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.
The man, identified as Enyinnaya Mark Ogbonna, is said to have returned to Nigeria to invest and was building a gas station (read here).
He hired a member of the Abia State vigilante group, Okorie Chukwuma, as a security guard.
However, Chukwuma is said to have shot Enyinnaya dead, buried him in a shallow grave, and absconded with his Toyota Venza.
He was caught in Port Harcourt, while allegedly trying to sell the car, and was paraded by the Rivers State Police Command.
Photos of the US-based man killed by Abia vigilante he hired to secure him and his project
Friends have gone online to mourn Mark Ogbonna.
This greedy idiot with police placard was hired as a Bakassi security guard to this young man on white. He (deceased) move with him almost everywhere he go, he eat what he likes, drink any type drink on the deceased account. He never treated him like a security guard.
Out of his greed and get-rich-quick syndrome, shot and killed his boss and buried him in a shallow grave behind his gas plant. Took his Venza (pix behind the idiot) to Port Harcourt with his gang to dispose but the buyer was wise enough to notice and called in the Police who wasted no time in arresting him (the Idiot). Please let's becareful, this world is turning into something else.
REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER ENYINNAYA MARK OGBONNA YOUR KILLER WILL KNOW NO PEACE.
The Lagos State government has elevated a total of 289 vice-principals and 340 classroom teachers to principals and vice-principals respectively in its various junior and senior secondary schools across the six education districts of the state.
They were promoted within the last two years to replace those who retired from active service having reached the statutory age of retirement.
The chairman of Lagos Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs Elizabeth Olabisi Ariyo, made this disclosure at the two-day induction programme organised for the 100 principals and 96 vice-principals promoted this year from the figure.
She said both batches sat for promotional exams including written and oral interviews alongside their colleagues before they were found worthy for their new positions as school administrators.
She said the capacity building workshop was to introduce them to the scheme of activities demanded of their new assignments and sharpen their knowledge and skills to be able to do well in those roles and contribute meaningfully to the education development of the state.
She asked them to see their elevation as a call for more and better service and therefore should not rest on their oars.
While noting that the state government would continue to fill vacant positions created due to retirement or deaths of teachers and school administrators with new capable hands periodically, the TESCOM boss said the government would also give priority to their training and retraining on the job.
In her own address, the permanent secretary of the commission, Mrs Toyin Machado-Onanuga said the importance of the induction programme was to integrate and equip them with requisite leadership skills that would take them through the new career path and also turn them into more resourceful individuals.
Speaking on the theme of the event, ”Re-imaging leadership in the management of post-primary school education in Lagos State,” Mrs Machado-Onanuga, said the training was designed to help them better understand their roles and responsibilities in the day to day running of the school system.
She said the state government is expected much from them.
In his own remarks, the chairman of Baysil Consults Limited, a consultancy firm that handled the training, Mr Ademola Badru, said the participants would be taken through many aspects of their new roles including in the face of a post-COVID-19 work environment.
He told participants that the training would help them to develop the right leadership skills and also improve their ability to influence positive change and inspire confidence in their respective assignment.
He said notwithstanding the various challenges that may face at work, in the families and also in the society at large, they should strive to overcome them to achieve set goals.
Some of the participants told Nigerian Tribune about some of the challenges confronting public schools in the state.
They listed overcrowded classrooms, inadequate teachers, students’ truancy and poor infrastructures as the major ones.
They promised to put in their best towards moving the teaching profession and education sector in general to greater heights in the state.
Former aviation minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has found love again. This time, the lawyer and politician is head over heels is in love with a beauty queen, Miss Ezenwa Chika Nerita who was crowned as Queen of Aso International 2019/2020.
This comes a few months after he parted ways with the mother of his four sons, Precious Chikwendu.
His new boo, Nerita was present two days ago at the birthday celebration of his triplets in Abuja and was seen visibly coordinating and entertaining guests.
AKURE—THE Arogbo Ijaw Patriots, yesterday, faulted the imposition of the Oodua anthem on the Ijaw minority in Ondo State by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, saying it is a flagrant violation of the rights of the Ijaw people in the state.
“In a statement by its Coordinator and Secretary, Messrs Fidelis Soriwei and Bibisa Kekemeke, respectively, the Ijaw group said that “it was absurd and rather disturbing that the governor would make it compulsory for Oodua or Ondo anthem (in Yoruba) to be sung in all secondary schools in Ondo State, where there are indigenous Ijaws.”
The group stated that the Ijaws of Ondo State “speak their own language, in consonance with their distinct ethnicity as an Ijaw minority and would like to keep that identity.”
It called on well meaning Nigerians to prevail on Akeredolu to respect the rights of the marginalized Arogbo Ijaws to “a respectful and dignified existence in Ondo State as provided for by the constitution.”
They lamented that the leadership of the Ondo State Civil Service took further steps in the abuse of the law to ask people including Arogbo Ijaws to sing the anthem in a promotion interview at the Governor’s Office Civil Service Matters.
They noted that Akeredolu, a senior lawyer of the ranking of SAN should “display the expected consciousness on the need for fairness to note the fact that Ondo State is not like the homogenous South West State where every citizen is Yoruba.
They called on the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress to intervene through its organs in the South West to avert further humiliation and oppression of the Arogbo Ijaws.
The CBN governor asks bandits to embrace Anchors Borrowers Programme.
By Oladeinde Olawoyin May 26, 2021
Nigeria will soon create its digital currency, the Central Bank of Nigeria said Tuesday as the bank continues to face questions over its ban on cryptocurrency transactions in the country.
The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, said this while addressing journalists after a two-day meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee in Abuja.
He said the idea of a digital currency would soon become a reality in the country, and that the central bank has already set up its committee, which is working on the concept.
PREMIUM TIMES reported how the MPC on Tuesday retained the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 11.5 per cent, voted to maintain the asymmetric corridor of +100/-700 basis points around the MPR, retained the Cash Reserve Ratio at 27.5 per cent, and left the Liquidity Ratio at 30 per cent.
Mr Emefiele appealed to bandits and others involved in criminal activities across Nigeria to drop their arms and embrace the apex bank’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP). He said those involved in criminality can be more productive by embracing the apex bank’s scheme.
“If you want an economy to grow, the level of insecurity must be low because if there is a high level of insecurity like what we see today, the economy will suffer,” Mr Emefiele said, adding that there is a connection between security and economic growth.
“I, therefore, would like to appeal to our brothers, who decide that they want to live in bushes and forests, that they should please, begin to retreat, drop their arms and come and embrace the anchor borrowers’ programme,” he said.
“If they do so, it will help them; if they choose not to do so, they will be confronted by the security as this battle continues.
“I am optimistic before the end of the year that the security challenges confronting the country will substantially abate.”
Mr Emefiele said that “almost the whole of N300 billion has now been disbursed” from the bank’s facility designed to provide succor to households and SMEs affected by the harsh impact of the pandemic.
Nigeria exited recession in the last quarter of 2020, amid the disruption brought on the global economy by the coronavirus pandemic.
On Tuesday, Mr Emefiele said that even though the economy had exited recession, economic recovery was still fragile. He explained that there was a need for monetary authorities to consolidate on all measures taken to tackle inflation and grow output.
Commenting on the Creative Industry Financing Initiative, the CBN boss said the apex bank has disbursed N3.19 billion to 341 beneficiaries across movie production, movie distribution, music and software development.
The CBN governor also explained the need for collaboration with Nigerians abroad, through the issuance of diaspora bonds targeted at sundry infrastructure projects.
Even though Nigeria’s public debt stock was currently high, he said the MPC opined that project-specific diaspora bond issues could conveniently pay itself back without imposing a burden on government fiscal position.
This, he said, will boost foreign exchange supply and ease exchange rate pressure.
Responding to questions about cryptocurrency, the CBN governor reiterated that it has no place in the Nigerian financial system.
When asked whether the CBN had been vindicated following the crash of cryptocurrency in recent weeks, Mr Emefiele said the CBN investigated and found out that a substantial percentage of Nigerians are involved in cryptocurrency.
“Don’t get me wrong, some may be legitimate but I dare say most are illegitimate and I will corroborate that,” he said.
“Under cryptocurrency and bitcoin, Nigeria comes second right? But in the global size of the economy, Nigeria comes 27th.
“So do you think that there is some correlation? You think those countries whose economies are second and 26th will allow you to grow your cryptocurrency business to second position, if what is inside is a big deal that is going to profit everybody?” he asked.
Mr Emefiele spoke about the volatility of the cryptocurrency market, citing how Tesla boss, Elon Musk, tweeted that he was going to invest about $1.5 billion in crypto and the rates went to the highest roof.
“And he then tweeted again and raised a fee concerns and the thing plunged,” the CBN governor said.
“Elon Musk had himself decided that he will no longer deal in cryptos. And so if a man who felt it was good suddenly decides to say it’s no longer good and then you…don’t forget, those who invented crypto said it is encrypted.
“When they say it’s encrypted, it means that whatever is happening between me and you is only know to the two of us. And you know what? In case I defraud you because it is encrypted, you can’t even disclose my name and you can’t even get your money back.”
South East Governors have pledged their commitment to an indivisible and united Nigeria.
The Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi, David Umahi, gave the assurance in Abuja on at a media event organised by the Presidential Media Team.
He said: “We do not want to secede from Nigeria but we want a Nigeria where justice and equity prevails. We want peace.”
Umahi, who lamented the increasing insecurity in the South East, noted that the peaceful agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and other groups in the South-East have been hijacked by bandits.
“The situation in the South East right now is a situation in which non-violent approach of IPOB at the beginning has been hijacked by bandits, by cultists, by criminals,’’ he said.
He, however, described the insinuation in some quarters that ”foreign machineries” were the ones causing mayhem in the South East as mere war propaganda.
According to him, some citizens from the South East are responsible for the killings, the burning down of police stations and destruction of property in the region.
The governor said the agitation for a better region by Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASOB,) Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB,) and the Eastern Security Network (ESN) were offshoots of years of neglect by previous governments.
He condemned the mayhem in the region and urged security operatives in the region to intensify efforts in checking the situation.
The governor also called on youths across the South East to aggregate their demands and present to the Governors, for onward transmission to the federal government.
On recently inaugurated security outfit in the South East, code named Ebube Agu, Umahi said the outfit was legitimate, adding that peace loving citizens of the states in the region have nothing to fear.
The governor condemned the recent burning of some offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the South-East, blaming such dastardly acts on criminals, who were wrongly brainwashed into believing that the 2023 general elections would not hold.
He said: “Some of them have been indoctrinated to believe that there will be no election in 2023 and that is very dangerous because if you say that there will be no election in your region, then the National Assembly could make an emergency law to say there will be emergency rule there and there is nothing you can do about it.
“So it is a very terrible mindset for anybody to be doing this because INEC offices have not been burnt in South-West or other parts of the country so we don’t know who is doing this but I know that they are criminals,” he said.
A Peoples Democratic Party group, Alliance for PDP South-West, has come up with a list of 11 party chieftains from the South-West for the national chairmanship position of the party.
On the list are a former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former PDP Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George; and former Ekiti State governors, Ayo Fayose, and Segun Oni.
Others are a former Lagos State PDP governorship candidate, Mr Jimi Agbaje; former PDP National Secretary, Prof Wale Oladipo; former Ondo State PDP governorship candidate, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN); Dr Charles Akitoye; Mr Jide Adeniji; Mr Olusola Ebiseni; and Senator Bode Olajumoke.
There have been media reports that some members of the PDP in the South-West are plotting to provide the successor for the National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, whose first tenure ends in December 2021.
There are unconfirmed reports that Secondus may also go for another term.
But among those listed by the group, only Oyinlola had openly declared his intention to run for the office of the national chairman of the former ruling party. Oyinlola, a former governor of Osun State, was also a former national secretary of the party.
Meanwhile, ex-Ekiti State governor, Oni, on Saturday, said the region was rooting for Oyinlola for the national chairmanship position.
“The person that all of us are setting our eyes on is Prince Oyinlola, and he has not yet told us that he’s not going to do it. That’s the man we all want to support for the position of national chairman,” Oni told Sunday PUNCH.
Asked if the PDP was bringing anything new to the polity ahead of the 2023 elections, Oni described the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd), as the “worst performing government in the history of Nigeria.”
He said, “Without mincing words, no government – civilian or military – had ever performed this woefully. And this is why a lot of people are frustrated and raising movements against the continuity of Nigeria as one nation. It’s all about bad governance. This is the most incompetent government ever, and so our people are disillusioned.
“A government is more than a manifesto. Things have shown us this. Look at the government we have now. A good manifesto doesn’t necessarily translate into good governance. So we need someone with good management skills at the helm of affairs. We don’t need a lazy person who will get there and be an absentee landlord. He must have a vision to drive his team and the country to the Promised Land.
“Nigerians should stop asking politicians what they want to do. They should look for what stuff the person is made of to know if the person will deliver. We should look beyond manifestos. People can hire consultants to write great manifestos for them.”
Oni said many politicians, including him, had been sad about the developments in Nigeria, especially as they played a role in the emergence of the Buhari regime.
He said, “I was part of the making of this government in a way and I have seen that manifestos are useless. The APC had a good manifesto then, but nobody ever imagined things would be this bad. Then, a part of Nigeria had failed, which was the North-East, and we were all up in arms on why the government of then-President Goodluck Jonathan would allow a part of Nigeria to fail.
“So we thought having a man whose background was in the military would correct the situation. We thought he (Buhari) would know what to do. Now, virtually all the parts of Nigeria have failed under his watch. It is very sad. Some of us are very unhappy about what is going on.”
Community stakeholders of the Umuneke-Nta in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo state, yesterday berated the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, for alleging that the late Ikonso’s second in command of the IPOB/Eastern Security Network, ESN, Anwurum Eze, popularly known as Maputo, had an issue with their monarch before Maputo was arrested in Aba, Abia state.
Vanguard in Owerri gathered from Umuneke -Nta, that concerned stakeholders were seen angrily discussing the matter in their area.
As part of their measure to put the record straight, they have started to mobilize their people within and outside to vehemently dissociate the community, monarch from any attempt to criminalize them in any form before any authority by IPOB.
It should be recalled that trouble started when the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, said while reacting to the arrest of Maputo, saying: “Our background check revealed that the said man had issues with his traditional ruler who gave his contact to the security agents alleging that he belongs to ESN. He is not our own.
But this statement did not go down well with stakeholders of the community over IPOB’s statement which has continued to anger members of the community who felt that IPOB, had a hidden agenda for linking their monarch to Maputo’s issues with the security operatives.
One of them who spoke to Vanguard pleaded not to mention his name for security reasons said: “We will soon come out with a position where our brothers and sister not just in the community will sign. We are gathering everybody. Nobody will succeed in criminalising us. Our traditional ruler has no issue with the said IPOB commander.
“We are angry with this kind of statement from IPOB, an organization that supposed to do their groundwork well before issuing any statement. We have seen everything if anybody or IPOB is against our monarch let them let us know and we will not allow them to succeed.
“Our community is peaceful and calm everybody doing their business. But with this kind of statement from IPOB, just cause disaffection and fears. But with unity will defeat those behind this and will continue to prevail,” he said.
Residents of 10 communities in Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State have lamented the criminal activities of suspected Fulani herdsmen operating in their forests and farmlands.
They alleged that a number of their people have been kidnapped for ransom, some killed, even as others who managed to escape from their grip sustained varying degrees of gunshot injuries.
One of the victims, Jideofor, who hails from Amanuke community, alleged that he was shot by the suspected Fulani herdsmen, while on his way to their neighbouring Achalla community.
The victim, who was filmed while receiving treatment in a hospital, had bandage and plaster on parts of his body. The video has since gone viral on social media.
He said: “Fulani herdsmen shot me on my way to Achalla around the hill towards Achalla. They were about three in number.”
Another victim, a native of Isuaniocha, who appeared in the video said that he was also attacked on the same Urum – Achalla Road while he rode with a certain woman from Mgbakwu community whom he addressed as Ikefuna’s wife.
“I was with the woman that was killed in the same vehicle that day. You see my right hand (showing it in the video), it’s paralysed.
“They shot at us, but it didn’t penetrate. The woman was beaten to death. They dragged me into the bush. I was released when my wife paid N1 million ransom. These were Fulani people. I was with them in the bush for three days. My hand was tied for three days and as a result, paralysis set in.
“They killed a man from Achalla at the same axis about two weeks ago. His people raided the bush to avenge his death, but the Fulani people ran away. An Awka man was shot in that axis too.”
Daily Sun had reported about the terrorisation of other parts of the council area, especially Ugbene, Ugbenu, Awba-Ofemmili, and Ebenebe communities, where rice fields and other farmlands were destroyed by the herdsmen and a woman from Ebonyi State raped to comma in Ebenebe.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP Ikenga Tochukwu, said that the police were yet to get an official report from any of the victims or their relatives concerning the alleged incidents.
As aspirants in this year’s Anambra State’s Governorship Election perfect their strategies to win their parties’ tickets, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that Christian denomination has become a major factor to determine acceptability, hence aspirants’ ploys to be seen as lovers of all denominations
IF you are a governorship aspirant for this year’s elections in Anambra State and a week passes without your name or your picture being associated with at least one religious activity or with a well-known priest, analysts would likely conclude that you are not a serious aspirant ready to win the forthcoming elections.
This is because it is widely believed today that the influence of Christianity or more specifically, the role of Christian denominations in the outcome of Anambra 2021 governorship elections would be much more than it has ever been in the political history of the Southeast state.
Accusing the Catholic faith of dominating the politics of the state, Anglicans and members of the Pentecostal denominations have demanded to be allowed to produce the next governor of the state.
Bishop Emma C Obiorah of the Life of Faith Gospel Assembly, Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State is one of the earliest priests this year to confirm that the age-long battle between the Catholics and the Anglicans with the Pentecostals would be re-enacted in this year’s election. He gave the confirmation when he openly condemned the dominance of the Catholic Church in the provision of the governors of Anambra State, calling on the other denominations to unite and effect change.
Obiora made the call during the Christo Feast anniversary celebration of his Church earlier this year, an event that attracted many politicians.
He said: “Everybody keeps complaining that President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC government are not doing well, what have you done in your own area like this state?
“I’m calling on Anglicans, Pentecostals and other Charismatic groups to come together to support who will take us to the Promised Land.
“There are people today who believe the wealth of Anambra State is their own. Anambra is not a private enterprise; any government that is not of God will collapse.”
“One group cannot continue to rule our state. A particular denomination feels they own the state and that is not of God.”
“We want to unite to fight that, it is injustice and unholy in the state. I train politicians. We should embrace the word of God,” he said.
Explaining why the different Christian denominations seem to disagree over the political leadership of the state, Mr. Kingsley Udochuku, a Public Affairs commentator in Awka, told The Nation that “the Catholics, who are obviously in the majority have not been fair to the rest of Anambra indigenes. Yes, they are in the majority, but is it not shameful that a state like Anambra, which is almost 100 percent Christian, will still segregate on religious ground? My take is that if we see ourselves as brothers and sisters; if we fail to vote on the basis of Catholicism, Anglicanism or Pentecostalism, there is nowhere we will consistently produce only governors that are members of the Catholic faith. The polity will not also be so hot.”
Over the years, Anambra State has been described as “the hotbed of denominational politics in the southeast.” Although Chinwoke Mbadinuju, a Pentecostal, was elected the governor of the state in 1999, most of his successors, Chris Ngige, Peter Obi and Willy Obiano, are Catholics. Senator Andy Uba and Virgi Etiaba, whose tenures turned out to be very brief, were however Anglicans.
But some analysts actually blamed Mbadinuju’s failure to be re-elected in 2003 on the denominational politics in the state. They said he was not re-elected mainly because he was a Pentecostal.
Even the former governor himself suggested this much in an interview he granted a national newspaper on July 11, 2011, when he said “Yes, there are plenty of religious sentiments in Anambra politics… In the whole of Nigeria, it is ethnic sentiments and religious too, but in Anambra State, it is between Roman Catholics, Anglicans and Pentecostals. It was much of that reason I was not allowed to contest second term. The Catholics believed it was their time and Peter Obi was chosen,” Mbadinuju was quoted as saying then.
Also, in a recent article, entitled, “Healing the religious divide in Anambra …,” Barrister Cosmas Anyabolu said: “The age-long dichotomies and mistrust between Catholics, on one hand, and the Anglicans and Protestants on the other, were made worse by the disposition, actions, and leadership style of the incumbent governor, Willie Obiano. He is a Catholic, and his administration engaged in several feuds with the Anglicans. Many of these were unnecessary, avoidable, and unfortunate and could easily be interpreted, given the power construct, as repression and marginalisation.
“During Willie Obiano’s tenure, the cries emanating from the Anglican divide became alarming. When one takes a closer look at the diversity of his appointees, his cabinet’s composition, social interactions, and body language, one cannot blame the Anglicans for feeling the way they do. It is essential to mention that Obiano’s immediate predecessors, Chris Ngige and Peter Obi, were both Catholics and that their administrations did not experience this level of division between Catholics and Anglicans.
“These previous governors were more sensitive to the diversity and default sentiments of Ndi Anambra. By his actions and inactions, Chief Obiano has made the denominational divide a principal talking point in this political season.
The Catholic-Anglican-Pentecostal divide runs deep, and while the contention for Agu Awka is on, the talk about the denominational divide will be gaining momentum. The denominations are not showing signs of coming to the roundtable and deciding for a rotational candidacy like the politicians have done with senatorial zone rotation. As the politics of 2021 heats up, politicians will seek to divide, using different bases to do so, as long as they perceive that the divisions favour them. Unfortunately, church denomination is one of such artificial divisions weak politicians will try to capitalize on to gain traction,” he said.
As the aspirants prepare for this year’s elections, we observed that they are doing their best to be constantly associated with all the big denominations.
Already, the Anglican Church has not hid its desire to produce the next governor of the state. The Nation however learnt that the call within the leadership of the Communion dates back to 2019 when the Church Strategic Committee for the Election of Indigenous Bishop of Nnewi Diocese formally lamented that none of the church members had become the governor of the state, saying that for equity, justice and fairness, an Anglican governor should be produced in the forthcoming 2021 governorship election.
But as Udochuku further explained, “it is not only the Anglicans that are anxious to produce Governor Obiano’s successor; the Pentecostals are today seen as an important bloc in-between the Anglicans and the Catholics. If they align with any of the big two, the table may tilt. This is why we see the aspirants today attending all Church public activities and seeking to be in the good books of popular priests.”
Observers are keen to see how far religion or this game of ‘denominationism’ will go in determining who will succeed Governor Willie Obiano in Anambra State.
FatherOfJesus: sorry sir, I got it from the Enugu centenary official website. Maybe it looks like something you know in Arepo
Whoever put it on that Enugu centenary website is misleading people like you. Google CitiView Estate, Arepo, Ogun state. The picture was lifted online to misrepresent Enugu.
jimi4us: Mods should take this news with a pinch of salt. Facebook links are usually 98% fabricated stories
Are you sure you are ok? Where did you see 'Facebook link' in the news report? Besides, you sound like you wished the news were false or something. Oga, what's your stress with the news?
NO fewer than nine fleeing inmates from Nigeria Correctional Centre have been re-arrested in Ghana, myjoynews has reported.
The inmates were arrested by the Ada District Police Command in the Greater Accra Region and were suspected to be part of over 1,800 inmates that escaped from the Imo State Correctional earlier this month.
According to the Police, the fleeing inmates were monitored following credible intelligence that they were about to cross the Volta River into Ada Foh on Sunday, April 18. They were eventually tracked to an area known as Clinic Junction Lorry Station from where they were arrested in Sprinter bus with registration number, ER 1657-14.
They are Freedom Yusuf, 25; Emmanuel Obinnah Chiedozie, 27; Steve Eyenuku, 33; Enebeli Lucky, 29; Yommi Usmah, 29; Kelli Ekureni, 33; Obi Onuora, 38; Patrick Chanar, 47, and Bless Eyenuku, 25.
They have been handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service in Tema to assist with investigations.
The ICIR had reported how some gunmen earlier this month razed Imo State Police Command headquarters.
Some vehicles parked at the command headquarters were also burnt down. It was gathered that the hoodlums further freed suspects in almost all the cells at the State Criminal Investigation Department of the command.
They also attacked Owerri Correctional Prison in Imo State capital and freed more than 1,800 inmates.
Authorities of the NCoS announced on Wednesday that it had recaptured 48 of the fleeing inmates.
Similarly, Akwa Ibom Police Command announced the arrest one of the fleeing inmates from the Owerri centre in a statement on Friday.
On Friday, the NCoS published the names and photographs of some of the fleeing inmates from Owerri centre.
Last week, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) announced that it was enlisting the services of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) to arrest more than 3,400 inmates still at large nationwide.
Two suspected drug traffickers arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Lagos State have excreted a total of 191 pellets of heroin and cocaine while under observation.
Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi, made this known in a statement on Sunday.
Babafemi said the suspects, Chukwudi Destiny and Ezekiel Chibuzo, were arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos.
Four clearing agents were also arrested in connection with 11.550kg of heroin found at the SAHCO import shed by NDLEA operatives.
The drugs were cleverly packed and concealed in corn flakes cartons, the statement indicated.
According to the statement, a sting operation was executed on the address provided by one the suspects and in the process, a Congolese, Kayembe Kamba Mazepy, was arrested.
It reads: “On 10th April 2021, during the outward screening of passengers on Ethiopian airline to Italy, NDLEA operatives at MMIA intercepted and referred one Chukwudi Destiny for scanning and the scan result proved positive to drug ingestion. Consequently, he was placed under excretion observation and in the process, he excreted 92 pellets of Heroin with a total weight of 1.300Kg.
“Also on 12th April 2021, during the inbound examination of consignments on Ethiopian airline cargo flight from South Africa, operatives at SAHCO import shed made a seizure of 11.550kg of Heroin cleverly packed and concealed in corn flakes cartons. Four clearing agents are in custody in connection to the seizure
“According to the Commander, MMIA Command of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Garba, a sting operation was executed on the address provided by one the suspects. In the process, a Congolese, Kayembe Kamba Mazepy was arrested. After his arrest, he mentioned another person who is to receive the parcel from him.
“On the strength of the information, another sting operation was conducted in the early hours of Saturday 17th April, 2021 where the person that came to take delivery was arrested.
“In the same vein, on Friday 16th of April, 2021, another trafficker, Ezekiel Chibuzo who arrived Lagos from Brazil on board Qatar airline was also arrested for drug ingestion. He has so far excreted 99 wraps of Cocaine. This is just as officers at export shed of the airport have seized 822.950kg of khat leaves heading to UK and US.”
A smuggler helping illegal immigrants cross into the United States from Mexico was seen dropping a two-year-old Ghanaian child from atop an 18ft wall into the arms of the father who was waiting.
The video footage, taken by the US Border Patrol, shows a group of people climbing over the wall along the boundary near Imperial Beach, California, just outside of San Diego, after midnight on Sunday, April 11.
Surveillance footage shows several individuals scaling the wall. At one point, a two-year-old child was dangled from the top of the wall before he was dropped into the arms of the father below.
There were no injuries.
Migrant smuggler drops a Ghanaian child, 2, from top of 18-foot-high US-Mexico border wall into the arms of his father waiting on the other side of the wall (video)
A short time later, Border Patrol agents arrested the group. The agency did not specify how many people were involved.
Unknown gunmen on Thursday, April 15, reportedly stormed Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State and destroyed vehicles after hoisting a Biafran flag.
According to the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) the gunmen went straight to First Bank Plc where they shot sporadically into the air, dispersing bank customers and passersby.
According to the report, the gunmen, numbering about ten, who drove in black Honda Pilot Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV), equally hoisted Biafran flag at the gate of the bank, set fire on a Nissan Pathfinder SUV with registration number UR 640 KJA, and smashed glasses of a Honda car with registration number FST 456 AC, all parked in front of the bank.
It is not clear if anyone sustained gunshot injury, however, normal human and vehicular movements continued after the gunmen left.
The House of Representatives will on resumption from the Easter recess, commence debate on the general principle of a bill which seeks to increase 13 per cent derivation fund to 20 per cent.
The private member bill was sponsored by Hon Kingsley Chima.
According to the ‘Explanatory Memorandum’, the proposed bill “seeks to alter Section 162(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, in order to cure the inherent imbalance and insufficiency of fund and development-driven agitations based on the revenue from natural resources.”
In line with the legislative principles, the bill is to be referred to the Special Ad-hoc Committee on Constitutional Amendment chaired by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Idris Wase, for further legislative action.
Clause 2 of the Bill seeks to amend section 162(2) provides that: ‘The President, upon the receipt of advice from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, shall table before the National Assembly proposals for revenue allocation from the Federation Account, and in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account, the allocation principles especially those of population, equality of States, internal revenue generation, landmass, terrain as well as population density: Provided that the principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula as being not less than thirteen per cent of the revenue accruing to the Federation amount directly from any natural resources.’
The proponent of the bill, however, proposed that: “The President, upon the receipt of advice from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, shall table before the National Assembly proposals for revenue allocation from the Federation Account, and in determining the formula, the National Assembly shall take into account, the allocation principles especially those of population, equality of States, internal revenue generation, landmass, terrain as well as population density: provided that the principle of derivation shall be constantly reflected in any approved formula, as being not less than ‘twenty per cent’ of the revenue accruing to the Federation Account directly from any natural resources.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state has placed a ban on a planned meeting of some Igbo residents in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state over fears that such a meeting could spark fresh unrest in the area.
The meeting by a group known as the United Igbo community is scheduled to be held at Oyigbo on Saturday, April 10, 2021.
Wike in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim directed security agencies to ensure that the said meeting does not hold to forestall a breakdown of law and order in the area.
Oyigbo LGA which shares boundary with Abia state is considered a stronghold of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Wike had in October 2020 declared a 24-hour curfew in Oyigbo after a police station and other facilities were attacked by hoodlums.
The governor claimed that Rivers won’t allow troublemakers to take the law into their own hands and use the protest period to commit anarchy.
Wike also declared a N50 million bounty on a leader of the pro-Biafra group, Indigenous People of Biafra in the state, Stanley Mgbere.
Wike accused Mgbere of “leading members of the banned IPOB to cause the recent violence and destruction of lives and property in Oyigbo Local Government Area (of the state).”
More than 80 prisoners who escaped from the Owerri Custodial Centre have voluntarily returned, The Nation learnt on Wednesday.
A source at the Nigerian Correctional Service disclosed this to our correspondent.
He said: “About 17 of them returned on Tuesday and on Wednesday, we saw more than 20 returning back.
“But they are mainly those on awaiting trial, those who have less prison term and those who are about to complete their terms, have returned so far”.
About 42 of the inmates returned as of Monday evening, taking the total number of returnees to 80.
”The problem we are having, and this is not peculiar to the jail break here, is that none of the hardened and condemned inmates (HCI) who escaped has returned.
“This is understandable because it will take a miracle for a person who knows that his execution can take place any moment, to return after his freedom was given to him freely by those who broke into the facility,” the source said.
Gunmen whom the police said were members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had attacked the Correctional facility and freed 1,844 inmates on Monday.
It is expected with the amnesty announced by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, more of the escapees would return back to the facility to continue their terms.
The source added: “Most of the returnee inmates were escorted back by their parents, lawyers and relations.
“We are expecting that more will return by the weekend.
“Most of them want to return but they’re afraid that they might be manhandled by some security agents.
“We have very good inmates whose characters we can vouch for. That’s why we need to bring back the parole policy.”
When contacted, the public relations officer of Owerri Correctional Service, James Madugba, confirmed more escapees were still returning to the centre.
He however said he could not confirm the number of prisoners that had returned so far.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has said insecurity will be minimal if parents become more responsible in the upbringing of their children.
He said while the government would strive to make the society better, parents must nurture their children to become good citizens.
A statement by Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said the governor spoke at the solemnisation of holy matrimony between Pearl Ile and Bobby Elechi, at St Peter Anglican Church, Rumuepirikom Deanery, Port Harcourt. The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Emeka Woke, said he attended the wedding because the couple had distinguished themselves as responsible citizens.
He said: “We believe that if parents are responsible in the upbringing of their children, the society will be responsible, and the responsibility of the government to tackle insecurity will be minimal.”
Wike advised the couple to practise the teachings of the church.He described the groom’s father, Sir Mike Elechi, as a dependable, reliable and staunch political ally, who had always supported his political career.
Taraba: Another set of workers drag Gov Ishaku to court over unpaid 77 months salaries
While the Taraba State Government under the leadership of Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku is yet to settle the ongoing impasse with the organized labour, another set of workers have again taken it up with the governor by dragging the government to the national industrial court.
This, as observed by DAILY POST is not in connection with the non implementation of the new approved national minimum wage of N30.000 but in connection with the unpaid 77 months salaries of 18 non-indigenous workers of the defunct Nigeria Sunrise newspaper which has accumulated to over N73 billion.
The court which is located in Jos, the capital of Plateau State, was said to have been assigned with the responsibility of presiding over the case.
The said defunct newspapers which was established by the late governor of the state, Danbaba D. Suntai, in 2010, went out of existence shortly after the 2012 plane crash that rendered him incapacitated before he was eventually called to glory.
Narrating the ordeals they have been going through since the refusal of the state government to absorb them into the state civil service like their counterparts who have been absorbed due to their indigene status, the aggrieved workers believe that dragging the governor to court is the surest way out of their present predicaments.
The workers who spoke through their solicitors, M.Y Saleh (SAN), lamented the degrading conditions they have found themselves as a result of the inability of the state government to extend the same olive branch that was extended to the indigene workers of the defunct newspapers to those of them that are non-indigenes.
In their statement of claim which the eighteen workers who are non-indigenes made available to our correspondent through their counsel, they alleged that they were denied salaries since the company stopped operation in 2014 and that they were discriminated against on the basis of their States of origin.
Affirming that the “refusal of the defendants to pay the salaries and entitlements of the claimants is unlawful,” they pleaded with the court to as a matter of urgency call the defendants to order.
Sad that the defendants discriminated against them on the basis of “our states of origin in refusing to redeploy us in its service and this contravened our right to Freedom from Discrimination as protected by Section 42 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, the court, as pleaded by them, should take their pleas into consideration.
Before resolving to drag the governor and the defendants to court, several attempts according to the plaintiffs were implored to ensure a round table dialogue to no avail.
According to them “we wrote a complaint letter to the Public Complaints Commission who in turns wrote to the 5th defendant on the matter and the 5th defendant, through its Managing Consultant/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), responded via a letter to the Commission dated the 23/5/2018 confirming our story and who also attached a list containing our names, dates of employment and salaries, among other information.”
Those dragged to the court along side the state governor , as noticed by DAILY POST, include the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Sam Adda, the commissioner of Information and Reorientation, Danjuma Adamu, the defunct publishing house etc.
All efforts by DAILY POST to confirm the receipt of the summon by the government failed as all the mobile lines of the Commissioner of Information and Reorientation were not going through.
Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt; Okungbowa Aiwerie, Asaba; Bassey Anthony, Uyo; Simon Utebor, Yenagoa
Niger Delta-based groups and lawyers at the weekend kicked against the continued payment of billions of naira to governors of the oil-rich region as security votes.
The groups and the lawyers wondered why they should be receiving security votes when the security situation in the nine states of the region is not improving.
While some argued that security vote has no place in law, others advised that the budget for security received monthly by the governors were not properly utilised and therefore should be halted.
The lawyers- Aluzu Ebikebuna and Oghenejabor Ikimi – spoke to The Nation against the backdrop of a report by an online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, which showed that eight of the nine Niger Delta governors receive about N9bn monthly as security votes.
The groups that also reacted to the report are Urhobo Progressive Union (UPU), Movement for the Survival of Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND) and Policy Alert.
Wikipedia had in the report described security votes as a huge amount of money allocated to the 36 states in Nigeria for the sole purpose of security services.
Based on Wikipedia figures on Niger Delta states, Delta State governor receives the highest of N2bn monthly followed by Akwa Ibom State with N1.8bn and Rivers State with N1.5bn.
Imo governor receives the lowest with N333.3 million monthly while his counterparts in Abia get N700m; Edo, N900m; Cross River, N500m and Ondo, N600m.
The monthly figure for Bayelsa State Governor was reportedly shrouded in secrecy, though unconfirmed sources put it at over N1bn.
It was gathered that the governors are expected to use the “outrageous” amount of money estimated at over N108bn yearly to tackle security threats such as kidnapping, pipeline vandalism, among others in their domain.
But there has been rising insecurity in the region with the governors most times absolving themselves and blaming security challenges in their states on the Federal Government.
Ebikebuna, a Bayelsa State-based lawyer, said the governors had no justification to keep receiving such huge amount of money in the name of security votes. He described the practice as unconstitutional.
Aluzu said there was no place in the constitution for security votes, adding that the law only made provisions for a contingency fund in Section 83 of the Constitution.
His words: “The difference is that, unlike contingency fund, security vote does not need the sanction of the Assembly to be withdrawn from. In a constitutional democracy like Nigeria, its practice is illegal and unconstitutional.
“This illegality is heightened by the fact that its utilisation is outside the normal budgetary process in most cases as the funds are unaccounted for. The funds disbursed from security votes are not audited by the Auditor-General contrary to section 125 of the Constitution.
“Governors have continued to use the security situation of their state to hew huge amount of money under security vote. It is almost like a catalyst for security problem in states.”
Ikimi, who is also the Coordinator of Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged (CENTREP), said security votes was illegal as it lacked constitutional backing.
He said payment of security votes to governors should be stopped forthwith because it is a precursor of corruption.
“In the past when there was no security votes, the level of insecurity was tolerable but now that we have security votes, insecurity is at its highest level. Security vote have not come to check insecurity but to worsen it”, Ikimi added.
A faction of UPU, the apex Urhobo socio-cultural organisation, urged the Federal Government to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to compel the Niger Delta governors to give account of their security votes.
Its leader, Olorogun Joe Omene, accused governors in the region of siphoning security votes for personal use, warning that ” many days are for the thief but one day for the owner of the house.”
He said collection of security votes is akin to “stealing of public funds by trick. Such funds, according to him, could be channeled into tackling the huge infrastructure challenges and poverty in the region.
He said: “The present government at the centre should use the EFCC to compel state governors to account for the use of the money. We understand that governors just collect the money and nobody questions its use.
“This is grossly unfair. Look at our roads in Delta, but we blame the Federal Government whereas the money can be used for the development of the state.
“The irony is that if there is a major security breach, people will point fingers at the Federal Government whereas state governments are collecting humongous sums in the name of security votes. What do the Niger-Delta governors do with it.
“How can one man collect so much yet people are kidnapped and killed on a regular basis?”
National President of MOSIEND, Mr. Kennedy Tom-West, said if the governors should be allowed to keep receiving such money, there must be constitutional backing for it.
Tom-West advised that such vote should be made to pass through the National Assembly for legal and constitutional backing to remove the veil covering it.
He regretted that security vote, a brainchild of military regimes in the country to illegally and unconstitutionally siphon public fund, found its way into democratic government.
He rationalised that successive governments in the 36 states had considered security vote as a legitimate window and conduits to “drain, misappropriate and embezzle unimaginable amount of state resources.”
A non-governmental Organisation, Policy Alert, demanded the abrogation of security votes.
Its Executive Director , Mr. Tijah Bolton Akpan, said governors of the Niger Delta had not properly deployed the “humongous security votes” in a transparent and accountable manner.
According to him, the state chief executives have “corruptly used the money to fund their political machinery and ambitions rather than use it to adequately support the police and other security agencies.”
He said: ”If they(the governors) were getting all that money then we have to look at it from two angles. First is its accountability and transparency. Second is the actual deployment of the security votes.
”Now at the level of accountability and transparency there is very little that the governors do to ensure that the people know what they use these resources for because when you go to the budget it is provided as lump sum. People cannot know if it is used for buying guns, bullets or vehicles.
”At the level of actual implementation you see the very poor number of security vehicles governors donate to police formations in their states. This tells us that they pay lip service to the issue of security.
Some months ago, you saw what happened. We saw people taking to the streets robbing in broad daylight and killing and maiming at will.
”It shows something is lacking. Security is not all about providing the hardware. It is also about the intelligence which the government could help the police with.”.
The battle for the soul of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, is causing more division among leaders and chieftains of the party within and outside the zone, The Nation learnt on Saturday. There are also strong indications that efforts by the leadership and other organs of the party to reconcile the warring factions in the zone ahead of Saturday’s rescheduled zonal congress, may have failed.
The PDP on Wednesday fixed April 10 for its postponed Zonal congresses in the Southwest, Northwest and North Central zones.
The new date was communicated in a March 31 letter signed by National Chairman, Uche Secondus and the National Secretary, Senator Umar Tsauri.
According to the letter, the Southwest congress will take place in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, while that of the Northwest is scheduled for Kaduna and the North Central’s in Makurdi, Benue State.
But the decision to hold the Southwest congress in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has not gone down well with some PDP NWC members.
The Nation gathered that while the National Organising Secretary, Col. Austin Akobundu (rtd), and some others insisted that the congress should go ahead in Ibadan, the national legal adviser objected, citing a court case instituted recently.
The NWC is yet to reach a decision on the dispute.
Fayose and Makinde have been at loggerheads over the next leadership of the party in the Southwest.
The long running strife had held back the party’s prevented the party from holding the zonal congress till now.
The exercise, which was held in some other zones, was postponed due to the scuffle between the two groups which led to the procurement of a court injunction by one of the parties, stopping the congress. Supporters of the two PDP chieftains also engaged in a fierce war of words.
While Makinde is sponsoring Taofeek Arapaja, a former Oyo deputy governor, Fayose is supporting Eddy Olafeso, a former governorship aspirant in Ondo State and the immediate past chairman of the party in the zone.
Following the postponement, both the national leadership of the party and the Senator Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation committee allegedly made spirited efforts to reconcile the groups and prepare a peaceful path for the congress to eventually hold at a later date.
But, according to reliable party sources, the peace efforts failed as the two camps refused to shift grounds.
“There is no agreement whatsoever. Yes, the congress will hold because it can no longer be delayed further,” a source familiar with the matter said.
“It is a constitutional matter and if delayed, may affect the party’s chances of fielding candidates for the next elections in the zone. The implication of the failed peace moves is that the congress will hold with the warring factions fighting dirty in their bid to control the party in the zone.
“The idea of the initiators of the peace moves was to have the positions shared among the gladiators, but that failed to materialise.”
Makinde in a statement on Friday said the decision of the National Working Committee of the party to go ahead with Saturday, April 10, as the congress date is commendable.
He said: “As the only serving PDP governor in the Southwest and an invested party in the PDP’s growth and development, I commend the National Working Committee (NWC) for the decision to go ahead with the Southwest Congress.
“I am glad that they bowed to superior reasoning regarding the congress. I am also happy that the congress will be held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in line with our party’s constitution and as stipulated in paragraph 8 (1) (g) of the Guidelines for the Conduct of Ward, LGA, State, Zonal Congresses and National Convention for the purpose of electing Party Executive Committees at all levels which was issued and signed in January 2020.
“We look forward to hosting other members of the Southwest PDP come April 10.”
The governor warned that any attempt to shift the Southwest Congress’s date is a signal that the hierarchy has been compromised.
“Such an action would have dire consequences. For one thing, we will be forced to take all necessary measures to take back our party. Let me restate that the PDP is the best alternative for Nigerians. At this moment, we should be expanding our energies in positioning our party and gearing up for leadership at the national level. We must show Nigerians that we are the real deal,” he said.
But one of the contenders to the position, Olafeso disowned the April 10 date of South West Zonal Congress, allegedly scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, saying it is only “flying on the social media platforms.”
He spoke in Osogbo on Friday while being endorsed for the position by Osun state delegates. The Nation gathered that the two camps are yet to come to agreement on the venue of the rescheduled congress, among other things.
“Even as we speak, there is still a very strong lobby by one of the factions to make the NWC change the venue. That is why the Oyo state governor is warning the national leadership not to tamper with the current arrangement which is according to the party’s constitution.
“I can also confirm to you that the Makinde camp now has the support of the majority of the party’s governors as well as that of the National Assembly caucus of the PDP in the southwest.
“The governors are insisting that as the only governor in the zone, Makinde deserves more respect from the national leadership of the party than he has been getting. It was their intervention that forced the NWC to adhere to the constitution and make the current arrangement.
“But the Fayose camp is uncomfortable with Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, as the venue of the rescheduled zonal congress for obvious reasons, and are prepared to have it changed,” our source added.
The Nation also gathered that some prominent chieftains of the party within and outside the zone are in support of Fayose and his supporters in their quest to produce the leadership of the party in the Southwest.
According to sources, the national chairman, Uche Secondus, is currently under severe pressure to reconsider the choice of Ibadan as the venue of the congress. Our correspondent gathered that a petition has already been submitted by some stakeholders, objecting to the venue and citing Makinde’s role in the feud that led to the earlier postponement as reasons.
The state chairmen of the party are also divided over Makinde and Fayose ahead of the rescheduled congress. While Fayose enjoys the support of the chairmen of the Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun chapters of the party, Makinde controls the current structures of the party in Oyo and Ondo states.
“While it is true that most governors and Southwest National Assembly members are supporting Makinde, Fayose enjoys the support of the majority of NWC members from the zone. The camp of former Vice President Abubakar Atiku as well as majority of the state party chairmen in the zone are solidly behind Fayose’s camp as far as the rescheduled congress is concerned.
While Fayose is yet to publicly reject the venue, a number of his allies have spoken against Ibadan. These are pointers to what you should expect.
“Consequently, Secondus is under pressure to bulge and change the venue. There are also rumours that the Southwest zonal congress may be postponed again.
PDP governors, determined to save one of them from embarrassment, are said to have decided to meet with Secondus during the week to warn him against giving undue advantage to the Fayose camp. They strongly believe Makinde, as the only governor in the zone should be allowed to lead the party as is the practice within the party,” our source explained.
In Osun state, two factions, led by Soji Adagunodo and Sunday Bisi respectively, are laying claims to the right to present delegates at the congress on Saturday.
“As of today, both camps have their delegates ready and are making arrangements to go to Ibadan and vote in the congress. While Adagunodo and his supporters are loyal to Makinde, Bisi’s group belongs to the Fayose camp. Both camps recentlyopenly endorsed their preferred candidates,” another source told The Nation while explaining the division within the PDP.
THE entire five South Eastern states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo appear to be boiling and there is tension in most communities, no thanks to the renewed insecurity challenges in the zone.
Since the beginning of 2021, there had been bloodbath in most of the states and there appears to be no solution in sight.
The latest incident involving the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Chukwuma Soludo in which gunmen swooped on the venue of a town hall meeting of the Professor of Economics and governorship aspirant of All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, for the November 6 election in Anambra State and killed three policemen and took their arms, was the climax of the frightening situation.
Following the attacks on the police at the checkpoint, policemen now go to work wearing mufti and only dress in their official uniforms when they get to their offices. Indeed, there is fear in the zone.
While most of the attacks had been traced to the activities of Fulani herdsmen who invade many south east villages with AK -47 rifles in their quest to occupy the forests, the rest were by criminals including armed robbers. There are also members of Indigenous People of Biafra controlled Eastern Security Network, ESN, who have been defending the various communities from the menace of the herdsmen.
In January, 2021, there was a bloody clash between the ESN, and a combined team of security operatives, in Orlu, Imo State, which led to the loss of a number of lives, while many buildings and vehicles were burnt down.
During the Orlu attack, people living around the Banana junction close to Orlu local government area headquarters had a raw deal and their houses and businesses were heavily torched. The shooting was heard as far as neighbouring communities of Okporo, Akata and Umutanze.
The soldiers who carried out the operation against ESN came from Obinze and the aftermath of the attack was heavy presence of the militaryat the various checkpoints erected on roads, with its attendant hardship on travellers. The military claimed it was revenging the death of their colleagues who were allegedly killed by members of the ESN set-up by the Mazi Nnamdi Kanu – led IPOB.
The Orlu incident made Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to impose dust-to-dawn curfew in the entire Orlu Senatorial zone to halt the spread of the crisis.
Last week, gunmen killed eight people at Adani, Uzo -Uwani local government area of Enugu State and the following day, suspected herdsmen also killed 18 persons, includinga Methodist priest at Egedegede, Obegu and Amuzu communities in Ishielu local government area of Ebonyi State, The car belonging to the Methodist priest was also burnt by the herdsmen.
Chairman of Ishielu local government area, Mr. Sunday Eze, and Ebonyi State Commissioner for Business Development, Dr. Stephen Odo led a team of security agents to the communities and condoled the families of those killed in the invasion and assured that government would take proactive measures to investigate the attack.
Following the incident, the Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police delegated the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, and others to go for on-the-spot assessment to enable security agencies get the root of the matter.
Reacting to the killings, Governor Dave Umahi, who was visibly angry, visited the affected communities, regretting that the attack took place despite an understanding the herdsmen had with the state government.
Umahi said: “We feel so sad that this kind of thing should happen in our state. I am going to report this to the highest authorities in the country to ensure these people don’t get away with this.”.
The governor also said that following the unabated killings and destruction of properties in Effium and Ezza-Effium communities in Ohaukwu local government area, the stakeholders arrested in connection with the crisis would remain in detention until peace returned to the area. He said: “The killings should stop; if they continue, I will hunt for the leaders and charge them for murder. Enough is enough. You have a lot to lose if the crisis continues. You can’t call for genocide against the people.
“When you see evil, you have to speak out. I commend those of you who have done that. I’m pleading with you, I am begging you. There’s a way you will continue to kill, the state will rise against you. I feel so sad. Let us stop these killings.
There was also an attack at Aba, Abia State during which a police station was razed. Some people suspected to members of ESN were arrested.
At Npkor near Onitsha, Anambra State, unknown gunmen drove to a police checkpoint and disarmed the security operatives. An eye witness said: “In my area, gunmen with white hummer bus, stopped at Nkpor Junction and disarmed five security men attached to TECNO plaza. There was no noise, no gunshot. The gunmen ordered the security men to just respect themselves and submit their guns. They did and they left smoothly”
From Npkor, the gunmen descended on police checkpoints at Omogho in Orumba South, killed three policemen and set ablaze the police patrol van.
Two days later, gunmen also attacked another checkpoint at Neni in Anaocha local government area and killed three policemen on the spot. Elsewhere at Awkuzu, gunmen also attacked a naval checkpoint and killed some of the ratings on duty. Later, there was another attack at Ekwulobia during which some gunmen attacked a bus conveying some prison inmates to court and killed two warders, a man and a woman. They also attempted to set ablaze the Ekwulobia police station recently reconstructed after it was burnt down during the #endsars protests of last year.
Those incidents made Governor Willie Obiano to read the riot act, warning that ‘enough is enough’. While the state government was still unfolding plans to contain the situation in parts of the state, there was the attack on the foremost APGA aspirant for the November election, Professor Soludo.
So far, four people have been arrested in connection with the attack and, according to the police, the first suspect was traced through his telephone which was left at the scene of the incident in Soludo’s community.
Reacting on the incident, Soludo said in an interview on Channels Television, that he did not want to link the attack to his political aspiration. Narrating the incident, the former CBN governor said: “We were having an interactive town hall meeting. We had finished the diocesan crism mass at about 2 pm and by 4 pm, we began the interactive session with Isuofia youths.
“Isuofia is my hometown. I am a village boy and this is where I feel safest anywhere in the world. I walk the streets and I mean everywhere as a village boy. With the interactive session, which had over 1000 youths seated, I was just making preliminary remarks to open up the interactive session with other dignitaries from the community, commissioners and members of the House of Assembly, former commissioners, former members of the House of Assembly and other dignitaries.
“And just as I was about to wrap up and for them to now open up comments, questions and answers, I heard gunshots. At first I thought, maybe the policemen were shooting in the air and concurring with the kind of exuberance in the hall itself.
“And until I began to hear people screaming and all of that and everybody scampering to safety, it was all over. It took several minutes, about 10 to 15 minutes of continuous battle, going back and forth, stopping and starting again.
“By the time we all came back, we saw three dead bodies lying in the pool of their blood – they were the three policemen – and like I said earlier, may God grant their soul eternal rest. We will continue to pray and support their families.
“And then, the Commissioner for Environment was abducted. I understand that when they ran and jumped the fence, some people grabbed and took him away.”
According to him, the security operatives, including the DSS, police, army and civil defense are already in his house, assuring that he is unhurt.
Soludo refused to link the attack with his political ambition adding, “I think there are all kinds of theories. I do not want to prejudge or preempt the investigation that is ongoing because I understand some persons have been apprehended and also providing useful information.”
In the meantime, reactions have continued to trail the attack on Soludo. The United Anambra Youth Assembly, U-AYA and United Anambra Women Assembly, U-AWA, described the attack as disgusting, anti-democratic and obviously a threat to the nation’s democratic consolidationin all its ramifications.
Founder and national president of the association, who is the member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency in the National Assembly , Hon Benjamin C Obidigwe frowned at the incident, adding that the attack was an abuse of the relative peace being enjoyed in the state.
Ex-presidential aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan and APGA governorship aspirant, Nze Akachukwu Nwankpo strongly condemned the attack. In a telephone conversation, Nwankpo commiserated with Soludo over the death of his police escorts. He encouraged the former CBN boss not to be deterred by the antics of the enemies of the state and thanked God that he was not hurt and for saving him from the dastardly act.
… Security couldn’t do anything – Town Union President
…they gave us corpses as gift – Community leader
By Peter Okutu
THE attack carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen on Monday night in four communities of Egedege, Umuhuali, Obegu and Amezu in Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has saddened the hearts of many.
Vanguard gathered that apart from the case of killings that was reported on Monday evening, a survivor alleged that the herdsmen while fleeing the affected Communities abducted some of their females.
In a chat with Newsmen, at Ishielu Local Government Area of the State, one of the Survivors, Comrade Okey Emmanuel alleged that the herdsmen had abducted some women who were returning from the Market on the day of the incident as they fled the affected Communities.
“What happened here is a dark cloud that has befallen these communities. We talking about the dead. An Anambra man also lost his life. Before now, he buried his son. From the counting I made, it was up to 16 as some are still in the bush.
“The number of corpses we cannot tell. The herdsmen had ulterior motive. Their Coordinator, I remember when they were leaving our community before now, his name is Rashidi. He said, he will make the Community shed tears and I believe this is the tears. We are talking about the dead but there are some females who were coming back from the market and we don’t know their whereabouts now.
“That means they must have taken them away. I urge the LGA Chairman and Government to handle this matter squarely. What they did is not an attack but an impression. The youths are not happy, because they were the ones destroying crops and we sanctioned them. But now they came back; are they rating cows more than human beings?”
In his reaction, Mr. Ikechukwu Onwa, the Town Union President of Nkalaha community expressed deep sadness over the incident.
“I feel so bad that the security people couldn’t do anything and that was why they came to my place and burnt my car and killed our people. They killed up to 18 of us. We feel very sad.”
Also, Joseph Chibo, the Town Union President of Nkalagu autonomous Community:
“What happened in our lives knows no bound negatively; the people of Igbesa are saddened by this development.
“It is a very bad situation for our people. Enugu State is equally affected. Despite all the efforts of the Governor for us to live peacefully with these people, we are saddened by this development. It a big shock and we can’t think right.
“We can’t even think right. How do we know that stranger who left our place, suddenly came back and the next thing we are hearing is massacre. How will I know what caused it? We have been leaving peacefully with these people only to wake with these corpses as a gift. Personally, when I counted as I couldn’t hold my emotion again, I counted 16 in number. ”
The scene where the incident occurred is now a shadow of itself as corpses were seen being evacuated in a truck. Vanguard gathered that some corpses were already decomposing due to abandonment.
The affected Communities share boundary with Enugu State as security personnel including the Police and Army were deployed to maintain peace and order in the Area.
Stakeholders across political divides are beginning to mobilize support for the candidacy of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, a national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) to succeed President Muhammadu Bihari.
A new support group christened, Akwa Ibom Stakeholders for Tinubu was put together at the weekend to garner grassroots for him to emerge as the next president.
At the inauguration, former Minister of State for Works, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, stated succinctly that the nation was presently at a crossroads and that it needed a person like Tinubu, to give it the desired direction so as to engender growth and stability.
Adeyeye who chairs South West Agenda for Tinubu extolled his Sterling qualities, describing him as the “man the Almighty God has ordained to rescue Nigeria at this stage.”
He stated that the North was already mobilizing “massive support for him”, adding that “ he is the kind of person our nation needs for leadership now.”
He noted that even though Tinubu has not yet declared intent to vie for the exalted office, but “ he must be dragged into it.”
Adeyeye decried the truncation of the 1993 presidential polls reportedly won by MKO Abiola which he underlined would have brought total unity in the country.
“I want to assure you that Tinubu believes in inequality and social justice. Those are the things you need to consider. By the principles of our party, the presidency will rotate to the South, everybody is qualified to contest in the South. And anything you don’t work for or fight for, you can’t value it.
“Let nobody deceive you that it should go to a particular zone. Everybody should fight for it. And when the aspirants are brought out and Nigerians are to assess then I can guarantee that Tinubu will tower above them.”
Also speaking, Senator Adesoye Akanbi thanked the Akwa Ibom stakeholders for coming together to throw their weights behind Tinubu.
He said, “ A lot of people is talking about separation, while others are talking about restructuring and one United Nigeria, Tinubu stands for oneness of this country.
“ We can understand people agitation for separation when there’s injustice, but we have materials in Nigeria that can keep in peace and justice.”
Convener of the forum, Honourable Eseme Eyiboh, said, “ the country must move forward and we want to give back our nation to the people. At this moment, Nigeria needs a leader who is able to mobilize the abundant resources and talents.”
Eyiboh, a former member of the House of Representatives, noted that the Aboriginal questions have thrown a whole lot of issues especially insecurities which must be addressed so as to move the nation forward on the path of sustainable growth and stability.
• Olawepo-Hashim: power devolution will end agitations
March 25, 2021
By Yusuf Alli, Abuja, Sola Shittu, Gombe and Alao Abiodun
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has said the people’s consensus rather than individual’s agitation will determine the success of any secession bid.
He explained that few people can’t declare the establishment of the “Yoruba nation” without considering the general interest of the South-west.
The governor spoke on Wednesday when he featured on a Channels Television programme monitored by The Nation.
Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho), had declared that the Southwest would no longer be part of Nigeria with the establishment of “Yoruba Nation”.
Akeredolu said: “It is a group of individuals who are raising this issue; they are entitled to it. Everybody is entitled to his own position. But when you come to the issue of nation or you want to leave a particular setup, there must be a consensus.
“Nobody can, on his own, wake up and say he is speaking on behalf of others. Who gave them such powers?
“We have never yielded power to people to speak on our behalf on matters of this importance. That is what we are saying.
“A few people cannot just stand up one day and say to us: ‘Yes, we want Yoruba nation.’ How? Where did we sit down to discuss this? With who and who? At what point in time? So, if you do not carry everybody along, you cannot be representing us.”
Also, a former presidential candidate in the 2019 general election, Mr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, recommended devolution of more powers to the states and local government areas to forestall further separatist agitations across the country.
The businessman urged the Federal Character Commission (FCC) to address the imbalance among the various ethnic nationalities in the country.
“I quite agree that there is frustration in the land as a result of the problems which over-centralisation of powers in the hands of the Federal Government has caused since the unfortunate military coup of 1966.
“The solution is not the dismemberment of the Republic but de-centralisation of power to the component states, which must start now.
“Nigeria will do better, and we are in fact better together, if we immediately take steps to devolve powers to the states and local governments in areas where there is a clear national consensus,” he said.
Olawepo-Hashim identified areas where Nigerians have started building consensus, including the creation of state police, as follows:
Creation of state and local government police side by side with the Federal Police to make policing more efficient and to bolster national security. Amendment of the Constitution to enable states have some control over the development of all mineral resources in the inland basins.
Amendment to ensure concurrent jurisdiction of Federal and state governments over electricity generation, transmission and distribution and electoral reform clause to include electronic transmission of results from all level of results collations.
The businessman said a simple Executive-sponsored constitutional amendment Bill narrowed to these clearly defined items may get a resounding support if properly managed with the 36 governors and the Houses of Assembly.
He said it was in the best interest of Nigerians to remain united instead of breaking up.
Also, Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya yesterday dissociated the Northeast from those calling for secession.
The governor noted that the agitation by some individuals to opt out of Nigeria would not solve the nation’s common challenges.
Yahaya spoke at opening of All Progressives Congress (APC) Northeast stakeholders’ meeting for the review of the party’s constitution.
“We are not among those calling for Nigeria to be divided. We are not. We are not among those that are trying to separate. The unity and unity of purpose of Nigeria is not compromisable at all.
“As a result of that, knowing we have a common problem, we have to approach it with common sense of purpose in order to achieve, recover and go out of the problem. There is need for states in the Northeast to have a common position with regards to this issue,” he said.
Politics › Ohanaeze: Ndigbo Won’t Support Nigeria’s Break-up by EcoBrick(op): 8:20am On Jun 05, 2021
