Addressing the media on Monday in London, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said Obi should clarify what he meant by saying the leaked conversation was “a fake doctored audio call.”

“I need to draw the attention of Nigerians to the recent leaked audio of conversation between the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and the cleric.

“The leaked audio rattled Nigerians because we heard Obi pleading with the cleric to interfere on his behalf to convince Christians that this is a religious war and they should support him,” he said.

The minister said that in the aftermath of the leaked audio, Obi came out to say that it was “a fake, doctored audio call.”

The minister said, “If it is fake, it means it never took place. But if it is doctored, it means there was that conversation but it was manipulated.

“Obi needs to come out and make the clarification on whether the conversation did not take place or it took place, but it was doctored.

If it was doctored, which part of it was doctored?

“Is it the beginning, the middle or the end or is it the ‘Yes Daddy’ part of it, or where he said it was a religious war?”

Mohammed said the leaked audio had corroborated the position that Obi’s electioneering campaign was based on religion and ethnicity.

Labour Party, Peter Obi, Bishop David Oyedepo, Lai Muhammed,

Many otherwise respected commentators are not left behind on the effect of this divisive politics,” he said.

The audio clip as released by an online newspaper was an alleged conversation between Obi and the founder of Living Faith Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo.

Speaking on his mission to London, the minister said it was to defend the legitimacy of the just concluded general elections and to correct the imbalance in the skewed narrative which had pervaded the air on the polls.

He said, like what he did recently in Washington, he would let the world know that the 2023 election was the freest in Nigeria’s history.

NAN reports that the minister is scheduled to hold conversations and meetings with international media organisations and relevant think tanks based in London

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, stated this on Monday in Abuja at the 20th edition of President Buhari Administration Scorecard Series (2015-2023).

Mohammed was responding to the decision by the United States of America to slam a visa ban on some Nigerians believed to be responsible for, or complicit in undermining democracy in Nigeria.

The decision was announced in a statement recently issued by the The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken.

The minister reiterated the position of the Buhari administration to ensure free, fair and credible elections as well as a smooth handover to a successor elected by Nigerians in May 29.

“As a government, we are proud to say that no administration, since Nigeria’s return to democratic rule in 1999, has shown more fidelity to the democratic process than ours.

“No President, since 1999, has been as unambiguous as President Muhammadu Buhari, in word and in deed, with regards to leaving office after the constitutionally-stipulated two terms,” he said

According to the minister, President Buhari had given unprecedented support to INEC, including signing into law the Electoral Act 2022, which was applauded by Nigerians.

He also reiterated the position of the government to conduct the general elections as planned and scheduled.

Mohammed said the scorecard series, during which ministers gave the giant strides of their ministries since 2015, was another indication of the administration’s determination to leave office on May 29, 2023.

According to him, the scorecard series was in essence, a presentation of the handover notes of the administration to those who elected them to office, as they prepare to leave in May.

“We have not been mired in any third term controversy like was witnessed under the Peoples Democratic Party.

“In fact, we are creating the template on a smooth transition of power that will guide future administrations.

“Let those who undermine our democracy be sanctioned, and let them carry their own cross.

As a government, we have no reason to worry because our hands are clean,” he said.

The US Secretary of State, in the statement, had said his country was committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Nigeria and around the world.

He said: “Today, I am announcing visa restrictions on specific individuals in Nigeria for undermining the democratic process in a recent Nigerian election.

“Under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, these individuals will be found ineligible for visas to the United States under a policy to restrict visas of those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Nigeria.

“Certain family members of such persons may also be subject to these restrictions.”

Blinken added: “Additional persons who undermine the democratic process in Nigeria—including in the lead-up to, during, and following Nigeria’s 2023 elections—may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy.

“The visa restrictions announced today are specific to certain individuals and are not directed at the Nigerian people or the Government of Nigeria. The decision to impose visa restrictions reflects the commitment of the United States to support Nigerian aspirations to combat corruption and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.”

This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by the Special Assistant to the President (Media), Office of the Minister of Information and Culture, Segun Adeyemi.

According to him, the offer was presented to the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, by the UNWTO Secretary-General, Mr Zurab Pololikashvili, at a dinner hosted by the UNWTO in honour of the Minister and his delegation in Madrid, Spain, on Tuesday night.

Pololikashvili was quoted as saying, ”The World Tourism Organization recognizes the efforts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and its Minister of Information and Culture. Hon. Mr Lai Mohammed, to empower youth and boost quality education in tourism by granting 100 UNWTO Tourism Online Academy Scholarships.”

He said the scholarships will lead to the award of certificate on the introduction to Tourism – Industry Management Course.

The UNWTO Tourism Online Academy is a partnership between the world tourism organization and the IE University in Madrid, Spain.

Responding to the scholarship offer, the Minister of Information and Culture said the criteria for selecting the beneficiaries will be announced very soon.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Minister and the UNWTO Secretary-General signed the hosting agreement for the 1st UNWTO Global Conference on Cultural Tourism and Creative Industry, to be held in Lagos 14-17 November 2022.

The government explained that with this approval, the new universities would be mentored by federal universities close to their locations to provide recruitment of principal officers, academic, and administrative staff, availability of human and material resources for the commencement of any academic programme, among others.

The government said that the country does not have enough universities to accommodate the teeming population of youths desirous for university education.

The Government also said that its relevant ministries and agencies were interfacing with the striking unions like the Academic Staff Union of Univerdities, ASUU; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union of Allied and Educational Institutions, NASU, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, to ensure that the strikes were called off.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed disclosed this on behalf of the Minister of Education, while speaking to newsmen at the end of the virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari, at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to the Minister, some of the new private universities are specialised ones.

He said that the approval was given by the council following a memorandum presented by the Ministry of Education on behalf of the National Universities Commission, NUC.

The proposed private universities are PEN Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State, to be mentored by Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology, Yola; Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno State, to be mentored by University of Maiduguri;

Margaret Lawrence University, Calilee, Delta State, to be mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State; Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State, to be mentored by Bayero University Kano, Kano State.

Others are, Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State, to be mentored by University of Benin, Edo State; Baba Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State, Bayero University Kano; SAISA University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Usmanu Danfodio Sokoto, and Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State, to be mentored by University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Also given approval are the Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State, to be mentored by Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Newgate University, Minna, Niger State, Federal University Minna, Niger State;

European University of Nigerian, Duboyi, Abuja, FCT, to be mentored by University of Abuja, FCT, and Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, to be mentored by Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto.

Recall that former President, Olusegun Obasanjo had on Sunday said the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is overwhelmed by insecurity.

Obasanjo stated this while reacting to the recent Kaduna-Abuja train attack.

According to him, Nigerians travelling are no longer safe on the road, in the train and at the airport, calling for concerted efforts to stem the tide of insecurity in Nigeria, regretting that the Buhari administration had been overwhelmed by the situation.

But, Mohammed during a TVC programme on Monday, condoled with the families of the victims, citing the various Federal Government’s efforts in tackling the security challenges in the country.

He said the government is fast-tracking the installation of some security gadgets on railway tracks to ensure adequate surveillance.

“The Federal Government is working toward ensuring that such incident does not reoccur.

“One of the things that the government wants to do is to fast-track the installation of a surveillance and monitoring system, not just on the Abuja-Kaduna rail track.

“But also on the Lagos-Ibadan and Warri-Itakpe rail tracks to ensure that at any given time we will be able to monitor from the control room,’’ he said.

Mohammed claimed that in spite of the security challenges, the military and other security personnel were doing their best and have recorded successes in their fight against terrorism.

“ We must give kudos to our military; you know that we are not fighting a conventional war but terrorism, hence the need for everyone to support the security agencies so as to win over the menace.

“The Federal Government has also given the military the enabling environment to continue in the fight against terrorism and banditry,’’ he said.

The minister also assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensure that every state is secured.

The organisation claimed the minister lied to Nigerians, adding that his claims have now been contradicted by a judicial panel of investigators in Lagos.

This was contained in a statement issued against the backdrops of the issuance of a conclusive judicial report by the Lagos State Judicial Panel of investigations into the Lekki incident last year.

Though Lai Mohammed had claimed there was no killing, the panel said there was a massacre in ‘context’.

The statement read, “As there has emerged undisputed evidence that indeed there was the systematic annihilation of many civilian protesters in Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos State last October, we are asking the President Muhammadu Buhari as a father of all to order the arrest and prosecution of his minister of information, Lai Mohammed for committing a grave and heartless offence that is equivalent to the denial of the Holocaust of the 6 million Jews by Adolf Hitler which is punishable by nearly half a century of incarceration. HURIWA is also commending the brave members and Chairperson of the Lagos State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the #ENDSARS PROTESTS especially the circumstances surrounding the massive cases of extrajudicial killings by the Army and armed police when these armed forces opened fire with lethal weapons targeted at the unarmed protesters.  The Rights group asked the President not to sweep the lawlessness of the security agencies under the carpets just as the Rights group said if the President allows his information minister to get away with the impunity of denying the massacre that happened before the eyes of the world captured live on video cameras, then he will be remembered long after he has retired from public office as a dictator who oversaw the genocide of young protesters and the generations unborn will never forgive him for this.”

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, in a statement on Sunday, said “the so-called Global Advocates for Terrorism Eradication is a pesky irritant that should be ignored, especially because it is as confused as it is irresponsible.”

He said, “This organisation called GATE is not even worth the ink with which its name is written. How can a serious organisation accuse a government that is tackling the twin evil of terrorism and banditry with the uncommon determination of sponsoring terrorism? Is it not curious that this organisation has chosen this particular time, when terrorists are either surrendering in droves or running helter-skelter, as a result of a renewed offensive against them by the military, to orchestrate a distraction? What could be GATE’s motive if not to weaken the fight against terror and banditry? GATE and its sponsors should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and should quit trying to distract our gallant troops who are doing everything possible, including making the supreme sacrifice, to keep our country safe. In the fight against terrorism, Nigeria has availed itself creditably by tackling home-grown terrorists with links to global terrorist organisations. We make bold to say that no administration in Nigeria has risen to the challenge of terrorism like the Buhari’s administration has done. The acquisition of a myriad of platforms, the boost to the morale of our fighting forces and the leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari have combined to put our gallant troops in good stead to frontally confront and put on the run the terrorists. Fittingly, Nigeria’s efforts at tackling terrorism have been hailed globally. What our gallant men and women need at this time is the support, encouragement and prayers of all, not the distracting antics of a relevance-seeking, feckless organisation masquerading as a terrorism eradication advocate”,

Mohammed, who was represented by Mrs Rose Kwarsen, Director, Cultural Industries and Heritage, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, said the bilateral cooperation would be strengthened through the Ministry of Information and Culture.

The Minister gave the assurance during a mid-autumn festival, National day celebration, Nigeria first SGEL cup Chinese Wushu championship final performance and award night held in Lagos.

He said  “It is instructive to note that the bilateral relations between Nigeria and China date back to over five decades. The cultural relations between the two countries were concretised with the signing of the agreement on cultural and educational cooperation in March 1990. The cooperation between the two countries has witnessed several cultural activities and exchanges in the sphere of arts, music, dance, exhibition, cultural administration, training and capacity building of cultural officers. And recently, the development of cultural industries centres in Nigeria amongst others”

This is as the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said contrary to “misleading reports,” insurgents who surrendered to the government could still be prosecuted. He however restated that international conventions accord prisoners of war certain rights and privileges.

The Nigerian Army, in a statement by its spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, on August 10, announced that no fewer than 1,000 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (a Boko Haram offshoot) members had laid down their arms and surrendered to the troops.

Again, on August 16, the Army said 186 Boko Haram members led by their Amir, Manye Aga, comprising 67 adult males, 54 adult females and 65 children, surrendered to troops of Operation HADIN KAI at Forward Operational Base, Ajiri.

The army spokesman also disclosed that the theatre took custody of additional Boko Haram fighters, comprising four adult males, 11 adult females and 18 children from Landanli, Azah, Ngaridua and Kondilla villages, who, on August 15, surrendered to troops of 151 Task Force Battalion at Banki Junction in Bama.

But in separate interviews with Sunday PUNCH, the senior lawyers expressed concern that giving the so-called repentant terrorist access to sensitive security positions could be detrimental to the country’s efforts to restore peace and security.

Mr Yusuf Ali stated that it was essential to ascertain that the insurgents had truly repented. He however explained that negotiation was to be expected, arguing that even in a shooting war, people would still approach the roundtable and talk.

Ali said, “If amnesty could be granted for militants in the Niger Delta, once we are sure that the terms of amnesty will not be abused and the government is prepared to provide all the necessary follow-ups and checks to ensure that those who say they have repented are not part of a decoy, to re-enter society and radicalise other people in society. We must be very sure that they have repented. In principle, there is nothing bad in granting amnesty to people who have wronged a country or people, but we must be very sure that we have the wherewithal, in terms of security, to be able to ensure that those who say they have repented are under close watch and monitored. Not only that, but we must also provide opportunities for employment. When the Niger Delta militants were granted amnesty, some of them were sent for courses within and outside Nigeria but we must just ensure that we do not give a blank cheque to those who are just pretending they have repented when it’s not true.”

Mr Babatunde Fashanu, in the same vein, argued that if some of the “repentant” terrorists wanted to surrender, the government should accept them, but that it was also dangerous to reintegrate them into society, especially, if they were enlisted in the military.

Fashanu said, “They shouldn’t put them in the military; that must be underscored. But if they want to use them for intelligence, they can put them somewhere and get the information they want to get from them, but they shouldn’t put them in the military, to avoid a situation like that of Afghanistan. It was said that some Taliban were reabsorbed into the Afghan army and they were still the ones that gave their leaders information about the army and they overran them. So, it is very dangerous to absorb them into the military but they can use them to get information. As for whether they should be pardoned, people who have killed a lot of people ordinarily ought to pay, otherwise, people will keep bombing people, knowing that in the future, they can simply come out to say they are surrendering. I think that there should be some punishment for them; they shouldn’t let them go scot-free. The punishment can be lessened.”

The British government states that it has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with its international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights.

The British High Commission stated this on Wednesday, in response to inquiries by The PUNCH on the Federal Government’s allegations that the UK’s asylum offer for persecuted members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra undermined Nigeria’s security.

The UK Visas and Immigration had released new guidelines to its decision-makers on how to consider and grant asylum applications to IPOB members whose founder, Nnamdi Kanu, is operating from London.

In the guidelines titled, ‘Country Policy and Information Note Nigeria: Biafran secessionist groups,’ released in March, the UKVI, a division of the Home Office, directed its decision-makers to consider if a person “who actively and openly supports IPOB is likely to be at risk of arrest and detention, and ill-treatment which is likely to amount to persecution.’’

It further said the UK must also consider if the arrest and prosecution of IPOB members for clamouring for the break-up of the country were acts of prosecution, not persecution.

But the Federal Government frowned on the UK immigration guidelines, describing them as support for terrorism.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who said that the decision was disrespectful, noted that it amounted to sabotaging the fight against terrorism and generally undermining Nigeria’s security.

Responding to the allegations by the Federal Government, the British High Commission in an apparent rebuff, said the UK had a proud history of providing protection to those who needed it.

The emailed statement read,” The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it, in accordance with our international obligations under the Refugee Convention and European Convention on Human Rights. Our country policy and information notes are published on the gov.uk website. They are kept under constant review and updated periodically – an update to the Biafra separatist note is expected shortly. We publish them since our decisions can be appealed in the immigration courts, which are public, so it is clearer and fairer for all involved (applicants, their lawyers, judges, stakeholders such as the UNHCR) to know what our position and evidence base is. All asylum and human rights claims from Nigerian nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations.”