Gov Soludo Must Investigate Homeland Security Commissioner and look inward to unravel US Embassy convoy attack- Intersociety

June 7, 2023

The International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) has observed with total dismay and strong condemnation-the unchecked unarmed civilian deaths and incessancy of unlawful arrests and arbitrary detentions by armed state actor security operatives in Anambra State. The dastardly and prohibited acts are being perpetrated and perpetuated by the personnel and principal officers of the Nigerian Army (302 Artillery Regiment in Onitsha), the Nigerian Naval Base, Ogbaru, the Anambra State Police Command and the State Government funded Anambra Vigilante Services under the supervision of the State Commissioner for Homeland Security. These, they perpetrate and perpetuate by using false security intelligence and rogue-criminal investigations. The above named armed state actors and the present Government of Anambra State have also earned notoriety in false labeling and relied heavily on ‘hearsay conclusions’ under which unarmed and defenseless citizens are indiscriminately criminalized and rounded up for secret execution or arbitrary detention and denial of custodial liberties. Acts of disappearances and torture or other inhuman and degraded punishments or treatments are also very common in the handling styles of the named state actor security operatives and their principal officers; who also turn blind eyes on armed criminal parties and their weapons and channel their energies and resources against defenseless and unarmed citizens and their properties.

These explain the reasons behind high level of impunity and ‘repeat offenses or returned criminalities’ especially felonious offenses inviolving high-profile shootings, abductions-for-ransoms and targeted assassinations across the State. This is also to the extent that the real fighting or armed criminal parties have remained unmasked and on the prowl. Policing and Military intelligence supplied to the Government of Anambra State are mired in “IPOB/ESN phobia” and often times diversionary and questionable. The worst of it all is that the Government of Anambra State heavily relies on such corrupted and biased military and police intelligence to make public pronouncements or form opinions or policies and Government actions on ‘insecurity in Anambra State’. The “IPOB/ESN-phobia” derived intelligence and investigations are so rampantly used by the State Police Commissioner and the principal officers of the deployed Nigerian Military that “investigations are commenced and concluded and findings made 30 minutes or less after every high-profile abduction or shooting or killing/abduction incident”.

Cases of shooting or killing or abducting and disappearing defenseless citizens around or near the crime scenes and labeling them “attacking IPOB/ESN/Unknown Gunmen overpowered and shot dead (neutralized) at the crime scenes” are also very rampant. In 2022, for instance, no fewer than eight defenseless citizens including a Lagos-based businessman returning to the State with his Venza Car and builders of his new house project were targeted in open shootings and killed by the joint personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Army/Police at Isuoffia and Umuona in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State. Their killing had taken place few minutes after the armed non state actors’ attack at naval checkpoint at Isuoffia during which one naval personnel was killed and others injured. The named military personnel had gone on shooting spree and rained live bullets on passersby in Isuoffia, Umuona and environs; killing scores and injuring others. The worst of it all was the hastiness with which the Government of Anambra State aided and abetted the dastardly act by issuing a confirmation statement supporting the falsity of the armed state actor story that “those killed were members of the Unknown Gunmen killed in crossfire or gun duel by gallant security operatives”.

Shooting At Embassy Staff Convoy In Ogbaru Mired In Hearsay Conclusions And IPOB-phobia

The greatest challenge facing the Nigerian security establishments is lack of diligent criminal investigation devoid of hearsay conclusions, ethnic and religious profiling, criminal labeling, class criminalization and ‘prosecutorial vindictiveness’. The Nigerian security establishments also incurably lack modern criminal intelligence and policing including proactive and preventive policing and effective early warning response capacities. There are also inter-agency encroachments and general lack of skillful securitization intelligence and investigation handling styles. The “Man-Mental-Machine” modern securitization and policing are nowhere to be found in the present Nigerian security establishments; to the extent that out of every ten security operatives involved in processing citizens accused of being in conflict with criminal laws of Nigeria, nine use deadly force and torture and other degrading treatments. Also out of every ten processing or interrogating security officers, nine lack basic computer literacy and mental detective and evaluation skills.

Occasionally, exception to the above is the Department of Security Services (DSS), especially in the area of acquisition of intelligence skills and use of same. A clear case in point was the case of “Egbe-Eji-Eje-Ogu of Unubi in 2022”. Apart from despicably setting his family dwelling house and properties ablaze, the DSS led operation remains one of the best, if not the best executed intelligence and investigation driven law enforcement operations in Anambra State in recent years. If it is to be police or military led operation, the entire Umunna kindred or village in Unubi, Nnewi South LGA of the State would have been wiped out and their houses and other properties razed-with dozens of unarmed and defenseless citizens shot and killed or terminally injured. The real crime suspects would also have escaped and uninvolved others rounded up and shot dead and their dead bodies costumed and publicly paraded and falsely labeled.

It is therefore most likely correct to say that the recently reported shooting at the US Embassy convoy In Ogbaru Local Government Area along Atani-Ogwu-Ikpere Federal Road in Anambra State is inescapably riddled with hearsay conclusions and “IPOB-phobia”. This is to the extent that the Government of Anambra State and the State Police Command hastily and without detailed and conclusive investigations heaped the responsibility on “suspected members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN”. The Anambra State Police Command under CP Echeng Echeng has earned notoriety in hastily linking almost every criminal activity in the State to “suspected members of the proscribed IPOB/ESN”. These ‘hearsay conclusions/class criminalization’ have led to incessancy of instant and custodial killing of unarmed and defenseless citizens and abduction and disappearance of others as well as indiscriminate arrests and arbitrary detentions and wanton destruction or burning down of defenseless civilian houses and other properties across the State using false labeling and class criminalization.

Intersociety also finds it difficult to locate situations whereby the State Police Command had started criminal investigations on such phantom allegations and had such investigations diligently concluded and the investigated suspects successfully prosecuted. We cannot also remember the last time the Anambra State Police Command secured judicial convictions against those it spuriously accused of treason or treasonable felonies in connection with “IPOB/ESN terrorism”. Apart from the State Police Command and the Anambra State Government funded Anambra Vigilante Services killing, abducting and disappearing unarmed citizens at will in broad day light and at the hours of the blue law using phantom and un-provable allegations of “IPOB/ESN terrorism”, it further saddens our heart that the Government of Prof Charles Soludo is relying on corrupted and biased intelligence supplied by the State Police Command and the deployed principal officers of the Ogbaru Naval Base and the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army, Onitsha. In matters of the law, and as a matter of fact, “the Nigerian military is incurably incompetent and incapable of generating effective policing intelligence in connection with the activities of civilians or citizens not subject to the Armed Forces Act of 2004”. The Military is also a meddlesome interloper in matters of securitization under civilian democratic dispensation. In the referenced Ogbaru US Embassy convoy attack, the authorities of the Government of Anambra State, the Nigerian Naval Base and the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army, Onitsha had severally announced the arrest or neutralization (extrajudicial killing) of not less than four sets of group citizens in connection with “killing US Embassy staffs in Ogbaru”. Members of some communities have also been sacked from their ancestral homes or forced to flee to avoid being falsely labeled, arrested or killed. Among the victims were a tertiary institution’s lecturer and aging husband and wife and their two children who are seasoned river-line fishers.

Twelve Unanswered Questions In The US Embassy Staffers’ Convoy Shootings/Killings, Ors In Ogbaru

The Government of Anambra State, the State Police Commissioner and the Commander of the Onitsha Naval Base and his Commandant colleague from the Onitsha 302 Army Artillery Regiment are operationally start illiterate by their woeful failure to (1) understand the meaning of “assassination by a hit squad” and (2) whether the shootings were randomly carried out/internally/externally coordinated; (3) whether it is possible for four sets of group citizens including two aging husband and wife with fishing occupation and a lecturer to have belonged to the same group of assassins, (4) whether members of the sacked communities were also part of the assassination squad, (5) the exact mission of the US Embassy staffers and their convoy in Ogbaru, (6) How victims of the Ogbaru shootings mostly made up of serving and retired security personnel became flood disaster area relief management or reconstruction experts, (7) the identities of those that actually carried out the shootings/killings, (8) whether they are armed state actors or armed subversive state actors or Government-linked private armies’ operatives, (9) whether there were insider connections or conspiracies or perpetration and perpetuation, (10) whether the mission to Ogbaru by US Embassy convoy was official, legal or illegal, (11) whether the Government of Anambra State or the State Police Commissioner or the State Director of SSS were officially notified, (12) whether it is correct to say that the personnel and principal officers of the Ogbaru Naval Base are engaging unchecked in sundry economic sabotage/extortionist activities in their lines of duties including collecting returns from Niger River sand excavators and crude oil bunkerers; collecting tolls from sand tippers and other haulage lorries at their roadblocks; imposing and collecting N100 per trip from every Keke rider from 6pm daily; imposing and collecting N100 (daily Navy fee) per commercial bus/Keke along Atani Road per day; and aiding and abetting kidnap-for-ransom and other high profile criminal activities in Ogbaru and environs.

Anambra Govt. Must Speak On Govt-linked Private Armies Kidnapping, Killing And Disappearing

The silence of the Prof Charles Soludo led Government of Anambra State regarding the recent weighty allegations against his Commissioner for Homeland Security; Mr. Chikaodili Anara (Igba-ka-Igba) is totally condemned. The denial of same by the person of Mr. Chikaodili Anara is watery and has failed woefully to critically address the core issues raised. It must be reminded that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had twice in one week, 28th May and 4th June 2023, leveled weighty allegations against the Homeland Security Commissioner bordering on insecurity raging across Anambra State. He was strongly accused by the leadership of IPOB of “running a hit squad including high profile kidnap-for-ransom gangs using Government connections and functionaries as a back-up”. He was also strongly accused of “clandestinely purchasing acres of lands for Jihadist Fulani Herdsmen as middleman for the Miyatti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) and facilitating incursions by the Fulani Herdsmen Jihadists into Awka North and environs”. Commissioner Chikaodili Anara was further accused by IPOB of “being the brain behind the general security challenges across the State” and that “he used AVG (Anambra Vigilante Services) to murder unarmed citizens and label them “suspected IPOB/ESN members”.

Among the communities that are witnessing the surge of strange faces and Fulani terrorists, according to IPOB, are: Igbariam town, Achalla town, Amanuke town, Ugbene town, Ukwulu town, Nando town, Urum town as well as Mgbakwu town, Isuana town, Ocha town, Ebenebe town and others located in Awka North, Ayamelum and Oyi Local Government Areas. Most of the listed communities have in the past one year witnessed “the influx of Fulani herdsmen; causing tensions, fears of insecurity and other unsafe conditions as the villagers are warned not to go to their farms or risk being killed by the Fulani Jihadist terrorists”. The above is to the extent that “thousands of acres of farmlands belonging to such communities have been forcefully taken from their indigenous owners and sold to the Myetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association through Homeland Commissioner Chikaodili Anara and his gang”. For more see details, click here: https://sunnewsonline.com/anambra-insecurity-ipob-sends-sos-to-soludo.

By Intersociety’s recent investigations, there also appears to exist in the State a high profile and well armed and coordinated kidnapping gang syndicate around Achalla and environs in Awka North. The kidnap-for-ransom gangs or syndicates are so well armed and coordinated that they have in their arsenal a number of flying boats which they use to forcefully ferry their victims from Ezu-Omambala-Niger River axis to the Ogbaru-Asaba Niger River Creeks manned by the Nigerian Naval Base in Ogbaru where ransoms are negotiated and paid. This is to the extent that the kidnap-for-ransom gangs have become an outlaw, above the law and beyond the law enforcement agencies of Anambra State formations. It must also be reminded that IPOB’s weighty allegations against Commissioner Chikaodili Anara cannot be circumstantially dismissive or pronounced dead on arrival; especially by the intelligence gathering prowess of the IPOB from their Eastern Security Network-a counter Jihadist incursion group in Eastern Nigeria since Dec 2020.

Soludo Must Investigate Homeland Commissioner And Look Inward Over US Embassy Convoy Attack

Intersociety therefore calls on Gov Charles Soludo and his Government of Anambra State/State Executive Council to carry out a detailed and unbiased investigation into such weighty allegations leveled against Commissioner Chikaodili Anara so as to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the weighty allegations so leveled. The Soludo’s Government must also look inward regarding the Ogbaru US Embassy’s convoy shootings and killings for possibility of insider connections or conspiratorial roles. Such must be extended to the State Police Command, Ogbaru Naval Base and Homeland Security circles. The Anambra Directorate of the DSS is exonerated and absolved of any culpability until it is proven otherwise and except the post US Embassy convoy’s crime scene vicinity shootings and killings and the communal raiding and indiscriminate arrests, abductions and shootings that followed, the 302 Artillery Regiment of the Nigerian Army is also absolved of possible internal conspiracy involvement. Gov Charles Soludo is hereby expertly called upon and advised to rely more on generated intelligence by the State Directorate of State Security Services under Director Pawa and subject those from Army, Navy and Police to thorough evaluations and checks before being used in public pronouncements and public security and safety policies or actions.

Signed

For: International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety)

Emeka Umeagbalasi (Criminologist-Researcher), Board Chair

Court adjourns Atiku’s Suit Against Tinubu as INEC Refused to Release Electoral Documents

Queen Madu

June 6, 2023

Hearing in the petition by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar against the election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was abruptly adjourned on Tuesday by the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja due to alleged refusal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to make some critical electoral materials available to him.

The Court shifted further hearing in the petition till June 7 pending the time the electoral body is expected to have.responded to the request of Atiku and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the supply of some documents.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Eyitayo Jegede, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who conducted proceedings for Atiku had sought to tender forms EC8A from 10 out of 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State to establish the petition against Tinubu.

The exhibits, mainly documents used for the February 25 Presidential Election, are those from Ankpa, Dekina, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro, Yagba East, Yagba West, Kabba-Bunu and Igalamela Odolu.

Although the schedule of documents to the effect was filed along with the exhibits, the Court however noted that tendering such sensitive exhibits at piece meals would not be of any help, especially in the areas of marking and numbering them.

Jegede who rose to the questions put to him by the Court stood his ground and blamed the INEC for deliberate refusal to supply his client with the vital documents.

The Senior lawyer, who hinted the Court that Atiku had paid as much as N6 million for the supply of certified true copy of the exhibits, lamented that the electoral body had not been forthcoming and cooperating as required.

Jegede explained that to save the situation, the legal team of the former Vice President had to subpoena top officials of INEC to compel them to bring the required documents before the Court on their own.

(Gistnja)

APGA Reacts To Court Judgement

Queen Madu

June 6, 2023

The attention of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has been drawn to a Judgment delivered by His Lordship, Hon Justice Mohammed A Madugu of the FCT High Court, Bwari Judicial Division. In the said judgment, the trial Court purported to pronounce on the substance of the corrected Supreme Court judgment and proceeded to hold that the Plaintiffs in the said suit remained National Officers of APGA. Curiously, the Court further purportedly declared that the immediate past National Chairman of APGA, Dr Victor Ike Oye had no powers to conduct Congresses and National Convention of APGA.

Ordinarily, the leadership of APGA would have ignored the perverse and overreaching pronouncements made by Justice Madugu as APGA had no business whatsoever with the proceedings before the said Court. However, we are constrained to issue this publication for the benefit of the our esteemed party members and indeed the general public who may be ignorant of the correct implications of the said judgment.

Our great party had raised alarm concerning the curious steps taken by Justice Madugu in the course of the proceedings particularly the Ruling he delivered on Friday, 2nd of June, 2023, wherein the Court purportedly declared as incompetent, an appeal pending before the Court of Appeal. Thus, the judgment of the Court didn’t come as a surprise to our great party.

Apparently more befuddling is the ignominious attempt by the Judge to pronounce upon the tenure of the plaintiffs, which by their claim before the court had been rendered academic. By stating explicitly, in their supporting affidavit, that there were elected into office on the 31st of May, 2019 for a 4 year period, the plaintiffs suit before the court expired or elapsed on the 31st of May, 2023. Essentially, the court no longer had the vires or jurisdiction to deliver the judgment it delivered on 6th of June, 2023.

In the light of the foregoing, we wish to state emphatically that APGA has no business whatsoever with either the proceedings before Justice Magudu or the judgment delivered by him on Tuesday, 6th of June, 2023. Our great party, APGA was not a party in the said suit and is by law not bound by the outcome or judgment purportedly delivered by the Trial Judge.

Interestingly, the issues pertaining to the correct interpretation of the Supreme Court Ruling of 24th March, 2023, which the Court purportedly delved into has been laid to rest by the judgments of 2 Federal High Courts Coram Hon Justice James Kolawole Omotosho and Hon Justice H A Nganjiwa of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division and Awka Division respectively. What more, the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division delivered on the 28th of March, 2023 has further been affirmed by the Court of Appeal in its judgment delivered on the 2nd of June, 2023. By the said judgment of the Court of Appeal which affirmed the judgment of Justice James Omotosho, Dr Victor Ike Oye was the National Chairman of APGA entitled to carry out the functions of that office.

We wish to reiterate the fact that the nationwide congresses and National Convention of APGA were conducted in due deference and compliance with the judgment of the High Court of Anambra State, Otuocha Judicial Division which compelled APGA to conduct its congresses and National Convention before the expiration of the tenure of its current officers. Dr Victor Ike Oye cannot, under any circumstances whatsoever, be the same person as APGA. The All Progressives Grand Alliance is a duly registered political party with its common seal and thus has the full right to sue or be sued in its name.

We therefore enjoin our esteemed members, supporters and the general public to disregard the claim of any alleged judgment affecting the leadership of APGA. Barr Sly Ezeokenwa remains the duly elected National Chairman of APGA having emerged from a proper National Convention duly monitored by INEC. Thus, he is the rightful person duly recognised by law to carry out the functions of the office.

Mazi Ejimofor Opara, KSM
National Publicity Secretary, APGA

Just In: Court Orders INEC to Recognize Edozie Njoku as APGA Chairman

Queen Madu

June 6, 2023

A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Bwari, on Tuesday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately recognize Chief Edozie Njoku as the authentic National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Madugu, in his judgement, held that all the actions taken by Chief Victor Oye are “illegal, null and of no effect whatsoever”.

The judgement was on a suit filed against Chief Victor Ike Oye and the Independent National Electoral Commission by Otunba Kamaru Lateef Ogidan (the National Vice Chairman, South West Geopolitical Zone of APGA) and Alhaji Rabiu Mustapha (the National Welfare Officer of APGA), two APGA National Working Committee members under the leadership of Chief Edozie Njoku.

The Court ordered that Oye and INEC must obey the judgement of the Supreme Court delivered on October 14, 2021, and was subsequently corrected on March 24, 2023, with the name of Edozie Njoku as Chairman.

By implication, all the ward congresses, party primaries, conventions etc conducted by Oye have been declared null and void.

The court held that INEC must comply with an order of the Supreme Court, adding that Oye had no locus to parade as Chairman of APGA.

(Journalist101)

Breaking: Senate approves 20 Special Advisers for Tinubu

bvichannel1

June 6, 2023

The Senate has approved twenty Special Advisers for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It was reported that President Tinubu had written the Senate seeking approval to appoint 20 Special Advisers.

The letter was read at plenary by Senate President Ahmad Lawan.

After the letter was read, Senate Leader, Senator Ibrahim Gobir (APC – Sokoto East) moved that “the Senate do consider the request of Mr. President C-in-C for the approval of the Senate to appoint 20 Special Advisers and was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Philip Aduda.

More details will follow…

Nigeria must be warned of the grave consequences of what governor Peter Mbah is trying to do- Emeka Ugwuonye

Queen Madu

June 6, 2023

As the most deadly blow on the integrity of Nigeria as a country and on the honor of Nigerians as a people, Mr. Peter Mbah, recently sworn in as Governor of Enugu State, seeks to force Nigeria and Nigerians to accept fake certificates (NYSC Certificate and WAEC Certificate). When the issue was first raised that Mbah filed a fake NYSC Certificate with the electoral commission, the INEC, reasonable people thought it must be a confusion that could be explained easily. Nobody in his right mind would think that indeed a governorship candidate actually forged a certificate and smuggled it in as if it were valid.

The facts of Peter Mbah’s case are glaring and deeply troubling, especially as it appears that Nigeria as a country, may watch such an extreme criminal act go unstopped. As we speak, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has deposed to an affidavit clearly showing that the NYSC Certificate presented by Mr. Peter Mbah is a badly forged document and that NYSC has nothing to do with that Certificate. In the most brazen manner imaginable, Peter Mbah went to court and applied for an order of the court to stop NYSC from disclosing the truth as contained in its record. The NYSC has countered Mbah’s move with a deposition sworn to by Mrs. Rhoda Dawa, an Assistant Director of the NYSC. She works in the NYSC’s Certification Department. That is to say: She is in the best position to tell whether a certificate purportedly coming from the NYSC is authentic or false.

Mrs. Dawa has worked for the NYSC for 32 years with NYSC and 7 years in its Certificate Verification Department. Thus, she is supremely knowledgeable in the facts of Mbah’s case. In her words: “My principal duties as the Assistant Director (Verification) include verification of all Certificates of National Service, Certificates of Exemption and Letter of Exclusion issued by the NYSC to deserving Nigerians.” There is no doubt that the world should trust Mrs. Dawa when she deposes to validity or otherwise of any NYSC Certificate. And she has stated under oath in a court document that the NYSC Certificate Mbah presented is fake, false and a forgery.

The most striking facts deposed to by Mrs. Dawa appear in Paragraphs 4(w) and 4(x) of the Counter-Affidavit in opposition to Mbah’s application. She stated as follows:

“w. … However, contrary to the deposition in paragraphs 17 and 18 of the affidavit in support of [Peter Mbah’s] application that he was accepted by the Law Firm [of Udeh & Associates for his Primary Assignment], nothing was heard from him again by [NYSC]. The purported Acceptance Letter and Clearance Letter attached to the affidavit in support of [Peter Mbah’s] application …. are not known to [NYSC].

“x. That contrary to the deposition in paragraph 19 of the affidavit in support of [Peter Mbah’s] application that he was issued with Certificate of National Service No. A808297 dated 6th January, 2003 upon completion of his service, [NYSC] never issued [Peter Mbah] with any Certificate of National Service No. A808297 dated 6th January, 2003 which is attached to the affidavit in support of his application as Exhibit O”.

THE BIG QUESTION: Who issued Peter Mbah the fake NYSC Certificate he has been using? Peter Mbah issued himself that Certificate. He acted as NYSC to issue himself the certificate and then acted as the corp member to receive the certificate. That is a crime worse than forgery. He manipulated an entire certification process. Nigeria is finished if it were to let that happen. Why would anyone bother to participate in NYSC in the future if they could simply write up their own discharge certificates? And why would anybody bother to go to the university if they could just issue themselves their own Degree Certificates, and the university is stopped from telling the truth, as Mbah seeks to stop NYSC from telling the truth?

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is a critical program established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 1973, which has been fully endorsed by law and recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Government Agency in charge of the NYSC administers the program as Nigeria’s own national service program for Nigerian youths upon completion of their basic university education. Millions of Nigerian graduates since 1973 have passed through that program and proudly bear their Certificates as incontrovertible evidence of their service to the nation. The NYSC is thus a vital mechanism through which Nigerian Government has promoted common national identity, national integration and youth development in Nigeria for the past 50 years. Millions of Nigerians who are employed as graduates, especially in the public service are required to have completed their national service under the NYSC. Indeed, the Certificate of National Service issued by the NYSC is at the core of the eligibility requirements for public service, provided one is a university graduate or claims to be a university graduate.

The NYSC program is a mandatory government program that requires citizens to serve in a private or public organizations or institutions for a fixed period of one year. Other countries that have national service programs include Israel, South Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, Germany, and many others.

The importance of national service varies depending on the country and its unique circumstances. In the case of Nigeria, after the country went through a painful and costly civil war, it was deemed necessary to pursue the course of national healing, cohesion and integration and to support a purposeful youth development for Nigerian citizens. Some of the reasons why national service is considered important include:

1. National orientation: The NYSC service helps ensure that the country’s youths develop a sense of national identify and the spirit of patriotism. The NYSC service programs were designed to foster a sense of national unity and shared purpose by bringing together young people from diverse backgrounds and exposing them to a common experience. This can help break down social, ethnic, religious and cultural barriers and promote understanding and respect among different groups.

2. Personal development: The NYSC is meant to provide young people with valuable life skills, such as discipline, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving. It can also help them develop a sense of responsibility and civic duty, and instill in them a sense of pride in their country.

4. Economic benefits: the NYSC program is also meant to provide a source of labor for public works projects, such as infrastructure development, disaster relief, and environmental conservation. This can help stimulate economic growth and development, and provide valuable services to the community.

(Newsband)

Just In: Nigeria Labour Congress Suspends Strike

Queen Madu

June 6, 2023

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has suspended the planned strike to commence on Wednesday over the removal of the petrol subsidy.

The resolution was announced by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and confirmed by the President of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero, after a six-hour meeting between the Federal Government and the organized labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

At the meeting, a 7-point resolution was reached on the issues surrounding the removal of subsidy on petrol.

Other key resolutions include establishing a joint committee comprising the Federal Government, and organised labour to review proposals for wage increase upward.

Additionally, the World Bank financed cash transfer scheme will be reviewed, with a focus on proposing the inclusion of low-income earners in the program.

The parties are to reconvene on June 19, 2023, to agree on an implementation framework.

(Journalist101)

I Agree With El Rufai That Muslim Will Continue To Lead – Anaenugwu

bvichannel1

June 6, 2023

On Rufai statement that Muslim will continue to rule Nigeria , I blame Christian Leaders for the fate of Christians in Nigeria. While Muslim is using public institutions to empower their followers , Christian Leaders are collecting money from the poor without improving their standard of living,paying their workers peanuts while building cathedral in every community .

While Muslims are playing politics inside mosques, Christian Leaders are not encouraging their followers to join political parties. While Muslim Leaders establish Islamic banks that give loans at zero % interest,Christian Leaders establish banks that charge exploitative interest rate. Muslim Leaders understand that politics determines everything,Christian Leaders preaches the power of miracle.

Thank God for the coming of GGM and Obidient Movement. The political space has been altered forever in Nigeria and the wise and smart politicians should join good Governance Ministry to take the struggle to permanent site . Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is an Ambassador of Good Governance Ministry,GGM

Rivers State Presidential Election was Marred by Violence- Witness Testifies

Queen Madu

June 5, 2023

A witness of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has testified that the February 25 presidntial election was marred by violence at collation centres.

Dr Abiye Sekibo, who was the PDP state collation officer for the PDP in Rivers State, testified on Monday that his visits to 20 pulling units in Okrika and calls from the polling units agents of the party in many of the over 6,000 polling units confirmed they were not able to upload results from their centres using the BVAS.

Sekibo stated that he also received calls about violence in Obiakpor, Ahoada East and Ahoada West and drove to Obiakpo but was prevented from reaching the party’s agents.

However, under cross examination by counsel to Tinubu, Akin Olujimi (SAN), he admitted that he did not get the name of the INEC officials in the polling units.

(Newsband)

You will set Nigeria on Fire with your Utterances- APC Chieftain to El-rufai

Queen Madu

June 5, 2023

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau state, Samuel Kwamkur, on Sunday cautioned former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, not to set Nigeria on fire with his utterances

Kwankur, who is a former National Director of the Christian Association of Nigeria, stated this at a press conference in Jos on Sunday.

He was reacting to statements allegedly credited to the former Kaduna governor in which he allegedly told his audience before handing over to his successor that the Islamic dominance in Kaduna had been successfully replicated in Nigeria and that it shall continue.

El-Rufai, he alleged, equally told his audience that in the course of the electioneering campaigns, when “they”(Christians ) tried to ask questions on why the Muslim/Muslim Ticket, he deceived ‘them’ that it was not for religious dominance when in reality, the tickets both nationally and at the state level were for Islamic dominance.

He alleged that in the video containing the speech which has gone viral on social media, El-Rufai further said that the victory of Bola Tinubu had silenced the Christian Association of Nigeria, adding that he will sustain an Islamic-dominated government for 20 years and unending not only in Kaduna State but in Nigeria at large

But Kwankur, while reacting to El-Rufai’s outburst, expressed disappointment at the utterances of the former governor, noting that the classification of the citizens of his state as ‘them’ versus us’ meant that the former governor cannot be exonerated from “the wanton killings, demolition of houses and places of worship of Christians in Kaduna”.

Kwankur said he was surprised that El-Rufai who was contemplated as one of the qualified persons to be appointed as the Chief of Staff to Mr President or Secretary to the Government of the Federation had turned himself into a “confirmed religious bigot with a hidden agenda to destroy the country using religion”.

He advised El-Rufai not to use his utterances to mislead Nigerians into thinking that President Bola Tinubu’s electoral victory was purposely to islamise Nigeria and nothing else.

The former National Director of CAN said “Ordinarily, I have heard Islamic clerics preach that Tinubu’s Muslim/ Muslim ticket is in furtherance of an Islamisation agenda, and despite that, I am one of those who contributed in discouraging Christians and Nigerians from accepting such as true because I believed in the antecedents and character of His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu but hearing from a political leader like El-Rufai, a close associate of Tinubu and Shettima, an active participant in the campaign who was contemplated as one of the qualified persons to be appointed as the Chief of Staff to Mr President or Secretary to the Government of the Federation confirmed that there is a hidden agenda to be mindful of.

“In the said address, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai spoke like one of the religious bigots that have been working underground to set the nation on fire. Amongst his ill-motivated statements which I can only paraphrase for now, El-Rufai confirmed that he is a leader of the Islamic terrorist group operating in the Sambisa forest albeit disguising himself as a governor in a complex nation like Nigeria”

“Firstly, El-Rufai in his speech, wondered why he should give ‘them’ a deputy governor when most of ‘them’ cannot vote for his party. That he calculated and discovered ‘we’ can win an election without ‘them’ hence why give ‘them’ a deputy? From El-Rufai’s classification of the citizens of his state as ‘them’ versus ‘us’ one needs no angel to tell you that he cannot be exonerated from the wanton killings, demolition of houses and places of worship of Christians in Kaduna. Secondly, Mallam El-Rufai went further to state that Islamic dominance of government in Nigeria will bring peace, Justice and fair play. He assured the gathering that he will sustain an Islamic-dominated government for 20 years and unending.

This outburst reiterates his extreme fanaticism and displays his ignorance of what constitutes justice, equity and fair play. Discrimination, ethnic profiling and all genocidal attempts to consume a race or religion constitute injustice and are recipes for anarchy and crisis.

“Thirdly, he told his audience that in the course of the electioneering campaigns, when “they” tried to ask questions on why the Muslim/Muslim Ticket, he deceives ‘them’ that it is not for religious dominance but in reality the tickets both nationally and at the state level were for Islamic dominance.

“He boasted that the Islamic dominance in Kaduna has been successfully replicated in Nigeria and it shall continue. He said further that the victory of Asiwaju has silent the Christian Association of Nigeria.

“The question is: is it only Muslims that voted for Asiwaju? Who voted for Atiku and Peter Obi? I guess it was only Christians! How could a sitting governor, former minister of the Federal Republic and a potential key government appointee be this callous and insensitive? I recall in one of my visits to a friend in Kaduna, he expressed his views about Mallam El-Rufai”s involvement in the killings in Kaduna and I kept arguing that he should be given the benefit of the doubt, but watching El-Rufai address the Muslim Umma, I have no doubt in my mind that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is one of those behind the unending religious crisis and insecurity in Nigeria.”

Continuing, the former CAN official added “For the record, Christianity does not practice deception as a principle or mode of operation. The Holy Bible admonishes Christians to say the truth at all times. Christians are also taught unconditional love regardless of religion, region and background. In the Christian faith, the Holy Book frowns against religious discrimination and dominance. The definition of Justice, equity and fairness is hinged on providing platforms for the involvement of all regardless of their population, religion and tribe.

“We also believe that God is the giver of life and power; he gives to whoever He wishes and takes it at the time He so wishes. Hence boasting of any sort is an open challenge to God’s sovereignty. Being a member of the Nigeria Interreligious Council (NIREC), I have closely interfaced with respected Islamic leaders of high repute and found out that there are Muslim leaders, unlike Mallam El-Rufai who are deeply concerned about the peace, development, and growth of Nigeria without pretense.

“Truly speaking El-Rufai is a setback to the peace process that NIREC has been battling with in the midst of religious upheavals. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has exhibited blatant misuse of the trust that God gave him and confirmed that he is an extremist who has largely contributed to the pains of the very people he took an oath to protect in the guise of working for his religion.”

He urged the former governor to use the NIREC platform tom promote unity.

“One would expect El-Rufai to take advantage of such meetings to discuss the achievements of his government in developing the state and taking his people out of poverty and insecurity but ney! He wants to be celebrated as a religious hero and a Jihadist of high repute. How can our nation grow with this kind of leader in authority? Let it be known to all Nigerians that those of us Christians who supported His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu did so out of sincere hope that both himself and his Vice will work to ensure the sustainable development of Nigeria through their policies, experience and exposure.

“It should be known that we did not vote Tinubu out of El-Rufai”s deception (Taqiya) as he claimed! It should be made known to El-Rufai that against his wild imagination of achieving an Islamisation agenda through the dominance and persecution of Christians, Christianity grows better in persecution and supposed dominance. We shall continue to preach inclusiveness, equity and fair play in the true sense of these words. We shall never practice deception to cling to power. No! It is against our faith! May I use this medium to invite Mallam El-Rufai to study the nature of our God in the Book of Esther especially Chapters 6 & 7 where Haman’s plot to end the lives of the Israelites ended up consuming his own life.

For El-Rufai to think that the Asiwaju vote is a victory for Islam is very unfortunate and speaks volumes of his kind of bigotry. His outburst has destroyed the remaining respect he enjoyed from patriotic Nigerians. We call on Asiwaju to be mindful of friends, associates and politicians like El-Rufai who seek to work with him as they will do more harm to the system and the nation and nothing good can come out of such. May I also use this medium to call on our governors in Nigeria, particularly our Northern governors to truly work towards removing our battered citizens from poverty, insecurity and the like and ensure the provision of good healthcare and other benefits of good governance, rather than to dwell on preaching hate and religious and tribal differences. I call on our leaders to show the citizens the number of people they have empowered instead of the number of lives and property they have destroyed as is happening in Kaduna. I believe that God shall continue to expose the wolves in sheep’s clothing amongst Nigerians”

(Punch)

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