₦airaland Forum

Imo State Police Command says it on Tuesday arrested a 65-year-old Ezeugo Ordu, a native doctor from Ubachima, Omuma, Oru West LGA who allegedly prepares charms for members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra and Eastern Security Network, ESN.

According to the police, he has confessed to be a member of IPOB/ESN, and has made useful statements as regards to the recent attacks on Police stations as well as the residence of Governor Hope Uzodinma.

In a statement signed by the PPRO of the Command, SP Bala Elkana made available to ABN TV, the tactical teams of the Command through diligent and painstaking investigations nabbed Ezeugo who Ordu led operatives of the Command to the IPOB/ESN camp a Bush close to Njaba River where nine persons were arrested at the criminal hideout.

He said they were planning another attack as assorted charms were recovered from them.

He added, "However, two (2) out of the nine arrested in the hideout, CHINEDU NWAKAIRE "M" aka ONE DOOR, 48 yrs old UZOAMAKA UGOANYANWU "M", (their native Doctor) 40 yrs old, were identified to be part of the hoodlums that attacked the private residence of Gov. Hope Uzodinma and also some Police stations as well, they confessed to the crime, and also stated their roles during the operations.

"Furthermore, the CP used the opportunity to reiterate the call on members of the IPOB/ESN, or any other criminal syndicate operating in the state especially those who stole Police arms and ammunitions to voluntarily surrender themselves to enable them get "soft landing", or they will be arrested face the full wrath of the law, as the Command will do everything possible to rid Imo state of crime and criminality".

Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to the Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia state, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, ABN TV reports.

Kukah, a tireless and fearless advocate for justice, democracy, and human development arrived at Kalu’s home at 7 pm and proceeded for a private meeting that lasted for almost more than hour.

Details of the meeting as the time of filing this report was yet unknown.

Prior to departure, the revered Bishop prayed for Kalu and his entire household.

Senator representing Abia North, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has advised individuals sponsorship violence in the South East to stop as it is not in the interest of the people.

Kalu, also Chief Whip of Senate made this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the security challenge in the South East region was strange, saying that Igbo people were not known for burning homes to punish enemies.

The lawmaker questioned the justification for killing security officials deployed to protect people, their families, and relatives.

Kalu urged the masterminds of the violence to have a rethink of their actions, while advising them to choose a legitimate means of expressing their grievances.

”The policemen and military officers being killed are fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, children, and relatives.

”Anyone that has lost a close relative knows what it means to lose parents or children.

“I am more concerned about the lives lost because of the trickle-down effects on families.

“Our people are not known for burning homes to punish enemies, destroying police stations and infrastructures can never be the best path to express grievances,” he said.

Kalu added: “We should not either by words or actions pursue a repetition of the 1967 horrible genocide.

” We should come to understand that every war ends on a table, instead of destructions before coming to the table.

“Is it not wiser to come to table and avoid destruction? we need infrastructure, we need investments, we don’t need hostilities.

“So we are pleading with you to stop and embrace peace.“

At least one person has been reportedly killed while about four others were hospitalised following a clash between officers of Abia State Board of Internal Revenue and traders at Timber Market in Umuahia on Monday.

ABN TV gathered that trouble started then the revenue officers stormed the market and sealed it, demanding that each trader should pay the sum of N18,000 only to have access to their shops.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2wP9_Ng-7w
Not pleased by the decision of the state government, the traders put up a stiff resistance, insisting that they must be allowed to conduct their business activities.

The officers of the state Board of Internal Revenue were said to have sought the services of the state vigilante group to help in enforcement of the order.

This however led to a sporadic shooting, resulting to the death of one person while the four people that sustained various degrees of injury have since been hospitalised.

Our correspondent gathered a patrol vehicle and motorcycle belonging to the members of the vigilante group were burnt.

When ABN TV contacted him for a comment, the spokesperson of Abia State Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna confirmed the incident but however denied the death of anyone.

He said all those who sustained injuries have been treated and discharged, noting that the office of the vigilante men were also torched.

As the clamour for a new constitution continues, the House of Representatives on Sunday said such demand is not possible at the moment, stating that the 1999 Constitution only made provisions for amendments and not a brand new one, ABN TV reports.

The Green Chamber further explained that returning to the 1963 constitution as being campaigned in some quarters is impracticable, insisting that it will only take the powers of the people and confer them on a few individuals.

This is in response to calls for the ongoing Constitution Review process to be abandoned for a new constitution

Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu while speaking on Sunday said, "The constitution establishes the parameters and limits of government engagement and power. It serves as a tool for the government to determine the extent to which it can impose laws and regulations on the country’s population.

“The Constitution serves three important functions. It is the legal document from which every institution in the country gets its validity; it contains all the fundamental rights of every Nigerian citizen and it is the basis of the social contract between citizens and the state”.

Speaking on the 1963 constitution, Kalu said: “The 1963 Constitution had certain merits at the time. In that document, an elected president replaced the British Monarch who was Nigeria’s head under the Independence Constitution and the constitution was an autochthonous one credited for being a product of extensive consultation and public input.

“It made the Supreme Court the final court of appeal instead of the British Privy Council and the rights of Nigerian citizens were fully guaranteed and entrenched in it.

“Despite these merits of the 1963 constitution, Nigerians must acknowledge that law is made for man and not man for the law. The 1963 constitution was ideal for Nigeria that had just attained its independence and was still asserting its sovereignty and freedom from British colonial influence.

“Our country, and indeed, the world have evolved from the prevailing circumstances of 58 years ago and as such, we must focus on improving the current constitution rather than adopting a 6-decade old constitution.

“We must also acknowledge the fact that the 1963 constitution was an imperfect document that had certain demerits. These include the fact that the President was elected by the National Assembly who constituted the minority instead of the majority of the electorate.

“It permitted ‘carpet-crossing’ in which elected politicians shifted party allegiance for personal rewards, there was parliamentary supremacy in the constitution, while the Prime Minister was accountable to the parliament and not to the people.

“So, rather than replacing the 1999 constitution with an archaic one, I am strongly of the opinion that a comparative analysis of the merits and demerits of both Constitutions must be had in order to adopt that which worked from 1963 and expunge that which does not work in the current constitution”.

He added: “While the calls for a total constitutional overhaul are valid and understandable, we must acknowledge that the situation in Nigeria demands a quick review of the constitution as opposed to a total overhaul, for want of time.

“A review of the Constitution has become necessary in the face of growing insecurity and threats exposing the fragility of the Nigerian state. Fortunately, the 9th House of Representatives has severally affirmed its commitment to reviewing the 1999 Constitution in line with the yearnings of Nigerians”.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor has likened the 1999 Constitution like albatross, limiting the growth and development of some group of Nigerians like a caged lion, insisting that there is no better time to effect the needed amendment than now, ABN TV reports.

According to the Igbo leader, the 1999 Constitution is riddled with impediments that has stopped people to leverage their relative advantage and areas of strength to grow base on the capacity they have.

Speaking on behalf of the group on Thursday at the ongoing Constitution Review public hearing in Owerri, Imo State he said the current efforts to amend the constitution will pave to freeing the lion for it to defend itself.

He insisted that the federation of Nigeria must be a union of equal, adding that the federating units must be able to stand on their own without begging centre for survival.

Prof. Obiozor maintained that decentralisation and devolution of power is a pathway to getting the federating units to function better.

He cautioned that the colonial creation of dominance of some ethnic nationalities against others negates the spirit of equity, justice, and fairness.

Prof. Obiozor warned that from history, those denied justice have no interest in peace, expressing optimism that decisions reached at the end of exercise will pave way for love, collective hopes, and progress.