All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Prof. Dora Akunyili, has strongly condemned the desperation of her main rival, Dr. Chris Ngige of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), to prevent the Election Petition Tribunal from hearing her case.
Akunyili, who is challenging the declaration of Ngige as winner of the April 9, 2011 senatorial election for Anambra Central, described his attitude as being reminiscent of that of the woman in the Bible who preferred to have a disputed child killed rather than being given to the rightful owner.
“All I have done by going to court is to give the judiciary an opportunity to determine whether the election was rigged or not and to determine the rightful winner of the said election, but Ngige’s desperation has seen him filing frivolous suits seeking to have the case thrown out on technical grounds contrary to the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act,” Akunyili said in a statement signed on her behalf by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Isaac Umunna.
The former Information and Communications Minister observed that “Ngige’s attitude runs counter to his claims of having won the election because if he is convinced that he really won it, he would have been eager to allow the judiciary to do its work.”
Akunyili’s statement followed Friday’s dismissal of three fresh appeals filed by Ngige at the Court of Appeal Enugu seeking to have the court rescind its ruling of the previous week compelling the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Awka to hear Akunyili’s case on merit. In addition to dismissing all three appeals by Ngige on Friday, the Court of Appeal also ordered him to pay Akunyili N30,000 for each of the failed appeals, amounting to N90,000 for the three appeals.
With Friday’s ruling, all is now set for the Election Petition Tribunal, which similarly threw out Ngige’s objection last week Monday, to start hearing Akunyili’s case in Awka from tomorrow, December 6.
Many people see General Yakubu Gowon as a gentle man, but this is an oversight. It is unfortunate that Gowon, who removed the military garb in the past forty years, is still wearing the military mentality. His is not only military mentality, but ethnic bias. The statement that was credited to him since General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died, could buttress his sentimental approach towards the Nigerian project. One wonders why on earth Gowon could open his mouth and said that the former Biafran warlord should not have led his people to secede from the country. Maybe, Gowon is losing his senses to age, and one should remind him that what Ojukwu did was the best option to the then Gowon-led Nigeria that wanted to cleanse Ndigbo out of the surface of the earth.
In the essay, “Uwa Di Egwu – The World Is Deep: My Biafran Airlift Story” – By David L. Koren, December 2, 2011, Koren said: Those who opposed the Biafrans have not seen gangs running through their neighborhoods, dragging people out on the street and chopping them up. Biafran people saw the trains full of refugees pouring in from all over Nigeria. They accepted those refugees into their homes and villages. And they heard their personal, immediate stories. A people who know they are facing genocide do not give up. Israelis say, “Never Again.” An old Igbo proverb says, “Only a tree stands still when it knows it’s being cut down.”
Since Gowon wants to make a name by exhuming old wounds it is him who is supposed to apologize and plead to all the present Nigerians for taking the leadership of the country at that time whereas he was not the most senior army official. What is best called mutiny in the military if a ‘junior’ officer like Gowon could rise up to lead his seniors? Gowon did, and he is not regretting this. He is also not regretting the fact that his fellow northerners used Ndiigbo as suya aftermath the 1966 coup.
With Gowon’s statement against Ojukwu, one is poised to ask if it is only in Nigeria that someone will wake in the morning and want to make a name from radiant rubbish as we can see in Gowon’s statement against Ojukwu. What is the condolence of Gowon to the Ojukwu family if he could say that it was unfortunate that Ojukwu took up arms against Nigeria? Was his message meant to console Ndiigbo or to mock them and remind them of the pogrom in the north against them that has refused to abate in the Northern Nigeria till date? If Gowon was a youth and had made such a derogatory statement against Ojukwu, it could have been waved with the back of the hand that he is not yet experienced and matured. But here is a man who has lived with experience. Conversely, his experience could be such crass statement on Ojukwu because a man who came to leadership through the back door will not know what people who came through the front door see. Since Gown came to leadership cheaply he feels that every statement also should be cheap and is cheap.
From all indications, Ojukwu was a man of peace but Gowon is far from that. He should remember that Ojukwu agreed to go to Aburi in Ghana (after the deliberation on Benin failed) to broker peace but Gowon broke the agreement. And Gowon did not allow Ndigbo to rest aftermath. Because Gowon came from a region where mourning meant nothing, then he feels that he should mock Ndiigbo while they are mourning? It was people like Gowon who labeled Ojukwu a rebel whereas Nigerians today have known the true rebels. They are those like Gowon who want power by any means necessary above board of their seniors in their profession.
Gowon refused to remember that he broke the Aburi accord which was aimed at bringing in peace because he felt that he was stubborn. This goes a long way to show that Gowon has been very sentimental and hypocritical not only against the Biafrans but against the Nigerian army. Without doubt, it was people like Gowon who have erroneously tagged the Aguiyi Ironsi coup as an Igbo coup. Because Ironsi is Igbo, they do not want to see anything Igbo as meaningful even in the grave. Hogwash! Gowon, as a self-imposed Head of State, reneged in the Aburi agreement, which has been causing security breaches in the country since then and here he is farting up.
Like Barrister Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia, Presidential aspirant in the April general elections reportedly described Gowon’s statement: “It exudes cowardice because while Ojukwu was alive, Gowon never made such a statement. I also believe that as Africans, we are not suppose to speak ill of the dead. So, rather than make critical comments that would open up old wounds, he should be more mature with his age. He should also have looked at issues that led to the war and join the government to address them because they are still the issues on the front burner now.”
However, Gowon wants to draw pity to himself by using the friendly Ojukwu death, but he should understand that history has a better toll on a person and not how the person sees himself or herself. Day of reckoning will visit any liar who wants to score cheap publicity with Ojukwu. Somebody like Gowon has never made an open statement against his region’s Boko Haram that has a gravy agenda in killing lives and destroying people’s hard earned property (because it is not either an Hausa or Fulani is in power), but here he is talking against Ojukwu. Gowon, without doubt, could be the reason Ojukwu once said, “Because I am Igbo.”
Whether Gowon likes it or not, Ojukwu has left a gigantic legacy in the history of the world, but one wonders what Gowon could be remember of. Maybe, DISAGREEMENT over any solution that could bring peace, as we have seen in the Aburi accord. Gowon’s statement over a mourning people is rude and brutish. He needs to apologize. Nigerians understand Ojukwu but Gowon does not because he has refused to attain the consciousness where intelligent is separated from leadership or being a president. Gowon, it is unfortunate that he still sees things in the country with the illiterate eyes of the sixties, not knowing that we have passed that era. This is a man who could not utilize the money he claimed Nigeria had in excess to develop the country, here making statement against the Hero called Ojukwu. This is like a stove calling kettle black.
Gowon could be jealous of Ojukwu, because of the latter’s overwhelming followership. This could be why he carved a niche in debasing Ojukwu even in death. He forgot that Ojuwku is honoured among Nigerians who don’t wear ethnic glasses, even in death. Like Gowon is still doing till date, he has not reacted to any national issue except he is dragged to do so. But Ojukwu was the first Nigerian who opened our eyes that people could truly stand for their right even in the face of tyranny. Between Gowon and Ojukwu, we can truly see who is wise but preferred to be a coward. This should be the last Gowon would remind Ndiigbo of what they saw over forty years ago in the hands of the Hausa/Fulani unilateral government. Why did he not make this statement when Ojukwu was alive? However, it is only the living that would not choose to be coward over the dead. It is dangerous when people like Gowon see Ndigbo as a people who should apologize to the rest of Nigerians always, and many people are still saying that Nigeria will not break.
The recent removal of the Chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] in the person of Madam Farida Waziri by the President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan appears to have secret reasons that resulted to the sacking of the Chairperson. Information available to 247ureports.com indicates that the former EFCC Chairperson was sacked abruptly/unceremoniously following “unauthorized” investigations performed by the EFCC on some of the prominent Federal Ministers that constitute President Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet. The EFCC investigation was reported to have unearthed significant financial crimes committed by the said ministers.
The EFCC Madam had initiated an “unauthorized” investigation into a few Ministers considered close to the President -of which Diezani Allison Madueke was part of. And at the completion of the investigation, the findings were personally presented to the President by the EFCC Madam. Of particular attention and concern to the President was the information unearthed on the Federal Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Allison Madueke which indicated that she had purchased a luxurious mansion in Australia worth over $20million among other investments scattered across the globe. Other Ministers were also indicted by the report.
As 247ureports.com was reliably informed by a top ranking EFCC board member, the President, upon receiving the findings from the EFCC Madam, sought for the EFCC halt actions on the findings. The Presidency, as gathered, was not particularly pleased with the list of names/individuals investigated. The source termed EFCC’s efforts as “disloyal” and somewhat “anti-Jonathan”. It was understood that the EFCC Madam wanted to “rubbish” the ministrial cabinet of the President noted the source who also continued to explain that the EFCC Madam knew that the Presidency willmost likely terminated her appointment as the EFCC Chairperson-and so had little reservations or fear to launched a daunting inquiry into the financial activities of some of Jonathan’s close ministers.
Our source revealed also that it was through the EFCC investigation that it was uncovered that the Petroluem Minister owed a mansion worth over $20million. And when the Presidency was made aware of it by the EFCC, the Presidency asked the EFCC to put a tight lid on the information and to halt all actions on the matter. But the EFCC Madam had other intentions. Instead of muting actions on the findings, the EFCC Madam sought to leak some of her findings to the media in a manner that would seem safe. She leaked the information through an Australian based newspaper.
But it backfired.
As the news broke, the Petroluem minister in tandem with the presidency launched an inquiry through the Nigerian Intelligence Agency [NIA] into the source of the news leak. The inquiry pointed to the EFCC Madam. Farida Waziri was then instructed to report to the Aso Villa for an immediate querry. The next day her sack was announced.
His Royal Highness, Igwe Ernest Okechukwu, Igwe of Mararaba, Akaonyewetere I of Ndigbo in Diaspora and his Cabinet were shocked on the news of the death of our great leader Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu in London recently. His death is a national tragedy and a big loss to Ndigbo.
Dim Ojukwu was an embodiment of patriotism. He was fearless and courageous. He strongly opposed injustice, oppression and dictatorship.
Nigerians have lost a great leader. We commiserate with members of his family and pray that God Almighty will grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
As we mourn this illustrious Nigerian, we pray that God will raise another powerful Igbo leader like him.
We commend members of the National Assembly for the tributes paid to Dim Ojukwu. We urge the Federal Government to give him a national burial in recognition of his selfless service to the nation.
We also commend the National Assembly for rejecting same-sex marriage bill. The bill was obnoxious and repugnant to our esteemed culture.
An Abuja Federal High Court was yesterday told that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has a record of mental disorderliness from the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan.
This was at the hearing of a suit filed by a chieftain of the party, Mr. Emmanuel Abalaka against the nomination of Wada.
In an originating summons brought pursuant to Sections 31 (2), 31 (5) (6) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and the inherent jurisdiction of the court, the plaintiff is pleading with the court to declare that Wada’s nomination by the PDP is null, void and of no consequence.
He pleaded for an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising Wada as a candidate in the poll.
The respondents are the PDP, INEC and Wada.
The plaintiff is contending that Wada was not a card carrying member of PDP by the time he was nominated.
The plaintiff’s counsel, Bola Aidi, brought a fresh affidavit where he stated that Wada is “not a fit and proper person to contest for the governorship of Kogi State”.
The affidavit deposed to by Uchechukwu Clement, a lawyer, stated that contrary to claims by Wada on oath under part B, Article E Question 1 “Idris Wada had at a point been adjudged to be of unsound mind”.
•That Idris Ichalla Wada is actually an un-discharged psychiatric patient of the University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.
•That Idris Wada was admitted into the psychiatric unit of the UCH Ibadan on 7th April 1976 with Card No. 399346 on referral from Dr. V.O. Anosika of Estate Clinic Group for Schizophrenic illness”
•That Idris Wada’s mental state on admission was one of paranoid delusions and auditory hallucinations according to his medical record.
•That contrary to Idris Wada’s deposition, Dr. Oyewumi of University College Hospital, Ibadan actually diagnosed him of acute psychotic episodes and paranoid psychosis on 7/4/1976.
•That contrary to Idris Wada depositions, Dr. Oyewumi on 24/4/76 at 11:50 a.m actually confirmed that Idris was psychotic.
•That again contrary to Idris Wada deposition, it was again confirmed at 4 p.m of the same 24/4/76 that Idris Wada was grossly psychotic.
•That his father Haleel Ejiga while attempting to remove him from UCH against medical advice actually disclosed a history of mental illness in the family as a niece of Idris Wada also had it in 1972.
•That on 28/4/76, his father, then of upper Area Court, Makurdi, by a letter of discharge against medical advice actually took Idris Wada Hospital No. 399346 away from University College Hospital, Ibadan contrary to the advice of medical staff.
•That Idris Wada did not undergo full treatment for his psychotic disorder from UCH Ibadan before his father removed him against medical advice.
•That he was not diagnosed as having been of reasonable mind before his father removed him.
•That by his father’s letter of 22nd September 1976, Idris Wada was to return for treatment and observation for a period of 6 months from 19th August 1976.
•That there’s no record that Idris Wada went back for treatment at UCH.
Justice Adamu Bello adjourned the hearing till November 29.
•That till date, no medical record from the UCH has confirmed Idris Wada as a discharged patient of the Psychiatric unit.
We are totally opposed to the moves and efforts towards the privatization of legal education, as being proposed by the current Chief Joseph Daudu(SAN) –led Nigerian Bar Association(NBA) through the proposed bill to grant private persons power to run law school to be forwarded before the National Assembly. We see this preemptive move to liberalize legal education as a major threat to access to legal education and incontrovertibly an attack on access to justice.
The Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) President, Joseph Daudu (SAN) had stated in a credited report (October 28, 2011) that the Association intends to forward a bill to the National Assembly for a law to allow private persons to own and run law schools. We are vehemently opposed to this attempt to liberalize legal education and see it as part of the numerous attacks of commercialization and privatization of legal education.
COMMERCIALISATION OF LEGAL EDUCATION
Following the opposition against the Obasanjo/Bayo Ojo {the then Attorney General and former NBA Chairman} to push through the privatization of the Nigerian law School, the Council of Legal Education has been undertaking a systematic commercialiasation of legal education at their level. Payable fees into the Nigerian Law School have been increased at over 200{two-thousand} percent to the present N250, 000.00.
The major argument that the Council of Legal Education has been pushing for such obnoxious fee increases is the underfunding of the Law School by the government. It has therefore resolved to offload the cost of legal education on helpless students and their parents. With the pace of the increase, it is very possible that the fees will be increased by hundred percent to N500, 000.00!
With that, many intelligent and resourceful law students who come from humble background will be denied access to legal education. We see this as a brazen attempt to make legal practice an entirely elite profession for the few.
This is added with the denial of access to justice by ordinary people as the cost of legal representation will increase at the pace of the increase in the cost of legal education. It is an open secret that the cost of judicial process is not affordable for the majority of the ordinary masses.
Moreover, the ongoing commercialization of education in many universities has severe effects on legal education at that level. A major case is that of Lagos State University where law students under the new fee regime are or will be made to pay N248, 000.00. This is just a signal to the council of Legal Education to jerk up the payable fees into the Nigerian Law School.
We join other masses organizations in the workers and students’ movement to reject commercialiasation of education and call for increased funding of education up to 26 percent as recommended by UNESCO. Equally, we demand for increased funding of the Nigerian Law School. We call on law students, graduates, lawyers and other masses organizations to join in the fight against the fee regime in the Nigerian law school and the attempt to privatize clinical legal education.
LIBERALISATION OF LEGAL EDUCATION IS ILLEGAL
Whereas the Nigeria Bar Association is a professional organization which should seek out to protect the interests of legal practice and promotion of the welfare of its members, however, it is failing in this respect by being the prime mover of liberalization of legal education which will limit access to legal education.
Private persons fundamentally seek out to increase their fortunes in any venture whatsoever. The push of the NBA to allow private persons to run Law School will only yield legal education to private sharks who want to milk law students dry.
We hold that with the widespread unemployment of lawyers, the NBA should be seeking to eliminate this scourge by opening up access to justice. We hold that liberalization of legal education will limit access to justice and canvass that contrary to promoting privatization, the NBA should push for creation of Legal Aid Councils in local government areas to employ every able lawyer to provide legal representation to communities and to be paid decent wages.
We hold that the NBA aims through promotion of privatization of legal education to limit the number of lawyers and make the legal profession an entirely elite one. We consider this disproportionate to the socio-economic realities of lack of access of justice in a neo-colonial economy like Nigeria.
We submit that the NBA should abandon its current privatization mission and seek the promotion of access to justice for all. We call on ordinary Nigerians, members of the legal practice community, the judiciary, students and youth organization, trade unions and parents to prevail on the NBA in this regard and call on the Federal Government to increase the funding of legal education, with democratic control.
In what is becoming a mass outpouring of condolences, Nigerians have come out in droves with their reactions to the news of death of General Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Ojukwu exemplified courage – Prof Maurice Iwu: Former INEC Chairman, Prof Iwu has reacted to Ojukwu’s death, saying “Ojukwu’s life exemplified courage and the latitude of the human mind to resist servitude regardless of the cost. Nigeria should honour him by adopting the Biafran spirit of resourcefulness and respect for human dignity in our national renaissance”.
Ojukwu irreplaceable – Atiku FORMER Vice President Atiku Abubakar, described the death of Ojukwu as a great loss to the country and Africa in general. Atiku, who noted that his death was another colossal loss to Nigeria at a time of strenuous efforts for unity and reconciliation, recalled that the Ikemba Nnewi’s role as a key actor in Nigeria’s political development cannot be easily forgotten. According to Atiku, Ojukwu was a tremendously respected and influential politician whose endorsement was frequently needed by others to build their political careers, adding that history had cast the late Ojukwu into a role and he played that part to the best of his abilities.
Immortalize him – Reps THE House of Representatives said the demise of Ikemba Nnewi, has left a deep hole in Nigeria’s quest for transformational leadership. In a statement by the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep Zakari Mohammed , the House described his passage as a colossal loss that is irreplaceable. “Ojukwu was the first Nigerian graduate to have enlisted in the Nigerian army and added intellectual dimension to the force while in service of his fatherland”, it stated. “While alive, Ojukwu displayed rare courage on principled stand on sensitive national matters, we in the Seventh Assembly regret his death but we are consoled by the fact that we will continue to uphold his principle, ideals and uncommon courage that Ojukwu lived and died for.” “We are calling on the President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to immortalize this gentleman officer, courageous, successful politician and a leader’s leader.”
Igbo have lost a treasure – Obi ANAMBRA State governor, Mr. Peter Obi, said with the demise of the Ikemba Nnewi, Igbo have lost a great treasure. In a statement in Awka, entitled, “Our father is gone”, Obi eulogised Ojukwu in Igbo, saying: “Amuma na Egbeigwe edelu juuuu; Udo eji akpu Agu agbabie; Odenigbo Ngwo anabago; Ikemba Nnewi a gaba goo; Dikedioranmma nweru ka osi noru kitaa, Ezeigbo Gburugburu, enwooooo! Obu inaba ka anyi mezie gini? Onye ga na-ekwuru anyi? Onye ga abamba ka Agu ma oburu na ana emegbu anyi? Enwoooooooo! Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, enwoooooo!” The statement said further: “In the traditional Igbo society, the death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu would be announced by the famous Ikoro Drum, reserved for outstanding people in the society once in a century. This is what I have just done in the foregoing. We hereby, in consultation with the immediate family of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announce his death which occurred in the early hours of today, November 26, 2011. “With Ojukwu’s death, the entire Igbo race, at home and in the Diaspora as well as Nigerians have lost a treasure. He was one of the most forthright personalities Nigeria has ever had. He believed in a Nigeria where justice and equity should reign and devoted his life to the pursuit of that ideal as if he was under a spell. “While alive, Ezeigbo Gburugburu was such a subject of history that it makes little sense to start contemplating how history will remember him. Ojukwu came, saw and conquered, leaving for us vital lessons in patriotism and nationalism.
He’s a Courageous man – Northern Govs Forum – The Northern Governors Forum (NGF) commiserated with the Ojukwu family, lamenting that the nation has lost a great man. Chairman of the forum and governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, said the people of the 19 states of the North and indeed the entire country have lost a courageous man who would be sorely missed for his immeasurable contributions to national development. The condolence message of the forum was contained in a statement signed by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo. According to the governors, though Ojukwu died at a ripe age of 78, after a prolonged illness, the forum was deeply pained by his passage. “Like most of our Igbo brothers and sisters born in Zungeru (former capital of Northern Nigeria), Ojukwu excelled in his sojourn on this side of the divide. He did well as a soldier and as a politician”, they said. The governor recalled Ojukwu’s leading role in the struggle for the nation’s return to civil rule at a time when many pro-democracy elements were afraid to speak up against the military. The statement said Ojukwu would be remembered for playing a prominent role in the 1995 constitutional conference which gave birth to the current geopolitical structure.
He was an iconic national figure–Amaechi Rivers State governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, expressed sadness over the death of Ojukwu. In a statement by his spokesman, David Iyofor, Amaechi described the former Biafran leader as an iconic national figure, a man full of courage whose contributions to the nation in spite of the civil war cannot be overemphasized.
“Ojukwu had strong leadership skills, a fighter with the heart of the people, and his opinions kept the nation on its feet. In politics, he was a key player and would definitely be missed by many”, the statement added.
Ojukwu’s death is a national tragedy — Elechi GOVERNOR Martin Elechi of Ebonyi State described the death of Ojukwu as a national tragedy which would be difficult to be erased from the minds of Nigerians especially those from the south east. Elechi, who spoke through his chief press secretary, Dr. Onyekachi Eni, lamented that the nation, as a result of the death, had lost a dynamic leader and a protagonist of positive change, adding that the accomplishments of former Biafra soldier possessed the capacity to transcend mortality, which, according to him, represented the demise of era that may never resurface in the history of the nation. “The death of the Ikemba is a national tragedy of immense proportion. It represents the demise of an era. Nigeria has lost a dynamic leader and a protagonist of positive change. Though death is a debt which all mortals must pay, Ojukwu’s accomplishments transcend mortality. May his soul rest in peace”, the governor said.
Ojukwu was fearless – Jang Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State said the history of the country will be incomplete without mentioning Ojukwu’s contribution to her development. Jang, in a statement by the Director of Press Affairs in his office, Mr. James Mannok, described the late elder statesman as a great Nigerian who was never afraid to pursue the cause he believed in. He described the death as a great loss, adding, “Chief Ojukwu has played his role in the development of Nigeria as the history of the nation will not be complete without acknowledging his contribution.”
Mimiko: Vacuum will be difficult to fill Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, described Ojukwu’s death as a big loss to Nigeria. Mimiko, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Eni Akinsola, noted that the bravery displayed by the Ikemba Nnewi during the civil war really helped the country to address certain fundamental national issues which united all the ethnic groups in the country, many years after the incident. According to him, the vacuum, which Ojukwu’s death has created, will be difficult to fill “because he was a great man, who had a dream for a great nation where there will be justice, equity and fairness”.
He was a national icon -Chime Governor Sullivan Chime expressed profound shock and sorrow over the death of the former Biafran leader, saying that his passage has robbed the country of one her most notable historical and political figures. The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Chukwudi Achife, described Ojukwu as a foremost nationalist and activist whose contributions to the political and constitutional development of the country are not only indelible but in some ways inimitable. He described the deceased as a symbol of the struggle against injustice, segregation and oppression against any group of people in the country adding that his epic efforts had helped to lay the foundation for national integration and the sense of equality and unity that prevails in the country today. Chime noted that as a politician, Ojukwu had fought fearlessly for the survival and sustenance of democracy in the country, waging a relentless war against electoral fraud and insisting on the establishment of a level play ground for all participants in electoral processes. He said Ojukwu was an icon who, despite his affluent background, was never afraid to speak out on critical national issues or challenge policies that tended to infringe upon the rights of the people adding that this disposition had helped him remain a highly influential and charismatic political figure in his lifetime.
Why Ojukwu was revered – Fayemi Ekiti State governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, condoled with the family of Ojukwu and the entire people and governments of the south east. Fayemi, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, in Ado-Ekiti, described the late Ikemba Nnewi as a leader who loved his people and defended their interests till he breathed his last. He said it was for this reason that the late leader was revered by his people. The governor said the late Biafran leader would be remembered as a person who never shied away from making his stand known on any issue, especially those that directly affected the interest of his people.
Nigeria has lost a great hero – Sylva Bayelsa State governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, said was a great Nigerian who devoted his life to the fight against injustice and promotion of equality among Nigerians. In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Doifie Ola, Sylva said, “Chief Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a man of principle, a great Nigerian who remained dedicated to his convictions until death. “Even when he was forced by the circumstances of his day to lead his people into a war, and later went into exile, he returned to the country after a national pardon to join other Nigerians in a broad political platform for nation-building. “When another political opportunity called, he formed a platform through which he intended to accomplish his long-held dream for an egalitarian Nigeria. Though his presidential bid did not succeed, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stayed committed to his dream by helping in the emergence of governments and politicians that share his political ideals for the Igbo nation and Nigeria. He never gave up.”
Ojukwu fought for the oppressed – Umeh, APGA Chairman APGA National Chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, said Ojukwu was as a dogged fighter for the oppressed people. “Remember that Ojukwu lived not just for the Igbo people; he lived for all the oppressed people all over the world. The news of his death will shake the newsrooms all over the world. He was somebody who stood for the less privileged; people who were oppressed; people whose personal liberties were taken away. This was the life he lived,” Umeh said. “Anybody who has looked up to him for inspiration will see some void today; will see some emptiness today.”
Demise has created a vacuum – Hon. Ihedioha The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives and other members of the House said the vacuum Ojukwu’s death has created would be difficult to fill. In a statement in Abuja, the deputy speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, said the death is a “very grievous occurrence in the country’s history and leaves a huge vacuum in our collective quest towards nation-building, socio-political development and evolution of our statehood.” Describing the late APGA leader as a fearless mobilizer, highly intelligent and resourceful personality who loomed larger than life wherever he found himself, Ihedioha regretted that Nigeria will surely miss this “bright eastern star that shone like a million comets in the galaxy of stars. Love him or hate him, his landmark contributions in making Nigeria what she is today cannot be dimmed by his passage to the great beyond.”
In his reaction, the chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Currency, Hon. Jones Onyereri, described the late Ikemba Nnewi as ‘a great leader with clarity of vision, a very courageous man full of strength. He was the pillar of the Igbo who will surely be missed. The question on the lips of Ndi Igbo is could there ever be another Ikemba?’
For the Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Samson Osagie, the late Ikemba Nnewi was ‘a brave soldier, a fighter and a committed patriot to the Igbo nation. His death is a big loss to the country and Ndi Igbo in particular’.
The leader of the Anambra Caucus in the House of Representatives, Hon. Uche Ekwunife, described Ojukwu as “one of the finest of Igbo extraction”.
The biggest “iroko” in Igboland has fallen – Oni Former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni saw the death of the ex-Biafra warlord as the fall of “the biggest iroko tree in the forest of Igboland.”
Oni, who reacted to Ojukwu’s death through his media aide, Mr. Lere Olayinka, said: “With Ikemba’s death; there is nothing more to say other than ‘oke osisi di na nukwu ohia na ala igbo adawoo’ (the biggest iroko tree in d forest of Igboland has fallen).” The former governor said Ojukwu will however be happy that the Igbo nation that he fought for has now taken its pride of place in the Nigeria polity, adding: “The lesson of the civil war has remained one of the unifying factors for Nigeria till date.”
Death devastating – Etiaba Former Anambra State deputy governor, Dame Virgy Etiaba, saw Ojukwu’s death as a devastating one not only to the Igbo race in particular but Nigerians as a general. “His exit at a time such as this is a depressing one considering the fact that the Nigeria of his dream where equality, equity, accountability and probity will be enthroned has not crystallised,”Etiaba said.
“As a leader, he touched lives and was frank to all. He will go down our history as a man who was most loved by his people. He represented the aspiration of his people and never compromised their interest.”
Ojukwu a symbol of Igbo unity – Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy President of the Senate. Ojukwu was a symbol of Igbo unity. He lived a life of service. As a young man and son of a millionaire, he joined the army amidst several non-risky options. He fought injustice, oppression, impunity and all such evils till his death. Though he is dead, he lives on in the consciousness of every Igbo man and all Nigerians who believe that this country belongs to all of us. May his soul rest in peace.
He fought for Ibo cause – Senator Joy Emodi, Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly.
It is true that he has been sick, I am shocked. I remember him with nostalgia how he drove the Igbo cause. He will be highly missed and he was a brave man. The most important thing is that he left an important legacy as the undisputed Igbo leader and he was not corrupt at all. He fought for the Igbo cause selflessly. The space he left will be difficult to fill, in the politics of this country and in the politics of the south-east. It is a great loss to everybody and to Nigerians. He was a voice to the voiceless, very courageous and always speaking his mind.
It is a big loss – Nwadiala Emeka Wogu, Minister of Labour and Productivity It is a big loss to the nation in general and the Igbo in particular. He was instrumental in reshaping Nigeria’s political structure from the regional to state structure. He was misunderstood but remained courageous even unto death. He will be surely missed by both friends and foes. May his soul rest in peace.
Symbol of leadership – Senator Effiong Bob He was a symbol of qualitative leadership who fought for the upliftment of his people. He was highly intellectual and a great thinker of his time.
He was the only Ikemba – Kema Chikwe, former Minister of Aviation It is a tragedy for the Igbo because there was only one Ikemba who had the charisma to mesmerize the entire Igbo nation and sustained it till death. Irrespective of political affiliation every Igbo man knows that he was the only Ikemba.
He was a great thinker – Senator Ben Obi, Special Adviser to the President, Inter Party Affairs. One of the greatest, courageous and most focused sons of Africa has passed on. A soldier and a philosopher, a teacher and a thinker, a man who found comfort with both the mighty and the low, a man who at all times was honest, with undiluted ideas on any situation or suggestion on any situation. A lover of his people, indeed a great patriot!
Ex-warlord was a titan – Capt. Emmanuel Ihenacho, rtd., former minister
Very sad news indeed. We mourn the passing of a great and patriotic Nigerian, an absolute titan, hero of the Igbo nation. Our heartfelt sympathies and thoughts go out to his widow and immediate family. May his soul rest in peace.
He became a godfather in politics – Senator Ifeanyi Okowa Yet another great Nigeria gone to the great beyond. A gallant soldier once he was. He brought in his academic prowess into the political arena and became a godfather in the politics of APGA in the South-East.
Ojukwu, a man of ideas – Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (retired), former governor of old Kaduna State
Ojukwu’s death is a very sad loss for not only Nigeria but humanity. I remember I invited him to Kaduna when I was governor for a re-orientation campaign. As he got the invitation, he said: “Colonel, I will be there,” and he came. He was a man with great ideas about how to advance the cause of Nigeria. The nation will sorely miss him. I pray that God will have mercy on his soul.
He lived a good life – Rep. Eseme Eyiboh Odumegwu Ojukwu did not live long enough but he lived a good life which was long enough. He was a hero in life and in death
· Says teachers’ salaries constitute serious burden on LGs
Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has advocated for change in the disbursement of federal allocation so that local governments would get their allocations directly instead of receiving through state governments.Dr. Uduaghan who made the call when the National President of National Union of Local Government Employees, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel paid him a courtesy call in Asaba said when local governments collect directly from the federation account all the delays associated with receiving through state governments would be removed.
He suggested that as Federal government and states are receiving their allocations, local governments should be part of the exercise and receive there and then to prevent delays, explaining that as Federal and state governments pay salaries so do local governments pay their staff.The governor said the time has come for local governments to receive directly because local government workers and teachers suffer unnecessary delay in the payment of their salaries.“Local Government Councils should be part of Federation Allocation Accounts Committee Meetings so that as Federal and State are receiving their allocation, Local governments should also receive their own. This procedure will save time and resources because local governments pay salaries wages and other bills,” he said.
Dr. Uduaghan who said local governments occupy strategic position in the development of the nation explained that once local governments were well funded, the problem of insecurity and infrastructural development would be greatly reduced.He explained that once a local government council guarantees peace and security as well as social amenities in its area authority, Federal and state governments would not have much to do.
The governor therefore stressed the need for adequate funding of local governments as the present state of affairs especially the payment of primary school teachers was crippling local governments.Dr. Uduaghan said the burden of paying primary school teachers was too heavy for local governments to bear and called on the federal government to either take over the salary of primary school teachers or increase local governments’ allocation.“It has become necessary for the Federal Government to either take over the burden of paying teachers salary or increase allocation. This is because local governments are groaning under the weight of primary teachers’ salaries.
Once salaries are paid not much will be left for development.”The National President of NULGE Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel commended the governor for accelerating infrastructural development in the state.Comrade Ali also commended the governor for being labour friendly and encouraging growth in public service.He assured the governor that local government staff in the state would be loyal, dedicated and increase their output to reciprocate government kind gesture.
Proceedings at a Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa state, were again stalled on Wednesday, November 30th, 2011, when the presiding judge, Justice David Okorowa failed to sit for the fourth consecutive time in the case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against a former governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu and 12 others. Adamu and his co-accused persons are standing trial over a 170 count charge of corruption and financial embezzlement to the tune of N15 billion. Twelve others being prosecuted alongside Adamu by the EFCC are: Engr. Baba Gbewfi, Alhaji Halilu Bala Usman, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, chairman, Sneccu Group of Companies, Ovey Bala Angbaso, John Mamman, Ifeanyi Ezekweli, M. D Ciez Pharmacy Limited, Mr. Chukwuma Okoronkwo, Nosa Idehen, M.D Jonabel Construction Company, Henry N Nick Associates Limited, owned by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu and others, Niccus Industries Limited, owned by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu as well as Prince and Princess Limited. The serial adjournment started on May 24th, 2011when the case was adjourned till July 19th, 2011 without sufficient reason. After a long wait on July 19th, the Judge sent a message that pre-election matters would not allow him to attend to the case. Again, the case was adjourned till September 28th, 2011. On September 28th, 2011, the judge again failed and no reason was given for his absence. That was when the case was adjourned till November 30th and December 1st , 2011 for continuation of hearing. Incidentally, all the accused persons were also not in court, as a staff of the court said he was informed by one of the aides of the former governor, Abdullahi Adamu, twenty-four hours earlier, that the case would not go on. “While we were preparing for the case yesterday, I got a call from one of the aides to the key accused person that the case will not hold. I am sure that is why they are not in court”, a court staff disclosed. It would be recalled that the EFCC on March 3rd, 2011, filed a 15 paragraph counter- affidavit opposing the application for stay of proceedings filed by the ex-governor. This was consequent upon the dismissal, on January 19, 2011, of an application brought before it by the ex-governor, seeking for the quashing of the case against him. The judge had ruled that the accused persons have a case to answer. On March 3rd , 2011, Adamu and four others, through their counsels, Abdullahi Ibrahim, Dr. M.E. Ediru and Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, filed applications for stay of proceeding on the ground that a notice of appeal in respect of the last ruling had been filed at the Court of Appeal. But in a quick response, the EFCC, through its counsel, Adeniyi Akintola, SAN, filed a 15 paragraph counter- affidavit praying the court to discountenance the application for stay of proceedings saying it was brought to waste the time of the court and to delay the prosecution of charges against the ex-governor. The affidavit was sworn to by Barrister Christopher Emeka Izima The EFCC further told the court that the criminal charges preferred against the ex-governor and twelve others were heavy and weighty and bordered on stealing and misappropriation of public funds. “It is submitted most humbly that these are charges that must be dealt with expeditiously and summarily and not ones which should be unnecessarily delayed or prolonged, if indeed we are serious about dealing with, and discouraging corruption in our system”, Akintola said. Citing the case of Jolly Tanko Nyame V Federal Republic of Nigeria, the prosecution counsel further argued that the Supreme Court of Nigeria frowns at the usual practice of filing unnecessary interlocutory applications in criminal matters in order to delay trials. “A stay of proceedings must not be granted, if it will unnecessarily delay the proceedings” The EFCC added that the applicants have not shown that the continuation of the proceedings by the court would be unreasonable and urged it not to stay proceedings in this criminal trial. “The applicant has not even compiled the Record of Appeal. All he wants is a stay and he will thereafter go to sleep,” Akintola noted. The prosecution further argued that one year after the arraignment of the accused persons, their pleas are yet to be taken. Adamu and other accused persons were first arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lafia, Nasarawa state, on March 10, 2010 before Justice Ibrahim Buba. Buba was later transferred to Asaba and replaced with Justice Marcel Awokulehin who declined to hear the case. The accused persons were later re-arraigned on a fresh 170 count charge on Thursday July 22nd , 2010 before Justice David Okorowa who has now ruled that trial should commence. The case has been adjourned till January 23 to 27, 2012 for continuation of hearing.
