I think this is what the Alaafin is trying to say. And it's logical because ancestors can't vote in the land of the living. Only in their world. So if they've resolved to make Tinubu their President, so be it.
PDP has so many excellent vice-presidential candidates, but I don't think they have a presidential candidate yet.
Peter Obi is a presidential candidate of South Nigeria, Twitter and the Igbos.
The north dislikes him as an Igbo man & also for deporting northerners when he was governor. He hasn't made any effort to woo the north that I know of.
Says IPOB leadership is working with the Nigerian government to sabotage, persecute and annihilate his followers.
If anything happen to anyone during our peaceful civil disobedience, the criminals @real_IpobDOS must be held responsible. They are doing everything with the Nigeria government to stop our people from embarking on their civil rights which they voluntarily want to do every S&M
Tactical teams of the Imo State Police Command have allegedly shot dead a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network (ESN) In a fierce gun battle in a forest in Onicha, Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of the state.
In a statement on Saturday, the command’s spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam, explained that the hoodlums, on sighting the police operatives, opened fire on them. One of the hoodlums was neutralized while others scampered into the adjoining bushes fatally injured with gunshot injuries.
The release said, “the proscribed IPOB/ ESN terror group, its militia wing has made a forest at Onicha in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State, their operational base where they go out to perpetrate heinous crimes which include terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery and killing of innocent citizens
“Based on this information, the ever combat-ready Imo Command’s tactical teams, having carried diligent surveillance of the criminal hideouts, on 18/1/2022 at about 1300 hours, stormed the deadly terror camp.”
Items recovered from them on combing the bush and searching the terror camp includes one AK-47 rifle with 40 rounds of live ammunition, 10 locally-fabricated explosives devices, one police hand grenade, two Toyota Highlander SUVs without registration numbers.
Others include one Lexus RX350 SUV without registration number, one Lexus RX330 SUV without registration number, two Biafran flags, different assorted charms, assorted dresses suspected to belong to kidnapped/robbed victims.
The command appealed to the people of the state not to allow criminals to use their community as a safe haven to perpetrate heinous crimes.
It urged them to form vigilante groups/neighbourhood watch associations to complement the efforts of the police and other security agencies, adding that they should report any suspicious persons seen with bullet wounds to the nearest police station or call the command’s emergency numbers 08034773600 or 08098880197
Commending the officers and men for their dedication and gallantry, the Commissioner of Police Imo State, CP Rabiu Hussaini, thanked Imolites for their unalloyed support and assured them of the command’s commitment to ensuring a crime-free state.
The fifth person I know closely fled the South East last night. "Never to return again," he said. House now for sale. Lost child due to unavailability of medical care during sit-at-home, lost a younger sister last year due to same problem; lost younger brother in one conflict in Orlu; elder brother lost car to enforcers in Onitsha just before the gubernatorial elections.
Where has he relocated to? Lokoja. "I cannot afford Abuja," he yelled. What about your name? Won't you suffer pogrom soon? He shot back: "to hell with that...I'll change it."
Please, can these enforcers understand that there are things called "rules of engagement in international and national conflicts." Health institutions, the sick, children, women, the aged, civil environments, etc, are exempted in conflicts.
Otherwise, I'm constrained to believe that every armed robber is now a freedom fighter in Igbo land. Although I am aware that estranged coordinators are now on the loose and are not yielding a quarter. Governments and security do not care. Trouble looms.
President Muhammadu Buhari has again vowed to crush terrorism before leaving office.
Buhari said the Nigerian Armed Forces, under his watch, will crush terrorists and criminal gangs operating in Kaduna State and across the country.
He spoke at a State Banquet to commemorate his official visit to the state
The president’s latest promise is contained in a statement signed by his spokesman, Garba Shehu on Friday.
Buhari applauded the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led government for the support extended to security agencies.
The President said, ‘‘I wish to assure the people and government of Kaduna State that the Federal Government is doing its utmost to contain and crush the terrorists that have been menacing our citizens and their property in parts of the country.
‘‘On behalf of the Federal Government, I commend the efforts of the Kaduna State Government to respond to the demands of development.
‘‘The relationship between our tiers of government represents an instance of successful collaboration between the national and state governments for progress, peace and prosperity.
‘‘I urge Malam Nasir El-Rufai to push on and not relent in his efforts to accelerate change and progress in Kaduna State.”
I do not understand why people say DNA test is expensive. So you don't have money to do DNA test but you want to have kids? How much do you think it cost to take care of a baby? Which do you think is more expensive?If you can't afford DNA, you can't afford having a child too.
Traders and artisans in Awka, the Anambra State capital are lamenting the effects of the sit-at-home order by the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) saying it is destroying the economy of the South East.
According to them, since the commencement of the sit-at-home, they hardly meet their family needs and they are going hungry.
IPOB had declared every Monday and any other day Nnamdi Kanu, the IPOB leader appears before court as sit-at-home as part of moves to compel the federal government to release their leader.
A widow, Mrs Ngozi Ude, who fries bean cake (akara) in Awka told Daily Trust that she has been frying bean cake over the years to cater for her family.
She said she catered for her family needs since the death of her husband five years ago from the little daily income she makes.
“In the last three days, everyone was forced inside the house without food, my family is seriously suffering, we cannot eat as we live on daily sales and income,” she lamented.
Another trader, Mr Chuks Obasi, who deals in second-hand bags said most of them are living on daily income, noting that any day they do not open shops, they will suffer.
He said the sit at home in the South East is taking a serious toll on families and there is need to look into the matter and save the poor in the zone from the avoidable pains.
“Since Monday till today I have not been to shop, since then, we have exhausted all the money and food in our house.
“This sit-at-home has destroyed our family life. It has also destroyed our economy and if it continues, people will suffer more,” he said.
A welder, Mr Chidi Okoye, who spoke to our correspondent, said he has a lot of work to do in the shop but cannot because of the sit-at-home order.
According to him, this sit-at-home is not good for the state economy and if it continues it would totally destroy livelihoods in the South East.
“We must stop this madness that is destroying our economy. People are now going hungrier because they can no longer meet their family needs as a result of sit-at-home.
“IPOB must look inward and stop the order to ensure that the sit-at-home does not destroy the people and their economy,” he said.
However, a young man and tiler, Mr Uche Mathew, said they are comfortable with the sit-at-home order, if it is the only way to realise the Biafra dream.
According to him, in every struggle people must give something to get their desire. “Though we are suffering now, that is the only prize we must pay for our agitation. Let it continue and we must manage.”
Some of the businessmen in Anambra also said over N25 billion is being lost in Onitsha alone each day the sit-at-home order by IPOB is enforced.
They said the order has caused a huge drop in patronage in the geopolitical zone, noting the order has forced people in West Africa doing business in the zone to divert to Lagos for fear of being attacked by the IPOB.
By Maazi Ogbonnaya Okoro, a popular Igbo historian/linguist/author.
"It is not DOS, it is Simon Ekpa", they'd say.
Who is DOS?
Who is Simon Ekpa?
What and who are they representing?
Why the confusion? Why not settle whatever disagreement you guys have outside Nigeria without making those back home suffer it?
DOS will decree. Simon Ekpa etie nke ya. Ndị kwe ma ndi ekweghị. And none of them is in Nigeria. They are outside. One in Finland. Ndị ọzọ from different countries.
Why the confusion?
Why not have one voice?
Why making rules out of bloated ego when something happens in the East after creating the atmosphere, you will hear:
"It is DSS. It is SSS. It is state sponsored terrorist from the Sahel".
I shake my head for ala Igbo.
I blame nobody.
I blame the ineptitudes masquerading as Igbo leaders and politicians. There is a large leadership gap between the so called leaders and the masses.
]Lack of good leadership makes way for anarchy. I remember the days of Micheal Ọkpara. The days of Sam Mbakwe. The days of Akanụ Ịbịam. When ala Igbo was home. Now, we run away from home..
He follows virtually everyone. I have multiple accounts, he follows all. Even the new one I opened today with no follower, he still followed immediately I followed him.
So this got me asking.. Is Omoyele Sowore the most humble social media user?
…Can’t hide excitement over new face of Kaduna Commissions projects executed by El-Rufai
President Muhammadu Buhari has in Kaduna on Thursday, recalled with nostalgia how he narrowly escaped being bombed near the Kawo bridge, while travelling to Katsina State in July 2014.
Buhari who was at the newly constructed Kawo bridge executed by the El-Rufai administration, said ”there was an attempt to bomb me here…there was a market nearby .”….but his security escort were vigilant.
The Kawo bridge was a project ,many said had became a cynosure, which had attracted many tourists to Kaduna since its completion.
As part of the visit to Kaduna, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the ultra modern sports and shopping complex at Murtala Square Kaduna, where he reiterated the likelihood of his staying in Kaduna after leaving office.
Speaking while commissioning the project, the President commended the foresight and developmental strides of the El-Rufai administration, pointing out that Kaduna would be difficult for a long time visitor to recognise.
Earlier, President Buhari who arrived Kaduna the previous day, was in Kafanchan, Southern Kaduna were he appreciated the numerous projects he commissioned and thanked the Governor for building good roads and other infrastructural projects in rural parts of the state.
Buhari and his entourage led by Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, were expected to be in Zaria in continuation of the projects commissioning .
The President’s visit to Kaduna, his state of residence since retirement from the military, was expected to end on Friday.
Disregard the tales by moonlight from Bola Tinubu that your PVCs have expired. Maybe Tinubu is mistaking PVCs for his teeth that have expired. Every vote must count in 2023. Go and brush up your t̶̷e̶̷e̶̷t̶̷h̶̷ PVC in readiness for 2023 election!
What type of mental laziness is this? Sometimes I think Nigerians deserve clowns like Buhari. Doesn’t your common sense tell you that somebody that can’t or won’t look after his own personal hygiene will also not be able to look after your future?
One of the biggest myths existing in Nigeria today is that the current system of government that we have, which is a false federation, that is, in fact, a unitary system, is a creation of Northern Nigeria to dominate other parts of Nigeria.
Yes, Northern Nigeria is heavily benefiting from it. Northern Nigeria is sustaining it. However, Northern Nigeria did not create it. And when oil runs its course as a commercially viable commodity, it is even possible that Northern Nigeria itself may come to a position where it does not even find it as attractive as it once did.
And this myth that our present faux federalism is a Northern construct has persisted for the simple reason that Nigerians hardly read about or study their history. As a people, we are, with a few exceptions, focused on the here and now, without much thought to how we got to where we are.
The recent public tiff between two very famous letter-writers (the revered Chief Obasanjo, and Chief EK Clark), has again raised more dust over this matter.
Yes, the system of government that we have now is not the template our founding fathers dreamt about. That Nigeria ended on January 15, 1966.
Prior to that unfortunate day, believe it or not, Nigeria had four regions that were treated as co-equals and who controlled all the resources in their domains.
Let me put this in perspective: Section 140 of the 1963 Constitution did indeed vest rights and powers over mineral resources including oil on the central government via the Exclusive Legislative List. However, this was mitigated by the stipulation that 50% of the royalties from minerals would be paid to the regions from which they originated.
Section 141 of the 1963 Republican Constitution of Nigeria created a Distributable Pool Account, of which the three regions (Northern, Western, and Eastern regions) would pay in 35% of their revenue. A fourth region (Midwestern region), was created and added to the pool in 1963.
That Distributable Pool Account is the forerunner of today’s Federation Account.
In 1964, the Balewa government accepted the recommendations of the Binns Commission on revenue allocation, which provided that the funds paid to the Distributable Pool Account be shared among the four regions, using the following formula:
Northern Region-42%
Eastern Region-30%
Western Region-20%
Mid-Western Region-8%.
Other than these monies that got paid to the Distributable Pool Account, and 25% to the Central Government (now known as the Federal Government), the regions had total and complete resource control.
And to a large extent, everyone was happy.
What upended this idyllic state that Nigeria existed in was the January 15, 1966 coup, commonly referred to as the Nzeogwu coup, but which was more accurately an Emmanuel Ifeajuna coup.
Though the coup succeeded in decapitating the Balewa-led central government, it was not totally successful, and was put down by the then-General Officer Commanding the Nigerian Army, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, who subsequently became Head of State.
It was Ironsi, as a military dictator, who actually ended true federalism in Nigeria by promulgating Decree No. 34 of 1966, which was also known as the Unification of Assets decree.
The preamble to that decree read as follows:
“Subject to the provisions of this Decree, Nigeria shall on 24th May 1966 (in this decree referred to as ‘the appointed day’) cease to be a Federation and shall accordingly as from that day be a Republic, by the name of the Republic of Nigeria, consisting of the whole of the territory which immediately before that day was comprised in the Federation.”
Ironsi thereafter stripped the regions and their appurtenances of any power over their resources and assets and domiciled such powers hitherto held by them on the ‘National Military Government’ headed by him.
Many of his critics felt that Ironsi’s decree was the handiwork of his three-man advisory committee, and the fact that all members of that committee were Igbo (Chief Francis Nwokedi, Dr Pius Charles Nwabafor Okigbo and Colonel Patrick Anwunah) did not help matters.
There were protests in the North and the Governor of the Midwest, David Ejoor, spoke against the idea.
In the North, the protests led to riots and then a pogrom, and set off a chain reaction of events too gruesome to recount here, lest I open old wounds. What I would however say, and I do not care whose ox is gored, is that there was no justification for the escalated pogrom against the Igbo, other than the perpetration of the ideology of balance of terror. And indeed, there was no balance. So, it is more accurate to use the term an ‘imbalance of terror’. But I digress.
The point I am trying to make is that the death of resource control and centralisation and concentration of power in the centre was not the creation of subsequent governments.
And though I love and admire former President Obasanjo, he is both right and wrong in his quarrel with Chief EK Clarke.
Yes, as of today, oil belongs to Nigeria as a whole. However, that has not always been the case. If we go by the 1960 and 1963 constitutions, which all Nigerian regions existing at the time had an input into, resources, such as oil, cocoa and groundnuts, and other minerals, belonged to the regions.
It was the military, beginning from Ironsi, to Gowon, and their military successors, including General Obasanjo himself, that forcefully took what had rightfully belonged to the regions.
And when they set up their various Constitution Committees and conferences, regions, like the South-South, and the Southeast, no longer had a voice. Their voices were drowned out by the voices of the majority, and this was the very thing they feared before independence, which made the British colonial government set up the Commission on Minority Groups in Nigeria (Willink Commission) to protect minorities by giving them a voice.
If the minorities, whose fears made the colonial government set up the commission, had known what Ironsi and his military successors were going to do, they would have opted out of Nigeria, which was an option available to them.
Decree 34 killed regionalism and true federalism and was a most unwise move from Aguiyi Ironsi that Nigeria is still paying for today.
And it further exacerbates the situation when Southerners, especially people of Southeastern origin, accuse the Hausa of dominating them.
I was reading something like that by a journalist of Southeastern extraction and it made me laugh. This fellow is a journalist and broadcaster. Meaning that he is meant to inform the public. Yet, he is ignorant. Very ignorant.
The extent to which supposedly intelligent and educated people expose their ignorance is really sad. And it is a very ignorant thing to say that the Hausa have dominated politics in Nigeria.
The truth is that only one Hausa man has ever governed Nigeria, and he governed for only nine months (Abdulsalami Abubakar). Murtala Mohammed and Muhammadu Buhari were/are partly Fulani. None of them had Hausa blood.
Only Murtala’s mother was Fulani, and just Buhari’s father was Fulani. Both of them grew up without their fathers.
The only pure Fulani to have governed Nigeria was Shehu Shagari, perhaps one of the most decent human beings this land has ever produced.
Umaru Musa Yar’adua was Tuareg.
Tafawa Balewa was from an ethnic nationality called Gere, which are one of the first Northern people to accept Western-style Christianity, and education.
Yakubu Gowon is alive and can testify that he is an Ngas by ethnic origin.
I left Ibrahim Babangida to the end, because, as is typical with most things Babangida, his ethnicity is deliberately shrouded in controversy. And because of that, I will not add to that controversy beyond saying he is of an uncertain ethnicity.
Sani Abacha was pure Kanuri, although he claimed to be from Kano.
The conclusion of the matter is that Hausa domination is a MYTH! And ever since the Shehu Uthman Dan Fodio Fulani Jihad of 1804–1808, the Hausa have been the most denigrated, downgraded and marginalised ethnicity in the geographical entity that is now known as Nigeria.
Even the one Hausa man that became Head of State for nine months, Abdulsalami Abubakar, got there purely by chance. He was to be retired by Abacha, but Abacha died before he could sign his retirement papers. Oladipo Diya, who would have automatically taken over as Abacha’s deputy, had been convicted of coup plotting. Leaving Abdulsalami as the next in line according to military hierarchy.
That is how God gave Nigeria her ONLY Hausa leader till date.
Many people erroneously think Jerry Useni was next in line and was passed over because the military authorities wanted a Muslim as the next head of state. That is false.
In a military government, the hierarch is as follows:
The Head of State and Commander-in-Chief at the head of the military echelon.
The Chief of General Staff, or the Chief of Staff, Supreme Military Council as the Number two.
The Chief of Defence Staff as Number three.
The Chief of Army Staff as number four.
Soldiers holding political positions are not included in the military hierarchy of power and the line of succession. Remember, it is or was a military government.
To that journalist of Southeast extraction who is complaining of Yoruba/Hausa domination. Yes, I can understand the Yoruba accusation. But the Hausa are actually more marginalised than the Igbo.
An Igbo has been at the helm once. And Igbo have been deputies or Vice President twice, with Alex Ekwueme and Ebitu Ukiwe.
Speaking generally, and to no one in particular, those Nigerians who shout marginalisation the most must get rid of their deep-seated persecution complex that makes them see enemies where there are none. It is becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy that is preventing them as a people from achieving many of their long-term strategic goals, chief of which is having a Nigerian President of their ethnic origin.
Even you, if you enter a room and before you enter, you believe everyone in the room hates you, you will not be confident when you enter, and as a result of your lack of confidence, you won’t make friends. And you will blame it on them not liking you.
Most of those who instigated the crisis of 1966-1970 are dead. Move on. This is politics. There are no permanent friends or enemies. Only permanent interests. Focus your energies on your interests, not your enemies!
Nairaland is the most popular Forum in Africa. It's peopled with various kinds of interests. Funny, boring, lively, boastful; basically, anything you can think of exists on Nairaland. It's an ocean of characters.
Nairaland is also a theater of dreams. While some are still struggling to make a living using it, others have made millions doing so.
Below, I bring you the top 5 richest members on Nairaland!
1. Mynd44 - $5.1 Million Net Worth
Popularly known as the capo di tutti due to his no-nonsense approach to spammers and rule breakers, Mynd44, the super mod, has managed to transform his ban hammer into a money minting device. Legend has it that the more people he bans, the more money he makes. Despite having such a powerful tool, Mynd has never for once abused it. He treats everyone equally. Moves threads to the Front Page based on the principle of 'first come, first served'.. And that's why he's loved by all. Northerners love him. Westerners love him. Southerners love him. Easterners love him, except IPOB members who hate him like a plaque.
2. Seun Osewa - $5 Million Net Worth
Coming second on my list is the intelligent and hardworking founder of the biggest Forum in Africa. Seun Osewa himself. Few may think his interests are just limited to tech, but Seun is actually a versatile young man. If Seun's interest is a book, tech is just a page.
3. - $4 Million Net Worth
Far the most popular, is the 3rd richest member on Nairaland. MANNA's businesses began to boom after he made a covenant with Nigeria. According to the covenant clause, the more enemies of Nigeria he frustrates on Nairaland, the more money he makes. This, he has done, SO WELL that he's nicknamed "the slayer of wailer".
is worth around $4 million.
4. Arrewa - $3.4 Million Net Worth
Arrewa is the most hated Nairalander in the South. But hey, that's his source of money. The more he's hated in the South, particularly the South East, the more money he makes. Arrewa has made a whooping $3.4 million for being hated in the South.
5. Airforce 1 - $3 Million Net Worth
Talk of the most successful musician on Nairaland, the one name that comes to mind is Airforce 1. The controversial singer, who was accused of selling his soul to the Devil, made his first million after he dropped his hit track "Audio". Since then, Airforce 1 has grown to become a household name on Nairaland. Till date, many still believe he's a member of the Illuminati because of his overnight success.
Nnamdi Azikiwe helped Zomo Kenyatta. 60 years later, Zomo Kenyatta's son, Uhuru Kenyatta returned Azikiwe's kind gesture by fighting a psychopathic secessionist who wanted to divide Nnamdi Azikiwe's one Nigeria.
Kenyatta would have paid back Nnamdi Azikiwe with evil if he had supported Nnamdi Kanu to destroy Azikiwe's ONE NIGERIA DREAM!
But all thanks to Kenyatta for not betraying Nnamdi Azikiwe.
After decades of economic hardship on Cross Riverians and commercial vehicle drivers using the old Ikom bridge, the Buhari Admin has finally completed the new and 2nd Ikom Bridge.
Unlike the old and dilapidated bridge, the new multibillion naira bridge has no canopy and allows heavy trucks to convey goods to and from the Northern part of Nigeria.
Before now, when some big and fully loaded trucks get to the old bridge, the drivers offload their goods and drive through the bridge before loading back the goods due to the canopy on the old bridge.
The completed Ikom bridge and the ongoing Obubra-Yakurr-Biase-Akamkpa-Odukpani road rehabilitation project are about the biggest federal projects in Cross River State since 1999.
Having used the road yesterday, I can confirm that the ongoing rehabilitation has reduced travel time between Ikom and Calabar by at least 40%, even as there's urgent need to increase speed of work on the road.
Governor Umar Ganduje of Kano State has expressed happiness at the open positions of the Igbo Cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo for believing in one strong entity, Nigeria.
Ganduje said, “the position taken by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has debunked all rumours, speculations and fears of the imminent break of Nigeria as championed by a very disgruntled element amongst the Igbo speaking nationalities”
Governor Ganduje said, “our diversity is the source of our unity and strength and that could not be used to break the country, because God in his wisdom knows why he created us as such, he would have created us, one tribe”.
The Governor made the comments while receiving three gubernatorial candidates and 27 states Kwankwasiyya members who decamped to the APC.
He said it was high time that Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls for a national conference for all the Igbo speaking persons to discuss one Nigeria.
Governor Ganduje also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the appointment of the new Service Chiefs saying their commitment to a total and final peace in Nigeria is a source of pride.
Meanwhile, the three former gubernatorial candidates who decamped to the APC are from the GNP, PRP and PDP in Kano State, AA Zaura, Salihu Sagir Takai and Risqua Murtala Muhammad, alongside 27 States Kwankwasiyya members.
Ambassador Olorunmi Femi a Kwankwasiyya member from Ogun State, said he was going out of the Kwankwasiyya movement for the fact that they lack focus and political analogy of the reality on the ground.
Femi noted that he was going into Athe PC to help the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari to achieve the desired goals of democratic dividends.
Salihu Sagir Takai who was in the party but decamped to PDP later PRP to contest for the governorship seat of the state said Governor Ganduje and President Muhammadu Buhari are enough reasons for any persons who wish Nigeria well to support them.
Abdussalam Abdulkarim Zaura known famously as AA Zaura, said it was clear that Nigeria has a party to depend on and as such he was coming into the party to join the good wagon of matured political movements.
Several markets in Lagos, including the popular Computer Village were shut on Saturday following threats of protest and violence in the state.
Sunday Igboho, acclaimed Yoruba activist, had declared June 12 a day of protest and told people in the Southwest to stockpile food in readiness for the day.
Despite police’s assurance that people should go about their business activities, and that they would be provided security, many Lagosians stayed at home.
In Abule Egba area, the popular Ile-Epo Market was deserted as people stayed away for fear of being attacked by hoodlums.
Also, the popular second hand clothes market, Katangowa Market, in Abule Egba was shut. Traders stayed at home for fear of being attacked.
In Berger area of Lagos, markets and shops were shut, people stayed at home. The same is for Ikeja markets and shops.
At Fagba area in Ifako Ijaiye, shops along the road sides were closed for businesses. The shops were under lock and key.
The same thing goes to many parts of Lagos, such as Ketu, Mile 12, among others.
The roads in Lagos were free on Saturday as the usual gridlock disappeared. Many motorists stayed away from the roads for fear of being attack.
In some parts of the state, policemen were seen patrolling to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.
Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) were stationed in some parts of the state to quell any violence.
Violence was only recorded at Ojota area of the state where police fired teargas at hoodlums who wanted to hijack a peaceful protest at MKO Abiola Garden.
“Protest at this moment would definitely be hijacked by the actors that are causing problems in the state, killing and maiming people.”
Unlike what was going on in some other parts of Nigeria, including Abuja, there was no protest in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, on June 12, as businesses opened shops and residents went on peacefully with their normal activities.
The major roads – Oron, Wellington Bassey Way, Nwaniba, Ikot Ekpene, Aka, and Abak – in the city were busy as usual. Police and other security agencies were not seen patrolling the roads.
At Ibom plaza, the heart of the city, which is usually a strategic point for all kinds of protest, there was no sign of protest – different vendors were seen marketing their products and services.
The town campus of the University of Uyo was quiet and peaceful when a PREMIUM TIMES’ reporter visited at about 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Some people were playing football, while a few students sat in clusters, chattering.
“I haven’t seen a protest here since I came out in the morning,” said a POS operator on the campus.
“I am aware there’s a protest going on in Abuja and other cities, but I haven’t heard about any protest in Uyo,” a final year student in the Department of Music told PREMIUM TIMES.
“I guess it’s because the students are studying for their examinations that is why nobody is talking about the June 12 protest here,” he added.
PREMIUM TIMES spoke with Franklyn Isong, the Akwa Ibom State Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation, a non-governmental organisation known for its decades of involvement in pro-democracy protests around Nigeria.
He said the CLO in Akwa Ibom State did not want to participate in the protest.
“Protest at this moment would definitely be hijacked by the actors that are causing problems in the state, killing and maiming people,” Mr Isong said.
Raises alarm over plans by hoodlums to hijack protest.
Urges Niger Delta youths not to participate
A Niger Delta group, Niger Delta Youth Congress, NDYC, Friday, disassociated self from planned protest on Saturday June 12(today) across the country by some groups as Nigerians commemorate 2021 Democracy Day.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, NDYC, Comrade Israel Uwejeyan, where it raised the alarm over plans by hoodlums to hijack protest across the country, especially in the Niger Delta region, to create chaos and civil unrest that could be bloody.
According to the statement, with information gathered there are planned moves to hijack the protest by miscreants who are sponsored by unscrupulous politicians who are bent to set the country on fire.
The group also expressed concern that innocent Nigerians are already apprehensive and talking in groups about the information flying around about bloody hijack of the protest, and urged secret officials to act swiftly on available information to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order.
The statement reads in part, “We the Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) wants to succinctly state that we are not a party to the planned Nationwide June 12th 2021 protest.
“We wish to use this medium to disassociate ourselves from the protest and urge all Youths in the Niger Delta Region not to take part in the protest as their are plans already on ground by miscreant and men of ill-will to hijack the protest and use it as a medium to unleash chaos in the region for their selfish political gain that will further breach the already fragile peace in the region and Nation at large.”
Meanwhile, the statement called on Niger Delta youths not to be part of the protest and, and called on its members to remain calm and avoid being used by politicians and groups that do not mean well for them.
“We call on all Niger Delta Youths across the Region and the Nation, not to participate in the planned protest, We urge all state Executives and members of the NDYC to remain calm and await further instructions as we will not be used as political tools to unleash chaos in the region for the narcissistic political gains of a few”, the statement concluded.
Politics / Sarki: I Will Vote Peter Obi For President On One Condition by Beelzebub666: 10:05am On Mar 29, 2022 
