The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance within the November 6 poll in Anambra State, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has unveiled his manifesto.
The former Governor of the financial institution , who presented his his contract with the people of the state if elected at the Dr Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka, the capital on Saturday, said no candidate within the race was his match.
He said his target was to satisfy the a million votes mark within the election.
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He said, “I thank APGA for the ticket it gave me on Midsummer Eve , and therefore the over 50 support groups who for years continued to clamour on behalf of me to aspire for the governorship position.
“They are demanding on behalf of me to return and run, a number of them are people across party lines, and a few who aren't even politicians are calling me and saying that after the tenure of Governor Willie Obiano, the simplest thing which will happen to Anambra is on behalf of me to return and continue. Anambra people want APGA to continue.
“We will compete and contest for each vote and that we won't take your votes without any consideration . Our target is to succeed in the one million-vote mark. There are people that know that albeit they carry a gun, Anambra people won't vote for them. they're carrying money around and buying expired politicians.
“Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra. Anambra isn't Imo. they assert they need to attach us to the centre, and it's idiocy for them to speak about getting to the centre because I’m already within the centre. I serve during this government (federal), so once they mention getting to centre, they're talking about coming to satisfy us. I’m already at the centre and that i enter and out of Aso Rock, so once they mention getting to the centre, they're coming to satisfy me, because I’m there already.”
Doyin Okupe, a former aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan has apologised for his comment on the 2023 elections and Igbo presidency.
Calls for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction has continued to generate heated controversies as the country's next general elections move closer.
But in a Twitter post on Saturday, Okupe said an Igbo president cannot emerge in 2023 except there's a national consensus.
He had also claimed that the South-East will not produce a president until forgiven by the North for the killing of Ahmadu Bello in 1966.
“A national consensus for Igbo presidency cannot evolve until the core North forgives the Igbos for the killing of Sardauna of Sokoto by Nigerian soldiers of Igbo extraction in the 1966 coup.
“If this consensus emerges, in the interest of equity, fairness & national unity, I will shelve my ambition & support whoever is chosen as a candidate by my party. However, if this national consensus is not achievable, I WILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2023 by God’s Grace.”
His comment has generated a backlash with many people accusing him of trying to smear the Igbo presidency campaign due to his presidential ambition.
In a follow-up post, however, Okupe expressed regret over his initial comment.
He wrote: "OPEN APOLOGY TO THE IGBOS. I tender my unreserved apology to the Igbos & other Nigerians who felt offended by my post on the Igbo presidency and the North. I never intended to hurt or demean the Igbos. Instead, I wanted to help actualise the dream. I regret the said post & I am truly sorry."
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has described the killing in Omuo Ekiti on Saturday by suspected political thugs as “clear evidence of terrorism against citizens, who have rejected the party in government.”
Fayose said killing innocent people just because of the House of Assembly by-election was barbaric and shameful.
Ayodele Fayose
He said: “I thought we have gone past this barbarism in Ekiti State, especially when we are confronted with national insecurity to which the government have no solution.
“What was witnessed today in Omuo Ekiti is nothing but terrorism against the people of Ekiti, knowing that time has caught up with them and they are no longer popular.
“This will remain guilt in the conscience of the perpetrators and their sponsors perpetually for killing their people just because of a mere House of Assembly bye-election.
“Most importantly, everything that goes round in life comes round. Therefore, the perpetrators of this despicable act should remember that there will be consequences for all actions because the blood of the dead will surely speak and fight back.
“To the police in Ekiti, they know what to do and the people behind all these, if only they chose not to look away. Ekiti shall be free again if we collectively confront and win this battle against fake apostles of democracy.”
At least three people, including a female police officer, were killed in the violence unleashed on voters and security agents during the by-election for Ekiti East Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly.
Five other persons are reportedly receiving treatment at a private hospital as a result of the incident.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has appealed to those calling for Nigeria's secession to shelve the idea.
The monarch warned that those beating the drum of war in Nigeria are calling for chaos in the country and in Africa at large.
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Oba Gbadebo spoke when he played host to the National President of the National Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, Musa Maitakobi, the Chairman of RTEAN in Ogun State, Titilayo Akibu, and other members of the association in his palace in Ake, Abeokuta.
The visit was part of activities marking the first anniversary of Akibu as the state chairman of RTEAN in Ogun state.
Alake's statement was against the declaration of Yoruba nation and South-West secession from Nigeria by a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho.
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The monarch said Nigeria could not afford to go through another civil war, stressing that no country in the world will be willing to have over 250 million Nigerians as refugees.
The monarch said Nigerians, irrespective of their tribe, political or religious afflictions, must work together for the country's greater good.
Alake said if Nigeria fails as a country, the entire black race has failed, insisting that Nigeria is better as one united nation than breaking up.
He said in a report by Punch, "Nigerians, wherever we go in Nigeria, we must see ourselves as nationals of the same country, people of the same blood.
"We must work together to make Nigeria great because we must not fail, Nigeria must not fail, if Nigeria fails, the black race has failed and may it never happened.
"Where will over 250 million people go to? If they enter the next country, we will eat all their foods within two days; there will be no food for anybody in that place again. That is why we must remain where we are and make Nigeria work and work well."
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
The Accountant General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and Senate President Ahmed Lawan are allegedly using their powers to frustrate the trial of former Minister of Aviation Stella Oduah over a N5bn scandal.
It has also been alleged that the prosecutor, Hassan Liman, is a close friend of the AGF and Senate President.
L-R: Ahmed Lawan; Stella Oduah; Abubakar Malami.
Oduah, who the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission indicted in 2014, alongside the Nigerian subsidiary of Chinese construction giant, CCECC, in alleged fraudulent cash transactions of about N5billion, had refused to appear in court with the backing of the AGF and Senate President.
The EFCC was set to arraign Oduah on February 22, 2021, in the Federal High Court, Abuja, for alleged financial impropriety, but the defendant had refused to appear in court.
Justice Inyang Ekwo had earlier fixed the date for February 9, 2021, but rescheduled because the former minister was yet to be served with the court processes.
A source told NaijaGistReporters, “She was to be arraigned on February 9, 2021 but she didn't come to court on the excuse that she had not been served the papers; the court then adjourned to February 22 for her arraignment.
“That date is also past now, but she was not arraigned. Malami is working with Senate President Lawan to frustrate her trial. She uses Senate President and AGF to either scuttle frustrate the trial or water down the trial."
Oduah, who now represents Anambra North in the Nigerian Senate, was removed as the Minister of Aviation by then President Goodluck Jonathan following a scandal over N255million armoured cars, which she made the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), an agency under her supervision as Minister of Aviation, buy for her at inflated prices.
On December 17, 2020, EFCC filed 25 counts against Oduah (1st defendant), CCECC Nigeria Limited (9th defendant) and seven others comprising persons and firms.
One of the other defendants in the case, Gloria Odita (2nd defendant), is said to be an aide to Oduah when she was Minister of Aviation. She is said to be the company secretary for Sea Petroleum & Gas Company (SPGC) Limited, a firm founded by the former minister.
The rest of the defendants are an employee of SPCG and aide to Oduah, Nwobu Nnamdi (3rd defendant), Chukwuma Chinyere (4th defendant), Global Offshore and Marine Ltd (5th defendant), Tip Top Global Resources Limited (6th defendant), Crystal Television Limited (7th defendant), and Sobora International Limited (8th defendant).
The EFCC, in the 25 counts, accused them of conspiracy to commit money laundering, transferring, taking control and taking possession of proceeds of fraud, aiding and abetting money laundering and opening anonymous bank accounts.
Specifically, the prosecution alleged in two of the 25 counts that Oduah and Odita opened anonymous “private banking nominee” dollar and naira accounts with First Bank, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 11(1) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 11(4) (a) of the same Act.
The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, has allegedly diverted the recently launched Federal Government's conditional cash grant meant for rural women in Yobe State to reward female politicians.
A source told NaijaGistReporters that the process of disbursing the fund, which was meant for 3 400 vulnerable women in the State was marred with partiality in Yobe North.
Ahmed Lawan
The source claimed that a special adviser to the Senate President on Special Duties, Habu Kaku, substituted the names of the grant's authentic beneficiaries and replaced them with women politicians in Yobe North on the Senate President's instruction.
Kaku had also allegedly claimed that the grant is from the Senate President and not Federal Government.
The development has brought a lot of tension in Gashua, the Senate President's hometown, as those whose names were substituted, have been left in agony.
Two women, Sadiya Mohammed and Aisha Ibrahim, whose names were removed from the list and replaced with other names, described the move by the Senate President as unjust and called for the immediate reversal of their funds.
The Senate President is also accused of selecting people from his tribe and leaving others in the disbursement.
A GoFundMe fundraiser set up by supporters of Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has been trailed by heated controversy.
A blogger, Maureen Badejo, had earlier set up a Gofundme page to raise £100,000 (N51.8m) to buy buses in support of Igboho's project of ridding the South-West of killer herders.
Igboho
This had followed Igboho's request during a virtual town hall meeting that he needs buses to "transport people" for his south-west tour.
"I need buses to transport people. I bought the three vans we use. We lost three buses that were hired on our way to Oyo," he had said at the time.
But Igboho had consistently denied requesting such donation, noting that he doesn't need funding from anyone in the diaspora.
He also dismissed claims there was any fundraiser started on his behalf, stating that all he needs is Yoruba people's support in every part of the world.
Dismissing claims of the fundraiser, he had said, "I don't need such and there is nothing like that."
Fresh revelation, however, emerged that the said fundraiser has been a subject of controversy among those who inspired the initiative.
A viral video by Kayode Ogundamisi, a political commentator on Twitter, showed a dispute over money between Badejo and Yomi Koiki, Sunday Igboho's spokesman.
Badejo alleged N2.5 million was given to Igboho but he did not acknowledge receipt even after he admitted collecting another N6.5 million from a Yoruba group in the US.
"Yoruba liberation should not be a money-making venture," Badejo said in the video.
She alleged Koiki failed to acknowledge N2.5m donated for "feeding" for over two weeks after he allegedly described the funds as "no big deal."
"It is an insult to say N2.5 million feeding money is not a big deal," Badejo said.
This led to the labelling of Badejo, who raised the fund as a 'fraudster' which informed her petition to the fundraising platform.
Badejo reportedly petitioned gofundme to return the £46,933 raised for Igboho to donors.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has said that his party, All Progressives Congress and President Muhammadu Buhari, have failed to deliver all the campaign promises to Nigerians.
Fayemi said though some of the issues in the country predated Buhari's government, elected officials should take responsibility for not delivering on campaign promises to Nigerians.
"I'm not going to shy away from the expectations people had before we came to office. I was a leading player in the campaign that brought my principal ( Buhari) to power," Fayemi told Channels TV.
"We promised Nigerians quite a number of things, particularly centering on security, anti-corruption, and on economic growth. Have we been able to attain all of what we promised? Obviously not."
Buhari promised to tackle insecurity, fight corruption and pursue economic development. However, the Nigerian economy has slipped into recession twice on his watch in the last six years, while banditry and school kidnapping have become commonplace.
Despite the humongous budgets given to the military, the insurgency has festered, leading to abductions of schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe State, in 2018, among other abductions of women and children, which continue to draw national and global outrage.
APC commentators have for the most times remained quiet in the face of the growing insecurity which is presently manifesting in more deadly dimensions such as banditry, kidnapping and killings by herders.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
Senator Dino Melaye said on Friday that he had apologised to God and Nigerians for supporting the candidacy of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
He said the agenda that brought Buhari into office was the "greatest scam that came out of Africa", noting that he regretted supporting Buhari.
Dino Melaye Naija Gist Reporters Media
Melaye, who once represented Kogi West in the Senate, was in the Peoples Democratic Party before he, alongside other PDP members under the aegis of new PDP, defected to the All Progressives Congress in 2014 ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Buhari was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the 2015 presidential election, which he won, defeating the then incumbent president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
Speaking on Channels Television's programme, 'Politics Today', Melaye said the Buhari regime had failed Nigerians in all aspects, from security to economy and infrastructure.
He added, "To start with, I apologise to God Almighty, who is the supreme controller of the universe and to Nigerians for supporting Buhari. The Buhari agenda is the greatest scam that came out of Africa. The Buhari presidency in 2015 is the greatest scam that came out of Africa.
"Once I was blind, now I can see. How can one remain in a political party or support a president with what is happening today in Nigeria? How? So, I regret very seriously because we were scammed."
Responding to the report that the PDP planned to make its 2023 presidential ticket open as against the position of many that the south should produce the next president, Melaye said the party had yet to deliberate on the issue.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
The Aare Ona Kakanfo, Iba Gani Adams has revealed that leaders of the South-West have brought all the relevant security outfits together to secure the region.
According to him, hunters, members of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) and Agbekoya members have been mandated to ensure security of lives and property in the region.
Gani Adams
Adams, who stated this when he paid a visit to Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday, said their discussions centred on issues related to the security and economy of the South-West.
He said: “I met the governor of Ekiti State two days ago and now, I am meeting the Oyo State governor.
“It is very important that we interface on the prevailing issues within our region, especially that of security. What we are witnessing now is alien to our history. Yoruba nation has been in existence for more than 8,000 years, I mean the Western region.
“We had a fruitful meeting. I can tell you that we are on the same page that Oyo State and the entire South-West should be in peace and harmony.
“The issue of agriculture was also part of our discussion. The two governors have told me their own parts and strategies, especially on the basis of private initiative. I want to assure that we too will play our own part to bring investors to partner with them.
“We have more confidence to complement the effort of the community. We have brought all the relevant security outfits together; hunters, OPC members, Agbekoya members. We are bringing them together so that we can have effective security in our environment.”
Famous Yoruba Historian, Prof Banji Akintoye alongside freedom fighter Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho), had earlier declared the sovereignty of the Yoruba nation.
In a video circulating the social media, Akintoye and Igboho, along with some Yoruba leaders stated that the Yoruba nation could be independent and yet, thrive.
Professor Banji Akintoye said the most important thing for the Yoruba nation is to learn to work towards its sovereignty.
According to him, this is not a time to discuss issues surrounding restructuring, resource control or a new constitution but rather to secede from Nigeria.
“We have declared that sovereignty now but we must work together. We have just talked about what the Yoruba nation is suffering from in Nigeria. There should be no reason why we cannot all work together to extricate ourselves from this rubble that Nigeria has become."
Igboho, who also spoke at the conference, said the South-West states were no longer under Nigeria.
In the video, he encouraged Yoruba people living in other parts of the country to return to the South-West region.
Igboho said the Yoruba kingdom was united in the latest agitation, and had the backing of all its traditional leaders. He challenged any Yoruba ruler who did not support him to openly refute his claims.
He said, “All the Yoruba youths in this land support our father (Banji Akintoye). We are in support because we know that these are our real fathers who understand that we are fighting for our rights against people that are disturbing us on our land. If we meet any Fulani herdsman, we are ready to face and destroy them starting from now. If any policeman attacks us for that, we are ready for them.”
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
Members of the Isoko North Local Government Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta state, popularly known as Ogwo, engaged in fisticuffs at the country home of a former minority leader and member representing Isoko federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Leo Ogor, over N1 million provided for visitors to share.
NaijaGistReporters gathered that the fight broke out on Monday afternoon shortly after the party's primaries held at its secretariat, Ozoro, to choose the Isoko North constituency candidate that will fly the party's flag during the April 10, 2021 bye-election to replace the late House of Assembly majority leader, Tim Owhefere as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Our correspondent gathered that the party chairman, Godwin Ogorugba, Leo Ogor's younger brother, Jay Ogor, government functionaries, party leaders, Elders, and the party's House of Assembly bye-election candidate, Jude Ogbimi, had moved from the party's secretariat to the country home of the lawmaker for a reception when the fight broke out.
Narrating the ugly incident to SaharaReporters, a delegate who attended the reception, disclosed that the party's women leader was almost naked following how she was beaten.
The source said her clothes were torn by some of the party youths who invaded the reception to cart away the money, also known as kola nut wedges.
"On arrival at the reception at Ogor's home, some prominent party members and government officials from the local government area decided to give out kola nut and over a million naira and all the prominent party members and government officials left almost immediately to attend a meeting at the home of the immediate past Secretary to the State Government, (SSG), Ovuozorie Macau lay, at Owhelogbo.
"However, Hon. Leo Ogor was not in town when his home was used for the reception. As our prominent party members and government officials from the local government left, we commenced the disbursement of the kola nut and money to wards and some of the party youths stormed the place and began to fight over the money and it led to a free for all. At this time the party women leader, Ogwo, had grabbed the money and hid it in her private parts for safety.
"But surprisedly, the youths still turned to her, grabbed her and started beating her, torn her clothes, almost stripped her naked completely and people began to run for their lives. The women leader was later given clothes to wear home by a good Samaritan and member of the party who also attended the reception. But the good thing was that the youths did not succeed in taking away the kola-nut money."
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that 147 delegates had earlier complained bitterly during the party's primaries because of the N20,000 each of them was given to cast their vote for the party's House of Assembly bye-election candidate, Jude Ogbimi, who happens to be the sole candidate.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has said that banditry may not end in the country because the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government has continued the politicisation of security.
Wike said by politicising insecurity, the APC government plunged the security troubled states into an unimaginable banditry scale that may not end soon.
Nyesom Wike
The governor disclosed this in a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri.
Wike explained that when Rivers experienced insecurity in 2015, he ran to the federal government but instead of getting their support, they dismissed it because they want to make the state remain ungovernable.
He said: "They didn't send special forces to Rivers as they're sending to other states now. They refused to support me because they didn't want the state to be governable.
"Crime knows no boundary. It can be you tomorrow. If they had shown zeal to fight crime, irrespective of the party you belong to, a good result would be achieved.
"Banditry will never end since they've politicised the issue of security. I told them don't politicise issues of security.
"They're paying the price. Whatever you sow, you will reap. If you sow peace, you'll reap peace; if you sow trouble, trouble will always be with you."
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has admitted recommending Abdulrasheed Bawa for the chairmanship of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, among four names which were submitted to the Presidency.
Speaking with Daily Trust, Malami said he recommended Bawa to the Presidency because of “his high level of dedication and capacity.”
Malami noted that contrary to reports that he singlehandedly picked Bawa to be the chairman of the EFCC, four names were submitted to the president for consideration and Bawa was subsequently picked.
He said, “I am happy that most of the comments made are not on his capacity, intelligence, competence and associated ability to deliver. His capacity to deliver was never questioned across the nation.
“The question is whether justice has been served, whether public interest has been served having the chairman appointed with a particular regard to his capacity and ability to deliver.
“My answer is yes. He has the capacity, ability and institutional history of the institution to do justice by way of bringing about added value.”
Malami said having headed three operational divisions of the commission, Bawa’s credentials made him to be selected among the names forwarded to the president.
The AGF noted that Bawa “has held various authorities, inclusive of serving in various divisions as the head of operations, including Port Harcourt, Lagos and Ibadan which are adjudged to be the high point.”
SaharaReporters had on March 1 exclusively reported that the AGF had begun moves to also put in an attempt at the 2023 presidency.
Malami's bid, it had been gathered, would rely heavily on funds from the EFCC under Bawa, as Malami used his influence in the Presidency to ensure Bawa emerged.
He had been instrumental in the manner the former acting EFCC chairman, Magu, was sacked from office, after having years of discord with Magu.
As part of his grand plot to achieve his 2023 ambition, the AGF had also fought to ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Bawa, despite detailed investigations indicting the 40-year-old of fraudulent acts.
SaharaReporters had in February reported that a 13-page investigation report by the EFCC, which indicted Bawa who was then the Port Harcourt Zonal head, was forwarded to President Buhari in 2019 but the President failed to read or act upon it.
The report, titled, ‘Investigation Report – Re: Alleged Case of Conspiracy, abuse of office and criminal diversion of Federal Government Properties’, in which the suspect was Abdulrasheed Bawa, detailed how Bawa was recommended for disciplinary actions.
It had been exposed that the report was forwarded to the President’s office, but the AGF influenced how it was dumped and not acted upon by President Buhari.
Only recently, the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof Itse Sagay, had warned that he was not comfortable with the fact that Malami and the new EFCC Chairman, Bawa, share the same state of origin.
He had expressed fears about the influence Malami would have on Bawa which may impair the activities of the commission.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
Leaders and members of the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Isoko North Local Government Area and constituents from Isoko constituency have protested against the state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa over what they called 'Okowa's choice' to replace the late majority leader of the state House of Assembly, Tim Owhefere.
Owhefere, a lawyer and journalist in the state House of Assembly, died at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba from suspected COVID-19 complications on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, aged 57. He was a member of the PDP and represented Isoko North Constituency in the House.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had last Tuesday scheduled the bye-election into the Isoko North Constituency of Delta State House of Assembly for April 10, 2021 following the death of Owhefere and the subsequent declaration of vacancy for the constituency by the Delta State House of Assembly.
A statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, revealed that political parties must conduct their primaries between March 11 and 20, 2021, adding that the deadline for the submission of the list of nominated candidates is 6 pm, March 24, 2021.
Meanwhile, leaders and members of the PDP in Isoko North and constituents from Isoko constituency on Monday embarked on a protest, condemning the choice of Governor Okowa and some party leaders in the area to replace the late majority leader.
Protesters which include women, youths, supporters, and community indigenes as well as political associates as early as 7:30 am blocked the ever-busy Akiewhe-Owhe-Ughelli-Asaba Road with trucks, tables, woods, and so on, causing gridlock as motorists and commuters make U-turns to follow alternative routes.
SaharaReporters gathered that before the burial of the late majority leader, the governor and other leaders from the constituency had chosen one Richard Isagba, an aide to the lawmaker, as the party's consensus choice to replace him and complete his remaining two years in the House.
But shortly after the burial, the governor allegedly connived with another camp in the party and dropped Isagba to pick one Jude Ogbimi as the party's choice to replace the late lawmaker.
The protesters while describing the governor as a 'betrayer and backstabber', expressed displeasure with the role played by the governor in dropping the candidate initially chosen to replace the lawmaker.
Speaking during the protest, a visibly angry constituent, who simply identified himself as Ogheneruro, said, "Okowa is a disappointment, he is a betrayer, a backstabber. Just on Saturday during the burial of our leader, Tim Owhefere, here in Akiewhe, Okowa came and was pouring encomiums on Tim. Okowa described Tim as a good fellow, trusted brother, a friend, and a man of peace.
"Just a few hours after leaving the burial ground, Okowa betrayed the same man he had showered with encomiums by anointing another person to replace him after earlier anointing Tim's aide for the replacement. Just like Judas Iscariot, Okowa betrayed his very close friend, Tim Owhefere. Even the Delta state House of Assembly failed their colleague as well.
"The House could not speak for their own even in death. What is two years that the governor cannot use to compensate his acclaimed friend by allowing Tim's aide to replace him? Just two years. Indeed, the Bible said it, that the heart of a man is desperately wicked. No one really loves you. Even Hon. Leo Ogor of all people could not fight for Tim's interest. We shall remain on the expressway until our wishes and demands are attended to.
"Even those who Tim took care of when they were nothing also stabbed him in the back. When things were tough for the Managing Director of DESOPADEC, Askia Ogieh, when there was nothing to write home about, Askias of this world benefitted a lot from Tim. But today he was one of those who stabbed Tim. Askia was one of those who stood his ground that Tim's aide must not be given the chance to replace and complete his remaining two years. What a wicked world."
Governor Okowa, during a meeting with the newly sworn-in 25 local government chairmen last Wednesday at the Government House, Asaba, allegedly threatened to deal ruthlessly with the council chairman of Isoko North, Christian Iteire, should he be involved in any form of factional politics during the party's primaries to shop for a replacement for the late majority leader, Owhefere, who coincidentally anointed Iteire against all odds to emerge as the party's candidate for the just concluded council polls.
As at the time of filing in this report, the protest was still going on with the protesters chanting solidarity songs.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
The Indigenous People of Biafra has condemned Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma on his recent comment that the group hijacked the Eastern Security Network from South-East governors.
The IPOB criticised Uzondinma through a statement released by its media and publicity secretary, Emma Powerful, on Monday.
Hope Uzodinma
Uzodinma, last Friday, alleged that the IPOB and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, hijacked the ESN from the governors of the South-East region.
The governor, while addressing journalists on Friday night, however, disclosed that the South-East governors would meet in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to plan modalities that would see to the formation of a security outfit for the region.
Uzodinma said, “The governors will not want to be a copycat, especially with the pressure put on us after the formation of Amotekun by the South-West governors.
“In the next couple of weeks, governors of the South-East will hold a security summit in Owerri with a view to fashioning out modalities for setting up a security outfit for our region. We will hold an elaborate discussion with a view to finding a lasting solution and to complement the work of security agents in the country.
“South-East governors tried to set up the Eastern Security Network by working with Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The attorneys-general of the five South-Eastern states have already anchored a report on it and before we know it, IPOB hijacked the name and started using it to commit crime.
“That arrangement has not stopped. We are trying to take a review. We will come up with an outfit that will be lasting. We don’t want to do things because others have done it or be copycats. There are permutations and we must defend our people and ensure that there is no external aggression."
Reacting, IPOB said, “The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), ably led by our great Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to the fallacious, amusing and shameful claims by the Supreme Court Administrator in Imo State, Hope Uzodinma, that IPOB hijacked Eastern Security Network, ESN, from South-East governors. This blatant lie has only confirmed the dubious character of Uzodinma as an unrepentant fraudster.
“We don't need to belabour ourselves in convincing the public over who set up ESN because it is public knowledge. For five months, our leader was begging South-East and South-South governors to float a regional security outfit to protect and defend our people against genocidal attacks by terrorists masquerading as Fulani herdsmen.
"Our leader even wrote a letter to the governors which was made public but they turned a deaf ear to all the pleas, including the clamour by the people for a regional security outfit.
“Every honest person in the zoo will attest to the fact that ESN was floated by IPOB in response to the yearnings of our people for self-defence against terrorists. It was a child of necessity borne as a result of the failure of the governors to rise to their responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the people. Their inability to stand with the people was because of their usual tendency to please their caliphate slave masters even to the detriment of their people.
“Let somebody please remind Hope Uzodinma to stop disgracing himself further by claiming what does not exist. Anyway, we can understand his frustration. He had attempted but in vain, to infiltrate and possibly hijack ESN but was disappointed, hence his resort to cheap blackmail. But this too will not fly!
The statement further said that the governors from the region are not needed in the sustenance of the ESN, which has the support of Igbo people from 120 countries. Also, the group berated different people of Igbo extraction, labelling them traitors for coming to lay claim to the ownership of IPOB or its components units since its inception.
“We wish to remind Hope Uzodinma that IPOB does not need him nor his fellow traitor governors to sustain ESN. IPOB with a presence in over 120 countries is resolutely committed to sustain and finance ESN to actualise its mandate. We don't need traitors and saboteurs in a crucial matter like the security of our people.
“Now we know the sponsor of the Owerri hotelier who vigorously campaigned for Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB to hand over ESN to South-East Governors. The other time it was Emeka Emekasiri who was disgracing himself with the claims that they formed IPOB and Mazi Nnamdi Kanu hijacked it from them.
“Treacherous Ralph Uwazuruike has also repeatedly claimed that Radio Biafra was formed by him but later hijacked by Nnamdi Kanu. These are a bunch of envious traitors who have no limit to their lies in their desperation to blackmail our leader but the Biafra agitation has gone beyond their distractions.
“Hope Uzodinma is only bitter knowing what awaits him. He knows that his days of reckoning are fast approaching. For colluding with the Janjaweed in military uniform to abduct IPOB members, Uzodinma knows he cannot escape justice. He should stop laying false claims to the formation of ESN because that too cannot save him.”
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters
A youth leader in Ayete/Kajola community in the Ibarapa North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Ganiyu Omirinde, has narrated the ordeals of their farmers in the hands of criminal Fulani herdsmen allegedly unleashed by a suspected Fulani kidnap kingpin, Isikilu Wakili.
In an interview with PUNCH, Omirinde stated that farmers whose farms were destroyed by 75-year-old Wakili’s hoodlums were arrested and detained by the police and they were forced to part with N50,000 as bail before securing their release.
Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Ngozi Onadeko
Omirinde added that he was part of the Oodua Peoples Congress team that went to Wakili’s den, noting that the herdsmen fired gunshots at them.
He said, “The herdsmen have constituted a nuisance to us. They vandalise our farms; they attack and inflict pains our men and rape our women. They beat many with sticks, clubbed many others, while they cut many more with machetes. They destroy property and vandalise farms, and at the end of it all, security agents will release the herders to go free without paying any compensation and without prosecution. They incapacitated us and turned us away from the farm.
“For us to eat, we go to cafeterias because we don’t have foodstuffs any longer. Ayete was a food basket before. Today in Ayete, you cannot eat N200 worth of amala and get satisfied because it is so expensive. All this is because we have been barred from our farms. We have to drink more water when eating. As we speak, a mini-truckload of cassava tubers is now N300,000, whereas it was N270,000. The problem is that it is very hard to come by.
“We are appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to let the Fulani move to their base out of our community. They have their own towns and villages; let them go back so that we can have our peace back. We are being pushed too far. When we get to the elastic limit, we will resist the assault. It is the government that we are afraid of and not the Fulani. If we had our way, Fulani herders would have no place in our community anymore. As they terrorise us if we give them an equal reaction, will they be able to graze their cattle?
“Wakili would say land belongs to God and not to any man. Then, we asked him that while land belongs to God, is Wakili and his cohorts God’s lieutenant to claim the land being inhabited by other people? We are the people whom God put in charge of the land in this part of the world and we are answerable to God only regarding the land that we inhabit, not the herders.
“We don’t want him back on our land. When released, he should look for somewhere else to settle down; we can no longer welcome Wakili in Ayete/Kajola communities. His cattle now roam about, plundering our farmlands. We don’t have anyone to fight our cause or give us justice. The court has failed us.
“There is a police station but it is the complainant who takes the blame and gets locked up here in cases between the natives and the herders. The police take bribes to upturn cases. After locking a complainant up, they will then take N50,000 as bail. That is why we no longer lodge complaints at the station.”
Omirinde noted that since Wakili was arrested, they had had “relative peace but his cronies are still on the farm plundering our crops.”
“You heard when some people called us on the telephone some minutes ago to say that herders had set some farms on fire. The situation at Baba Pupa to Oke-Arinsa and Dagbere, Afuje to Kajola is tense as we speak. Those are no-go areas. Now, the government doesn’t want the situation to escalate,” he added.
PoliceNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters, New York Disable advertisements :
A combined team of security operatives have arrested some members of the African Alliance Congress who arrived at the headquarters of Independent National Electoral Commission to protest the commission’s alleged interference and imposition of expelled member, Leonard Ezenwa, on the party.
NaijaGistReporters learnt that armed security operatives including the police, operatives of the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps were stationed at the entrance of the building to frustrate the protesters.
Five of the protesters were thereafter rounded up and arrested upon their arrival. They were whisked away into a building of the commission.
It was also learnt that some members of the party in a bus were harassed and sent away by the gun-wielding security operatives.
Members of the party had two weeks ago given the electoral body till March 15 to stop meddling in the affairs of the party.
They had asked the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, to return the party to the original owners.
The former Presidential candidate of the party, Omoyele Sowore, who had led members of the party to the commission, had condemned Mahmood’s action for foistering Ezenwa on the party as Chairman with a view to destabilising and creating confusion in the party.
He had said the party would mobilise and direct all its members at the expiration of the ultimatum to occupy and shut down all the offices of the commission across the country.
He faulted the partisan role played by the commission by giving illegal recognition to Ezenwa.
Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, on Sunday, said the Nigerian elites have failed the country in all sectors.
Kaigama disclosed this during his homily at St. Fabian’s Parish, Efab-Jabi in Abuja.
Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, His Grace Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama
The Archbishop stated that Nigeria’s situation had been made worse by the failure of the political class to tackle injustice and nepotism in the country.
He noted that many Nigerian elites have failed and must acknowledge the depth of pain, sadness and lack of progress their decisions have caused the nation and repent of their sins.
“We must admit that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the ideals of genuine patriotism to build a nation of our dreams,” he said.
“We must ask the question, ‘Why are things not working well despite the enormous blessings of God upon Nigeria?’ Until we desist from greed, injustice, discrimination, myopic view of religion, parochial ethnic interests instead of the common good, political insensitivity and the tendency to surreptitiously corner our common patrimony for the benefit of a few, we will continue dancing dangerously on the precipice.”
Kaigama explained that the reality on the ground was that the country was bedevilled by hunger, poverty, and general insecurity.
While alluding to the biblical story of the ancient serpent that was erected by Moses in the desert after Israel’s sin of rebellion against God, which was punished with the bites of fiery serpents, the Archbishop said,
“Like the Israelites, Nigerians in this journey of life have been badly bitten; we have been wounded by our human passions and inclinations, battered by our concupiscence, and propensity to become inhuman to one another on account of religion, ethnicity and politics
“In the midst of the ‘snake bites’ of hunger, poverty, terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, etc., which has left us almost helpless, we must raise our eyes in faith to our Lord God.
“Like Nicodemus, who was a leading Jew of great wealth and position, but wanted enlightenment from Jesus, so must all our men of influence and power in our country genuinely seek God’s face.”
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
The Senator representing Borno South District, Ali Ndume has lamented the rising insecurity in the country, stating that Nigerians don’t seem to understand the seriousness of the situation.
Ndume also said the clamour for a northern Presidency in 2023 would amount to the North seeking a third term in office, describing such a move as unconstitutional.
Speaking at a media briefing on Saturday, the Senator opposed the call for amnesty for repentant bandits, insisting that criminals and bandits should be brought to justice.
“The fundamental thing that keeps the country going is security and welfare of the citizens. That’s why our constitution clearly states that the purpose of government is the security and welfare of the citizens. You know these two key things are now under threat in Nigeria.
“At the beginning, it started like a joke, starting from small stealing and all that. That culminated in armed robbery. In the early 70s in this country, you hardly hear of armed robbery. I remember when we were in secondary school. One of the first armed robbers that were executed at the beach in Lagos was Oyenusi; they called him ‘rob and kill’. Over 30,000 people gathered at the beach to watch his execution with his colleagues. The next one that was famous was that of Anini. But other than that, before today, armed robbery was a small crime in Nigeria.
“You see people involved in banditry, kidnapping, and of course, the insurgency that has bedevilled the North-East for the past 11 years now, to the extent that in Maiduguri now, once it’s 5 o’clock, you cannot go in or come out of Maiduguri. From all angles. By 10 o’clock, Maiduguri is shut down. You can’t go anywhere. In fact, this is even an improved situation.
“We hear of kidnapping, banditry, and all sorts of crime these days. The nation is on the brink of collapse. The unfortunate thing is that Nigerians, from top to bottom, still trivialise, tribalise, or give the situation religious colouration, and we’re now in this sorry state.”
A former militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has dared President Muhammadu Buhari as he has constituted a Biafran government after declaring same.
Buhari had in 2017 said his government would not allow dismemberment of Nigeria.
”We cannot and we will not allow such advocacy. As a young army officer, I took part from the beginning to the end in our tragic civil war costing about 2 million lives, resulting in fearful destruction and untold suffering.
“Those who are agitating for a re-run were not born by 1967 and have no idea of the horrendous consequences of the civil conflict which we went through.
“I am very disappointed that responsible leaders of these communities do not warn their hot-headed youths what the country went through. Those who were there should tell those who were not there, the consequences of such folly.
“At all events, proper dialogue and any desired constitutional changes should take place in a rational manner, at the National and State Assemblies,” he had said.
However, Dokubo on Sunday declared himself the leader of the new Biafra defacto Customary Government (BCG).
In a statement signed by Uche Mefor, BCG’s Head of Information and Communications, the former militant leader named those who would serve as leaders in the government alongside himself.
He said, “We as people have resolved that as Biafra, it’s time for us to take our destiny in our hands and bring freedom to ourselves and our children and the generation of Biafrans yet unborn. I hesitate a little but I thank God that it’s time for us to do our duty and our service to motherland, I have accepted this role. I have dedicated my life hundred percent to play this role.
“My first act today in taking this position is to name those who would be on the driver’s seat to navigate through this period of tempest, this period of uncertainty with me. I want to call on our brother, George Onyibe to come on board to join as the secretary of the defacto customary government of the State of Biafra. He will take care of the administrative, day-to-day administration of the Biafra State.
“I also call on our brother Emeka Emeka Esiri to take care of the legal needs of this nascent government. My brothers and sisters, the four of us will kick start the process, others will come on board. We want volunteers who are committed. We want volunteers because there is nothing anymore. We are the people who have volunteered to salvage ourselves and the rest of us.
“I also call on Biafrans in the various provinces of the Biafra nations in Aba, Abakiliki, Anang, Awka, Calabar, Degema, Eket, Enough, Nsuka, Ogoja, Oji River, Okigwe, Onitsha, Opobo, Orlu, Owerri, Port Harcourt, Umuahia, Uyo and Yenegoa province. We are going to proceed to set up provincial structures of government starting with provincial assemblies and provincial governance and administrators.”
Dokubo also mentioned education and agriculture as key areas of focus. He condemned the stoppage of food transportation to the South.
“You are all aware of the recent plot where they decided to stop food from the North. They failed woefully, they will continue to fail. The Government of Biafra State will look to make sure that we only eat what we can produce.
“Nobody can stop us. Nobody can blockade us as they did in the first war. We’re not going to fight any war with anybody, we’re walking to freedom. We will not shoot any gun with them, they will prepare their weapon but they will have nobody to kill with their weapon,” he added.
PoliticsNewsAddThis : Original Author : NaijaGistReporters,
