₦airaland Forum

Just saw the video of some good guys who saved a Police officer from getting K!lled by Nnamdi Kanu's boys at a Police Checkpoint in Enugu.

Igbos are beginning to have a change of mind, Nnamdi Kanu lies are being brought out in the open.

Thank you guys! God bless you all.

I thank these guys for their kindness towards that Police officer.

I thank these guys for their kindness towards that Police officer. pic.twitter.com/d3D2LAhCPv

— Chigozirim Emeakayi 🇳🇬 (@GoziconC) February 11, 2022

The illiterates are at it again, they are ranting and equating a movement for the liberation of nation to Adidas and Nike. Only an stark illiterates and career agitators will turn IPOB into Adidas and Nike. Bunch of nomadic Biafrans parading themselves as media warriors

The Autopilot are intelligent people but what we have left on the side of the @real_IpobDOS criminals are bunch of unreasonable people, people without brain, we will use Voice Of Biafra Radio to reset their brain.

Acouncillor in Sokoto State has donated two plastic mats to Sadada community in the Kebbe Local Government Area of the state.

The shameless councillor, whose name could not be verified as of the time of filing the report, also took pictures with the beneficiaries while making the donations.

Such ridiculous donations by Nigerian politicians is not new but the recent one only shows the practice is being taken to new embarrassing heights.

The usual items had included tricycles, motorcycles, and grinding machines, but water sachets and shoe-shining starter kits have also been donated by politicians.

SaharaReporters had reported how donkeys were given out in Kano and cassava stems in Anambra as economic empowerment by government representatives who enjoy all the pecks of office, and in many cases, funds corruptly acquired, all at the expense of taxpayers.

SaharaReporters had reported how an aide to the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, once distributed wheelbarrows with the inscription, "Gov Ortom for You," arguing that the beneficiaries would use the wheelbarrows to run errands and hawk.

Later the wheelbarrow empowerment resurfaced in Taraba State as a member of the House of Representatives, Maigari Bello-Kasimu, representing Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency, distributed wheelbarrows to empower some members of his constituency.

"All of them used to hire wheelbarrows and push to earn their living, but now they have the opportunity of owning their wheelbarrows," the spokesperson for the lawmaker, Saidu Na-Anabi, had said during the presentation.

Na-Anabi's speech probably inspired the late caretaker chairperson of Nsukka Local Government Area in Enugu State, Chinwe Ugwu, to give wheelbarrows to youths in the area as economic empowerment.

"These are poor people who cannot afford to buy wheelbarrows but had to hire for between N200 and N300 per day," Ugwu had said in response to critics.

Similarly, Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said he spent N208 million to empower Mai Shayi or tea sellers in the state by giving them items like cartons of noodles, crates of eggs, spaghetti, bread, cocoa beverage, liquid and powdered milk, brown and white sugar, nylon and cups.

While Kano governor was beating his chest for such an "extraordinary" achievement, the late Commissioner for Education in Katsina State, Halimatu Idris, outdid him by handing goats to female students at Government Girls Arabic Secondary School, Dutsinma.

The goats were reportedly given to female students in 20 secondary schools who were expected to return the nanny goats to the state government after a year.

Then came the Commissioner for Education in Borno State, Usman Jaha, who gave shoe-shining kits, baskets, yams and bags of oranges to his constituents in Gwoza as economic empowerment. The shoe-polishing instruments were given to men, while the baskets and fruits were used to empower the women.

As more Nigerians face economic hardship and wallow in poverty, largely occasioned by corruption, politicians further insult the populace with the donation of such ridiculous and bizarre items as so-called economic empowerment or welfare packages.

Peter Obi's humble personality is very attractive. I have no doubt that the nation's resources will be managed judiciously if he wins by some miracle. I have no doubt that we will have the world's respect under his rule, but he needs to start marketing himself to the north asap.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has denied reports he would be declaring his interest in the 2023 presidency immediately after the National Convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) as fake.

His spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Monday described such reports as “sponsored speculations.

Citing a report on the front page of a national daily, Akande noted that updates on the activities and actions of the Vice President can only come from his office and not speculative reports.

He pointed out that Osinbajo is occupied with the duties thrust on him by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, urging the public to speculations in the media.

“I’ve seen “news” that VP ‘ll announce presidential bid after APC’s convention. Anyone reading the story ‘ll know it’s all false and speculative snippets.

“Any information on activities and actions of the VP will come directly from his office and not sponsored speculations in the press.

“The VP continues focusing all his attention on the work of this administration and on supporting Mr. President in every possible way. Please continue to ignore the speculations” he said.

Coldsperm:
Those guys were killed on Saturday and not this Monday. It is a cult fight between Aiyes and Baggers. You guys should continue writing rubbish on social media but the reality remains that 95% of Igbos supports Ipob/ESN. Haters should go and die cos we don't care at all. After April, we will make sure no Fulani cows ever strays in any part of the South East. We know it's a long fight to freedom but we must win at the end.

lightskinnigga:
Op:

Why are you such a liar.

Report says “protesting against the spate of ritual killings in our society”

Their was no mention of anambra state.

lightskinnigga:
the op is a liar.

It never said anambra state..it said “our society”

Read the report wella..op is being mischievous

“Today is a very big and great day. Grace of God youths held a rally all over the streets of Onitsha, declaring and making it loud and clear that ‘yahoo plus’, ‘mkpulummili’ (hard drugs) and every kind of cultism shall end in Onitsha.

Some members of the church who spoke to journalists said the aim of the rally was that Onitsha youths will be delivered from ritual killings, hard drugs and cultism, and they expressed the belief that Onitsha will not remain the same after the rally, as God will bring deliverance on the city and the youths.

How is the autopilot sit at home civil disobedience for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and freedom of Biafra in your area today?

There was total compliance to the already suspended sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State on Monday.

Commercial banks, most petrol stations in Nsukka metropolis and major markets were shut even as there were skeletal human and vehicular traffics on the roads.

Vanguard monitored the situation and observed that primary and secondary schools were equally closed as the managements, pupils and students remained at their homes.

Banks customers were at the mercies of Automated Teller Machines, ATM, for withdrawal of cash to meet their basic daily needs.

The Grace of God Mission International, a pentecostal church in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Sunday held a prayer rally around the city to protest the spate of ritual killings, cultism and drug consumption in the society.

The rally, which was led by the General Superintendent and Presiding Bishop of the church, Dr Paul Nwachukwu, moved around prominent streets in the commercial city, occasionally stopping at popular junctions for prayers and a sprinkling of anointed oil.

There has been a recent upsurge in the number of ritual killings related to the quest for wealth in many states across the country, most of which involve youths, with young girls being the victim.

Nwachukwu, who led the rally, said: “We are doing this to pray against the spate of ritual killings in the society today, the high level of involvement in cultism by our young people and the rate at which they consume hard drugs.

“Today is a very big and great day. Grace of God youths held a rally all over the streets of Onitsha, declaring and making it loud and clear that ‘yahoo plus’, ‘mkpulummili’ (hard drugs) and every kind of cultism shall never end in Onitsha.

“We prayed against the spirit of wickedness and lawlessness, praying that the youths will start to live a life that will bring glory to Christ. Honour their parents and be a blessing to the society.”

The prayer rally, which began from 3 pm to 6 pm, moved from Upper Iweka Road, Owerri-Onitsha Expressway, Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and other prominent streets in the city.

Some members of the church who spoke to journalists said the aim of the rally was that Onitsha youths will be delivered from ritual killings, hard drugs and cultism, and they expressed the belief that Onitsha will not remain the same after the rally, as God will bring deliverance on the city and the youths.

Sopulu Uba, a member of the church, and a student of Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, who participated in the march said: “I wish other churches will come out and do the same thing that our church is doing today. This will help to sensitize the people.”

Peter Obi never deported northerners from Anambra State when he was the governor as far as I can tell. It was an accusation cooked up by his political opponents without any evidence or eyewitness testimony that I can find. I apologize for believing it. Northerners believe it too.

Recent statistics by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have indicated that Anambra topped the list of states where married women use traditional contraceptives to control childbirth, with Yobe having the lowest figure at 0.3 percent.

This is contained in NBS’ demographic statistics for 2020 posted on its website on Sunday in Abuja.

The statistics showed that 98.1 percent of married women in Yobe did not use any contraceptives in the year under review.

It categorised the birth controls into traditional contraceptive methods, modern methods, and those not currently using any contraceptive at all.

NBS said that at the national level, the total number of women not using contraceptives to prevent childbirth was 83.4 percent, while those using the traditional method of contraceptives was 4.6 percent with the modern method standing at 12.0 percent.

Sokoto State at 97.7 percent follows Yobe in the category of women not using contraceptives with 0.2 using traditional methods, while 2.1 percent use the modern method.

The report said, however, that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) for the year 2018 was 5.3 percent, indicating a decrease from previous years.

It added that women in the age group 25 to 29 had the highest fertility rate, while women aged 45 to 49 had the lowest rate.

The report noted, however, that the total national birth registrations between 2017 and 2019 stood at 18.46 million with 2017 accounting for 5.03 million, while in 2018, it was 6.58 million with 2019 recording 6.83 million.

At the state level in 2017, Kano had the highest registered live births with 415,598, while in 2018 and 2019, Borno recorded the highest having 863,592 and 879,524, respectively.

On the other hand, Bayelsa recorded the least total national birth registrations with 220 in 2017; 234 in 2018, and 199 in 2019.

The report indicates, however, that most of the birth registrations were done in urban areas with 63 percent in 2017, 59 percent in 2018, and 62 percent in 2019.

On the statistics of recorded deaths, NBS disclosed that burial or other means of deceased disposal was 38,727 between 2017 and 2019.

Giving a breakdown, it said that the total number of deaths registered in 2017 stood at 15,153 but was reduced to 13,329 in 2018 and further reduced to 10,245 in 2019.

By gender categorisation, the NBS said that 9,555 male deaths were registered in 2017, 8,842 in 2018, and 7,066 in 2019 while 5,598 female deaths were registered in 2017, 4,487 in 2018, and 3,179 in 2019.

Any party that has Peter Obi as it’s flag bearer is an automatic red flag for northerners

We haven’t forgot what he did to northerners when he was governor of Anambra state and we’ll remind our brothers and sisters over here

The government should come to our rescue in the Southeast. Our young women are running away from home; running away from our motherland because of the marauding IPOB/ESN vagabonds. How does “sacrificing“ virgins to your hungry gods help you defeat the Nigerian army?

The killings are becoming too much in Alaigbo. We need help. Before our girls are all killed!

PETER OBI RELEASES HIS FULL PROFILE AS MORE NIGERIANS PREVAIL ON HIM TO RUN FOR PRESIDENCY.

NAME: Mr Peter Gregory OBI, (CON).
DATE OF BIRTH: 19th July 1961,
PLACE OF BIRTH: Onitsha, Nigeria
NATIONALITY: Nigerian
MARITAL STATUS: Married with two children

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ATTENDED

· Christ the King College, Onitsha (W.A.S.C.)
. University of Nigeria, Nsukka (B.A. Philosophy)
· Lagos Business School, Nigeria (Chief Executive Program)
· Harvard Business School, Boston, U.S.A. (Mid to Mid Marketing)
· Harvard Business School, Boston, U.S.A. (Changing the Game)
· London School of Economics (Financial Mgmt/Business Policy)
· Columbia Business School, New York, U.S.A. (Marketing Mgmt )
· Institute for Management Development, Switzerland (Senior Executive Program)
· Institute for Management Development, Switzerland (Break-Through Program for CEOs)
· Kellogg Graduate School of Management, U.S.A. (Advanced Executive Program)
· Kellogg School of Management U.S.A. (Global Advanced Mgmt Program)
. Oxford University: Said Business School, (Advanced Mgmt& Leadership Program)
. Cambridge University: George Business School (Advanced Leadership Program)

PREVIOUS POSITIONS HELD

· Governor, Anambra State of Nigeria (2006-2014)
· Honorary Special Adviser to the President on Finance (till May, 2015)
· Member, Presidential Economic Management Team (till May, 2015)
· Vice-Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum (2008-2014)
· Chairman, South-East Governors’ Forum (2006-2014)
. Former Chairman: Board of Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
· Former Chairman: Fidelity Bank Plc.
· Former Chairman: Guardian Express Mortgage Bank, Ltd.
· Former Chairman: Future Views Securities, Ltd.
· Former Chairman: Paymaster Nigeria Plc.
· Former Chairman: Next International (Nigeria) Ltd
· Former Director: Guardian Express Bank Plc.
· Former Director: Chams Nigeria Plc.
· Former Director: Emerging Capital Ltd
· Former Director: Card Centre Plc

MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS

· Member, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG)
· Member, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Bankers
· Member, British Institute of Directors (IOD)

MEMBERSHIP OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES

In my capacity as the Governor of Anambra State, I served as a member of:
▪️Federal Government Committee on Minimum Wage
▪️Federal Government Committee on Negotiation with Labour on Subsidy
▪️Federal Government Committee on Mass Transit
▪️Federal Government Committee on Natural Resource
▪️National Economic Council Committee on Power Sector Reform
▪️National Economic Council Committee on Sharing of MDGs Funds
▪️National Economic Council Committee on Accurate Data on Nigeria’s Oil Import and Export
▪️Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council
▪️Sub-Committee on Needs Analysis of Public Universities in Nigeria
▪️National Economic Council Review Committee on the Power Sector

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS

2015: Golden Jubilee Award from Catholic Diocese of Onitsha for outstanding contribution to quality healthcare delivery in St. Charles Borromeo Hospital in particular and Anambra State in general, on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee celebration of the hospital.
▪️2014: Nigerian Library Association Golden Merit Award for remarkable improvement of libraries in Anambra State, exemplified by our Government's construction of the Kenneth Dike Digital State Library, remarkable upgrade of the Onitsha Divisional Library, and provision of library facilities in secondary schools across the State.
▪️2014: Champion Newspaper Most Outstanding Igbo Man of the Decade.
▪️2014 The Voice Newspaper (Holand) Achievers Award for Outstanding Example in Leadership and Governance.
▪️2013: Silver Bird Man of the Year (with Governor BabatundeFashola of Lagos State).
▪️2012: Business Hallmark Newspaper Man of the Year.
▪️2012: The Golden Award on Prudence – by the Methodist Church of Nigeria as the Most
Financially Prudent Governor in Nigeria.
▪️2012: Leadership and Good Governance Award by The Ezeife Leadership Foundation Award for restoring peace and harmony to Anambra State.
▪️2012: Best Performing Governor on Immunization in South-East Nigeria – by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
▪️2012: Outstanding Financial Planner and Manager – by the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion for my resourcefulness and creativity in governance.
▪️2011: Zik Leadership Prize.
▪️2010: ICT Governor of the Year – by the West Africa ICT Development Award.
▪️2009: Champion Newspaper Nigeria’s Most Trustworthy Governor Award.
▪️2009: Thisday Newspaper Most Prudent Governor in Nigeria.
▪️2007: The Sun Newspaper Man of the Year Award.
▪️The Nigerian MDGs Office/UNDP Best Governor in the Implementation of the MDGs in Nigeria

INTRODUCTION OF CONSTITUTIONAL AND OTHER MAJOR CHANGES IN NIGERIAN POLITICS

▪️He was the first gubernatorial candidate in Nigeria to legally challenge to its logical conclusion,his governorship electoral victory that was denied him.He won in the Courts and reclaimed his mandate.
▪️He was the first Governor in Nigeria to legally challenge his wrongful impeachment and was reinstated by the Courts.
▪️He was the first Governor in Nigeria to seek the interpretation of tenures of Governors when INEC allowed elections to take place in Anambra State when his tenure had not expired; the election already concluded was cancelled and he was allowed to complete his tenure.
▪️He was the first Governor to serve a 2nd term in both the new and old Anambra State, that is, almost 40 years after creation of the State.
▪️He was the first Governor, whilst still in Office, to be appointed a Special Adviser to the President.
▪️He was the first serving Governor to be appointed into the Presidential Economic Management Team.
▪️He was among the first Governors to be honoured with a National Award in 2011, while still in office.
Though the only Governor whose political party was in government in only one State, he was elected Vice-Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum twice.
Though the only non-PDP Governor in the South-East (made up of 5 States), he was elected by the other 4 PDP Governors as their Chairman for 8 years rather than the usual one year.

FUNDAMENTAL ACHIEVEMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF ANAMBRA STATE (PARTIAL LISTING)

1. Anambra was the first State to commence Sub-Sovereign Wealth savings, the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. At a time many other Governors were leaving huge debts, I left the equivalent of $500 million Dollars in investment as well as local and foreign currency, including $156 million in Dollar-denominated bonds.

2. For the first time in the history of Anambra State, Ambassadors and High Commissioners of notable countries such as United Stated, Britain, Russia, European Union, South Africa, Belgium, Israel, the Netherlands, Canada, among others, visited the State.

Before my tenure, Anambra was practically a pariah state blacklisted by the Diplomatic Corps and international development partners.

3. Development partners such as UNDP, UNICEF, the World Bank, DFID, the European Union etc., which hitherto were not in Anambra State started working with the State. Anambra was consistently adjudged one of the best states in development partnership and commitment to reforms for good governance.

4. He was recognised as Best Governor by the Millennium Development Goals Office (OSSAP-MDGs) and the UNDP in the implementation of their programmes in Nigeria.

5. The Nigerian Debt Management Office (DMO) rated Anambra as the least indebted state in Nigeria. In spite of visible and measurable achievements recorded in various sectors, the State under him did not borrow or raise bonds for her various projects.

6. The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria rated Anambra State as the most financially stable state in the country.

7. The State's ground-breaking return of schools to their original owners - Voluntary Agencies (Churches) on 1st January 2009, and subsequent partnership with the Agencies in Education, saw the State move from 24th position out of 36 States to Number One in National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations for three consecutive years. This made the World Bank to commission a study, led by the renowned Prof. Paul Collier of Oxford University, on this revolutionary partnership and phenomenal achievement.

8. The State also entered into strategic partnership with the Churches in the Health sector. This symbiotic relationship resulted in a tremendous boost to health care because of the services offered by health institutions owned by Voluntary Agencies, while the State restored grants to the agencies and made available to them more than 50 million Dollars in various types of support.

10. Through partnership with the Church in the Health sector, his Government funded the transformation of -:
a: Iyienu Hospital, Ogidi;
b: Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala;
c: St Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha;
d: Holy Rosary Hospital, Waterside, Onitsha; and
e: St. Joseph Hospital, Adazi-Nnukwu.
His Government also built the Joseph Nwilo Heart Centre in St. Joseph, Adazi-Nnukwu, where heart operations are now being performed.

11. His Government won the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (1 Million dollars) as the best-performing state in immunisation in the South-East. With complementary funding from our Government, they used the money to build 10 Maternal and Child Care Centres across the State, particularly in rural communities, in partnership with the Churches.

12. The State was the first to procure and distribute more than 30,000 computers to secondary schools, including 22,500 from HP. The Managing Director for Personal Systems Group HP Inc, Mr. Fabrice Campoy described the deployment as the biggest of such projects in the Middle-East and Africa.

13. Anambra State Government provided Microsoft Academies to more than 500 secondary schools, which the Head of Microsoft in Nigeria (Mr. Ken Span) described as the biggest such deployment in Africa so far.

14. The State provided Internet access to more than 500 secondary schools, which the CEO of Galaxy Backbone (Mr. Gerald Ilukwe) characterized as incomparable to any in the country.

15. More than 700 buses were provided to secondary schools in the State by our Government.
16. Boreholes were provided in schools all over the State.

17. Numerous classrooms were built in all the 177 communities of the State.
18 As part of the efforts to turn around the economy of the State, a number of companies were attracted to build their facilities in the Anambra.
A case in point is SABMiller, the 2nd largest brewery in the world, which built their first Green Field facility in the State, which is today one of the most successful facilities they operate globally.
19. A number of other companies followed the SABMiller initiative and were all supported and encouraged under our Government; a good example is INNOSON Motor Manufacturing Company, from which our government bought more than 1,000 vehicles.

20. Anambra State for the first time started close collaboration with recognized government security agencies (the Police, Army, Navy, Department of State Security, Civil Defence, among others), offering them various types of support including provision of more than 500 security vehicles. The improvement in security was phenomenal, such that the former IG of Police (Abubakar Mohammed) lauded Anambra State for not witnessing any bank robbery in my last three years in office.

21. To further enhance security, Anambra State provided at least one security vehicle to each of all the 177 communities in the State as well as various organizations such as markets and Churches.

22. His Administration conceived and built, from scratch, the first state-owned Teaching Hospital, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu teaching Hospital, Awka.

23. His Government commenced the planned development of the Igbariam Campus of the ChukwuemekaOdumegwu-Ojukwu University, including the fencing, construction of internal roads, electrification, construction of the Faculty of Law, Auditorium, Administrative Block, Faculty of Agriculture, Management Building, among others).

24. His Government attracted the World Bank support on erosion - National Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) - to Anambra State.

25. His Government was the first to do Poverty Mapping in Nigeria, as a guide for the effective implementation of our poverty-alleviation strategies.

26 His Government, for the first time, undertook the aerial mapping of Awka as well as the production of Structure Plans for Awka Capital Territory, Onitsha and Nnewi.

27. During his tenure and with his Government's support, Anambra State became an oil producing State.

28. He built the first Secretariat Complex to house State Government Ministries that were hitherto scattered around the State.

29. His government commenced the development of the 'Three Arms Zone' comprising Government House/Governor’s Lodge, Legislative Building/Speakers Residence, and Judiciary Building with Chief Judge’s Residence.

30. By the end of his tenure in 2014, more than twelve (12) health institutions, including two hospitals, had secured accreditation; when we took off in 2006, no health institution in Anambra State was duly accredited.

31. Anambra State was the first to undergo national peer review, which scrutinised State Governments for good governance, through the State Peer Review Mechanism (SPRM), an initiative of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in collaboration with the DFID.

President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday said he was overwhelmed by the banditry in the North West part of the country.

Buhari stated this in Sokoto while paying a condolence visit to the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar over the recent killings of innocent people by bandits in the state.

He, however, assured that the country would ultimately defeat the forces of evil threatening lives and property.

Buhari said he has directed the armed forces and other security services to deal decisively with any person or group undermining efforts at achieving sustainable peace in the country.

He said, “We are worried about what is happening in the North West. What is happening in the North West is what has honestly overwhelmed me; the same people with the same culture killing each other, stealing each other’s property, Wa’iyazubillah, Allah ya sawake.

“Military and law enforcement agencies were given a clear order that they should not spare any bandit or any terrorist.

“Insha Allah we are going to hand over a secured country better than we met it,” he reassured.

The Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal and the Sultan thanked the president for the show of sympathy, assuring him of continued support towards peace and stability in the country.

“That is why I called on our people to offer special prayers at all the mosques and other praying grounds for our leaders to succeed because when you succeed, we will enjoy the benefit of that success and if you fail we suffer the consequences of that failure,” the Sultan said.

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned media platforms against continued reporting that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu jumped bail.

In a statement issued, yesterday, by its Spokesman, Comrade Emma Powerful, the group said such report would amount to publishing falsehood and distorting facts.

He said the warning followed an Abia state High Court judgment of January 19, 2022 in the fundamental rights suit Kanu instituted against the Federal Government and seven other defendants.

The group recalled that the court indicted the Federal Government and the Nigeria Army for military invasion of Kanu’s Afaraukwu Ibeku home in September 2017.

In its judgment, the court held that Kanu proved that the Federal Government violated and threatened his fundamental rights to dignity of human person, personal liberty and life.

IPOB further stated that it would, therefore, be wrong to continue to claim that Kanu jumped bail, adding that it will also amount to contempt of court to report that Kanu jumped bail.

He warned that IPOB would not hesitate to take legal action against any media platform that continues to push such falsehood, arguing: “If Kanu truly jumped bail, a court of competent jurisdiction would not have ordered the Federal Government and the Army to pay him N1 billion compensation and apologise to him for violating his rights.

“IPOB is not an unlawful organisation and will not be, because Nigeria court said so and we will not take it lightly with anybody that tries to give us a fake identity.”

I, the Spirit without a form
Carved from out a storm
I have existed before the rise and fall of dawn.
Like Nigeria, I run hades,
I care less if my subjects love or hate this
But that's what fate is..

2015, I cast on them a spell to see bubu..
2023, I shall unleash Tinubu
For the fall of Nigeria rests on the shoulders of the two dudes..
Endorsed by my spells, this rusty voodoo..

There is probably no “indigenous” Lagos family that is more famous than the Tinubu family. But, although the family is now clearly culturally Yoruba, its ethnic provenance is traceable to what is now Borno State, according to Lagos historians, underscoring the historical and sociological inaccuracy of notions of ethnic purism in Nigeria.

The patriarch of the Tinubu family, historians of Lagos say, was a Kanuri man known as Momodu [it was most probably Modu since Kanuris tend to shorten Muhammad to Modu] Bugara who was also alternately called Momoh Abubakar, Momoh Bukar, or Alfa Ibunu. He was an Islamic scholar who migrated from the defunct Bornu Empire to what was then the Lagos Colony in the 1800s and achieved some renown in the Lagos society.

In the mid-1800s, he was employed as an Islamic spiritual guardian by Madam Efunroye Tinubu, a famous wealthy slave trader, power broker, and agitator in Lagos (who was later banished to Abeokuta by the Lagos Oba of the time). In time, the spiritual guardian fell in love with his employer, and they got married.

But the marriage didn’t produce children. Apparently, the childlessness of the marriage was a consequence of Madam Tinubu’s infertility because she consented to Bugara marrying other women with whom he bore children.

A mark of the cordiality that existed between Madam Tinubu and Alfa Bugara in spite of Bugara’s marriage to other women and having children by them was evident in the fact that Bugara’s children adopted Tinubu as their family name even though they didn’t share any filiation with Madam Tinubu.

I distilled these tidbits about the history of the Tinubu family from an insightful inaugural lecture titled “The Undertaker, the Python’s Eye and Footsteps of the Ant: The Historian’s Burden” delivered by Professor Siyan Oyeweso at the Lagos State University (LASU) in 2006. Oyeweso, one of Nigeria’s well-regarded historians who had an extensive academic career at LASU, now teaches at the Osun State University.

Professor Oyeweso quoted Madam Tinubu’s biographer by the name of Oladipo Yemitan as saying that while most people who bear the Tinubu name were children of Bugara who had no direct blood link with Madam Tinubu, scions of her former slaves and relatives from Abeokuta also bear it.

“During this association of Momoh Bukar and Efunroye Tinubu, the latter’s name was so pervasive and all-embracing that all within the household perforce assumed the name ‘Tinubu’,” Oyeweso quoted Yemitan to have written. “Included in this household were the children of Momoh Bukar by his other wives and Madame Tinubu’s relatives from Abeokuta who had joined her in Lagos and lived with her. Of course, a number of slaves also assumed the name.”

Nonetheless, based on my own knowledge of the people and sociology of Kanem-Bornu, Momodu Bugara was not Kanuri—at least not on his patrilineal side. He was most certainly a Shuwa Arab. Shuwa Arabs, who have been integral to the Bornu society for centuries and who number a little over a million in contemporary Borno State, are called “Baggara” [i.e., cattle herders] by Middle Eastern Arabs. I am certain that “Bugara” is the corruption of “Baggara” by Lagosians of the 1800s.

Although several Baggara people (whom Kanuris call “Shuwa Arabs”) still speak their dialect of the Arabic language, often called Chadian Arabic in the linguistics literature, many of them have intermarried with the dominant Kanuri people in Borno and have adopted the Kanuri language. The late Abba Kyari was a Kanurised Shuwa Arab/Baggara. For all you know, Abba Kyari and the “Bugara” line of the Tinubu family in Lagos may share distant ancestral links!

Now, why is this history important? For one, it helps to exemplify the complexity and syncretism of ethnic identity in Nigeria. For another it says something about the name “Tinubu” particularly in light of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration that he wants to be the next president of Nigeria.

When Professor Oyeweso delivered his lecture in 2006, Bola Tinubu was the governor of Lagos State. This fact wasn’t lost on Oyeweso.

“Mr. Vice – Chancellor, Sir, today, the current administration of Lagos State is headed by a Tinubu,” he said. “The Tinubu’s [sic] are also generally acknowledged as Lagosians. Another Tinubu headed the Lagos State Civil Service for five years. Others had distinguished themselves in journalism, security and community services, the organised private sector and in other walks of life.”

But this is where Oyeweso got it all wrong. Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a member of any version of the Tinubu family. He is neither from the original Abeokuta Tinubu bloodline, the “Bugara” pedigree, nor the slave line of descent.

Bola Tinubu is from a town in Osun State called Iragbiji, which is the headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area. His older sister is the mother of Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the current governor of Osun State. By several credible accounts, including from informants in Iragbiji, Bola Tinubu’s original name was Amoda Lamidi Sangodele.

Amoda is the Yoruba Muslim domestication of Ahmad (which underwent phonetic transformation from Ahmad to Amadu to Amoda). The vowels in the name (“o” and “a” were merely transposed.

Lamidi is the Yoruba Muslim domestication of Abdulhamid. As I wrote in my July 13, 2014, column titled “Top 10 Yoruba Names You Never Guessed Were Arabic Names,” because of Yoruba people’s fondness for the short forms of names, they often dispense with “Abdul” in Muslim names that begin with that prefix. So that leaves us with Hamid.

Now, there is something some people call the “h-factor” in Yoruba, which is the tendency for Yoruba speakers to unconsciously eliminate the “h” sound in words in which it is normally pronounced and to add it to words that don’t have it when they encounter a foreign language. So “eat” is often pronounced as “heat” and “heat” is pronounced as “it.”

Given this phonological characteristic, “Hamid” becomes “Amid,” but the interference of the “l” sound in “Abdul” also causes it to be rendered as “Lamid.” Like in all Niger Congo languages, it’s unnatural for words to not have a terminal vowel in Yoruba, so a terminal vowel is added to Lamid to produce Lamidi.

In other words, in his current name, only “Ahmed” is faithful to his original name since Amoda is the domestication of Ahmad, which is often orthographically Anglicised as “Ahmed.”

Pastor Tunde Bakare helped to push this aspect of Tinubu’s past into the center of national consciousness during a dishonest sermon in December 2020 that pretended to defend Tinubu. In my December 26, 2020, column titled “Bakare Didn’t Defend Tinubu; He Defanged Him,” I unpacked Bakare’s sly unmasking of Tinubu’s identity chicanery.

I wrote: “In Bakare’s political homily, he basically affirmed all the hitherto fringy whispers about Tinubu: that he is from Iragbiji in Osun State; that his current name is not his original name; that he has disowned his biological parents and ‘adopted’ the Tinubu family of Lagos with whom he has zero consanguineal affiliation; that the late legendary Alhaja Abibat Mogaji of Lagos is not Tinubu’s biological mother…”

It’s also intriguing, by the way, that “Mogaji,” the last name of Tinubu’s adopted mother, is the Yoruba domestication of the Hausa name Magaji, which means successor or inheritor. I am curious to know what Alhaja Abibat Mogaji’s ancestral story is. Like her last name, Tinubu’s daughter, Folashade, has become an inheritor of Alhaja Abibat’s “Ìyál’ọ́jà of Lagos” title and privileges.

Well, I can understand Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s opportunistic adoption of the Tinubu name as his family. After all, most people identified with the Tinubu family name in Lagos today aren’t related to Madam Efunroye Tinubu who popularised it in nineteenth-century Lagos.

If descendants of Kanurised Shuwa Arabs (or Baggara) can be Tinubu, why not an Amoda Lamidi Sangodele, a Yoruba man from Iragbiji? But I don’t and can’t understand why he would also “adopt” Alhaja Mogaji as his mother to the point of shunning the funeral of his own biological mother in Iragbiji, according to the late Yinka Odumakin. Well, make of that what you will.

The Islamic human rights organization, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, on Friday described Bola Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a candidate that fits into its long-term aspiration for a Yoruba Muslim President.

MURIC made the remark while noting that any party that picks a Yoruba Christian presidential candidate may lose.

The group made the remark in a statement signed and forwarded to DAILY POST by its Director and founder, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

Tinubu had on Monday hinted on running for the presidency in 2023.

The former governor of Lagos State had disclosed that he informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to run for the Presidency in 2023.

The APC National Leader disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja, where he stated that becoming Nigeria’s president was his life-long aspiration.

Reacting to Tinubu’s declaration, Akintola said: “It is no longer news that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has declared his intention to contest for the post of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This happened on Monday, 10th January, 2022.

“It will be recalled that our organisation has repeatedly demanded the emergence of a Yoruba Muslim candidate for the post of president of this country because of the prolonged religious persecution being faced by Muslims in the South West. We have been consistent in this demand. This is verifiable in at least four different press statements issued by us in the past.

“Tinubu’s declaration for the highest post in the land is therefore a welcome development. Also in pursuit of this campaign, MURIC has spent the last four days from Monday 10th January, 2022 (when Tinubu made his declaration) to Thursday, 13th January consulting its state branches in the Yoruba states : Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti. The outcome of our investigation reveals a resounding support for Tinubu’s declaration.

“All our state branches confirmed that Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu has been close enough to Yoruba Muslims. The Lagos chapter of MURIC also vouched that although Tinubu is not the type that will marginalize Nigerian Christians, at the same time, he will not estrange Yoruba Muslims or ignore their complaints when he becomes president of Nigeria.

“This is the time Yoruba Muslims need the support of their Muslim brethren all over the country to ensure that Tinubu emerges as the candidate of his party at the primaries. They should also vote for him massively during the presidential elections to ensure that he emerges as the president of Nigeria to be sworn in on 29th May, 2023.

“This is the only fair thing that can happen to Yoruba Muslims. Interestingly enough, nobody can claim that the advent of Tinubu as the president of Nigeria is unfair to Yoruba Christians because at least three Yoruba Christians have been both presidents and vice presidents of Nigeria.

“Mathew Aremu Olusegun Obasanjo was military head of state and president (1976 – 1979, 1999 – 2007). Earnest Shonekan was interim head of state (August 1993 – November 1993). Right now, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, a pastor of the Redeemed Church, has been vice president of Nigeria for the past seven years (from 2015 to date).

“But no single Yoruba Muslim has had the opportunity to taste power in the centre. It is therefore the turn of a Yoruba Muslim and the cap fits Ahmed Tinubu, a Muslim born into a strong Muslim family. Yoruba Muslims are proud of Tinubu as a politician of timber, caliber and caterpillar. He has the mandate of Yoruba Muslims.

“We sound out a caveat emptor to all political parties in the country. Any party that picks a Yoruba Christian as its presidential candidate is on its own. Yoruba Muslims and, indeed, Muslims North and South, will not vote for such a candidate.

“We do not wish to be misunderstood. We will therefore reiterate our position on Christian candidates in the coming presidential election. MURIC has no objection to Christian candidates emerging from any other geo-political zone. It means we are not saying that a Christian cannot be president of Nigeria. We are simply saying that such a Christian should not be a Yoruba man or woman.

“Yoruba Muslims have been marginalized for so long. Politically, Christians have monopolised ministerial positions, state commissionership, boards and agencies. Economically, civil service jobs are selectively offered. The education sector has been the Archiles heel of Yoruba Muslims and a concentration camp where Muslim children are forced to adopt Christian culture. A Christian president from the South West will therefore turn the headache of Yoruba Muslims into migraine.

“MURIC will not be partisan. We will give all political parties a level playing ground. Therefore, we will also support any other political party that picks a Muslim candidate from the South West. No political party should claim that it cannot find qualified Muslim politicians when the likes of Babatunde Fashola, Dr. Muiz Banire, Dr. Abdul Lateef Abdul Hakeem, Senator Fatai Buhari, Rauf Aregbesola, etc, are making waves on the Nigerian political architecture.

“Our target is the liberation of Yoruba Muslims from the shackles of political marginalisation, socio-economic repression and educational enslavement. While MURIC will never exhibit enmity, derision or contempt towards Christians and people of other faiths, it has zero tolerance for Muslim haters. Aluta continua : no retreat, no surrender until victoria acerta.”

The South-East Destiny Movement for Bola Ahmed Tinubu 2023 has joined the call for a former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu, to join the 2023 presidential race.

Addressing journalists in Awka on Thursday, the Convener, SDMBAT, Chief Ekene Enefe, described the All Progressives Congress leader as a good man, who deserved to be encouraged to make things happen positively for Nigeria.

Enefe said the group had assessed the value that Tinubu had brought to Nigerian politics as well as the economic and infrastructural foundation laid in Lagos State, and most importantly, the human capital he built during and after his reign as governor of the state.

He described Tinubu as one of the most detribalised Nigerians, who, as governor, had appointees from every part of the country.

He said, “BAT (Tinubu) is one man that believes in merit; if you have the competence he is looking for, he engages you; that is the kind of man Nigeria needs now. We are supporting him because what Nigeria needs in a president is capacity, competence and national acceptability.”

According to him, the country does not need ethnic champions.

Enefe stated, “What we need in Nigeria is a good leader, who is informed and who can harness and allocate the resources of this country equitably.

“We cannot continue to advocate for a president based on ethnicity. There was a time when people from the South-East occupied good positions in government, but it did not translate into improved infrastructure in the region.

“As a matter of fact, some of the champions of the president from South-East extraction are doing it for selfish reasons. How have they used their former opportunities to better the lots of the people in their immediate environment?”

Enefe said the SDMBAT was largely made up of youths, who were desirous of national cohesion and progress with a presence at the grassroots in the South-East region.

“We are in touch with every community in the South-East; we have been existing and decided to provide our platform for BAT, because he represents a better opportunity for the APC and better leadership for Nigeria, because of his proven experience,” he added.

A constitutional lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, has weighed in on the controversy over the Magodo Estate Phase Two properties and the exchange of words between Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Abimbola Oyewole, a Chief Superintendent of Police.

Some policemen, who laid siege to an estate in Magodo, Lagos, had defied Sanwo-Olu’s directive to leave the place.

Apparently surprised by the police’s refusal to comply with his directive, Sanwo-Olu had gone to the estate personally.

In a viral video, the governor was seen exchanging words with Oyewole, who told him that he and his armed colleagues were at the estate on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba; as well as the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The South-West Governors’ Forum had condemned the exchange of words with the governor which they described as a show of disrespect to Sanwo-Olu who is the Chief Security Officer of the state.

They asked the President to call the Inspector General of Police and the Minister of Justice to order over the forceful implementation of the Supreme Court judgement which awarded 549 plots of land on the judgement creditors who are the Shangisha Landlords Association.

But Ajulo said if not for his immunity, Sanwo-Olu should have been arrested for allegedly attempting to stall the implementation of judgment of the highest court of the land.

Ajulo in a statement titled, “Sanwo-Olu & the Police Face-Off” said, “The context and the background leading to Gov. Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State face-off with the Chief Superintendent of Police at the Magodo Estates needs to be further interrogated.

“In all sincerity, the Governor, I must say is misguided, his extant action at the estate amount to grandstanding, incitement against constituted authority, and an attempt to subvert the cause of Justice.

“Only in our clime this could happen. The Governor and his government are parties in the matter, in fact they’re Judgment debtors. What’s expected of the Governor by his Oath of office is to ensure that the judgment of the court is executed or find a way of appeasing the Judgment Creditors, that’s ensuring justice is done to all parties.

“Whereas he is seen giving contrary order to the Judgment enforcement team lead by the CSP in a way to compromise the interests of the Judgment creditors. Save for his immunity, he ought to be arrested and charged for contempt of the court. Kudos to the police officer for his professionalism.”

Bello Turji, a notorious bandit operating in the North West, has reportedly relocated from Zamfara owing to intense military operation.

Daily Trust had reported how the Air Force destroyed camps of bandits in multiple raids across the region.

Sources told Daily Trust the terror kingpin and his men who were displaced by fighter jets of the Nigerian Air Force from their enclaves in Fakai forest in Shinkafi Local Government Area are now moving southwards of Zamfara.

The sources said the armed gangs have been spotted setting tents in Gando forest in Bukkuyum Local Government Area of the state.

Gando is a community located near a forest and is 35km south of Bukkuyum town, the headquarters of the LGA.

The community and many other villages in the district are being literally governed by the bandits.

Residents reported that some of the foot soldiers had erected thatched huts in an area inside the forest. They said the criminals were moving on motorbikes with some of them walking with herds of cattle.

“A bandits’ leader known as Shehu Bayade is the spearhead of deadly raids, kidnappings and cattle rustling in communities in Anka, Bukkuyum and Gummi Local Government Areas of the state,” a source said.

“We believe Turji and his boys were invited by Shehu Bayade to that forest. This is because in their own thinking, making the vast forest their abode would make their detection by NAF aircraft harder unlike where they had left.

“We are in serious trouble as a people. We are pleading with military and other security forces to extend their aggressive operations to this part of the state otherwise a safe haven for all sorts of dangerous people would be permanently created,” he said.

The spokesman of the state police command SP Muhammad Shehu could not be reached for comments at the time of filing this report.

Turji, the arrowhead of killings and kidnappings for ransom around Shinkafi, Sabon Birni and Isa local government areas in Zamfara and Sokoto states, had released over 50 captives, including pregnant women last week.

The release was seen as a peace move by Turji and his men but migrating bandits later killed over 60 villagers some days after the captives were released.

The Shari’a court ll sitting at Magajin Gari, Kaduna on Wednesday ordered a woman, Rahma Usman to move out of a house belonging to her former husband, Abdulbasit Sulaiman in 72 hours.

The judge, Murtala Nasir, gave the order in a ruling after confirming the divorce between the couple.

The judge also ordered Sulaiman to pay N10,000 monthly feeding allowance to Usman until she completes her Iddah, waiting period.

Suleiman filed a suit against his former wife in November 2021, praying the court to compel his former wife to leave his house saying that she had completed her waiting period, Iddah.

He explained that he made one pronouncement of divorce to Usman on Dec. 23. 2020.

The defendant’s counsel Sagir Hassan, said his client has not completed her waiting period and as such would stay in her former husband’s house pending the completion as provided by the Shari’a.

“My client observed only two menstrual circle, as such have not completed her iddah”, he said

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a woman who is divorced by her husband has to wait to observe three menstrual circle known as Iddah before she can remarry.

Vigilantes, locally known as Yan Sakai, have executed seven suspected bandits’ informants in the Gada community of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Daily Trust gathered.

In the same vein, four suspected informants were executed in the Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were rounded up by the vigilantes at a GSM market in Kaura Namoda town.

The suspects were arrested, summarily and extra-judicially executed following days of an intensive manhunt for the informants by the vigilantes after a deadly assault on the community last week.

In the wake of the attack, the district head of the community and five other people were killed and dozens of residents including women and children were abducted.

Earlier, the vigilantes had stormed Tuskudu, a community located 1km north of Gada town, in search of a suspected informant called Ada.

Residents said Ada was identified among the armed men that had invaded the community.

“Ada was the one pinpointing identified targets for the assailants during the attack.

“In fact, I was one of their prime targets being the Youth leader of the community.

“He was always visiting this community as an innocent person.

“When the vigilantes got him, he listed some other informants and asked his executors to spare some of the suspects they arrested telling them that were not informants. Later they were set free.

“He confessed to them that he was really among the attackers and was giving them vital information on individuals.

“Among those killed also was one woman called Dabo Bokanya.

“She told the vigilantes that she was aiding the armed criminals through necromancy. Her husband and two sons were also slain,” a resident identified as Hafiz Sani told our reporter.

The spokesman of the state police command, SP Muhammad Shehu, said he was not aware of the matter and promised to get back to our correspondent later.

LAGOS – The popular plank market in Ebute Meta, Lagos, is currently on fire right now.

The cause of the fire is quite unknown right now as residents and plank dealers are running Helter Sketterer to salvage what they could lay their hands on.

The development has caused serious traffic in the area and the adjourning road to the popular Third Mainland Bridge leading to Obalende. As at the time of this report, no fire service was on the ground to help the situation.

Bandits have again killed five villagers and abducted 16 others in Kerawa village of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

This incident happened on Sunday morning when the bandits invaded the village.

Bandits had abducted 12 people, among them 10 women, in the same village on Christmas eve‎.

A former Councillor of the area, Daiyabu Kerawa, who confirmed the incident to Daily Trust, said residents deserted the village after the attack.

No official reaction from the state government but the State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Jalige Mohammed, promised to find out details of the incident before commenting.

‎Daily Trust reported a similar incident at Angwar Zalla Udawa in Chikun where 18 people were abducted and a member of the community killed on Sunday morning.

Six people were reportedly killed and one other injured as a combined team of soldiers and operatives of the Ebubeagu security outfit raided Umutanzi in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State.

It was gathered that the invaders stormed the rural community at about 4 am on Thursday morning, shooting sporadically.

The shooting led to panic as residents who were just waking up ran out of their houses and jumped into the bushes, as some sustained multiple injuries in the process.

Many doors and windows were shattered as security agents were said to have shot directly at them.

A resident and pastor of a local church, Pastor Anthony Akatta, told our correspondent that the invaders laid siege to the community for more than seven hours.

He said they later left with some youth who are still unaccounted for.

He said: “It was around 4am yesterday (Thursday) that Ebubeagu and some military personnel came to our village umutanzi in orlu local government area of Imo State.

“They blocked every road that leads to that community and they killed six people and one got injured and they took away some

“They shot at doors, glasses and cars that were packed inside a home and by 11.am they left the village while shooting gun,” he said.

Police Spokesman, Mike Abattam, could not be reached for comments. Spokesperson of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, Capt Joseph Akubo, confirmed the raid.

Akubo said soldiers were not involved in the incident, but the operation was carried out by operatives of the Department of Security Service.

“I heard of the incident, but soldiers were not involved. It was the men of DSS. You can call them and confirm,” he said.

There have been clashes between security agencies and local communities in Orlu and Orsu said to be strongholds of men of the Eastern Security Network, military wing of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB.

A lot of youth have been abducted and many more killed since the invasion started early this year when the state government invited the military to checkmate them.