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Politics › Re: 23 Things Many Nigerians Do Not Know About This Buhari's Government by Leopantro: 10:30am On Oct 01, 2017
78. [On Boko Haram] Government intends to commission a sociological study to determine its origins, remote and immediate causes of the movement, its sponsors, the international connexions to ensure that measures are taken to prevent a recurrence of this evil.
79. Strengthening INEC to reduce, if possible, eliminate electoral malpractices in Nigerian’s political life
80. Improving operational and legal mechanisms so that disciplinary steps are taken against proven human rights violations by the Armed Forces.
81. Free Education at primary, secondary and tertiary institutions for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and Education.


Editors’s Note: These promises were collated from the APC policy document and manifesto, Buhari’s 100 days covenant, speeches at campaign rallies and town hall meetings nationwide.
Politics › Re: 23 Things Many Nigerians Do Not Know About This Buhari's Government by Leopantro: 10:26am On Oct 01, 2017
81 promises from APC you should not forget about

Below Are 81 Promises Made By The APC Government;
1. Public declaration of assets and liabilities
2. State and community policing
3. Ban on all government officials from seeking medical care abroad
4. Implementation of the National Gender Policy, including 35% of appointive positions for women
5. Revival of Ajaokuta steel company
6. Generation, transmission and distribution of at least 20,000 MW of electricity within four years and increasing to 50,000 MW with a view to achieving 24/7 uninterrupted power supply within 10 years.
7. Empowerment scheme to employ 740,000 graduates across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
8. Establishment of a free-tuition and scholarship scheme for pupils who have shown exceptional aptitude in science subjects at O/Levels to study ICT-related courses
9. 720,000 jobs by the 36 states in the federation per annum (20,000 per state)
10. Three million Jobs per year
11. [In another policy document by the APC] We will embark on vocational training, entrepreneurial and skills acquisition schemes for graduates along with the creation of a Small Business Loan Guarantee Scheme to create at least 5 million new jobs by 2019.
12. Churches and Mosques would not pay taxes under national laws, but if they engage in businesses, the businesses would pay tax.
13. Provision of allowances to the discharged but unemployed Youth Corps members for Twelve (12) months while in the skills and entrepreneurial development programme
14. Making our economy one of the fastest-growing emerging economies in the world with a real GDP growth averaging 10% annually. [In another instance, the APC promised 10-12% annual GDP growth]
15. Creation of a Social Welfare Programme of at least Five Thousand Naira (N5000) that will cater for the 25 million poorest and most vulnerable citizens upon the demonstration of children’s enrollment in school and evidence of immunisation to help promote family stability
16. Recruitment and training of at least 100,000 officers into the Nigerian police force and establish a Federal anti-terrorism agency.
17. One free meal (to include fruits) daily, for public primary school pupils
18. Building an airport in Ekiti state
19. Eradication of state of origin, replacing that with state of residence to ensure Nigerians are Nigerians first, before anything else.
20. Establishment of Crime Squad to combat terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, militants, ethno-religious and communal clashes nationwide
21. Working with the National Assembly towards the immediate enactment of a Whistle Blower Act
22. Economic stability for the ECOWAS nations and maintaining a strong, close and frank relationship with West Africa, South Africa, UK, USA, Canada, and other African countries.
23. Establishing a conflict resolution commission to help prevent, mitigate and resolve civil conflicts within the polity.
24. All political officer holders earn only the salaries and emoluments determined and approved by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission RMFAC.
25. Permanent peace in the Niger Delta and other conflict prone areas such as Plateau, Taraba, Bauchi, Borno and Abia.
26. As against fears in some quarters, Buhari while speaking with catholic bishops in Abuja back in February, promised not to Islamise Nigeria.
27. Nationwide sanitation plans to keep Nigeria clean
28. Preserving the independence of the Central Bank
29. Simplifying immigration process to foster faster visa processing at points of entry.
30. Special incentives to facilitate the education of the girl child
31. Full implementation of the National Identification Scheme to generate the relevant data.
32. Making Information Technology, Manufacturing, Agriculture and Entertainment key drivers of our economy
33. Balancing the economy across regions by the creation of 6 new Regional Economic Development Agencies (REDAs) to act as champions of sub-regional competitiveness
34. Putting in place a N300bn regional growth fund (average of N50bn in each geo-political region) to be managed by the REDAs.
35. Amending the Constitution and the Land Use Act to create freehold/
leasehold interests in land along with matching grants for states to create a nationwide electronic land title register on a state by state basis
36. Reviving and reactivating our minimally performing Refineries to optimum capacity
37. Creating additional middle-class of at least 2 million new home owners in our first year in government and 1 million annually thereafter.
38. [In another policy document] Creating an additional middle class of at least 4 million new home owners by 2019 by enacting national mortgage single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses as well as reviewing the collateral qualification to make funding for home ownership easier, with 15 to 30 year mortgage terms.
39. Enacting a national mortgage system that will lend at single digit interest rates for purchase of owner occupier houses.

40. Injecting extra N30bn to the Agricultural sector to create more agro-allied jobs by way of loans at nominal interest rates for capital investment on medium and commercial scale cash crops.
41. You farm, government buys, guaranteeing a minimum price for selected crops and facilitate storage of agricultural products as and when necessary.
42. Creating a national infrastructural development bank to provide loans at nominal interest rates exclusively for this sector.
43. Construction of 3,000km of Superhighway including service trunks
44. Building of up to 4,800km of modern railway lines – one third to be completed by 2019
45. At least one functioning airport is available in each of the 36 states.
46. Ending gas flaring and ensuring sales of at least half of gas produce, within Nigeria
47. Speedily passing the much-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and ensuring that local content issues are fully addressed.
48. Establishing at least six new universities of science and technology with satellite campuses in various states.
49. Establishing six centres of excellence to address the needs of special education.

50. Prioritizing the reduction of the infant mortality rate by 2019 to 3%
51. Reducing maternal mortality by more than 70%
52. Reducing HIV/AIDs infection rate by 50% and other infectious diseases by 75%
53. Improving life expectancy by additional 10 years on average.
54. Increasing the number of physicians from 19 per 1000 population to 50 per 1000
55. Increasing national health expenditure per person per annum to about N50,000 (from less than N10,000 currently)
56. Increasing the quality of all federal government-owned hospitals to world class standard within five years
57. Ensuring timely payment of retirement benefits for all pensioned senior citizens and creating a poverty safety net for all aged citizens above the age of 65.
58. Amending the Constitution to require Local Governments to publish their meeting minutes, service performance data, and items of spending over N10M.
59. Requiring full disclosure in media outlets, of all government contracts over N100m prior to award and during implementation at regular interval
60. Amending the Constitution to remove immunity from prosecution for elected officers in criminal case
61. Initiating action to amend the Nigerian Constitution with a view to devolving powers, duties, and responsibilities to states in order to entrench true Federalism and the Federal spirit
62. Reforming and Strengthening the Justice System for efficient administration and dispensation of justice with the creation of special courts for accelerated hearing of corruption, drug trafficking, terrorism and similar cases of national importance
63. Establishing world-class sports academy and training institutes and ensure that Nigeria occupies a place of pride in global sports and athletics
64. Reviving the Nigerian football league and putting incentives in place to make it as competitive as other national leagues.
65. Putting in place measures to identify talents early and ensuring their participation in local and international games to enable them become professionals
66. AssistingNollywood to fully develop into world class movie industry that can compete effectively with Hollywood and Bollywood in due course.
67. Ensuring the rights of women are protected as enshrined in our Constitution
68. Guaranteeing that women are adequately represented in government appointments and providing greater opportunities in education, job creation and economic empowerment
69. Promoting the concept of reserving a minimum number of seats in the National Assembly for women.
70. Free maternal and children healthcare services
71. Stabilizing the naira
72. Targeting up to 20% of our annual budget for this critical sector whilst making substantial investments in training quality teachers at all levels of the educational system (Some other APC policy documents had 15%)
73. Ensuring compliance with policies and measures to halt the pollution of rivers and waterways in the Niger Delta and other parts of the country
74. Adopting a holistic approach to erosion and shoreline protection across the country
75. ECOWAS currency by 2020 under Nigeria’s guidance and leadership
76. Maintaining strong, close and frank relationships within the Gulf of Guinea, the Commonwealth, South Africa and the rest of the world
77. Establishing a new special relationship with the leading emerging markets like Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) and other strategic partners around the world.
TV/Movies › Re: TSTV Set To Launch October 1st, Debunks Cabal Rumor by Leopantro: 10:35am On Sep 29, 2017
refreshrate:
Your chest beating isn't loud enough.
Me too I've been to the moon and back I was the only person who designed the rocket sent to Mars

I never went to aeronautics school but right now I'm building a space ship to go beyond our milky way

Yeye dey smell
i tried pretending to degrade to your level to counter you but having gone through your history on nairaland i understand your frustration. kindly continue to concentrate your anger on APC, buhari and those in government as you are so good in that.
TV/Movies › Re: TSTV Set To Launch October 1st, Debunks Cabal Rumor by Leopantro: 7:33am On Sep 29, 2017
refreshrate:
Add keypad join even satellite to be able to contact aliens living behind Pluto sef join.

I sometimes don't know what this thing to you people. Small attendance to one computer school person no go hear word for una again.

Ngwa go ahead.
unlike you i like to ask what if?

i have made a portable household sharwarma and grilling machine as well as a 12v pressing iron that doubles as a 12v cooker.
currently studying some audrino projects.
there is no knowledge that is not power

BTW, i never went to a computer school but i repair computers, write PHP , C# and C++ and make android games.
TV/Movies › Re: TSTV Set To Launch October 1st, Debunks Cabal Rumor by Leopantro: 7:26am On Sep 29, 2017
enemyofprogress:
yes it has
thanks. will start checking up on it
TV/Movies › Re: TSTV Set To Launch October 1st, Debunks Cabal Rumor by Leopantro: 4:48pm On Sep 28, 2017
enemyofprogress:
I have already boughted my own decoder but it's yet to be activate
is there a USB port on the device?

would like to by 2, one for personal use and to hack so that i can expand the internal storage.

wonder if i can install Navi into it?
Foreign Affairs › Re: American Politics Lounge - Donald Trump Is US President-Elect ! by Leopantro: 9:51am On Sep 14, 2017
.

Health › Re: Sick Man Dies After Being Delayed By Striking Doctors In Imo State. Graphic PICS by Leopantro: 9:43am On Sep 14, 2017
firstolalekan:
This useless ignorant doctors. They are only after saving their pockets and not lives.

The doctors that can even compete with any doctor around the world. OLODOS
i need to stop asking how stu.pid can humans be. some people take it as a challenge.

you obviously need a doctor. read what you wrote.
Romance › Re: Advise Someone At Crossroads by Leopantro: 5:28pm On Sep 13, 2017
1. you have a responsibility to your children. they are your seed and you have to be in their life, either directly or indirectly.

2. you are officially divorced from your wife. she made a decision and choose to live by it. granted she might have seen the errors of her ways but she stood at the alter and swore to stand by you through thick and thin in front of God and later changed her mind. she made her bed , she should lie in it. your children should not suffer the consequences of their mother's action and they did not make that choice. besides, what stops her from repeating what she did in the past? you have sufferred and overcome the emotional turmoil she put you through, do you want to put your hand back into the fire? the fly that perches on a corpse will follow it into the grave.

3. I'm very happy with the friendship you had with the other woman but remember, it is a friendship not a relationship. very few people will go out of your way to help anyone nowadays and she assisted you in the time of need. continue to respect her and continue to maintain your distance.

4. family members will come to beg for your former wife. remember that you and only you decide your fate. if they were there and did not help to stop her from leaving, they have no right to tell you to accept her back. they would go back to their families, only you know what you sufferred
Business › Re: How Long Does It Take To Deliver Items On Aliexpress? by Leopantro: 7:20pm On Sep 05, 2017
yes. has never failed and have never taken this long
Business › Re: How Long Does It Take To Deliver Items On Aliexpress? by Leopantro: 7:14pm On Sep 05, 2017
i thought i was the only one experiencing this. have called the post office and my item hasn't arrived.

Business › Re: Tested - Make Money In Ads Viewing [$100-$300] Daily by Leopantro: 7:42am On Sep 04, 2017
i told you it was a scam and you were arguing with me. look at that site and compare it with this site.
http://mevmoney.club/

next time use your brain; nobody will pay that much for simply typing numbers on a site
Business › Re: Tested - Make Money In Ads Viewing [$100-$300] Daily by Leopantro: 7:16am On Sep 04, 2017
morgan2pp:
Sorry the site is not a .club and stop misleading people
simply Google the site and add scam to it to know if it pays or not. I dare you to post a payout from the site or a payment transaction to a Bitcoin address we can verify.
Business › Re: Tested - Make Money In Ads Viewing [$100-$300] Daily by Leopantro: 7:03am On Sep 04, 2017
any site that ends in .club is fake
Investment › Re: Bitcoin Talk, Money Talks!! by Leopantro: 7:01pm On Sep 03, 2017
do yourself a favour and goto the site below learn all about investing in the future. there is no knowledge that is not power.

https:///TheCryptogeneProjectbot
Investment › Re: When Your Mavros Are Green: A Letter To Modern Day Investors by Leopantro: 7:00pm On Sep 03, 2017
do yourself a favour and goto the site below learn all about investing in the future. there is no knowledge that is not power.

https:///TheCryptogeneProjectbot
Investment › Re: Bad Investment! Run For Your Life - 5 Definitive Reasons Bitcoin Is Scammy by Leopantro: 6:53pm On Sep 03, 2017
do yourself a favour and goto the site below learn all about investing in the future. there is no knowledge that is not power.

https:///TheCryptogeneProjectbot
Investment › Re: New,tested And Trusted Way On Bitcoin Business by Leopantro: 6:53pm On Sep 03, 2017
do yourself a favour and goto the site below learn all about investing in the future. there is no knowledge that is not power.

https:///TheCryptogeneProjectbot
Investment Ads › Re: Want To Buy Bitcoins in Abuja? by Leopantro: 6:52pm On Sep 03, 2017
do yourself a favour and goto the site below learn all about investing in the future. there is no knowledge that is not power.

https:///TheCryptogeneProjectbot
Christianity Etc › Re: What Happens When People Die? (find Out) by Leopantro: 12:11pm On Sep 03, 2017
CONFUSION IN THE CEMETERY 2
Jesus. But how did they get to heaven? In 2 Kings 2:11, the Bible tells us that Elijah was caught up to heaven in a fery chariot. Elijah went to heaven, even though he didn’t die. Moses died frst, but the Lord raised him up and took him to heaven (Jude 9). In Matthew 27, during the time when Christ died on the cross, there was a strong earthquake, and many of the graves around Jerusalem opened up. Many of the saints who had died—patriarchs and prophets who lived prior to the time of Christ—were raised in a special resurrection. It doesn’t name names, so we don’t know who they were. But the Bible says they came out of the graves after His resurrection and went into the holy city where they appeared to many.1 At the ascension of Christ, they ascended with Him.2 These resurrected humans were what the Bible calls the frst fruits of Jesus’ successful mission. Empty Cemeteries When you go to the cemetery, does it ever make you feel creepy? Especially around sundown, are you afraid that some ghost is going to lunge out from the grave and grab your ankle? We’ve been trained in our culture to think that the dead aren’treally dead. But the Bible teaches the dead don’t come back. They can’t communicate. They certainly don’t haunt cemeteries! Have you ever gone to bed and woken up, thinking you had only slept a short while, then you peek at the clock to discover it was hours longer than you thought? You have no awareness of time in sleep. That’s how the Bible describes the sleep of death. For the saved and the lost, it’s the same. “Consider and hear me, O Lord my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death” (Psalms 13:3). Death is called “sleep” over and over again in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus clearly referred to death as “sleep” when speaking about Lazarus. “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep” (John 11:11). The apostles took Jesus literally, so Jesus clarifed for them that Lazarus was, indeed, dead. It took Jesus four days to get to Lazarus’ tomb. Lazarus’ body was decomposing, turning back into dust. Martha was even afraid ofthe stench of an open tomb. They reluctantly rolled away the stone, and Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” That’s what Lazarus did. I believe Jesus allowed Lazarus to be in the grave for four days so there would be no doubt that Lazarus was very dead. Some skeptics suggest that other resurrections in the Bible were probably due to coma, arguing the people weren’t really dead yet. But Lazarus had been embalmed and wrapped up. If he had been alive, he would surely have suffocated to death! The stench of his decomposing body wafted out of the open tomb and gagged them. But Lazarus came out alive at Jesus’ command. If that happened today, FoxNews and CNN would have called Lazarus for an interview. What do you think would have been their frst questions? What happened? What did you see? What did you do? Who’d you meet? What was it like to be dead? Despite the fact that this is one of the most public miracles of Jesus, and all theGospel writers knew about it, we fnd nothing regarding Lazarus commenting on his experience. Lazarus has the answer to the biggest question in history! But there’s no comment. Why? Jesus tells us Lazarus was asleep. Lazarus had a fever, he was sick, he lost consciousness, and eventually he died. He didn’t know anything until, all of a sudden, he woke up feeling great, wrapped up in something like perfumed frst-aid bandages. He didn’t know what was going on. He was hearing Jesus call him. That’s all he knew. He stumbled to his feet and shuffled to the shiny entrance. To him it was like waking up from a nap. Some believe that while the body might perish, the soul remains conscious. But the Bible tells us in Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and theirhatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun.” Talking to the Dead Paul, to the Thessalonians, writes about death, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep” (4:13). Paul wants you to understand the truth about death because not understanding this opens you up to deception in the last days. In fact, there are several prominent television programs that feature folks who allegedly talk to or “channel” the dead. Some of them reveal things only loved ones would know. According to the Bible, it’s not dead people. It is either trickery or Satan’s minions. They know a lot about us, even our secrets. They can use these bits of knowledge to trick you into thinking you’re talking to your dead loved one. I miss my brother Falcon and would love to talk to him. But I can’t. He’s dead. If anyone appears to me with red hair and freckles claiming to be my brother, as much as I miss him, I know from the Bible it’s not mybrother. Either my mind is playing tricks on me or it’s the devil. There are hundreds of scriptures on the subject of death, so how can the church be so confused on this topic? How has the devil been able to bamboozle Christians? Why has he bothered to put so much energy into deceiving the church on this subject? Because he’s going to use it to his advantage before Jesus comes again! “In the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

The above was copied from AMAZING FACTS OCT/NOV/DEC 2012
Christianity Etc › Re: What Happens When People Die? (find Out) by Leopantro: 12:05pm On Sep 03, 2017
CONFUSION IN THE CEMETERY

Of the most important subjects in life is to understand what happens when it’s over.
Unfortunately, there is a lot of confusion about death, inside and outside the church,
which makes it very diffcult for the average
person to understand such a vital subject.
Perhaps the greatest understatement ever
would be to say that death is unpleasant. In
our culture, when people die, we quickly cover them up and whisk them away. We don’t
want to think about death, especially when it
comes to those we love and ourselves. But the
topic must be faced, not only for the practical
reason that we’re all touched by it eventually,
but because understanding the truth about
death is actually good news if you have
everlasting life.
It’s not hard to see why people are so
confused about what happens when we die.
Even the many and varied tombstones at
graveyards reveal this state of confusion. For
example, one tombstone might read, “Father
is sleeping now in the arms of Jesus, waiting
for the resurrection trumpet.” But a few
tombstones over, one reads, “Mother is now
singing on golden streets with the angels.”
So which is it? Are the dead sleeping,
waiting for the resurrection, or are they alive
somewhere? If so, what are they doing? There
is a debate about the afterlife, even among
good and honest Christians. This brief study
on death will help you see what the most
important document in human history —the
Holy Bible —really says about the subject.
Life and the Human Soul
Before we can understand what happens
at death, we need to understand the basics
of how life happened. The Bible tells us that
when God made Adam in the garden of Eden,
the man became a living soul. “The Lord God
formed man of the dust of the ground, andbreathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).
Notice it doesn’t say that God “gave man
a soul,” but rather, “man became a living
soul.” The dust from the ground (the body),
combined with the vital breath of life from
God, produced a soul.
When someone dies, it is creation in
reverse. “Then shall the dust return to the
earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto
God who gave it” (Ecclesiastes 12:7). The spirit
that returns to God at death is the energizing
breath of life given by God in Genesis 2:7.
“All the while my breath is in me, and the
spirit of God is in my nostrils” (Job 27:3). Here
Job is talking about “the breath of life” mentioned in Genesis 2:7. In fact, it’s the very same
Hebrew word in both passages. At death, the
body returns to dust, the breath of life returns
to God, and the human soul ceases to exist.
An Eternal Reward—the Afterlife
Nobody is suffering in hellfre today, and
the vast majority of people who have died
are not in heaven. This might shock you, but
it’s exactly what the
Bible teaches.
“Behold, I come
quickly; and my
reward is with me,
to give every man
according as his work
shall be” (Revelation22:12). Everyone gets his or her reward when
Jesus returns. It’s important to understand
this because Jesus hasn’t returned, has He?
Judgment Day is still in the future.
“So man lies down
and does not rise. Till the
heavens are no more” (Job
14:12 NKJV). The dead
do “not rise” from the
grave until the heavens are
no more. When will the
heavens be no more? “The
day of the Lord will come
… in which the heavens
will pass away” (2 Peter
3:10 NKJV). The heavens
pass away on the day of the Lord, when Jesus
returns to the earth. Until then, the dead do
“not rise” from the grave.
But aren’t there people in heaven now?
Yes. A few. They are the exceptions. The
Gospels tell the story of the transfguration,
when Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on
the mountaintop. They
were real and in the
flesh. Jesus spoke
with them; the
apostles saw
them. They
had come from
heaven to offer
encouragementJesus. But how did they get to heaven?
In 2 Kings 2:11, the Bible tells us that Elijah
was caught up to heaven in a fery chariot.
Elijah went to heaven, even though he didn’t
die. Moses died frst, but the
Lord raised him up and took
him to heaven (Jude 9).
In Matthew 27, during the
time when Christ died on
the cross, there was a strong
earthquake, and many of
the graves around Jerusalem
opened up. Many of the saints
who had died—patriarchs
and prophets who lived prior
to the time of Christ—were
raised in a special resurrection. It doesn’t name
names, so we don’t know who they were. But
the Bible says they came out of the graves after
His resurrection and went into the holy city
where they appeared to many.1 At the ascension
of Christ, they ascended with Him.2 These
resurrected humans were what the Bible calls
the frst fruits of Jesus’ successful mission.
Empty Cemeteries
When you go to the cemetery, does
it ever make you feel creepy?
Especially around sundown, are
you afraid that some ghost is going
to lunge out from the grave and grab
your ankle? We’ve been trained in our
culture to think that the dead aren’t
Politics › The Real Story About The Market Issue In Imo State by Leopantro(op): 9:31am On Aug 31, 2017
EKEUKWU OWERRI MARKET DEMOLITION: THERE IS NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED

Evil thrives when men of good conscience keep quiet. Evil thrives when
the people refuse to take their destiny in their own hands. Evil
thrives in the society when a people refuse to recognize the Power of
Almighty God in time of trouble. Evil thrives in the society when the
people refuse to tap into the knowledge and wisdom of God in order to
fight the evil ones among us.
Two days ago, the popular Ekeukwu Owerri Market was demolished on the
Orders of Governor Rochas Okorocha under the Watchful eyes of the Imo
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Okey Ezike and his team;
including the Military, Civil Defense, Imo Security Network and hired
militants from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Imo State.
As early as 7am on Saturday the 26th of August 2017, I was already at
the Market to see things with my eyes. Thousands of traders, natives
and residents had already gathered to see if actually the market would
be demolished.
I walked through the crowd and came to the place Imo State government
officials and security agents were standing. I saw the Deputy Chief of
Staff (Mr. Kingsley Uju), Imo Commissioner of Police (Mr. Chris Okey
Ezike), Commandant General of Imo Security Network (Chief Donatus
Ejifugha), Ichie Best Mbanaso, General Manager of ENTRACO Hon. Jeff
Nwoha and a very large combined team of all Security agencies in the
state. I greeted the aforementioned people and almost on the spur of
the moment, Chief Donatus Ejifugha exclaimed, “SAMUELSON, I AM HAPPY
YOU ARE HERE”. He continued, “WE ARE NOT DEMOLISHING THE MARKET,
RATHER WE ARE REMOVING ILLEGAL PROJECTIONS AND STRUCTURES SO THAT
THERE WOULD BE EASY TRAFFIC FOR ALL. WE WANT  DOUGLAS  ROAD  TO  BE
LIKE  WETHERAL ROAD”.
Of course I received the message from Chief Ejifugha with happiness
and total acceptance. I am in support of that; especially stopping
street trading. The Caterpillars and bulldozers actually commenced
work from AMA JK on Douglas road, removing all illegal structures.
When the caterpillars and bulldozers got to the market, it demolished
the plaza and all illegal structures and projections on the
surrounding lockup stores and shops.
Angered by the removal of illegal projections coupled by the attack by
militants from Ohaji/Egbema, Youths in Owerri made attempts to
confront security agents and stop the rampaging bulldozers. The
security operatives reacted by firing tear-gas canister at the youths.
They also fired gun shots at the crowd to disperse them.
The military men (soldiers) shot indiscriminately and even used their
Armoured Tanks vehicles to frighten People. I went back to my house at
Ikenegbu Layout Extension at around 11am. Few minutes later, I
received phone calls from some people informing me that many traders
had been wounded as a result of gun shots from soldiers and police.
Infact, I was told that a young boy (identified as SOMTOCHUKWU
IBEANUSI) had been killed by soldiers. I also received another call
informing me of the death of two other people.
It was at this point I hurriedly went back to the market at about
2:00pm. At the market, I confirmed that people were actually shot dead
by soldiers including the little boy who was assisting his mother to
evacuate goods in their shop. I felt bad and wept openly.
I also noticed that the bulldozers and caterpillars had gone beyond
what I was told by Chief Donatus Ejifugha. Many more shops had been
demolished. I returned to my house with tears in my eyes.
Nevertheless, I was able to reflect on all that had happened and
resolved to do a comprehensive article to that effect, in the
following areas.

(1) History of Ekeukwu Owerri Market and its challenges.
(2) Indecent Practices and actions of Owerri Indigenes on Traders.
(3) The shameless, hopeless, irresponsible and criminal action of Imo
Commissioner of Police, CP Chris Okey Ezike
(4) The invasion of Owerri by the Military
(5) The militant boys from Ohaji/Egbema LGA
(6) The traders and their mismanagement of sympathy.
(7) Why I am not happy with Governor Rochas OkoroMtn:
cha.

HISTORY OF EKEUKWU OWERRI MARKET AND ITS CHALLENGES.
In my published article in July 2016 entitled
“OKOROCHA, DEMOLITION OF PROPERTIES AND RELOCATION OF EKEUKWU OWERRI
MARKET” (see attached), I wrote, “This is the Ancestral Market of
NDI-OWERRE NCHI-ISE. This market has existed for over 200 years…………….
The Market has cultural and historical significance to the people of
the entire Owerri. The Market is the biggest Market in Imo State, with
a face value of over N60 = billion naira.
When the market got burnt in 1987, the then military Governor, Lt.
Commander Amadi Ikwechegh quickly built the Relief market to cushion
the effect of the losses traders incurred, before he gradually rebuilt
the market one year later. Ekeukwu Owerri is the main hob of business
transactions and activities in Imo State with an estimated daily
turnover   of about N1.3 billion naira. This market has extended to
school road, Chikwere street, Ihugba street, Kagha street, Christ
Church road, Ekeonunwa Street, Okorie Street, Stadium Lane, Njemanze
Street, Tetlow road etc. Perhaps, the Okorocha led leadership is
worried that the Ekeukwu market has grown out of proportion,
considering its proximity to both Government House and the City
Centre. Perhaps, this is the main reason the Ikedi Ohakim leadership
laid the foundation stone of the New Government House at New Owerri,
which regrettably the current administration has discarded. But
whatever is the reason for the planned relocation of the market, the
present leadership did not exhaust other viable options before
arriving at this unpopular decision.
Having come this far, let me inform the reading public that Okorocha
cannot be allowed to be a law unto himself in a democratic setting.
There are three arms of government, and they are supposed to be
operating on one page for the smooth running of the system. Bearing
this in mind, one is in doubt if Okorocha ever sent an Executive Bill
asking the Imo State House of Assembly to authorize him to relocate
Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market to another local Government Area. Since there
is no such bill before the Assembly, and as such no bill has been
passed urging Okorocha to relocate the market, the Governor’s planned
action is illegal and infact dead on arrival. Therefore, if Okorocha
insists to demolish and relocate the market, it means that he has
ulterior motive QED.
However, as a socio-political crusader that believes in “Give and
Take”, Equity, Fairness and Justice, let me point out that Government
can ban street trading within and around the EKEUKWU OWERRI Market. To
make this ban effective, a mobile court should be established whereby
defaulters shall be jailed three months without an option of Fine or
Appeal. This simple strategy will assist to decongest the market.
Also, the following set of traders can be moved to the new place under
construction, without relocating EKEUKWU OWERRI Market.
(1) Medicine Traders
(2) Books Traders
(3) Electrical/Electronic Parts Traders
While allowing only cosmetics, Provisions, Beverages and Boutique
traders to remain in Ekeukwu market. This Strategy also will assist to
decongest the market.
I am therefore recommending these simple strategies to Okorocha led
government to implement. It is crisis free and cost effective”.
Unquote. This article was the moving spirit that motivated the Owerri
Nchi-Ise Indigenes to approach the court and obtained an injunction
restraining the state Government from demolishing the market. Also,
this article gingered everybody into action, and perhaps Okorocha saw
the signal and recoiled in his timidity. Also, the state police
command under the immediate past (C.P. Taiwo Lakamu) saw the signal
and refused to mobilize for action.

INDECENT PRACTICE AND ACTIONS OF OWERRI INDIGENES ON TRADERS.
With the temporary victory secured against the Okorocha led leadership
on the planned demolition of EKEUKWU Market, Owerri indigenes went
berserk. Their youths started to extort traders with all sorts of fees
and dues. Infact, street trading became more pronounced, while
gangsterism and other criminal acts againMtn:
st traders by both indigenes
and non-indigenes became a hobby. Also, criminal elements including
cult boys attack rob and rape female traders indiscriminately and
openly to the chagrin of onlookers daily within and around Ekeukwu
Owerri Market. Perhaps, these atrocities infuriated the Okorocha led
Government and may have led them to take the illegal action of
demolishing the market.

THE SHAMELESS, HOPELESS, IRRESPONSIBLE AND CRIMINAL ACTION OF IMO
STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CP CHRIS  OKEY EZIKE

It is a known fact that there is a court injunction restraining the
Imo State Government from demolishing and relocating the Ekeukwu
Market. Conversely, any action on the market that is contrary to the
court injunction should be seen as an act of lawlessness and
criminality. For this reason, the immediate past Commissioner of
Police in the State CP Taiwo  Lakanu (now an AIG) refused to mobilize
officers of the Police Command when Governor Okorocha reportedly
requested him to do so sometime in September 2016, for the sole
purpose of providing security for his bulldozers to demolish the
market. Also, the then Commander of 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze
rejected Okorocha’s Plea to mobilize his soldiers to provide security
for bulldozers to demolish the market.
The question now is; if the then CP Taiwo Lakanu, a Yoruba man could
reject Okorocha’s plea and request to assist him to demolish Ekeukwu
Market, why would the current Police Commissioner, CP Chris Okey
Ezike, an Igboman stupidly, foolishly, hopelessly, criminally and most
irresponsibly assist Okorocha to demolish Ekeukwu Owerri Market? I
thought that CP Okey Chris Ezike was a gentleman, but now I know that
he is a threat to the people of Imo State. In his bid to please
Okorocha, an innocent, harmless and helpful boy (Somtochukwu) was
brutally murdered and his blood spilled on the road. Oh, I am in
tears. It pains me, it worries me and it hurts me that a shameless
Police Commissioner and his counterpart at the 34 field Artillery
Brigade conspired to shed the Innocent blood of Master Somtochukwu
Ibeanusi on the road, just to please Governor Rochas Okorocha’s
insatiable appetite for destruction of lives and properties in Imo
State. Almighty God my heavenly Father, I come to you in tears. I am
on my knees with my two hands raised up towards heaven. Please let the
dogs lick the blood of CP Chris Okey Ezike and indeed all those
directly and indirectly responsible for the brutal murder of Master
Somtochukwu Ibeanusi. Oh Lord my God, you have never failed me and
cannot fail me now. Feed the flesh of CP Chris Okey Ezike and all
those directly and indirectly responsible for the brutal murder of
Somtochukwu Ibeanusi to the Vultures and other birds of the air. Oh
Lord my God; in the book of Isaiah chapter 31 verse 3 you said, “For
these Egyptians (Evil men) are mere humans and not God. Their horses
are mere flesh and not Mighty Spirits. When the Lord clenches his Fist
against them (Imo Police, and other security agencies), they will
stumble and fall among those they are trying to help (Rochas
Okorocha). They will all fall down together and die”, in Jesus Mighty
Name I pray, Amen. But before this happens, I am calling for the
immediate dismissal, arrest and prosecution of the Imo State Police
Commissioner Mr. Chris Okey Ezike for his criminal, senseless and
stupid involvement in committing illegality and murder, in the
demolition of Ekeukwu Owerri Market, despite the court order
restraining it. This is because, if the police commissioner did not
mobilize his officers, other heads of security agencies in Imo State
would not have mobilized their officers as well.


THE INVASION OF OWERRI BY THE MILITARY.
Let me also express my displeasure over the invasion of Owerri by
soldiers attached at the 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze. They
openly used their Armoured Personnel Carrier   Vehicles to threaten,
intimidate and harass residents of Owerri. The soldiers shot
indiscriminately and in the process people died and many sustained
various degrees of injuries. Owerri is not in a war situatMtn:
ion, why
then should the military be deployed to intimidate the poor masses?
This is very condemnable.

THE MILITANT BOYS FROM OHAJI/EGBEMA LGA.
It appears we are now in an era of madness, whereby youths and
militants from another local Government area were imported and used to
fight residents of Owerri and thereafter used to destroy Ekeukwu
Market. This is an act of Lawlessness and must be condemned by all. It
is a shame that social misfits would be used to destroy the cultural
heritage of the people of Owerri INCHI-ISE.

THE TRADERS AND THEIR MIS-MANAGEMENT OF SYMPATHY
When Governor Rochas Okorocha made known the intention of the State
Government to demolish the Ekeukwu market two years ago, the traders
had the sympathy of about 90% of the people of the state. Hence many
people (excluding politicians) stood up for them and even asked
Okorocha to step down his plans to demolish the market. It is on
record that Okorocha had made his intention (government intention) to
demolish and relocate the market in 2015. It is now two years since
that intention was made public. One had expected the traders to make
alternative plans by at least approaching government for a peaceful
resolution to the “government-inflicted” crisis. I doubt if this was
done. Neither did the traders conduct themselves in proper and
polished manners. Rather, as soon as an injection from the court
restraining Government from removing the market was obtained, the
traders went Berserk and reportedly connived with Owerri Natives to
further annoy the State Government by trading on the Streets and roads
in the state capital. The Market association (Owerri Market Traders
Association, OMATA) could not even assist government to dissuade their
members from street trading. Perhaps, if OMATA had managed their
members effectively, if they had assisted government to stop street
trading, if they had assisted government to sanction any of their
members that flouts (flouted) government policy on street trading,
government would have changed its decision on the demolition and
relocation of Ekeukwu Market.

WHY I AM NOT HAPPY WITH GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA
I will not really question or challenge the wisdom of Governor Rochas
Okorocha to remove the Ekeukwu Owerri Market. Rather, I am expressing
my displeasure on why the Governor did not see the traders as his own
children, no matter the provocation. Even if he must demolish the
Ekeukwu Owerri Market, he should have first ensured that he finished
or completed the two new markets at Naze junction and at Akwakuma
axis, which are still under construction. Now that Ekeukwu market has
been demolished, Okorocha and the State Government must be ready to
face the consequences of their action, since it is obvious the present
leadership did not exhaust many viable options before arriving at this
unpopular decision; and it has started.

How will the very corrupt, shameless, hopeless, senseless and
irresponsible Imo Police Command that participated in the demolition
of Ekeukwu Owerri Market be able to confront or handle the problem
they caused? This is a big question which the police must answer.
The consequences of this unpopular decision include the following
(1) Thousands of traders, families and shop owners have been pushed
into the un-employment market, as a result of the demolished market.
(2) Economic activities in the State Capital will die a natural death
because Ekeukwu Owerri Market is/was the biggest industry in the
State.
(3) Cost of living in the State Capital will rise to an unprecedented level.
(4) Rise in crime rate in Imo State will be overwhelming and
unprecedented in the history of the State.
(5) Total dis-equilibrium of the system will take place in the state.
(6) Due to the state government’s inflicted hardship assisted by the
police and other Security agencies on the traders, many of them won’t
be able to pay their house rents and children’s school fees.
(7) And so on and so forth.

Let me use this opportunity to warn some desperate and ambitious
politicians in the state, who are now pretending to be Messiahs and
whMtn:
o are pretending to be sympathizing with traders over the demolition
of the Ekeukwu market. These set of politicians never offered
suggestions, advice or the way forward.  When Okorocha first made
known his intention to demolish the market, they all kept sealed lips:
only for them to now be pretending as if they really share in the
agony of these traders. Let me ask; how many traders have these
shameless politicians empowered? How many widow-traders have these
shameless politicians empowered? How many lock-up shops have these
shameless politicians provided for the traders? Most of these
politicians are even far worse than the devil himself. If these
politicians are truly sympathetic to the plight of the traders, I
challenge them to make available for use their numerous properties
scattered in the state capital by the now shopless traders.

Let me conclude by clearly stating that Governor Okorocha is truly
making it difficult for his Political party to retain Imo State come
2019. Leadership must have human face. Leadership is all about
selfless service to the people. Leadership must be anchored on Love,
Truth and Honesty.
Nevertheless, I am happy not all Aides of the Governor supported the
demolition of Ekeukwu Owerri Market. Over 85% of them are not happy
over the present development. Specifically, the deputy Governor
(Prince Eze Madumere) and the Chief of Staff (Hon. Uche Nwosu) are
reportedly not happy with the demolition of Ekeukwu Market. Perhaps,
it could be the reason Hon. Uche Nwosu angrily travelled out of the
country. It is very unfortunate.

Let me at this point condole with families whose sons and daughters
were wounded and killed by the shameless and criminally minded Imo
Police Command and other Security agencies during the heartless
demolition of Ekeukwu Owerri Market.

NDONU UMUNNEM NA UMUNNAM.

I rest my pen.

Signed:

Hon. Citizen Dr. Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha FCAI, MKDA.
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media
Former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties
Imo State House of Assembly
Owerri Imo State Nigeria
07032934037
28th of August, 2017.

Please follow me on facebook@citizenikennasamuelsoniwuoha

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