FSS Students-Police Clash: Atiba DPO Finally Speaks

Following the face-off that occurred between the men of the Nigeria Police Force of the Atiba Division and the students of the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo on Tuesday, 13th December, 2016, we were able to reach the two parties involved in the incident and  a report of the students' version was published earlier. 

As promised, a call was put through to the Divisional Police Officer of Atiba Division, SP Sadiq Mana, for a balanced report. Unfortunately, the DPO, who was a principal actor in the incident was not available in the  office but during a telephone conversation that lasted for about 30minutes, he was able to give us a breakdown of the whole palaver. 

Kindly note that what I am writing is based on my discussion with the DPO and not an opinion formed by me. Thanks.

SP Sadiq Mana

After briefly introducing myself to the DPO and stating the reason for my call, a note of eagerness to open up was detected in SP Sadiq's voice. 

He confirmed that the whole issue stated from a food canteen close to the school. He was about eating when the student of the Federal School of Surveying approached him. 

When asked if he had known the boy in the  past, the DPO answered that he actually met the boy once when he came to introduce the popular Ponzi Scheme MMM to him. He said he didn't give him (the student) a positive response when he introduced the scheme to him and I believe this is what made the student mad. 

He said the student walked in and upon sighting him  said "See you, na so so food you sabi chop. You no sabi better thing. Who you be sef. Crazy man! Wetin you wan do? Oya call your people now. Call  anybody make dem come arrest me nah. Useless man!"

Apparently, the DPO was not only baffled but also embarrassed. He pointed out that the student was accompanied by his friend who kept cautioning the boy. He said even customers were also baffled. 

"When the embarrassment was becoming unbearable, I ordered that he should be arrested and taken to the office. When we get to the office, he will tell me what I did wrong to him."

According to the Officer, the student was arrested and taken to the office while he resumed back to his food. 

He went further "Ask those at the canteen. They were all baffled and abusing the student. He was the only one taken away and that is to tell you it was not a personal issue.  His friend who was with him was not arrested. Ask him if he will tell you the truth."

My people, that's  the genesis of the brouhaha. The student was taken into custody truly as also stated by his colleagues.  

If you will recall, according to the students' version, the boy was chained and asked  to weed a portion of  land.  Unfortunately, there was no evidence to either back this up or prove it wrong.

When  I asked the DPO if that actually happened, he denied the claim. He said the boy was not even locked up in the cell. He only told them to take him to the station pending the time he would return there to question his rudeness. 

The DPO said he was still at the food canteen when the President of the FSS Students' Union called him. The President was requesting for the DPO's audience at the station. 

He immediately finished his food and rushed back to the station. According to him, on getting to the station, he sighted a group of about 50 students in front of the Police station shouting and threatening to burn down the station if the guy was not released in 10 minutes. 

This came as a disappointment to the DPO who thought he had a good rapport with the students of the school. He also said that he thought he was only going to meet  and discuss with the President and probably some excos of the union. 

"They were shouting that they wanted to burn down the station. They had petrol and were getting violent. They didn't even ask about the crime the student committed. All they wanted was for me to just release the guy." 

Apparently disturbed that things were going to get out of hands, the DPO said he called for support from the men of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad to disperse the students and prevent damage of public properties. 

According to the students, when the SARS came, tear gas was released and shots fired sporadically at them. Some students picked up cases of the bullets fired at them as evidences.

When I asked if live bullets were used to disperse the protesting students, the DPO also denied it saying that only tear gas and rubber bullets were used. 

"Of course, we used tear gas and only rubber bullets. That is what we use to disperse mobs and we only used them to chase the students back into their school compound. It was not as if we were chasing them around." 

The DPO, who was really angry at the students' attitude stated further that the student who started the issue and others who were caught in the protest were released that same night. 

"Ask the student union president, we released all the boys including the rude guy  although I told them we were going to prosecute them. They are future leaders and were behaving like that. The change must begin with us if we actually wanted a good future." 

"This morning, the school management already apologized to me and they have sent a letter to that effect concerning the students' unruly behavior. I have accepted to drop  the charges against the students and the management promised to set up a disciplinary committee to punish the students."

That was my conversation with the young DPO of Atiba Division, SP Sadiq Mana who claimed he was harassed and insulted by the student of the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo.  

Unfortunately, I still have some begging qquestions; 

1. Was the student under the influence of something when he approached the officer?

2. If the student was not chained, asked to weed and sighted by one of his colleagues, would the students have quickly mobilized themselves and gone wild? 

 

3. If the live bullet casings picked by the students were truly discharged by the police, why would they use such to disperse a group of protesting students? 

Police, FSS Students Clash in Oyo Town

The men of the Nigeria Police Force of the Atiba Divisional Police Station and the students of the Federal School of  Surveying, Oyo, yesterday were involved in a face-off which led to injuries and eventually, the arrest of some of the students of the institution. 

I was alerted this morning of the incident which happened yesterday evening by one of the students who sent me some really disturbing pictures. This, apparently, forced me to visit the scenes and interview the parties involved in the brouhaha to come up with a balanced story. 

My first point of call was to the Federal School of Surveying, Oyo located along Ogbomoso road. On gaining entrance with my three-man crew, we sighted students standing in groups. 

 

Students standing in group discussing the issue

OmoIyaKunmi addressing the student leaders

While some of the students were discussing the event of the previous nights, some were agitating for a protest/reprisal. Immediately, I put a call across to the President-elect of the Students' Union Government who came to  meet us alongside with the outgoing President, Com. Tosin and some other excos of the union. 

After a brief introduction, I demanded for the students' side of the story. 

Kindly note that this is a version of the story established according to the students' reports and some evidences we gathered within the school premises. 

The Students' Version

An HND 2 student of the school (name withheld) allegedly went to eat at a popular food canteen not to far from the school. He was already eating when he started 'bragging' that he shared a close relationship with the DPO of Atiba Police Station and that they often meet to sit down together, eat and gist. 

Unknown to the student who was merely trying to impress other customers nearby, he didn't know the DPO was actually one of the customers in the canteen wearing mufti clothes. 

According to the students' version of the report, the DPO, who was furious and felt insulted by the guy's insulted ordered for a police van and some officers from the station to arrest the student. In a matter of minutes, the guy was whisked away by the police officers to the Atiba Divisional Police station. 

On getting to the station, the student's legs were chained and he was ordered to start cutting grasses in the police compound. It was this sight that attracted one of the students who was passing by the station. He recognized the individual before him as one of his colleagues and he hurriedly ran back to the school, opposite the station, to alert other students and students' union. 

On receiving the news, the students were infuriated and proceeded immediately to the station demanding for the release of one of them. 

At this point, I asked myself these posers;  

Why not demand for an explanation on why one of them was chained and punished? Why were they not patient enough to send their leaders to a round table with the officers to know what crime the guy in question committed? 

The students got furious and, according to witnesses, demanded that the police officers release the student or they burn down the station. 

This escalated into a crisis between the student-protesters and the officers of the Nigeria Police Force. Not only were some students injured and arrested, the Police were also not left unhurt. About thirteen students were arrested in the chaos.

It was this crisis that made the DPO of the Station to summon the presence of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) to assist the police to disperse the students. 

 

One of the seriously injured students

It was getting to around past 7pm when this happened. The SARS men came and according to the students, the armed men descended on them. They released tear gas and shot sporadically. These were some what the students gathered for us to see; 

It was at this point that I was forced to call the DPO of the Atiba Divisional Station to inform him of my intention to visit his office for his side of the story. Immediately I brought up the issue which I referred to as a 'crisis', he was quick to 'correct' me. 

He said, "Its not a crisis. The students were law breakers. And the offenders must be punished. We crave for change but we the future leaders are the ones responsible for breakdowns of law and orders in the society. Its bad! The guy was rude and arrogant. He has already been charged to court and we will see that others arrested also face the wrath of the law. Why will they want to burn down the station? Why?"

When I realized that meeting him  one-on-one would  facilitate proper information, I quickly jumped in. 

"Sir, can I come down to your office now?" he replied that he was traveling to Ibadan and that by 3pm, he would be back to meet me. 

Inspecting the one of the sites of the incident

Unfortunately, a visit to the food canteen where the issue allegedly started yielded no results as the staff were not cooperating with us.

3pm, this afternoon, is when I am waiting to ask the DPO these questions; 

1. Why was the student arrested in the first instance? What crime did he commit?

2. Of what gravity is such crime that the accused was chained immediately and asked to start weeding? 

3. Why were bullets and teargas released on the harmless students? 

I will be right back after the meeting with the DPO, hopefully today, to give the Police version of the story.

Thanks. 

OmoIyaKunmi

08062350129

List of Successful Candidates For Nigeria Police Recruitment Out!

Nigeria Police recruitment list of successful candidates for appointment into the force has been published. The Police Service Commission (PSC) has released the list of successful candidates in the 2016 NPF Recruitment Exercise.

Candidates who participated in the last zonal screening exercise are advice to check their names by following the procedure below;

Visit the PSC websites on: http://psc.gov.ng/join-the-nigeria-police-force.html

Click on the various Cadres to view the list.

How Oyo West Officials Exploit Applicants Over Certificate of Origin

“There is no greater tyranny than that which is perpetrated under the shield of the law and in the name of justice.” ― Montesquieu, The Spirit of the Laws

This revelation of the greed and level of corruption being perpetrated by some officials of the Oyo West Local, Ojongbodu, came into limelight and attracted my attention on the 1st of December, 2016. 

Its heartbreaking to note that while the act of extorting people has been on for a while but it seems everyone sees it as a usual business but in the real sense, its nothing but daylight robbery. 

My Case

With the release of selected applicants for the Federal Government's N-Power Scheme, there was a wild spread information around town that these set of candidates were to submit their credentials to their Local Government Areas as from December 1st, 2016. 

Despite warnings that the info might be a rumour as there was no announcement yet from N-Power, the candidates were eagerly visiting the LGs before the date to make enquiries concerning the documents to be submitted. 

According to my findings, the three LGs in Oyo town requested for different documents from them. While Oyo East Lg was only collecting the printouts of the applicants' data, Atiba collected only one of the printouts and Oyo West requested for Passport photographs, the 3 printouts and mandated the applicants to present their LG Certificate of Origin. 

Here is where I am having issues with the officials. 

One of my sources (names withheld), a non-indigene of Oyo town, who was posted to Oyo West Lg visited the secretariat on Thursday, December 1st, to submit her documents to the official. 

According to her, when she got there, her documents were rejected because she could not produce a Certificate of Origin that reflects Oyo West Local Government. Despite attempts to inform them that she was not from the Lg but was only posted to, the officers in charge insisted that she must produce a Certificate of Origin bearing Oyo West Local Government. 

Hmmm... 

The lady was directed to another department to obtain the certificate and she was shocked when they charged her a sum of One thousand and six hundred naira (N1,600). 

The confused applicant, apparently with nothing close to that amount on her, left the secretariat to borrow the amount demanded. She returned a little while after she raised this fee and paid to the department. 

When this got to my attention, not only was I heartbroken but the outrageous fee demanded infuriated me. 

A look at the receipts (she was issued two receipts) got me reeling in laughter. Kindly check the pictures; 

1. The first one bears One thousand Naira (N1,000) as payment for the identification fee. The receipt was issued under 'General receipt' and it doesn't bear the LG's name.

2. The second receipt was issued under 'Radio and Television Licence' (laughing) and it bears 'OYO LOCAL GOVERNMENT'. You  surely know what this means, Oyo Local Government ceased  to exist a long while ago. 

If I may ask, of what relevance is a 'Radio and Television Licence' to someone who applied for a Certificate of Origin?

Why is the first receipt not bearing the Lg name but 'General Receipt' instead?  Anyone could have issued that out. What is the guarantee that the fee goes into the Lg treasury? 

Where is the N500 balance? The applicant paid N1,600 and only 'receipts' of N1,100 were issued to her. Doesn't that tell us something? 

Why are the officials forcing non-indigents of the Lg to apply and pay for the 'Certificate of Origin' against their wishes? 

The last time I checked, issuance of this certificate is done when the applicant had proved beyond reasonable  doubts that he/she is from the Lg and even in some  LGs, you will have to produce a letter of attestation from the Councillor representing the ward the applicant is from. 

These were the queries I put to the Caretaker Chairman of Oy West Lg, Hon. Bisi Oladeji, during a  phone conversation. He denied knowing about the scheme and told me he was going to get back to me. After 24hours, I have not heard from the council boss. 

Hon. Bisi Oladeji, Oyo West Caretaker Chairman

My people, we can only get rid of the evils and injustices in our society if we speak out and fight against them only.The acts of extorting innocents citizens by some officials of the Oyo West Lg has been going on for a while and it has got to stop!

I implore all political office holders representing this constituency, vibrant social crusaders and others who will always stand against injustices to come around and demand for a full probe into the activities of these greedy and callous officials. 

I have spoken.

OmoIyaKunmi

08062350129 

Confusion Over N-power As Scheme Takes Off Today

 

There is confusion among many of the 200,000 candidates selected for the Federal Government’s N-Power programme concerning their place of assignment as the scheme officially takes off today, Daily Trust’s findings show.

The Presidency had about two weeks ago said that 200,000 graduates employed under the N-Power would resume work on December 1.

“Between now and the end of the month, the states and the FCT would be engaged in deploying the graduates who would formally start working and earning their stipends on December 1, 2016,” the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, had said in a statement.

On the complaints by many of the selected applicants that they were yet to receive letters of deployment, Akande told Daily Trust yesterday that states were responsible for the placement of participants.

The vice president’s spokesman said that those selected would get their first salary in December. “Everything is set. The money is already available,” he said.

“The states will deploy them to their places of primary assignments. It is not a permanent job. Rather, it is a two-year intervention programme for unemployed graduates.

“All the states have keyed into the programme. The states are responsible for the deployment of the selected applicants. The states are already contacting them. The deployment started about a week ago. Some states are already doing this and others will follow suit. After the states have deployed them to their places of primary assignments, they (the selected applicants) will get letters on information about where they will work.”

We don’t know our fate

However, checks by Daily Trust last night revealed that many of the shortlisted participants were in the dark as to where and when they will be working.

As at last night, checks by Daily Trust also showed that there are no liaison offices for the programme in most states.

One of the successful applicants, who only gave his second name as Suleiman, said he and many of his colleagues were confused.

“I was successful but nobody told me anything yet, either through letter confirming the placement or even a text message or phone call,” he said.

Suleiman, who had been unemployed since graduating from the university 12 years ago, said his initial joy of making the shortlist of successful candidates was gradually fading because of the seeming uncertainty.

Another successful candidate called Kyari said he was also confused.

“They said our work starts tomorrow but I don’t know where to go and report. I was selected for the teaching component, but which school would I go?

“I’m really getting agitated about the whole thing. I wish the federal government will get this thing right so that we would not get frustrated at the end of the day.

“I don’t want free money, I want to be posted somewhere to work and earn the N30, 000 stipend, not to just sleep at home and go to the bank at the end of the month,” he said.

“There is no communication about our deployment as at today (last night). We haven’t received a text message as promised,” one of the beneficiaries, Mohammed Lawal of Jos-North, Plateau State, said.

In Kaduna State also, beneficiaries are yet to be posted to their various stations, our investigations have revealed.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke with our correspondents, said though their names appeared on the list of successful candidates from the state, there were no details about the posting.

A top government official in Kaduna State, when contacted, said the state government had plans to engage the beneficiaries in future but that the details had to be worked out first by relevant ministries in the state.

Samuel Aruwan, media aide to Governor Nasir El-Rufai could not be reached for comments as his line was not available at the time of filing this report.

States differ in arrangements

In Gombe State, the beneficiaries were still undergoing verification and screening yesterday ahead of their posting to their various places of work. Hajiya Maryam Isa Mele, the Special Adviser on Social Investment to Gombe State Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, said the participants would be posted to teach in Primary and Junior Secondary Schools, Agricultural Extension Services and Primary Healthcare Centres.

She said the beneficiaries would be posted to place of work close to their residence.

However, Jigawa State N-Power Coordinator, Bala Chamo, said placement of beneficiaries had begun and the exercise was expected to be completed by Friday.

In Kebbi State, a meeting is expected to hold for the state government to decide when and where the participants would be posted.

The State Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Comrade Aliyu Bunza told our correspondent on phone that “The State Government is liaising with the Federal Government on the modality of the programme and we would be having a meeting with government today (Thursday) to know when those who benefitted will be posted to their place of work.”

In Kogi State, the government, through the Special Adviser to the Governor on Multilateral, Donor Agencies and Special Projects/Focal Person on Social Investment Program, Mr Adoga Ibrahim, said Governor Yahaya Bello would officially flag off the Programme today (Thursday) in Lokoja.

He said the government was working in partnership with the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Kogi State Agricultural Development Project (ADP) and Primary Health Care Development Agency to ensure smooth deployment of the beneficiaries to their various place of assignment.

In Kano, most of the applicants interviewed told Daily Trust that although they were aware of today’s arrangement but were unsure of where and when they would be posted.

When contacted, Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Dr Austin Tam George, said he had no information about the project.

Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, told the Daily Trust, he had not been briefed and wouldn’t want to speculate on the programme.

In Imo State, the Commissioner for Information, Youths and Public Utilities Engr. Obinna Nshirim, said that he was not sure if the state would start today as expected.

He however said he would like to make inquiries on the issue.

How N-Power will work

The N-Power Programme, according to the Federal Government, is to reduce youth unemployment by providing “young graduates and non-graduates with the skills, tools and livelihood to enable them advance from unemployment to employment, entrepreneurship and innovation.”

In this first batch, 150,000 of the graduates will teach, 30,000 will work in the agricultural sector and 20,000 in healthcare delivery.

Beneficiaries of the scheme are to be paid N30, 000 monthly stipend.

Contributions from Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos), Andrew Agbese (Kaduna), Hir Joseph (Jos), Yusha’u A. Ibrahim (Kano), Haruna Gimba Yaya (Gombe), Aliyu Hamagam (Dutse), Itodo Daniel Sule (Lokoja), Victor Edozie (Port Hacourt), Ismail Adebayo (Birnin Kebbi) & Johnkennedy Uzoma (Owerri)

 

 

Source: The Daily Trust

Oyo Markets Shut Down Today?

So, I heard that, yesterday, a directive was passed by a 'town crier' around the town to instruct market people to stay away from their businesses in major markets today till 12 noon.

I confirmed this after a visit to Dan Zaria Market, Owode and shops were not opening.

A brief interview with one of the market women who came early to open her shop but was warned by her neighbors not to do also confirmed that there was a directive that shops are not to be opened till 12 noon today. 

According to the woman, she said 'I came early to the shop around 7am and was sweeping when my neighbor told me to close my shop. I asked why and she said there was a warning yesterday that we should not open our shops. I sell buns and this is the time I make my money. What will I live on today? After all, this has nothing to  do with environmental sanitation.' 

As at the moment I got this information, I have not established the exact source of the order but I believe if there was no information, people would not have abandoned these markets.

Some of the questions begging for answers include;

- On whose authority were the markets shut down?

- Of what purpose is the decision?

- Did this authority consider the economic implications of such decision  on the town and her folks? 

- Why did they exclude corporate organizations and schools  from these shut down?

OmoIyaKunmiReports

08062350129

N-Power List of Selected Applicants Out!

Simply  check it out by visiting this link.  Type your phone number and the result will  be displayed; 

https://portal.npower.gov.ng/apply/selected.php

EFCC Orders Court to Arrest Ladoja Over N4.7bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday urged a Federal High Court in Lagos to issue a bench warrant against Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State, for refusing to show up in court over a N4.7 billion money laundering charge instituted against him by the Commission.
Ladoja was scheduled for arraignment before the court yesterday alongside his ex-aide, Chief Waheed Akanbi, following his failure to quash the 10 counts charge preferred against him.
The former governor had through his former lawyer, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), appealed against the decision of a Federal High Court in Lagos which refused to quash the charge.
The appellate court in a judgment delivered by Justice Sidi Bage rejected the appeal and ordered the former governor to continue his trial at the lower court.
Justice Bage in his lead judgment had unanimously adopted by other two justices held that the EFCC had the power to prosecute under Money Laundering Prohibition Act 2004.

http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/n4-7bn-fraud-efcc-wants-court-to-order-ladoja-s-arrest/172345.html#v1WuKqGM4cxBlJCh.99

 

I Just Received A Call From Secretary Clinton - Donal Trump

Donald Trump's Victory Message 

Thank you. Thank you very much, everyone. Sorry to keep you waiting. Complicated business, complicated. Thank you very much.

I've just received a call from secretary Clinton. She congratulated us. It’s about us. On our victory, and I congratulated her and her family on a very, very hard-fought campaign.

I mean she fought very hard. Hillary has worked very long and very hard over a long period of time, and we owe her a major debt of gratitude for her service to our country.

I mean that very sincerely. Now it is time for America to bind the wounds of division, have to get together, to all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.

It is time. I pledge to every citizen of our land that I will be president for all of Americans, and this is so important to me. For those who have chosen not to support me in the past, of which there were a few people, I'm reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country. As I've said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign but rather an incredible and great movement, made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their family.

It is a movement comprised of Americans from all races, religions, backgrounds and beliefs, who want and expect our government to serve the people, and serve the people it will.

Working together we will begin the urgent task of rebuilding our nation and renewing the American dream. I've spent my entire life in business, looking at the untapped potential in projects and in people all over the world.

That is now what I want to do for our country. Tremendous potential. I've gotten to know our country so well. Tremendous potential. It is going to be a beautiful thing. Every single American will have the opportunity to realize his or her fullest potential. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.

We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We're going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none, and we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it. We will also finally take care of our great veterans who have been so loyal, and I've gotten to know so many over this 18-month journey.

The time I've spent with them during this campaign has been among my greatest honors.

Our veterans are incredible people. We will embark upon a project of national growth and renewal. I will harness the creative talents of our people and we will call upon the best and brightest to leverage their tremendous talent for the benefit of all. It is going to happen. We have a great economic plan. We will double our growth and have the strongest economy anywhere in the world. At the same time we will get along with all other nations, willing to get along with us. We will be. We will have great relationships. We expect to have great, great relationships. No dream is too big, no challenge is too great. Nothing we want for our future is beyond our reach.

America will no longer settle for anything less than the best. We must reclaim our country's destiny and dream big and bold and daring. We have to do that. We're going to dream of things for our country, and beautiful things and successful things once again.

I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America's interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone, with everyone.

All people and all other nations. We will seek common ground, not hostility, partnership, not conflict. And now I would like to take this moment to thank some of the people who really helped me with this, what they are calling tonight a very, very historic victory.

First I want to thank my parents, who I know are looking down on me right now. Great people. I've learned so much from them. They were wonderful in every regard. I are truly great parents. I also want to thank my sisters, Marianne and Elizabeth who are here with us tonight. Where are they? They're here someplace. They're very shy actually.

And my brother Robert, my great friend. Where is Robert? Where is Robert?

My brother Robert, and they should be on this stage but that's okay. They're great.

And also my late brother Fred, great guy. Fantastic guy. Fantastic family. I was very lucky.

Great brothers, sisters, great, unbelievable parents. To Melania and Don and Ivanka and Eric and Tiffany and Barron, I love you and I thank you, and especially for putting up with all of those hours. This was tough.

This was tough. This political stuff is nasty and it is tough. So I want to thank my family very much. Really fantastic. Thank you all. Thank you all. Lara, unbelievable job. Unbelievable. Vanessa, thank you. Thank you very much. What a great group.

You've all given me such incredible support, and I will tell you that we have a large group of people. You know, they kept saying we have a small staff. Not so small. Look at all of the people that we have. Look at all of these people.

And Kellyanne and Chris and Rudy and Steve and David. We have got tremendously talented people up here, and I want to tell you it's been very, very special.

I want to give a very special thanks to our former mayor, Rudy Giuliani. He's unbelievable. Unbelievable. He traveled with us and he went through meetings, and Rudy never changes. Where is Rudy. Where is he?

[Chanting "Rudy"]

Gov. Chris Christie, folks, was unbelievable. Thank you, Chris. The first man, first senator, first major, major politician — let me tell you, he is highly respected in Washington because he is as smart as you get, senator Jeff sessions. Where is Jeff? A great man. Another great man, very tough competitor. He was not easy. He was not easy. Who is that? Is that the mayor that showed up? Is that Rudy?

Up here. Really a friend to me, but I'll tell you, I got to know him as a competitor because he was one of the folks that was negotiating to go against those Democrats, Dr. Ben Carson. Where's been? Where is Ben? By the way, Mike Huckabee is here someplace, and he is fantastic. Mike and his familiar bring Sarah, thank you very much. Gen. Mike Flynn. Where is Mike? And Gen. Kellogg. We have over 200 generals and admirals that have endorsed our campaign and there are special people. We have 22 congressional medal of honor people. A very special person who, believe me, I read reports that I wasn't getting along with him. I never had a bad second with him. He's an unbelievable star. He is -- that's right, how did you possibly guess? Let me tell you about Reince. I've said Reince. I know it. I know it. Look at all of those people over there. I know it, Reince is a superstar. I said, they can't call you a superstar, Reince, unless we win it. Like secretariat. He would not have that bust at the track at Belmont.

Reince is really a star and he is the hardest working guy and in a certain way I did this. Reince, come up here. Get over here, Reince.

Boy, oh, boy, oh, boy. It's about time you did this right. My god. Nah, come here. Say something.

[Reince Priebus: Ladies and gentlemen, the next president of the united States, Donald Trump! Thank you. It's been an honor. God bless. Thank God.]

Amazing guy. Our partnership with the RNC was so important to the success and what we've done, so I also have to say, I've gotten to know some incredible people.

The Secret Service people. They're tough and they're smart and they're sharp and I don't want to mess around with them, I can tell ya. And when I want to go and wave to a big group of people and they rip me down and put me back down in the seat, but they are fantastic people so I want to thank the Secret Service.

And law enforcement in New York City, they're here tonight. These are spectacular people, sometimes under appreciated unfortunately, we we appreciate them. So it's been what they call an historic event, but to be really historic, we have to do a great job and I promise you that I will not let you down. We will do a great job. We will do a great job. I look very much forward to being your president and hopefully at the end of two years or three years or four years or maybe even eight years you will say so many of you worked so hard for us, with you you will say that — you will say that that was something that you were — really were very proud to do and I can — thank you very much.

And I can only say that while the campaign is over, our work on this movement is now really just beginning. We're going to get to work immediately for the American people and we're going to be doing a job that hopefully you will be so proud of your president. You will be so proud. Again, it's my honor.

It's an amazing evening. It's been an amazing two-year period and I love this country. Thank you.