₦airaland Forum

The Appeal Court sitting at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), ABUJA has reserved judgement on the case filed by the All Progressives Congress (APC), and its Governorship candidate in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva, seeking to set aside the ruling by the election petition tribunal in favor of incumbent Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and the People Democratic Party (PDP.

At the Court of Appeal,Abuja Division proceeding ended at about 5:40pm today 13/9/16. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva’s appeal was successfully argued, but the defendants, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and incumbent Governor, Henry Seriake Dickson cross-appealed and the petitioners cross-responded separately.

The Defendant’s grounds are; non-qualification, locus standi and setting aside the documentary evidence i.e.DVD. The Appeal Court has howevr reserved judgement and is expected to give verdict within ten days.

An APC lawyer, Barr. Osomuvele Sorgwe Esq who attended the court session yesterday expressed optimism that the Appeal Court will reverse an earlier ruling by the lower court, the election tribunal which upheld the victory of Governor Henry Seriake Dickson.

“Issues raised by our opponents lacks merit and will be dismissed and our appeal will be allowed. The pendulum of justice will swing to our favour,” Sorgwe said.

Recall, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State and its Governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, had challenged the return of Governor Seriake Dickson in the election, saying the entire process was flawed,

The APC attributed the victory of Governor Dickson to manipulation of results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Thy also questioned the cancellation of results in their stronghold, lamenting the prevention of the party agents from partaking in the collation process.

But in its ruling, the election tribunal held that the supplementary election that took place on January 9, 2016, was proper and valid.

http://nextnewslive.com/sylva-versus-dickson-appeal-court-reserves-judgement/

Reno Omokri, Former Special Adviser on New Media to immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has continued in his onslaught against the government of his master’s successor, President Muhammadu Buhari and his cabinet.

Reno Omokri who was the voice of the immediate past government on social media remains relevant even after leaving office last year. He has made several statements and rebuttals standing head-to-head with the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government under the stewardship of President Muhammad Buhari.

He has continued in the battle field against the government in power in what could be referred to as speaking for the masses and against a retrogressive government. A position all officials and handlers of the seat in power beg to differ, stating the mess the country is in right now, was the architect of the immediate past, a government Reno Omokri was fully part of.

The Former Special Adviser on New Media to President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s new assault came last night when the media chief came with another sucker puncher via his Instagram page taking a swipe at ministers and other officials of the Nigerian government defining his perspective of their “Change”. Reno Omokri’s statement read:

“Change is defined as sports minister who believe athletes don’t not need training, a finance minister who thinks recession is just a word, a science and technology minister who aspire to produce pencils in 2 years, an information minister who wants to generate jobs through masquerade dressing, an interior minister who uses his security to publicly shine his shoes, an agricultural minister who fight for land for cows instead of farmers, a labour minister who threaten banks with revocation of license when they retrench workers due to bad economy, a communication minister who want us to pay 9% tax on calls, a transport minister who gives one President credit for a railway built by another President, an economic adviser who wants women to donate their jewelry to help govt fight recession and Presidential spokesman who believes #ChangeBeginsWithMe not him, though he was the one who promised it!.”

http://nextnewslive.com/reno-omokri-definition-of-apcs-change/

mobf:
M.I - Short black boy

APROKO|~By Mr ERA

You might want to know one of the finest in the entertainment industry buzzing every hood and street stealing the hearts of many.

Nextnewslive.com is delighted to present to you Emmanuel Richard Angaye aka MR.ERA with a new piece to get Nigerians busy on traffic with more music.

He’s left students of the Most prestigious Niger Delta University (NDU) speechless each time he handles the MIC. The swaggerlicious MR.ERA full of enigma delivers strictly based on Sweet Sound (BOSS) Music is due to explode the music industry with his single August 2016.

Nextnewslive.com was following every studio session of the Bayelsa-born singer and can authoritative confirm the release of his single this moment titled “APROKO” with Afro Pop as the Genre. #Peace!!!

Download Here:

http://nextnewslive.com/new-single-aprokomr-era-download-here/

Can't stop listing to this track, it awesome

BAYELSA —- The Dudafa Youth Wing Bayelsa State (DYW) yesterday issued a press statement condemning the continual detention of Hon Dr Waripamo-Owei Dudafa who was SSA on domestic/social matters to president former Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

The Dudafa Youth Wing Bayelsa State (DYW) expressed their grievances rising from a state Exco meeting held at Akiplai community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa state Wing through its Public Relations Officer (P. R. O) Comr. Timipa J. Bufagha and was jointly signed by the President, Ebisuobo Salo Okpeke and Okodu. I. Ebigoin, coordinator.

The group lambasted the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Department of State Security (DSS) for applying the delay tactics to keep Hon Dudafa Waripamo-Owei in custody even though a Federal High Court in Lagos had granted the politician bail.

DYW therefore appealed to EFCC and DSS to respect the rule of law by obeying the July 2016 order by granting the Bayelsa born politician on bail. The group used the medium to thank the present administration headed by His excellency Muhammadu Buhari GCFR president Federal Republic of Nigeria for allowing the judiciary to adjudicate justice without fear or favour and the non interference to judicial orders and as such begging the DSS and the EFCC not to damage the good image of the change agenda and the incorruptible leadership of the present federal government.

It went further by saying, the arrest and continual detention of Hon Dudafa has affected Bayelsa youths who are under his scholarship scheme in the Niger Delta University (NDU) University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST), University of Benin (UNIBEN), and those studying abroad and consequently pushed their withdrawal from these institutions.

The DYW also frowned that, patients under Hon Dudafa’s financial care and support in the General Hospital Yenagoa, University Teaching Hospital Okolobiri Bayelsa State, University teaching hospital Portharcourt River state and GloryLand Hospital Yenagoa, Bayelsa State are finding it difficult to sustain their bills and as such resulted to the untimely death of some patients which is uncalled for.

The youth group strongly call for the release of Hon Waripamo-Owei Dudafa following the High Court order at Ikoyi Lagos state Nigeria and asked the Security agencies to maintain the statusco of court contempt and orders enshrined in the 1999 constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

And also sited that it’s against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for any one to be denied of Fare Hearing having been detained for almost five months without court contempt of guilty.

http://nextnewslive.com/dudafa-youth-wing-blast-efcc-dss-for-his-continual-detention/

10/9/2016

——-Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine



Dear Femi Adesina; Our Own Prophet Ezekiel. Nigeria is no dystopian and recession might be Armageddon. The howling in the land is real and we will be better off feeding from the stocked kitchen than on our progenies.

There is not only hunger and deprivation in the land, there is also the carnage of innocent Nigerians in the hands of marauding herdsmen and Military troops. There is denial of electricity as much as ‘recession’ is a reality.

Too many Nigerians have surrendered hope in this administration. As fearless as Fr. Mbaka, very many of us are beginning to question the Clergyman state of mind. To some, the name is Ichabod. And until something drastic is done like setting up of an economic team, this asperity might only be a precursor to the disaster in the offing.

In the 1980s, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew famously predicted that Australia was at risk of becoming the “white trash of Asia” due to high unemployment, inflationary pressures and government debt. At the time of the comments, Bob Hawke was Australia’s Prime Minister and he stated that the comment was “not an overstatement” because there was an overwhelming domestic testimonial about it.

The economy has fallen into recession, and the cliché after recession comes depression may not be an overstatement after all by the Wailing Wailers. We are not very cynical as not to believe there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are Nigerians after all but our enviable ‘never say never’ spirit must never hinder anyone from stating the obvious.

When Australia went into recession in the early 1990s Paul Keating, who was Prime Minister at the time, famously referred to it as “the recession that Australia had to have.” The economy rightly recovered through process of economic reforms and restructuring, and the stock market began to quickly recover. This process of economic reform and restructuring continued under the Coalition Government led by John Howard which took power in 1996.

The Howard Government established a goods and services tax from 2000, established a national Productivity Commission, and further deregulated labor markets under WorkChoices in 2006. The result of the process of economic reform is that Australia is now one of the most open economies in the world. It was enjoyed over two decades of economic growth, coupled with low inflation and relatively low unemployment.

The 1980s economic reforms, intended to diversify the national economy and make it more resilient, were introduced after the mid-1980s decline in the terms of trade. The Leaders of that nation did not just surmise the reality of it in a sermon. They formulated economic policies, one that does not encourage poverty, terrorism and ululation across the land.

Nigerians despair and do not mince words because they have seen what can happen when a country’s economy is in shambles. We all witnessed the untold hardship that occasioned the recession in Greece. It was near Armageddon.

Leading countries of the world had fallen into economic recession at one time or the other, and they came out of it, to become strong and sturdy again. “Why not Nigeria?” You asked.

When Greece went into recession, the European Union (EU) gave Her 10.3 billion euros. Ever since, Greece has been putting the money into good use.

Can we honestly say thesame thing for this country? Where will we even get relief though our foreign debts is not as huge as Greece. Won’t the men in the Hallowed Chamber demand for increase in their wardrobe allowance exquisite cars and Government officials increase their number of convoys? Won’t states clamour for increase of their 13℅ derivation? Won’t our leaders still chase shadows and budget still get padded?

Dear Femi, many Nigerians still live in fear. From the resurgent Boko Haram in far North, the deadly herdsmen terrorizing the East and middle belt, Avengers in the Creek of the South and Military offensive that led to the bloodletting in Ikorodu. How do we know that those floating carcass we saw were Militants.

I too I’m living in fear, for I do not know if I will be picked up just like Jones Abiri, Daniel Ezekiel, Abubakar Sidiq Usman, Mr. Iroegbu Emenike and others by men of the DSS for writing you this rejoinder.

“Corruption is being given a bloody nose! You do the crime, you serve the term. A Daniel has come to judgment.” You claimed, Dear Femi, how many corrupt officials have been tried and convicted so far in this administration?

How many is serving the term?

If I were to bank on the success achieved so far in security and fight against corruption to still repose faith in this administration, then my stupidity must know no cure indeed! For I am yet to see this administration show the needed commitment and hit the ground running. It’s hightime Mr President and all members of his cabinet get down from their high horse and lead this nation.

Yes, good Nigerians do not faint, good Nigerians die. Good Nigerians don’t live long in power. While we are prepared for the worst, we are still praying for the best. After all, we have all suffered for a while…

Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine is a Human Rights Activist and can be reached on ebisko19@gmail.com

http://nextnewslive.com/after-ye-have-suffered-a-while-a-rejoinder-e-a-aluzu/

YENAGOA ——-Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri yesterday said, farmers in Bayelsa State would get adequate funding from federal government to boost production of agricultural produce in the state.

Senator Lokpobiri who stated this at a town hall meeting with All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Bayelsa State Chapter at Achievers Farm, Igbogene Yenagoa promised protection of state quoter of loans meant for farmers in the state against what was obtainable previously.

He stressed the need for a cordial working relationship between farmers in the state and federal government to help achieve its programmes and policies.

Multiple farming associations who expressed their delight in the town hall meeting with the Agric Minister used the medium to showcase their various agricultural produce and huge prospect and its sustainability in Bayelsa State.

Also present at the town hall meeting was Udengs Eradiri, President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) who thanked Senator Lokpobiri for the decision to visit his own state farmers to foster hope and water down the dividends of democracy and that of his ministry to Bayelsa State.

Udengs also expressed confidence in the Agric Minister’s ability to project good image as minister of the federal republic of Nigeria with a lasting grassroot track record.

Other top government officials who attended the meeting was the Deputy Governorship Aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Wilberforce Igiri and Commissioner for Agriculture, Bayelsa State.

http://nextnewslive.com/bayelsa-farmers-to-get-adequate-funding-from-fg-lokpobiri/

YENAGOA ——-Reports reaching us from Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital says, the Anti-Vice team, a special unit of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has been disbanded in the state.

Our correspond in Yenagoa reported that, the disbandment of the Anti-Vice team in the state may not be unconnected with recent operations of the unit that led to the murder of a 17-year old, Innocent Kokorifa which has attracted furious reactions from human rights lawyers and groups across the country.

We were also imformed, Innocent Kokorifa the slain Bayelsan Juvenile would have been 18 today and there will be a prayer session by 5pm in his home resident at Okaka estate Yenagoa.

NEXTNEWSLIVE.COM has been following the story and will do well to bring full report soon…

http://nextnewslive.com/breaking-police-anti-vice-team-disbanded-in-bayelsa-state/

Ximenes45:
This is Strategic move from the Presidency, I would liken it to a Chess game...

Hmmmn!!!

A Human Rights Crusader from Bayelsa state and prime mover of #JusticeForInnocent campaign, Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine has raised alarm over the trifling manner in which the Police is handling the investigation of the death of Juvenile Master Innocent Kokorifa.

Aluzu who raised the alarm while briefing newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital called on the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to double its efforts in making sure it unravels the incident which led to the death of the 17 year old in Bayelsa state on August 18, 2016.

He vehemently cautioned the NPF that the murder of Innocent Kokorifa has gained global currency, hence the Police should come out clean with her investigation as the Human Rights community will not hesitate to take legal action against it.

Mr Aluzu who spoke to NEXTNEWSLIVE.COM reiterated his resolve in following the case to a logical conclusion also said, he was not pleased with the way the police was going about the matter and how the men of the Anti-Vice team which perpetrated this heinous act that led to the death of Innocent is thwarting all efforts in getting #JisticeForInnocent speaks volume of their involvement in the matter.

He also insisted that no forensic evidence should be gathered without the knowledge of the deceased family and all act to do so would not be acceptable. This stance is coming after Mr Daniel Kokorifa, father of the deceased alleged that, fingerprint of his late son was taken by men of the Bayelsa state Police command without his prior knowledge or that of any member of his family.

The nascent and vibrant activist who claimed to have been following the Innocent Kokorifa story keenly stated that any Anti-Vice officer found guilty after thorough investigation should be made to face the law squarely.

“Since they have discharged their bullets illegally and ended the precious life of Innocent, they deserve no less the same punishment to serve as strong deterrent to would- be trigger happy police elements in all parts of the country,” Aluzu added.

http://nextnewslive.com/innocent-kokorifa-human-rights-activist-raises-alarm/

MadamExcellency:
I got the time to educate and free you out of zombiesm tonight but before that, take a little time to digest this Professor Soludo's presentation to APC and Buhari's administration during the days when Buhari's body language was working wonders to the admiration of most Nigerians in the early days of this government and tell me you are still making sense.

NB: I am a Nairaland Apostle to Zombies and in line with my mission, your soul will be delivered tonight

Hmmmn!!!

modelmike7:
. . . . Zero, read the short news again, this time, very Slowly!

Hahaha, my bello ooooo , chai this laugh don make me fall on top Army man wife

joeprince23:
mr ijaw man stop spreading propaganda everywhere... How much timipre give you? Tamuno?

See them, they are showing up already. How does invading of Gen Ogunbos and Peremabiri community concern payment and Sylva

Make I hear word abeg!!!

GenWOJUOLA:
Pictures

How can you say the military men carted away millions of naira in cash from th indigenes I doubt this story jooor!!!
Apart from the torture Buhari has subjected us to that forces the average Nigerian not to keep 50 thousand in his. Bank acct, how can a 'regular' riverine community have people with millions in cash??

It's a matter of collabo against the ex-agitator, the NEVERDIE guy who is parading himself as the Paramount ruler is loyal to Governor Dickson and youths were used alongside the military all in a bid to overpower him and they took advantage of the situation.

And again, your assertion that an interior community cannot have millions of naira is wrong. This is a community that does not have a bank and save proceeds from businesses within until monies are sent to either Amassoma or YENAGOA the state capital for banking. Your believe only portrays rural dwellers in your own state are not millionaires.

People like Gen. Ogunbos are people with huge financial burden to cater for subordinates daily, so be calm jarre.

8/9/2016

– Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine



This is another attempt of your administration to shift blame. The blame of Jonathan administration is no longer selling in the market. Your Minister of Information does not want to put pressure on your government. Instead, he wants Nigerians to “proffer solutions”. This reasoning is another insanity we have sold ourselves over the years. It has become so standard that we expect even a boli vendor to provide us with a political solution the moment she starts asking questions about governance. As if government cares. True, public intellectuals may engage society to broaden perspectives. Non-profit entities may volunteer to fix certain issues. Everyday citizens may agitate for a particular course of action. But, in the end, it is not the duty of the intellectual, the charity or the ordinary citizen to fix socio-political problems. This is the duty of government. This is the reason we create governments. It is the reason we voted government. And I hope the Minister of Information and Culture gets to understand this.

We elect our public officials to think about us. We empower them with the full resources of state. We pay them in taxes and our collective resources. We house them, feed them, transport them, nurse them, clothe them, and may even bury them when they die in exchange for just their concern over our affairs. Not to share money for us, or fly us in private jets, just a little concern from them will suffice. Is that too much to ask?

When you were campaigning and ferociously chanting the mantra “CHANGE”, you repeatedly said “… You will” not “Nigerians will…”, How does change now begin with me now?

We keep getting excuses for why things are not working. We are rebuked and insulted by public officials and Government aides. We were told that when you get to read about our pains on paper, you laugh and laugh until you’ve had your fill. We have become whipped and accepting.

We can’t blame ourselves for the lack of social development. We invest government with resources then absolve it of responsibility. Instead, we challenge ourselves to work harder, to do better. And when our social critics call out government, we tell them to shut up or “proffer solutions” we tell them “Change begins with you”.

Think of that: we order our social critics to fix things while we accept excuses from our elected leaders. Of course, our public intellectuals have degraded from the irreverent impartiality of unyielding social thinkers to the simpering partisanship of special advisers ‘wannabe’.

Dear Buhari, we are not so politically uninformed as not to discern when a government is abdicating it’s responsibility and totally vesting it in the masses. When there was recruitment opportunity in CBN, we saw the children of those who change should begin from get the jobs surreptitiously.

When there was ban on forex, those who change should begin with was sold forex at one hundred and ninety seven naira.

Change does not begin with me, my attitude as a Nigerian is dependent on your body language as my President. If those who go about killing innocent Nigerians are brought to face the law, our attitude will change.

If corrupt officials are tried and convicted upon overwhelming evidence against them, the attitude of public office holders will change.

Change does not begin with me. My relationship and dealing with others is dependent on you my President. I am not the one who branded Nigerians as “Criminals”.

It wasn’t me who on Sunday, August 28, 2016, told Japanese business community that Nigeria’s business environment was not healthy for investors. It was you Sir. Change does not begin with me.

It was not Emeka or Femi’s daughter that was reported to have left Law school with a “pass degree” after series of attempt. It was your daughter. It was the son of a commoner in person of Daniel Dada Ayodele who graduated with a 5.0 CGPA from UNILAG. So Nigerian youths are not intellectually lazy as you implied. Change does not begin with me.

It wasn’t a Carpenter that was reported to have beaten traffic light and landed himself in London hospital, it was Godswill Akpabio. A senator and a minority leader of the National Assembly, change does not begin with me.

You questioned our moral as well as social values, it was not Mama Ketu who called Mr. Fayose a “Mad Dog”, it was your wife. Change does not begin with me.

Mr President, the Youths are engaging in criminality not because they enjoy it. Times are hard Mr. President and we did not plunge Nigeria into recession, you did. Change does not begin with me.

I will ask “how far have I changed?” When your wife vacates the office of the first lady inline with the promise you made to us during the campaigns.

Change does not begin with me, it begins with you and all Nigerians in place of authority.

http://nextnewslive.com/dear-buhari-change-does-not-begin-with-me-e-a-aluzu/

cyrilamx:
Reading every comments in support of her appointment, those applauding PMB and those unwilling to shift ground in respect of their criticism of the president made me start rolling on the floor due to uncontrollable laughter. One that caught my attention is how good Nigerians nay nairalanders are in coining acronyms: Fault finders Association (FFA). Honestly at times I come to nairaland to ease off my day and am not disappointed.

It's really baffling

ybalogs:
PDP sure knows how to use the mercenaries in their possession.but sha all of them nah still criminals so e no concern me.

They sure knows how to intimidate jarre

YENAGOA —–Military men numbering over 80 with gunboats yesterday invaded Peremabiri Community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State destroying buildings and other properties worth Milions of naira belonging to ex-Niger Delta agitator, Paul Eris a.k.a (Gen. Ogunboss).

NEXTNEWSLIVE gathered, similar onslaugh was carried against Akamabugou and Tikogbene Comminities who are believed to be a strong support base of the main opposition party in Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its leader, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Our correspondent in Bayelsa reported that the attackers of Akamabugou and Tikogbene Comminities communities were identified to be same people who perpetrated who destroyed, killed and looted Gen. Ogunbos carting away millions of naira in cash from indigenes including speadboats.

NEXTNEWSLIVE.COM also gathered that, the military men who exercised their strength were accompanied by supporters loyal to incumbent Governor of Bayelsa State, Henry Seriake Dickson’s and from Peremabiri community.

Recall, Peremabiri Community has witnessed series of attacks by military men on or before the 2015 governor election in the state over a chieftancy tussle and has taken many lives. Earlier this year, there was a battle between Gen. OGUNBOS, an ardent supporter of APC and one NEVERDIE, a PDP stalwart and who paraded himself as the Paramount Ruler of commumnity and it took the live of one Erepadei Gobo just three days after the governorship elections in Bayelsa State, and the said NEVERDIE has since been on exile after been overpowered by youths of the Community.

When we contacted Paul Eris (Gen. Ogunbos) on the matter, he confirmed the ugly incident and frowned at the way and he been consistently attacked by security officials who he believed are on errand and on orders of the state government simply because he has decided to pitch tent with the APC and longtime friend and boss, Chief Timipre Sylva.

“Our offense was that we bluntly refused to support Dickson on his stolen re-election, Ogunboss has suffered executive intimidation since before & the recent elections, his country home was bombed by Dickson, & all his houses destroyed in the village.

“One Pastor Lucky Young was messlessly beaten along Barnard Osumawei, the latter was released with serious injuries, but the Pastor taken away.

“There’s no criminal or Avengers in Peremabiri Community, & we are calling on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chief of Army Staff, Minister for Defence to stop the soldiers from been used by Henry Sariake Dickson, who is using the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria against his perceived political enemies.

“Peremabiri Community will not in anyway allow themselves to be intimidated by Dickson & PDP, as we all have rights to support whomever we want to support in elections of who becomes the governor of Bayelsa State,” Gen. Ogunbos.

There have been a long-standing battle between Governor Henry Seriake Dickson and Gen. Ogunbos in the state over political loyalty and has lingered on for years which always fueled accusations and counter accusations on crisis such as this. We will do well to give more report on the matter.

http://nextnewslive.com/military-men-attacked-gen-ogunbos-in-peremabiri/

timmy247x:
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mrs Gloria Izonfo as a Federal Commissioner, in the Nigeria Population Commission (NPC).

Gloria Izonfo is from Kolokumo/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and has served in different capacities both private and in the civil service.

Until her appointment, she was the first female appointed Head of Service in Bayelsa State and later retired in 2012.

She is married with children.

http://nextnewslive.com/meet-gloria-izonfo-from-bayelsa-new-npc-commissioner/

The woman fine scatter and I pray her wealth of experience is a plus to this government.

rusher14:
Good appointment.

Tebrao my sister.

Well deserved!!!

Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Mrs Gloria Izonfo as a Federal Commissioner, in the National Population Commission (NPC).

Gloria Izonfo is from Kolokumo/Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and has served in different capacities both private and in the civil service.

Until her appointment, she was the first female appointed Head of Service in Bayelsa State and later retired in 2012.

She is married with children.

http://nextnewslive.com/meet-gloria-izonfo-from-bayelsa-new-npc-commissioner/

BRANDING A CHILD A WITCH

•Urgent steps must be taken to curb the menace in Bayelsa state

6/9/2016

– By Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine



There was once a girl named Tamarapreye (herein referred to as Preye), she was 9 years of age, dark in complexion. Not brainy but she was zestful. She lived with her father’s nephew who was married and they lived not very far from us. She was not the ideal kid as she was most of the time left unkempt, but Tamarapreye was not in any way reclusive.

Her father’s nephew and his wife were not sit at home parents, they were gendarmes. And so, Preye was more of a caretaker who helped her aunt look after the baby. Yes, the husband and wife have a son and so Preye was beckoned on to come live with her relatives in order to help with some house chores. Her biological father’s impecuniousity also necessitated her arrival at the home. She had lived with them for more than a year before trouble brewed.

Her Aunty’s brother came to reside with them. That was some years ago, I was fairly young but I can specifically recount everything like it just happened. Six months after the arrival of the new member of the house, ebullient Preye became melancholic. She was seen most of the time crying and cursing. The Aunt was oblivious of the girl’s pain, she seemed unperturbed. And her uncle (her father’s nephew) had gone on transfer to another state leaving young Preye in the care of his wife. Preye’s pain was mostly felt on the viscus. It was more visceral than it can be mechanically noticed. We all wondered at the new crestfallen face she now wears. Neighbors had to prevail on her Aunt to take an interest in Preye.

Preye disclosed to her that there was a devourer in the house, who would come in the cool of the night to take advantage of her. Sometimes, she would be taken advantage of in the day when no one is around and now, Preye can no longer endure the concomitant pains of the act. She was not herself.

The alleged devourer was remonstrated verbally by his sister and nothing more. When Preye father’s nephew returned, he started seeing some signs and noticing some changes in the poor girl. The girl was started suffering from fistula incontinent when obnoxious smell began to ooze out from her. On inquiry, he too came to the knowledge of the incestuous relationship between young Preye’s and his inlaw. He was enraged. He looked for his inlaw to confront him, but it was too late. The egregious fellow had surreptitiously left the house. He had gone back to his state. Nothing was to be heard from him thereafter.

The husband’s credulity was soon taken advantage of by his wife. He was told by a Clergyman of a renowned Church in Yenagoa who the wife had invited to the house that Preye is a witch and that she had used witchcraft powers to lure his in-laws to have sex with her. The Clergyman also claimed that Preye was responsible for the stagnation of her father’s nephew in his place of work and that she has also passed the witchcraft to their son. The branding of witchcraft did not stop at Preye. Preye’s mother who had deserted her father a long time ago was accused of giving Preye the witch and so was other members of her maternal family accused of being witches and wizards. At this point, there was no misgivings as to the gullibility of her uncle as he took every word of the Clergyman hook, line and sinker. Young Preye who was in dire need of serious medical attention was soon sent packing from the house.

She was taken to her grandmother at Ogbopuluama as her own biological father was not willing to accept the child back. His new wife was not comfortable with having a witch live under thesame roof with her children. I travelled to Ogbopuluama in search of the girl Preye 3 years later. Nobody knows of the girl’s whereabout. No one can give a good account of what happened to her thereafter. Not even the family she lived with. To them, it was good riddance.

This story is not in any way a fiction, it is a true life story. Recent happenings in Yenagoa has informed my writing it. There is need for us to stop this habit of witch branding that has gone unabated over the years or risk having our own Scolombo boys in Bayelsa state.

Scolombo boys is a children cult formed by Area Boys. They are dangerous and mindless gang of homeless children that roam the streets without any guidance. They are a group many see as coming straight from perdition to take vengeance on a society which condemned them. They are the children branded as witchcraft. Neglected by society, they have now turned out to be miscreants and serious pain in the flesh.

They started as harmless kids initially, innocuously appealing to our sense of humanity and love. Unrighteously neglected, they constitute themselves as street urchins as could be seen in clustering arears like IBB, Ekong Ita, Murtala Mohammed Highway by Flour Mills, Marian, Calabar road and others in Cross River state. Abandoned and condemned to death by members of their immediate family, the kids learnt survival like they took tuition from the Devil himself. And now, that which society rejected had come back to haunt it.

Tales of these children’s cult has left an indelible scar in the minds of many, especially in Cross River state, Nigeria. Such, is the 2014 filling station robbery by over 30 street boys and girls in Calabar South and the murder of Emilia Etim by members of the Scolombo sect.

Popularly called Nne, the 33-year-old Emilia Etim lived along Edgerly Street, Calabar South Local Government Area and was heavily pregnant at the time her assailants deprived her of her existence. She was stabbed by a member of the sect, a boy alleged not to be more than 10 years old at the time of the incident. She had refused to surrender her valuables on demand by a group of boys numbering up to eight.

What happened in Cross River is not very much a far cry from what Bayelsa state is currently breeding as the major cause of Scolombo boys can be traced to poverty, failure of the family and religious institutions.

In many homes, very often than not, children are branded witches and wizards by pronouncement of Clergy men and spiritualist. As a result, the children are subjected to all manner of dehumanizing and degrading treatment by members of their family, peer groups and community even the Devil himself cannot envisage and are subsequently thrown out of the house (those who survive the ordeal). Not forgetting the concomitant abuses suffered by them in the hands of strangers. They get raped and tortured. These children in order to survive turn against society and engage in criminality. They are now serious criminals attacking members of the society. They invariably can turn recruit for senior criminals, who knows if they are not members of the Niger Delta militant.

There is a need for us to stare at our moral consciousness in the mirror as a people. What has happened to our values as a society? What has happened to our sense of humanity as a people? How can we discard our children who are products of love? How does cutting off a child from its family stop the child from being a witch if such thing ever exist. This is an insult to intellect. How hath folly replaced reason. How deep hath ignorance feasted on our cerebral. With the daily occurrence of children being branded witch in Akwa Ibom state, it is only a matter of time before we are faced with our own Scolombo boys.

This problem has hilighted how educationally backward we still are as a people. It has also hilighted the breakdown of our family and religious institutions. There is need for us to secure our state and take proactive measures. Vices like this must be addressed holistically by all stakeholders. NGO’s should rise. Religious leaders should rise, government should do more to save and protect the state and its citizens. We can no longer be adopting reactive measures to tackle criminality. We have to be proactive. Government should not only empower relevant authorities to act when it is too late. We should learn to treat every issue putting on a stern look. What a thousand naira should solve initially, millions must not be spent on it.

There is need for proper sensitization and stiffer punishments for those perpetuating the act. Those branding children as witches and wizards should be arrested, prosecuted and punished accordingly.

Children are wonderfully and perfectly made, they are a gift from God and should never be blamed, as innocent as they are, for our own misfortune.

We must all rise as a people to secure the future of our children in Bayelsa state and beyond. Let us rouse our people to put an end to this menace. Let us focus on the objective of a crime free society. No effort is too much to rid ourselves of the dangers branding children witches poses in our society.

Aluzu Ebikebuna Augustine is a Rights Activist from the University of Uyo and can be reached via ebisko19@gmail.com

http://nextnewslive.com/branding-a-child-a-witch-urgent-steps-must-be-taken-to-curb-the-menace-in-bayelsa-state/