July 14, 2021

…..adjourns case till Sept 21 for hearing

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Abuja

The Supreme Court, on Wednesday, issued an order of injunction restraining the Federal Government from ceding 17 disputed oil wells located at Akri and Mbede, to Imo state.

The apex court ordered FG and its agencies to halt actions pertaining to the alleged plan to cede the oil wells to Imo state, pending the determination of a suit that was brought before it by the Rivers state government.

A chamber ruling the court delivered on the matter on Wednesday followed an ex-parte application Rivers State argued through its lawyer, Mr Emmanuel Ukala, SAN.

The Supreme Court specifically restrained the Attorney General of the Federation and the Attorney General of Imo state, from taking any further action on the ownership of the disputed 17 oil wells, pending resolution of legal issues surrounding its ownership.

It further barred the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and the Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, and the office of the Accountant General of the Federation from approving, implementing, or giving effect in any manner to a letter from RMAFC office, with reference number RMC/O&G/47/1/264, dated July 1, 2021, which cancelled the equal sharing of proceeds from the 17 oil wells by Rivers and Imo states.

The apex court subsequently fixed September 21, 2021, for a hearing of the substantive matter.

Rivers State had through its Attorney General, dragged the AGF and the Attorney General of Imo state before the Supreme Court, seeking a declaration that the boundary between it and Imo state, as delineated on Nigeria administrative map 10, 11 and 12 editions and other maps bearing similar delineations, are inaccurate, incorrect and do not represent the legitimate and lawful boundaries between Rivers and Imo State.

The Plaintiff is further seeking a declaration that as far as Nigeria’s administrative map 10, 11 and 12 editions and other maps bearing similar delineations, relate to the boundaries between Rivers and Imo, the said maps are unlawful and void, cannot be relied on to determine the extent of the territorial governmental jurisdiction of Rivers state and to determine the revenue accruing to Rivers state from the federation account, including the application of the principle of derivation and other revenue allocation principles as contained in the 1999 Constitution.

It further applied that the Supreme Court declare that the correct instrument maps and documents to be relied on in determining the boundary between Rivers and Imo state are those used by Plaintiff in delineating the boundary line between Rivers and Imo state.

Besides, Plaintiff is also seeking a declaration that all the oil wells within Akri and Mbede communities are wrongly attributed to Imo state and that they are all oil wells within the territory of Rivers state.

It maintained that only Rivers State is entitled to receive the full allocation of the distributable revenue from the oil wells on the basis of the 1390 derivation as contained under section 162 of the 1999 constitution.

The Plaintiff is urging the court to issue an order of mandatory injunction, directing the AGF to calculate, to its satisfaction, and refund to it all revenue that has been wrongly attributed to or paid to Imo state on account of the limit or extent of their territories, including earnings due to it from revenue derived from Akri and Mbede oil wells.

It further wants an order of injunction directing the AGF to withdraw from circulation its administrative map 10,11 and 12th editions and to refrain from relying on any of the said maps for the purpose of determining the boundary between Rivers and Imo state.

As well as an order of mandatory injunction directing AGF to produce an administrative map bearing the correct boundary between Rivers and Imo state.

Rivers State is equally praying the apex court to award it the sum of N500million as litigation cost.

Mounting criticisms of the leadership style of former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, as responsible for the present crisis engulfing the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has continued, with the governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, joining the fray.

In a remark by him that was supposed to be an eulogy of Imoke, during the recent celebration of his 60th birthday and the 10th anniversary of his Bridge Leadership Foundation (TBLF) as well as 11th Career Day Conference of the foundation, Wike choose to add some bile to the high tempo celebration, thereby altering the mood of the day, when he took on Imoke, heaping blame on him for the sliding fortunes of PDP in the state.

Imoke’s predecessor in office, Donald Duke was the first person to finger Imoke’s autocratic style of leadership for pushing Governor Ben Ayade and some of his cohorts out of the party to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

It was that same sentiment that was once again re-echoed by Wike, who accused Imoke of not doing enough to hold the party together in the state just as he took a swipe the national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus.

According to Wike, leadership is not theoretical but practical, saying that his honouring of the invitation by Imoke was a demonstration of his leadership attribute, which he said Imoke and some of the national leaders of the party lacked, a development that he said is affecting the party adversely.

Wike said that if Imoke as the leader of the party during his tenure as governor and now as an elder of the party had demonstrated practical leadership that the party would not have suffered the fate visited on it.

The birthday celebration was attended by some of the national and state leaders of the party, friends and associates of Imoke, including Secondus, who left shortly before Wike mounted the podium, former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki and Ayim Pius Ayim as well as former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole.

Some of the political pundits at the event described what happened as that of a snake you raise in your home who then turnaround to bite you.

They said Wike, who then was like an ‘errand boy’ to Rotimi Amaechi, when Imoke was governor, has in recent years turned chief tormentor of Cross River State and its leaders, including Imoke and Ayade.

July 10, 2021

•Says ‘Kanu does not speak for Igbo nation

By Dennis Agbo

Founder of the Customary Government for the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Barrister Emeka Emekesiri says that even as the method and manner of the re-arrest of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu could be faulted, Kanu’s rearrest may make many resonate with the original philosophy and method of operation of IPOB before it was hijacked by Kanu.

Emekesiri said that the way forward for IPOB now is to stick to its original legal and political frameworks. He said that whereas his own IPOB is pursuing restructuring in the present time, it looks forward to a Biafra that could still be part of Nigeria until a referendum is conducted among the Biafrans on whether to remain in Nigeria or pull out as an independent nation.

Emekesiri said that the original IPOB which he propels is following up its submission at the just concluded constitutional amendment review for devolution of powers and restructuring of Nigeria back to regional governments, which in the present time will compose of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria. He said that getting the regional government will be getting closer to Biafra, which he said is the ultimate determination of the Indigenous people of Biafra, the remnants of the old Biafra Republic of Eastern Nigeria that is a customary entity.

He also spoke of Asari Dokubu and Ralp Uwazurike’s buy in the IPOB Customary government project. He regrets that people tend to listen more to Nnamdi Kanu’s version of IPOB than the original philosophy for creation of IPOB. He said that the present agitation of Biafra is a self assertion of the remnants of the people of Biafra who were not wiped out by the Nigeria genocide against Biafra between 1967 and 1970. Excerpts:

What is your immediate reaction on the re-arrest of Mazi Nnamdi kanu?

Yes, as a lawyer I always believe in the rule of law and that the course of justice should always be followed and justice should take its course and I cannot speak anything contrary to what the law says. I understand he was standing trial and he has been brought to continue his trial and so if that is what happened, it’s ok. I cannot oppose what the law says because someone who is standing trial and he jumped the bail is bound to return and continue his trial.

But does that require that he should be abducted or extradited without due process?

From what I read, he was not arrested in UK, assuming it was in UK, the UK government would have followed the process of extradition. I don’t know where he was arrested but if it were in UK, definitely he would have gone through the extradition process.

So it was abduction then?

No, what I am saying is that from what I read, he was arrested but not in the UK. If you make yourself available for arrest, you will be arrested. Remember it was not only the Nigerian authority that was involved, the Interpol was also involved.

Shouldn’t that be when one is declared as a criminal, is Nnamdi Kanu a criminal?

No, but if you are declared wanted, there was a bench warrant issued by a court when the court revoked his bail. When the court cancelled his bail, the court issued a bench warrant for him to be arrested and so there is a bench warrant on him. He was aware there was a bench warrant issued by a Judge for him to be arrested and maybe he put himself in a way where he was arrested.

So, now that Nnamdi Kanu who hijacked the original IPOB that you founded is down, what is the future of IPOB?

We are still on, our future has never been in argument, we are still moving forward, we are the ones who are before the Nigerian government, we are the ones who presented our Biafra bills before the National Assembly, are we not the ones who are in court with Nigeria even the court of Appeal right now?

The original IPOB is still going on and nothing has happened to us, it’s just that those of you guys in the media, you promote the Nnamdi Kanu faction because he makes a lot of noise and you don’t want to promote the one that is before the Nigeria government. You can take a telephone now and call Aso Rock, call the Senate President and ask about us, they have our documents, they have our case and our papers are before the Nigeria authorities. So we are moving forward and nothing has stopped us from moving forward.

So Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest concerns his own faction, his cult, he built a cult of gangsters and so he is not speaking for us. Let it be known that Nnamdi Kanu does not speak for the Igbo nation. The Igbo nation made our point clear in 1995, we held a meeting, the Biafra elders held a meeting in 1994 at Nzuko Igbo conference in Enugu and drew the map on the way forward, both for Biafra and for Nigeria and we brought this proposal before the national conference organised by General Abacha in 1995 and it was approved.

We want Nigeria to be restructured into six nations in one, that is our stand, the stand of elders of Biafra land; that is the stand of Igbo elders that we want Nigeria to be restructured into six nations in one and that was why we created the six regions. The Igbo elders created these six geopolitical zones you are hearing about today and we want these six geopolitical zones now to become six nations in one Nigeria, for now. Our stand is clear, Nnamdi Kanu is not speaking for us, and he doesn’t speak for the Igbo nation.

Has the Biafra case ever been heard on the floor of the National Assembly?

Of course I told you that we have presented our memorandum before the national Assembly, the Senate committee on the constitution review. The procedure is that now that we have presented our case, they will now discuss and debate on it and put it to vote. The Biafra prayers, what we are asking for is what we presented before the committee in all the centers of the six geopolitical regions.

Asari Dokubu suddenly appeared in your game, what is the connection of Dokubu in IPOB?

Asari Dokubu at a point they said he wanted to come into the umbrella of the customary government and I said that’s good, there is customary government instituted by the elders of which I am their spokesman or Chairman of the governing council, so I said if that is the case let us go ahead and let us agree on the way forward, how do we harmonise our activities because they have their own structures, different organizations, let us come together.

While I was in Enugu, I made a move and called Asari Dokubu and requested for a meeting with Ralph Uwazuruike but Asari said he will not be able to come to Owerri because of security reasons, and then I called Uwazuruike and asked that we go to Yenegoa and Ralph said he was very busy. At one point I said ok you are not available and Asari is not available, how do we go about it because the three of us should sit down together and plan on how to work together but they did not agree.

The next thing I heard was that we were creating an implementation committee called Customary Government Implementation committee and I agreed and asked what shall we implement because we already have programmes on the ground? And the next thing I heard was an announcement that he will create 20 Biafra provinces. In fact he said that the 20 original Biafra provinces created legally by Ojukwu, that they are resuscitating and reviving the 20 provinces of Biafra. I said what! In which territory, I said that Biafra has no territory right now.

We live in Nigeria territory right now; we are Biafrans living in Nigeria. The law is that the territory belongs to Nigeria, so where are you creating your territories from, in Nigeria territory? We are Biafrans and the territory we are living in right now is Nigeria. There is a difference between the original identity of a people and the country where they are living. So we published a disclaimer that we are not part of what they are doing because we cannot do anything that is unlawful. We are in court with Nigeria and we cannot now take the laws into our hands and that’s why we disassociated ourselves from them.

What do you think is the reason your IPOB idea is being hijacked by different people, Nnamdi Kanu in the first instance and now Asari Dokubu?

You know people say that a good product is subject to counterfeits, nobody counterfeits a bad product. They know that the product I have is a good product, they know the original vision that I have and they know it’s an excellent vision and that’s why they try to counterfeit it.

Those who believe in what I believe, we will continue with the original IPOB, the original customary government, no matter the counterfeits because in the end the original will stand.

How can your IPOB be talking about Biafra as an independent nation, yet you are seeking restructuring in Nigeria, is that not contradictory?

This is a very good question. Now, the freedom we are asking for is total freedom. Eventually we will have independent Biafra; it has to be in stages, by phases. We have conducted feasibility and viability studies of the Biafra project and we have found out that you cannot get Biafra immediately now. You can only get Biafra in phases, phase one, phase two and phase three and now phase one has been accomplished and that is the awareness creation phase. Phase two is regional autonomy, which is restructuring into regional autonomy where we will now have a regional parliament and that is Biafra. Before it is called Biafra it will first be a regional government.

Then it is the regional government that will pass the bill of referendum and it will be put to vote in a referendum for outright independence from Nigeria. It is going to be stage by stage, you cannot get it now, and anybody thinking you will get it now let him try. If you want to go to war, go and start fighting with the Nigeria government. If you want it by referendum go now and put a bill of referendum in Abuja and see if it will pass, it will not pass but if you put it in the eastern regional parliament it will pass.

So the ultimate goal of the restructuring is for the breakaway of the country into sub regions?

Let us look at it this way; the ultimate goal is to give the people the right to self-determination by referendum. For instance when we get to the regional autonomy or parliament such as the South East region, the regional government will now have the bill of referendum and the bill of referendum guarantees you the right to secede if you have 60 percent of the vote.

When you go for referendum, the whole people of south east will vote whether to remain in Nigeria or to pull out and you will see that you will find it difficult to get 60 percent because all the people in south east who leave in Lagos or Abuja will vote no, they will say we want to remain in Nigeria since we have our regional government and Biafrans in Nigeria.

This is exactly what is happening to Scotland now. Scotland has got the regional government as Scottish government but why are they not passing? They have done referendums twice and they couldn’t get 60 percent, why? Because each time they come to vote, the people of Scotland will say, ah why are we even going, we’re already on our own, we have Scottish parliament, we have Scottish government, we have Scottish police; we have everything as a government, then why are we pulling out from Britain since everywhere in Britain is our racket and so when they conduct referendum, they will fail.

The same thing will happen to Biafrans in the future. It’s not going to be easy to win in the referendum because the Biafrans living in the west, in the north, other places may say after all we’ve got the Biafra regional government in the east and so why are we pulling out and we have the whole Nigeria as our mandate. That is the beauty of democracy of choice. So for the fact that we have regional autonomy does not give automatic tickets for breakaway because we have a choice either to stay in Nigeria or to go.

Do you think that the north will agree to this restructuring since at the end of the day it may lead to disintegration of Nigeria, which the north is not inclined to?

The north does not have the power to keep us in Nigeria; the people that have power to keep us are ourselves. What are you even calling north? Because there is no more north, we have divided the north; yes we have divided the north. We created north central, that is the middle belt and they are now free from the north, they are no longer north. If you want to know, know it now that north central is no longer north, we created them in 1995. We created two imaginary geographical cardinal points called south-south and north central. In geography there is nothing like south-south or north central. In geography you have east, west, north and south.

We created those two in order to give them their own political identity so that the north will no longer be using the people of the middle belt as their errand boys to fight battles, nor will they be using the people of south-south to fight us. So how will the north stop us except if the middle belt will team up with the north and let me tell you that even in the North West, southern Kaduna is with us now; We from the north central, south east, south west and south-south, we have enough votes to say that we want restructuring or regional autonomy and the north cannot stop us.

When do you think this restructuring will come?

The senate committee is discussing it, after the hearing that took place a few weeks ago, they are now discussing devolution of powers and restructuring. You know some weeks ago President Buhari said he will never support it but he was not right because he doesn’t have the power to stop the legislature from the executive arm that he heads.

Some days ago he turned around to say he will give assent to the bill if it is passed into law. So right now the national assembly is about to pass the bill on restructuring but we are talking about restructuring along geopolitical regions and if they don’t do that the struggle will continue. So any moment from now the bill of restructuring will come to the national assembly and it will be passed because it will have no opposition because we have sufficient number of votes in the national assembly as I speak now. So I am expecting restructuring or the devolution of power to take place any moment from now.

Don’t allow Obaseki take custody of 1,130 stolen artefacts, Oba of Benin urges FG

Friday Olokor, Godfrey George and Adeyinka Adedipe

10 July 2021

…rejects Edo govt’s proposed museum, says gov needs prayers

Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, has asked the Federal Government to temporarily take custody of 1,130 stolen Benin artefacts after they are repatriated from Europe amid the controversy surrounding where the artefacts will be housed.

The Benin Palace and the Edo State Government have been at loggerheads over where the artefacts will be housed. While the palace wants the artefacts kept in the Benin Royal Museum, which will be built within the palace, the state government wants the items preserved in the proposed Edo Museum of West African Arts.

But Oba Ewuare II, at a world press conference on Friday at the palace, said that there was no controversy over the issue, as an agreement had been reached that the artefacts would be housed in the royal museum.

However, a press release from the Government House also on Friday quoted Governor Godwin Obaseki as saying in Germany that a “transformational” museum would be built in Benin to house the artefacts upon their return, as part of a new cultural district in the city.

The artefacts were allegedly looted during the invasion of the Benin Kingdom in 1897 by the British led by Captain Philip.

Speaking at his palace on Friday, Oba Ewuare II insisted that the right and only legitimate destination of the about-to-be-repatriated artefacts was the Benin Royal Museum.

He said, “I have called this meeting today (Friday) to intimate you of the matter of the Benin artefacts in Europe on the verge of being repatriated, which I am sure you have heard and read about in recent weeks. You may also have heard about the recent activities of a group of individuals who incorporated a company since January 2020 called Legacy Restoration Trust Limited.

“It has become germane to note that the advocacy and demands for the return of the artefacts looted from the Benin Kingdom in 1897 have been going on for decades before the emergence of the incumbent Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki. I must sincerely thank the governor for joining the struggle and showing commitment to retrieve our stolen cultural heritage from Europe.

“While anticipating the return of the looted artefacts from Europe, I want to note that attempts to divert the destination or the right of custody of the artefacts is not in the interest of the people of Benin Kingdom, to whom the Palace of the Oba of Benin provides leadership. The looted artefacts awaiting repatriation from Europe are the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom created by our ancestors and forefathers within the traditional norms and rites of the kingdom.

“They are not property of the state government or any private corporate entity that is not a creation of the Benin Kingdom. The right and only legitimate destination for the artefacts to be repatriated as already pronounced by my father is under the aegis of the Benin Royal Museum that will be sited within the precincts of the Palace of the Oba of Benin, from where they were looted, and also, the proper traditional institution that is also the custodian of all the cultural heritage of the Benin Kingdom.

“The palace, therefore, strongly advises that anyone, group, organisation, or government – national and international – that is dealing with any organisation or artificial group in the process of returning the looted artefacts from the Benin Kingdom would be doing so at their own risk and against the will of the people of the Benin Kingdom.”

Oba Ewuare II said he did not believe that the move by a privately registered company, Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd, and the purported establishment of Edo Museum of West African Arts, were in consonance with the wishes of the people of Benin Kingdom, adding that after his ascension to the throne, he had several discussions with Obaseki on the plan for the Benin Royal Museum.

The monarch said the governor expressed his readiness to work with the palace to actualise the wish of his late father, adding that he had acquired additional plots of land from different families within the Adesogbe area near the palace for the purpose of building the Benin Royal Museum.

The monarch said he was, however, surprised to read Obaseki’s letter to the palace wherein a new museum was being proposed, and which would be funded and executed through the vehicle of Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd.

He said, “I informed him (Obaseki) that Oba Ewuare II Foundation had been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission and had worked out a framework for not only receiving the artefacts but also building a modern structure – the Benin Royal Museum – within the precincts of the palace and that land has been secured for the building of the Benin Royal Museum under the supervision of the traditional institution.

“But for reasons best known to him, the governor has gone against the understanding, given recent events. As a matter of fact, the people of Benin Kingdom and other stakeholders, especially the Benin Dialogue Group, had at different meetings endorsed the Benin Royal Museum to be built within the palace, as well as endorsing the Oba Ewuare II Foundation for fundraising and other requisite administration processes.

“We wish to use this medium to call on the Federal Government to take custody of these artefacts on behalf of the palace until the Benin Royal Museum is ready for their collection. Under no circumstances should the custody of our age-old artefacts be handed to any privately contrived entity like Legacy Restoration Trust.”

Oba Ewuare II advised Obaseki to review his approach of using the private vehicle of Legacy Restoration Trust Ltd and the Edo Museum of West African Art and see how he could “genuinely collaborate with the Oba’s palace in accordance with our original understanding. We thank the German government for its interest and willingness to return the Benin artefacts,” the monarch said.

“Perhaps, there is a bridge or gap in communication, not on our side but on the side of the state governor, Obaseki, who I insisted we should pray for. We need prayers for a peaceful resolution of these misunderstandings,” Oba Ewuare II added.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, the German Minister of State for Culture, Prof Monika Grutters, said the way the German government was dealing with the issue of Benin artefacts was important in addressing its colonial past.

She gave an assurance that 1,130 artefacts would be repatriated to Nigeria from the beginning of 2022, noting that Germany had twice sent delegations to Nigeria for talks over the planned repatriation.

She said such a move indicated that both sides had moved beyond mere talks, saying all the museums in Germany stockpiling Benin Bronzes had agreed to cooperate.

The meeting in Berlin was attended by Grutters, German Foreign Minister, Mr Heiko Maas, while the Nigerian delegation included the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, and Obaseki. The Benin Royal Palace was represented by the Crown Prince of Benin Kingdom, Prince Ezelekhae Ewuare.

Mohammed proposed a one-year time limit for the full return of its artefacts from Germany.

The minister, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Adeyemi, said the agreement for the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes from Germany must be signed by December 2021.

“For us, the most important issue in the roadmap is the signing of the agreement and the date of return. We won’t move forward if we don’t have a clear date on signing and return,” Mohammed told participants at the meeting. “Full return should be completed in a year’s time, not beyond August 2022,” he added.

The Secretary of State in the German President’s Office, Stephen Steinlein, was quoted as saying the German President was happy with the progress made so far on the planned repatriation of the artefacts.

Obaseki told the participants that a museum was being built to make Benin City a cultural hub.

The architect handling the museum project, David Adjaye, reportedly made a presentation to the participants, during which he said the project would fuse the technology of ancient Benin Kingdom to that of the 21st century to get an organic pavilion that would boast an auditorium, storage as well as exhibition space, among other facilities.

Other members of the Nigerian delegation included the Nigerian Ambassador to Germany, Yusuf Tuggar; the Director General of the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Prof Abba Tijani; and the Director of the Board of Legacy Restoration Trust, Phillip Ihenacho.

Okechukwu Nnodim

9 July 2021

The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, on Thursday said that there was nothing like housing deficit in Nigeria.

Operators in the built environment as well as government officials had before now put the housing deficit in Nigeria at about 17 million.

But while speaking in Abuja at the inauguration of the Board of Directors of the Federal Housing Authority on Thursday, Fashola argued that the housing deficit claims had no scientific and logical basis.

He said, “There is something out there before we came in that Nigeria has housing deficit; it’s a lie.

“Unfortunately, it was a document that originated from this ministry in 2012. It has no scientific basis, nor logical basis; so ignore it.”

Fashola said the housing problem was an urban problem, stressing that people who rented houses in the urban centres had empty buildings in their villages.

“Whether in Lagos, Kaduna, Abuja or Ibadan, we see empty and unoccupied houses and we need to begin to understand this problem,” he said.

He said it was time to begin to think on how to unlock and bring the empty houses into the market.

“If we have things that are not used, does it make sense when we say that we have deficit of things available but not used?” the minister asked.

He charged the newly appointed board members not be blocked by the definition of deficit, but channel their understanding and professionalism for the benefit of all.

“Essentially, your role will be as defined by the FHA Act and I urge you to quickly acquaint yourself with the responsibility under the act,” Fashola said.

The Board Chairman, FHA, Senator Lawal Shuaibu, commended the minister for the prompt inauguration of the board as approved by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

He assured the minister that the board would implement the policies before the authority and would not come up with excuses on non-performance.

Insecurity: NYSC should be two years, corps members must be trained to handle guns —Taraba gov

As part of measures to curb the rising insecurity in the country, Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, has said that members of the National Youth Service Corps should be allowed to undergo military training in order to know how to handle guns for self-defence.

The governor also said the duration of the youth scheme should be extended from one year to two years to allow sufficient training for the graduates.

He stated this on Wednesday night when he featured in Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ programme monitored by The PUNCH.

Ishaku, whose state is one of the North-East states affected by Boko Haram insurgency coupled with killings by armed militias, emphasised that citizens should be allowed to bear arms and defend themselves against their aggressors

The governor said, “When the security can’t protect you, then something in the alternative must come in, we must be practical. Train people, give them practical induction, let them know what to do.

“The NYSC I will say should be two years. One year for compulsory military training and the other year for the social works that they are doing now so that anybody who graduates as an NYSC person can know how to handle the gun and defend himself just as it is done in Israel, Lebanon and other places, you must engage your citizens to be proactive. When you cannot provide security, you must allow the people to protect themselves.”

He lamented that bandits and terrorists terrorising people, wreaking unimaginable destruction and unprintable bloodshed in the North-East were being sponsored by some influential persons.

“There are sponsors, these are brand new AK-47s. How would a local man buy such an expensive weapon? It is in a video and all over the place where someone confessed that the guns were being given to them and they were being trained on how to use them. It is the work of the security agents to get to the roots of this.

“If they can go out of this country and capture somebody who is declaring independence, why is it impossible for them to defend our people who are being killed in the farms?” Ishaku queried.

He, however, expressed optimism that the insecurity in the region and in all parts of the country can be defeated when the political class and the security agents stamp their feet on the ground and are ready to end the menace.

The PUNCH had earlier reported that the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig. Gen. Shuaibu Ibrahim, said corps members are part of the national defence policy of Nigeria and can be mobilised for war if need be.

Ibrahim while reacting to moves to scrap the NYSC scheme which is compulsory for all Nigerians who graduate before the age of 30 had said, “You can imagine within the short three weeks in the orientation camps, the corps members are moulded. They are like soldiers. You see female corps members blowing the army horn, playing with the military band.

“So, if not for the knowledge, where are you going to mobilise such young Nigerians to train them quickly to put in their best for the country?

“So, corps members are on reserve. They are also part of the national defence policy. Parents should teach their children the spirit of patriotism.”

*Set up committee to harmonise position on constitution review

GOVERNORS of the South-West geo-political zone of the country met with Senators and members of the House of Representatives from the Zone, Tuesday night, over the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, and other matters germane to the region.

At the meeting, the governors and lawmakers resolved that both chambers must approve 5% of the actual annual operating expenditure of the preceding financial year in the upstream petroleum operations affecting the host communities for funding of the Host Communities Trust Fund in the new PIB.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, and the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN), did not mention the issue of PIB while briefing journalists at the end of the meeting.

However, a source at the meeting told Vanguard that at the meeting the governors and the lawmakers agreed to throw their weights behind the members of House of Representatives on 5% for host communities.

Recall that the two chambers of the National Assembly, last week Thursday, passed the PIB, after about 13 years of legislative fireworks where the Senate approved 3% and House of Representatives chose 5% of Operating Expenditure granted to the host communities and 30% provision for the Frontier Exploration Fund.

The original bill brought to the Senate by the Executive was 2.5% for funding of the Host Communities Trust Fund, but the Committee moved it to 5%, while the Senate at the end of the day approved 3%.

The bill was first sent to the National Assembly in 2008 by President Umaru Yar’Adua, now deceased, without translating it into an Act.

The PIB 2020 seeks to introduce far-reaching reforms in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Briefing journalists Tuesday night in Abuja after the meeting, Akeredolu who was flanked by governors of Ekiti, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun, said that the Zone will come up with a common position on the constitution review that is currently being carried out by the National Assembly.

According to him, a committee made up of chairmen of caucuses of both the upper and lower chambers and Attorney-Generals of the state to that harmonise and come up with a position and that will have a serious impact.

Akeredolu said: “South-West governors held a meeting with members of the House of Representatives and Senators from South West.

“At the meeting, we discussed so many areas of interest, but most importantly we deliberated on constitutional amendments and we resolved that we will present a common position as regards to an amendment to the constitution.

“And in order to achieve this, we set up a committee. The committee is made of up senators led by the caucus chairman and House of Representatives caucus chairman and attorneys of the south west states.

“The committee is to harmonise our position so that we can present it when necessary before the two the House and at the end of the day have a constitutional amendment that has our serious input.”

The meeting, which took place at Imo Hall, Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, started at 8.10am, with the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu(SAN) presiding and it came to an end at 10.10p.m.

In her opening prayer, Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central) called on God to intervene in the affairs of Nigeria against the backdrop that the country is at a crucial time in the history of our nation.

The meeting had the newly passed PIB and the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as the agenda.

The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, has said the Nigerian economy is currently being driven by the non-oil sector.

Ahmed said this when she led officials of her ministry to hold a meeting with the leadership of the National Assembly on Monday evening over the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.

In attendance were the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

The meeting, which started at 5:11pm and lasted till about 7:15pm, also had in attendance the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege; the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Idris Wase; principal officers of both chambers, as well as heads of some revenue-generating agencies.

The minister said, “The growth of the Nigerian economy, we are pleased to say, is driven largely by the non-oil sector, which has risen to 0.79 per cent, masking the deterioration in the oil sector.

“The sectoral growth in the non-oil sector was primarily driven by telecoms and agriculture sectors as well as other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“Significant concerns still exist in the performance of trade, as well as transport sector which are still in a very strong negative growth.”

Ahmed said although the Nigerian economy experienced more revenue generation in 2020 from non-oil sectors, other sectors such as transport still remained in the negative.

She said, “The economy since then has sustained a tepid growth in the first quarter of 2021, with a growth of 0.51 percent consolidating our exit from recession in the fourth quarter.”

She recalled that Nigeria was able to make a quick exit from recession in the third quarter of 2020 despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.

According to her, this had an attendant “negative growth” on the Nigerian economy as a result of the significant and sudden drop in crude oil price in the international market.

The Senate President said the meeting was convened at the instance of the leadership of the National Assembly to deliberate on projections in the 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP.

He said the fiscal document was needed to facilitate the early presentation of the 2022 budget by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in September this year.

Lawan recalled the commitment of the ninth National Assembly towards the early passage of the nation’s annual budget.

He explained that the development was responsible for the 100 percent implementation of the 2020 Appropriations Act, which, according to him, would be achieved also in 2021.

He added that the interaction between the National Assembly and the Ministry of Finance would facilitate the early presentation of the 2022 Appropriations Bill in September this year.

He said, “We all recall how this ninth National Assembly committed itself ab initio to ensuring the passage of the Appropriations before the end of December of every year, to enable the implementation of the Appropriations Act to start January of every year.

“So far, we have achieved that in the 2020 budget and 2021 budget as well. This has significantly improved the implementation of the Appropriations Act, culminating in the 100 per cent implementation of the 2020 budget, and we are optimistic that the implementation of the 2021 budget would also achieve 100 per cent.

“The 2022 Appropriations Bill would be predicated on the MTEF/FSP 2022-2024. [And] it is very important that this interaction takes place so that the National Assembly is able to consider the MTEF in very good time to allow the Executive arm of government prepare the Appropriations Bill for 2022.”

July 5, 2021

By Adeola Badru

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Monday, appointed Mr Segun Ogunwuyi, as his new Chief of Staff.

The appointment of Ogunwuyi followed the dissolution of the state executive council last week by the governor.

A letter signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun and made available to Vanguard, confirmed Ogunwuyi’s appointment, adding that the appointment takes immediate effect.

Prior to his new appointment, Ogunwuyi was the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investment.

He was later appointed Director-General of the Oyo State Investment and Public, Private Partnership Agency (OYSIPPPA), following the passage of the law setting up the agency.

As the DG of OYSIPPPA, Ogunwuyi midwife series of Investment initiatives including the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA), has helped the state in the execution of critical infrastructure projects.

Ogunwuyi, who holds a B.Sc. degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, had served as a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly between 2011 and 2015.

He was, in 2015, elected as the member representing Ogbomoso North/South and Oriire Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

As a certified Accountant and Financial consultant, Ogunwusi had consulted for top organisations.

Vanguard News Nigeria

By Bola Badmus - Lagos

On Jul 2, 2021

Southern governors will on Monday converge in Lagos for a meeting, following the recent one held last May 11, 2021, in Asaba, the Delta State capital, which focus was on recent happenings in the polity and security concerns in the country and particularly in their domain.

Tribune Online gathered that the planned meeting, which is to be hosted by the Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, will take place at the State House, Alausa, Ikeja, with all the 17 governors in the region expected to attend.

The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, confirmed that the parley would discuss issues relating to Insecurity, True Federalism, Open Grazing, State Police, restructuring, food security, among others.

Besides, it was learnt that the meeting is expected to discuss the gains of the last meeting and the next move to make.

It would be recalled that the governors, at the last meeting which was hosted by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State and attended by 15 of the 17 Southern governors, arrived at a 12-point resolution which included the banning of Open Grazing of cattle in all the states.

They also agreed that the progress of the nation required that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of State Police, even as they called for the review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments as well as the creation of other institutions which legitimately advance commitment to the practice of true federalism.

Deputy Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU writes on the All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairmanship race and chances of the aspirants at the convention.

Seven are in the race for now. More may still join. Few may also withdraw along the line. But, the All Progressives Congress (APC) convention itself has remained elusive.

Although the unelected National Caretaker Committee, led by Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni, has unfolded plans for ward, local government and state congresses, the fate of the national congress is hanging in the balance.

What actually is delaying the convention?

Reminiscent of how Military President Ibrahim Babangida was postponing the handover date, tinkering with the transition programme and changing the goal post amid the game,the tenure of the Buni Committee had been extended thrice. The latest extention of the tenure of the interim committee is worrisome as it is indefinite. This has fuelled speculations about an inexplicable hidden agenda.

The chairmanship aspirants, nevertheless, rely on hope, the elixir of life. The seven are from the North. This may give a vague idea of imminent rotation or zoning, both of the chairmanship and the presidency.

Former Nasarawa State Governor Tanko Almakura has not publicly declared his intention. But, party sources said the chieftain of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) is a strong contender. A source said:”The president is always a fan of his old allies.” It could not be ascertained whether he will also emerge as the candidate of the APC Governors’ Forum.

Fifty eight year old Senator Sani Musa, who hails from Paikoro in Niger State, has embarked on extensive consultation and mobilisation. A loyal party man, Musa has been described as a man of integrity. He is a one-time governorship contender in Niger State, a delegate to the National Convention, and a member of the APC Presidential Election Campaign Committee for 2019.

The senator had canvassed the revolution of the electoral system through the use of the card reader and Permanent Voter’s Card. Many have described him as a bridge builder who possess high inter-personal skills.

In the Senate, he had served on some committees, including Appropriation, Petroleum Resources, Foreign and Local Debts and Water Resources. In the APC, he had served as member of NEC, Contact and Strategic Committee, and Constitution Review Panel.

In 2015, he was arrested, but refused to divulge any confidential information on the card reader. The Business Administration graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he was the President of Zodiac, served as Special Adviser on Investment and Infrastructure in Niger State; director of Niger State Development Company Limited, Chairman, Task Force on Environmental Management and Managing Director, First Pacific Nigeria Limited. He also obtained a Certificate in Conflict Analysis from the United States Institute of Peace. Musa is held in esteem in the senate as an organised, dedicated, passionate and hardworking politician. He is said to be goal oriented, focussed and patriotic.

Former Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Adamu is a party elder endowed with experience. He is a no-nonsense politician. He knows his onions. After serving as governor for eight years, he was elected senator. In 2007, he was a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Another aspirant is the eminent politician from Gombe State, former Governor Danjuma Goje, former Minister of State for Steel Development and now, senator. He is also a former PDP chieftain; bold and fearless.

Former Borno State Governor Modu Sheriff served as a senator before becoming governor in 2003. He served for two terms. He defected from the APC to PDP, where he was briefly the national chairman. There were allegations that he wanted to use the position as a stepping stone to the realisation of his presidential ambition. When he was shoved aside as chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi became the PDP caretaker chairman. Some months ago, Sheriff retraced his steps to the APC.

Mohammed Mustapha hails from Gambari District in the Ilorin East local government area of Kwara State. He is 48 years old.

He has distinguished himself in business, politics and humanitarian services. He founded the Saliu Mustapha Foundation to serve as a platform for human empowerment and community development.

Mustapha is a former deputy national chairman of CPC. He played a role in the merger of the CPC with other tendencies that gave birth to the APC. He was a signatory to the merger agreement on behalf of the CPC in the coalition. Before he became the deputy chairman of the CPC, he had served as an Ex-Officio and a foundation NEC member of the party.

He was the National Publicity Secretary of the Progressive Liberation Party (PLP) between 2001 and 2002 under the leadership of Dr. Ezekiel Ezeogwu. In 2003, Mustapha and other like-minds formed the Progressive Action Congress (PAC). He was the National Publicity Secretary of the party. He was a member of The Buhari Organisation (TBO) and the Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO).

APC is in a dilemma. Consensus building appears difficult. There are internal contradictions. There are divisions. Can these pave the way for a peaceful convention?

Leke Baiyewu

28 June 2021

THE Atiku Support Organisation, has called on the Peoples Democratic Party, to adopt former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, as its consensus candidate for the 2023 presidential election.

The group made the call at the inauguration of its state executives in the South-South geopolitical zone, according to a statement issued by the National Director Publicity, El Mo Victor.

The statement titled, ‘Adopt Atiku Abubakar as the Consensus Candidate for 2023 Presidential Poll, Atiku Support Organisation Tells PDP,’ was sent to The PUNCH, in Abuja, on Sunday.

The statement read in part, “The Atiku Support Organisation, on Friday, June 25th, 2021, held its South-South zonal inauguration of state executives from the six states in the geopolitical zone.

“The event was well attended by all the executives of the organisation from the zone.

“In his speech, the Director-General of the Atiku Support Organisation, Alhaji Abubakar Kabir Babawo, appreciates His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar, for his unflinching support for the youth of the country and his decision to give the youth a 40 per cent slot in his government.”

The organisation said at the end of the event, a five-point communiqué was including, “The People’s Democratic Party should adopt Atiku Abubakar as a consensus candidate because he has more than enough clout and the needed numbers to secure victory for the party in 2023.

“He is better positioned with the needed experience and democratic credentials to improve the economic, political and security situation in the country.

“The Nigerian youth should rise and become actively engaged in politics and ensure they register with INEC for their permanent voter cards.

“Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State and the entire PDP governors in the South-South should continue with the giant strides of turning the zone into a construction site with massive developmental projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs.”

While calling on the President Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), to improve the security situation in Nigeria, the group pledged to work towards Atiku’s emergence.

Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last presidential election, Mr. Peter Obi has congratulated the immediate past President and Group CEO of Transcorp, Valentine Ozigbo, for emerging as the Party’s candidate for the Anambra State governorship election.

Reacting after the primaries that produced Ozigbo as the candidate, Mr. Obi said that the election had come to an end.

While he congratulates the winner, Mr. Val Ozigbo, he also commends the other contestants that participated in the election for their hard work and sacrifices.

He called on them not to see the conclusion of the gubernatorial primaries “as the end of the beginning, but rather the beginning of the end.”

Further, Obi said: “I thank the National Chairman who, together with his leadership, has remained neutral.

“I congratulate the PDP family in Anambra State who has given the state the most peaceful and organized process of choosing a candidate.”

By way of advice, he called on the PDP in the state and beyond to pull together as a family towards what he describes as “a journey of building a better Anambra State for the future of our children and the true “light of the nation.”

…Insists inequality fueling agitation

June 25, 2021a

By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

Elder statesman and National Leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, has described the South-East as the most disadvantaged geopolitical zone in the country.

Clark further observed that inequality in the country was fueling the ongoing agitations and dissatisfactions in various zones.

Clark spoke while addressing stakeholders at the South-South Zonal Conference with the theme, ‘Restructuring: Imperatives for Sustainable development, unity and security’ in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Friday.

The conference was organized by the Agape Birthrights, founded by the Ankio Brigs, in partnership with Savanna Centre.

Clark said: “South-East geopolitical zone has five States, while other zones, the South-South, the South-West, the North-Central, the North-East, have six States each. In fact, the North West has seven States, what iagainst a people.

“Look at the northernisation policy going on in the country. Appointments are skewed in favour of the north, in total disregard to the feelings of other areas. Key positions in the Ministries, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Customs, Police, you name it, are all given to northerners.

“There are 17 security arms, 14 of them are headed by northerners. Yet one expects that there shall be national unity. Of course, it will not be possible. There must be dissatisfaction and agitation.

“For instance, look at what is happening in the South-East today. Our critical national assets are being attacked almost every day. People are killed, maimed. While one is gravely against such a method of expressing grievance, the people are pushed to the wall.

“The South-East geopolitical zone could rightly be described as the most disadvantaged. One could not understand why the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB) will be declared as a terrorist organization, while similar organizations in the North have not been so declared.”

Clark’s in his address read by Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini and National Chairman, Oil Producing Areas Association of Nigeria, said the absence of unity caused distrust, saying no nation could survive with such situation.

He said: “Unity in this country today is unfortunately a scarce commodity despite the fact that unity is one of the four cardinal points contained in our country’s Motto, which is Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.

“Our nation has never been so disunited, as we are today. There is so much distrust. We suspect one another’s next move. No nation can survive with such a level of distrust. And the major cause of disunity in the country today, is inequality.

“You do not expect me to live in unity with someone who is oppressing me, and treating me as though I am a second-class citizen in my own country. This is unacceptable,” the Ijaw leader stated.”

He further said the country was disintegrating following “deliberate attempts to enslave” people from other zones of the country by those who think the country belongs to them alone.

He decried the rising spate of insecurity in the North, especially the recent trend of kidnapping of school children.

He maintained that the solution to various agitations in the country was restructuring, insisting it would guarantee peace and even development.

“There is so much agitation in the country. Fortunately, there is a solution to these issues. An action that can be taken and the nation will to a large extent be at peace; and that is restructure Nigeria now,” he said.

June 25, 2021

By Anayo Okoli, ENUGU

IGBO businessmen and investors have been urged to buy into the multi-billion Naira Enugu Industrial Free Trade Zone as the project provides vast opportunities for them.

Located in a massive expanse of land at the 9th Mile Corner, Enugu, the industrial zone is designed to accommodate millions of investors and businessmen.

Powered by Lion Business Park in collaboration with Enugu State Government, it will have its own source of power to boost all the business activities there.

During a business interaction held at park last week, stakeholders in the business sector expressed optimism that the multi-million naira Lion Business Park would engender the growth and development of the economy of the southeast region and beyond.

It would serve as an industrial hub that would help to boost manufacturing and trading in the country.

Speaking during an interaction and familiarisation tour in the park by prospective investors, Chairman of the Business Park, Dr Okechukwu Mbonu, explained that the desire of the promoters was to grow the economy of the South-East region by about 100 percent.

While some Pentecostal preachers in eastern Nigeria set fire to statues and other ancient artefacts that they regard as symbols of idolatry, one Catholic priest is collecting them instead.

The artefacts are central to the traditional religions practised by the region's Igbo people, who see them as sacred, and possessing supernatural powers.

But there are now very few adherents of these religions, as Christianity - led by Pentecostal churches - has become the area's dominant faith.

BBC Igbo's Chiagozie Nwonwu and Karina Igonikon report on the priest's efforts to protect a history that is being lost because of the actions of some preachers.

Although he is referred to as "fire that burns", there is nothing frightening about Reverend Paul Obayi, who runs the Deities Museum in eastern Nigeria's Nnsuka city.

Located in the compound of Saint Theresa's Catholic Cathedral, the three-roomed museum boasts hundreds of totems, masks, a stuffed lion and carvings of Igbo deities.

When communities abandon traditional religious beliefs, primarily under the influence of Christian Pentecostal churches, some pastors create bonfires to burn the artefacts, which they say contradict the faith's monotheistic beliefs, and which represent "evil spirits that bring bad luck".

Sometimes worshippers of the traditional religions also torch their deities, in accordance with a belief captured in the Igbo proverb: "If a God becomes too troublesome, it becomes wood for the fireplace."

But Reverend Obayi bucks the trend by preserving the rejected gods and goddesses, saying he uses religious powers to remove their supposed supernatural abilities. This has earned him the moniker Okunerere - "the fire that burns idols in the spirit".

"I've already destroyed the spirits," he said at his museum.

"What you have is just an empty shell. There is nothing inside."

Reverend Obayi said he had been partially influenced by museums in Western countries, which are under enormous pressure to return artefacts, such as the Benin Bronzes, that were looted during the colonial era.

"I visit museums in the West and I see artefacts, some from Benin even, and I made up my mind to preserve ours."

A treasure trove of deities

The cathedral's administrator, Reverend Father Eugene Odo, supports his initiative, comparing it to a Catholic-owned museum in Italy.

"In Rome for instance there is the museum housing things that the Romans did as pagans, and people go there to see the stages of human development," he said.

Though the Deities Museum hosts visitors who come in from as far as Lagos to see some of the tagged items, it is in dire need of care and attention. The artefacts, some of them centuries old, are strewn across the museum's floor, caked in dust. Some have been ravaged by termites.

But it is a treasure trove of Igbo deities - in one corner is a fearsome-looking mask surrounded by raffia, in another corner a deity used by tricksters - two oblong-shaped objects held together by string, used in the past to solve "mysteries" such as catching a thief. Hidden levers operated by the trickster were used to control the movement of the objects when the names of suspects were called out, making it look like an invisible force had discovered the thief.

But the pièce de résistance is the Adaada leja, a raffia-covered headless goddess, feted by those seeking children. Reverend Obayi said the deity was almost 200 years old.

The items are from the "deliverance services" he has conducted over the past 20 years in towns and villages across Nigeria's south-east.

"People write letters inviting my ministry to come and remove the idols that are disturbing them," he said.

Ways of the ancestors

Odinani, an ancient Igbo religion, was practised before the arrival of Christianity and colonialism. It is a form of animism where people pray to a spirit - represented by a statue - known as chi. It seeks intercession on their behalf from a Supreme Being, or Chukwu.

Other deities worshipped include:

Ala - the goddess of fertility
Amadioha - the god of thunder
Ekwensu - the god of bargains and mischief
Ikenga - an avatar of the owner's spirit
Not many adherents of these ancient religions remain, and they endure persecution from the Christian majority.

Their sacred days are disregarded, traditions such as rites of passages are frowned upon and there have been instances where shrines have been invaded by Christians activists.

Nowadays, most practitioners of these religions are elderly, although a handful of youngsters are now rebelling against their Christian faith and learning the ways of their ancestors.

Chinasa Nwosu, a Pentecostal bishop of the Royal Church in the southern city of Port Harcourt, is a fierce critic of the traditional beliefs.

Bishop Nwosu first shot into the limelight in the early 1990s for tearing down shrines, burning the so-called idols, and uprooting what he denounces as "evil trees".

These trees, some of them ancient, have their bases wrapped in white or red pieces of cloth and are sacred to adherents who worship and make small sacrifices to them. Some are in the family compound but most are in forests away from the community.

"God does not want us to practice idol worship. African religion, most of the time, is based on idolatry," he said.

"Blessings come when you remove those accursed things," he added, quoting the Bible.

He said that carvings and other artworks such as the Benin Bronzes and Ife Heads, which are artefacts stolen from western Nigeria and are now in Europeans museums, had not been consecrated to a God so he was not opposed to them being returned.

But he warned the Nigerian government that if it brought back artefacts that could be traced to "idolatry", such as the Ikenga wood carvings in the British Museum, he would want them burnt.

Such views are vehemently opposed by Reverend Obayi, who remains determined to preserve the artefacts in his modest museum.

"They are artefacts that our children will see and they will understand how their forefathers lived," he said.

Eriokanmi:
Here they come...now your intention is known with this your response. Weldone!

Eriokanmi:
OP can you see your biased topic? Only those space bookers would join you on this biased journey to condemn this man without reading the news post simply because they don't tewd news before commenting Try and be civil.

The Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has said the security challenges being experienced in the state was being caused because of the influx of more people and businesses to the state due to favourable policies of the state.

The governor said this on Monday at the inauguration of the Board of the Oyo State Security Network Agency, codenamed Amotekun.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Taiwo Adisa, who said this in a statement on Monday promised that Makinde’s government will continue to give the security of lives and property of the people the required attention.

The statement read, “We know that because of the policies of this administration, a lot of people are coming into Oyo State, and when you have more and more people coming in, it will come with its own set of challenges and with opportunities as well.

“In the days ahead, we will also let the people of Oyo State know the things we are doing as far as security is concerned. And when they see security operatives all around, they must give them total support.

“Yes, I can go to Igangan and take responsibility for some of these activities but security is our collective responsibility. It is not just for the government or governor alone. So, everybody needs to come on board and play their own part.”

Makinde hailed Amotekun despite facing numerous challenges which he said made them operate in a disadvantaged position compared with criminals.

He said, “On many occasions, I have watched videos. The Amotekun Corps are faced with superior fire-power. They are not licensed to carry weapons like AK47 but we see bandits carrying such weapons.

“Despite the visible challenges that they are faced with, they have been able to fill the gap of local policing successfully. It has been difficult but they have been doing it.

“So, if things are as they are now, we wonder how things might have been without the Amotekun Corps.”

While appealing to those discrediting Amotekun and politicising the insecurity situation to desist from such a path, Makinde said seeking to destroy the state in the name of politics would be counterproductive.

The 12-member Board has Brig-General Kunle Togun (retd) as its chairman and Mrs. Akinbode Iyabode Enitan as secretary.

Some of the members of the Board include the Amotekun Commandant, Col. Bisiriyu Olayinka Olayanju (retd), the Commissioner of Police, State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Defence Corps, representative of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the state, and the Executive Secretary, Oyo State Security Trust Fund and Special Adviser on Security, COMPOL Fatai Owoseni (retd).

Others are Rasaki Ajani Babalola, representing Oyo South Senatorial District; Mr. Ogunlowo Samson, representing Oyo North Senatorial District; Mrs. Hamzat Khadijat Ronke, representing Oyo Central Senatorial District; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, representing the traditional Institution and the Executive Assistant (Security), CP Sunday Odukoya (retd).

Recall that apart from the problem of killer herdsmen especially in the Ibarapa Area of the state, gang wars and other criminal activities pose a serious problem to the state.

June 21, 2021

The Cross River chapter of All Progressives Congress, APC, has placed an order for three million bunches of brooms from local broom makers for the new entrants into the party.

The party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Bassey Ita, disclosed this in a statement in Calabar on Monday.

Ita stated that it was observed that the commodity, which is APC’s symbol, had suddenly become scarce in the state, following the influx of new members in the wake of Governor Ben Ayade’s defection into the party.

“To address the challenge, the party ordered for three million bunches of brooms from local suppliers to meet the growing demand.

“It is no longer news that the broom revolution has since hit our dear state, following the defection of our amiable governor to our party.

“But what is now news is that broom scarcity has hit Cross River as millions of our people continue to identify with the party.

“Last weekend, local government chairmen, councillors, federal and state lawmakers, alongside 100,000 of their supporters in Bekwarra, Ikom and Etung council areas joined the party,” the statement added.

The party paid tribute to “the tenacity of purpose and single-mindedness of the people of the state for aligning with the governor in his drive to socket Cross River to the centre”.

By Abdullateef Aliyu

Mon Jun 21 2021

Barely 48 hours after announcing resumption of flights to Nigeria, Emirates, the UAE flag carrier, has again announced indefinite suspension of flights to Nigeria.

The UAE authorities had initially fixed Wednesday, June 23, 2021, for resumption of flights to Nigeria.

But in a statement on its website on Monday, the airline said, “In line with government directives, passenger flights to and from Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja) are suspended with effect from 21 June 2021 until further notice.”

Daily Trust reports that the airline had on Saturday announced resumption of flights, which were suspended in March over diplomatic row on COVID-19 protocols.

The Dubai’s Supreme Committee of Crisis and Disaster Management had lifted the ban on Nigeria and also removed the rapid antigen test and said passengers from Nigeria would only be required to possess negative PCR test.

“We look forward to facilitating travel from these countries and supporting various travelers’ categories.

“We will resume carrying passengers from South Africa, Nigeria and India in accordance with these protocols from 23rd June,” Emirates had announced.

But it made U-turn on Monday with a new travel update indicating that Lagos and Abuja flights would no longer resume on Wednesday as earlier announced.

Emirates said, “Customers travelling to and from Lagos and Abuja will not be accepted for travel. Customers who have been to or connected through Nigeria in the last 14 days are not permitted to board from any other point to the UAE.

“We regret the inconvenience caused, and affected customers should contact their booking agent or Emirates call centre for rebooking. Emirates remains committed to Nigeria, and we look forward to resuming passenger services when conditions allow.”

June 21, 2021

*Let Houses of Assembly in S’East enact anti-grazing law — Okwesilieze Nwodo

By Dennis Agbo & Ikechukwu Odu

The South East Chairman of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said that the ban on open grazing by the Governors of Southern Nigeria will remain ineffective until an alternative to open grazing is provided for the herders.

MACBAN spoke as the former National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, called on all the states Houses of Assembly in South East Nigeria to enact anti-grazing law in their respective states to stop open grazing of cattle in the zone.

Gidado Siddiki said that the public hearing on constitution review would have provided opportunity for all parties to make submissions for a law against open grazing, but that his group was not given the opportunity to make submission.

He also said that ranching has not been provided for them as an alternative in conducting their business.

Siddiki said: “Our position is that we are not opposed to the ban on open grazing, but at least we need an alternative.

“You know when somebody is doing business and you stop him from doing that business, he would be given an alternative on what to do.

“When you say that you have banned open grazing, you need to tell us how we should graze our cows because what we know is grazing. If there is an alternative, there is no problem, and that is the only thing we are begging for.

“The governors should tell us because when you want to enact a law on somebody, you have to call him so that you can tell him what he can do and you and that person will put heads together before you can do that law.

“Now that they are doing a public hearing on constitution review, they are collecting opinions, they should come up with it if they want to ban open grazing so that all of us will put our heads together. If open grazing is bringing problems, let us find ways we can coexist.”

Reminded that ranching has been proposed as an option to open grazing, Siddiki queried, “Is there any provision for that ranching?

“If there is provision for ranching, we can do ranching but I don’t think there is provision for ranching. Even in Benue State that said it has banned open grazing and will do ranching, I don’t think there has been any ranching in Benue State in all these years.

“So, I don’t know if there is provision and that is our own problem. We were not given a chance to go for the Constitution review public hearing, we went there but nobody gave us an audience to talk. We did not submit a petition.”

Let Houses of Assembly in S’East enact anti-grazing law —Okwesilieze Nwodo

Dr. Nwodo who was a former governor of Enugu State said that it would be difficult to enforce what is not a law across the states in South East.

He said that when the law is enacted, violators would be prosecuted and punished according to the provisions of the law.

“The first thing is for our lawmakers to pass anti-grazing laws in their respective Houses of Assembly. You cannot enforce something that is not a law.

“Having passed that, anybody who violates it, runs foul of the law and would be prosecuted and punished according to the provisions of the law,” he said.

The statesman who described the security situation in South East as worrisome, assured that the stakeholders are already putting measures in place to nip the ugly development in the bud.

Vanguard News Nigeria

By MSME Africa - June 18, 20210

The Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) said it has disbursed about N1.01 billion to 1,880 businesses under its Micro and Small/Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) loan programme.

The LSETF stated this during the public presentation of the Lagos MSME recovery fund report to its state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu , which was held virtually in Lagos on Wednesday.

Speaking during the launch of the report, the Chairman, Board of Trustees, LSETF, Bola Adesola, said Lagos State was swept by a wave of violence and unrest after the EndSARS protests, which affected various MSMEs, adding that the wanton acts of vandalism threatened the livelihoods of over 4,000 business owners across the state, whose goods and infrastructure were affected.

Adesola stated that the LSETF, in a response to the development, swiftly set up the Lagos MSME Recovery Fund in collaboration with private sector partners to support businesses affected by the vandalism to ensure that they could return to normal operations, and most importantly, to stem the potential job losses that would follow as a result of the disruption to business activities.

She noted that 10 weeks after, an eight-man committee was formed in which 20 steering committees and sub-committees were held, 2000 businesses were approved to be supported with a total grant of N1.112 billion with individual grant sums ranging from N50,000 to N5 million.

© MSME Africa

NEWSPOLITICS

By admin - June 10, 2021

Similar to the way the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was divided, division within the ranks of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, became obvious on Thursday.

Some leaders of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, took what they described as bold step to salvage the party.

The stakeholders and elders’ meeting took place at Jogor centre, Ibadan.

Leaders of the party, who took turns to express dissatisfaction about the way the party is managed in the state, said they now have two factions- one led by Governor Seyi Makinde and other by leaders and stakeholders across the 33 local government areas of the state.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE PDP STAKEHOLDERS MEETING HELD AT JOGOR EVENT CENTRE, IBADAN ON THURSDAY, 10TH JUNE, 2021.

1. The Stakeholders condemn in the strongest terms the spate of insecurity in the State and calls on the State Governor to wake up to his primary responsibility of protecting lives and property of the citizenry.

2. The PDP stakeholders commiserate with the bereaved families of those who lost their lives in Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and other parts of the State. The body prays that God should comfort their families.

3. The Stakeholders have resolved to save the PDP from mismanagement and egoistic tendencies of the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde.

4. The Stakeholders frowns at the Governor’s attitude of giving Party patronage to non Party members as against genuine Party members who laboured to bring the PDP back to power in Oyo State as demonstrated during the last Local Government election where the Governor ‘ donated’ 4 chairmen and vice and 48 Councillorship seats to his friends in ADC.

5. Today is to alert the leadership of PDP and members of PDP across Nigeria and general public that Oyo State PDP has been factionalized into two – one is headed by the Governor and the other by the leaders and stakeholders across the 33 local governments as evidence at this meeting.

6. This is due to governor’s highhandedness, recalcitrant attitude and lack of leadership within the party as expected of a governor.

7. We are calling on the National Leadership to dissolve Oyo State PDP Executive who are stooges of the governor and have no interest of the party at heart ahead of congresses coming up later in the year so as to give a sense of belonging to our teeming members and supporters in Oyo State. The caretaker committee should be put in place to reorganize the party ahead of the congresses to allow for free and fair congresses.

8. The Stakeholders call on the national leadership of PDP to urgently step in to rescue the Party in Oyo State from the grip of the Governor who is running the Party like his personal estate. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.


Signed on behalf of leaders and stakeholders by the duo of Mogaji Nureni Akanbi And H.E. Hazeem Gbolarumi

Imo Deputy Governor Prof. Placid Njoku has denied reports he has resigned, dismissing them as baseless.

Njoku, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ozioma Ukwuoma, insisted the reports have no iota of truth, attributing them to those who had been working to distabilise the state

The statement reads partly: “My attention has been drawn to the fake news circulating in the social media purporting that the Deputy Governor of Imo State, His Excellency Prof Placid Njoku has resigned.

“While it remains our practice to ignore such baseless stories, the need to put the truth out to concerned imo citizens has necessitated this rebuttal.

“This story has no iota of truth in it but is a mere figment of the imaginations of those working against the Government and people of Imo state

“The Imo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Prof. Placid Njoku enjoys a robust working relationship with his boss, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, Executive Governor of Imo State and indeed with every member of the state executive Council, including members of the state legislature.”

He enjoined Imo people to disregard such unfounded rumours and continue supporting the peace and development of the State.

FOUR STATES TO UNDERSTUDY OPERATIONS OF LAGOS JUSTICE MINISTRY

The Lagos State Attorney General & Commissioner for J ustice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN today received in his office at Ikeja, Directors of Public Prosecutions from Kano, Edo, Anambra and the Federal Capital City, Abuja who are on a 5-day working visit to Lagos State Ministry of Justice to understudy the Structure and operations of administration of Justice in the State.

#LASG
#ForAGreaterLagos

June 8, 2021

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Federal Ministry of Finance last week sent a 30-man team to Lagos State to study its Internally Generated Revenue template and exchange ideas on how to ameliorate the economic meltdown in the country.

Federal, state and local governments continue to experience tougher financial meltdown following the drop in distributable revenue from the Federation Account.

Representatives of governors of the six geo-political zones, comprising Gombe, Nasarawa, Delta, Ebonyi, Sokoto and Ekiti states, were present at the meeting.

Leader of the 30-man NGF delegation Mr. Olanrewaju Ajogbasile noted that the visit, which was funded by the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Finance, is aimed at exchanging ideas and learn how the Lagos State Government drive its economy and the strategies it uses to grow its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) despite the Global Economic Meltdown occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the destructive ENDSARS protest.

“We are here in Lagos to learn from the innovative strategies of the Lagos State Government, we have come to learn, adopt and follow Lagos State template in revenue generation – the template which is the best in the country today,” he stated.

Commending the state government for adopting technology in its revenue drive, Ajogbasile noted that Lagos IGR technique should be a standard template for achieving sustainable economic growth for the country.

“The decision to visit Lagos was informed by the giant strides Lagos State is making in growing its Internally Generated Revenue despite the corrosive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy.”

He said it was highly inspiring to note that Lagos still grossed a total of N418.99 billion, which accounted for 32.1 per cent of the total N1.33 trillion IGR recoded by the 36 states in Y2020 in spite of various challenges faced by the state last year.

Commissioner for Finance Dr. Rabiu Olowo stated that the state government had introduced a lot of innovations to drive its cashless revenue collection policy drive, stressing that the state financial system has been fully automated, giving no room to cash transactions in any government financial deal.

Office of the state Vigilante Service (AVGS) aka “Bakassi Boys” was on Monday June 7, set ablaze by angry traders.

The office which is situated within the popular Umuahia Timber Market, was burnt down after the Bakassi boys were accused of killing a trader during a squabble with the state Board of Internal Revenue Service (ABIRS) which sealed shops over nonpayment of N18,000 fee on same day.

Commandant of the AVGS, Mr. Idika who bemoaned the burning of their office and an operational van of the security outfit, denied that a trader was killed by his men. Idika said;

“We have gone round the entire hospitals in Umuahia including Federal Medical Center (FMC), but there was no case of gunshot injury patient or or body from Timber Shed in the facilities that we visited."

Police spokesman, Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed that some traders were injured, but said there was no death.

Igbo youth not begging Ohanaeze for support – IPOB

How Southeast can overcome insecurity, by RMFAC chair

From the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo came, on Friday, a charge to Southeast youths: stop the violence.

The group said there is nothing to celebrate in violence.

It was reacting to the spate of violence in the zone which has seen gunmen kill, maim and burn government facilities.

But Ohanaeze asked the Federal Government to conduct urgent in-depth investigation into the destruction of lives and property in the region by security agents.

It said the clampdown was unacceptable and warned of the consequences of human rights violations for the country.

However, some Igbo youths said the geo-political zone would not bow to any act of intimidation.

President-General of Ohanaeze, Dr. George Obiozor, told journalists in Enugu that Ndigbo would neither support the break-up of Nigeria nor become victims of Nigeria’s unity.

Obiozor, a former Ambassador to the United States of America, described as unfortunate the implications of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent statement on the civil war.

He said: “The last time I checked or heard a President speak of shock and awe, it was reserved for the enemy, not the citizens.”

Buhari had said earlier in the week that “many of those misbehaving today are too young to be aware of the destruction and loss of lives that occurred during the Biafra war. Those of us in the fields for 30 months, who went through the war, will treat them in the language they understand.”

Obiozor appealed to Igbo youths involved in violence to have a rethink.

He said: “I strongly advise them that there is nothing to celebrate in violence. We cannot change our lots and situations by steering and provoking hatred amongst ourselves, raining insults and abuses on ourselves and declaring war against those who disagree with your own ideas and approach to resolving our common problems.

“What good does it do to us in the destruction of government institutions and facilities, most of which were built by our own people and donated to the government for our own benefit and the general good of the society?

“I appeal to Igbo youths to kindly avoid violence in spite of all provocations. We know how aggrieved we all are, but peace options are the best.

“Ohanaeze once more urges the Federal Government to reconsider the use of force in resolving the present national crises.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide considers it imperative on the part of the Federal Government to conduct urgent in depth investigations on the destruction of lives and property in the Southeast.”

Obiozor, who condemned the level of extra-judicial killing of innocent Igbo youths by security agents in the Southeast, reiterated that history shows that military and violent means to solve the national problem often lead to national fractionalization, anarchy- and eventual or inevitable disintegration.

He regretted that Nigeria has “a history of crises and continuity as well as creative use of crises as means of solving our national political problems whenever we are near the brinks of catastrophy. In the recent past, we have had NADECO, Niger Delta militants and Boko Haram insurgency.”

Ohanaeze told the federal government to realise and be confident enough that no secessionist forces can defeat Nigeria, adding “the present situation in the country will soon be history. This too shall pass.”

He added: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide calls for a dialogue to resolve the present national crises. The Federal Government should acknowledge that because of the reality of Nigerian irresistible pluralism, it is always preferable to go for dialogue instead of force.

“Majority of Nigerians prefer unity to secession or separatism. They want justice, pace, equity and fairness. The golden rule of do unto others what you would like done unto you, that is complementarity and inclusive governance.

“In fact, a brief glance at Nigerian society, there is no shortage of villains among our political elites. But like many societies a deeper look into Nigeria, you will see that the country’s political heroes still exist, though the villains may noisily dominate the political space.

“Consequently, to secure Nigeria, to develop Nigeria and to have peace, the Federal Government should immediately engage all Nigerian groups through their various leaders in an urgent dialogue.

“Dialogue is what patriotic Nigerians, Nigerian well wishers/ admirers and the international community is now expecting of Nigerian leadership to resolve the present national crises, and not military action. It is time for peaceful action and dialogue; not war and destruction.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo calls on the Federal Government to take note of the ongoing human rights violations in the South East zone.

“We must beware of its international consequences and domestic implications in our ability to heal the Nigerian nation. Nigeria is at a crossroads of its history and destiny. Let wisdom prevail.”

Speaking on the May 30 sit-at-home recently observed in the South East, Obiozor said Ohanaeze Ndigbo was in support of the South East governors’ declaration of public holiday on May 30 as Biafra day.”

He maintained that for Ndigbo and most Africans, a time to mourn or remember the dead is traditionally a solemn occasion.

“It is imperative and proper for Ndigbo to remember Ndigbo and others who died across the country, either in the genocide or civil war in Nigeria from 1967 to 1970.

Igbo youths not begging Ohanaeze for support – IPOB

However, spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Emma Powerful, dismissed Obiozor’s remark, insisting that nothing can stop the actualisation of Biafra.

He said: “They can say whatever they like. The general public has taken Biafra freedom. The youths are not begging them to support us because their hallucinations cannot stop us. We are going home and they will follow us soon.

“They can’t talk because they are afraid of their masters in the North and Aso Rock.”

How Southeast leaders can tackle insecurity – RMAFC Boss

Speaking on the insecurity in the Southeast, the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Elias Mbam, asked Southeast leaders to close ranks and find a solution to the rising insecurity in the region.

Mbam, who spoke in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, also condemned the attack on some Ebonyi indigenous communities in Benue State by herdsmen during which over 50 persons were killed.

He urged security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of criminal elements in the region.

He said: “It is painful and saddening that this type of thing is happening in the 21st Century and in the Southeast in particular.

“I am worried and I believe that we should not allow this to continue. The leaders should come together and find solution to it.

“Government is doing its best but government should ensure that the perpetrators of these acts are not left to go free.

“The security agencies should go all out to arrest and punish in line with the law, all those that have been found to be part of this dastardly acts.

“It is very inhuman and we don’t expect it that Southeast of all places should be involved in this. So, I call on everybody to be part of the security of this Southeast”.

“We need to inform the security men of those around us that are not part of the peace we are preaching so that they can be nipped in the bud.

“Then the security men should be up in doing their work so that any information they get, they should immediately get into action.”

On the herdsmen attack which occurred at the weekend, Mbam said Nigerians should learn to leave in peace with one another.

“I happen to be one of those that went to the hospitals to see the victims. It is very sad that human beings can be so criminal that they take knives and cut a one year old child. It is unheard of and I strongly condemn it.

“I strongly call on security agencies to go all out and arrest all involved in this criminal act. It is very bad. We should learn to live like brothers and sisters.

“We need peace, and it is when there is peace that we can make progress.”

Mr Mbam also called on the people of Ikwo and Izzie clan to resolve their disagreement peacefully without resorting to violence.

HURIWA knocks Senator Bulkachuwa over comments on Southeast youths

Human Rights Writers Association of Nigerian (HURIWA) on Fridayberated the Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Alhaji Adamu Bulkachuwa, for his threat that the Buhari administration will give the Southeast what it “wants’ if its youths do not stop disturbing the peace.

The group accused him of making hate speeches.

National Coordinator of HURIWA, Comrade Emmnauel Onwubiko, said Bulkachuwa “did not speak like a distinguished parliamentarian but like a war monger and just like a little child.”

Onwubiko said: “At his age, can he still carry an AK-47? Why are the old people who are privileged to have benefitted from Nigeria the persons at the forefront of seeking to destroy Nigeria? What is his gain if war breaks out and his children will have to get involved in the war?”

HURIWA also criticized Sheikh Ahmed Gumi for advocating that the government should make use of some terrorists to handle their likes troubling the country.

HURIWA stated: “Can we tell Sheikh Gumi that there is no good terrorist or kidnappers, and so for him to canvass the recruitment of terrorists to fight other terrorists is a direct support for terrorism which merits immediate arrest and prosecution under the anti- terrorism Act, which is a law in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate that we have a federal government that sees nothing wrong with someone holding meetings with and speaking for terrorists as if he is above the law."

Chairman of Council of Amotekun Commanders in the Southwest region, Chief Adetunji Adeyeye, has said operatives of the Amotekun corps would engage in inter-state border patrol in the Southwest to ensure synergy in crime fighting.

The Corps Commander of Ondo Amotekun said the synergy expected among the Southwest states would be enhanced so that a criminal that escaped from Ondo to Ekiti could be easily apprehended

Adeyeye, who spoke in Akure, said the destruction of farmlands by herders in Ondo State has greatly reduced owing to enforcement of the ban on open grazing.

He said herders now offer money to farmers whose crops were destroyed unlike previously when they would walk away.

His words: “Being Chairman of the Council of Amotekun Commanders is a greater call to service. The Commanders of the various states in the Southwest region met to deliberate on the way forward and they picked me as the Chairman.

“A fallout of the meeting is that we agreed on inter border patrol of major highway and all the routes in our various states. We intend to reduce armed robbery and kidnappings on highway.

“We noticed kidnappings take place on bad spots on the road where motorists are expected to slow down.

“We are to enforce the ban on open grazing. We apprehend herders on a daily basis. There is reduction in the destruction of farmlands by herders in Ondo State.

“The awareness is open now that no herder can destroy people’s farm and go scot free. As a Nigeria you can do your business but do not destroy the other person’s business. Once an herder destroys a farmland he is treated as a criminal.

“There has been no glaring case of herders destroying farmlands in Ondo. The last one we heard, before we got there the herder has pleaded and paid the farmer. It was the farmer that told us he has already be paid.”

Adeyeye further called for capital punishment without option of fine to be meted out to kidnappers.