Hell was let loose on Monday, June 16, 2014 when a chieftain of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) allegedly aimed his short gun at two of his aides and pulled the trigger.
It is not showing on movie magic, but happening live as people would say, at Adaranijo Street, in Egbeda area of Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State. The newspaper learnt that the union chairman identified simply as Mr. Sufi, otherwise known as Dakeja, the Branch C chairman of the union, threw caution to the winds and allegedly pulled the trigger as two of his aides dared to challenge him over the running of the union affairs in a motor park at Egbeda.
It was learnt that long before that fateful day, the said Sufi had indicated interest in running for a higher office in the union. However, while he was making moves to actualize his ambition, his Secretary, one Mr. Kabiru Abiodun, who sources say had always pointed out his boss follies, reminded Sufi that his dream would not see the light of day.
According to sources, Abiodun had pointed out that the finances of the union under Sufi’s supervision needed explanation, saying that the situation should be enough to worry his boss than aspiring to a higher office.
The source said Abiodun’s guts got on the bad side of Sufi, who it was said had expressed reservations over Abiodun’s straight-talking nature in the past. On this fateful Monday, another union member identified as Mutiu Jimoh, was also said to have urged the chairman to drop his ambition and focus on his current assignment. The newspaper gathered that the icy reception given to his ambition by his aides infuriated Sufi, who ordered that they be disciplined for insubordination.
It was said that the ensuing argument over who is right or wrong between Sufi and his aides and the execution of the disciplinary directive pitched members of the union against one another.
It was further gathered that the refusal of the aides to obey the chairman’s order further irked some members of the union, leading to a free for all. In the process, it was learnt, Sufi allegedly dashed into his office and returned with a short gun. Perhaps, everyone had taken it all for a joke when a reportedly angry Sufi repeatedly threatened to shoot his aides until he pulled the trigger.
Sufi, the newsmen learnt, allegedly shot Abiodun in the hand and neck. According to sources, but for divine intervention, Abiodun would have been dead. Sufi seemingly bent on teaching his aides a lesson the hard way, did not stop there.
He also reportedly took a beer bottle, broke it and stabbed Jimoh, who was standing next to Abiodun, injuring him severely. The two men were immediately rushed to the National Orthopedic Hospital, Igbobi, in Lagos where they are currently receiving medical attention. The newspaper learnt that some members of the union who were sympathetic to the two aides had reportedly wanted to fight Sufi, but were restrained by the timely intervention of a detachment of policemen from the Area ‘M,’ who cordoned off the area.
When the newsmen visited Adaranijo Street on Wednesday to speak with one Mr. Sikiru alias Oyiwo, said to be a branch chairman of the union, he was said to be unavailable. However, a member identified as Omo Alhaja, described the feud as a family affair. Said he: “It’s a family affair. We do not need external interference. Our senior bosses at the state level will sort the issues out amicably.”
In an interview, a trader in the area who identified himself as Mr. Adekunle told the newspaper that he fled the area during the clash. “It all started on Monday. We heard that they were fighting over the control of a motor park on one hand, and the lack of accountability on the part of the chairman on the other.
How and why it worsened to the use of gun is what many of us cannot explain,” he said. A landlady in the area, Mrs. Romoke Adetunji also explained that residents of the area had long been at the mercy of the union members in the area had this to say: “Even before this recent violence broke out; they had always been using some shops as hideouts. They lurk around the shops, drink and smoke till daybreak. Most residents cannot walk on our streets for fear of molestation by the hoodlums,” she said.
In a telephone interview, the Lagos State chairman of the NURTW, Tajudeen Agbede denied that union leadership tussle was at the centre of the crisis.
Agbede, instead, blamed it on a recent carnival in the area, describing his members as lawabiding. According to him, some of the crisis in the area was caused by people who though are unregistered with the union; still want to use its name to perpetrate crimes. When the newspaper contacted the Lagos State Police spokesperson, Ngozi Braide for comments, her mobile phones were switched off.
NURTW Leader Shoots Aide, Stabs Another
2 Senior Special Assistants To Gov Yari Of Zamfara Decamps To PDP…As Minister Bashir Yuguda Concludes Talk With (7) Zamfara APC Commissioners For Defection
Less than forty eight hours to the formal defection of three Director Generals to Governor Abdul’azeez Yari of Zamfara, another two Senior Special Assistants to the governor formally announced their defection in Gusau.
They are Ahmed Dantabawa Gada and Alh Tukur Aliyu, the former is SSA in charge of Public Enlightenment and the later is in charge of the youth under the office of the Executive Governor.
Their defection was also announced less than 24 hours after a permanent Commissioner at the State Independent Electoral Commission ZASIEC Alh Abdullahi Marmaro tendered his resignation letter announcing his defection to PDP.
The duo in a short interview with the News Men In Gusau, described lack of trust and confidence in the leadership of APC under Yari as the back born of their reasons for defection.
Yesterday in an interview with the News Men In Gusau a PDP Caretaker Member Alh Abdulhadi Seedu announced that, 7 more Commissioners had concluded talk with the Minister representing the state Malam Bashi Yuguda Gusau to resign their appointment and defect to the opposition PDP in the state.
In a related development the Supervising Minister of National Planning Ambassador Bashir Yuguda Gusau has, concluded talk with the Seven Serving Commissioners of Zamfara including Alhaji Ibrahim Muhammad Danmadami Birnin Magaji Commissioner of Information who had agreed to resigned and dumped APC for the opposition PDP in the state.
A member of the Caretaker Committee of PDP in Zamfara, Alh Abdul-hadi Saeedu Yanware who disclosed this in an interview with the News Men in Gusau noted that, the development proved the weakness of the current APC leadership under governor Yari in Zamfara.
Yanware further explained that, the commissioners who had already put on their resignation letters met with the Minister at a top secret meeting and agreed on some terms and condition to formalized their defection to PDP and very soon they will announce their position to the public
‘’For the ruling APC to be losing such an active members to the opposition PDP in Zamfara it is high time they should be shading tears because the development is no more than a good sign of APC collapsing in Zamfara’’ Yanware added.
While counting successes, the PDP politician cautioned some members of the ruling APC in Zamfara especially the party’s Publicity Secretary Sani Gwamna Mayanchi to desist from attacking the personality of PDP politicians especially Malami Aliyu Yandaoto who he described as an astute politician of record in Zamfara.
Yanware maintained that, the exit of Malami Yandoto from the APC has became a big threat to their political climax and that is the more reason why they are not comfortable with him in PDP adding that, many more of Malami Aliyu will joined the PDP train in order to save the people of Zamfara.
On Wednesday, the APC Publicity Secretary in Zamfara Alh Sani Gwamna was quoted in a radio Nigeria Pride FM saying, Malami Yandoto is a mistrusted politician who has cheated governor Yari and indeed APC that made him relevant politically.
But the Yanwaren Daji reacted by replying Gwamna that, it will be the last time Zamfara PDP will tolerate such an attack on Malami Yandoto or any PDP Politician from an APC silent and unknown politician like Sani Gwamna Mayanchi saying, Malami is too big for Sani Gwamna and his likes.-
Kano To Secure Release Of Its Indigenes Detained In Abia
The Kano State Government said it had dispatched a delegation to Abia to secure the release of the state indigenes among the 486 persons arrested by security operatives recently.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Dr Danburan Abubabar, told the Newsmen in Kano on Saturday that the delegation had since arrived in Abia and started discussion with the state government officials and security agents.
He said the team, led by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Gen. Idris Dambazau, was to find out the exact number of Kano indigenes among the detainees and the nature of their offences.
Abubakar said the delegation had been directed to also take care of the welfare of the indigenes among the detainees in Abia.
“We directed the team to secure their release, if they were not found guilty of any offence and bring them back home.
“We will not accept a situation where the fundamental human rights of our innocent citizens are infringed upon.
“The committee has been directed to immediately report back its findings to the government for necessary and appropriate action,’’ Abubakar said.
NAN recalls that about 486 persons suspected to be Boko Haram members were arrested recently in Abia by security operatives
Military mars Ekiti election, APC cries out
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm over the role
of the military in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State,
following the arrest of APC leaders by soldiers on the eve of the
election.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity
Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the part said armed soldiers arrested
the Director-General of the Fayemi Campaign Organization, Hon. Bimbo
Daramola, and the state Commissioner for Finance. Mr. Dapo Kolawole,
on the eve of the poll.
It said both Daramola and Kolawole were arrested in their country
homes in Ire and Iloro respectively, and that their whereabouts remain
unknown as at the time of this report.
”The role being played by the military in the Ekiti elections gives
reason for concern, because an institution that is supposed to unite
Nigerians has descended into the area of partisan politics and it is
now seriously undermining democracy,” APC said.
”Whoever the misguided soldiers in Ekiti are working for, they should
know that their actions can only destroy the nation’s democracy. We
therefore call on the military hierarchy to defend the integrity of
the institution by calling the partisan soldiers in Ekiti to order
before it is too late. The consequences of a rigged election in Ekiti
will reverberate far beyond the state,” the party said.
It reiterated its earlier warning that the APC will not accept the
outcome of an election in which the military and other security
agencies skewed the whole process in favour of a certain candidate, to
the detriment of others.
”The APC seeks no favour from any individual or institution for
Saturday’s elections. What we demand is a level playing field for all
the candidates, and a conducive atmosphere for the people of Ekiti to
cast their votes without harassment or intimidation,” APC said.
486 Arrested Boko Haram Suspects: Abia Govt Warns Jigawa Lawmakers, Others to Allow Security Agencies to do their Job
Ohaneze Youth blasts Arewa over comments on S/East Governors
OHANEZE Ndigbo Youth Council [OYC] has lashed at the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum [AYCF] over the latter’s attack on South East Governors on the arrest last Sunday of 486 suspected insurgents in Abia section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt express road by soldiers.
AYCF was reported to have warned South East governors to stop the arrest of Northerners in their area, saying that the people arrested were not Boko Haram insurgents.
Reacting to the position of AYCF, Ohaneze Youth Council warned their Arewa Youths counterpart to “stop politicizing the security problem in the country”, and reminded AYCF that the 486 suspects were arrested by the nation’s security operatives not South East governors.
OYC in a statement by its National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro also commended the South East “for their collective stand against terrorism and support for Mr. President to tackle this menace”.
Calling on the people of South East “to be vigilant in the face of the attempt by terrorists to infiltrate our zone and rob us of our freedom”, OYC however warned that “we shall not tolerate any security breach in any part of Igbo land”.
In his reaction to AYCF’s position, Isiguzoro asked, “did they [AYCF] expect the governors who are Chief Security Officers of their states to clap for the suspected terrorists”, saying that “nobody in his right frame of mind would descent to the level AYCF did”.
“In this era of security breach in some parts of the country, is it not uncommon for such number of persons to be transiting to another part of the country in a large convoy and in odd hours with no proper explanation of their mission and motives.
“The suspects were arrested by Nigerian security agents and not South East Governors. Those found innocent would be set free but those that have questions to answer would face the law.
“We cannot continue to play ostrich while the lives of innocent Nigerians are under threat. The Governors of the South East have the constitutional right to secure their place. We therefore condemn in unmistakable terms the inflammatory remark by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum. This is a time for caution in our thought and actions”, OYC said.
Ado Bayero’s Reign And Travails – By Ado Umar Muhammad
The first time I saw the late Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero, the 13th Fulani emir of Kano, was as a child in 1961. My family house was just a stone’s throw from Kwalli Police Station, then the headquarters of the Native Authority (NA) Police, where he was the Wakilin Doka, or Chief of Police. As inquisitive children eager to catch a glimpse of the popular prince, I remember we would go and start fiddling with a water tap near the main building of the police headquarters. The window of Wakilin Doka’s office was overlooking the tap, and we took delight in sighting him with fondness.
Alhaji Ado Bayero was a man who loved children. Because of his legendary humility and friendliness, some time if he walked by and we were close enough he would look at us with a smile, and that was enough to make our day. We would then savour the gesture for weeks on end. No wonder when two or three years later he was named as the new emir we enthusiastically joined the multitude that celebrated the news.
Some of the early events in his reign that I still remember witnessing are the formal presentation of staff of office to him at the then Festival Stadium (now Sani Abacha Stadium), and the opening ceremony of Waje Mosque at Fagge in the metropolis. The first event was special to the people because it was graced by the great Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Sir Ahmadu Bello, first and only Premier of Northern Region.
The second was particularly special to the emir himself as I recall him saying at the occasion that it was his long-standing ambition to build a big mosque in Kano, in emulation of his late father the 10th emir, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero. “Sarki Alhaji,” as he is fondly referred to, built the famous Central Mosque in Kano City.
In the almost 51 years that he reigned as emir, Alhaji Ado Bayero had his triumphs and tribulations. Generally speaking, his reign witnessed peace and tremendous development in Kano, and as the years rolled by he was able to endear himself to the people because of his devotion to his traditional functions, his love and care for them. Before our eyes Kano transformed from a semi-urban area to a sprawling city of commerce, industries and learning, with contrasting features of ancient and modern architecture adorning its landscape.
His travails included the queries issued to him and his bosom friend the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, for visiting Israel without obtaining permission from the Federal Military Government. Nigeria had no diplomatic ties with Israel at the time. The wide publicity that was given to the query by the national and international media must have tormented the two royal fathers.
Before that, in the Second Republic there was an attempt to whittle down his powers by the first executive governor, Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi. The governor created three more emirates from Kano for Gaya, Rano and Dutse and appointed first class emirs for them. He did same for Auyo in Hadejia emirate, and promoted the emirs of Hadejia, Gumel and Kazaure, who hitherto were under Kano emirate, from second to first class status.
There was also an apparent move to remove him, but the protests that this prompted resulted in acts of brigandage and arson. Rimi’s political adviser, Dr. Bala Mohammed, an ace broadcaster and lecturer at Bayero University was killed by a mob on July 10th, 1981. Valuable documents and buildings were touched and destroyed at Audu Bako Secretariat, state House of Assembly and the new building of Triumph Publishing Company, where a new Rondoset publishing machine was burnt to ashes.
There is no denying also that the late emir had had a running battle in recent years with the incumbent governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, which snowballed and came to a head with the governor’s rejection of the emir’s choice of new Waziri of Kano, Sheikh Nasir Muhammad Nasir. Both leaders stood their grounds as they tussled over the issue. According to the Peoples Daily newspaper of 03/06/2014, the governor consequently sent a letter to the emir threatening to either dethrone him or create two more emirates for Gaya and Karaye, a la Governor Rimi in the past. The emir had never liked the idea of anything that would reduce his area of authority, whether it was emirates or states creation, and the government was certainly aware of this.
Even though the intervention of a representative of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba, seemed to have settled the matter as it was resolved that the appointment of Sheikh Nasir be reversed, a later event proved that it was not assuasive enough for the emir. Many people in Kano believe, rightly or wrongly, that the tussle must have induced a fatal heart attack in the early hours of June 6th, 2014 as the emir’s health was reportedly stable up till that time.
The misunderstanding between Kwankwaso and the emir, which had political undertones, escalated shortly after Kwankwaso returned to power in 2011 after failing to do so eight years earlier. Those eight years witnessed the reign of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau as governor during which the emir was accused by then “PDP Kwankwasiyya” of identifying with Shekarau’s government and getting involved in its programmes.
They pointed to the fact that the emir personally went to almost all the 44 local government areas to launch Shekarau’s flagship programme, known as “A DAIDAITA SAHU,” and ginger the people to accept its message of moral rejuvenation by adapting to the tenets of the Sharia. At a point the spokesman of a PDP Kwankwasiyya delegation that visited the emir openly expressed their displeasure with the emir’s action.
As a sign of respect hardly did anyone ever disagree with the emir’s actions in public. But the man told the emir point-blank that they considered his actions as getting involved in partisan politics. It can then be assumed that the clash might have its genesis in the protracted political feud between the governor and his predecessor. However, it must be pointed out that Alhaji Ado Bayero’s patronage of Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, whom he knew as a child, and his government stemmed from the fact that the emir considered him as his son having worked closely with his father, the late Malam Shekarau Giginyu, who was one of his lieutenants when he was Wakilin Doka.
Chief Inspector Shekarau Giginyu was third or fourth in rank to the Wakili. The emir himself cited this reason shortly after conferring the then governor with the coveted title of Sardauna of Kano on January 21st, 2010. He said late Shekarau was obedient, dedicated and loyal to him. The late emir’s attitude towards Shekarau Jr. and vice versa can therefore be understood only if it is viewed from this angle. It is wrong to assume that it had anything to do with politics.
The most serious of his travails, of course, was the last of the three attempts on his life. The first two were by individuals who foolishly thought they could eliminate him through sheer physical force. The last in January, 2010 was blamed on Boko Haram elements. They stopped his convoy in the streets and sprayed it with bullets, resulting in the killing of three people including one of his bodyguards who shielded him from the bullets. It was a traumatic experience he had to live with until his death.
Finally, while congratulating Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II on his appointment as the 14th Fulani Emir of Kano I pray that Allah will grant him long life, good heath and the will to offer meritorious services to the people of Kano. May I also pray that, in the vital interest of the state, he will use his good offices to reconcile the incumbent governor and his predecessor once and for all? Indeed, the emir is dead, long live the Emir!
Muhammad wrote in from Hotoro Quarters, Tarauni LGA, Kano <aumo21@yahoo.com>
FG to Revoke 15 Coal Mining Licences
THE Federal Government, on Thursday, expressed dissatisfaction that while the nation is rich in coal deposits, some companies are exporting the mineral because those who were given licences to mine have failed to do so years after winning the licences.
Government has now threatened to revoke such licences unless the beneficiaries begin to utilise them.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Musa Sada, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting of National Council on Privatisation (NCP), presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He revealed that the Vice President gave the directive to revoke the licences if the owners fail to start mining for reallocation to investors who are ready to start business and support the administration’s transformation agenda, which, he noted, has power sector as a key components.
Sada said: “For obvious reasons, we need this mineral resource to produce power to leverage on what we have to get what we want.
“We have already started the process to release from any encumbrance those titles that are being held by people. We are not willing to allow it to remain on speculative basis. People that have these titles must have to operate them or lose them in line with the provision of the Minerals Mining Act.”
He added: “Vice President Namadi Sambo has given instruction that we must do all that needs to be done to make sure that these coal blocks go to people that need them and are ready to operate them and we are taking this instruction seriously.”
“So, we are looking at the greenness they signed with the BPE, we are looking at the Mineral Act and we are putting the two together. We have already started interfacing with them and we are making progress on that,” he said.
The Minister also said that Sambo had also given definite deadline for the conclusion of negotiation on the Ajaokuta Steel Company to bring all agitation to closure, saying that an amicable resolution was at the verge of being achieved, to be followed by signing of agreements with serious investors.
According to him, “we looked at the potentials around it and presently government is on the verge of signing agreements with some serious steel producing companies who are interested in taking it forward.
“Part of the discussion is that when we finally come to privatise Ajaokuta. We privatise a company that is alive; make sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated and that the facility being privatised really works.”
The Minister, who gave the briefing in company of the Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo and Director-General of the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE), Benjamin Dikki, said government would be careful in the selection of investors to ensue that only competent ones were selected in order to avoid the mistakes of the past.
“Ochendo Has Done Well, Orji Uzor Kalu Call Your Attack Dogs Home”
“Only a foolish dog barks at a flying bird and a sheep must learn to obey the shepherd” were amongst the parting words of a popular but late musician referring to the sworn enemies of progress – and it rings true today amongst the present day naysayers and nihilists amongst the Abia State terrain who have refused to see the new Abia State and the success stories that have begun to take strong stem in the many sectors of the state in a manner that sets an unselfish tone for the future administrators of the beloved state to hit the ground running – unlike what was obtainable on the ground upon Theodore Orji’s arrival as the executive governor of State.
Not minding the glaring dilapidation which Abia State found itself upon the arrival of the present state governor – in addition to the noxious attempt by the Orji Uzor Kalu political family to play the role of godfather and godmother, the agents of Orji Uzor Kalu still find it necessary to spew un-calibrated and largely unguarded hatred aimed at the administrative head of Abia State all in the name of free speech and democratic society.
But what they fail to comprehend are the success stories that liter the present Abia State. They fail to observe the evil jinx that has been broken by the Orji administration without the shed of blood. The latent revolution that occurred to bring about the dislodgement of the mother queen of Abia state politics and governance was not an easy battle – and neither was it a selfish battle rather it was a battle for the future development of the state and the collective betterment of the citizens of Abia State.
The hold on Abia state and her development by the mother of Orji Uzor Kalu and Orji Uzor Kalu was not a secret and it was clearly not welcomed by the larger populace of the state because it was evil and dictatorial. Orji Kalu Orji, in his many unguarded talks, had boasted that the State will remain under his family’s control for the next 35 years before ‘outsiders’ are to regain the control of the state. The hoisting of Theodore Orji to the seat of Governor was to fit the role devised by the Orji Uzor Kalu family plot. Through the first few years at the ‘realm’ of affairs, the grip of the Orji Uzor Kalu evil dynasty appeared overbearing and damning to allow for the smooth governing of the state. It led to an administration that appeared unorganized. And as a result, the popularity of the seating governor plummeted while the Orji Uzor Kalu cherished the dwindling political currency – as they tightened the grips on the seating governor as to ensure he remains a puppet for the Orji Uzor Kalu family.
But God intervened.
Through a dedicated heart targeted towards the liberation of Abia State from the evil trips of the Orji Uzor Kalu family, Theodore Orji’s coming as the governor became an unexpected blessing to the people of Abia State – and an unexpected curse to the Orji Uzor Kalu family. And for this reason, Orji Uzor Kalu’s family and their hired guns have become unrelenting in their attacks on the person of the governor – and on the state in general. This is not minding that the governor had gone ahead to launch the rebirth of a modern Abia State through the erection of a new secretariat befitting of a state capital, a modern diagnostic medical facility capable of handling dialysis patients to the tune of over 60 per month at the subsided cost of less than N23,000 per session.
Also – the erection of three ultra-modern markets in the Umuahia vicinity and a befitting housing units for the traders to purchase at heavily discounted rates. – the erection of housing units befitting civil servants of the Abia State civil service and the revamping of the judiciary systems by ensuring court cases are attended to in a timely and humane manner – this the governor achieved by increasing the High Court infrastructural capacity.
The transportation system in Abia was also revamped and given a new look. The transportation was streamlined to mimic what is found in New York or Florida – where all the taxis are identifiable and fares uniformly administered. Over 2,000 Toyota Sienna were procured and handed out free to qualified taxi operators [youths] as part of the Ochendo youth empowerment program. In furtherance of the youth empowerment program, the Theodore Orji administration has erected and equipped an e-library – which is at par with the types found in 1st world countries.
But the Orji Uzor Kalu boys refuse to relent.
In one of their litany of attacks on the person and administration of the Governor, a one ‘Olaniyi Olayinka’ wrote in a piece titled “Orji Continues To Rape Abia”, he attempted to paint the governor a rapist but a careful read through his write up showed anger and just odored anger without edible substance. He began his diatribe with “Permit me to point out the following observations I have made in Abia State. They are about the governance in that state and the trick that Governor Theodore Orji and his aides are spreading everywhere”. But in his 729 worded write up he managed to tell some fibs and dangerous fabrications. The rest of the write up dwelt on insulting the Information Commissioner and the Federal Minister of Information.
Here him, “the Umuahia Central Market which they said that they have converted to a large environment at Ubeku Ubani, is where a trader pays over N450, 000 for just a shop for one month. The government in Abia State and its agents would call that money ‘just N450, 000.’” – A lie worth its value in the sewer. From the official records, each store was given away to the traders at N300,000 with a down payment of N72,000. In addition, an open area for those who cannot afford a store at the market was made available. Also, the market was equipped with 10 water boreholes and 11 motor parks – 17 restaurants are in built in the market. Shuttle buses that cost N50 each were provided and subsided by the state government to ply to and fro into town from the Market. Located next to the market is a 1600 housing units for the traders – the 1st set of units will be ready by August 2014. The market is reportedly the biggest in terms of size in the south east.
He continued to add that “it is a known fact that the government of Orji occasioned hardship in the cause of leadership. Commercial activities are dead in that state owing to the unconcerned approach of the governor to rebuild the state in reality order than rebuilding it on the media.” But little does he know that the Abia State of Orji Uzor Kalu is no more and belongs in the past. Using the Internally Generated Revenue [IGR] as a marker for the status of economic activity, then it may be clear the Theodore Orji Administration have increased economic activity and has reduced hardship on the people of the state. The IGR which was below 250million monthly increased to N500million monthly as a result of increased economic activity under the Theodore Orji administration. This fete was achieved while outlawing the touts and fake tax collectors who would normally harass and collect illegal taxes from innocent traders. Now, Abia government pays the highest minimum wage in the nation at the tag of N20,000 monthly.
But the Orji Uzor Kalu attack boys may have little choice in halting the unrelenting and empty netted attacks on the governor of Abia State. What appears remnants of the evil dreams of their master for the state seems to have been tossed into the dustbin of time as a result of the timely intervention of the governor to wrestle away Abia State from the grips of their master.
Orji Uzor Kalu should call his attack dogs home – away from the governor. It is only fair to Abians that he do so.
CAN replies JNI, Dangiwa, Shehu Sani
The Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN), is not against Muslims for we are working together to build the Nigeria of our dream. However, of recent CAN has noted the deliberate policy of the Ja’amatu Nasril Islam (JNI) and some unabashed sympathies of Boko Haram, to give inaccurate report on matters they know little or nothing, especially when Muslims are at the receiving end. As the umbrella body of Christian faithfuls in Nigeria, CAN will not play the ostrich when the evil prospects of Islamic terrorism spreading to Southern Nigeria is being explored by Boko Haram.
It has therefore, come to the attention of CAN that some Muslim hirelings are behaving in an extremely submissive way in order to please those in authority at the JNI. This is why we in CAN are not surprise in the least with the reported reaction of the JNI and its cohorts that the 486 people arrested in Abia State while travelling in over 33 Hiace Hummer buses at 2 am along Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway last Sunday are traders. The JNI expressed concern over what it described as repeated crackdown on innocent Muslims in the name of Boko Haram.
Are Boko Haram members Muslims or none Muslims? JNI claims that the suspects are Muslims who go about their lawful businesses in their own country. Yet, the JNI did not show us the portion of the “constitution” of Boko Haram that forbids traders from joining the terror group. Let the JNI tell us the livelihoods of members of Boko Haram, since it seems to have a very deep information about the characters, constituents and operational limit of Boko Haram.
We condemn this bellicose attitude of the JNI each time matters of national security involving Muslims are being handled by security agencies on account of their misdeeds. We hate to believe that JNI has a hand in some of this security threats to the nation. Or how else can we explain a situation where it is squealing while investigations which has even revealed that a suspected top commander of Boko Haram was among the 486 suspects arrested, is yet to be concluded? The claim by JNI that the arrested Muslims are innocent and that they were going about their normal businesses when one of the wanted terror suspects was found to be among them, is hasty and preposterous. This is not only misleading, it is a mischievous attempt to cover up.
There are questions the JNI must answer, failing which they should keep quiet the same way as they have always done when Christians are being killed and their Churches burnt down by Muslims. How can 486 traders be travelling in a convoy of 35 Hiace Hummer buses at 2am? What kind of businesses are 486 traders going to ply in Port Harcourt in such a convoy? 486 Muslim traders all from one part of the Muslim troubled north emptying into Port Harcourt in a stealthy manner, under the cover of night! Maybe the JNI is privy to these unusual, curious “trade”. Maybe the JNI has the most updated CVs of each of the 486 traders, including the most wanted terrorist among them. Perhaps this is the “trade” branch of the JNI.
In that case, let JNI furnish the world with these: How can 486 traders be travelling in a convoy of 35 Hiace Hummer buses at 2am? What kind of businesses are 486 traders going to ply in Port Harcourt? 486 traders emptying into Port Harcourt? What businesses are they involved in ? Are they living in the same town? How did they come together to embark on such a long journey? Who is their sponsor? Who gave them the buses that they were using? What exactly was their mission? Why did two of the Hiace Hummer buses and their occupants disappear? Did JNI arranged for them to pass through with ease security check points in the North and fail to do so in the South that could have facilitated their detection and subsequent arrest by vigilant security agencies? Are the Nigerian security agents all Christians that abhor ONLY MUSLIMS so much that they target them for arrest even when there is / are no reason ( s ) for such selective arrests?
Is JNI now saying that they do not have confidence in the Nigerian security agencies even where some of such agencies are headed by Muslims who from every indication cannot compromise their religious calling for a mesh of pottage or to please the power that be? Would JNI rather have the task of guaranteeing security in Nigeria handed over to it so that it will ensure all Muslims who breach security should be allowed to go scot free ? JNI must answer these questions for Nigerians to know – especially Christians in this country are waiting for the answers to these questions.
CAN hereby resolutely supports and hail this professional and patriotic action of the Nigerian military over these arrests. Nigerian authority most not feel intimidated, blackmailed or pushed away from taking any move within our laws to stop and question any person or group of persons under this treacherous times which Islamic inspired violence has pushed us into. And Christians are the cardinal victims of the crude Jihad waged by Boko Haram, with a few Muslims as collateral damage. Again, CAN calls on our security agencies to ignore the submissions of the JNI and go ahead with their investigations of the 486 suspects. Everyone of them must be subjected to thorough investigation. The threat by Boko Haram to export its cruelty to the Southern part of Nigeria must not be underestimated. Finally, CAN plead with our security agencies to take initiatives by acting rather than reacting to events, especially at this trying time.
God bless Nigeria
Dr. Musa Asake
CAN National General Secretary
