by the President Buhari.

"The regulatory agency responsible for the mining sector must ensure that all activities are carried out in compliance with the law. This is not only important for revenue generation but also for the security of the nation," he said.

He called on Nigerians to support the call for action and to demand accountability from those in positions of authority.

News Politics

Lai Mohammed justifies FG’s treason allegation against Peter Obi

BAYO WAHAB

April 20, 2023 10:54 AM

Lai Mohammed says Datti’s controversial comment about Tinubu's inauguration was made on behalf of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate.

(Left) Lai Mohammed justifies the treason allegation against Peter Obi (right) by the Federal Government. (Leadership)

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party was accused of committing treason because he failed to correct a statement attributed to his running mate, Datti Baba Ahmed.

What did Datti say?

On Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party maintained that the president-elect, Bola Tinubu did not deserve to be sworn in as Nigeria’s president because he wasn’t duly elected.

Datti, who spoke on Channels Television Programme, ‘Politics Today,’ asked President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief Justice of the Federation to not take part in an 'unconstitutional act' by swearing in the president-elect on May 29, 2023.

Datti insisted that Tinubu didn’t meet all the constitutional requirements for him to be declared the President-elect.

He said, “Swearing in Tinubu and Shettima is as good as swearing in the Nigerian Army on the 29th of May. If you swear in people that have not satisfied the constitutional requirements, you have by so doing ended democracy.”

FG’s reaction and allegation against Peter Obi

Days after Datti’s comment on the February 25 presidential election, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed accused Peter Obi of inciting people to violence over the outcome of the elections.

Peter Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba Ahmed.

The minister during his official engagements with some international media organisations in Washington DC, in the United States, said it was wrong for Obi to seek redress in court over the outcome of the polls and at the same time incite people to violence.

“Obi and his Vice, Datti Ahmed cannot be threatening Nigerians that if the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is sworn-in on May 29, it will be the end of democracy in Nigeria.

“This is treason. You cannot be inviting insurrection, and this is what they are doing. Obi’s statement is that of a desperate person, he is not a democrat that he claimed to be. A democrat should not believe in democracy only when he wins election,” he said.

Lai Mohammed justifies allegation against Peter Obi

Although the call for Tinubu not to be sworn-in was made by Datti, Mohammed explained that Obi was accused of treason because he did not rein in on his running mate when he made the comment.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed [FMIC]

He argued that Datti’s controversial comment about the election and Tinubu's inauguration was made on behalf of the Labour Party and its presidential candidate.

He said, “What I said about Mr Peter Obi is very clear. I said Mr Peter Obi has every right to seek redress in court like Labour Party. But nobody has the right to call for insurrection or to threaten to say that if the President-elect is sworn in, that will be the end of democracy.

“That was precisely what the running mate of Mr Peter Obi said on live television. And I have not heard Peter Obi rein him in or correct him.

“So, if your running mate said something, of course, he is saying it on behalf of the party and that of the candidate.

“That’s why it’s an act of treason for anybody to say if a duly elected president in Nigeria is sworn in, that will be the end of democracy.

“It’s treason for anybody to say if you swear in a duly elected president, you’re swearing in the military. It is crazy. So, I don’t see anything controversial in that.”

Although, Obi and the Labour Party have gone to court to challenge Tinubu’s victory, the president-elect is expected to be sworn-in on Monday, May 29, 2023.