₦airaland Forum

…As Igbo leaders appeal to President Buhari to look into their requests

…Appreciate President’s support of Prof. Okonjo Iweala’s WTO’s race

…Ask for joint operation to flush out criminals, killer herdsmen with AK-47s in all forests

Leaders of religious and traditional institutions in the South East geo-political zone, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo as well as women and youth groups, have demanded that Igbos should be given the opportunity to provide the President of Nigeria in 2023 general elections.

Leaders of the groups also demanded for the creation of additional states in the South East geo-political zone in the spirit of equity and Justice as well as urgent construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of all federal roads in the zone, which they lamented, have turned to death traps.

They also asked for equitable representation of the South East in the security architecture among the five Service Chiefs, Immigration and Inspector General of Police as well as disarming of the killer herdsmen operating with AK-47s in the zone.

The leaders made the demands when the Presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, met with South East governors, members of the National Assembly from South East, Federal Ministers from the zone, among others, at the Government House, Enugu, on Saturday.

Presenting the communiqué after the meeting, the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum, Engr. David Umahi, stated that “we, therefore, with humility, request our President, the father of our nation, to please look into the demands of the various groups of our people, as presented today, review same with a view to solving them”.

The meeting was also attended by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, their Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodinma and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, among other leaders of the zone.

Gov. Umahi stressed that “South East people believe in one Nigeria and this is the reason we are in every part of this country erecting infrastructure, living peacefully with our host communities and doing our businesses”.

The South East leaders also requested for “a joint operation into all our forests to flush out criminals and killer herdsmen with AK-47” and pledged their commitment to continuous co-existence with herdsmen who have been living peacefully in the zone for years.

“We pledge to continue to protect all the various ethnic groups living in the South East. We enjoin them to go about their businesses peacefully. We thank Mr. President, Governors and Traditional Rulers in other parts of Nigeria for their commitment to protect our people, especially during and after the protests. We must continue to live in peace”, they said.

While appreciating President Buhari for sending the powerful delegation, comprising his Chief of Staff, the Inspector General of Police, Director General, Department of State Services, Minister of Information and Ministers from the South East zone, to visit and hear from the people of the zone, the Igbo leaders maintained that they “stand for an indivisible and united Nigeria, built on love, fairness, equity and justice”.

“We believe that under this platform, we are bigger and stronger”, they said, pledging their undivided support and love to the President and his administration.

The leaders also thanked President Buhari “for all the great works he is doing at the Second Niger Bridge, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, dualized road of Enugu to Port Harcourt and some other projects in the South East”.

They went further to thank the President for his kind commitment towards the struggle for the emergence of Prof. Okonjo Iweala (our sister) as the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, saying: “We are particularly grateful with the way you have engaged the world leaders to see her through the process. May God crown your efforts with success - Amen”.

The Igbo leaders expressed appreciation to “Mr. President’s delegation for carefully listening to, engaging with stakeholders and undertaking to report faithfully to Mr. President for his consideration and necessary action”.

Earlier in his address as the host, Gov. Ugwuanyi welcomed members of the Presidential delegation and South East stakeholders, to the Government House, Enugu.

The governor stated that the strategic dialogue between the Presidential delegation and the expanded meeting of the South East stakeholders was historic and momentous as it presented an uncommon opportunity for deepening the common ideas between the zone and the Presidency, “while setting the agenda and framework for a focused and continuous engagement on matters of common interest”.

Gov. Ugwuanyi therefore reiterated their abiding faith in the Nigeria project and unwavering commitment to a united, peaceful and equitable Nigeria.

Also present at the meeting were the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; the House of Representatives’ Deputy Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Toby Okechukwu; Senator Sam Egwu; President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; leader of the South East Traditional Rulers’ delegation, The Obi of Onitsha, HRM, Igwe Alfred Achebe; South East CAN Chairman, Bishop Goddy Okafor; Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Amb. Justina Eze; Chief Mrs. Josephine Anenih, representatives of Igbo youths and students, among others.

"My buddy @presido"

"So my Sweet Cousin Sister Elvy as I will always call you is no more? My heart is deeply broken. My makeup artist, my Baker and Americana. Your personality is one of a kind. You are not just beautiful but hard working and loving too. Full of beautiful dreams with a bright future. Why gone too soon?. You know how much I love and cherish you. You know how much I love recommending your work to clients. Remember I said I will take you with me to our end of year party this year, remember how I promised giving you Baking and makeup jobs.
Can you see the very last cake you made for my colleague on her birthday two weeks back? Oh what a wicked world. Too hard to believe you are no more . Rest in Peace my Dearest Cousin Elvy Japheth Abilo. I love you but God loves you MOST"

"RIP to an innocent soul. You were hardworking always thriving for the best in life, you were so brilliant and good at what you do. I wonder why it had to be you but I can't question Baba God for it. Till we meet again in the great beyond. The entire Igbogene mourns you"

Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has restated the commitment and preparedness of his administration to provide adequate security to all those who reside and do business in the State, IgbereTV reports.

The Governor expressed the commitment after inspecting various properties destroyed by hoodlums in Aba during the recent End SARS protest. The Governor who described the week-long protest in Aba as a black week noted that there was no ethnic nationality in the country that was not affected by the destruction.

According to him, the wanton destruction of properties during the protest was a self-inflicted injury on our national psyche and the fabric that holds us together, stressing that, "in fact, it was an injury to humanity as a whole". He further revealed that he was still at a loss as to why such a huge desolation should be inflicted on the society by its own people.

Dr. Ikpeazu who said the loss incurred in the aftermath of the protest was monumental added that he doesn't know how long it will take to rebuild the damaged facilities. He, however, promised that "we will rise from the ashes of the black week".

He thanked law enforcement officers in the State for their efforts in quelling the situation and used the occasion to commiserate with those who lost relations as well as those who lost valuables during the unfortunate incident.

The Governor who was accompanied on the inspection visit by heads of military, police and other security formations, inspected Zone 6 Annex of the Nigerian Police Force, Umuogba Road, Abia State Fire Service Aba, Ministry of Agriculture Aba Zonal office, Aba South Town Planning Authority, Aba South Town Hall, Primary Health Care Department, Board of Internal Revenue office, Aba South Local Government Secretariat, Aba High Court, First Bank Nigeria plc on Mosque Road as well as the Onions market at Uratta Road where property worth billions of Naira were destroyed, among others.

"Life has no duplicate,
I can't kill myself,
Let me chop life before life chop me,"

"This is to encourage a sister who is still in the waiting room:

Three weeks to my marriage introduction what should have been normal period turned to non-stop bleeding. Hubby then fiancee took me to the lab where I was told I had endometriosis, PID and Ovarian Cyst. The doctor told me to bring a deposit of 40k to commence treatment immediately cos if I delayed further I could bleed to death and that the earlier I arrested the case the larger my chance of conceiving as delay could make me unable to conceive. I told hubby about it and I remember his question "Is that doctor God, what makes him feel he can conclude on you"

I met another doctor who gave me one tabs and the bleeding ceased but he insisted I commenced treatment so I won't have issues conceiving. After we got married, hubby suggested we wait a year or two first before making babies and I hurriedly agreed but few months into marriage, pressure from left, right and centre made me want to conceive that same year so I started trying quietly without telling hubby... Again I went to the hospital and another medical report was given... Hormonal imbalance and fibroid. Life became hell for me. I told hubby and thought that would worry him but again he made a shocking statement ...he said " when we're ready the baby will come, keep the money you want to go and waste on treatment let's flex first, there's nothing wrong with you".. I got angry and decided to silently try so I went and paid 40k and treatment started so every month I'd expect to miss my period but the period would come and that would make those three days bitter days for me.

I started praying and fasting too and each time I mentioned it as prayer point hubby would open his eye and reluctantly pray about it then one day he reminded me that we had an agreement and have to together walk with that agreement. I switched to herbal and there's hardly any root, herbs, anema, I didn't take...I'd drink, chew and pump my belly but every month the result remained the same.

Prophecies came from different directions... Some said my womb had been tied and id never be able to conceive again, some said there was a pot swallowing my babies etc... Medically I wasn't fit, spiritually I lost it and physically I gave up.

Thanks to when women pray fellowship where I got most encouragement, my mum and dad never ceased praying for me... Good friends and family members also stood in the gap. I don't even want to talk about the insults I received. I remember one mother's day i wished myself a happy mothers day and a friend came under my post to remind me that I wasn't a mum yet...another person on my birthday post asked why I hadn't conceived yet. Street people who didn't know I understood efik ridiculed and insulted me, church members kept looking out and stylishly mocking me to a point I stopped going to church.

All the while hubby kept telling me not to worry that I'd have babies when it was time and he also tried his best to make me feel better each time I felt down and hopeless. I can't remember my many bitter experiences but believe me two years of trying was like 20 years. I lost weight from thoughts and couldn't go myself to worship God as I wanted but you know the suprising part of this? All that while I kept praying for people seeking the fruit of the womb and out of 5 I prayed for 4 took in. I never really stopped been committed to God and service in my unit in the fellowship I belong. I encouraged people around me and told them about the God of impossibility.

2019 December I told myself I was done asking and trying...I'd switch to praise. So everyday instead of complaining or crying as usual, I'd sing and dance and appreciate God... Most times I'd get cloths and put in my tummy like a pregnant woman other times I'd hold some pieces of clothes and hold like a baby, I bought few babies things and I was hopeful and joyful. Towards the end of that dec.2019 hubby asked when I'd be ready to have babies and I said by October 2020... He said get ready that's what would happen. Don't get it twisted, hubby wasn't been careful, he didn't even know how to count my safe days and we had couple times as often as we wanted. He only exercised faith and prove that there's power in agreement.

January 2020 he held my womb and prayed on it. Told me to get two test strips that if one didn't come out positive the other would. February 2020 I tested positive and well to me it wasn't real. I kept it away from everyone else until the third month when scan confirmed it.

This is it...there's power in the tongue and faith makes all things possible. I only needed patience but I lost it completely. I wasted monies buying drugs and taking herbs. I wasted time crying instead if dancing. I let people get to me with their insults and mockery. That's not what moves God...he's moved by faith and praise.

Sir, the battle of infertility isn't for wifey alone. Give her a helping hand. The moment hubby stood in agreement with me, the story changed. We didn't take any pill or see any doc...we only praised, prayed and applied faith and God showed up speedily. It was in my seventh month that he told me he too had small small worries but just wanted to always encourage me instead. He talked about how my tears worried him but he decided to be strong as both of us could not be weak. He too had his share of "una no want born" questions to answer. Not for one day did he make me feel bad... Reason I don't joke with my hubby

Sis, it's not time to give up. Whether you've waited ten years or fifty. Whether doctors said you can't have a child at all, question is...what did God say? Forget prophecies and lies from the devil it will only make you miserable. Keep being hopeful, thankful and grateful. The reason God's allowing it take long is so that when it happens the world would celebrate with you. If I can be a mum (you need to see how cute my son is then you'll know God took time to create him) today, you too can be a mum. Question I still can't answer is, where the hell did endometriosis and all those medical reports go? No surgery, just faith and boom... I'm a joyful mum today.

Now, to everyone of you waiting on God for the fruit of the womb, I join faith with yours and decree that it is done. Get ready cos this time next year we'll celebrate you. God says you're fruitful and yes no pit of hell can say otherwise.
Congratulations...it is done!"

''In Kebbi state, Governor Atiku Bagudu has 5 commisoners in the 30-40s age bracket. The greater Nigeria we desire can only become a reality if we give our youths more opportunities to build today. Happy #NationalYouthDay (PS: *Don’t DM me, all happily married*)''

"family relatives as commissioners..."

"Yes. Infact my mother and all their fathers are same mother same father. “When you get there, appoint your enemies” famous quote"

"There comes a time in a man’s life when he needs to settle and there is no better time than now.

For years, my major prayer point has been for God to give me a Life and Destiny partner that can understand my complex nature, as well as my calling to serve God and Humanity and vice versa.

I have discovered that marriage is not only about procreation and pleasure. Just as significantly, it is about two people coming together to achieve the assignment given to them by God, the Creator of the institution of marriage.

God didnt just answer my prayers...he gave me more than I asked for in you. So that being said I want to say thank you.

Thank you for being my friend

Thank you for never quitting on me even in my worst days and behaviors.

Thank you for your humility and fear of God.

Thank you standing by me and staying up all night praying with me for days when it seemed like the whole world was against me.

Thank you for trusting and believing in me enough to mentor and teach you.

Thank you for not being scared to correct me when you think I’m about to take a wrong step and vice versa.

Thank you for allowing me to be me, accepting my personality and helping me work on my weaknesses and vice versa.

Thank you for being an amazing cook knowing that I can’t cook to save my life.

Thank you for agreeing to be the mother of my kids

And last but not the least;

Thank you for agreeing to spend the rest of your life with me.

My Prayer is that as we step into the next phase of our life, God who is the founder of this institution called marriage will lead and teach in all things. I Love you to the moon No sorry the moon is too far maybe to the furthest part of the earth wit Uber.

Ok bye we have a wedding to plan.
#WilliamsGotTheOscar"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKomqR9_kp0
From friends to fiancee to forever together

"Breaking!!!! University Of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH, Benin finally submitted to superior reason this morning, as Miss Bidemi Taiwo, has been Ordered to leave the hospital. We demand the release of other similarly imprisoned patients. Poverty is not a crime"

"It is a criminal offense to detain a patient, in a hospital, by hospital management, or their agents, due to debts accumulated by a patient, in consequences of health care treatment. Nobody, I repeat, nobody is permitted to detain a debtor, over a civil debt, without the order of court, which is unlawful. The management of UBTH, Benin City, is liable in law, for false imprisonment, emotional distress and agony, in a civil action, and of kidnapping, assault and breach of public peace in a criminal charge. A patient and doctor relationship is contractual, bound by the Law of Contract. Doctors offer services to patients in legitimate expectations of payments. Breaches or Inability to fulfill contractual obligations, cannot result in the detention and imprisonment of one party, in a private facility, by the other, personally or by their agents, in consequences of same. There is no law, that makes services provided by doctors, either public or private, exceptional, and above the Law of Contract. Let this victim of this idiotic, seasonal and reprehensible breach of rights, now languishing in UBTH Prison, get a lawyer, and sue the Honorable Minister of Health, The CMD of UBTH, and Matron, directly in charge of her detention for the past six months, following her inability to fully pay her hospital bill. #SHAMEUBTH Enough is Enough."

Jefferson Uwoghiren, Esq,.
29th October, 2020
Benin City."

"ISWAP frees abducted Rev. Polycarp Zongo.

Zongo was kidnapped October 19, 2020 near Gombe.

He appeared in a video on Wednesday appealing for help.

News of his release came Friday evening.

Details underway"

"It was a delight meeting with the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare.

He enlightened me on the ongoing plans the ministry has for Nigerian youths and on sports development. I also shared my ideas on ways to develop the sports industry.

We then discussed the grievances and agitations of the youths on the ongoing issues with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and He gave his commitment to ensure that the demands of the youths are duly attended to.

Moving forward, we hope that we can collectively succeed in accomplishing our desires to resolve and bring about a positive transformation in our society and continuous development in our sports industry for the greater good."

"PERSONAL TESTIMONY ALERT!

October is #breastcancerawarenessmonth ... before it comes to a close, I would like to remind all ladies (and gentlemen) to conduct regular self breast exams and when possible get an annual mammogram.

I lost both of my grandmothers to breast cancer. Unfortunately, neither of them detected it early enough. By the time they found out they had it, it was already too late, despite the fact that they had mastectomies.

When I was in the US this past summer, I had my annual mammogram. My mammograms have always been perfect...until this year.

This time, they found something worrisome on both breasts and asked me to come back for a repeat mammogram and an ultrasound of my breasts.

Trust me, this is when I went on full-on prayer mode! I prayed earnestly that whatever they found would be gone by the time I had a repeat test. I declared God’s Word over my body and rebuked the spirit of cancer. I prayed as if my life depended on it.

When I went in for the repeat mammogram, the technician took about 10 more images than they took the first time. She took focused images on the places where they had seen some abnormalities.

When she returned to the room, after having the images reviewed by the doctor, she said, “Mrs. Idahosa, today is your lucky day. I have great news for you, it appears that whatever was there before is not there now. You have a great day! Take a deep breath, there is nothing worrisome. We will see you next year.”

I left the office and went to my car and cried tears of gratitude to God. He healed me! I will never have #breastcancer in Jesus Name!

Please be proactive with your breast health. #earlydetectionsaveslives

#laurietruetalk #cancersucks #cancer #selfbreastexam #testimony #thankyoujesus #cancerfree #pinkribbon

Note: behind me is the machine that they used for my 2nd set of images. Mammograms aren’t comfortable, but, breast cancer"

'We Came To Possess Our Possession'- Abuja Residents Say As They Cart Away COVID-19 Palliatives Stored In A Warehouse (Video)

IgbereTV reports that some residents of Abuja who stormed a warehouse in the Gwagwalada Area council in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday October 26, to cart away COVID19 palliatives, said they only came there to ''possess their possessions.''

The residents who trooped out in their numbers carted away the food items that were labelled COVID19 palliatives.

While one of them insisted they only came to collect what belongs to them, a man offered prayers to God to forgive Nigerian leaders for keeping the food items away from them.

Watch a video of them speaking after carting some of the items.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiKgGPfjOQ0

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over the weekend, had an interview with CNN journalist, Becky Anderson where he stated that only two deaths have so far been recorded in the gunfire incident that rocked the #EndSARS protest at the Lekki tollgate on Tuesday, October 20, IgbereTV reports.

He said so far no family member of deceased persons have come out to make any complaints that their loved one died in the incident. He also stated that there are no bloodstains at the scene of the incident.

Two dead bodies. That's what we've seen from all the morgues, that's what we've seen going to hospitals, that's what we've seen as records. What has happened is that there have been so many footages that people have shown but we have not seen dead bodies, we have not seen relatives, we have not seen anybody coming up to say indeed I am a father or mother to someone and I cannot find the person. Nobody has come .

I have been round and there is no splash of blood anywhere there.

He averred that the CCTV footage shows that men in military uniforms carried out the shooting. When asked if people will be held accountable for the attack, he said

''They certainly would...we will do everything to ensure they are held accountable''

When Anderson informed him that the question she asked was simple and that it was basically to know if those behind the attack will be held accountable, Governor Sanwo-Olu said

“I am not the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; I am Governor of a State. The report would be out and we would channel the report to all the relevant authorities in the state to ensure that every one that is found culpable is accountable for the act.” he said.

Watch the video from the interview below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SxFIgeJoL8

Falana: We’ve identified the barracks of soldiers who shot protesters in Lekki

Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, says the Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 And Beyond (ASCAB) has identified the barracks of the soldiers who opened fire on protesters at Lekki toll gate in Lagos.

On Tuesday, soldiers opened fire on the protesters who blocked the toll gate while demanding an end to police brutality.

The issue sparked an outrage across the globe.

Speaking when he featured on ARISE TV on Monday, Falana, who is chairman of ASCAB, said the group has been able to trace the barracks where the soldiers came from.

“We have already identified the barracks where the soldiers left for Lekki, we have already identified the barracks,” Falana said.

“The President was likely to have been told, soldiers were ordered so I want to believe that’s why it was not addressed and they said it was a rumour but I think the facts are emerging now, that indeed soldiers went to Lekki, indeed they fired at protesters and indeed some of the protesters at least two have been officially acknowledged to have died from gunshot wounds.”

He said ASCAB would establish an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the October 20 shooting of protesters at Lekki toll plaza.

“ASCAB shall establish an Independent National Citizen’s Panel of Inquiry under a number of conditions Composition of the Citizen’s Panel of Inquiry shall comprise representatives of credible and identified organisations of the youth that took part in the #Endsars protest movement, including the Feminist Coalition, among others; representatives of credible and tested civil society organisations,” he said.

Falana also accused the federal government of having no respect for the rule of law and citizens rights to protest.

He said constant denials from the federal government and its agencies clearly does show Nigeria as a serious country.

“I have never seen it anywhere in the world where in the federal capital of a country where you have all the embassies, you have unmarked vehicles taking thugs round and it was being filmed and the thugs were being ferried by officials of the government and we are being told it’s not the State Security Service and in Lagos it was not the Nigerian Army that shot,” he said.

“Such denials do not portray Nigeria as a serious country, because it is the duty of the government anywhere in the world to trace those criminals and bring them to book.

“Nigerian government has no respect for the rule of law and have ensured they stave off all forms of protests in the country.

“Every designated venue for protest in the country have been fenced by government to prevent demonstrations. In Lagos, the Gani Fawehinmin square in Lagos has been fenced while the Unity fountain in Abuja has also been fenced, and the same government has said citizens have the right to protest.”

"Protest will give ladies husband this year more than Shiloh. If you like continue staying in your house."

"My Letter to his excellency Governor @jidesanwoolu.

#EndSWAT #EndSARS #SARSMUSTEND #SARSMustGo #EndPoliceBrutality #Endpoliceimpunity"

EndSARS: Man Brings His Mattress, Cooker, Food, Drinks, Utensils To Protest Ground (Photos)

IgbereTV captured pictures of a young man who brought his mattress, gas cooker, cooking utensils, food and drinks to the ongoing EndSARS protest.

"Today in Abuja, as the protesters approached a traffic warden, he got scared and wanted to run away. The protesters stopped him, and told him he didn't need to run as they have also been victims of SARS (remember Lagos?)

So they crowded around him, gave him drinks, food, fruits, groundnuts, contributed money for him, took selfies with him, and told him that they see all their great efforts. Shortly after they left, he bent over shyly and cried.

#PoliceReforms
#ENDSWAT"