The Armed Forces Remembrance Day, which is being celebrated throughout the country, climaxed with the Laying of Wreaths at the Peace Park cenotaph in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Governor Seriake Dickson, represented by his Deputy, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah Retired led other notable personalities such as the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kate Abiri, Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council King Godwin Igodo and a representative of the widows, Mrs Stella Enai to lay the wreaths.

Others include, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Victor Sam Ateki, Commander 235 Base Services Group, Nigerian Air Force, Yenagoa, Air Commodore H.C Ifezue, Commanding Officer, 343 Artillery Regiment Elele, Lt. Col. Muktar Adamu, Commanding Officer Naval Base, Yenagoa, Capt. E.D. Onabere, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Kings Omire and State Chairman Nigerian Legion, Elder Effiong Igirigi.

Speaking with newsmen at the event, the Deputy Governor Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, called for continued support for the Military personnel to enable them discharge their statutory duties effectively.

He urged Nigerians to spare a thought for the families left behind by the war veterans and envision the trauma brought about by the death of their loved ones, saying “Imagine what happens to the family of a soldier when he dies in active service.”

The Deputy Governor who described the Military as a good manager of resources, said in the next one week, the Nigerian Army would deploy troops to Mali where their lives will be exposed to danger.

Also in an interview, widow of late Brigadier General Fredrick Enai, Stella urged the Federal Government to step up its efforts at alleviating the plight of widows of the fallen heroes.

A minute silence was observed in honour of the departed heroes as well as firing of salvo in their remembrance.

Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole yesterday took a swipe at politicians who make unguarded statements that could undermine the unity and integrity of the country, just as he commended officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces for fostering the bonds of unity.

The Governor who made the remarks during the launching of the emblem appeal fund  to mark the 2013 Armed Forces remembrance day celebration in Benin city said the men in uniform should be appreciated for their contribution to the indivisibility of the nation.

“The Armed Forces are doing their best to keep Nigeria one while politicians and even elders who should play up what unite us talk of things that could destroy the bridge of unity. But the men in uniform have continued to defend the indivisibility of Nigeria,” he noted.

According to him, “if Nigeria  has remained one united  country it is because men in uniform stood on the side of the Nigeria nation. We must continue to appreciate the Armed Forces in the effort to keep Nigeria one.”

Comrade Oshiomhole noted that looking at the security challenges in the country the Armed forces have a role to keep the nation secured.

“Our gratitude goes to the Nigeria Army and to Major-General Abel  Umahi, the Commander of the 4 Brigade. Without your support the kidnappers would have overrun us in Edo State. You have policed the streets. Our gratitude also goes to the Airforce for monitoring the creeks with the aircraft and providing intellegence information as well as the Supply and Transport,” he added.

The Governor said the average Nigerian appreciate the contribution of officers and men who sacrificed and paid the supreme price in the struggle to defend the sovereignty of the nation, adding that “we should go beyond lip service in showing how much we appreciate them.”

He maintained that it should be the responsibility of the government, both at the local, state and federal levels  to create  opportunities for the ex-service men who are still strong to render service.

While assuring that Edo state government will continue to extend more employment opportunities to the ex- service men ,  the governor disclosed that , “we have already extended to the legionnaires the opportunity to put an eye  on the schools we are building  and they are doing well.

“This year,  the state government will double the contribution which was given last year by one hundred percent  to the launching of the emblem appeal fund and across the eighteen local governments the sum of N250,000 will be provided to the state chapters for the celebration of the Armed Forces remembrance day celebration,” the governor disclosed.

The Chairman, Nigeria legion, Edo State, Col Osawaru Johnbull Awanbor  thanked Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for creating jobs for  their  members  noting that this year’s launching of the emblem appeal week which is to honour the supreme sacrifices made by gallant heroes will be observed as a thanksgiving for the victory of the governor at the supreme court.

Other  activities to celebrate the 2013  Armed forces remembrance day celebration was a parade at the museum premises and the laying of wreaths at the unknown soldier cenotaph.

An alarming report published Friday, Jan. 11, shows how Iran fuels the spread of horrific violence in Africa one round at a time.

The Distribution of Iranian Ammunition in Africa, by the private British arms-tracking group Conflict Armament Research (CAR), shows how Iran broke trade embargos and infiltrated African markets with massive amounts of illegal, unmarked 7.62 mm rounds for the Kalishnakov-style AK-47 rifles.

Small arms, notably AK-47 assault rifles, are often the weapon of choice for violent militias in the Congo, Sudan, Uganda. Though several countries manufacture and distribute AK-47s in Africa, like China, any arms dealer would agree that the real money is in ammunition — in fact it just about doubles the yearly amount of money made on assault weapons. With higher demand for ammo, Iran easily found its foot in the arms dealing door.

The New York Times C.J. Chivers gave CAR’s paper a great write up, sketching how the group started in 2006, and traced unmarked rounds from the sites of several massacres, finally settling on one culprit after six years of research.

From Chivers report:

Iran has a well-developed military manufacturing sector, but has not exported its weapons in quantities rivaling those of the heavyweights in the global arms trade, including the United States, Russia, China and several European countries … While small-arms ammunition attracts less attention than strategic weapons or arms that have drawn international condemnation, like land mines and cluster bombs, it is a basic ingredient of organized violence, and is involved each year and at each war in uncountable deaths and crimes.

“If you had asked me not too long ago what Iran’s role in small-arms ammunition trafficking to Africa had been, I would have said, ‘Not much,’ ” James Bevan, a former United Nations investigator who since 2011 has been director of CAR told Chivers. “Our understanding of that is changing.”

Though Bevan’s group concludes Iran’s footprint has become widespread, CAR suspects they still represent minor competition compared to China. Nonetheless, Iranian ammunition has found its way to some of the bloodiest engagements and areas of the last six years.

From CAR’s report:

The only case to indicate the sustained—and potentially escalating—supply of Iranian materiel is Sudan. In this case there is growing evidence to indicate large-scale supplies of weapons and ammunition from Iran to Sudan and Iranian technical assistance in Sudanese weapons production.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today, Monday  January 14, 2013 arraigned the Deputy Speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly Dr. Mato Dogara alongside six others before Justice Marcel Awokulehin of the Federal High Court Kaduna on a six count charge of fraudulent conversion of state funds to the tune of over N30 million.

The other six accused persons include Kabiru Tahir Malali (interim Chairman Lere Local Government), Ahmed Yahaya (former director, finance, Lere Local Government), Billy Graham Amos (former director, works, Lere Local Government), Yusha’u Aboki (former director, personnel management, Lere local Government), Mrs. Hannatu Iliya (Head of Health, Lere Local Government), and Eric Alhassan (former acting chairman, Lere Local Government).

Having pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Prosecution counsel, Sa’ad Hannafi Sa’ad requested the court to remanded the accused persons in prison custody and fix a date for the commencement of trial.

He specifically prayed the court to remand the 7^th accused (Dr. Mato Dogara) in EFCC custody, as there is fresh petition against him that warrants further interrogation.

Responding to the prosecution’s submission, Habib Ahmed, who led a team of Defense counsel, told the court that they had filed applications for bail on behalf of their clients, and were ready to move the motion.

Their prayer was overruled by Justice Awokulehin who noted that the applications were not ripe for hearing, as the prosecution will also have to respond.

He directed that the six suspects be remanded in prison custody, while the deputy speaker is remanded in EFCC custody. Dr. Mato Dogara had served as the Chairman of Lere Local Government Area and Commissioner in Kaduna State.

The matter has been adjourned to 24th, 28th and 29th January 2013 for trial.

“The only injustice recorded in Anambra State since Nigeria embraced democracy in 1999 was the removal of Andy Uba from office after winning 2007 governorship election in the State. He suffered personal loss, just as the people of his zone, as well as his local government area experienced unimaginable trauma. On account of these facts, and the need to right the injustice, zoning can make sense”- Anonymous

There is no doubt that the term “Zoning” gained currency in Nigeria in 1999 when General Abdulsalami Abubaker the then Head of State, consummated his administration’s transition programme. He tailored the transition to assuage the Southwest over the annulment of June 12 Presidential election believed to have been won by Late MKO Abiola.

The perceived injustice meted out to Abiola, a Yoruba man meant that effort was invested in producing somebody from his region to calm frayed nerves. To ensure justice meant that the political parties were fundamentally organized to produce Nigerian President of Yoruba extraction. Based on the criteria laid down by the Military Government for registration of political parties, only three parties were registered. We had Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], All Peoples Party [APP] and Alliance For Democracy [AD]. It was not by accident that these three [3] political parties eventually presented two [2] candidates for the Presidential election in 1999. In a nutshell, Obasanjo of the PDP defeated Chief Olu Falae of the APP/ AD alliance in the Presidential election proper.

That, in simple term marked the dawn of new era and the political terminology ZONING was born in Nigeria politics. Thus, anybody talking of Zoning in Nigeria today without recourse to the genesis of the term and usage, is either out for mischief or is plainly ignorant sentimentally. Frankly speaking, if Zoning should be adopted in Anambra State, then governorship position must go to Aguata Local Government in Anambra South. This is because as could been seen in 1999 Zoning arrangement, injustice was done to Southwest and Presidency was seeded to the Zone. Similarly, injustice was done to Andy Uba in 2007, when he was asked to surrender the mandate freely given to him by the people of Anambra State by the Apex Court that lacked jurisdiction in the first place.

Unlike the annulment of June 12, the unjust removal of Andy Uba in 2007 after taking oath of office as the governor of Anambra State, is leading Nigeria from one confusion to another. The first confusion is the unconstitutional staggering of Governorship elections in Nigeria. Secondly, attempt by the National Assembly at elevating the Apex Court judgment above the Constitution of Nigeria, by amending relevant sections of the Constitution to align with the Supreme Court’s decision, has even led to more uncertainty. Thirdly, the recent judgment of the Apex Court on the tenure of five Governors that tend to support NASS amendment on the tenure of a serving Governor that won re-run elections has compounded the situation. Judiciary in general has become a tower of Babel over the issue of a serving Governor that won re-run as a result of nullification. Without sounding pre-judicial, if Governor Idris Wada wins the current court case against his candidature, will he also leave office on May 28, 2015 when we know he took over five months after May 29, 2011? Or will the Constitution be amended to accommodate another person from the same party. Fourthly, the recent cry by the Chairman of INEC of the cost implication of staggered election in Nigeria and his assertion that it did not conform with global best practices in election conduct, is yet another confusion arising from the injustice done against Andy Uba. Apart from the ruling of the Apex Court on the tenure of Peter Obi, what further proved the injustice against Andy Uba is that INEC was cleared to go ahead with the general election via that judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, in the case between NDP and INEC, wherein, the Court said, NOBODY CAN STOP GENERAL ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF ITS CONSTITUTIONALITY.

The latest electoral act that slated a time frame for deposition of electoral cases has generally been termed unjust by legal luminaries and many Nigerians. The surprising manner in which good cases were thrown away by the courts as a result of the current law on electoral litigation time line led to public outcry. Those who may not know the reason behind the 180 days time lines are reminded that it was born out of an attempt to correct the injustice done to Andy Uba through the back door. The current court case against President Jonathan standing for election in 2015 on account that the Constitution of Nigeria stipulates that nobody can be sworn in more than two time as the President of Nigeria. Is yet another issue arising from the injustice meted out to Andy Uba.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that for any zone to talk of zoning as some people are currently doing for Anambra North, that zone must have cogent and verifiable reason to do so. There is no history of electoral injustice meted out to the people of Anambra North zone in the past to warrant the seeding of the governorship position. Here, there is every reason to seed the governorship position of Anambra State to Aguata Local Government Area to correct the injustice done to Andy Uba. This will be just and fair.

Emeka Oraetoka, is the Coordinator General of Anambra Collective [AC], a group committed to building a Just and Equitable Anambra State where human development is given a pride of place; wrote this piece from Abuja. E-mail:oramekllis@lycos.com.Tel:08056031187.