The Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC says any vehicle causing obstruction on the highway will henceforth be impounded and the owner made to face prosecution
The FRSC Corps Marshal, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi who stated this during the first strategic meeting of the year with the Twelve Zonal Commanding officers and Thirty Seven Sector Commanders in Abuja explained that newly constructed and rehabilitated Roads were being destroyed due to prolonged and unauthorized parking.
Dr Oyeyemi while expressing displeasure over the effect of road traffic accidents on the socio economic lives of the people tasked the Commanding officers to tackle the menace headlong this year.
Dr Oyeyemi also appealed to the Commanding officers to collaborate with relevant security agencies towards bringing an end to illegal use of spy Number plates, siren and revolving lights.
The FRSC Boss expressed readinness of the Commission to partner fleet operators and transport union leaders to discourage night travels.
He however solicited the support of the public on effective road management and solution to incessant attacks on road safety marshals and its property across the country.
Several towns in Anambra state are locked in town union leadership crisis arising from varying degrees of the imposition of town union president general and other members of the town union executive.
Town unions no doubt, are veritable partners for development especially because the mandate of the town union leadership comes from their people. However, recent developments show that the tide is changing, but not for good. Elected town union leadership is fast being replaced with the government-appointed caretaker committee in different towns in Anambra state and it is breeding rancor and protestations of public disapproval. As at the last count, there are over forty caretaker committees across different communities in Anambra state where the tenure of the subsisting town union leadership has elapsed but instead of conducting an election to produce new leaders, a caretaker committee is imposed and renewed every three months.
Ndiowu community protested against imposition of leaders on the community and accused Hon. Emeka Aforka who is from Ndiowu community and the member representing the Orumba North constituency in Anambra.
Only a few weeks ago, the Ndiowu community protested against imposition of leaders on the community and accused Hon. Emeka Aforka who is from Ndiowu community and the member representing Orumba North constituency in Anambra state House of Assembly of causing confusion in their town. Currently, Ogbu, Agulu, Igbariam, Ezi-Agulu-Otu, Mbaukwu, and many other communities are trapped in series of controversy and pending chaos, over imposition of leaders on their town union. Oko community is only the latest to join the league. And today, aggrieved Oko people came out en-mass to register their displeasure over imposition of leaders on their community. The protesters gathered in front of Anambra State Government House Awka and later in front of Anambra State House of Assembly Complex, Awka until they were addressed by the Deputy Speaker of the House; Rt. Hon. Pascal Agbodike.
In an exclusive interview with the West Africa Pilot News correspondent, Mr. Ifeanyi Asuzu, one of the leaders of the protest, regretted that the level of crass impunity his community has experienced and imperious, iniquitous insolence is so hard to swallow. He maintained that there was no election in Oko, yet, the government has issued a certain Amobi Okoli a certificate as the president general of Oko community.
“We are here to ask the Honourable Speaker to use his good offices to restore sanity in my home town Oko”, Ifeanyi said.
Narrating the situation he said, “we were supposed to have conducted our town union election on December 31st but it was suspended because of irregularities that were discovered and they now told us that we should prepare and communicate to the commissioner when we are ready. While we were still trying to resolve the subsisting issue some moneybags went to Awka and brought a date, purporting that we have asked for a date to be fixed for the election through the caretaker committee”.
According to Ifeanyi, “when this letter was brought to the caretaker committee chairman, he dismissed it blatantly and said he never asked for election date. So they now told us that we had three days to prepare for the election,” he said.
The community held an emergency meeting under the auspices of OPC. Unanimously, the community mandated the caretaker committee to write to the government that we are not ready for the election.
On the 10th of January, Ernest Igboanugo also called the stakeholders to inform them that the government has mandated him to conduct the election and we also notified him that we were not ready yet as the outstanding issues have not been resolved. There was uproar. So he left and surprisingly he came the next day 11th as he promised and met people protesting on the election ground”.
What followed was a shocker, according to Mr. Ifeanyi. “The caretaker committee announced that day that there is no election and that people should go home and attend to their various business concerns and thereafter, he left. Three after, Ernest Igboanugo granted interview to ABS where he said he conducted a free and fair election in Oko”.
In effect, there was no election whatsoever, but there is new leadership for the community. “That is a rape on democracy”, Ifeanyi Asuzu declared.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Anambra state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters; Greg Obi, to clarify allegations that the letters said to have come from the government mandating Oko community to conduct the election on three days’ notice, came from his office, was unfruitful as his response could not be secured at the time of this report.
While addressing the protesters, the Deputy Speaker thanked them for being law-abiding and assured them that the House will ensure that the right thing is done. “Thank you for being law-abiding. We shall carefully look into your complaint. Nobody has absolute power to do what he likes”, Rt. Hon. Pascal Agbodike said.
A crusader of social justice and equality, Chief Patrick Eholor has stated that it’s high time the law and justice system of the country enforce the ban on open grazing which was done in 1969 by the renown Justice Adewale Thompson. He said state governors should as a matter of necessity enforce this law and arrest offenders, to protect their citizens and communities.
Eholor in his argument stated that it was becoming increasingly dangerous to ignore the ban, while gun wielding, killer herdsmen go about raiding communities and destroying farm products, lives and property, and even raping women and girls in order to establish fear and dread across the country.
He decried the spate of insecurity raging across the northern part of the country due to the menace of Fulani cattle grazers, which has continued to increase down in the southern part, despite the ban by the late judge.
He stated ” It is time for Nigerians to be aware that there is a ban on open grazing in this country. As far back as 1969, the renown Justice Adewale Thompson delivered a judgment which placed a ban on open grazing, and thereby made it a crime to enter farms and cause havoc to people’s crops.
“We all must be aware of our rights over this impunity, and get the Justice System to reaffirm that ban. Herdsmen must be arrested and jailed for violating that ban, and this must be done within the ambit of the law, to end the growing terrorism imposed by Fulanis upon our communities.
“For the benefit of those who do not know it, Justice Thompson on 17th April 1979, in Suit no AB/26/66 at Abeokuta Division of the High Court, made the ban and warned of unprovoked killing by Fulani herdsmen.
“His words ‘I do not accept the contention of Defendants that a custom exists which imposes an obligation on the owner of farm to fence his farm whilst the owner of cattle allows his cattle to wander like pests and cause damage. Such a custom if it exists, is unreasonable and I hold that it is repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience and therefore unenforceable…in that it is highly unreasonable to impose the burden of fencing a farm on the farmer without the corresponding obligation on the cattle owner to fence in his cattle.
‘Sequel to this,I ban open grazing for it is inimical to peace and tranquility and the cattle owners must fence or ranch their animals for peace to reign in these communities.’
According to Eholor, “It is high time states put this law into practice and end unprovoked killings by Fulani herdsmen. This information should be shared widely so that state governors should be aware of it. It is not known that anybody appealed against this decision, so in law any open grazing is a violation of the law. State governors should setup task forces that will enforce this law and arrest offenders”.
Residents of Igangan in the Ibarapa area of Oyo State on Sunday recounted their ordeals in the hands of Fulani herdsmen.
The community leaders, who spoke during a visit of the state government delegation to the town, stated that they had paid a total of N50m as ransoms for kidnappings carried out by herdsmen in the community.
The community also presented to the delegation, pictures and other evidence of ransoms paid to the herdsmen.
They accused the Seriki Fulani of complicity in the negotiation of ransoms.
The delegation comprising officials of the state and the new Commissioner of Police in the state Command, Mrs Ngozi Onadeko, on Sunday, visited Ibarapa where violence erupted on Friday over kidnappings and killings by herdsmen.
Recall that there was violence at Igangan on Friday when a popular Yoruba freedom fighter, Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, alongside his followers, stormed the Fulani settlement in the ancient town to eject Seriki Fulani, Salihu Abdukadir, and herdsmen accused of perpetrating crimes ranging from kidnappings, killings, rape to invasion of farmlands with their cattle.
During the crisis, the Seriki Fulani of Igangan and his family members were evicted from the town and their property torched.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to state Governor, Mr Taiwo Adisa, Igangan community leaders on Sunday stated that besides the payment of N50m as ransoms, 15 women were raped by the herders in the town.
But Fulani leaders, who attended the meeting, begged for forgiveness, saying the Fulani were ready for peaceful co-existence with their hosts.
The Secretary of Igangan Development Advocates, Lawal Akeem, said the people were tired of the antics of the Seriki Fulani of Igangan, whom he accused of complicity in different kidnap cases.
He also said that the community had been forced to pay about N50 million in ransoms for different cases of kidnapping, while also accusing Fulani herders of regularly vandalising farms and raping women of the community.
A youth in the town, Taiwo Adeagbo, said that no fewer than 15 women had been raped in recent weeks.
A member of the state House of Assembly, Peter Ojedokun, also told the delegation that the peace in Ibarapaland had been stirred by the Fulani herders with the incessant attacks on members of the community, kidnappings and other crimes.
LG caretaker chairman, community leader accuse Seriki Fulani of complicity
The Caretaker Chairman of Ibarapa North-West Local Council Development Area, Okediji Olusegun, also corroborated the allegations levelled against the Seriki Fulani of Igangan, saying that the Seriki had been fingered in the series of security challenges in the area many times.
I WELCOME THE EMERGENCE OF THE BIAFRA PEOPLES ARMY (BPA) TO SANITISE THE BIAFRAN STRUGGLE AND CREATE ORDERLINESS
1. I read with joy and excitement the Press Release by some spirits of Biafraland who described themselves as the Biafran People’s Army (BPA). I also watched their video demonstration. I have decided to refer to them as spirits of Biafraland because I could not see their faces. In the Igbo Spiritology and Cosmic Science, human beings do not see the faces of spirits and anybody who tries to see the face of a spirit will either go blind or have blisters and leprosy on his face. So, in my opinion, they are spirits speaking with the voice of humans. After listening to them and reading their Press Release, I described them as Ndi Mmuo Biafra who had emerged from the spiritworld to cleanse the Biafran Struggle and bring sanity, orderliness, decency, and decorum in the Biafran Project. Most importantly, the spirits have created the balance of terror required in the Biafra Project as they will spare nobody who messes up or constitutes an obstacle in the Biafran Project, whether the person is a Biafran or not.
2. I was impressed with their introduction in the Press Release captioned, “BIAFRA PEOPLES ARMY- NEVER AGAIN TO NIGERIA’S HOSTILITY” where they stated as follows:
Allow us to introduce Biafra Peoples’ Army (B.P.A). Over the years we the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra have been maligned and treated as worthless citizens, annihilated in our millions, our women and aged raped, our farms now a death trap, our rivers polluted; despite all these atrocities against our Nation Biafra in the contraption called Nigeria. We have been systematically ostracised from the failed Nigeria state and treated as third-class citizens even without provocation, despite our land being harnessed of its natural resources.
The past decades after the 1967 -1970 civil war ended, our Kith and Kin have attempted to raise the Biafra flag, in the wave of the struggle, some Biafrans became money changers, desecrated the sacred Biafra Name, committed our youths to the front-line that death and anguish became our food on daily basis. Having witnessed all the shenanigans bedevilled the sacred Biafra freedom agitation as perpetrated amongst pro-independence groups, especially the recent IPOB group, we wish to state categorically the following:
(1). Never again shall the Nigeria state and her official and unofficial agent encroach the Biafra geo-space to continue the onslaught against our people and return freely without consequences.
(2). Every unofficial killer agents of Nigeria namely Fulani terrorist in disguise as Herders and Bandits must evacuate the entire Biafraland effect from 30th January 2021.
(3). In this course, as Biafra Peoples’ Army begins our march, we use this medium to warn every money mongers masquerading as a freedom fighter to desist from using the Biafra name to amass wealth for their aggrandisement, forthwith, we shall serve a holy porridge to anyone found wanting or flouting this command.
(4). IPOB and its leadership are warned to desist from their loquacious attitude, Biafra is too big a Nation to become a toy in the hands of mediocre, whose only wish is to seek for cheap popularity and amass wealth on the blood of innocent Biafrans. Attack the sanctity of Biafra Peoples’ Army and dire consequences shall be served. This is the only warning to come, ignore at their peril.
(5). In due time, we shall nominate a more formidable group from amongst the numerous pro-independence groups that shall relate with Biafrans on our behalf, we are still studying all the existing agitating groups and their antecedent, when concluded, we shall announce to the world.
Beloved Biafrans, the Council of Biafra Peoples’ Army have taken over the drive and pursuit of our non-negotiable freedom from Nigeria. Accept our 100% loyalty to you the owners of the land; we employ everyone to be ready for what is to come, it’s no longer business as usual, its either Biafra freedom or Nigeria shall know no peace.
Signed:
Captain Telemor Jones
Commanding Officer 1st of the Great Biafra People’s Army
3. When I read their opening paragraph, “Over the years we the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra have been maligned and treated as worthless citizens…” I believed that the spirits must have read my book where the name “Indigenous People of Biafra” was created in 2007 and published in 2012 as the name for all the remnants of Biafra who were not consumed in the war. They did not describe themselves as members of Indigenous People of Biafra but said “we the Indigenous People of Biafra”. Yes, we are all Indigenous People of Biafra, of which many are dead, few are living and countless are yet unborn. We do not register to become members of Indigenous People of Biafra. Don’t mind Nnamdi Kanu who we ostracised on 12 May 2014 and he took our name and registered it as a limited liability company in London called Indigenous People of Biafra Limited by which he has deceived the world. In one of my previous publications, I described his foolishness as superlative stupidity.
4. Without mentioning the name of Nnamdi Kanu, the spirits described him by an innuendo as a mediocre whose only wish is to seek for cheap popularity and amass wealth on the blood of innocent Biafrans. They issued a serious warning to him as follows: IPOB and its leadership are warned to desist from their loquacious attitude, Biafra is too big a Nation to become a toy in the hands of mediocre, whose only wish is to seek for cheap popularity and amass wealth on the blood of innocent Biafrans. Attack the sanctity of Biafra Peoples’ Army and dire consequences shall be served. This is the only warning to come, ignore at their peril.
5. In Paragraph 3 of their statement, they warned every money monger masquerading as a freedom fighter using Biafra to amass wealth for their personal aggrandisement. Interestingly, Nnamdi Kanu responded to the Press Release and Video demonstration by the Biafra Peoples Army. In his broadcast, he was screaming, cursing, abusing and accusing them of being saboteurs created and bribed by the Nigerian DSS to destroy his own group. I looked at his face and could see a desperate man sinking into the ocean of eternal destruction but clutching in vain to straws on the banks of the ocean that could not save him from drowning. History is being made as we watch.
6. Now, let me speak on the issues of law pertaining to the emergence of the Biafra Peoples Army. I know that some lawyers may be considering the legality or illegality of the Biafra Peoples Army. The first thing we must understand is that the Biafra Peoples Army made their mission and intention very clear. They did not say that they would commit any offences against the Nigerian State such as treason, treasonable felony or instigating invasion of Nigeria contrary to sections 37 and 38 or sections 40 to 43 of the Criminal Code. They did not say that they would oppose the Nigerian sovereignty but to stop the Nigerian hostility against the Biafrans and the attacks of the killer Fulani herdsmen. Some people may frown at their possession of fire arms but we shall consider the issue critically together with the possession of fire arms by the Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria.
7. At Page 276 of my book, “Biafra or Nigerian Presidency- What the Ibos Want”, I referred to Alhaji Asari Dokubo’s interview where he described the use of arms in the struggle for resource control as necessary to create a balance of terror between the Nigerian Government and the regions that produce oil. This has therefore created an interesting dimension in the development of Nigerian Jurisprudence of crime, giving answer to the question I posed in my Research Work published in 2006, “THE ROAD MAP TO PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE NIGER DELTA”, namely: “If the youths of the Niger Delta had not taken up arms against the Nigerian Government and the Oil Companies, would Niger Delta have received urgent attention from Nigerian Government and the International Community?” The answer is in the negative.
8. The Government of Nigeria and the international community listened to the Niger Delta militants because they took up arms. In recent times when the Boko Haram militants in the North took up arms against the Nigerian Government, bombing even the Police Headquarters and the United Nations Building in Abuja, terrorizing all citizens and demanding for an Islamic State where they would practise their religion and culture the way they understand it, the Nigerian Government and Nigerian leaders called for settlement and negotiation with Boko Haram! The members of Boko Haram who were arrested for the crimes were released by the order of the State Governor. Their act was not regarded as criminal under the Nigerian Jurisprudence of crime based on precedence.
9. We have seen that other ethnic nationalities are also expressing their desire to exercise their rights to self-determination. We have also observed a new development in ethnic agitation as violence is gradually becoming acceptable in the jurisprudence of politics and governance in Nigeria. Any ethnic group that agitates with violence is appeased and settled and granted amnesty but any group that agitates peacefully is ignored. A new standard has therefore been set in the Nigerian politics of power. This is an interesting subject in the development of the Nigerian law of jurisprudence.
10. During the resource control war between the Niger Delta Militants and the Nigerian Government before they were granted amnesty and the struggle by Islamic fundamentalists for religious State, many commentators said it was necessary to differentiate between criminality and the political struggle for resource control or religious State. But all the militants whether criminal, political or religious militants carry arms and ammunitions and effect kidnap and unleash mayhem with bombs and explosives.
11. The agitators for Resource Control and agitators for Islamic State are pacified and not regarded as criminals although they do so with violence. I read in the newspapers some years ago that Boko Haram militants in the North nominated the then Retired Major General Muhammadu Buhari as the person who would negotiate on their behalf. The Nigerian Criminal Law is developing to an interesting dimension now. The militants who loot and kidnap people for ransoms are regarded as criminals while those who struggle for resource control, political freedom or religious states are not regarded as criminals. In effect, it is the mens rea (intention of the militants) and not the actus reus (the act itself) that determines whether their act is criminal or political even though they all carry arms and waste lives. The wastage of lives is regarded as collateral damage. This principle of interpretation of the Criminal Law must now be applied to the Biafra Peoples Army. I therefore submit that they are not criminals under the Nigerian Legal System based on precedence.
12. Today, the Biafran People’s Army (B.P.A) has emerged like spirits from nowhere. I welcome their emergence and pray for their success. I hope they will remain faithful and focused in providing the balance of terror required in the Biafran struggle. They have struck fear into the hearts of those who have constituted nuisance in the Biafran Project and made merchandise of our people. They have created the holy fear and the necessary balance of terror which has been lacking in the Biafran Struggle. The spirits are now in charge of discipline and orderliness in the Biafran Project. They are faceless. I welcome their emergence from the land of the spirits.
Emeka Emekesiri, Esq,
Solicitor for Indigenous People of Biafra
For: Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra
N40 billion earned allowances released to ASUU
• ‘Buhari grants no work, no pay waiver’
President Muhammadu Buhari waived the ‘no work, no pay’ Trade Act for striking university lecturers to allow peace to reign, Minister of Labour and Employment Dr. Chris Ngige, said at the weekend.
The government has released N40billion for the payment of earned academic allowances for varsity lecturers and earned allowances for non-academic staff.
Also, the government may release N30 billion revitalisation funds to varsities by the end of this month.
Of the N40 billion, about N10 billion was voted for the payment of earned allowances of members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and technologists.
Although the non-academic staff have threatened strike over the sharing formula by the National Universities Commission (NUC), the government said when a similar payment was made in 2019, they got N8 billion.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, who gave the update in an exclusive chat with our correspondent, said the Federal Government has so far kept faith with the agreement between it and ASUU.
Read Also: ASUU to blame for prolonged strike, says Ngige
He said: “We are keeping faith religiously with the implementation of the agreement. In fact, President Muhammadu Buhari has given ASUU members a waiver/ pardon on the no, work, no pay clause in the nation’s Trade Disputes Act.
“I had to write officially for the presidential waiver on payment of outstanding wages of varsity lecturers to strengthen our pact and more so we are in a COVID-19 pandemic era.
“So, for harmony and understanding, we decided on compassionate ground not to invoke Section 43 of the nation’s Trade Disputes Act.”
Section 43 of the Act is in respect to “Special provision with respect to payment of wages during strikes and lock-outs.”
It says: “(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or in any other law-
(a) where any worker takes part in a strike, he shall not be entitled to any wages or other remuneration for the period of the strike, and any such period shall not count for the purpose of reckoning the period of continuous employment and all rights dependent on continuity of employment shall be prejudicially affected accordingly; and
(b) where any employer locks out his workers, the workers shall be entitled to wages and any other applicable remuneration for the period of lock-out and the period of the lock-out shall not prejudicially affect any rights of the workers being rights dependent on the continuity of period of employment.
“(2) If any question should arise as to whether there has been a lock-out for the purposes of this section, the question shall on application to the Minister by the workers or their representatives be determined by the Minister whose decision shall be final.”
Ngige said the Federal Government has started paying the outstanding salaries of the lecturers in a “staggered system” because every 31st December of each year, all outstanding recurrent budget (including personnel salaries) is mopped up into the Treasury.
“We paid ASUU members from January to June 2020. The salary arrears outstanding were from July to December and because of mop up into the Treasury, we decided to stagger the payment.
“So far, we have paid July and August salary arrears in December, we will pay September and October with their January salaries as one tranche in January; and November/ December in February alongside their monthly salaries since they have resumed in their offices and research centres.”
The Minister also confirmed that about “N40billion has been paid as earned allowances to academic and non-academic staff in the universities.
“The non-academic staff said they disagreed with the way the National Universities Commission (NUC) shared and transmitted the earned allowances by giving 75% to academic staff (lecturers) and 25% to them.
“The NUC came up with that sharing formula based on the past threshold. This administration has even improved the benchmark for the non-academic staff because the last time we had a similar challenge, it was based on 80% for academic staff and 20% for non-academic staff.
“In 2019, the non-academic staff got N8billion as earned allowances but this time around, the government released N10billion for their allowances.”
Notwithstanding, the Minister said: “I will invite the leaders of SSANU, NASU and technologists for dialogue to arrest their strike.
“I believe if we sit down with them for consultations, they will appreciate our position. We cannot afford to shut down our universities again.
“Their letter or notice of strike has not reached my table but we will engage them in dialogue on all their demands. Fortunately, I am one of the parents affected by strike action in universities. All my children are studying in different universities in the country.”
Regarding the N30billion revitalisation funds demanded by ASUU, Ngige said: “by the end of January, the government will pay.”
know all your Governorship Aspirations in Anambra State Election scheduled to hold 6th November, 2021 at Odenigbo FM 99.1 sponsored by BVI Channel 1 in partnership with People Restoration Mission (PRM) every Monday 11-12 noon. The process starts from party primaries. The people must be involved.Click on the link below to Watch this week episode
Elders in the South West have thrown their weight behind the governor of Ondo State, Chief Rotimi Akeredolu’s quit notice to herders to quit the forests in the state following the growing cases of kidnappings traced to criminals hiding in the areas. The elders, who also took swipe at the Presidency over the latter’s statement cautioning the governor against his directive, accused the Presidency of undue meddling in issues within the purview of the state.
Recall that following the high rate of kidnappings in Ondo State, allegedly committed by criminals hiding in forests across the state, the governor had given herdsmen a seven-day ultimatum to vacate the areas. But reacting, after Fulani leadership under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, cried out over the governor’s action, the Presidency in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, cautioned the governor against his action, saying the herders cannot leave the dreaded forests for any reason. The development has drawn the attention of some Yoruba elders who accused the federal government of abandoning its core responsibilities to meddle in issues within the purview of state governors.
Speaking under a group, Coalition of Oduduwa Elders, the Yoruba elders warned the Presidency to steer clear of governance issues in Ondo or any other state in the country, saying the governor’s action was the best in protecting the lives of Ondo citizens because, according to them, the federal government which has exclusive control of conventional security architecture in the country, had failed to protect the people. The group, in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr Tunde Aremu and National Secretary, Barr. Mrs Folake Ajasin, respectively, asked the governor not to be distracted by actions of those it noted, ” have failed to safeguard the lives of Nigerians” but be firm and decisive in his actions aimed at giving Ondo people safety. Regretting that Ondo forests have become launching pads for herdsmen, the elders noted that the “herdsmen coming into the state are doing so not for the purpose of grazing, but killing and destroying property.” “The marauders, who usually come without cattle, engage in kidnappings, attacking communities in the guerrilla style of warfare, killings, burn houses and destroying other property! Should the governor fold his hands and look the other way while his people are being massively kidnapped, killed and their property destroyed? No, these have to stop now. And the only way to stop it is what Chief Akeredolu has done,” they said. While commending Governor Akeredolu for what it described as his “bold steps” in safeguarding the lives and property of citizens, the group wondered why the Presidency had only stepped in at a time the governor asked alleged “perpetrators” to quit the places of their nefarious activities.
“We, the Yoruba elders under this noble umbrella body known as Coalition of Oduduwa Elders have watched with great concerns the turn of events in the South West, especially in Ondo culminating in the notice to herders to quit forests by Chief Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. ” We have equally painstakingly watched the rushed statement by the Presidency through one of its spokesmen, Mallam Garba Shehu, cautioning the governor against his action and instead, declaring that the people who have been identified to be responsible for kidnappings, banditry and killings in the state cannot vacate the areas they use to carry out their nefarious activities. “This is strange to us given that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vested certain powers on state governors as chief security officers of their respective states on certain steps they can take to safeguard the lives of citizens and their property. Akeredolu, to the best of our knowledge, is a sitting governor of Ondo State. Until he is out of office, he has the constitutional mandate to device the best ways possible in giving his people who voted him into office good and quality leadership. The quit notice to herders to leave Ondo forests is one of those steps he has taken to protect the citizenry. So, we ask the Presidency to leave him alone,” they said. The Yoruba group, said: “We observed that the Presidency’s statement came only shortly after the leadership of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) publicly called on it to come out with urgent reaction regarding the governor’s action. We are surprised that the Presidency which has not reacted to the cries of the people of Ondo or South West, leaving the region to form Ametokun security outfit to protect its people, would be so concerned to issue a rushed statement over the governor’s action! ” The group reminded the Presidency that “Akeredolu is a governor of a state and one of his major responsibilities is the protection of lives and property besides the welfare of his people. ” Noting also that the governor was a lawyer whose versatility in law field had taken him to the pinnacle of the profession, hence would not do anything outside the nation’s law, the Coalition berated Garba Shehu over his statement, wondering if actually, it represented the Presidency. “We strongly believe that as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, the governor knows the position of law regarding the action he has taken to protect the Ondo people,” it said. While noting that herders, like other citizens, have the rights to live anywhere in the country, the Yoruba group said,”They (herdsmen) must be reminded that their rights stop where other people’s rights start”, adding that:’Their rights can only be guaranteed if they live in peace and harmony with their host communities.” The Yoruba elders regretted that the leadership of Fulani cattle rearers which they noted, had failed to call criminals in their midst to order, was quick not only to condemn the governor’s action but also call on the federal government to immediately act with a view to stopping the governor carrying out his quit notice order. “We had expected Miyeti Allah and all the Fulani bodies to rise against the criminal elements in their midst who are bent on tarnishing their reputation, but instead they have surprisingly looked the other way until the governor came up with this measure to stop the ugly situation. ” If they were not complicit in the acts, why were they not speaking out against these despicable acts of their kinsmen? They ask. The group which expressed disappointment over the statement by Garba Shehu wondered whether it had the authorisation of the Presidency as he portrayed, tasking the latter to always make critical examination of the former’s drafted statements before approving release to the public in order not to ridicule President Muhammad Buhari and his administration before Nigerians. “We call on Garba Shehu to stop disgracing President Buhari’s government. We also call on the Presidency to always vet Garba Shehu’s statements before giving consent for release to the public,” the Coalition said.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has fixed November 6 2021 for conduct of the Anambra State Governorship election.
The National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, Chief Festus Okoye who stated this in Abuja said the commission met and deliberated on issues including the issuance of the timetable and schedule of activities for the conduct of the Governorship election.
He said the conduct of party primaries and resolution of disputes arising from the primaries would take place between June 10 and July 1
According to him, the commission will issue the statutory Notice for Election on June 9.
Chief Okoye said that the personal particulars of the candidates for the election would be published on July 16, while parties would commence campaigns on August. 8.and the Final List of Nominated Candidates will be published on October 7
The National Commissioner enjoined all the registered political parties to pay close attention to the timelines and schedule of activities outlined in the timetable and schedule of activities as they were constitutional and statutory provisions.
He urged all stakeholders to support the commission’s efforts to strengthen the electoral process, including deployment of technology to deliver free, fair and credible elections.
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has cautioned Nigerians to beware of the COVID-19 vaccines, claiming that they were meant to kill people.
Governor Bello, who is aspiring to become Nigeria’s President by 2023, raised the alarm ahead of today’s meeting of all the 36 governors to decide on the commencement of the vaccination exercise across the country.
The Federal Government had said it was expecting, at least 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech-approved COVID-19 vaccines to come in by the end of this month.
Executive director and Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib, said President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would receive the vaccines on live television, to encourage Nigerians to take the vaccines as a preventive measure against the dreaded virus.
Kayode Fayemi, chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, while addressing journalists in Abuja after meeting with President Buhari last week, said he and his colleagues would also take the vaccine on live television.
He said: “We, too, will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that the vaccines would work.
“Don’t forget, we have a lot of experience on this. The Governors Forum managed the polio vaccines administration in the country and we have garnered a lot of experience.”
But speaking to a crowd of people in a video that has gone viral, governor Bello doubted the authenticity of the vaccines and insisted there is no cure for HIV and many other diseases troubling mankind.
He said: “Vaccines are being produced in less than one year of COVID-19. There is no vaccine yet for HIV, malaria, cancer, headache and for several other diseases that are killing us. They want to use the (COVID-19) vaccines to introduce the disease that will kill you and us. God forbid!
“We should draw our minds back to what happened in Kano during (sic) the Pfizer polio vaccines that crippled and killed our children. We have learned our lessons.
“If they say they are taking the vaccines in public, allow them to take their vaccines. Don’t say I said you should not take it, but if you want to take it, open your eyes before you take the vaccines.”
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has lamented the high cost of storing the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine being expected in Nigeria soon, even as it procures three Ultra Cold Chain (UCC) machines with storage capacity of 2, 100 litres for storage of the COVID-19 vaccines when they eventually arrive Nigeria.
The government said it’s considering the option of Oxford AstraZeneca or other COVID-19 vaccines that would be safely and easily stored using existing facilities being used to store vaccines used in routine immunisation.
Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Shaib Faisal, who disclosed the information to journalists after inspecting the newly installed UCC machines in Abuja, yesterday, said the task of procuring and installing UCC facility across strategic locations in Nigeria for the purpose of storing Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is huge and could cost Nigeria huge fortune.
“The 100, 000 doses of vaccine being expected in Nigeria will occupy a space of 500 litres out of the 2,100 litre capacity, meaning that the UCC facility will store over 400, 000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine when procured.
“But going forward, we would focus on COVID-19 vaccines that does not require UCC to store or keep potent and effective. We are considering the option of Oxford-AstraZeneca type of vaccine that requires lower degrees Celsius to store.
“However, if we would continue to bring in more Pfizer vaccines, then the providers would make arrangements for procurement of additional UCC that would be installed across strategic locations in Nigeria.It’s easier for us to move the kind of vaccines that we are used to because our health care workers are used to it. Our routine immunisation vaccines are stored at +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. We suggest that since our health workers are already used to that, we should consider vaccines that could be stored in such facilities.”
Nigeria to receive 100,000 doses of vaccines
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA) has said Nigeria is to receive 100, 000 doses of mRNA Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines toto combat the pandemic.
Director-General (D-G) of NPHDA, Dr Faisal Shuaib, told newsmen at a media briefing in Abuja that the vaccines are expected between late January 2021 and early February 2021.
He said the agency was working in partnership with the Presidential Task Force Committee on COVID-19 and other health workers to ensure that the vaccines get to rural areas in the country upon its arrival.
He cautioned Nigerians not to express fear over the safety of lives as the agency would also work on modalities and in synergy with NAFDAC for the screening of the vaccines before they are administered.
“We are able to tap into innovative collaboration that exists with the private sectors so we can move them all the way through the states, local government areas and the health facilities where they will be utilised.The focus of deployment of the vaccines will be at the most affected areas in the country,” he said.
A’Ibom PDP chairman dies of virus, Commissioners, party chieftains in ICU
The state chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State chapter, Obong Udo Ekpenyong, is dead.
Ekpenyong, the first PDP state chairman from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District of the state, is said to have died by 4am, yesterday, of health complications associated with the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic which has wreaked havoc in the state, sweeping away many prominent persons, including the former military governor of the state, Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (retd).
A source in the party, who confirmed the story on the condition of anonymity, pleaded for time for the bereaved family to come to terms with the untimely loss.
Ekpenyong, immediate past commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs in the state, was elected state chairman of the PDP on July 30, 2020, which the former deputy governor of Abia State, Mr Eric Nwakama, supervised.
His death brings to three the number of PDP state chairmen who have passed on since the party was formerly inaugurated in the state in 1999. The others were Chief Joe Ating and Chief Tony Emenyi.
His death also occurred barely three months after demise of the state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Ini Okopido.
The implication then is that the state chairmanship of both the PDP and APC in Akwa Ibom would, henceforth, be held in acting capacities by their deputy chairmen.
Daily Sun learned that many high profile citizens of the state, most of them PDP chieftains, serving and past commissioners, have been hit by the pandemic and are being held at the isolation centres in the state.
The state commissioner for information and strategy, Mr Ini Ememobong, while admonishing people at the NUJ annual thanksgiving on Sunday in Ikot Abasi, to take COVID-19 precautions, lamented that the pandemic had seriously dealt with state, by killing high net worth personalities.
Kano bans viewing, event centres, directs civil servants to stay at home, Rivers, too
Kano State Government has announced the imposition of a fresh ban on the activities of viewing and event centres across the state following increasing COVID-19 cases.
The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who made the revelation in a statement, yesterday morning, said the measure was part of decision at a stakeholders meeting, held at the Africa House, Kano, on Monday night.
He said that all civil servants in the state have also been directed to stay at home pending further instruction.
Malam Garba, however, explained that workers on essential services such as the healthcare service providers, fire service, water board, teaching staff, security guards and the media are exempted from the ban.
The commissioner reaffirmed government’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders that included the Ulama to ensuring compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols.
He also warned that security agents, who were part of the stakeholders meeting, would not hesitate to take stern measures to ensure compliance with the directive.
Also, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has directed civil servants on salary Grade Levels 01 to 13, except those on essential duties, to stay away from duty, following the spike on COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
The stay-at-home directive arising from the second wave of Coronavirus pandemic, takes immediate effect from today.
Governor Wike’s directive was contained in a statement signed by the Head of Service of Rivers State, Rufus Godwin, yesterday.
He directed officers from Grade Levels 14 and above to be on duty and assume full responsibilities for their offices until further notice.
The governor charged permanent secretaries and Heads of Extra-ministerial offices to ensure compliance with the directive within the strict context of the COVID-19 protocols.
