Omokri faults Traore meeting Mahama with weapon, recalls how Obasanjo stopped Gadaffi – Newstrends
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Omokri faults Traore meeting Mahama with weapon, recalls how Obasanjo stopped Gadaffi

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2 months ago

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Reno Omokri

Omokri faults Traore meeting Mahama with weapon, recalls how Obasanjo stopped Gadaffi

Reno Omokri, Special Assistant to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has recounted how the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, was prevented from bringing large amount of ammunition into the country during a visit.

The former presidential aide was reacting to an alleged breach of protocol by the Burkinabe President, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, when he met newly sworn in Ghanaian President, John Mahama.

Omokri faulted Traoré’s meeting of Mahama with a weapon adding that such a thing can never happen in Nigeria.

He said the development “once again” demonstrates the difference between Nigeria and Ghana and vindicates the former’s position as the regional superpower.

Recounting the incident which he said he personally witnessed, Omokri said the former Libyan strongman was denied twice during the Obasanjo administration to come into the country with arms including his aides.

“And on both occasions, he was stopped and cut to size”, he said.

According to him, “The first time was during the African Heads of Government Summit on Roll Back Malaria, which was held on Tuesday, April 25, 2000.

“Colonel Gaddafi’s female bodyguards tried to enter the International Conference Center, Abuja, with their weapons, but were stopped by President Obasanjo’s CSO, who had an argument with them and disarmed them at gunpoint before they were allowed into the venue with Colonel Gaddafi to join other African leaders.

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“The second incident was more dramatic and was actually a set up. It was during the Africa-South America Summit in November 2006, Abuja.

“Colonel Gaddafi had arrived on Tuesday, 28 November 2006, with about five huge planes which offloaded a total of fifty cars or thereabouts. The problem is that these cars were loaded with weapons.

Nigerian officials at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport told Mr. Gaddafi and his over 200 guards that they could not leave the airport with either their weapons and would have put them back on their planes under the supervision of the Nigerian Army”, he said while narrating the incident on his X.

Omokri added that “Colonel Gaddafi was incensed. He said since he was not being allowed to leave the airport with his cars filled with weapons, he would walk into Abuja.

“Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, who was detailed by President Obasanjo to receive Colonel Gaddafi was concerned and called the President who told him to tell Gaddafi he was on his way to the airport.

“When President Obasanjo arrived, he played with Gaddafi and told him he was on his way to Lagos, but that the incident would be resolved by his personal representative, Minister Fani-Kayode.

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The President then took Mr. Fani-Kayode aside and whispered into his ear in Yoruba to the effect that ‘You are in charge. Play with him. Be polite and diplomatic. But those weapons are not entering Abuja’.

The former presidential aide said “Obasanjo then headed to Lagos, leaving chief Fani-Kayode to argue back and forth with Gaddafi, who threatened to return to Libya.

“But in line with Obasanjo’s instructions, Fani-Kayode subtly told him that, ‘We would rather have you stay, but if you choose to go, we understand.’

“And when Gaddafi saw how resolute Chief Fani-Kayode was, they returned all their weapons to their planes under the supervision of the Nigerian Army”, he submitted.

Omokri said the stance of the Nigeria government on the issue following Obasanjo’s instructions, forced the late Libyan leader aides to go spiritual over the matter.

“When Colonel Gaddafi was allowed into Abuja, he was escorted to the guest house arranged for him by Nigeria. The first thing his guards did was to slaughter a ram and spill the blood in front of the door. Once that happened, Colonel Gaddafi stepped over the blood into the house (Defence House) and would not allow anyone else to enter after him”, he submitted.

Taking a swipe at the action of the newly elected Ghanaian president, Omokri said “That is how you show that you are a sovereign nation. Not by having a thirty six year old unelected junta leader of Burkina Faso, who has turned his country into a client state of Russia, do to you in your own country what he would never in a million years do to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.”

 

Omokri faults Traore meeting Mahama with weapon, recalls how Obasanjo stopped Gadaffi

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Just in: Senate Committee wants Senator Natasha suspended for six months, apologise to Akpabio

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13 hours ago

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March 6, 2025

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Just in: Senate Committee wants Senator Natasha suspended for six months, apologise to Akpabio

The Senate Committee on Ethics has recommended that Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan be suspended for six months over controversy around her sexual harassment allegation against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The committee on Thursday also advised that the Kogi Central senator should apologise to the Senate for disrespecting the institution.

It recommended the withdrawal of her salary and security details during the suspension period.

Earlier, Akpoti-Uduaghan had through her constituents led by Zubairu Yakubu submitted another sexual harassment petition against Akpabio during plenary.

Akpabio directed her to formally lay the petition before the Senate at 12:38pm.

The petition was then referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct, and Public Petitions, chaired by Senator Neda Imasuen (LP, Edo South), with a mandate to report back within four weeks.

This move follows a similar petition Akpoti-Uduaghan submitted the previous day, which sparked controversy.

Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North) had raised a point of order, citing Senate Standing Order 40, arguing that the matter was sub judice due to an ongoing court case involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Ekaette Akpabio, the Senate President’s wife.

He also contended that the petition should not be considered since Akpoti-Uduaghan had personally signed it.

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Steel factory explosion injures seven in Ogun

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13 hours ago

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March 6, 2025

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Steel factory explosion injures seven in Ogun

The Ogun State Police Command has begun an investigation into an explosion at Quantum Steel, located along the Sagamu-Ikorodu Road in Ogijo, which left seven workers, including three expatriates, severely injured.

The explosion, which occurred on Wednesday, was reported at the Ogijo Police Division by a staff member of the company, Joseph Adewale.

Those injured include four Nigerians—Daniel Bala, 28; Mutiu Olajide, 39; Godwin Solomon, 27; and Maduabuchi Onwe, 27—as well as three expatriates, Ajun Kumar, 37; Chandan Kumar, 50; and Rakash Kumar, 30.
Omolola Odutola, the state police public relations officer, confirmed the incident in a statement on Thursday, saying the explosion was caused by machinery failure.

The statement read, “According to the report, on March 2, 2025, at about 6:30 pm, a blast from one of the factory’s machines resulted in severe injuries to seven individuals, including both Nigerian and expatriate workers.

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“All the injured victims were rushed to Rolayo Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos, where they are currently receiving treatment and responding well.”

Odutola stated that investigators went to the location, made an initial examination, and documented evidence, including photographs. She also stated that a thorough investigation is ongoing to ascertain the cause of the explosion and ensure compliance with industrial safety standards.

The police department also asked businesses and sectors to emphasize worker safety to avoid similar incidents.

 

Steel factory explosion injures seven in Ogun

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Soldiers invade Ikeja Electric offices in Lagos, attack workers 

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16 hours ago

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March 6, 2025

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Soldiers invade Ikeja Electric offices in Lagos, attack workers 

 

Some military personnel on Thursday morning stormed the head office of an electricity distribution company, Ikeja Electric and other offices in Lagos and assaulted its workers.

Newstrends learnt the personnel in uniform forced their way into the Ikeja Electric office on Ago Palace Way, Okota, Isolo, Lagos and Alausa, Ikeja.

Videos were shared online showing the military personnel wielding arms, destroying offices, locking up some workers, which crippled operations in the company.

Some seven staff members were seen kneeling while the military personnel assaulted others.

A similar occurrence reportedly took place at the Ikeja Electric head office in Ikeja.

The assault on Thursday instilled fear among the company workers including senior staff members, with many hiding for safety.

Some said they had decided to stay away as those who resumed early for work on Thursday could not be reached on the phones.

There are fears that many of them were attacked, wounded and hospitalised.

There were reports earlier that Ikeja Electric disconnected the power supply to the Nigerian Air Force logistics base in Ikeja.

There has been growing tension between Ikeja Electric and the Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, over the disconnection of power supply, which many fear may escalate.

The Sam Ethnan Air Force Base, Ikeja, has been without power for two weeks following its disconnection by Ikeja Electric over an unpaid debt running into millions of naira.

An agreement was reportedly struck for the Nigerian Air Force to pay a monthly sum of N60 million to ensure a daily electricity supply of 10 to 12 hours to the base.

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