ABIA State Governor Theodore Orji, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar, and Ghana’s National Security Adviser (NSA)Brigadier-General Joseph Nunoo-Mensah (rtd) are among the dignitaries that would deliver the eighth Security Watch Africa Lectures on October 18, 2012 in Accra, Ghana.
In a statement, the International Coordinator of Security Watch Africa, Patrick Agbambu, said the lecture, with the theme: “Developing Regional Strategies and Best Practices in the Fight Against Crime and Conflicts in Africa,” would be in “response to the challenges posed by emerging insecurity to governments and people, arising from urban development and disturbing levels of poverty in the rural areas.”
Governor T.A. Orji is expected to be the guest speaker at the event, while IGP Abubakar will speak on the topic “Urban Crime Prevention, Control Management and Fighting: The Nigerian Experience.”
A pro-development civil society organization–HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has condemned the killing by suspected armed Fulani Herdsmen of 14 villagers at the Riyom Local Government Area Council of Plateau State and urged the Federal Government to find lasting solution to the spate of killings and reprisals.
In a media statement jointly issued by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media officer Miss Zainab Yusuf, the Rights group also urged credible leaders of both the Fulani’s and the indigenous groups in Plateau state to work sincerely in a united front towards the enthronement of lasting, sustainable and mutual peace, unity and progress of Plateau state.
The Rights group specifically tasked Religious Clerics of both the Christian and Islamic Faiths to rise to the occasion and discourage their adherents from taking up arms to kill human lives because life is sacred and inviolable. Similarly, HURIWA blamed the elite of both divides for inflaming ethnic and religious sentiments and passions through the popular media and these ‘ideological machinations’ generated by the elite of the warring parties are solely responsible for the seemingly unending spate of vicious violence in Plateau State.
Besides, HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS’ ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA has advocated for the umpteenth time, for the setting up by the presidency of a special presidential Truth and Reconciliation Commission to be monitored by peace experts from the United Nations, African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to comprehensively resolve the ongoing disputes between the perceived strangers and the indigenous ethnic nationalities that historically make up Plateau state as presently constituted.
The Rights group also wants the Presidential Center for Conflict Resolution in Abuja restructured by President Good Luck Jonathan and better equipped legally and logistically to more actively play the role of sensitizing and mobilizing Nigerians to work for the attainment of genuine peace.
As one way out of the intermittent killings and terror-motivated violence in Plateau and other parts of the country, the Rights group has canvassed the transparent arrest, prosecution in the competent courts of law for mass murder, of all the alleged sponsors of the ongoing violence already identified by several Presidential and Plateau State panels of investigations in the past.
HURIWA stated: “Nigerians are sick and tired of being fed notoriously through the media of mass communication of the cocktail of bloody killings and terror-related violence in Plateau and other Northern States and we have repeatedly, persistently and consistently called on governments at all levels to rise to the occasion and once and for all arrest the perpetrators of these killings, bring them to decisive justice and rid the communities of illegally armed marauders, hoodlums and mass murderers roaming about with sophisticated weaponry which they intermittently unleash on the innocent Nigerian people. If Government cannot do this, then the process of acquiring legal arms by citizens must be liberalized so that Nigerians are not killed like chickens in this twenty first century by illegally armed non-state actors.”
HURIWA also tasked the Nigerian Attorney General and minister of Justice Bello Mohammed Adoke [SAN] to lead by example by making sure that his counterparts all across the country use the instrumentality of the law to bring perpetrators of violence to face the heavy weight of the law in compliance with section 6 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured monks in the Order of St Benedict in Ewu, the central part of the state of government’s support in giving adequate publicity to the breakthroughs in their herbal work and other researches.
The Governor also promised to pay a visit to the monks in their monastery with a view to providing the infrastructure needed on roads and water supply.
Speaking during a visit of the monks led by their Prior, Rev Dom Peter Eghwrujakpor, Governor Oshiomhole said: “since you are not a profit making organization and you are part of Edo State, the state government can be of help to your activities with our state-owned electronic and print media.
“From your exposé today, it is clear you are involved in a spiritual lifestyle of total abstinence in the service of God. You need support to help mankind in the way you have chosen to. We have to take advantage of our state media to inform the public on the need to take advantage of the services you provide,”he noted.
The governor assured the monks that between now and November 8, this year, he will pay a visit to the monastery to have an on-the-spot assessment of the condition of the road leading to and within the monastery and what could be done by the state government.
Earlier, the Prior Rev. Eghwrujakpor, congratulated the governor for the victory in the election and prayed for wisdom and strength to enable him serve.
He said, “we do not come out often, but hear of the good things you are doing and we assure you of our prayers. With over 200 workers in the monastery, we are considered one of the best job creators in the Esan region as well as our impartation of spiritual and psychology wellbeing, it is against this background that we seek government’s assistance”.
According to him, the monastery serves humanity, through work and prayers and is involved in the provision of traditional remedy in the treatment of ailments including diabetes.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the police at Rivers State, Ben Ugwuegbulem has confirmed to 247ureports.com that the community of Aluu has been set on fire by the students of the University of Port Harcourt [Uniport] in tandem with students from other universities.
Available information indicates that students from other institution under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, joined the students at Uniport for a protest rally held on the morning of Tuesday October 9, 2012 to protest the brutal killings of Friday. The protest was peaceful. The east-west Choba road was blocked at the bridge entrance from Bayelsa State. Heavy security presence halted the students’ attempt to enter the Aluu community.
But as the protest waned and the security forces gave way, the students pounced on the community. As the students made their move to enter the community, many official within the institution made efforts to impress on the students to halt their intended entrance into the community but it was not heeded. The Vice Chancellor was said to have made an attempt but he was lampooned and thrown water bags by the irate students.
With the Vice Chancellor rescued from the scene away from the students, they began, in droves, setting ablaze all structures – houses, vehicles and the-likes – that they saw along the way into the community.
An eyewitness told our correspondent that the Aluu community was already deserted before the student arrived. “They vacated the community when the security people came to make arrests” said the eyewitness who went on to explain that the police had been making random/indiscriminate arrests of persons seen at the killer community. For this reason, the Aluu was a ghost town upon the arrival of the irate students.
The eyewitness started that it was highly unlikely for casualties to have been recorded. But a source within the student body at Uniport reveals that two persons may have been killed in today attack of Aluu community.
247ureports.com has yet to confirm the death of two persons but the police stated that the situation was “too fluid” to make definitive statements on casualties or no casualties.
U.S. President Barack Obama gestures while speaking at an Obama Victory Fund concert while at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco October 8, 2012
Republican Mitt Romney has erased President Barack Obama’s advantage in the race for the White House and the two candidates are now tied among likely voters, according to a Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll released on Tuesday.
With the November 6 election four weeks away, Romney and Obama each command 45 percent, the daily tracking poll found.
The Democrat held a steady lead in the poll for most of September, but Romney narrowed the gap following a strong debate performance last week. Obama had been leading by 2 percentage points in the last poll on Sunday.
The poll reflects a closely divided electorate and a sluggish economy, Ipsos pollster Cliff Young said.
“It’s a much tighter race and Romney became much more presidential in people’s eyes,” Young said. “Things are probably back to where they should be.”
Romney’s improved prospects have shown up in other polls, after the former Massachusetts governor launched aggressive criticism of his rival’s economic record during the debate in Denver.
Obama’s advantage had already started to fade before the debate as Romney recovered from a series of campaign missteps.
The online survey of 1,157 likely voters was conducted between October 5 and October 9. The precision of Reuters/Ipsos polls is measured using a credibility interval, which in this case was plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
Among a larger sample of 1,370 registered voters, Obama led by 3 percentage points, 45 percent to 42 percent.
Voters’ personal views of Romney improved across a wide range of attributes following the debate, the poll found.
By a margin of 38 percent to 34 percent, registered voters now say that Romney is more likely than Obama to be effective in Washington.
The two candidates are now essentially tied when voters are asked whether they are tough enough and smart enough for the job, whether they have the right values, and whether they will protect American jobs. Obama had previously led Romney on these questions.
Obama is still viewed as more likeable, more eloquent and more empathetic than Romney by wide margins.
GAINING GROUND ON THE ECONOMY
An earlier round of Reuters/Ipsos polling found that Romney gained the most ground on the economic questions that were the focus of last Wednesday’s debate.
In the week ended September 30, Obama held a lead of 4.3 percentage points when voters were asked which candidate has a better plan for the economy. As of Sunday, Romney held a lead of 4.6 percentage points on that question.
On job creation, Romney led by 2.4 percentage points, erasing Obama’s earlier 5.8 percentage point lead on that issue. The bad numbers for Obama come despite a monthly jobs report last Friday that showed unemployment fell to a nearly four-year low in September.
Romney led by 7.7 percentage points when voters were asked which candidate would better handle the federal budget deficit.
Obama’s lead on taxes fell from 10.5 percentage points to 4.9 percentage points. His lead on Social Security fell from 12.4 percentage points to 6.7 percentage points.
This earlier poll relied on a sample of 1,689 likely voters, conducted over a seven-day span that ended on Sunday. It has a credibility interval of 5.1 percentage points.
The Abia state government under chief TA Orji says it has constructed 13 roads in parts of the state since May last year.
Governor Theodore Orji disclosed this during the commissioning of the Amaekpu-Okagwe Ohafia road built by the government.
He said that the 9km road constructed by Worldwide Construction Company at the cost of N1.1 billion is aimed at giving Ohafia people a sense of belonging, adding that the road is in fulfillment of his campaign promise to Ohafia people.
Chief Orji promised that the Ohafia general hospital will be given a face lift in due course and pointed out that government has continued to give appointments to Ohafia sons to show them love.
He assured that his government will continue working until 2015 when his tenure is expected to terminate.
Earlier in a welcome address, the president general, Ohafia Improvement Union, Sir Jonathan Agbai- Kalu thanked the governor for the completion of the road which he said was vital to the people and associated themselves with the developmental strides of the governor.
He however appealed to the state government to reactivate the Ohafia general hospital which he said is in a deplorable state and assured the governor of the continued loyalty and support of Ohafia people.
The governor was later conferred with the chieftaincy title of Ifemba Owuwanyanwu by traditional rulers of Ohafia.
Aluu, the community in Rivers State which last Friday morning murdered four off-campus students of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), started reaping the backlash this evening.
Unable to bear the extra-judicial murder of their colleagues anymore, students from other institutions under the umbrella of the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) this afternoon stormed UNIPORT and roused local students into a protest during which at least 12 houses in Omuokiri-Aluu were set ablaze.
UNIPORT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ajienka, was reportedly attacked with sachets of water while trying to calm down the angry students. He was rescued by securitymen, according to a breaking news by the Lagos-based Vanguard newspaper. UNIPORT authorities responded by closing down the school.
As previously reported by News Express and other media, Llyod Toku, Chiadikobi Biringa, Tekena Elkanah and Ugonna Obuzor were extra-judicially killed by Aluu community of Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, where several UNIPORT students live in off-campus accommodations. They were accused of stealing phone handsets and laptops, an allegation that has yet to be proved.
The police have confirmed the arrest of 13 suspects in connection with the dastardly act that has outraged Nigerians.
The protesting students blocked the East – West road for several hours before allegedly marching to Omuokiri-Aluu community to wreak vengeance on the community. Security operatives have been drafted to restrain the students from causing further damage.
Nigerians had expected President Goodluck Jonathan, an alumnus of UNIPORT, to comment on the murder of the Aluu 4 (shown in photo) and last week’s murder of several students of Federal Poly Mubi in the North East state of Adamawa but the Nigerian leader maintained a studied silence on the issue.
SPRING LAKE — An anti-Obama display in a local clothing store’s front window evoked support and outrage from local business owners and residents Monday afternoon.
The display includes an image of President Barack Obama’s head superimposed on the body of a witch doctor above the word “ObamaCare.” It also contains a hat with the letters “F.Y.B.O.”, an acronym for an explicative phrase against Barack Obama, and an Obama doll wearing a long-sleeve shirt that reads “Hoax.” The sign is on display in the left storefront window of Skuby & Co. Lifestyle Clothing at 1210 Third Ave.
“It’s not political, it’s personal,” said Bill Skuby, 66, who has owned the store in the downtown section of Spring Lake since 1999. “We deal with a 1 percent customer; they come in here and shake my hand. My business is through the roof because of this.”
Nancy Pugliese, 63, was outraged when she noticed Skuby’s display Monday morning. She said the issue goes beyond politics and comes down to the display of U.S. presidents, who deserve respect.
“It’s disrespectful to have our president displayed in a costume like that. It’s very offensive,” Pugliese said. “If someone comes here as a visitor and goes by that store, it’s very upsetting to think they’ll see Spring Lakers as racists.”
“Lots of the children here go downtown to display their costumes (on Halloween),” Pugliese said. “That means all of the local children are going downtown and seeing their president displayed that way. That’s really shameful.”
However, Halloween and passing children are the main reasons Skuby built the display, he said.
“Halloween’s huge here; we got 1,500 kids walking past here,” he said. “I couldn’t think of anything scarier than that guy (in the) window.”
Skuby is the father of six adult children, between the ages of 24 and 40.
Skuby said he uses humor to get his points across. However, there is a serious message behind his display.
“I’m mad,” Skuby said. “I want to see a change and I have a right to do this. It’s called the First Amendment.”
Richard Clayton, 64, of Manasquan, agrees Skuby has a right to display what he wants, but does not think it will sway voters.
“As a business community, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do, but he has rights,” said Clayton, a registered Democrat who votes across party lines. “Personally, I would never do anything like that. I would keep that to myself.”
Clayton also owns a small business in Spring Lake, which he did not want named.
While he maintains that the display has boosted business, Skuby said some customers have stopped shopping in his store since the display went up.
“At some point in your life, you (have) to stand up for what you believe in,” he said. “I’m taking a stand.”
The decision to display his dissatisfaction with Obama is something that Harvey Casey supports.
“Skuby’s always been very outspoken, and that’s fine,” said Casey, 75, of Brielle, a retiree. “I’m sure he offends a lot of people, but they know where he stands.”
“It doesn’t bother me at all. It comes in under the first amendment, and he can do whatever he wants with it,” said Casey, who bought an F.Y.B.O. hat for $25 before leaving the store Monday. Skuby said he donates the profits to a local charity that helps disabled veterans, Operation Beachhead.
Similarly, Barbara Labe, who passed the storefront during a chilly, rainy Monday afternoon, did not see much wrong with Skuby’s display.
“I don’t see anything racist here at all,” said Labe, of Hershey, Pa., an employee of the Federal Emergency Management Agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “I just see somebody who has strong political views and I think that’s a great thing in our free country.”
Other local business owners and workers declined to comment on Skuby’s display.
Skuby claims he has voted for both sides of the political fence in the past, including local Democratic politicians. Skuby said he plans to vote for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney next month.
The Action Congress of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter has called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Police Service Commission, the Inspector General of Police and the National Assembly to immediately sack the Rivers State Commissioner of Police for negligence over the killing of the four University of Port Harcourt undergraduates.
The party’s position was contained in a press statement issued and signed by its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam.
The party described their attitude to distress calls put across to them as poor and also frowned at the contradictory statements emanating from the Police Commissioner, Police Public Relations Officer and the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Rumorji Division, saying it smacks of irresponsibility and unbecoming of men and officers trained to protect lives and properties.
The party further described as dereliction of duty the failure to mobilize men and officers of the force to the scene of the murder upon receiving the distress calls.
Available information according to the ACN indicated that the four Uniport students were beaten and tortured for hours before they were finally roasted to death by their assailants.
The party regretted the inability of the police to mobilize and swiftly respond to several distress calls.
“While killers of these undergraduates of the University of Port Harcourt are being fished out for prosecution, the Police Commissioner, his PPRO and the DPO in Charge of Rumorji whose primary responsibility is to protect lives and property but failed to do so in this circumstance should also be queried and possibly prosecuted”, the ACN remarked.
“The double speak of the PPRO is also regrettable, for misinforming the public. On one account he claimed the victims were dead before the police arrived. On another, he said his men were overpowered by the uncountable number of people at the scene that made it impossible for the police act”.
“Police officers must be held accountable to all their actions and inactions in this circumstance to guarantee adequate security in Rivers State”
The Egi People’s Assembly has called on the Total E&P operating in the Egi community of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local government Area to work out modalities that will lead to a Community Environmental Management Plan CEMP, as stated in the Egi, Total agreement.
President-General of the Egi People’s Assembly, Chief Oris Onyiri made the call during a sympathy visit of the Managing Director of Total E&P, Mr. Guy Maurice over the flood disaster in Egi Land, Rivers State.
Chief Onyiri also stated that the Total E&P flow station located on a vital wetland of the community with its recent acquisition and expansion for the OML58 projects upgrade have resulted in alteration of natural terrains and waterway which the speed of the flood has proved.
He also urged the Total M.D to expedite action on negotiations concerning the gas blow-out at all levels to avoid unnecessary bickering and misrepresentations of issues by various interest groups.
In response, Managing Director, Total E&P, Guy Maurice reiterated the company’s full commitment to the resolution of the gas blow-out adding that a team has been set up to evaluate the impact of the flood menace in the various communities affected and come up with a palliative that the company will use to assist victims.
The Total boss also restated that the company will always take proactive steps in empathizing with the Egi people especially at this moment of grief and distress.
It will be recalled that last week, some Egi communities witnessed massive flooding. The worst hit communities are Ogbogu, Obagi, Oboburu, Akabuka, Obigbor and Ohali-Elu. The flood came suddenly and submerged thousands of homes and property worth millions of naira, displacing thousands of people and destroying farm lands, fish farms and vital community livelihoods.
As at the time of filing this report, our correspondent who went round the submerged communities reports that more streets and houses are being covered by the flood leaving more residents relocating to other communities and makeshift homes.
Some affected residents told our correspondent that this kind of flood has not been witnessed before by the community, they described the flood as an evil omen and a disaster.
