As land speculations become the order of the day in some of the communities in Anambra State, some land developers and landlords as well in the state has beckoned on the police authorities not only to wade into the irregularities of the law breakers but to dismantle the gang of the terrors that has turned a torn on the flesh of innocent citizens.
Decrying that Nkpor Community in Idemili North Council Area of the State remains the worst hit as land developers are allegedly forced under gun point to pay through their snout before going into the property they procured under the law, it was reliably gathered that for one to move into his site, he or she have to clean the table of one Chief Gregory Okeke , a prominent man in Umusiome Nkpor with #25, 000.
Not minding the fact that Anambra State House of Assembly recently promulgated a bill, banning all sort of extortions from land developers in various communities in the state, some youths in Umusiome Nkpor is on the news for having carpeted the bill passed into law by the lawmakers.
247ureports.com findings revealed that Chief Gregory Okeke who parades himself as the Chairman of Umusiome Community also involves himself in smiling to his bank on daily bases with the extorted money from the innocent landlords. It was reliably gathered that apart from cleaning the table of Chief Gregory Okeke, he is notorious in collecting as huge as over #.350m as the village developing fee. This amount, according sources is paid in the office of the man accused to have raked the pockets of land owners in Nkpor Umusiome.
Accusing one Barrister Uche to be heading the notorious Umusiome Youths Vanguard terror group, our source fingered Chief Gregory Okeke known as Imperia Majesty, Oluchukwu Chioke- ‘Ejabo’ Akachukwu Njepu, Chibueze Okafor-‘Okemili’, Ikenna Okeke-‘Abada’, Chibuzor Ajatu ‘Asaogbe’ and Uche Okeke among others as the foot ‘soldiers’ of Umusiome Youths Vanguard.
Investigation conducted on the activities of the birds who thought it can fly reveals that dangerous arsenal cum weapons of war were procured for them by the powers that be in their community and the said war materials are used not only to intimidate their victims but are also used in other negative act of kidnappings, robbery, car snatchings, name them.
Walls bracketing No 2 All Saints Road, the office of Umusiome Youths Vanguard in Nkpor conferred on this reporter that one of the terror youths, Akachukwu Njapu was of the recent, arrested by the men of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS in the state over his alleged involvement in high degree of criminal activities. It was further gathered that one Nwa Teacher, a notorious criminal had allegedly implicated him as one of his boys.
Frowning that the police in Anambra State is yet to live above board in checking the excesses of the hoodlums, one of the affected landlords said any report made against the youths who swore never to respect the law of the land ends up in police waste bin. Efforts made to reach the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in charge of Ogidi Police Division, Isah Mohammed whose Umusiome falls into his jurisdiction as at the time of fling this report prove abortive but sources close to the Chairman of Umusiome Community alleged that virtually every landlords in the area are afraid to report any case to police station for fear of being killed
It would also be recalled that Umusiome is made of Ogbe Etiti, Enugo and Enugwu villages and these are the special camp of the people terrorizing Nkpor Community.
Efforts made to reach the embattle Chief Gregory Okeke and other people mentioned above at the time of filling this reports hid at the rock as the constant visits of this reporter to the office of Umusiome Youths Vanguard at All Saints Road Nkpor yielded no fruit.
Members of the Strong Tower Biblical Church, Owerri in Imo State have accused Governor Rochas Okorocha of the state of persecuting the church for condemning his administration’s tolerance of the Boko Haram Insurgents in the state.
The church’s accusation came after the officials of the Imo State Government have demolished Headquarters of Strong Tower Biblical Church, opposite Disney Hotel along Owerri/Onitsha Expressway, Irete, within the Owerri Industrial Layout,
reducing the building to rubles.
demolished church
According to the general overseer of the church, Rev. Jude Okenwa, information available to the church showed that the demolition of the church was as a result of the sermon he preached on Sunday against the Boko Haram incursion into the state after the foiled bomb attack on Winners’ Chapel church.
He said members of the church who were around during the time of the demolition told him that the statements of the OCDA officials made them believe that their mission was not because of any approval not gotten from them before the church was built, as according to him, the court granted the writ of possession for the land.
Eyewitnesses said the state government officials were led by the general manager of the Owerri Capital Development Authority, OCDA, Barr. Chima Anozie with the protection ofsome heavily armed policemen.
They were said to have broken into the church around 3.30 pm on Wednesday evening with bulldozers that brought the church down to its foundation.
It was however further gathered that the men of the OCDA carried out the demolition over an allegation that there was no approval for the erection of the church.
The church structures, worth over N50 million, were erected on a 10-plot of
land. The structures comprise an auditorium, offices and residential building.
When our reporter visited the church yesterday, the entire church building was reduced to the ground, while the altar and over 600 plastic upholstery seats were destroyed by the rampaging bulldozers, while a mobile telephone mast was also touched.
Speaking with our reporter on telephone, the OCDA GM, Barr. Chima Anozie, said “there was no approval for the church building and notices had been served to the church asking them to vacate the land, because the land fell within the Industrial Layout”
The OCDA boss, who denied that his men were being used by the governor to persecute the church and it its leader for preaching against Boko Haram insurgency, also said that the agency was doing its job of ensuring that buildings within the capital city followed
the city’s master plan.
He said the church owner went to court to stop the OCDA from carrying out its constitutional duties, saying the court would not stop it as it does not get involved in land disputes.
The church however disputed the claims by the government that it had no approval. A document from Chief Gerald Chino. Aririguzoh of Oracle Chambers, the lawyer to the church’s senior pastor, Rev. Jude. Okenwa, showed that he and his church went into the land by an order of the court.
Speaking on behalf of the pastor, Aririguzo said the church was there as the bonafide owners of the land since 2010 by writ of possession duly signed by Justice Ohakwe who delivered the judgement.
“It was even the court officials that moved out the former occupants of the land, Imo Palm Producers in order for us to move in”, he said.
He disclosed that the state government had approached the pastor severally for him to lease the place to them so that they could still be using it as Imo State Palm Produce, a request he said the pastor refused with a reason that “we are not ready to lease out
the land until our matter is determined on appeal.”
He added that on June 6, 2014, the commissioner for lands, perm sec, the OCDA officials and those of the ministry of lands went into the church again and dropped “contravention notice”.
“They said the church was there without OCDA approval of change of purpose clause. We quickly ran to court three days after on June 9, 2014 to contend that we don’t need approval of change of purpose clause going by the purpose of the release of that place.
When we applied for the release of that place, we stated the reason for which that place will be used when released and government released that land based on that application. We believe that that one is automatic and therefore there is no need requesting for another approval.
“I’m very surprised that the same present administration which preaches rule of law can overlook the processes of the court served on them and proceed to deal with the matter which is before the court by pulling down the church”, he said, adding that this was
what happened in February this year, when the OCDA went there to demolish the church
without any notice.
Rethink Nigeria, a political advocacy group of young professionals affiliated to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commended youths in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for standing up to condemn and reject the imposition of a 52 year old National Youth Leader on the youths of the party.
Rethink Nigeria Volunteer Publicity Secretary, Paschal Metuh in a statement on Wednesday noted that the widespread disapproval by APC youths and Nigerian youths in general over the emergence of 52 year old Ibrahim Dasuki Jallo as National Youth Leader of the APC was a victory for democracy and all Nigerian youths.
“We have noted with concern the increasing affinity of the APC with political backwardness and Stone Age politics. It is either they are fronting a tired and retired 70 year old general as Presidential Candidate of their party today or selecting a septuagenarian as their National Chairman tomorrow and now, more ridiculously, foisting on their youths, a 52 year old as National Youth Leader.
“The APC cannot continue with its hypocritical posturing as a group of progressives while every step it takes in its internal party affairs stands in abeyance to the principles of progressive and new age politics.
“We wish, like one of the APC Chieftains, Mallam Nasir El Rufai recently lamented, that their new Youth Leader was much more younger and also, in the mold of young APC social media advocates like Japheth Omojuwa, Rosanwo Babatunde or even Rinsola Abiola.”
The group finally admonished APC youths to keep up the spirit of advocacy and continue to mount pressure on their party elders to learn from the wisdom of the PDP who have a 31 year old Maibasira Abdullahi as National Youth Leader.
Signed
Pascal Metuh Volunteer Publicity Secretary Rethink Nigeria June 18, 2014
A palpable fear is rife especially among members of the Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN) over alleged attempt by the Enugu State Government to demolish structures in the church’s headquarters.
No fewer than 200 cassock-wearing clergymen took to the street to protest the government’s decision, vowing to lay down their lives to ensure that the planned demolition did not take place.
Speaking on the development, the Administrator in charge of MCN, Uwani, Revd. Gabriel Ogban siegbe, denied the alleged leasing of the property, accusing the government of engaging in political witchhunt against the church in the state.
“We heard that government is planning to pull down our structures. For the four years I have been here, the state government has been against us; we are being marginalised. We can not continue with a situation where government no longer respects the church. We feel we are not safe again.
“We are also aware that text messages have been flying about castigating our Bishop in Agbani, Bishop Onuagha, because of the way he introduced former governor, Chimaroke Nna mani, during the burial of Mrs. Alice Nnamani, mother of his former SSG, Onyemuche in Agbani. This has sparked off attack on our church. We are not politicians, the fact that the former governor received loud ovation was not our making.
“This time around, we are going to resist them. We are ready to die because of our land. Enough is enough,” Ogbansiegbe noted.
Also speaking, the Presbyter of MCN, Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, Revd. James Obineche, said the church had become tired of the ‘constant embarrassment’ from the state government, insisting that “this time around, we are ready to die and be buried by their bull dozers instead of allowing them to destroy this place.”
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chris Okolo, denied any political under tone, explaining that government was only carrying out its duties through the demolition of structures not approved by government.
He said government was not comfortable with the leasing of part of the church land to a bank without the governor’s consent, adding that “since the church has denied the lease, we want to demolish the fence to know who is behind it.”
He confirmed that he had directed the Enugu Capital Development Authority to effect the demolition.
Less than four months after the multi-million naira Princess Hotel, Okigwe, being constructed by the State Government, collapsed, Dozens of students of the Imo State University (IMSU), Owerri escaped death by whiskers when a storey building lecture hall and office complex being constructed in the university campus collapsed.
According to findings, the twin lecture hall, located opposite St. Joseph’s Catholic Chaplaincy, IMSU, is being constructed by the state government.
According to eye-witness account, the building collapsed in the afternoon of penultimate weekend.
247ureports.com investigation revealed that the structure, which had been completed and roofed, caved out from its base after the POP ceilings were put in place by the contracting firm.
It was gathered that crack sign and sound awoke the sense of the students, who were taking shelter by the building. They were said to have hurriedly run out of the vicinity; and just in a jiffy, the building caved out.
The building however did not totally fall, but remained bended with only the ceilings and the roofs falling.
247ureports.com visited the site and noticed that a red tape was tied round the building as a caution to unsuspecting students.
It was also gathered that no life was lost in the incident but a civil engineer, who spoke on strict grounds of anonymity, blamed the crash on substandard materials or a possible plan by the contractor to cut corners.
Also speaking, one of the people who operate shops near the collapsed building confirmed a crack signal before the gradual collapse of the building. She equally explained that, the crack signal was a saving grace for all the students who escaped unhurt.
When contacted for comment, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, confirmed the incident but said he was not in a better position to say anything about the contractor or the building.
Also, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Nze Njoku Obi told our reporter to go to the principal secretary to the governor to find out who the contractor of the building is.
The PRO declined further comments on why the government should be bypassing the university management when building infrastructures in the institution.
An attempt by the our correspondent to see Dr. Pascal Obi, Principal Secretary to the governor proved abortive as the security men refused to allow him access.
In This interview, former Senator Rufai Hanga, a former governorship aspirant in the defunct CPC, speaks on the issues associated with his leaving the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM. He also speaks on other issues.
The Excerpts
After leaving the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC one of the party that merged to form the All Progressive Congress, APC, you officially announced at a press conference that you have joined another party, the People Democratic Movement, PDM. However, it is being heard that you have left the PDM, have you actually leave the PDM.
First of all I will like to correct one impression; you know we have our problems with CPC, even before the merger, and I wished the merger well, and that it should work in a positive way that will be bring about credible opposition and positive change. However soon after the merge, and the processes of the merger scared me to understand that it was not a merger, it is just like an acquisition and therefore we backed out, we didn’t join the APC we waited and then later on we decided to go along and joined PDM. We were meant to understand that PDM is a fresh party, with ideology and so on, having known the history of PDM itself, because I knew the PDM, so I thought it was like the old PDM which I knew. We joined it and after joining we started discovery things, we were okay and we though rather than to stay with the PDM we better leave the party and chart our way forward. I will tell you that I have just confirmed that it is better for me to a small fish in a big ocean, than being a big fish in a pond. We discovered that all the things said about the ideologies about PDM, we found out that the all untrue. I think they are just agents and I wouldn’t want an agent to direct me. I better do my things my way and do whatever I think is right. This time around when you have a lot of followers that believe in you, that believe in your judgement, I think the thing we do our selve is to judge well and that is why we have decided to leave. Of course we have some reasons which confirm to us that this people are not real and no sooner that we left we discover them. We discover some hidden things they are doing and they are still on it. We soon at the right time expose it in a larger scale. We are happy we left at the time we left.
You said you people reasons why you left the PDM, what are these reasons.
You see one of the things that happened was that in Kano, because that is where I did the registration and that is where I have all the membership cards collected. Yes it is true that not everybody that will go into party because of somebody, but my supporters left in enmass and most of them brought back their cards and I have them here with me. The reason is the leadership of the party, constituted of some of my supporters and some people brought in by the national chairman. The people brought in by the National Chairman are his drivers, some person who takes cares of his farm and his relatives. Now these people brought are not politicians, because they have never held any political positions even at ward level. Now he brought them and I noticed them as chairman and treasurer, and then he took one person from our side as secretary. So all the Executive members are 15, and out of 15 only five are from my side. Then some of the guys he brought absconded, and went away from the party, so when it was obvious that things were not going well, 9 out of the 15 which comprises some from his side and some from my side sat and decided that the caretaker chairman should be relieved of his duty. They said he is just like a driver and he was very reckless in his driving the party and that he should come back to the party as passenger not as driver since he is being reckless in driving before he will plunge the party into crisis. That is what they did, beside I was out of the country when they did that, so when the National Chairman heard it, he was annoyed, he immediately suspended the nine of them including me that is ten and then reappointed his boys that were suspended. He also brought in other nonentities, and appointed them as caretaker. I said nonentities because they are nothing in politics and nobody knows them. They have never held any position in politics and they cannot do anything. So he appointed them, I was abroad and I heard it that they were making announcements on five Radio stations in Kano five times a day and he gave them each a deposit of N1.7m million for the advert. They spent 21 days announcing it, because I was abroad for 14 days and the advert was still running up to the time I came back. So when I heard it, I called him on phone he didn’t answer my calls, so I called some people and told them to go and ask him the National chairman, ask him what is happening I heard that he suspended me and other people, that I am not around, I should be contacted of what is happening, how can he suspend without hearing from me. So when they went he said leave them his boys did this and they did it because of hi and they think he can protect them and I want to show them that even the Senator is nothing, that the wanted to show his power as national chairman. So I decided that what he did is childish and I cannot go on with the party called PDM. In fact we had our suspicion, when Atiku decided to dump the party. I was spending my money in the party and how can I stay without nothing on my own side, so I said no, something is wrong and we decided to leave.
By the time these things were happenings, was the National Chairman aware?
The National Chairman was always aware of all these happening and it was something serious that he couldn’t handle, but he refuse to handle it, even when people were complaining of all the things his people were doing. They were treating people as people were desperate to join the party. We told the National chairman, Bashir Yusuf, but he wouldn’t listen. I know him because he is from Kano but I never knew he is the kind of person, but people that knows him, when this issue happened they came and said, that the know Bashir as someone who is not good and that is members of his family are not with him the party. His behavior is terrible, because he treats people like someone who have never heard training. Like I heard that he told someone that I said I left with people from Jigawa and so on, am I from Jigawa, how can I say I left with people from Jigawa. Whether people in Jigawa and Kastina remains in the party, I don’t care, let them whatever they want to do in the party, I don’t care. I have left the party, I have left and I left the party with my supporters in Kano, and I have large followers in Kano and nobody can deny me that, not even Bashir and his master who gave him money to go and do that has not contested and won any election, even councillorship. I have been in politics, I won elections and am grateful to God for that and I will boast of that anytime, any day.
This issue that happened in Kano, did it also happen in some other states.
Well it happened in South-East, and some part South-South, I think there was a press Conference and they left also, I saw it on Premium Time and I saw it on Daily Trust. I want to assure you that left with Jigawa, Kastina, but I want to assure that there will be exodus of people from the party because there is no party. They only place where the PDM exist is Kastina, because of people like Senator Audu Yandoma who has integrity and good mind, he is the only person facilitating the PDM in Kastina. He is a man of the people and the respect him lot, that is why there is PDM in Kastina, otherwise there is no PDM anywhere. Even in Kastina, Senator Audu Yandoma. is very tired with the happenings, but there is nothing he can do about it because he has already introduces the party to his people. But in Kano the National Chairman cannot get any person to join him and that is why he is behaving the way he is behaving, and am sure he is an agent.
You said you are sure the National Chairman of the PDM is an agent, what agent do you think he is.
He is an agent of destruction; he wants to make sure he destroyed the party. I know there is something amiss, somewhere.
Is it now fallacy his claims that the party is widespread?
Where is it widespread, where is it. Let him hold a congress, let us see who will come to the congress, they can’t have a congress, a national convention. They can only announce it, but they can’t have a congress.
Now that you have left the party, what is your next way forward?
My next way forward, is am now discussing, in fact we have been consulting since we left the party, and you know we are in a very difficult situation now, because the only party that exist in this country is now two, the APC and the PDP. We knew they were there when went and joined the PDM, and most of that joined the PDM were from one of the legacy party that made up the APC. We have all our reasons not join them. No the difficulty we are getting is taking a decision of where to go. Initially my intention that I made clear to friends, supporters, friends, and others is that I am going on sabbatical from politics, because nobody quits politics, but can just rest for a while. But then people said, no, no, you cannot do that. We followed you, we agreed with you to go and joined the PDM, and we all agree to leave it. We have to go another party and we have to go together. So I am consulting now. I want to join politics, but I don’t want a situation I pull people into a place and people to start to insinuate, even though you cannot stop people from doing that, but the most important thing is the end result of whatever happens. The important thing is when you anticipate, when you forecast, you will say this and this will happen and it happened. That is the most important thing. So I am grateful to God. We are consulting and we are going to make our decision known very soon where we are heading to, because we have to state our reasons clearly.
Do you still have any political ambition?
Though not really, however I am not politics because of any ambition, my ambition in politics is to have a better society, to better things, to make sure that I am part of making thing better and good. That is why I am politics and I have been in politics since 1978. I am in politics because I want to be part of any change that will better the lots of people.
Why I ask you that is because while in CPC, you wanted to contest for the office of the Governor for Kano State.
Yes, but you know that people don’t know issues about my contest, my aspirations for the governorship; you see people said a lot of things against, and I am happy they are getting it from God now. I formed the CPC, funded it, spread it, and sheltered it all alone. I never had anything in my mind, then other than to have a change, other than to better the lots of the Nigerian people. Buhari is the Presidential Candidate, and he is the leader of the party and that was what I had in mind. Now, when the party took root, when the party became popular, majority of the supporters who were with me came in and said look, this man has left the party, that man left his party and all to CPC, they are all here because they see the way the party is waxing strong and gaining popularity and also is accepted, that they are all treasure hunters and that they don’t know our sweat and we have suffered now and here they are now to join the party. That they have come with their people, and that if they become governors or whatever office they aspire, they will never have any regard for us. So we are asking you, because you are qualified to run for the office of the governor of Kano State. You suffered in forming and nurturing the party from the scratch, come and contest so that we can say yes our man is there, initially I refuse and resisted it and they insisted. I told Buhari that people are asking me to contest for the office of governor of Kano, but I don’t want to, he said why, after all you suffered, he gave me the nod and said go ahead, after all you suffered for the party, you suffered to spread, you financed it, you want somebody who didn’t know anything about it to come and take over, please go ahead. Even when I started to get the heat from people who never wanted me to run, who hated me, my detractors, I went back to Buhari and told him look, this contest I don’t want it, he said why and I said because people are just working against me and he said so what, I should go ahead. Then later on, when we come and we had many people in the party, Buhari saw it that if he continues to support me, they will go against him, he pulled out from supporting me. He was initially supportive to me, but when he saw all of them vehemently against me, he backed out, and went against me too so that he will save his neck, his ambition, and his contest. Of course he thought they can do something about it, the rest is history. I contested elections both at state and Federal. At Federal I was in the House of Representatives, and also at the Senate. People called me to come and contest, and I contested and I won.
You have a case with the CPC, over your building in which the defunct CPC was housed, and you have demanded for your house, which you later took them to court. Is the matter settled now?
The matter is not settled, but I have to say this, but is shameful to say, that one the refuse to vacate the building, until I have to go to court and they were evicted. Secondly the judgement was for them to pay me, money for the rent, they refuse to pay me, later they gave a cheque for a part payment and they cheque bounced, they begged me to represent the cheque and I represent it, it bounced again. I told them that it bounced, they told me to represent it again and I represented it again and it bounced making the third time the cheque bounced. So I have no alternative other than to petition the EFCC, why they will issue me a fake cheque, because they have no reason to give me a fake cheque, and that is a fraud.
With the coming of the APC, and the PDP, it seems as if Nigeria is heading towards a two party system. What does this portends for the Nigerian democracy and polity.
Of course is a two party system, some people who think they are wise, thinks is better, for my own opinion is not good. For example people were against PDP, they opted to go and join another party. Now, when the party came into being, I never believed in the marriage called APC, because my feelings are that APC is not better than PDP. Why people against PDP are, is it not because they said PDP committed atrocities to the people, to the state, they have done this, and they have done that. They said PDP has acted with impunity. Now we have seen it, and I said before, that the impunity the APC is committing, they thing they are doing is more than what the PDP has done. Those who were driving the PDP before, for over 14 years, are they not those that are in APC. So why are people blind, what is happening, can’t we see?
But the APC said that they are the progressives
Progressives? Are they progressives with what they are doing now, they are doing worse than what PDP did. Progressives are people or someone who doesn’t force somebody on people, who don’t cheat people. All these governors that joined APC, they way they are running the state, is worse than they way the PDP led federal government is doing. Moreso, even their recent convention, what happened, is just imposition, imposition. It is clear, it is open. So where is the progressiveness there? Who is progressive among them? Let me tell you, the moment they said the serving governors are in charge of the their states, they are the leaders of the APC in that state, I knew something is amiss, and immediately they took the leadership of the states which are control by the PDP and gave it to the charge of the APC state governors. For example Sokoto state governor is incharge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Kastina, he uses Sokoto State fund to float the party, to finance the party in these states, and put it in his pocket. For Kano, he was given the states of Jigawa, Kaduna and Kano and he uses the Kano State fund to finance those states. For Kwara state, he is incharge of Kwara, Kogi and Niger. He is also using Kwara state funds to finance the party in these states. Adamawa is incharge of Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe. All over that is what they are doing, places like South-South, Amaeechi is financing most of the South- South States and Oshiomhole is incharge of some state in the South-South even though he is handling the thing some carefulness and subtleness. He is not even enthusiastic about the thing. I think he is a progressive. So what are they different between them and the PDP and what is more atrocious than this. They are now just two party and there is no where to make alternative, it is just for us choose the lesser of the evils.
The making of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano following the death of the former Emir, late Ado Bayero, there were a lot controversies that surrounded it. What is your take on that?
Well, I am happy for Sanusi, that he is the Emir now, I am happy we have an Emir in him, he is very competent, he is very articulate, very exposed. That one I am happy. I wish him well. But I am not happy with the way things happened, because the politised the thing. It came like APC, PDP affair and the person who instigated it is the governor, Kwankwaso, initially you know there was a trouble between him and the Emir over the appointment. The Late Emir appointed somebody Waziri, now Kwankwaso, was very undiplomatic, even though people didn’t like it or you didn’t like, you approach the thing in better way, rather than the way he did it. However, he insisted that the Emir, in short he humiliated the Emir, they it was never meant to be. Nobody has humiliated the Emir all his like that before, the Emir since that day never came out, he was so humiliated. He went and demolishes the house of person Emir appointed, without notice, all this were disheartening and the Emir died, and when the Emir died he should have been diplomatic but he came out arrogantly, as if he was pursing the Emir to the grave. He was making pronouncement and talking like that. Unfortunately some one of his caliber shouldn’t have behave like that.Tomorrow will definitely come. Yes it is his prerogatives as the governor to appoint a new Emir from amongst those choose by the king makers. The King makers selected three people, even though we had it from Grapevine that the selection was manipulated, but whatever happens it is his prerogative to chose a new Emir. He should have kept quiet and do it silently and quietly. This Emirship is a family, whoever becomes is the same. The two that are contesting, they are competent, they brothers.
President Goodluck Jonathan has appointed former Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Femi Ajayi as the Executive Secretary of Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTDF). According to the presidency, the appointment of Mr. Ajayi who replaces Dr. Oluwole Oluleye takes immediate effect.
Chairman/Chief Executive of the NDLEA, Ahmadu Giade in his congratulatory message described Ajayi as an astute administrator. “I congratulate Mr. Femi Ajayi on his new appointment. He is an astute administrator whose experience has positively impacted on the smooth running of the Agency. We are going to miss him but his legacies will continue to live on even in his absence” Giade stated.
Giaded added that Ajayi’s appointment will further reposition PTDF for greater efficiency and effectiveness.
Mr. Femi Ajayi is a multi-disciplinary professional (biochemist, journalist and international law expert). Prior to his appointment as NDLEA Director General, Ajayi was the Senior Special Assistant to President Jonathan on Development Cooperation and Disapora Relations.
In 2012, Ajayi was conferred with the Chieftaincy title of Otunba Ayegbaju by the Owa of Ayegbaju-Ekiti, Oba Solomon Oluwanle Adeloye in recognition of Ajayi’s contribution to community development.
Ajayi had previously served with Department For International Development (DFID) as a Senior Communication Specialist at DFID-ProPCom; Resident Coordination Specialist of the United System (2005/2006); UNICEF Communication Consultant for HIV/AIDS (2001); National Professional Officer for Communication and Informatics for UNESCO (1999/2001); United Nations Information Centre (1992 to 1999), Science Editor/Member of the Editorial Board of Daily Times (1987/90), and Media Consultant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) (1991).
As Science Editor/Member of the Editorial Board of Daily Times, Mr. Ajayi participated in the six-week International Workshop on Drug Abuse and Trafficking sponsored by the United States Information Agency at the Voice of America in Washington D.C. in May –June 1989 where he presented a paper on Nigeria’s Drug Scene: the challenge of Drug Demand Reduction and Prohibition.
An experienced International Civil Servant, Development Communication Specialist, and Public Affairs Analyst, Mr. Ajayi got his first degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ife in 1981; Post-graduate Diploma in Journalism from the Times Journalism
Institute 1984; and Masters in International Law and Diplomacy from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Akoka-Lagos.
Ajayi has authored many books including Sustainable Development Diplomacy: Nigeria’s Diplomatic Wars for Regional Progress (2003); Communication for HIV/AIDS Prevention: A guidebook for practitioners (2001) and Reporting the United Nations: A Handbook for Journalists.
Imo State youths yesterday deplored the leadership of the state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) over uncomplimentary remarks against the state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere, which was credited to the state secretary of the party, Sir George Eguh.
The angry youths under the aegis of the Mbaitoli Federated Youths cautioned the party to desist from making unsubstantiated and inflammatory statements against the Deputy Governor or any other officer of the state government in the interest of peace and development of the state.
The youths who stormed the office of the Deputy Governor, in large numbers, also frowned at the antics deployed by the PDP to distract the ‘Rescue Mission Agenda’ of the state government, warned mischievous politicians to allow Governor Rochas Okorocha and his Deputy to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, since they could not do so during their 12 years “inglorious regime”.
President of the body, Odioyenma Chukwudi who addressed newsmen shortly after their meeting with the Deputy Governor, noted that the entire youths in Imo state are totally against the attacks on Madumere who they said has performed creditably well in alleviating the sufferings of the youths in the state.
He also stated that Madumere through his humble disposition, has become a role model and source of inspiration for the youths in the state and beyond, adding that several indigent youths have benefitted from scholarships initiated by the Deputy Governor.
Reminding the people of Madumere’s developmental attractions to Mbaitoli, the leader of the group enumerated massive road construction, which he mentioned among many others, Umudagu Road, the on going Nkwo Orji-Obazu Road, Nwaorubi, Road, Orodo Road, twelve six class room block ( one storey building each), talent hunt and sponsorships, youth empowerment, state-of-the-art general hospital at Nwaorubi to mention but few.
He further warned that Prince Madumere is not just an Mbaitoli Deputy Governor but a deputy governor of Imo State therefore warning against sectional politics. He further reminded them Madumere’s role in peace and stabilization of various communities in Imo State.
Declaring their position for the 2015 general elections, the youths warned that there is no vacancy in Imo State Government House for the PDP, stressing that the state has had enough of their “corruption and deceit”.
They said, “Everybody must not belong to PDP. They are the number one corrupt party in the country. We have had enough of their corruption in the state; the state is undergoing a healing process after 12 years of PDP misrule. The PDP should leave Madumere and other members of the Rescue Mission alone. They should know by now that there is no vacancy in the Government House in 2015 or any time soon. We have had enough of their corruption and deceit” .
Imo state youths yesterday deplored the PDP over the uncomplimentary statement made against the deputy governor Prince Eze Madumere by the state secretary of the party Sir George Eguh.
The angry students under the aegis of the Mbaitoli Federated youths made up of students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria cautioned the PDP from making such unsubstantiated statements on the deputy governor for the interest of peace.
The youths who stormed the deputy governor’s office in their numbers warned the PDP to desist from their ploy to distract the Rochas Okorocha led government and his humble deputy and allow them to continue to give Imo people the dividends of democracy which the PDP refused to give the imolites in their 12 wasted years of rule.
The president Odionyenma Chukwudi chatting with news men shortly after a visit to the deputy governor condemned the unnecessary verbal attack on the deputy governor whom they say has done so much for the people of Mbaitoli ranging from the Obazu road which was abandoned by the PDP wasted regime to infrastructure.
They said students have benefitted immensely in the free education policy of this administration. The youths reaffirmed that there is no vacancy in Douglas house in 2015 for PDP or any other party except APC led by Owelle Rochas Okorocha.
They said that PDP is the most corrupt party in Nigeria and can never come back to power in Imo state as Imo is under going a healing process. They warned PDP to leave Madumere or any other person in the rescue mission process.
Following the recent foiled attempt at Sheikh Zakzaky’s life at his Gyellesu residence, the Sheikh gave further insight into the episode at the end of the Nahjul Balagaha studies at the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah, Zaria on Monday (16th June, 2014). Excerpts:
“This is further detail of what I have said on the Hurras Parade Day. I could remember I have said it during the previous Nahjul Balagha lesson in the month of Rabi’us Thani. There was a time on Saturday, a group of security operatives visited the areas where I reside for an operation, and it failed.
This time around it was Friday, when we celebrated the Nisfu Sha’aban Maulud. They laid siege on the way with the intent of making an ambush, Allah thwarted their plan. They came back (to Gyellesu Area) at arround an hour after midnight in six vehicles through three different routes, thereby surrounded the house from all angle. There was also provision for reinforcement, expected later during the course of the planned operation.
We had witnessed strange happenings on Wednesday at the barracks; people were barred from the barrack and from knowing what was going on. People were barred on the pretext that some outside soldiers were visiting the barrack. For a soldier, from anywhere, to visit a barrack is not a secret affair. They did so to cover the soldiers’ skin identity, for they were Whites.
They also had to cover their identity when they came (to Gyellesu Area); they wore masks (Niqab), replica of the mask of the Klu Klux Klan. Only the balls of their eyes were shown. They also wore gloves to further cover their colour identity. Names of some them were brought to me, but I insisted on having all their names. One should know his enemy.
Again, like in the previous plan, Allah thwarted and frustrated their plan. These people are desperate and unrelenting. Incidentally, I told you on that Friday that we had intelligence that some Americans were coming for an operation. Prior, it used to be their direct and exclusive plan, but this time around they informed the President (Goodluck Jonathan) and the Vice President (Namadi Sambo). The plan was that before the holy month of Ramadan or during the month, they would eliminate Zakzaky.
As I was telling you of the plan, they were already waiting along the way where they laid siege. Allah in His infinite mercy sent down a heavy downpour. The heavy rain beat down the White American soldiers; they had to retreat without actualizing their plan. They cut down supply of light to the area for two days and two nights, from the day of the event to the next day.
After this episode, they brought helicopters at the College of Aviation, Zaria, may be to make another attempt. This is their own cup of tea! This is our message to you; do your worst and do not relent. Execute the worst kind of your plan. Allah is more powerful than you. When we say, there is the Government of Mahdi, they think it is a joke. They make a mockery of the issue by asking about his army and location of his barrack.
When they planned to kill Imam Khomeini, their plane crashed into Tabas desert, full of heavy snow. Imam was quoted to have said: “It is about time you know Allah exists and has a government. Who destroyed you in the wilderness? Who sent to you heavy wind and dust?” At that time it was winter with heavy snow, yet a heavy gust of dust came from nowhere and destroyed them.
If we now say, Allah has a government, and they ask where it is, we will also ask them: Who or what sent you packing whenever you come to Gyellesu? In a high state of panic, one of their drivers drove the car extremely fast in a reverse; he was heard saying that they were there to protect Malam, and not to fight. From which Satan are you protecting us? Satan came in the middle of the night with his protruding horns, claiming to protect you from someone! What an irony! Life and death are in the hands of Allah.
Who sent you packing, what made you retreat? This is telling you that, there is Allah, Who controls everything and not you! On our part, we rely on Allah, it is up to you to do whatever you intended. The fools here siphoning the people’s wealth should know that, the joy of this world is but a blink of an eye, so short a life. Consequence of their action awaits them in the hereafter”.
