Offa Robbery: Prove your allegation – Saraki’s aide dares Lai Mohammed

Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to
Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has advised Alhaji
Lai Mohammed to stop using the tragic loss of lives in the Offa
robbery as a political tool.

This is even as he dared him to prove his claim that subsequent
broadcasts of the Senate President’s syndicated Christmas morning
interview were manipulated.

The minister had called out Saraki for lying that he donated N10
million to the victims of Offa Robbery.

In a statement signed by him today and made available to
newsmen, Olaniyonu called on Mohammed to respect the memories of
the victims of the Offa robbery.

“After reading the laughable and entirely empty statement issued
by the Minister today, we challenge him, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, to
bring out the two recordings of the live transmission and the
repeat broadcast to show the public where it is doctored.

“Just to be clear, the repeat of the interview was based on
popular demand by Kwarans during some of the consultative meetings
the Senate President had in the three Senatorial districts of Kwara
State.

“Mr. Mohammed should be well-aware that this interview was aired
live, hence, his insinuation that certain sections were
subsequently doctored puts the reputation of the 5 radio stations
that aired the interview and the 4 that aired the repeat in
jeopardy. This also includes Harmony FM, an FRCN station that is
under the Minister of Information’s supervision,” Olaniyonu
said.

The Special Adviser also questioned the logic behind Mohammed’s
assertion that the N10 million donated by Saraki was to aid the
people who lost their goods during the inferno in Offa Market and
that it was used in Ilorin.

“How possible can it be for something that was donated in Offa
to be used in Ilorin? Additionally, Lai Mohammed should do the
public a favour by telling the public what he has done or donated
to alleviate the plight of the people of Offa at any time.

“If he is attacking Saraki for donating millions to the victims
of a burnt market in Offa and not those who sustained injury during
the robbery incident, what has he done at any time to help the
people of that town since he became one of the ‘guest politicians’
in the state?” he queried.

Olaniyonu further challenged Lai Mohammed to stop his
grandstanding about his political clout in Kwara, stating that the
Minister’s popularity is entirely non-existent.

“Lai Mohammed keeps on grandstanding with false and baseless
assertions of his entirely non-existent popularity. If he is as
popular in Kwara as he claims, how did he perform in the 2003 polls
as gubernatorial candidate?

“If he is indeed known and accepted in Kwara, why is it that his
son is running for a House of Assembly seat in Lagos — and not in
Kwara?”

Olaniyonu called on the Minister of Information to immediately
desist from using the tragic loss of lives in the Offa Robbery as a
political propaganda tool.

“If Lai Mohammed has any contrary evidence, we challenge him to
go to court or end this blatant disrespect and disregard for the
memories of the victims lost in the Offa Robbery incident,”
Olaniyonu stated.

Boko Haram: Army Warns Perpetrators of Subversive
Propaganda

The Nigerian Army has noted with great concern the concerted
efforts by some unpatriotic elements to politicise and derail the
ongoing fight against terrorism and insurgency in the country.

This is manifested in the recent systematic releases and
recycling of old BHT propaganda video clips, old interviews of
disgruntled and cowardly soldiers, as well as false and inaccurate
news reports by some section of the media.

We regrettably further observed that the unscrupulous elements
are also perfecting strategy to rubbish the government’s efforts in
the provision of safety and security for her citizens. They are
determined to dampen troops’ morale especially in the North East,
so that the troops will become compromised against the war efforts
and complicate the security situation in the country for selfish
and cheap political gains and expediency.

We would like to reiterate that Nigeria is at war with Boko
Haram terrorists, in any form or guise that they may manifest and
strongly warn these subversive elements to desist from these
unwholesome efforts. We would like to warn that the Nigerian Army
will no longer tolerate these subversive acts and sabotage aimed at
dampening troops’ morale, affect their performance and to finally
abandon the war.

We will continue to monitor subversive propaganda and take
necessary action against perpetrators. The Nigerian Army will
remain undaunted in the successful prosecution of this war against
terrorism, insurgents, militants and bandits in the country.

In another development, the attention of the Nigerian Army has
been drawn to an old video clip circulating on the social media in
which a supposedly soldier clad with an AK-47 rifle alleging lack
of arms and ammunition, among other soldiers in a remote location
walking. This is not true, as the video was recorded in 2014 and
therefore cannot be a true reflection of the present reality. The
public are please requested to discontenance the video clip.

SANI KUKASHEKA USMAN
Brigadier General
Director Army Public Relations