Saturday, October 17, 2026
Home Blog Page 171

We will no longer sit and watch our people killed- Ohanaeze Ndigbo Vows

The Elders have resolved that Ndigbo will no longer fold their hands and watch their kit and kin humiliated, brutalized and killed,” Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders  declare.

The declaration was contained in a communique issued after an emergency virtual meeting of the Council with participants from all over the world.

The communique was signed by Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu; Chairman, Ohanaeze Council of Elders; Ambassador Okey Emuchay, Secretary General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Chief Simon Okeke; and Elder Adolphus Agbason (Europe); Mazi Ignatius Muotoh (Europe); Prof. Godfrey Ajoku (USA); Chief Kingsley Obaji (USA); and the Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.

Participants at the meeting noted that Igbo sons and daughters were very instrumental to Nigeria’s political independence in 1960, and have continued to sacrifice and contribute so much for the unity and development of Nigeria, and do not deserve the slave treatment often meted out to the race.

The strong-worded communique read in part:”The Elders have resolved that Ndigbo will no longer fold their hands and watch their kit and kin humiliated, brutalized and killed.

Based on the foregoing, the Council of Elders directed Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an Emergency Telephone Line where Igbos in Lagos who are victimized because of their Igbo origin will report.”

The Council also resolved to probe the attacks against Igbo interests in Lagos in the aftermath of the elections, and take necessary local and international steps to make the perpetrators pay for their evil.

“The Elders have directed the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in association with Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an Enquiry to carry out full investigation into the killings and destruction of properties and assets of Ndigbos in Lagos. Amongst other terms of reference, the report must indicate: Number of Igbos killed; Number of Igbos injured and hospitalized; Number of Igbos permanently incapacitated; Comprehensive report of Igbo assets and properties destroyed including the burning of market.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo will ensure that all perpetrators of this criminal activity are brought to book and adequate reparation/compensations paid to the victims.”

The Council further resolved to set up a high-powered delegation of Ndigbo to engage the Lagos State Governor, as well as Yoruba Leaders to ensure harmonious relationship between the the Igbo and their Yoruba hosts.

The delegation is also to meet with the Federal Government on how to safeguard the security and protection of Ndigbo living in any part of Nigeria.

High powered Igbo delegation will be sent to Lagos to meet with some Leaders of Lagos State in order to establish a lasting cordial and peaceful relationship between the Igbo and the Yoruba in Lagos.

“The Elders resolved to formally petition the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR in order to express our sadness and disappointment over this unfortunate development. We also intend to send protest letter to the National Assembly and other relevant agencies to express our feelings.

“The Elders have directed the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in association with Council of Elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo to set up an Enquiry to carry out full investigation into the killings and destruction of properties and assets of Ndigbos in Lagos. Amongst other terms of reference, the report must indicate: Number of Igbos killed; Number of Igbos injured and hospitalized; Number of Igbos permanently incapacitated and Comprehensive report of Igbo assets and properties destroyed including the burning of market.”

The Elders advised the Igbos living in Lagos to remain calm and go about their legitimate businesses.

(Journalist101)

Lagos Igwe Remanded in Prison Cause of IPOB Statement

The Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Yaba, on Wednesday, ordered that the Eze Igbo of Ajao Estate, Fredrick Nwajagu, be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.

Nwajagu was arrested last Saturday following a viral video, in which he threatened to invite members of the Indigenous People of Biafra to Lagos to secure properties of Igbo people living in the state.

The 67-year-old was arraigned on Wednesday before the magistrate court, presided over by P. E. Nwaka.

The police charged him with two counts, bordering on misconduct and intention to cause a breach of peace in Lagos State.

The four-man police prosecution team, led by the OC Legal, Yetunde Cardoso, told the court that Nwajagu committed the offence on March 26, 2023, at No 2 Akeem Shittu Street, Ajao Estate, Lagos.

The defendant conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace by making inciting statements, saying that he would bring IPOB terrorist group to shut down Lagos for one month, three weeks, or three days,” the prosecution said.

According to the team, the offences contravened Sections 168 (d), 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

They prayed the court to remand the defendant in the correctional centre for 30 days pending legal advice from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

However, counsel for the defendant, while moving their client’s bail application, urged the court to admit the defendant to bail in the most liberal terms.

The magistrate, who rejected the counsel’s plea, ordered the immediate remand of the defendant to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the DPP.

Nwaka adjourned the case till May 3, 2023, for DPP advice.

Recall that Nwajagu, in a 49-second video, which went viral on Twitter, had allegedly threatened to invite IPOB members to Lagos to protect the Igbo people and their properties in the state.

In the viral video, he said, “IPOB, we will invite them. They have no job. All of the IPOB will protect all of our shops. And we have to pay them. We have to mobilise for that. We have to do that. We must have our security so that they will stop attacking us at midnight, in the morning, and in the afternoon.

When they discover that we have our security before they will come, they will know that we have our men there. I am not saying a single word to be hidden. I am not hiding my words, let my words go viral. Igbo must get their right and get a stand in Lagos State.”

However, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, reacting to his statements, said the command would resist IPOB presence in the state.

Following the statement, the defendant was arrested by the Department of State Services on April 1, 2023, in a hotel in Ejigbo.

(Journalist101)

BREAKING: Court Bars Labour Party’s Chair, Secretary, Others From Parading As National Officers

A Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued an order restraining the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure; National Secretary, Farouk Ibrahim and two others from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Others stopped from parading themselves as national officers are the National Organising Secretary, Clement Ojukwu and the Treasurer, Oluchi Opara.

Justice Hamza Muazu issued the restraining order while ruling in ex-parte application argued by a James Onoja.

In an application, Onoja told the court how the restrained National officers allegedly forged several documents of the FCT High Court to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last general elections.

Among the documents were the receipts, seal and affidavits of the Court to carry out criminal activities.

The Senior Counsel also tendered several documents, confirming to the Judge that the Chief Registrar of the Court, wrote the Labour Party to disown several documents used for the alleged criminal activities by Abure and three others.

Onoja adds that following their indictment by police investigation, the four people are to be arraigned in court adding that warrants for their arrest have already been obtained.

In a brief ruling, Justice Muazu held that the application and the supporting affidavits are a good case for the request to be granted.

The Judge subsequently ordered that the four people should immediately stop parading themselves as National Officers of Labour Party.

(Gistnja)

Transferring Laziness to the next Generation- Anaenugwu

Few days ago,I went to a village in Ukpo for the burial of my friend’s Mum.As I drove across the villages to my final destination, I took notice of three issues: Almost every house along the village roads has provision for shops where confectioneries and other household items are sold.

The second is gigantic residential houses scattered everywhere. We have not learnt much from history . The big houses built by our parents are difficult to maintain and most of them are home and hide outs for rodents and other wild animals . Village homes are important but what the writer is proposing is moderate houses that will stand the test of time.

The third is the imposing church structures almost in all the Villages . Religion is our major problem in Africa. It is easier to operate a religious centre than operating a production centre . The white men who exported religion to Africa combine religion with humanity .They lay more emphasis on building human infrastructure than structures. The writer is not against building the household of God but making such building simple and moderate as well as targetting humanities

What is the effect of using all the available building space for trading in the villages? What is the economic implication? To start with,our forefathers,our great grand fathers before the coming of whitemen were not foolish when they designated certain area as market.That was why they have the four market days viz Nkwo,Eke, Orie and Afor.Our forefathers have residential places,playing grounds ,Village Squares and Market where goods from farmlands were exchanged.Everything was well arranged by our uneducated grandfathers.

 

Today,i expected a well developed market with underground structures that go with modern facilities.Alas,that peaceful and serene environment that used to characterize our various communities are about to be destroyed and replaced with buying and selling activities everywhere! I am convinced that somebody somewhere has reduced our people to the level of ordinary traders! Who is responsible to what they are selling? What is wrong with having industrial parks in our various communities and then modern markets to sell local products?

 

As i was looking around the community in Ukpo,i tried to find out what drives the economy of the villages. I noticed that there was no factory within sight ,no major farmland-nothing! When i got to the Church for burial mass,i noticed that elderly men and women form 90% of those in attendance.Where are the young ones? Up to 8% of the young ones i saw at the burial came down from cities .It occurred to me that we would be in serious generational crisis if these set of people in the villages should die!

Coming back to what sustains the village economy,i simply conclude that burial activities keep the village economy going.Every week,there must be an inflow of funds into various communities in preparation for one burial or the other .

I have no issue with the Church but i want to say that trying to build Church branches in all the villages may not be best option.Can we travel to Israel to learn how to make good money through farming.The Church can stand in place of Government by using her platform to give our people direction.Give us spiritual direction and economic direction.Instead of asking people to donate money in building big structures in our various villages,the Church can ask people to fund small factories that would be producing toothpick from bamboo trees that could be seen everywhere.A tomato plantation in various villages can bring young people back to the villages and restore robust economic activities instead of this buying and selling trend.

We can still transfer hardworking to the next generation instead of consumption driven economy.

I left the burial feeling disillusioned that most people were indifference to the plight of our dear people and the future of our children.We are about losing our indigenous identities.

Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is GGM Ambassador

GGM Rewards Pupils And Teachers For Academic Excellence And Professional Conduct

Good Governance Ministry (GGM ) in the bid to reward excellence and hardworking, has taken the campaign for Good Governance to Osili Primary School, Enugwu-ukwu where six pupils and two teachers were given a cash award of N5000 each. The kind gesture was sponsored by GGM Ambassador living in UK – Comrade Elvis Chiaghanam .

The Leader of GGM – Chinedu Asuzu presented the cash rewards to the merited pupils and teachers . The cash receipients were over-joyed that their outstanding academic performances and high ethical teaching standards have been recognized and appreciated .

 

The best Teacher’s award was given to Ilozor Abumchukwu Emelda while the following pupils in various classes also received cash rewards Viz
1.Obaji Obianuju(Primary 1)
2. Nwachukwu Princes(Primary 2)

3. Iheka Chioma ( Primary 3)

4. Nwachukwu Goodluck(Primary 4)

5. Ibik Adaobi (Primary 5)

6. Nwachukwu Faith( Primary 6).

Also,the Headteacher- Mr Okodo C.M was given a cash award for being good administration. The Deputy Leader of GGM- Comrade Ndubuisi Anaenugwu encouraged all pupils to be of good behavior both in school and at home while advising the Teachers to remain committed to teaching profession . Comrade Ndubuisi promised the school that Good Governance Ministry will always support them to reach a greater academic height. In response ,the HeadTeacher prayed that God will continue to uplift the Ministry in service to humanity.

Maureen Okafor writes for BVI Channel 1 online

Just In: Peter Obi React to Treason allegation

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has reacted to the various campaigns of calumny directed at him by some government and political party spokespersons and warned that they should stop their de-marketing process that is presenting Nigeria in a very bad light.

Obi said in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja that “In the past few days, I’ve observed various campaigns of calumny directed at my person, the latest being allegations attributed to Information Minister Lai Mohammed from Washington DC

The Labour Party standard bearer said “It is most unfortunate that these consistent efforts to portray me quite contrary to what I am and my core values, is coming from such high quarters. Minister Lai accusing me of stoking insurrection is malicious and fictitious.

I have never discussed or encouraged anyone to undermine the Nigerian state; I’ve never sponsored or preached any action against the Nigerian state. Those initiating these actions have increasingly used their official positions and agents to make false allegations against me. I’m on record as always advocating peace and issue-based campaign and not campaigning based on ethnicity or religion.

I’m committed to due process and am presently seeking redress in Court. I urge those engaged in this demarketing process to stop presenting Nigeria in a such bad light. Our future generations deserve a new Nigeria where they can live a secure and decent life like their counterparts in other climes. It is possible”

(Journalist101)

Imo State Govt Seals Labor Party Secretariat

There seems to be a subtle clampdown on Labour Party in Imo as the police has sealed its Secretariat in the State

The development was revealed via a statement issued on Monday by the national secretary of the LP Umar Farouk, stated that the secretariat was sealed by the police in connivance with the state government.

The statement read “the national leadership of the Labour Party is shocked over the Invasion and Occupation of its Secretariat in Owerri, today, Monday April 3, 2023 by the agents of Imo state Governor, Hope Uzodimma, including thugs and unauthorized police men drafted from the government house.

Such illegal occupation was akin to similar invasion on the same Secretariat on Wednesday March 15, 2023.

Unlike the March invasion, where no reason was given by the state government on why it took such unlawful action against our political party, this time, they said that the action was due to a Court Order.

But as at the moment, no such Order to our knowledge was given. No Order has been presented to us by the court or their agents. The Police men presently occupying our Secretariat have not even shown us the Order. At the moment, all our officials and staff have been barred from accessing the Secretariat.

“We have contacted the office of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the on going development in the state, and it has been confirmed that the Force is not aware of any security breach whatsoever in the state to warrant the occupation of our Secretariat.

“The Police have also informed us that it has not detailed any of their officers and men to the Labour Party Secretariat in Imo state; and that the officers may have been drafted from the State House in the state.

“The Labour Party however is not unmindful of the efforts of the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma to hijack the leadership of the Party in Imo state.

These actions have confirmed the information available to us of plots by the governor to plant some surrogates wearing the garments of aspirants in the party. This game plan, as archaic as it seems, has been detected and punctured, the consequences being the aggression unleashed on the party by the state government.

“The leadership of the Labour is determined to bring the needed changes the people of Imo state have yearned since inception of this present dispensation.

“The state has been deprived of good and quality leadership. The resources of the state have being balkanized and liquidated by the administrations in the past. This is in spite of the fact that the state is not lacking in personalities with decent background and pedigree in services to the state.

“Labour Party is therefore assuring the state that it will field as its governorship candidate, a person with proven integrity in both personal and public life; and with OBidient blood running in his/her veins. No amount of intimidation by Governor Hope Uzodimma and his army of thugs will deter the party from fielding and winning the governorship election.

We therefore call on all the members of the Labour Party and OBidient family in Imo State to be peaceful even in the face of the present provocation as the party will do everything within the books to retrieve our Secretariat from the state security officers and sponsored thugs that are presently occupying our Secretariat.”

Reacting, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Oguwike Nwachuku, said that the allegation was unfounded.

The governor’s spokesperson said ” the Labour Party’s allegation is unfounded. They should stop pointing fingers at the wrong place.”

(Journalist101)

Man Arrested in Abuja for Speaking Against Tinubu

Anti-Tinubu passenger aboard an Abuja-Lagos flight, Mr Obiajulu Uja,  has been arraigned before the Zuba Magistrates’ Court, Abuja and remanded in prison custody.

His lawyer,  Ejike Ugwu, disclosed this to The PUNCH on Monday.

Uja was on Friday evening carried off a Lagos-Abuja flight, after he started a lone protest, demanding that the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, must never be sworn in as president on May 29.

In the viral video that made the rounds on Saturday, it took the efforts of no fewer than six airport security officers to evacuate him after holding up the aircraft for more than an hour, as the 6pm flight had yet to move as of 7pm.

A copy of the charge sheet sighted by our correspondent showed that  Uja was charged with “public nuisance, resistance to a lawful arrest, threatening violence and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace contrary to sections 396, 267,188,172 and 144 of the Penal Code Law.”

The lawyer said, “He was arraigned at the Zuba Magistrates’ Court after they deceived us because yesterday he was taken to Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital, Area 11 Abuja.”

The lawyer, who exclusively spoke to our correspondent in Abuja noted that his client, was admitted at the Muhammadu Buhari Police Hospital, adding that the hospital did not have a psychiatrist doctor and psychologist that to examine him.

He, however, said a doctor was invited from National Hospital, Abuja to examine Uja but the efforts unfortunately was futile.

“While we were there, it was around 3pm they told us that they wanted  to arraign him in Zuba Magistrates’ Court.

“We reminded the court that the same police invited the doctor to examine him, and the same police instead of waiting for the doctors to examine him hurriedly charged him to court.

“Even with the test we did, we spent almost N40,000 at the Police clinic, all the tests they conducted we abandoned all of them; they have not prescribed any medicine.

“The way the police are handling it is as if they have an interest in the matter because you took somebody to a police clinic, you are coming to court to tell the court you want the person to be remanded in prison because you want to continue the investigation.

“Until now we do not know the result of the test that was conducted in the hospital because they hurriedly took him away from the hospital,” the lawyer said,

Ugwu further noted that his client’s bail application was coming up on Thursday.

(punch)

Breaking: Osimhen Loses “Magical” Face-mask in Nigeria

Napoli alarmed as Osimhen loses ‘magical’ facemask while returning from Nigeria

According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen returned to Italy after international duty with Nigeria without his facemask.

The 24-year-old, who has been in sensational form this term and is one of the most sort after strikers in Europe, has been wearing the mask, following a collision with Milan Skriniar during an Inter versus Napoli match in November 2021, which left him with multiple fractures to his left orbital and cheekbone.

Osimhen has scored 25 goals for Napoli this season to help the club to the top spot in the Italian league plus a first-ever UEFA Champions League quarter-final spot, where they have been drawn against Sunday’s opponents AC Milan.

According to the report, the Eagles forward lost the mask while returning to Italy after Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Guinea-Bissau in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier March 27.

“The protective mask, in addition to guaranteeing greater safety, has also become a sort of superstitious object.

“Osimhen lost it on his return from Nigeria; he realised he no longer had it and considering the great value given to superstition in Naples, the alarm has already been raised among Neapolitan fans.

“In the meantime, the orthopaedic staff who built the mask will work to design a new one and deliver it to the player as soon as possible. It won’t be ready by Sunday when the match against Milan takes place and Osimhen will have to use the old mask there.”

Aside from losing his mask, the former Lille star returned with a knock and out of AC Milan match on Sunday and doubtful for the quarter-finals of the Champions League this month.

 

Breaking: Rufai Resigned as the Chairman of NNPP

The National Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP , Professor Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, has given reasons why he resigned as the head of the party.

Akali in a letter dated March 31, 2023, said he stepped aside to allow new hands to take over the party and consolidate on the achievements recorded in the last general elections.

Alkali, in the letter, copied the National Leader of the party and presidential candidate, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; Chairman, Board of Trustees of NNPP, Elder Chief Boniface Aniebonam; and Secretary, Board of Trustees of NNPP, Engr Buba Galadima, stressed that the interest of the party superseded personal interest, hence his decision to step aside.

He said, “As I stated in the letter, we have done our best. We have fulfilled our objectives of contributing to the growth of democracy. And I’m sure the party will move forward.

“The party needs to go through a lot of reorganization, and the best way is to lead and live by example. I really need to lead by example. We have made sacrifices and we have to make decisions that will take the party forward.”

(Daily Trust)