₦airaland Forum

Joe Igbokwe, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) has reacted to the performance of his party in the inconclusive gubernatorial election in Anambra State.

The Special Adviser for Drainage & Water Resources to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Sunday said the outcome of the governorship election where candidate Charles Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is coasting to victory indicates that the Igbo people have resolved to remain onlookers at the national political scene.

Andy Uba of the APC came third trailing behind Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to results from 20 local government areas so far announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The electoral body while declaring the race inconclusive said it will conduct a supplementary election in Ihiala LGA where election was said to have not taken place.

While wailing, the APC communication strategist said people from the South-East geo-political zone will continue to remain onlookers because what is holding them from joining national politics is extremely strong.

Mr Igbokwe wailed on his Facebook page Sunday night:

[quote]I HAD THOUGHT THAT IGBO WILL MOVE BEYOND ETHNIC POLITICS AND WORK TO CONNECT TO THE CENTER TO MEET OTHER NIGERIANS BUT ife ji Ndigbo jisi ha ike, WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONLOOKERS.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has won its first local government area in the Anambra gubernatorial race which began on Saturday.

Valentine Ozigbo the candidate of the opposition party lost in his council where the winner – Charles Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) – equally hails from.

Mr Soludo won in 10 out of the 11 councils which results have been announced by INEC so far before a break that lasted for over an hour.

When the collation of results resumed, Mr Ozigbo who hails from same LGA as the APGA candidate defeated his opponents by clinching 3,445 votes in Ogbaru council where Senator Stella Oduah who recently defected to the APC hails from.

The former apex bank chief trailed behind with 3,051 votes while Andy Uba of the All Progressive Congress APC) came third with 1,178.

Mrs Oduah, a former Aviation Minister, was expected to deliver her domain but results from the area showed she failed to do so.

She joins the growing list of recent defectors to the APC that has failed to win votes for the party. Anambra deputy governor who joined her in the APC was the first to lose his LGA to APGA.

After 11 LGAs out of 21.
APC: 23587
APGA: 66766
PDP: 29811

The governorship candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) Senator Ifeanyi Ubah won in his local government area.

The lawmaker representing Anambra South senatorial district at the Nigerian Senate polled 6,485 votes to come first, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Candidate Charles Soludo of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) trailed behind the Nnewi North politician with 3,369 while Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) came third with 1,511 votes.

Like Soludo, he is now among the top contestants for the position that has won in their local government area. The APGA flagbearer floored other candidates – Andy Uba (APC) and Valentine Ozigbo (PDP) who all hail from the same council with him.

Nkem Okeke the deputy governor of Anambra State failed to win his polling unit for his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Mr Okeke who recently defected from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) to the (APC) lost his polling unit to his former party.

He scored 61 votes losing to candidate Charles Soludo who polled 82 votes. Mr Valentine Ozigbo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed behind the former central bank governor with four votes out of the 150 total votes at PU005 Umueze Awovu Hall, Enugu-Ukwu Ward III, Njikoka LGA.

His principal, Mr Obiano, Soludo, Ozigbo and Andy Uba of the APC all won their polling units for their party.

fergie001:
NJIKOKA LGA, ENUGU-UKWU WARD III has 10 Polling Units.....

10 Polling Units:
OSILI P/S I (PU 001)
APC 40
APGA 130
PDP 10

OSILI P/S II (PU 002)
APC 29
APGA 72
PDP 08

OBEAGU OSILI HALL 1 (PU 003)
APC 34
APGA 34
PDP 01

OBEAGU OSILI HALL II (PU 004)
APC 25
APGA 21
PDP 03

UMUEZU AWOVU HALL (PU 005) DEP-GOV'S PU
APC 61
APGA 82
PDP 04

ORABUIKE P/S (PU 006)
APC 43
APGA 111
PDP 16

UMUATULU VILLAGE SQUARE (PU 007)
APC 51
APGA 50
PDP 20

ETITI AWOVU VILLAGE (PU 008)
APC 24
APGA 67
PDP 13

OBEAGU URUKPALEKE (PU 009)
APC 32
APGA 77
PDP 09

OBU-NWANDU AMOVU SQUARE
Awaiting results

The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has dared President Muhammadu Buhari by imposing lockdown on the South-East geo-political zone.

The lockdown often complied with by residents of the five states in the Igbo predominant area will begin from November 5 to November 10, exempting November 7 which is on Sunday for worshippers to go to church.

The directive, contained in a statement issued by Emma Powerful, spokesman of the separatist group on Saturday, said the exercise will only be halted if its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu is released before the commencement date.

“We wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from November 5 to November 10 except Sunday, November 7, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama,” Mr Powerful announced.

“Following the adjournment of our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s court case to November 10 2021, by the Federal High Court Abuja, we the great movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to inform Biafrans, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom that IPOB will lock down Biafra land from November 5 to November 10 except Sunday, November 7, a day our people worship the Almighty God, Chukwu Okike Abiama, if the Nigeria Government fails to release our leader unconditionally before November 4, 2021.

ALSO READ: We've identified Igboho’s sponsors - Nigerian govt

“Our leader, Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi, MUST be released UNCONDITIONALLY on or before November 4, 2021, because he has not committed any offense known to any law. Failure to release our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU on or before November 4, 2021, our one-week Sit-At-Home begins on November 5, 2021, till November 10.

“We cannot accept that anymore. We can never allow our leader Onyendu Mazi Nnamdi KANU to be tried SECRETLY and we can never also allow him to be tried under SHARIA law under any guise. NIGERIA must follow International laws in handling our leader.

“Mazi Nnamdi KANU is in DSS dungeon today because of his passion for Biafra independence, and we must sacrifice all we can to ensure that he regains his freedom. He has sacrificed so much for us all, so we must be prepared.

“He is innocent of all the charges preferred against him. As long as he is in detention, our individual businesses do not matter so much because he is suffering for us all and we can’t abandon him. We seriously regret the inconveniences this may cause our people.”

ALSO READ: We are not mighty on paper, we are respected globally, Nigerian Army replies Economist

The directive of the foremost secessionist group comes barely two days after Mr Buhari ordered security chiefs to ensure nothing stops the forthcoming gubernatorial election scheduled for November 6.

“The president has directed that under no circumstances will anything be allowed to stop the elections from taking place successfully. The people have a right to vote and select their leader,” the national security adviser, Babagana Monguno quoted his principal as directing security chief during a meeting. “No group or individual will be allowed to stimulate anarchy and chaos, leading to murderous activities.

“The president has made it very clear that the armed forces and all law enforcement agencies must make sure that the elections take place, even if it means overwhelming the entire environment with the presence of security agencies.

“There are so many implications for elections to be sabotaged by non-state actors. In the first place, we are in a democracy; secondly, it is important to note that if these non-state actors should succeed in destroying the potentials for orderly elections, then it is natural that other parts of the country would also want to copy this same situation.”

lalasticlala mynd44

Bialegend:
What about your tribe, the fulani race? What are they good at?

Two days after a train plying Abuja-Kaduna route was explosively attacked Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi has directed the resumption of train services.

Mr Amaechi gave the directive on Friday after inspecting repairs on the affected track along Rijana and Dutse axis.

This is coming a day after the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) halted the Abuja-Kaduna train services.

“I think what is significant is that the repair was done by our own Nigerian engineers and completed in record time,” the minister said. “By tomorrow (Saturday) we expect to run the first train. That is why I had to come here myself physically to be present here.”

The minister said provisions has been made to secure the rail track pending the deployment of digital systems for Abuja-Kaduna and Lagos-Ibadan train routes.

“The essence of the digital security system is to enable us to know when there is an impact on the rail. It has a sensor, when people walk across the rail we will be able to know.

“We will get the police to be involved so that they will be here before we install the security system,” he added.

The Nigerian Government has accused detained leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu of hijacking the historic #EndSARS protests last year.

Youths across the country on October 2020 took to the streets to demand extensive police reforms and scrapping of its brutal unit codenamed Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

The federal government through the then Inspector General of Police IGP Mohammed Adamu reannounced the disbanding of the police unit often accused of extra-judiciary killing young Nigerians.

The announcement from Mr Adamu did not deter the youths to leave the streets. Their argument was that the October 11, 2020 declaration was not the first, second or third time the brutal unit was dissolved but continued to exist afterwards.

In a bid to convince the demonstrators of being sincere, the police boss announced the formation of Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) as replacement two days after. This also did not force the youths who tabled their five-point demands to authorities out of the streets until on October 20, 2020 when soldiers swooped on them at the Lekki tollgate in Lagos and opened live rounds bringing the historic demonstrations to an end.

Before the Lekki invasion, pro-government thugs attempted to stop the determined young populants but all their arsenals, which included unleashing violence, counter-protests, all failed.

The conduct of the soldiers which has been widely condemned necessitated the youths nationwide to go berserk in response to their colleagues massacred at the tollgate. The youths resorted to looting COVID-19 palliatives hoarded at warehouses and burning some police stations.

Abubakar Malami, the attorney general of the federation has now blamed the IPOB leader of being responsible for all the rampaging actions of the country’s youths.

Mr Malami at a press conference in Abuja on Friday said the separatist leader hijacked the protest which sought an end to police brutality through his broadcast.

Nnamdi Kanu detained leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge preferred against him by the federal government.

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration had amended its charges against the separatist leader including accusing him of insulting the Nigerian and inciting his followers to do same.

When the charges were read to him on Thursday, Mr Kanu pleaded not guilty to the charges which also bordered on treasonable felony and terrorism.

He was brought to the court by the State Security Service (SSS).

lalasticlala mynd44

OmoEpe:
When bigwig politicians were making suggestions about what should be in the Nigerian constitution in 1954, Chief Obafemi Awolowo stated that the constitution should allow any state or tribe that wanted to break up and leave Nigeria to do so.



Furthermore, Nnamdi Azikiwe, a strong supporter of One Nigeria, saw no rationale for Awolowo's suggestion and opposed it, arguing that the country should remain united till the end of time.



Photo credit: Google

The participants at the conference, on the other hand, seemed very interested in the topic that Awolowo brought up and how Nnamdi Azikiwe battled it, so they granted both of them one day to clarify their positions before determining whether or not to allow secession in the constitution.

Furthermore, on debating day, Awolowo clarifies his point with several reasons. He cites the Soviet Union and Western Australia as examples of countries that allowed people to secede peacefully.



However, following Awolowo's speech, Azikiwe gives numerous reasons why he opposes it. He claims that attempting to break away and question Nigeria's unity is a betrayal of one's country and should not be considered.




Photo credit: Google

Furthermore, it was reported that these topics sparked numerous debates before Oliver Littleton and Lord Chandos came to their aid, stating that permitting for secession in the constitution is not advisable.


Furthermore, this is one of the factors that led to war 967, when Ojukwu attempted to secede the Igbo people from Nigeria and the Gowon and other people opposed him because what he wanted to do violated our constitution and was treasonous.

What are the key takeaways?

The lesson learned is that our forefathers who fought for independence were willing to go to great lengths to ensure that Nigeria remained one, and we, the people of this generation, should follow in their footsteps and seek unity because there is power in our oneness

Another lesson learned is that demanding the Oodua Nation and Biafra is not permitted under our constitution. It is treasonous or may lead to a war that none of us wants.

SOURCE

Babatunde Fashola, works and housing minister says there is nothing wrong in accumulating debts for unborn children.

Mr Fashola stated this while justifying the piling of foreign debts the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has been securing at any given opportunity, a development former president Olusegun Obasanjo, whose administration cleared the country’s debt, kicked against.

Mr Obasanjo described accumulating debts for the next generation as a criminal act.

The unhindered approving of loans by the Nigerian Senate has led critics to tag the Ahmad Lawan-led upper legislative chamber as a rubber stamp of the executive under Mr Buhari.

Speaking to BBC Yoruba, the former Lagos State governor said the administration resorted to borrowing because infrastructures in the country were no longer enough.

“Our infrastructures are no longer enough for us to use. That’s why,” the minister explained. “The children people say we are accumulating debt for, should we wait until they are 40 to start building infrastructure or we build the infrastructure before they are born. Which in is more sensible? They should meet the infrastructure on ground.

“I ask people that the bridge we built in Lagos yesterday in Lekki, should we wait for the children who use the bridge when going to school now to become adults before building the bridge? Is it not better that they use it from when they are small? They should also contribute to it,” he added.

lalasticlala mynd44

While preparing to produce detained leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) in court on Thursday, the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami amended charges against the separatist leader.

The amended charges increased to seven from five that initially bordered on treasonable felony and terrorism was filed last week, sources at Malami’s office confirmed on Monday.

Lai Mohammed, Information Minister.
Information Minister Lai Mohammed has reacted to allegations that he intercepted and diverted the sum of N100 million meant for Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.

Mr AbdulRazaq who has been at loggerheads with the minister over All Progressive Congress (APC) affairs in the state said in an interview with ThisDay Newspaper that the diverted fund was from an Igbo man he failed to name.

He said the donor sent the sum as a support during the 2019 gubernatorial election which he won.

“There’s a businessman from the South-east. His banker came to me and said his Oga wants to speak with me,” he explained. “I spoke with him and he said he was sending money to me. I said, thank you very much. After the election, he called me to congratulate me.

“When he saw I was just saying ‘thank you’, then he asked if Lai didn’t deliver the money, I asked him what money? He said N100 million,” the governor added.

Reacting, the government propagandist who described the allegation as false said he will respond appropriately at the right time.

“I read the article and I also read the response of some people,” the minister said on Monday while featuring on TVC’s “This Morning.’’

“I believe that issues of national importance I have come here to discuss are more important than the personal disagreement between me and the governor.

“At the appropriate time and forum, I will respond to the false allegations,” he added.

lalasticlala mynd44

The federal government says it has deployed all the recently acquired Super Tucano fighter jets to the North-East to combat rising insecurity.

Information Minister Lai Mohammed made this known on Monday during TVC’s “This Morning” programme.

Boko Haram terrorists which have been operating in the geo-political zone have recently been surrending in droves.

While some attributed the surrending to the increased firepower of the military, others argue that the killing of its leader, Ibrahim Shekau by Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) a factional group, caused disarray in their camp with some relocating to North-West, according to Governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna State.

Mr Mohammed also confirmed that the remaining batch of the aircraft he described as a game changer have arrived.

“All the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets have been received,” the minister confirmed. “As at this morning, all the 12 were here and they have been deployed to the north-east.”

“We can see that the Tucano jets are actually a game changer.

“Most of the successes we have recorded in recent time is because of the acquisition of the new platforms, not limited to the super Tucano.”

The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from reports linking it to the alleged attack on the convoy of Governor Willie Obiano.

Mr Obiano was said to have been attacked by gunmen who stormed a campaign venue in Ihiala, Anambra State and opened fire with his security details.

The armed men were said to have exchanged fire with security agencies for about two hours before withdrawing from the scene.

Speaking on the incident, Emma Powerful, spokesman of the secessionist group distanced his group from the attack, saying the governor was being attacked by those he accused of politically motivating killings in the state.

Mr Obiano had said the suggestion of Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami that emergency rule might be imposed on the state should killings continue to rise confirmed that the violence which claimed the live of prominent medical doctor Chike Akunyili has political undertones.

ALSO READ: Anambra deputy governor dumps APGA, joins APC
Condemning the attack in a statement, Mr Powerful said his group does not destroy but save, restore and rebuild.

“We strongly condemn the spate of senseless attacks on innocent people in South East by politically-recruited hoodlums masquerading as unknown gunmen,” the statement partly read. “It is quite unfortunate that some unpatriotic and unscrupulous elements who are intimidating their fellow politicians because of the November 6 governorship election in Anambra State will resort to bloodletting for power.

“More annoying is the fact that after their atrocities, some brainwashed fellows will be pointing accusing fingers at IPOB.

“We condemn the attack on Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State yesterday. Contrary to allegations by our enemies, IPOB has no hand in the said attack. It is now becoming more obvious that those Gov. Obiano accused of masterminding the killings in his state are angry with him for exposing them.

“The South East Governors that Obiano said he would not sit at table with to discuss insecurity in his state should be made to explain all they know about the senseless killings in Anambra State.

“We pity those who are chasing after shadow, pointing accusing fingers at IPOB. Such fellows are ignorant of what politicians are capable of doing because of power.

“Igbo politicians were not like this before but desperation for power and determination by Fulani cabal to replicate what happened in Imo State in Anambra State are the reason for this madness. Their ultimate goal is to demonise IPOB.

“They should stop linking IPOB with these killings because IPOB did not come to kill but to save, restore and rebuild,” it added.

Operatives of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) on Sunday dared residents of Ukwulu in Dunukofia local government area of Anambra State to flout ongoing sit-at-home exercise and have themselves to blame.

The Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) owns the security outfit often accused of spearheading violent attacks in the South-East geo-political zone, particularly on public infrastructures including police formations and electoral offices in the Igbo predominant area.

The secessionist group has repeatedly distanced its paramilitary arm from the violent campaigns, including those visited on defaulters flouting its aborted sit-at-home order still being complied with across the geo-political zone.

The group had ordered a sit-at-home exercise to protest against the continued detention of its leader Nnamdi Kanu who is facing charges of treasonable felony.

Early Sunday morning, residents of Ukwulu woke up to read a warning threatening attacks allegedly sent to them by men of the ESN.

“Respect yourself Ukwulu about sit at home, to avoid crying had I known,” read the notice pasted. “We are watching you since, and you people are disobeying us because of dead Nigeria.

“From Monday upwards, disobey us again and have yourself (sic) blamed. ESN is coming for you,” they threatened.

ALSO READ: IPOB warns churches against allowing political campaigns, fixes beef consumption ban date

Police spokesperson in the state, Ikenga Toochukwu, a Deputy Superitendent of Police (DSP) confirmed the threat but said security have been beefed up in the community and its environs.

The State Security Service (SSS) has confirmed having Chiwetalu Agu, a celebrated actor, assaulted and arrested by soldiers for putting on attire identical to the Biafran flags, in custody.

The Nigerian Army, despite trending video clip to the contrary, denied manhandling Mr Agu whom they accused of supporting the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB).

Mr Agu, arrested on Thursday while on a charity mission at Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, Anambra State, denied the accusation and was freed Friday morning, after the Actors Guild of Nigeria intervened.

Hours after regaining freedom, TODAY POLITICS learnt that he was in the custody of the notorious secret police known for repressing, intimidating and targeted assassination of government critics.

Confirming having the ace Nollywood actor in custody, Peter Afunanya, spokesman of the self-styled Department of State Services (DSS) said the Army handed him over to them for questioning.

“The army handed him over to us for further questioning,” Mr Afunanya told TheCable Lifestyle, assuring that, “As far as we’re concerned, justice will take its course.”

helinues:
Southern Pdp are mumu

They zone Pdp chairman to North and still want to make the presidency open ticket.

Which of the Southern Pdp can defeat Atiku?

They would use the power of party Chairman to with the presidency ticket then resign