₦airaland Forum

The Igbo apex Socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has chided the Northern Elders’ Forum for kicking against the zoning of the 2023 presidency to the Southern region of the country.

NEF had in a communique signed by former Vice-Chancellor of the Plateau State University, Prof. Doknan Danjuma Shenni, titled: “2023 Presidency: Northern Elders Kick against Zoning” among other issues stated that the “2023 presidential contest should be left open to every region of the country for the best candidate to emerge”.

Shenni alluded in the communique that “the current state of insecurity in the North is unprecedented and unacceptable.”

But reacting to the position of NEF in a statement titled: “the zoning shenanigans in Nigeria”, Ohanaeze described as unfortunate and most surprising that NEF would collectively act as the “fifth Roman emperor, Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus who fiddled while Rome was on fire”.

Ohanaeze in the statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, and made available to The PUNCH on Sunday, said despite NEF observation of the unprecedented insecurity, poverty, large number of internally displaced among other issues confronting the nation yet they opposed zoning to the South.

Ogbonnia said “It is therefore very strange that the elders instead of seeking a solution to the problems they have so identified, they are busy strategising on how to destroy the vital values that have helped to lubricate a precarious balance in the country.

“At about 1994, some Nigerian patriots conceived an article of faith and principle of rotation of power that guarantees equity and inclusiveness for all the diverse components of the country. Thus, Nigeria was structured into six geopolitical zones; namely, South-South, South East, South West, North West, North Central, and the North East.

"It was also agreed that political offices will be zoned or distributed among the zones in such a way that every zone will have a sense of belonging. Furthermore, the presidency will rotate among the zones to promote peace, unity, and progress in Nigeria.

“The NEF is aware that Nigeria has religiously followed the rotation and zoning principle since 1999 with Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (South West) as the elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Obasanjo, in keeping with the rotation principle, handed over to the North in the person of former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2007.

“At the death of Yar’Adua, a Southerner, specifically the South-South in the person of Dr Goodluck Jonathan was elected the President. Jonathan again, handed over to a Northerner, President Muhammadu Buhari whose second tenure of four years each will end in 2023. By the rotation and zoning principle that has been in operation in Nigeria, It is only fair that the presidency be zoned to the South, specifically the South East of Nigeria.

"It remains the moral duty of elders to guide the society on the path of truth and honour,” it said adding “when the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness”.

“The NEF know full well that in the interest of peace, unity, and corporate existence of Nigeria, we the elders must, as a matter of necessity, embrace equity and justice. It is therefore only fair that the South East of Nigeria should be supported to accede presidential power because what is good for the goose is, mutatis mutandis, good for the gander.

“It is also surprising that NEF is more enamored of power than the veritable and conducive environment under which sustainable national development can be attained. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no country on the planet earth that can progress under the dire straits and strains of inequity, injustice, mistrust, viciousness, braggadocio, and predatory ethnocentrism. The above vices will surely engender crises, conflicts, economic downturn, unemployment, poverty, insecurity, kidnapping, banditry among others.”

Ohanaeze, however, noted that the President, Major General, Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) has the burden of history to treat the South, the South East, as Chief Olusegun Obasanjo treated the North in 2007.

https://punchng.com/2023-ohanaeze-knocks-northern-elders-forum-for-opposing-zoning-presidency-to-south/

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old traffic robber, Emeka Igwe, also known as Odogwu.

The police spokesman in the state, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the arrest on Saturday, said three pistols were recovered from Igwe.

Hundeyin said the suspect and his accomplices, who were members of the `Aro-Baga’ cult group, robbed Lagos residents of their valuables in traffic congestions.

“Following relentless follow-up investigation, Igwe, the leader of the gang, previously at large, has been arrested,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted him as saying.

Hundeyin had issued a statement on April 7 indicating that Igwe escaped while three of his accomplices were arrested.

He had stated that Igwe’s accomplices were arrested following a tip-off from Lagosians to officers on routine patrol in Ladipo and Oshodi areas.

He, however, tweeted on Saturday that Igwe, the fleeing gang leader, was eventually nabbed and three locally-made pistols recovered from him.

Hundeyin added that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alabi, had directed that the suspect and exhibits be transferred to a special squad for further investigation and prosecution.

https://punchng.com/police-arrest-lagos-traffic-robber-recover-arms/

By Don Silas

The Troops of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have killed about twenty-two Boko Haram/Islamic State of the West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists during a fighting clearance operation on the fringes of Lake Chad.

The Chief of Military Public Information of the MNJTF N’Djamena, Chad, Lt. Col. Kamarudeen Adegoke, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.

Adegoke reported that the terrorists were nutrialised at Tumbun Rabo, in Abadam Local Government Area of Borno State on April 27.

He said: “After the operational engagement, which was firmly supported by the Air Task Force of Operation Hadin Kai and the MNJTF, a battle damage assessment clearly revealed at least 20 BHT were neutralised, 12 AK 47 rifles, 1X Mortar 60mm and large catches of ammunitions of different calibers were recovered.

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“Likewise, carefully concealed 5x Gun Trucks and a truck laden with supplies meant for the criminals were destroyed.

“Also, an MRAP fighting vehicle was recovered by the troops; it was carted from a Nigerian Army position in the past.”

Adegoke explained that the troops of combined Taskforce Mallam Fatori/Damasak at Forward Operations Base Arege drawn from MNJTF Sectors 3 and 4 (Nigerian and Nigeriene troops) have continued with aggressive patrols to dominate and put pressure on the criminals.

“With multiple sorties against the terrorists’ positions, Air Taskforce gave effective close air support and attacked the criminals to enable ground forces to access the hitherto well defended terrorists’ strongholds in the vicinity of Tumbun Rago.

“Despite strong resistance by the Boko Haram terrorists, the ground troops charged through several obstacles and cleared the mined routes, which made them come in contact with elements of the insurgents.

“Relatedly, troops of Sector 1 Taskforce Wulgo (MNJTF troops from Cameroun) continued aggressive dominance of their assigned areas with a clearance patrol to the general area of Chikingudu, areas were seen to be deserted, but troops came in contact with two Boko Haram logisticians who attempted to flee but were neutralised by the vigilant troops.

“Two motorcycles were recovered from them. Meanwhile, the Amphibious Taskforce Darak of the same Sector 1 have continued their maritime patrols to dominate their areas,” the spokesman said.

https://dailypost.ng/2022/05/01/boko-haram-mnjtf-troops-kill-22-iswap-terrorists-recover-arms-in-lake-chad/

Neil Parish, a Conservative lawmaker in Britain, has resigned after admitting to watching pornography twice in the House of Commons.

Parish admitted to the BBC that he had watched pornography in a “moment of madness”, stating that the first time was accidental.

The 65-year-old MP for Tiverton and Honiton was suspended from his party on Friday over the incident. The resignation will trigger a by-election for the seat in southwest England.

A spokesperson for Tiverton and Honiton Conservatives said they thanked Parish for his service over the past 12 years.

"We support his decision to step down as our Member of Parliament,” the spokesperson said.

At first, said that he would continue as an independent lawmaker and was “cooperating fully with any investigation.”

Two female MPs had reported Parish after witnessing him watch pornography in the Commons.

Parish has represented his district since 2010 and also heads the Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee.

It was the latest incident in a series of sexual misconduct claims in British politics.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/04/uk-mp-resigns-after-admitting-to-watching-pornography-in-parliament/