News
US Congressman- Scott Perry’s Weighty Allegations On USAID And The Need For Investigation
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ByEmmanuel Ajibulu
US Congressman Scott Perry on February 13, 2025 made some serious allegations, claiming that the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been funding terrorist organizations, including Boko Haram in Nigeria, to the tune of $697 million annually.
These allegations were made during a public hearing of the US House SubCommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.
Meanwhile, in the wake of these scary allegations, Nigerian Senator Ali Ndume is now calling for an investigation into these claims, stating that they should not be dismissed as mere allegations. Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial District, has witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by Boko Haram and is concerned about the sophistication of their weapons.
Not only Senator Ndume has shown interest in knowing those behind Boko Haram sponsorship in Nigeria though, the call for transparency and accountability regarding this menace is intensifying by the day and many well meaning Nigerians are demanding to know the truth about the sources of funding for the dreaded terrorist group.
However, the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, somewhat brought some message of respite, when he declared there is no evidence that the USAID is funding Boko Haram or any terrorist group. Mills made the remarks after meeting with the Nigeria Governors Forum in Abuja late Wednesday night (February 19, 2025) that no nation condemns Boko Haram’s violence and destruction more strongly than the United States.
He assured all that if any evidence is found, the US government will work with the Nigerian government to investigate it.
It is a sad and tragic reality that Boko Haram has been responsible for over 30,000 deaths of Nigerians since 2009, and 2.5 million citizens have equally been forced to flee their homes due to the conflict, with attendant widespread human rights abuses, including kidnappings, forced marriages, and forced conscription of children, famous among the very many abductions was that of the Chibok girls which gained global attention and sympathy.
It is good to know that President Bola Tinubu is taking steps to investigate the allegations that USAID has been sponsoring Boko Haram. The Senate has also summoned the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and other top security officials to provide explanations behind closed doors.
The Senate’s move is aimed at assessing the credibility of the allegations and discussing Nigeria’s broader security challenges. President Tinubu’s involvement in this probe is believed to be a demonstration of his commitment to addressing the ongoing insurgency and ensuring transparency in international aid.
It will as well be helpful if the investigations will make the Nigerian government and international partners prioritize transparency and accountability by conducting thorough probe into the allegations of USAID’s involvement in terrorism funding, and perform regular audits of USAID’s activities and funding in Nigeria so as to ensure that resources are being used effectively and efficiently as well as providing clear and timely disclosure of information about USAID’s programs and different layers of funding in Nigeria.
Nigeria after almost two decades of living with the pain and agony of Boko Haram is undoubtedly in dare need of international cooperation to fight terrorism to a stand still at a time like this, and more importantly, the Nigerian government, USAID, and other international partners must work together in synergy by sharing intelligence and information to combat terrorism and prevent the funding. They must also coordinate efforts to address the root causes of terrorism, including poverty, inequality, and social injustice. They equally need to promote transparency and accountability in the use of funds and resources to prevent the diversion of resources to terrorist groups and their collaborators.
Terrorism has caused immense harm and suffering in Nigeria, and it’s essential that it comes to a total end.
●Emmanuel Ajibulu is the publisher and editor-in-chief of Veracity Desk (veracitydesk.com) a general purpose online news platform. He can be contacted via, [email protected]
News
BREAKING: Jubilation As PDP Wins All 30 LGs In Osun State(See winners)
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, has announced that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won all the local government and councillorship positions in the just concluded local government elections in the state.
The Chairman of the Commission, Hashim Abioye, made this announcement via a Facebook Live broadcast on Saturday evening.
Abioye stated that PDP candidates secured all the councillorship seats in all 332 wards in the state, as well as the chairmanship elections in all 30 local government council areas.
The names of the PDP chairmanship candidates and their respective local government council areas:
Babalola Wasiu Kayode – Boripe
Okunade Oluwafemi Adesanya – Egbedore
Adeyenuwo Rotimi John – Ife Central
Agboola Francis Olajire – Obokun
Azeez Lateef Adeniran – Isokan
Aina Abayomi Adesina – Boluwaduro
Sodiq Samuel Oluwapelumi – Ola Oluwa
Ajibade Oluwatoyin S. – Irepodun
Adebanjo Oladiti Tunmininu – Ilesa West
Ibironke Alade Adegboye – Atakumosa East
Aroke Muyiwa Aderemi – Ife South
Kolade Obafemi Kolawole – Olorunda
Moshood Adekunle Kabiru – Iwo
Awotunde Abiodun Sarafadeen – Ifelodun
Akande Taiwo Adekunle – Osogbo
Dada Feyisayo Ajibola – Atakumosa West
Amodu Taiwo – Ede North
Atolagbe Kayode Olayinka – Ifedayo
Akande Michael O. – Ife North
Adeyekun Taiwo Adebayo – Oriade
Adeniran Adenike Felicia – Ayedaade
Afolabi Oyekola Lukman – Ede South
Odunyemi Haruna Bukola – Ife East
Jooda Ambali Babajide – Irewole
Adewale Adeyinka Oluwaseun – Odo Otin
Ogunbiyi Solomon Akinyemi – Ayedire
Raimi Adenike Nafisat – Ejigbo
Adebisi Jayeola Nasir – Ila
Ilesanmi Taiwo Sunday – Ilesa East
Alade Aderemi Fatai – Orolu
News
DSS arrests three for assaulting operatives during LSHA crisis
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Department of State Services (DSS) has arrested three persons linked to the alleged assault on its officers during the crisis that rocked the Lagos State House of Assembly, following the removal Mudashiru Obasa, as Speaker
Apparently sensing danger, some lawmakers had mobilized their supporters to the Assembly Complex, but these supporters allegedly attacked some DSS officers who were invited by the Assembly leadership to secure the facility. Security sources revealed that “after extensive analysis of CCTV footage, we were able to clearly identify three of the suspects”.
“The suspects, Ibrahim Olanrewaju Abdulkareem, a photographer and two others attached to the Assembly’s Seargent at Arms, Adetu Adekunle Samsudeen and Adetola Oluwatosin Fatimoh, a lady, were consequently tracked and arrested during the week in different parts of Lagos,” The trio have since confessed to the crime and will soon be charged to court, the source said.
It would be recalled that the Lagos Assembly had in a leaked memo dated 14th February, 2025 and addressed to the DSS Director in the State, and Heads of other Security Agencies in Lagos State, told the Security Agencies in Lagos that, there was credible information to the effect that, Obasa had planned to forcefully reinstate himself today, February 18, 2025.
Accordingly, the Assembly management, held the view that, the development posed “a potential security threat” to it and its members.
News
Police seal OSSIEC office, officials nabbed, says chairman
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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), Hashim Abioye, has claimed that the police have sealed off the headquarters in Osogbo.
In a video post on the OSSIEC X handle, Abioye accused the police of also arresting election officials and blocking journalists from covering the local government election.
According to him, several OSSIEC officials were detained while on their way to polling units on Saturday.
Attempts by our correspondent to reach Abioye for further details proved abortive as his telephone line was switched off.
The OSSIEC chair, in the post, assured voters that materials had been deployed to affected areas.
So far so good, the reports have been positive and the conduct has been very smooth and peaceful as against the false alarm raised by the police. Everywhere is calm,” Abioye said.
“The only thing is that in some of the areas in which materials are supposed to have arrived for voters to cast their votes, we had reports of police arresting our officials.
“I don’t know on whose order because there is no court order that warranted the arrest of officers of our officials.
“As it is, we have deployed materials to those units because we have enough on the ground.
For our people in the media community, I want to apologise for the inadequacy of the tags and the jackets because we have enough but the police sealed our office and that was not warranted at all.”
Abioye’s comments come after police had called for the local government election to be called off by the state government, citing a security threat.
In a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Friday, the Police said it received credible intelligence indicating a likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.
The police explained that reports gathered from joint intelligence gathering revealed that various groups, including political elements and other interested parties, are mobilising to instigate unrest, disrupt public peace and undermine the democratic order.
However, the Osun State government acknowledged the police’s advice but insisted on going on with the election.
Channels Television reports that the election eventually went on as scheduled on Saturday.
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