₦airaland Forum

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have agreed terms that would see Diego Costa return to the La Liga club, Spanish press reported Thursday.

Costa, 28, has been frozen out by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and spent the transfer window angling for a return to former club Atletico that never materialised.
But both Marca and Mundo Deportivo newspapers said the two clubs had sealed a deal Thursday for the Brazil-born forward’s return to Spain until 2021.

As added that Costa would shortly undergo a medical and be officially unveiled in the coming days.
The deal was worth 60 million euros ($71.3m), according to As, while Marca said Atletico will pay 55m euros with a further 10m euros in add-ons.
Costa will not, however, find himself straight back in action, with Atletico officially banned from signing new players until January.
Costa was not included in Chelsea’s 25-man squad for the Champions League group phase, ironically drawn in Group C along with Atletico. That ensured he would not become cup-tied and therefore remains free to play in the competition for another team in the second part of the season.
Source:http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/chelsea-and-atletico-reach-terms-on.html

The Lagos State police command on Wednesday demolished the shrine used by members of the secret cult (Badoo) to terrorize the Ikorodu area of the state.

The owner of the shrine identified as Alhaji Alaka Aboyomi, led a team of policemen into the shrine located on a large expanse of land that is surrounded by thick bush.
Lagos state police commissioner, Edgal Imohimi, led the demolition exercise.

See photos below..................
more photos at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/breakinglagos-police-demolishes-badoo.html

Popular Nollywood actor, Ramsey Noah has appealed to the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for cinemas to thrive across the country.

Noah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the sideline of the ongoing Tozali African Fashion and Cultural Week in Abuja.
He said that more cinemas would attract more viewers and motivate film makers to inject indigenous content.
“I will like the Federal Government to create enabling environment for cinemas to be established in all parts of the country.

`’The cost of obtaining license should be reduce to encourage more people to go into cinema operation; this is because the demand for local contents in cinema is quite high.
“When that is achieved, we the practitioners will then create demand, raise funds and create quality indigenous contents that will attract many to the cinemas.
“If we have more cinemas in the country, it will also provide opportunity for more Nigerians to watch movies of their choice,’’ Noah said.
He explained that it was a good thing that Nollywood had contents that could be consumed globally, stressing that the contents transient language, culture and traditional barriers.
He, however, stressed that some Nollywood movies did not currently have enough content but with more cinemas, film makers would be encouraged to begin to inject quality local contents in their movies.
On piracy, the Nollywood star said that pirates were encroaching into the industry and that it was affecting film makers, producers and actors in many ways.
Noah who also spoke on his achievements in the movie industry said, “ it is great and overwhelming; I did not envisage fame and success at the beginning of my career in Nollywood.
“However, it feels good to see that you are in a position in the industry where you are respected and leave a legacy behind.
“In movies, I play someone’s character; what you are seeing is not me, the Ramsey you see in movies is different from the one you see in real life.
“ I try everything possible to spearhead so many productions that are successful; whatever I can add to make it good, I do it; that is what sustains me till now,’’ he said.
The `My Wife and I’ star expressed concern about technicalities in movie production in the country.
According to him, there was the need for film makers in the industry to coordinate technicalities with actors’ performance to give better delivery.
“I think we need to coordinate the technical side of film making and blend it with the actors so as to avoid unnecessary disconnect.
“It has been observed that there is a disconnection between technicalities and actors; technicalities like showing of doubt by an actor but the actor’s action do not connect.
“This makes the act in the movie obviously unnatural and unprofessional; thus we need to sync the two so as to have a balance,’’ Noah said.
He also revealed that himself and comedian Ayo Makun also known as `AY’ are currently working on a project, `Life of Ramsey Noah.’
“It is like a story. We will start production next month.
“I also have my own project for `Ramsey Films’ that I am working on. I want to thank God for Bank of Industry (BoI) for their support and assistance in the project,’’ he said.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/ramsey-noah-makes-case-for-cinemas.html

A coalition of Niger Delta agitators on Monday vowed to resist attempt to drag the Niger Delta region into the secession agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), but said it was time the Nigerian government allow the Igbos to have a country of their own in the interest of the nation’s nascent democracy.

The group said Nigeria must not be allowed to go into another civil war, pointing out that the same antics currently being employed by the group was employed in 1966, when Igbos masterminded the Civil War and involved the South-South in Biafra map and major infrastructures were destroy in Niger Delta with over 15 million south south people killed.

In a statement signed by leaders of the group, the group said it has reliable information that some top businessmen and politicians from South East zone are the sponsors of IPOB.

Those who signed the statement included General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and convener Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators); General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers); General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors); Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw


(Bakassi Freedom Fighters) among others.

They condemned calls by former President, Olusegun Obasanjo for the government to negotiate with the Nnamdi Kanu, saying it was surprised that the same man who ordered the destruction of Odi, in Bayelsa state would be talking about negotiation.

They said: “we hereby call on the Nigerian government, international community and the general public to monitor the activities IPOB and her sponsors carefully as we shall resist any attempt to drag the Niger Delta region into the ill advised secession activities of IPOB.


Any member of IPOB that causes mayhem in South East and want to hide in the Niger Delta region shall be severely dealt with. We are surprised that the South East Governors Forum could not call Nnamdi Kanu to order before things got worse as witnessed today.

“We call on the Nigerian government to follow due process and the rule of law in declaring a group a “terrorist organization” as the recent declaration of IPOB by the Nigerian Army as a terrorist organization is contrary to the tenets of our nascent democracy.

“Rather the government should allow them to be on their own, stop funding the South Eastern states with the Niger Delta money, they should be on their own, generate their funds and pay their bills. It is high time Nigeria allow Igbos to be on their own to avoid another civil war.


“We are appealing to the Nigerian government to allow Igbo to go and have their independence without the involvement of other zones since they are tire of being in Nigeria. Nigeria is not ready to go into another civil war. We therefore appeal to the government to allow Igbo to go and be on their own.


All the serving Governors, Senators, House of Reps members, Ministers, Ambassadors from South East extraction should resign immediately and join Nnamdi Kanu to form Biafra government. Let peace reign in Nigeria. It was the agitation of Biafra that brought the last Civil war in Nigeria and we are not prepared for such. Reliable information at our disposal shows that some top businessmen and politicians from South East zone are the sponsors of IPOB.

“We totally condemn the call by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that the federal government should dialogue with Nnamdi Kanu. It is totally wrong that the man who destroyed Udi, Bayelsa state in Niger Delta can today talk about dialogue. During his tenure, Asari Dokubo and others were locked up for over one year without trial while he was busy siphoning Niger Delta money. Today he is talking about dialogue.

“We condemn the IPOB attack and destruction of properties in Oyibo in Rivers State. We have warned these people severally that Rivers State and the entire Niger Delta region is not and would not be part of Biafra. They rush to Rivers state to attack Hausa community in order to involve the Niger Delta territory in the ill advised secession agenda of IPOB.

“It will be recalled that the same antics was employed in 1966, when they criminally masterminded the Civil War and involved the South-South in Biafra map and major infrastructures were destroy in Niger Delta and over 15 million of our people were executed. We want to warn IPOB and its sponsors to steer clear from Niger Delta region, we shall resist them with everything within our reach.”
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/stay-off-niger-delta-states-agitators.html

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, has discharged and acquitted former Group Managing Director of Transcorp Plc, Mr. Tom Iseghohi, of money laundering charges.In a unanimous decision, the court also set aside the decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja dated October 20, 2014, which over-ruled his no-case submission.

The court further dismissed entirely the 32-count criminal charge of money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).The anti-graft commission had arraigned Isoghohi, the former Company Secretary, Mohammed Buba and Deputy General Manager, Mike Okoli, in 2009.
They were tried for fraud and money laundering in connection with the botched acquisition of the Nigerian Telecommunications (NITEL) by Transcorp.Trial began before Justice D.U. Okorowo before it was transferred to Justice Evoh Chukwu.

Consequently, the defendants’ counsel, A. Ozioko, John Egwuonwu and Sunny Tadi, filed a no-case submission, urging the court to dismiss the charge because it established no prima facie case against them.
They argued that the prosecution had failed to make out a prima facie case against the accused persons to warrant their being called to enter a defence.He, therefore, urged the court to dismiss the charges and acquit the accused persons.
Responding, prosecution counsel, Sylvester Ogbedu, urged the court to ignore the defence’s arguments and hold that the prosecution has sufficiently proved its case against the accused persons.
After listening to their arguments, Justice Chukwu in his ruling, dismissed the no-case argument, holding that the accused persons had cases to answer.But the Court of Appeal in setting aside the decision of the Federal High Court held that from the evidence adduced by the prosecution at the trial, there was no basis for the refusal of the no-case submission.
It ruled that no evidence was adduced to establish the offence of money laundering against Isoghohi and subsequently discharged and acquitted him of all 32 counts of N15 billion money laundering charge levelled against him.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/court-acquits-transcorps-ex-boss-of.html

Charismatic Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of the Adoration Ministry, Enugu, has finally spoken about the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu and the agitation for secession.

In a three-minute video posted online, Mbaka insisted that Igbos were not hated.


The infulential cleric also stated that Kanu and the other Biafra fighters, should not be the ones in the forefront of the battle.
Mbaka said: “Nobody should deceive you saying that ‘Igbos are hated’. That’s how we (Igbos) believe nonsense. The poor masses are told to agitate for Biafra.
“There is nothing wrong in Biafra. But those that say they want Biafra now (or never) should come out let us see the crème of the Igbos them we all will push for Biafra.
“Let the crème de la crème among the Igbos be at the forefront while the poor masses that loiter the streets in the name of Biafra will support from behind.

“The right thing is for parents to protect their children from danger. I am not against Biafra but let the Igbo political elites; the Ubas of Anambra, Peter Obi, Ekwueme, Ekweremadu, Nnamanis, Sullivan Chime, Anyim Pius Anyim, I (Mbaka) etc should be the ones pushing for Biafra not our children who get killed on the streets every day.
“Where are the Igbo political elites? They are in hiding in Abuja and overseas.
“They have sent these children to push for Biafra and they have gone in hiding. That is not leadership. A leader should be in front to take bullets for his followers just as Christ willingly gave his life for his followers. A leader is not one who will sit and sacrifice the poor for his ambition.”
More details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/fr-mbaka-breaks-silence-on-nnamdi-kanu.html?m=1

The Rivers State Police Command has nabbed a fake police officer in Port Harcourt.

Spokesman of the Command, Nnamdi Omoni in a statement obtained by DAILY POST, said the impersonator identified as Benjamin Tanko was arrested in Eleme area of the State.

Omoni stated that Tanko who had been posing as a police officer to extort money from ignorant members of the public was arrested by men of the Commissioner of Police Monitoring Unit
“The Rivers State Police Command in her continued determination and relentless efforts in fighting all criminal elements in the State, on 13/9/17 at about 0945 hrs arrested a fake Police Sergeant, Mr Benjamin Tanko an indigene of Kajuru in Kajuru LGA of Kaduna State.
“He was arrested in a Police Camouflage at the Oil Mill Motor Park by Men of the CP Monitoring Unit led by the officer in-charge, Sp Grace Wonwu.
“The suspect who claimed to be an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the Port Harcourt Area Command is helping the Police in Investigation and will be arraigned as soon as investigation is over.

“Items found on him include; three different Police I.D cards with different force numbers.
“The CP wishes to appeal to the public to continue to support the Police with useful information,” the statement read.
source:http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/rivers-police-nabs-fake-officer.html

Nollywood top actress Stephanie Linus Okereke looks adorable in her new outfit as she heads to most beautiful girl in Nigeria event

http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/photosstephanie-linus-okereke-looked.html?m=1

Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has sued for peace in the Southeast following the face off between the Nigeria Army and members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB).

In similar vein, the National Coordinator, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams condemned the militarization of some part of the region under Operation Python Dance, in the obvious attempt to arrest the growing influence of the leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu.
Adams however canvassed dialogue to the military option in resolving the issues at stake. In a statement yesterday, the former governor decried the needless loss of lives in the state and also commiserated with the families of the bereaved.

Expressing his disturbance by the development, Kalu, who just returned from the United States said he resolved to engage in extensive consultations to see to the end of the unrest and fear the alleged army incursions in many areas of Abia state has created.
He also called on IPOB to remain law abiding as he consults with the federal authorities and IPOB stakeholders towards finding a common ground to the alarming crisis.
However, OPC in a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Yinka Oguntimehin said the agitation of IPOB would be fruitfully addressed through dialogue rather than the military option being adopted by the Federal Government.
The OPC said the nation’s democracy is daily being threatened by sundry issues, chief among them injustice, security and the economy, which it said could naturally be resolved without bloodletting if the Federal Government could be sincere enough to take the best possible option of restructuring the country.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/opc-kalu-sue-for-peace-over-military.html

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has reacted to the declaration by the Defence Headquarters that the group is a terrorist organisation.

The group said it was a non-violent movement and that it had never carried arms or killed anyone.

IPOB’s position was made known by Prince Kanu, the younger brother of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu during a chat with newsmen on Friday.
He said: “It is very, very laughable that that is coming from a military intelligence officer. One, IPOB is a non-violent movement.
“We do not carry arms; we’ve never asked anyone to kill for us neither have we killed anyone. If you look at our records, our records are clean and straight.”
“From inception, Nnamdi Kanu made it clear to the whole world that we are non-violent freedom fighters and that is the way it has been,” Prince Kanu said.

Reasons given by the Defence Headquarters for declaring the group a terrorist organisationinclude the formation of a Biafra Secret Service, claimed formation of Biafra National Guard, unauthorised blocking of public access roads; extortion of money from innocent civilians at illegal roadblocks, and militant possession and use of weapons (stones, Molotov cocktails, machetes and broken bottles among others) on a military patrol on September 10, 2017.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/ipob-reacts-to-military-declaring-it.html

Selena Gomez revealed on Thursday that she received a kidney transplant from her BFF.
The singer posted a photo on Instragram that shows her and fellow actress Francia Raisa holding hands across their hospital beds.
"I'm very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn't promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of," Gomez wrote in the caption." "So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering."
Gomez revealed her Lupus diagnosis in 2015 and last year took some time off as she struggled with the disease as well as anxiety and depression.
The superstar said the transplant was "what I needed to do for my overall health."
She said she looked forward to sharing more with her fans later about her transplant journey, but in the meantime she wanted to thank her health team and Raisa.
"She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me," Gomez said. "I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis."
Raisa is an actress best known for her role as Adrian Lee on the TV series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."
On Thursday, Gomez fans swarmed Raisa's latest Instragram photo to thank her for the kidney donation.
full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/selena-gomezs-best-friend-gave-her.html

Niran Adedokun has addressed the issues surrounding the presidential ambition of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the fracas within the APC. Three things intrigue me about Nigerian politicians. The first is their unending capacity for deception. First deception on the people, which ultimately tails in uncanny self-delusion.That kind of thing in which people tell themselves so much lies, get so used to it and willingly substitute it for the truth.

The second is the failure and refusal to learn from mistakes. It is said that to have pitfalls, the horse at the back watches its precursor’s steps but that standard is too simple for Nigerian politicians to live with. They never learn from mistakes, not their own, not the ones committed by others.

The third point is a corollary of the second and it is their tendency for unmitigated self-destruct. Nothing but a mighty fall awaits people who fail to learn from the past.

Nigerian politicians take the people for complete fools. They pretend that all the issues that they fight and scramble about are in the interest of those who voted them into power, whereas it hardly is.

Of course, they get away with this fraud since the bulk of Nigerians are either too politically naïve or star-stuck to ask questions or see through the repeated veneer of deceit.

The latest half-truth that politicians are selling to us is that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is the most troubling reality of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Following last week’s leakage of a video which showed Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, express the hope that Atiku would be President of Nigeria in 2019 and her reiteration of a preference for her political godfather over President Muhammadu Buhari, on whose prerogative she is on the Federal Executive Council, members of the APC have continued to give the impression that they had a cohesive party until this ruffling by Atiku and his loyalists.

But that is dishonest. It is true that Atiku’s ambition and the traction it seems to be gaining may truly have brought the storm home much earlier than expected, but the Atiku challenge is merely a token of the series of turbulence that the APC invited on itself and should prepare for. In the months to come, the party will have to contend with the Senator Bukola Saraki challenge as well as the Bola Ahmed Tinubu challenge, at the least.

And these problematic tendencies are not new at all. Like the umbilical cord naturally follows the delivery of a new born, the raging and coming trouble were delivered alongside the birth of the APC. The party deceives, not just Nigerians but itself by pretending otherwise.

The deception gets more sickening when you realise that the National Working Committee of the party, whose member, Alhaji Inuwa Abdulkadir, National Vice Chairman (North-West), condemned Atiku’s criticism of the party and called for the resignation of Alhassan last week, is itself a representation of the conflicting interests in the party.

This is why as we speak, it has become impossible for any national organ of the party to take a concrete position on the issues in contention. The NWC is a body comprising people with divided loyalties and scant allegiance to the party which brought all these interests together.

This, of course, was the juncture the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, had hoped to forestall when he spoke about the need to prepare “to check the excesses of the currently lopsided and perhaps ambivalent NWC,” in that very famous letter he sent to Buhari last year.

No matter what they now say, promoters of the APC, entered into this hurried alliance with the sole purpose of getting rid of a common enemy, President Goodluck Jonathan. There was no firm determination of the terms of engagement and as soon as the adversary was rid of, the spoils of war became a curse on the winning team. ThisAlhassan revelation and Atiku’s succeeding serial outbursts are mere flashes of lightning before the imminent thunderstorm.

The cloud burst is avoidable though if these politicians would be a bit more teachable and noble in their motives. The truth is that everything the APC currently experiences has become trite to us as a people.

If these men and women were honest with themselves for instance, they would have realised that the same sentiments which drive the current discontent in the APC led the Peoples Democratic Party to the premature end of its run at the helms of national affairs in 2015. It is sad that the APC is caught in the same web just two years later.

Like it happened in the PDP, the fight that led five of its governors, some of who are active in the APC at the moment, the current trembling in the APC is neither about policy nor the principles of right or wrong.

On the contrary, it is about personal interests and pride, about gaining the upper hand, defending territories, turfs and sustaining egos.

You will recall that this scenario played out in the years preceding the 2015 elections. Jonathan, after taking control of the National Executive Council of the PDP through the installation of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, went after the Nigeria Governors’ Forum which had become a control bloc.

At this time, forces that wanted Jonathan out of the Presidency were converging and the former President wanted his allies at the head of every influential group in the country.

Before then, things had fallen apart between him and former Governor Chibuike Amaechi for reasons which were more personal than the love of country and Rivers State that Ameachi tried to sell to Nigerians.

If no other fact was obvious, Amaechi had become an ally of forces that were opposed to Jonathan, including Saraki. Saraki also literally had a seat at the highest decision making table of the PDP until Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje was replaced by Tukur. This removal edged Saraki out of the room. His only footstool on the national plane remained at the NGF which Jonathan was beginning to get interested in by insisting on any other leader but Amaechi who was not with him.

Amaechi won with the collaboration of governors outside of the PDP but that victory brought the NGF to untold crisis and marked a point of no return for Jonathan and the forces that were against him in the PDP.

By then, the egos of men had taken over, the parties went to war, sparing no arsenal in their possession until someone got terminally bruised. Jonathan lost the elections, with suspicions that many party leaders betrayed him and the PDP has never been the same.That a similar war is brewing in the APC so soon after, shows that no lessons have been learnt.

Now, that is really sad especially considering that all the likely combatants in the current situation witnessed the acrimony that brought the self-styled largest party in Africa to its feet; in fact, a significant number of these people were on the frontline of the PDP battle. However, it is clear that neither those who had personal experience of the war nor those who watched from the sidelines learnt anything significant from the fall of the erstwhile ruling party.

As things stand, current holders of power will come down heavy on all contending tendencies, appropriate all the power to themselves, alienate the disgruntled and unwittingly whittle down the chances of their party to come to war as a single front.

Self-interest and personal ego will blind the stalwarts to the virtues inherent in communication and working for compromises for the benefits of all. To sustain the self-righteous persona that each of the groups have created, they will work hard at destroying one another without care for the purpose that they came together in the first place.

But the APC can still let reason prevail. Rather than let this Atiku situation lead the party into a long drawn battle which would do no one good, it should be seen as an opportunity to genuinely address the concerns of every power bloc in the party and arrive as some acceptable compromise. That is what a party, truly interested in the welfare of the people would do in the circumstance. But then, how many of those around the corridors of power here, truly see political power as a venture on behalf of the people?
source:http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/is-atiku-really-apcs-problem.html

In line with its commitment to support Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs) in the South-East, Nigerian Breweries (NB) Plc, has given out N300,000 to 10 entrepreneurs in Nsukka through its Life Progress Booster Show, an initiative of Life Lager brand.

Addressing the audience at the presentation ceremony in Nsukka, Enugu State recently, Portfolio Manager, Mainstream Lager and Stout Brands, NB, Emmanuel Agu, said the Progress Pooster platform was designed to raise self-dependent individuals in South-East Nigeria, adding that the brand had increased the grant from N250,000 in 2016 to N300,000 and will support 200 entrepreneurs through the platform in 2017.

“The Progress Booster Show was initiated to raise more entrepreneurs and self-dependent individuals in South-East Nigeria. Through the years, Life Continental Beer has focused on empowering its consumers and it is committed to contributing to their successes and achievements,” he stated.

He further said, “Life Progress Booster Show is a platform for budding businessmen and women to present their proposals and transform their ideas to reality.
full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/life-lager-empowers-10-entrepreneurs.html

Two pro-Biafra factions yesterday, disagreed sharply on the way forward for agitation, during the 18th anniversary for secession.

The Uchenna Madu-led Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) said the struggle will continue despite what it called “harassment and intimidation by the security agents in Nigeria.”

But, the Chief Ralph Uwazurike-led Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra / Biafra Independent Movement (MASSOB- BIM) accused other splinter groups of planning to cause war in Nigeria by their actions.

Regardless, Madu, who spoke during the 18th anniversary celebration of the agitation at the Rojemmy Sport Complex, Oba, said they will continue with the struggle from where the Head of State of the defunct Republic of Biafra, late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, left it and noted that no man, no power, no threat will stop Biafra struggle.

“We do not hate Nigeria, it is because of injustice we have found in Nigeria and the way the Igbos are treated that we are fighting for Biafra.

“We love Nigeria more than those who claimed to love Nigeria. If you go to any part of the country, you will see Igbos developing the place, building houses.

“We must continue the journey for Biafra restoration as handed over by Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu. They are afraid of us that is why they are deploying troops in Biafra land.

“We are not moved by the Operation Python Dance…

“We say enough is enough for slavery, intimidation and relegation to the background. We are Biafrans and they should allow us to be. MASSOB under my leadership is the same with IPOB.”

But, Uwazurike, who spoke in Onitsha, Anambra State, urged the Hausa community to report provocations directed at them to the law enforcement agents and noted that the strategy of the detractors is to “foment trouble with the Hausa communities in the South East and South South so that our people in the North may be attacked.

“They recently provoked a quit notice from the Northern Youth leaders. I travelled to Arewa House, in Kaduna, to douse the tension.

“Their new strategy now is to attack Hausa communities in the South East and South South, to achieve their nefarious intentions. All hands must be on deck to ensure that these evil plans did not see the light of the day.


“Without being immodest, I am the originator of the New Biafra Struggle. I recruited every operator in this struggle, the good, the bad and the ugly.

“The new Biafra struggle was intended to be a long-term process, backed by non-violent initiatives.

“There is no shortcut.

“We are happy to announce that, after 18 years of the struggle, we are still in the saddle. We are stronger and more determined. We enjoin our misled comrades who followed the wrong way to trace back their steps to the original concepts. The struggle continues,” Uwazuruike said.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/18th-anniversary-massob-insists-on.html

A sad video showing men of the Nigerian Army humiliating members of the Indigenous People of Biafra has been released. Some men of the Nigerian army have been caught on camera humiliating and torturing members of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB).

The video obtained by PoliticsNGR also showed the soldiers ordering the IPOB members to swim in puddle mud.

The sad incident took place on Aba-Umuahia expressway on Tuesday.

One of the IPOB members was allegedly shot and died of bullet wounds, according to the video. The soldiers are in the South East to commence operation 'Python Dance II" which many people have described as a militarization of the region.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/nigerian-soldiers-order-ipob-members-to.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjFDkuzu2s8

The police are on the trail of thieves who broke supermarket in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.

The incident took place in the middle of the night.


The burglars were caught on CCTV camera moving out several items.
One of them is seen with plastics of custard, in an operation that lasted about 30 minutes.
The police and shop owner shared pictures of the looters online in a bid to apprehend them.
full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/photosthieves-caught-on-cctv-burgling.html

Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, and the Association of Senior Servants of Nigeria have agreed to temporarily put off their strike notice until September 20, 2017.

Ngige, in a statement Tuesday night by the Deputy Director (Press), Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Samuel Olowookere, said this is to enable the Nigerian government commence the payment of pending promotion arrears.


He said: “Among others, the meeting agreed that 30 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) that the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation reported having cleared their allowances, amounting to N1.165 billion should start to receive credit of payment to their account bySeptember 20, 2017.
“It also agreed the office of the Accountant General of the Federation should also provide the list of the 30 MDAs in reference to the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment by September 13, 2017.”
Ngige said the conciliation meeting further set up a seven-man committee to be chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Labour, with three members each drawn from the government negotiating team and the labour association respectively to oversee the implementation of the decisions.
The minister had earlier while addressing the union restated the unflinching commitment of the Buhari administration to the welfare of workers.

“The arrears in question accumulated for up to a decade but the president very much concerned about the welfare of the citizens resolved to settle the backlog, knowing that government is also a continuum.
‘This is a government that has the interest of workers at heart, the very reason we stoically refused to retrench any civil servant despite dwindling resources we met and worsened by the recession,” he said.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/workers-give-nigeria-govt-september-20.html

The Lagos Television (LTV is introducing new programmes to give its viewers value for their time. The programmes are in the entertainment and education sections, it was learnt yesterday.

They include a two-hour Nollywood movies tagged: ‘Sinima O ‘Lopin’. It will be aired daily from 1pm to 3 pm.

Its General Manager Mrs. Funke Moore said in a statement yesterday that the station has redesigned its programme line-ups to meet the yearnings and expectations of its numerous viewers.

The statement reads: “While the station is poised to retain its audience across the country, Mrs. Moore explained that LTV 8 is also determined to expand its scope to drive more viewership to the station through quality and interesting programmes.


“The programmes that would be launched by the TV station according to the general manager include: Agba Osugbo, Fruit of Eden and My Big Naija Wedding.

“Others are Ewe Iwoyi, Secret File and The Story of Us, Eve, 4A 4B, End Star, Different Life, Two of A Kind and Back in The Day.”
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/ltv-8-debuts-two-hour-non-stop-cinema.html

English Premier League clubs voted on Thursday to shut the 2018 close-season transfer window before the start of the 2018-19 campaign.

Following complaints by managers that transfer activity disturbs their preparations, clubs will not be able to register new players after 1600 GMT on the Thursday before the season starts.

The transfer window in Europe’s other major leagues runs until August 31, meaning clubs outside England could buy players from English top-flight teams after the new Premier League deadline.


“Premier League clubs have today agreed to a rule amendment that will see the summer transfer window in any year end at 17:00 on the Thursday before the start of the season,” the Premier League said in a statement.

“This is for Premier League clubs only and has no bearing on other leagues and competitions.”

Europe’s other major leagues — Spain’s Liga, Italy’s Serie A, the German Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1 — now face a decision about whether to fall into line with England.

Juventus CEO Giuseppe Marotta says Serie A’s 20 clubs are in agreement to “set the end of the transfer window on July 31” in Italy.

“The transfer window is exhausting,” he said recently. “It’s become a circus.”

The French league also suggested it was also in support of following the Premier League’s example.

“In principle, the Professional Football League (LFP) is in favour of bringing the closing date forwards to before the start of the championship,” an LFP official told AFP.

“The question will be on the agenda at a future board of directors meeting before the end of the year.”

But the German league (DFL) said there was no clear consensus among the Bundesliga’s top clubs.

“The theme of the transfer window – regardless of the decision of the Premier League – was on the agenda of today’s general meeting of sports representatives of the Bundesliga and the second Bundesliga at the DFL, and it became clear that there is no definitive opinion among the clubs,” said a DFL spokesman.

The Premier League’s move was announced following a meeting of club officials and is not believed to have been agreed unanimously.

Wenger approval

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave his backing to the decision before it was announced.

“Even in the games, you sit there before the games and even in players’ minds they have no clarity,” he told reporters at his weekly press conference.

“Are they in? Are they out? Are they half in? Are they half out? Are they tapped up in the afternoon of the game by people who want to get them out? It’s not the way to work and it’s uncomfortable.

“Every single manager in the league would agree that it’s time to kick that out before the season starts and not continue to have players in the dressing room who are half out and half in.”

England’s Football League — the second, third and fourth tiers — is not affected by the move.

Premier League clubs spent a record £1.4 billion ($1.8 billion, 1.5 billion euros) on new players during the 2017 close-season window.

The window closed last Thursday, three weeks after the new season had started.

Chris Hughton, manager of newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion, welcomed the decision.

“That is good news,” he said. “Most managers would say the same. You have a hectic enough time as it is preparing for the season.”

Earlier this week, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin gave his support to making the close-season player trading period shorter.

Transfer windows were introduced by world governing body FIFA in 2002.

In Europe they generally run from the start of June to the end of August, with a shorter mid-season window in January.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/epl-to-close-transfer-window-before.html

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has vowed not to allow “Hausa, Fulani” soldiers harass people of the South East.

Kanu said this while receiving some members of IPOB who were allegedly attacked by security operatives at Isigate area of Umuahia, the Abia State capital, yesterday.

Some Keke NAPEP drivers had engaged some soldiers at the Isigate area of the state over alleged extortion.
Reacting to the incident, Kanu, who urged his followers not to feel intimidated, said, “It won’t happen under my watch, it won’t happen while I’m alive.”
Kanu urged members of the group not to be intimidated, saying they are in their “father’s land.”
Speaking at his Umuahia residence, the IPOB leader advised his members against giving bribes to soldiers at road blocks.

According to Kanu, “Never be afraid of the enemies of Biafra, that is what I’m teaching you people in IPOB.
“There will be no extortion anymore in Biafra. Yes you were assaulted and injured and because of the pains you went through other people will no longer have to give money to Fulani soldiers anymore.
“We are in our land and they came here to look for trouble, that trouble they are looking for they will find it very soon.
“They came to our land to extort money from us because they have AK47 assault rifles and think they can intimidate us into submission.

“We work from morning till night driving keke NAPEP trying to make ends meet, some of us are graduates driving Keke NAPEP, struggling to live and survive, yet soldier stand at Isi-gate collecting money from us, extorting us and telling us we cannot put on Biafra flag and insignia.
“No idiot can stop us from putting on Biafra insignia. We are IPOB, we don’t look for trouble if you look for our own we will give it back to you.
“Go and tell that thing they brought back called Buhari, he is a cartoon, you only see the back of his head and not his face. They said he was watching football match.
“Don’t allow them to conquer you with fear, they are terrorists who terrorise people. Did soldiers give you money to hold for them? So why are they harassing us for money everyday?
“Go around this town and tell them that we say no to extortion, there is no group more law abiding than IPOB but I don’t want the zoo to make us lawless, they are forcing us to become lawless but we have remained lawful.
“We have more road blocks now because we continue to give them money. The more you give them money the more they come down from Hausa land and mount road blocks.
“In their place Huasa,Fulani does not give money to any soldier. Because of the sacrifice of this ones at Is-gate there will be no more extortion in Igbo land.
“I’m not afraid of them, they are the ones who should be afraid of me because they know what will happen , when IPOB matches the ground shakes.
“We are in our land the land of our ancestors Ndigbo and somebody is coming from Arewa North with AK47 to harass you in your father’s compound, you are a fool if you allow them to step on you, it won’t happen under my watch, it won’t happen while I’m alive. I can assure you.
“Go out and tell the world that we are IPOB and have no fear before our enemies.”
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/what-i-wont-allow-hausa-fulani-soldiers.html

A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), Prof. Femi Odekunle, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to use executive powers to subvert the shenanigans of the judiciary for the anti-graft war to succeed.

Odekunle, who accused the judiciary of shielding corrupt lawyers and judges, said the government needs to break the rule of law to win the fight against corruption.

He stated these when he appeared on Focus Nigeria, a programme on African Independent Television (AIT) on Thursday morning.

Odekunle said the judiciary has failed to support the federal government’s anti-graft war.


He said: “The only problem we are having is that we are not having the full cooperation of the legal profession in the matter (corruption). Lawyers and judges have this sentimental affiliation.

“The legal profession felt threatened by the stance of this administration on corruption, about the role of the legal profession, about the senior lawyers and about the judiciary.

“So there was a kind of development of some subconscious to protect their own. Perhaps there must be a way in which they can be reached to say the interest of the nation must come first.

“We have to find a way of breaking into this and one way of breaking into this is to engage in what I said. For example, somebody was quarrelling with me and I am being honest, without breaking the law. Fighting corruption involves roforofo fight.”

more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/buhari-must-subvert-judiciary-in-anti.html

The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Alhassan, said on Thursday she stands by her remarks to support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate in 2019.

Alhassan had told the BBC Hausa Service that she would not support President Muhammadu Buhari if he decides to seek re-election in 2019.

Speaking to State House correspondents on Thursday, the minister said she is not afraid of being sacked by President Buhari.

She said: “No, I have no comment. What will I say now? I have said all in BBC Hausa Service. Get someone who speaks Hausa very well to translate it for you.”


On her relationship with Buhari now, she added: “How will I know? I have not seen the President but I don’t think the President is a naive person.”

“God gives and God takes. That is all and I have said it all in Hausa. You know that there is an end to everything.”

On Buhari supporters attacking her on social media, Alhassan said “let the will of God be done.”

more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/i-stand-by-my-words-alhassan.html

Hajiya Aisha Buhari, the wife of the President, has given scholarship awards to 60 orphans in primary school in Daura.Buhari, who launched the scholarship scheme in Daura on Monday, said the scholarship would cover the six-year primary school education of the beneficiaries.

She said the aim of the scheme was to promote education and increase access to the quest for education especially for the Girl-child in the area.
The First Lady, who did not disclose the amount to be spent on the beneficiaries’ admonished parents to take the education of their children seriously, adding that education, is the bedrock of national development.

Buhari also distributed food items which included 60 bags of rice, 60 cartons of sachet tomato puree and 60 cartons of customised garri to 75 women and some less privileged people in the area.
In his remarks, the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk, commended the wife of the President for her love and concern for Nigerians.
He said the First Lady had been consistent in discharging her responsibilities, “We are very grateful to you for constructing a multi million Naira Child and Maternal Health Centre in Daura”.
Hajiya Zakiya Masari, the wife of Katsina State governor, also commended her for the gesture.
Masari prayed for the well-being of the nation and President Muhammadu Buhari.
Alhaji Lawal Kado, the Acting Chairman of Daura Local Government, also commended the efforts of the First Lady.
Kado then thanked God for the well-being of the President.
Ambarut Sani, a female politician, lauded the efforts of the First Lady, adding that the food items and award of scholarship would go a long way in providing succour to the beneficiaries.
She called on the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the donated items, stressing that the scholarship awardees would be monitored to ensure consistency.
Aisha Baushe, one of the beneficiaries of the scholarship award, thanked the First Lady for the gesture, describing it as a ”wonderful” booster to her quest for education.
Other beneficiaries who went home with food items and undisclosed cash gifts commended Aisha Buhari for her magnanimity and prayed for God’s guidance for the first family.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/aisha-buhari-awards-scholarship-to-60.html

Lil Wayne‘s concert in Las Vegas at Drais Breachclub on Sept. 3 has been cancelled due to the multiple seizures he suffered, according to TMZ.

Lil Wayne was taken to Northwestern Memorial hospital in Chicago early on Sept. 3 due to seizures. He was found unconscious in his hotel room at the Westin on Michigan Avenue, according to TMZ. Multiple sources say he had at least one seizure at the hotel and a second once in arrived at the hospital. By late afternoon, the rapper’s team attempted to have him discharged but doctor’s advised against it. .

Why the urgency to get Wayne out of the hospital? He has a show scheduled at Drais Beachclub in Las Vegas at midnight. He was set to perform alongside Rae Sremmurd. So, it’s possible he is still be in hospital at the time of this reporting. This would naturally jeopardize the show. Also, the rapper has suffered seizures due to flying in the past and doctors did not want to run the risk in order to get him to his Vegas gig.
As fans know, Wayne’s battle with epilepsy has been a lifelong struggle. In June 2016, he experience a seizure during a flight and refused treatment. Then, one month later, he experience another seizure minutes before he was set to go on stage. But the most terrifying episode occurred in 2013 when he was admitted ICU following multiple seizures. At the time, sources alleged that Wayne consumed a large amount “Sizzurp,” a codeine and cough syrup-based drink, prior to the episode. Afterwards, the rapper revealed that the seizures scared him enough to make some big changes in order to stay safe going forward.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/breakinglil-wayne-hospitalized-again.html

The Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi, has called on political leaders to caution their followers against acts of violence. Sanusi made the call yesterday during the traditional Hawan Nasarawa at the Government House in Kano State. ‎‎

‎
“I am calling on political leaders to caution their followers against‎ political violence and thuggery,” he said. He also urged the government to create employment for youths in the country in order to reduce the economic hardship being faced in the country.
“If the youths are employed or empowered, the level of hardship faced by many families will reduce,” he said.‎ The monarch also called on the Federal Government to revive agriculture in order to attain self-sufficiency in food production.‎”

He prayed for peace, tranquility and unity in the country and the safe return of Nigerian pilgrims from the Holyland. ‎
Earlier, the state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, had said that the state government had completed two hospitals with 500 beds. ‎”We completed two hospitals with 500 beds ‎and we provided them with state of the art equipment,” he said.‎
He said President Muhammadu Buhari ‎had recorded impressive success in the fight against insurgency and other security challenges in the country.
Ganduje restated his commitment to the protection of lives and property of residents in the state.‎ He also said that the state government had distributed 30 vehicles to security agencies in the state. ‎
“We will continue to assist security agencies as part of the government’s commitment toward ensuring sustainable peace and security in the state,” he said.
Source:http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/sanusis-homily-tasks-leaders-at-hawan.html

Skipper John Obi Mikel was in buoyant spirit as the Super Eagles arrived Yaounde yesterday afternoon for today’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

“We are just very keen to finish what we started. We started a job in Uyo and it is time to finish it. If we can pick the World Cup ticket by Monday (today), why wait any longer?
“We are all very confident, because we know our ability and what we are ready to bring to the party.” Nigeria achieved her highest win ever over Cameroon with the massive thumping of the Lions on Friday, and Mikel is aware the wounded Lions will want to salvage some pride.

“We are as hungry, perhaps even more hungry than they are. It will be a tough affair but we will give our very best to take the three points.”
Nigeria could become the first African team to earn a slot in Russia as early as tomorrow (next 24 hours) if they defeat the Cameroonians today in Yaounde and Zambia fail to beat Algeria at the Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida tomorrow.
Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr has 23 very fit players to select from, with goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Dele Ajiboye and Dele Alampasu, defenders Uche Agbo, Abdullahi Shehu, Elderson Echiejile, Ola Aina, Leon Balogun, William Ekong, Tyronne Ebuehi and Chidozie Awaziem, midfielders Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, John Ogu, Wilfred Ndidi, Oghenekaro Etebo and Mikel Agu, and forwards Ahmed Musa, Victor Moses, Odion Ighalo, Moses Simon, Anthony Nwakaeme and Kelechi Iheanacho making the trip.
At the Hilton Hotel yesterday to receive the Nigerian team was Cameroun’s Minister of Sport, Bidoung Mpaktt, who chatted briefly with NFF President Amaju Pinnick.
FIFA has appointed respected Senegalese official Bakary Papa Gassama as the referee for today’s encounter, to be assisted by Jean Claude Birumushahu from Burundi (Assistant 1), Marwa Aden Range from Kenya (Assistant 2) and Maudo Jallow from Gambia (Reserve Referee). Osama Ataa Elmanan Hassan from Sudan will be match commissioner at the game kicking off 6pm.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/well-finish-what-we-started-mikel.html

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s Super Eagles over Friday’s impressive win over the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, joined millions of football-loving Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora in applauding the senior men’s football team for their disciplined, skilful and entertaining display against the defending African champions.

While noting the exhilarating victory, he said that Nigeria is on the verge of qualification for the World Cup in Russia 2018.

The President urged the players to sustain the momentum as they approach the crucial second leg of the tie in Yaounde, on Monday.


Buhari also enjoined Nigerians who always see football as a unifying platform, to continue to pray and support the team to guarantee victory next week and make qualification doubly sure.

He also commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for its continued support and provision of excellent hosting facilities.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/buhari-hails-super-eagles-victory-over.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says there is no resurgence of Boko Haram contrary to insinuation in some circles.

Mohammed debunked the insinuation of the resurgence of Boko Haram in a remark to the media during the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations in his country home, Oro, near Ilorin.

He said that some recent tragic events, including suicide bombings and the abduction of some staff of the University of Maiduguri, were antics by the insurgents.

“The truth is that there is no resurgence of Boko Haram. Cowardly bombings and kidnappings are some of the hallmarks of an asymmetric warfare that insurgencies are.


“And like I say all the time, such wars do not end by the signing of any truce. They taper off with time, as this one surely will,” he said.

The minister said that to ensure that the insurgency tapered off quickly, the Nigerian troops were daily living up to their constitutional responsibility of maintaining the nation’s territorial integrity and securing its borders.

“They are ensuring that never again will Boko Haram take control of our territories, attack our major cities, including Abuja, at will and fly their flag anywhere in the country.

“Therefore, as we celebrate this Festival of Sacrifice, we owe the marked improvement in the security situation in our country in general and the North-East in particular to the men and women in uniform.

“They have sacrificed so much to make our country safer than at any other time since the Boko Haram insurgency started in 2009.

“Yes, we are not totally out of the woods yet, but we are much better today than we were in 2015, when this administration assumed office,” he said.


While commending the entire military for the feat of “largely defeating Boko Haram”, he identified certain roles played by the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in the successes recorded.

He said that with the support and the enabling environment provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, young and well-trained pilots were those flying the aircraft in the inventory of the NAF.

Mohammed said unlike what was obtainable in the past, officers below 30 years of age, were Flight Lieutenants flying the planes, including the C-130s and serving as Instructor Pilots.

He said after over 32 years, the NAF recently graduated 16 instructors from its primary flying school in Kaduna.

“This is possible because the NAF has moved from just two trainer aircraft when this administration came into office to 14 trainer aircraft presently.

“The number continues to grow, in addition to other logistical issues like availability of spare parts and aviation fuel being squarely addressed.

“This has also ensured that pilots can conclude their initial flying training within four months.

“I can tell you that from December last year to June/July this year, the Air force has ‘winged’ 32 pilots, who are now fully qualified to fly the air force’s aircraft,” he said.

The minister noted that, in terms of building capacity through training and re-training of personnel, the NAF had also ratcheted up its capability.

He called on Nigerians to keep praying and supporting the troops rather than dwelling on the Boko Haram resurgence that never was.

He also called on the media to deny the insurgents publicity, which he described as “the oxygen they desperately crave to survive”.
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/there-is-no-resurgence-of-boko-haram.html

Four support groups registered with the national secretariat of All Progressives Congress (APC) have rejected the nomination of Tony Nwoye as the party’s governorship candidate for the forthcoming Anambra election and have asked for a repeat of the primary.

The Anambra All Progressives Congress Forum led by Obum Ozuanwu, All Progressives Congress Voters Club led by Ifeanyi Obinna, South-East All Progressive Congress Forum led by Mazi Chuzzy and Igbo/Yoruba Unity Forum led by Godwin Okafor all called for the cancellation of the primary and the disqualification of Nwoye and Senator Andy Uba from re-contesting.

They appealed to the national chairman of the party, John Oyegun and the National Working Committee (NWC) to drop Nwoye as the standardbearer if the party must win the governorship election. The groups said Nwoye was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and may still have sympathy for his former party.

Part of the statement reads: “We are calling on the party’s NWC to order a re-run and we are calling for a suspension of Nwoye and Uba from participating in the re-run. Some people have been in the party for long and they just came to take the position of those who have been in the party. We won’t allow that.

“PDP is a corrupt party and Nwoye and Uba shouldn’t have been allowed to participate in the primary. He was elected as the party’s candidate but we want him substituted with a candidate who is credible or have a re-run of the primary with credible candidates who can win election for APC in Anambra. If this is allowed, how can APC survive in the South-East?”
more details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/09/anambra-guber-cancel-apc-primary-result.html

Community leaders from the three senatorial districts of Imo State have advised the state House of Assembly to, forthwith, begin the impeachment process of Governor Rochas Okorocha.

The community leaders accused the governor of turning himself into a tyrant in the way he was managing the affairs of the state.

They said their anger was as a result of the demolition of the ancestral Ekeukwu market initially known as Ogwumabiri market and the killing of a 10-year-old boy, Somtochukwu, from Anambra State during the protest against the demolition.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja yesterday, the leaders from Owerri, Okigwe and Orlu senatorial districts under the umbrella of Concerned Imo Leaders who wore black attires, signifying mourning, claimed that the state had been sliding and that the event of last week’s demolition of the Ekeukwu market and the alleged murder of four persons were the climax of its sliding.
Spokesperson of the group, Chief Sam Obaji, together with the immediate past chairman of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Dr. Sam Amadi; the leader of Owerri socio-cultural organisation, Dozie Owerri, Chief Tony Anyadike, and Okey Ikpe said Governor Okorocha accused the governor of turning himself into an emperor.
According to them, “As political, social and cultural leaders from across Imo State, we address you today with sorrowful hearts at the happenings in our beloved Imo State, especially the destruction of lives and property in Owerri during last Saturday’s unlawful, reckless and unprofitable demolition of the ancient and iconic Eke-ukwu Owerri Main Market.

“At the wake of that demolition, four persons were killed, many more wounded and property worth billions of naira destroyed by armed military personnel on the instruction of the state government.
“Most heartrending is the killing of 10-year-old Somtochukwu Igboanusi of 9, Oguamalam Street who hailed from Anambra State. That child was gunned down as he tried to clear wares from his father’s shop.
“Since Governor Okorocha assumed power in Imo State, he has managed affairs of the state in a manner that suggests he has a hidden agenda against the Owerri Senatorial Zone and the entire people of Imo State.
“His unplanned urban development project has resulted in the complete dilapidation of roads in the state capital, the flooding of major streets in Owerri whenever there is slight rainfall and the complete deterioration of physical and social infrastructure in the entire state.
“That in view of Governor Rocha’s clearly established leadership incompetence and serial blunders on the most elemental duties of governance, he should honourably resign as governor of Imo State.

“That if Governor Okorocha refuses to resign, members of the Imo State House of Assembly should immediately proceed to impeach him from office as governor of Imo State.
“That the government of Imo State should refrain from further violation of the court orders in respect of these demolitions. That the President should institute a judicial commission of inquiry into the circumstances of the use of armed forces personnel in this unlawful operation and ensure anyone who played a role in this unlawful deployment of the military should be prosecuted according to the law.”
full details at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/08/imo-leaders-list-reasons-governor.html