Politics

PSC commends I-G over order to arrest Seun Kuti for assaulting policeman

Published

11 months ago

May 14, 2023

The Police Service Commission (PSC) on Sunday commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Baba for ordering the arrest of Seun Kuti for attacking a police officer on duty.

In a video that has gone viral, the “Afrobeat’’ musician wearing a red shirt atop a white pair of trousers was seen slapping a policeman standing by a police van.

While slapping the policeman, he repeatedly asked him: “you dey mad’’? (are you insane’’?).

Chairman of the PSC, Dr Solomon Arase said in a statement that no matter the offence, nobody, including Kuti, had the right to assault a policeman on official duty.

Arase frowned at the effrontery of Kuti to have slapped the policeman, insisting that Nigeria is not a Hobbesian state where might is right.

“We must, as civilized people explore established channels of complaints against alleged infractions by law enforcement officials rather than this uncouth behaviour of assaulting the country’s symbol of authority.

“We look forward to the prompt prosecution of Kuti to act as a deterrent to others,’’ Arase was quoted in the statement issued by PSC’s spokesman, Mr Mr Ikechukwu Ani.

Ani added that Arase commended the police officer for refusing to be provoked by the action of his aggressor; a development, he said would have been fatal.

Arase also said it was unfortunate that the incident occurred at a time when the Police Force management was dealing with officers who harassed, intimidated or assaulted civilians.

He stressed that it was worrisome that police officers had now become victims of the actions of some uncultured elites.

He enjoined the police to use the present incident to set an example that this would never be tolerated in Nigeria, a country governed by laws, rules and regulations.

The PSC chairman noted that the groundswell of public opinion against the conduct of the abuser was indicative of the love and respect Nigerians had for law enforcement officers.

He said this underscored the need for all police officers to continually respect the right of the populace and be professional in all their conducts.

He added that the prompt order to arrest and prosecute Kuti, who obviously had diminished the sanctity of the symbol of authority of the Nigerian nation, was a welcome development.

“The Commission demands that the culprit be arraigned immediately and the police must ensure that the matter is followed to its logical conclusion to restore public confidence in the Nigeria Police.

“The demand is in recognition of the fact that the police is the lead agency in internal security.

“Its ability to maintain law and order and to protect lives and property must be held sacrosanct,’’ Ani also quoted Arase as saying.

Headline

I’ll Turn Ondo Into Another Lagos, Says Wale Akinterinwa Ahead Of APC Primaries

Published

2 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Gift Oyekunmi

Wale Akinterinwa, a governorship hopeful on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC), says he will turn Ondo into another Lagos, the country’s commercial capital, if elected governor.

The Ondo APC governorship primary election is scheduled for April 20 while the state-wide election will be held on November 16.

Speaking during his official declaration at the ruling party’s secretariat in Akure, the state capital, on Tuesday, Akinterinwa said he will make Ondo an industrialised state.

The governorship hopeful who had worked in Lagos civil service, said he would utilise the natural resources in the state to attract investments.

“We will turn Ondo into another Lagos state in terms of development because we have what it takes, in terms of coast. We must ensure that the port comes alive and that will be a game changer,” Akinterinwa said.

“But, beyond that, we also have the landmass and ought to be an agrarian state. So, we are going to take agriculture to the next level while we encourage and support the local farmers.

“We will also attract investors who will invest in agriculture so that we will be exporting finished products. We will not just be producing for the table but we will be producing for export.”

On security, Akinterinwa said his economic initiatives would get most youth employed and lead to reduction in the rate of insecurity in the state.

“For security, part of our challenges today is because today is because we have many unemployed youths. So, Amotekun founded by our late governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and other South West governors will be strengthened so that with appropriate security in place, we can have development,” he said.

Headline

Why I Ignored Labour Party National Convention — Peter Obi

Published

3 weeks ago

March 30, 2024

Gift Oyekunmi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023 elections has declared his stance on the recent national convention of the party that saw Barr Julius Abure emerge as Julius Abure emerge as national chairman.

Addressing Nigerians on X Space hosted by Parallel Facts on Friday, Peter Obi said he ignored the convention because the party leadership under Abure failed to do wide consultation with key stakeholders of the party before embarking on the said convention.

The former Anambra Governor emphasised the need for the right thing to be done to salvage the party, adding that he is more passionate about building a new Nigeria than building a new Labour Party.