The bid by the Government of Enugu State to install its candidate to lead the highly influential EnuguUSA, an umbrella body of Enugu indigenes living in the United States of America, USA, failed at the weekend as delegates elected the first woman President of the body, Dr. Ifesinachi Ugwuonye.
A strong delegation of the Government to the convention, which held in Houston, Texas led by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and former Adviser to Governor Sullivan Chime on Diaspora Matters, Dr. Jude Akubuilo dressed in T-Shirts and faze caps that bore Governor Chime’s picture and had “Sullivan for Senate” boldly written on them featured prominently at the convention.
Other members of the delegation were the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Goddy Maduaeke; Special Adviser on Diaspora Matters and Special Projects, Prof. Ike Mbah; and the Managing Director, Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, Mr. Ikeje Asogwa,
Their presence was however not enough to muster the requisite votes for their candidate, Mr. Leo Ugwu from Udi LGA as Dr. Ifesinachi Ugwuonye, a lawyer and indigene of Obeleagu Ndiuno in Ezeagu LGA cruised to a landslide victory.
Given the influence of the EnuguUSA in Enugu politics, Governor Chime’s strategists, it was gathered, were determined to install a candidate the government was “comfortable with” as a prelude to swaying Diaspora support for the Governor’s preferred successor and his quest for Enugu West Senatorial seat.
It could be recalled that many key members of the Governor’s cabinet, including the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry and former Adviser on Diaspora Matters, Dr. Jude Akubuilo were drawn from the EnuguUSA organisation.
Sources close to the Enugu Government House and the convention said the EnuguUSA election might have cost the State Government more than USD92,000.
However, it was gathered that the efforts to defeat Dr. Ifesinachi Ugwuonye, described by government sources as “rigid and difficult to deal with” were thwarted by the Greater Awgu indigenes and delegates who voted en masse against the Governor’s candidate.
The incumbent Senator representing Enugu West Senatorial District, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, hails from Aninri, which is part of the Greater Awgu political block in the Enugu West Senatorial District.
Although Dr. Ugwuonye and Mr. Ugwu hail from the same Udi/Ezeagu political block, delegates were said to have routed for Dr. Ugwuonye to prove a point and ensure the independence of the umbrella organisation of Enugu citizens resident in the USA.
Meanwhile, a member of the Enugu State Government delegation to the convention who spoke on the condition of anonymity said it was not true that the Government sponsored any of the candidates as they were only in Houston to “promote Governor Sullivan Chime’s bid for the Senate”.
But this might have backfired as competent sources insisted that it was one of the major grouses of the delegates against the Sullivan Chime Administration.
A delegate who gave a detailed account of election queried: “How could people sit down in Government House Enugu and decide who is going to lead EnuguUSA? How could people be so petty to wear senatorial campaign T-shirts and faze to come and disorganize our events in a foreign land? Wasn’t that too petty and desperate?”
With the election, EnuguUSA has become the first major Igbo diaspora organisation to elect a woman as its President.
Other candidates elected into key offices include Hon. Kristy Obimah, Vice President; Hon. Chukwuma Ojukwu, Secretary; Hon. John Agbo, Chairman of Board of Trustees; and Hon. Ijeoma Nweze, Secretary, Board of trustees.
A Delta State High Court sitting at Asaba Tuesday convicted and sentenced two men including a 22 year old Engineering Student, Ndudi Ogwu to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for kidnapping a female nurse.
Ndudi Ogwu, an ND II. Mechanical Engineering Student of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku was sentenced alongside one Chukwudi Ifemeni, a 22 years old businessman to 10 years imprisoment each on the count of kidnapping and 4 years for conspiracy.
The Court held that Prosecution from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had proved its case against the two accused persons beyond reasonable doubt and thus convicted and sentenced the duo accordingly.
Prosecution had told the Court that Ndudi Ogwu and Chukwudi Ifemeni with two others now at large kidnapped one Mrs. Kate Okogu, wife to one Honourable Paul Okogu in front of her gate while returning from her shop. The incidence happened on the 13th day of September, 2012 at Ughelli within the Ughelli Judicial Division.
The kidnappers numbering about 4 took their victim to a forest along Isoko-Patani Road where she was unlawfully held captive. She was however, rescued unhurt by a team of Soldiers led by one Sergent Austin Osudibia the next day.
Ndudi Ogwu was arrested by a Patrol team of the JTF at the scene where the kidnapped victim was held captive as the one detailed to watch over her while the 2nd accused was arrested through the confessional statement of the 1st accused person. They both admitted in their confessional statements to have committed the offence upon their arrest but later denied the charges during trial.
Meanwhile another High Court sitting at Asaba has discharged and acquitted one Aghogho Oghenekoko and David Akwele who were arraigned before the Court on charges of Conspiracy and the kidnapping of the 70 years old mother of the Member Representing Ethiope Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Honourable Akpodiegaga Emeyese. The septuagenarian mother of the Federal Legislator, Madam Imoniunu Emyese was kidnapped by unknown gun men on the 14th day of November, 2011 at Okerekpo-Eku within the Warri Judicial Division and held her for 12 days while her captors were said to have placed a demand of 30million as a ransom for her release. It was not however clear if any amount was paid as ransom before she gained her freedom.
While discharging the two accused persons on the ground of insufficient evidence linking the duo to the crime, the court held that it cannot rely on their confessional statements alone without corroborations.
The discharged persons, one of them a Vulcanizer expressed joy on his freedom saying that he never committed the offence, that it was a set up. They were immediately reunited with their families after spending close to two years awaiting trial.
A court bailiff attached to the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt has been feared dead in Aba, Abia State over the beating he sustained while trying to effect service on some members of a faction of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN),Aba Depot.
The court bailiff identified as Abiye David was said to have stormed the NNPC Aba Depot to serve Notice of consequence of disobedience to court order known as Form 48, to some members of the Chinedu Okoronkwo and Gilbert Nwoke led faction of the Association.
247ureports.com gathered that the Federal High Court had on March 20, 2014 delivered judgment in favour of Chief Lawson Obasi as the authentic national president of IPMAN.
Acting on the judgment, Obasi appointed Lawrence Kanu, Emmanuel Ogbonna as well as others as Caretaker Committee members to run IPMAN, Aba depot for three months pending when election would be held.
Our correspondent gathered that the Okoronkwo and Nwoke faction refused to vacate office or hand over to the Obasi group, leading to the court ordering service of notice of consequence of disobedience to court on them.
Those who were said to be served with the Form 48 include Sir Gilbert Nwoke, Aliche Oti, Ugochukwu Mbakwe and Kingsley Udeonu.
Others include Chigozie Amazu, Ikechukwu Okeoma, Austin Egelonu and Emeka Ogalabu.
The court bailiff was said to have successfully served the first set of people the notice, but could not locate the second set of people.
Trouble started for the bailiff following day when he showed up at the Aba depot IPMAN office to effect service but got information that the people he was looking for were meeting in a hotel.
The court bailiff was said to have stormed the hotel located at the Okpu Umuobo road,Aba but was beaten up and his identity card seized as he made to serve the notice.
After inflicting injuries on the bailiff, the Okoronkwo and Gilbert led faction later invited soldiers from the Army Unit at Ngwa High School, Aba who also beat up the bailiff alleging that he is a kidnapper.
The soldiers later handed over the bailiff to the police in Aba. When news about the incident got to the factional chairman of IPMAN, Aba depot unit, Lawrence Kanu, he went to the police station to identify David as a bailiff of Federal High Court, Port Harcourt, but was harassed and detained by the police who transferred both of them to the state police headquarters at Umuahia. The Commissioner of Police later ordered their release after a day in detention.
A member of the Obasi faction who declined to have his name on print told 247ureports.com that the court bailiff has been in hospital as a result of the beatings he received from the IPMAN faction and soldiers.
When his views was sought on the incident, spokesperson of the Okoronkwo and Nwoke led faction IPMAN, Aba depot, Simple Nwankpa told our correspondent, “The problem was between the bailiff and the hotel management, IPMAN should be counted out of this,” he said.
When contacted, Abia Police spokesman, ASP Geoffrey Ogbonna claimed not to be aware of the incident as at the time of filing this report.
The Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has urged the newly appointed commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and a T.C. Chairman to see their appointment as an opportunity to contribute their own quota towards the development of the state.
The state governor who made the call during the swearing-in of three commissioners, six permanent secretaries and a transition committee chairman for Orsu local government area at the state Government House, Owerri, advised them to always cultivate the habit of sacrifice to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
Governor Okorocha also urged them to shun primitive accumulation of wealth and have the interest of the poor masses at heart to enable them make history for themselves.
The state governor reminded the permanent secretaries that their positions are political appointment’ adding that it is the wish of his administration to make sure that every local government has a permanent secretary.
He urged the relatives of the political appointees to always pray for them especially for God’s direction and wisdom to enable them perform effectively rather than extorting money from them.
Owelle Okorocha recalled that Imo State three years ago was in need of good leadership while high rate of kidnapping and ritual killing were the order of the day and made them to understand that his administration has tackled such security problems to the barest minimum.
He used the opportunity to highlight some of monumental projects embarked upon by his administration; such as 305 model schools, 27 new general hospitals, dualization of rural and urban roads and transformation of the three geopolitical zones in the state into mega cities.
Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in appointees, Prof. Adobi Obasi who is now the commissioner for local government and Chieftaincy Affairs, thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in his administration and promised that they will perform effectively.
Those sworn-in are:
Chief Ken Aneme – Commissioner for Transport and Tourism.
Prof. Adaobi Obasi – Commissioner for Local government and Chieftaincy Affairs.
Chief Frank Chukwuemeka Ibezim – Commissioner for Agriculture.
The Permanent Secretaries are:
Mr. B.I. Ibebuike
Dr. G.C. Okeagu
Mrs. T.O. Ibeagi
Mr. E.O. Asuonyeigwe
Mrs. N.U. Izunobi
Pastor J.I. Ngoka
Mr. Peter Clinton Ihejiagwa,Transition Committee Chairman of Orsu,
Meanwhile, the state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has conducted a prayer session for peace, progress, unity and development of the state. The prayer session which lasted for four hours attracted members of the State Expanded Executive Council, traders, the clergy, keke riders and other Imo indigenes.
Governor Okorocha who said that his administration is centered on God prayed for more blessings and development in the state.
The Kingdom Coordinators Forum of The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) has dissociated itself from the planned protest by a faction of MOSOP led by Mr. Legborsi Saro Pyagbara. A statement signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Frank Jonah said the protest will not only endanger the lives of people but will in no small measure work against the interest of the Ogoni in the present political dispensation.
Mr. Jonah Spoke to newsmen in Bori, Ogoniland at the end of a consultative process with chapter leaders of MOSOP.
The MOSOP Kingdom Coordinators expressed deep concern about the security of lives in a protest in Abuja or in any part of the country given the present security situation.
The Forum expressed displeasure over the insensitivity of the Pyagbara-led group to the present realities and strongly condemned the call for a street protest at this time.
The Coordinators therefore urged the FCT Police authorities to ensure that no protest of that sort is allowed in any part of the FCT noting that the real motive of the protest is to embarrass the government rather than the implementation of the UNEP report as claimed by the Pyagbara led MOSOP.
The MOSOP Coordinators also expressed worry about the deep cooperation between the Rivers State Government and the Legborsi Pyagbara led MOSOP whose activities continue, not only to embarrass the Ogoni people, but jeopardizes every effort at resolving the crises surrounding the non-implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoniland.
While calling on all Ogonis to reject the cleanup protests, The MOSOP Coordinators urged the federal government to dissolve the present HYPREP and setup a more transparent and credible agency to oversee the implementation of the Ogoni UNEP report.
Since 1999,there are two economic policies that have always invoked the most extreme controversies in Nigeria- deregulating of the down stream sector of the petroleum industry and privatization. But while deregulation is often understood to mean increase in fuel prices is more often an economic debate with some political flavour; privatization is highly political in nature especially if the sold entity is a prize asset. There have also been a territory issues.
When the Benue Cement Company (BCC),Gboko was sold to Alhaji Aliko Dangote some years ago,the controversy was unprecedented. It rekindled the historical tension between the Tivs and the Hausa/Fulanis. Several years after the controversial privatization of the Benue Cement Company (BCC),by the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE) the sour relationship between the Management of BCC and the host communities is still brutal. Several clashes has claims lives, and property worth billions of naira were destroyed. Benue cement company is one of the oldest cement company in the country was incorporated as a limited liability company on July 16,1975,after traces of limestone were discovered in Mbayion,Gboko local government area of Benue State in 1960.
By 1972,the Federal Government invited Cementia Holding AG Zurich to undertake ,conformative study for the establishment of cement plant at Mbayion,Gboko Benue State. On july 16,1975 BCC was incorporated as a limited liability company.
After the incorporation of BCC,Cemential Holding AG of Zurich was responsible for the design and construction of the factory and acted as a management partners. On August 15,1980,the first bag of Lion Brand Portland cement was rolled out. The plant was officially commission in 1981,with a rated capacity of 900,000 metric tones per annum. In 1990,BCC was restructured by the Federal Government of Nigeria and after the company under went a capital restructuring and become known as Benue Cement Company Plc on March,27,1992.
When the federal government divested its controlling shares in the company in 2001,to Dangote Industries Limited in a privatization exercise,the Benue State government which had the second majority shares mobilized the communities and objected to the coming of Dangote on the grounds that the core investor lack the technical competence and managerial capacity to run BCC,it rather preferred that the company be sold to Cementia Lafarge which had built and managed it before handing over to indigenous managers. However the Bureau for Public Enterprises in its effort to execute Obasanjo/Atiku devious agenda,announce Dangote winner of the bid and the federal government quickly ensured that he (Dangote) took over BCC.
For quite some time now the people of Benue State have been feeling short-changed in the sale of the factory to Dangote. It is on record that since the privatization of BCC,the entire Tiv people has been shut out of scheme of things in the company. The take over of the company has thrown many Tiv sons and daughters out of job and consequently crippled the economy of the Tiv capital Gboko.
The host community has been complaining of less involvement in the BCC affairs,loss of distributorship,a haphazard corporate responsibility policy as well as repatriation of almost 100 percent profits as well as evacuation of raw limestone from Tse-Kucha to other cement factories in the country. It is on record again that Dangote has over 500 trailers that transport cement from factory to various distribution centres across the country on daily basis,while the host community is left prone to environmental hazards due to massive excavation of limestone for use else where. All the over 500 Dangote drivers as well as motor attendants are Hausa/Fulanis. Imagine each of the trailers comes with at least five attendants who are Hausa/Fulani. This is still a substantial settlers group populating the Tse-Kucha community. Also The management of Dangote cement plant employs Indians in preference to our young graduates.
Our roads are being damage on regular basis by Dangote heavy trucks that ply the roads in hundreds. The mindless excavation of limestone is threatening Gboko-Makurdi federal road and pose danger to passengers and vehicles plying the rout.
With this agitating the minds of the Tiv nation,their pent-up anger if not properly address can rise anger.
I rest my pen for now.
John Akevi a commentator on national issues,write from Gboko,Benue State. Email: john4akevi@gmail.com
Injustice to the saints is an affront to humanity and Great Chi that must be repudiated by all living souls irrespective of the lines of social divides and culture. Consequently, I hereby expresses great discomfort and discontentment with the Federal Government of Nigeria and her security outfits that fear and beg the Islamist Boko Haram terrorists and likes’ for dialogue and at the same time fighting and killing the non-violent agitators of Self determination like the Biafran Zionist Movement (BZM), Indigenous People of Biafra (under Radio Biafra), Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and others asking for the re-establishment of the Republic of Biafra.
The continuous killings, harassments and arrests of the Biafran Self-determination activists as seen with the recent arrests of the non-terrorist BZM leader Barr Ben Onwuka and his followers while leading peaceful protest, currently been detained and tried for treason against Nigeria in Enugu State have again raised mountainous questions on the bases of the Nigerian state and remain condemnable as well as ignoble.
One wondered when Man’s inalienable rights, the United Nations’ Universal Declaration on Human Rights, UN Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007), African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right and world-wide acclaimed “right to self-determination” which Nigeria is all signatory to, has suddenly become TREASON. One sees this Nigeria’s latest anti-Ben Onwuka/BZM and other Biafra agitators disgusting war as fostering of her ongoing post-Biafra war economic trenches and determined efforts to undermine Igbo nation and her interests and a continuation of the evil acts making Igbo citizenry the scapegoats of the Nigerian politics that may eventually spring Igbo Clan Spirit fruition.
Here be it noted, we have been having many a terrible cases of ethnic militias’ uprisings, Islamists Boko Harams terrorists’ attacks, destruction of lives and properties; and arrests of the top terrorist-suspects and sponsors in Nigeria; yet ignobly regrettable that none has been seriously prosecuted for treasonable felony. Yet Nigeria and her Gestapo Police has suddenly waked up calling for the head of the BZM leader Ben Onwuka and his harmless disciples?
Whereas the leaders of the armed/ violent ethnic militias are having fields’ day and along with the Boko Haram terrorists have not merited such a dehumanizing clamp-down, it is holistically a gross case of continuation of the irrational bias and the perennial injustices against Ndi Igbo in Nigeria for Nigeria and her security agents to arrest and order Ben Onwuka and Cos for treason trial. A good spirited person must condemn this, the same way he ought to condemn in strong terms the serial killings of Ndi Igbo and destruction of their properties across the country especially in the Northern Nigeria. No wonder, the rise of Boko Haram terrorists and other Islamists bloodletting groups that have endangered the humanity of all is result of the blood of the saints crying to high heaven and been demanded by Mother Earth breaking the silence and inactions of the gullible mass and culpable leaders and governments.
The blood letting hunters are now hunting selves down saying that they are killing ‘animals’ not sparing even the British that unduly gave them imperium that Bretons and their look-alike White men are like the Igbo now endangered species. I mean British and her fellow Whiteanity entente cordiale colonial masters that stole our land and sold our spirituality to the straightjacket Christianity branding us their “God given Children” but while lowering their imperial flags give power to the holders of swords they also told us are God forsaken people and enemy of God of Israel that they brought to save us? I think it now makes sense theoretically that “WESTERN EDUCATION IS A SIN (BOKO HARAM)!
How I wish the Boko Haram will drop arsenals of mass destructions and come up with intellectual militancy espousing the cause of theoretical Boko Haram that we may see how the colonial masters failed us with conquest histories and scholarship seeing us having educated corrupt elites milking the commonwealth dry?
But here be it asked: where were Nigeria government and her “self-contented nationalists” ripping off the commonwealth when the harbingers of Islamism got 12 states of the North opted out of Nigeria’s Constitutionalism and democratic alternatives and declared Sharia rule that has messed up the (military imposed) Nigerian Constitution and equality in Nigerian nationality, which gives the Islamist Boko Haram and co. the starting point to push for the forceful Islamization of Nigeria? What then still drives Nigerian State that does not want Biafra be when she derailed on Great Zik’s path to Nigerian nationalism, reneged on all agreed bases of NO VICTOR, NO VANGUISHED leading to non implementation of the Biafra – Nigeria War Treaty especially the 3-Rs Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction? Must agreement breached by one party be binding on another? Who or which law says so? I want to know.
Inequality in Nigerian Nationality has seen Ndi Igbo and Christians up North and Middle Belt killed like sheep without shepherds and no serious personality has been ordered for treason by the Federal Government of Nigeria and her Security outfits despite the open source intelligence and security discoveries pointing to “political big fishes”? Why and why always pummeling on Ben Onwukas, Ralph Uwazuruikes, Nnamdi Kanus and Biafra agitators, alone? Is this how to guarantee equality in Nigerian nationality, I mean by enslaving Biafrans and others to the self-beseemed born to rule North killing people like fowls? Is it wise to go after the Islamist terrorists that have rejected equality in Nigerian nationality destroying humanity of all and at the same time going after those still professing constitutionalism and democratic alternatives (I MEAN BIAFRANS) like terrorist, at a go?
It must be said that terrorists’ acts and crimes in Nigeria as led by Islamist Boko Haram and likes have reached an embarrassing peak that the Federal Government and Security networks have to leave the nonviolent Ben Onwuka, his disciples and other Biafra/self-determination agitators alone and battle the Islamist terrorists monsters to the root and stop this erratic anti-terrorism fights. Massive arrests of the Boko Haram terrorists and disclosures about their high profile backers and arms keepers have been made. We, therefore wondered what else is needed to eradicate Boko Haram and Cos rebellions? It is not conspicuous that the same Nigerian state that killed harmless Comrade Ken Saro Wiwa and co. for simply being members of [an environmental rights] organization that allegedly went violent now seem to be shielding terrorists and their financiers already exposed? Can this be happening if Nigeria meant business with her anti-terrorism war?
Federal Government of Nigeria must be told out-rightly that by recommending nonviolent agitators of the Republic of Biafra for treason trials, as seen with Ben Onwuka, Uwazuruike and Cos that have never slapped anyone in the course of Biafra agitation, she is trying to re-open Igbo’s unhealed Biafra wounds and inversely asking for another warring disaster. This may definitely lead to many un-bargained crop-ups that would be difficult to contain this time around.
The FGN must be told that her alleged friendly anti-terrorism fight disposition to the Boko Haram led Islamist terrorists and their partners in crime, to the extent of making amnesty cum empowerment offers, while heroes of non terrorists Self-determination like Barr Ben Onwuka and Cos are to be detained and charged for treason is highly ridiculous, unimaginative, unlawful, witch-hunting and senseless. Is it not in the best interest of Nigeria to study the undying passions for Biafra despite the Biafra war holocausts, also look inward and find out why all the ethnic nationalities that fought Igbo led Biafra are today asking for self-determination with armies of ethnic militias, here and there; than chasing and hounding Umu Owuwa Anyaanwu (Children of Land of the Rising Sun)? What a cadaverous efulefu nationalism/dance!
FGN has always through her unwarranted treason dragnets on Biafran agitators as seen presently hanging on Ben Onwuka and his non terrorists BZM sending a wrong message that peaceful approaches to struggle are no longer honoured but violence, abductions and terrorism as have been the case in recent time Nigeria. One strongly condemned such a system as being anti-social and anti-human and feared that it may not only lead to the death of Nigeria (assuming she is alive) but dealt a big blow to worldly peace. This portends that there are neither path to honour nor equality in Nigerian nationality, anymore! Some enjoy culture of impunity destroying properties and killing the humanity of all while those still believing in civil and democratic alternatives are either hounded into prisons or got killed through extra-judicial killings as seen with BZM Members, IPOB (under Radio Biafra London), MASSOBIANS, BILIE Human Rights Initiatives and other pro-Biafra agitators. This cannot be the One Nigeria of the Great Zik but a Nigeria making descent into culture of impunity and disnigerianization! But who cares?
Be it said that terrorists have never been seen nor described as “freedom fighters” the way leading Northern leaders like the Gen Mohammadu Buhari, rtd, and Mallam Nasir El Rufai equating them with the Niger Delta Ex-militants are doing while they commit crimes against humanity. Definitely, while the Igbo youths understood the requisite of the amnesty granted to the Niger Deltas’ environmental rights and resource controls agitators, they are waiting in the wing to see amnesty and or empowerment for the Islamist Boko Haram terrorists and Cos. They are ready to embrace rebellion if it becomes what it takes to be heard, conciliated and empowered. One stalwartly call for massive job creations and opportunities for the army of youths roaming the streets as a proper way of building human resources than to wait doing so only for those who fire guns and throw bombs against the state and humanity!
One strongly warned that any person, group, tribes or sects that want Ndi Igbo to remain perennial sacrificial lambs in this 21st century will sooner or later live to regret because the Igbo are now wiser and enriched in both human and natural resources that can only be undermined to anyone’s or group’s colossal damage. One is warning that no one can guarantee the state of peace in Nigeria especially amongst the army of the unemployed Igbo youths if Ben Onwuka and other Biafran agitators are not released or tried/convicted for treason for just asking for the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra Rights as guaranteed by United Nations 2007 declaration of the Rights of the Indigenous People, among it is right to statehood.
One also, warned that those advising the FGN to go after the Pro-Biafra agitators that are mostly sympathetic to the embattled Presidency of Jonathan Azikiwe Ebele Goodluck do not wish Mr. President well. The first Azikiwe is the beauty of all that is good enough for Africa; this second Azikiwe shall not fail. We all owed him good wills to triumph in the midst of unspeakable sabotages. Helping steering the troubled and distressed Ship of Nigerian state to safe coast: If we are parting ways; it is better done in peace.
One suspects, some people are up for sinister moves while tactically drawing unnecessary frictions and battle-line between President Goodluck and his Igbo kinsmen! Assuming without conceding that Mr. President had his impress on the current clamp-down on young leopards, be it warned that no one has won a battle against his kinsmen. One dare asks: Where are the wise men and women of the political Niger Delta? Be it reminded to whom it may concerned troubling the young leopards that the Igbo live to posit: “Onye akpakwana agu aka n’odu; ma o di ndu, ma o nwuru anwu [Let no one dare touch a leopard’s tail; whether it lives or not alive”. This Ilu is enough for the wise!
Come what may, feelers from Igbo nation (especially her young leopards) confirm unanimous ideological belief in people’s right to self-determination and firmness of principle. That they stood in solidarity with the neo-Biafra agitators as seen led by this great freedom fighter and social justice crusader Ben Onwuka; and therefore demands that the order to try him and his disciples for treason be dropped by the Federal Government with immediate effect. Try or convict Ben Onwuka and Cos and dare Igbo nation and her young leopards!Federal government of Nigeria leave Ben Onwuka and his Biafra Zionist Movement and other Biafra agitators alone since they meant no harm to human lives and property; hunting, suffering and killing them for no just reason may force the YOUNG LEOPARDS OUT – living, thinking and doing otherwise.
Finally, one in the face of the anti-social clogs on Igbo’s wheel of progress and noticeable inequality in Nigerian nationality; hereby reiterates Ohanaeze Youth Council’s call for a referendum todetermine the Igbo’s political future within or outside Nigeria as enunciated in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007, through a plebiscite organized by the Igbo/United Nations. And as well, warn that no one or group has monopoly of violence! It pays to live peaceful! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! No death is cheap, whether that of a terrorist or counter-terrorist. Death is death. ! Our soldiers, police and security men shall not be made helpless victims by the Nigerian state and citizenry they elated to defend and or die for! They deserve better live and improved resources to train their own children and contribute their own quota to the economy than ever serving sacrificial lambs.
Northern Nigeria is already restive and cumbersome, opening another war front in the jungle of the Young Leopards with undying passions for Biafra may not be a good option to the humanity of all. The best option than doing the later is to peacefully declare this Nigerian marriage of the strange bedfellows over than to have us eventually fighting irretrievably and be at the mercy of the arms runners, seekers of raw materials and resources creeping- working to keep industries of the East and West up and doing; while Africa go down with theaters of war and absurd’s, biological weapons, diseases and poverty, debts burdens and imperial fissures.
Wait a minute! I can hear my ancestors ululating, saying “Let the real madmen that claps for the demented go on with their follies”. And I asked why, and Afa (Ifa) submits: “Let those transferring terrorism and counter-terrorism wars to Africa continue digging their mass grave while discrediting governments, military, police and other security men for the mess they dubiously created and sustain to make cheap monies and opportunities. It will surely favour Africans at the long run: Only that she will suffer heavy necessary loss”. How do you mean, oh Afa that sees and tell where the palm-fruits ripe in the bosoms of the spirits? “Agwu child, don’t you know that if Nigerians that are being denied VISA for using brainpower that rattles and unsettles the cabals and cabal-agents eventual assumes the status of war ravaged people, it would be open doors (political asylums unlimited) that will eventually see Africa(ns) rising?” Yes, of course!
Oh, Afa you still have something to say! “Yes, my Agwu child. Cry no more. Know you for sure that the super-racists’ economies/world will if they provoke clash of Whiteanity and Arabianity civilisation wars in Nigeria live paying dearly for all their political and economic terrorism onto Africa/humanity: Since, Nigerians are WONDERFUL GEMS in brainpower, economic maneuvering games, counter-smarting-intelligence, human diplomacy, etc. Mostly, Africans (especially youths) will likely claim to be Nigerians taking to political asylums and everywhereness of the Nigerians that presently unsettles the super racially inclined economies and globalists with ill motives.
“Once the plausible Whiteanity and Arabianity final clash of civilization war begins, let all young Africans (including soldiers, police and other security outfits) jet out to any choice greener part of the world as Nigerian Asylums Seekers, and when the Internationalists (Peace?) Keeping Forces that will come guiding the Black Gold of the Bight of Biafra /Gulf of Guinea are done wasting their resources, expending their outdated weapons and testing their newest arms discoveries, Umu Afrika shall then, like the Jews, come home to rebuild the Africa’s Motherland with improved human resources, gathered intelligences and ingenuities of espionages carried out in the diasporas’ – and dismantle Berlinism and her social and time spaced prisons for Fresh Gardening African Universe”.
Afa I have heard you again asking what I make of your aku oyibe nsugbe. Well, I will, like a little child that tells his peers: “I will not tell you that my Mama bought akara (beans ball) eeeeh”; not tell the killers of Africa and humanity what you (Afa) just revealed that the Ilulogy contention that “thatched roofs’ thorns will always pierce-blind those that live in their own house and come to live in our own house” will come true. Afa, you have bared it all that what they call terrorism and counter-terrorism wars are clashes of Whiteanity and Arabianity civilizations that long held humanity hostage. Now, they have brought the terrorism and counter-terrorism wars home to Africa telling humanity to file in. Be not deceive, to continue letting imperial fissured system seeing you dismembering kinship-self that have been Africa’s beauty long before the emergence of Whiteanity and Arabianity illusive and devilish wars.
How I wish the African: (i) Will open his eyes to the deceptions of religious politics and conquest histories and scholarship, (ii) Leave behind the imposing internationalized “Whiteanity personality” and “Arabianity personality” of the racial supremacists killing Africa and humanity while respectively fighting and claiming to be “Talking God’s/Allah’s Mouthpiece/chosen race”; (iii) Give the Supremacists back their Bible and Gun, Koran and Sword to have his stolen land and mind back. May Chi (Vitality force) be the strength of the awakened Africans and humanocrats beyond borders that will think this line of action – uniting humanity across all gulfs of separations for the enthronement of humanocracy!
What else, asks Afa? Yes, I have seen that we are killing ourselves for the advancement of the invading imperial cultures’ cabals and cabal-agents interests while thinking that we have political and economic advantages to make out of them. I have seen that I have no enemy anywhere – whether political, economic or colour wise if I can see and accept the humanity of my fellow human. And allow Allah/God to fight for His enemies if He is actually almighty.
Of course, almighty this and that up in the sky cannot need my mortal hands to be great and win battles if He is actually ‘almighty’ and has/have enemies. This is the core teachings of Humanocracy – that man has to be human enough to interact with self and the ecospheres making useful gains for his lifespan and age-long kinship-self and stop the needless culture of powering the assumed Immortal with mortal hands of his. Kpum!
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Mazi Okwu Okwu, is Secretary, Board of Trustees/Project Expansion Emissary, Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC and former, National Coordinator, Concerned Youths of Nigeria. He writes from No. 31 Ezike Nwamiriaku Avenue, Umungwu – Umuohama, Ukpor, Anambra state. Email:okwuokwu@yahoo.com. Tel: 234-(0)803-555-9193.
In his determination to ensure that lives and property are better secured in FCT, the Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed has directed all hotels in the Federal Capital Territory to forward the list of their guests to the FCT Directorate of State Security Services (SSS) and the FCT Police Command on a daily basis. The hotels are equally required to install their individual security cameras within their vicinity and ensure thorough check of all vehicles entering the hotel and within their surroundings.
The Minister has also directed all residents and residents associations in various parts of the territory to embark on “operation know your neighbor” campaign. The measure is to ensure that all criminally-minded elements are detected easily within the FCT. The security department of FCTA is to liaise with the various security agencies in the FCT on the modalities for implementing the ministerial directive.
The Minister directed all traditional rulers in the FCT to, as a matter of necessity, start conducting periodic meetings with various communities within their domains to take stock of strange faces living with them, as well as report all new comers within 48 hours to the local DPO and SSS office. This is in furtherance of “operation know your neighbor” campaign.
He enjoined all FCT residents to be vigilant and cautious of strange objects or movements of persons, vehicles around them, as well as stationary vehicles. They should report same to the nearest security agencies.
The Minister further directed that all trailers/lorry operators bringing goods to the city shall no longer be allowed to offload their contents at night. All offloading shall henceforth be done in the day time under supervision in designated places.
The directive requires owners of uncompleted and abandoned buildings and structures without security guards to provide same. Failure to do so, the FCT Administration would apply appropriate sanctions.
Similarly, owners plots of land left fallow for a long period of time and not used for any economic or gainful purpose but taken over by criminals would now face appropriate sanctions.
The Minister reminded residents that the ban on smoking of Indian hemp and other narcotic substances is still in force in the territory adding that the Administration had resolved to clamp down on violators.
Following the continued water crisis in Owerri, the Imo State capital, a former governor of Imo state, Chief Ikedi Ohakim has expressed fears over a looming outbreak of epidemics in Owerri that may result from the lack of water.
The former governor also warned that with no single drop of pipe-borne water in the state capital in the last 38 months, the people living in the state capital might face serious health crisis.
Interacting with newsmen in his Burma Retreat country home at Okohia, Isiala Mbano council area of Imo state, Ohakim stated that at the time he left office in 2011, Imo state had 1,900 functional water infrastructures across the state.
Said he, “We trained and engaged 300 technicians to manage these water projects, but for reasons I find difficult to understand, Governor Rochas Okorocha sacked all the technicians immediately he assumed office and today, 90 percent of these water projects have collapsed and for about three years now, the teps have remained dry in the state capital.”
According to Ohakim, his administration had a water roadmap that would have ensured pipe-borne water in every kitchen in the state capital by 2015.
He lamented the rampant misplacement of priority by the present administration saying, “Can you compare 10,000 graduate jobs to 10,000 empty halls?”
While there was an existing Ahiajoku conference Centre built by Ikedi Ohakim, the present administration had replicated another conference centre and Ohakim had this to say: “I am happy that Imo people are beginning to come to terms with all that I my administration stood for. We offered 10,000 graduate job and a lot of people scandalized it, but the beneficiaries when they were sacked by Okorocha came out to tell the state that indeed they were being paid full salaries before Okorocha sacked them. Today somebody is offering 25,000 jobs and you ask yourself, is the entire Imo workforce at present up to 25,000?”
Ohakim recalled that his administration left N26.8Billion in various accounts which he handed over to Okorocha and regretted that Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) had endorsed the reapplication of another N13. 2Billion left in a UBA account for specific projects. According him, this fund has been merely frittered away.
Ohakim condemned the undue criticism of President Goodluck Jonathan by a section of the country.
According to the former governor, “However we look at it, Jonathan is the symbol and image of this country and the idea of assuming that any crisis in the country is Jonathan’s problem is most unpatriotic and retrogressive.”
On his ambition for 2015, Ohakim noted that it is his desire to take another shot at Douglas House but stressed that it was subject to the approval of his party.
29 indigenes of the state, out of the 486 travelers from Northern Nigeria, who were arrested on transit in Abia state by security agents about two weeks ago
Kano state Governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso has advised the 29
indigenes of the state, out of the 486 travelers from Northern
Nigeria, who were arrested on transit in Abia state by security agents
about two weeks ago, on the allegation of being insurgents, to
continue pursuing legitimate businesses anywhere they found themselves
in the country.
He made the call when the 29 freed indigenes visited him at the
Government House in Kano following their release from detention in
Abia state.
Governor Kwankwaso argued that there is no law in the country that
restricts any citizen from traveling and doing business lawfully
anywhere in the nation, lamenting that what the security agents did to
the travelers was a clear violation of their fundamental human right.
“Upon hearing that some Northerners were apprehended in that state
(Abia), even though we were unaware that Kano indigenes were among the
captives then, we began discussion with the authorities concerned to
secure their release. But we later thought that it will be impossible
to have that number of people going on business without having anybody
from Kano. This is the reason why we sent a powerful delegation to
discuss with them for your unconditional release or referral of the
matter to court,” the governor revealed.
The governor who thanked Almighty God for making the captives to
return home safely and urged them to take what happened to them as
Earlier one of the released travelers, Mudasir Aliyu Kumbosto revealed
that they were severely tortured and painfully maltreated while in
detention at the barracks in Abia state and denied access to the Kano
state government delegation that went to see them.
He, however, thanked the governor for his effort and for making time
to see them return home safely and for giving each of them N20, 000 as
a transportation money to their respective communities in the state.
