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Kogi: Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Win Is For Women; Expect More Attacks On Her- Sen. Ita Giwa

By
James Orji
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Senator Ita Giwa has advised Senator Florence Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to expect more attacks on her person in the face of her recent win in the Court of Appeal as Senator representing Kogi   central.
 
 
 
 
 
A former Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Giwa’s warning comes on the heels of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s allegation that the governor of the state, Yahaya Bello sent some hoodlums to kill her during the last election.
 
 
 
 
Governor Bello has since congratulated her after the Court’s ruling that she defeated the All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate in the election.
 
 
 
 
She said Akpoti-Uduaghan’s win is a victory for women, urging more women to join active politics.
 
Speaking in a statement, Senator Giwa said the senator is a strong fighter for women participation in politics. 
 
 
 
 
She, however, warned her that the attack on Akpoti-Uduaghan will be stepped up by her detractors, adding that she should not rest after the Court’s Verdict.
 
 
 
 
Giwa stated on Wednesday that she too was a subject of attack in her political career.
 
 
 
 
The statement said in part: “Of truth, it reminds me of the overwhelming impediments put in my way when I ran for my first election 3 decades ago.
 
 
 
“It may surprise many, but to this day, the men I defeated are still bitter, and every now and again, they lash out at me. I, however, must caution Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan that this victory may not be the end of physical, emotional, and verbal violence from recalcitrant male politicians.
 
 
 
” If anything, this victory is bound to attract more attacks as it would appear that in Nigerian politics, it is a crime to be a beautiful, articulate, and principled woman. I therefore urge her to remain courageous and steadfast over the course of her blossoming political career.
 
 
 
“While women ought to be glad about her victory, it is certainly not yet uhuru for women in politics.The number of women in elected office is still embarrassingly abysmal.
 
 
 
 
“Natasha’s epic battle with powerful men in her state is sadly the lot of most women in politics who have to battle unprincipled male politicians for political space. ln the cause of my political career, I have had to confront and beat back unscrupulous male politicians who have continually tried to intimidate me politically.
 
 
 
 
“As I congratulate Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan , I wish to challenge other women in politics to be inspired by her doggedness. We must push on until we women form a critical mass within the Nigerian political space.”
 
 

Miyetti Allah Sets Up Security Outfit To Tackle Insecurity

By
James Orji
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0
Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, has promised to assist the federal government in tackling insecurity in the country.
According to the Fulani social cultural group, the decision is in fulfilment of its earlier promise to help President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration in its quest to rein  some criminals elements within the group.
Found forward, Miyetti Allah unveiled
it’s  plans to set up a quasi-security outfit tasked with the responsibility to remove the criminals elements among cattle herders in the country.
The group which spoke in Lafia, Nasarrawa state said the security outfit will complement other security agencies.
The group’s head, Bello Badejo said the security body will be made up of over 2000 operatives who are expected to fish ” out bad eggs in our midst, reduce the consequential allegation on those who were treated unjustly for crimes not committed.”
“The operatives will be selected from within the immediate communities where they reside because doing so, will address the prevalence of security challenges in Nasarawa and some flash points in some states.
“We are, therefore, seeking the support of the government in providing non-kinetic equipment to the outfit, while we intend to extend the programme to Plateau, Kaduna, FCT and other security-prone states to end the menace,” Badejo said.
Some members of Miyetti Allah has been accused of being responsible for the clash between herdsmen and farmers in the country. Pressure is seriously on the federal government to rein them in.

Ajaero: Opara-Ndudu Protests Ordeal, Calls For Justice

By
The Source
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0

By Charles Igbo

A former Commissioner in Imo State, Nick Opara-Ndudu, has protested the humiliation of Comrade Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

Ajaero was brutalized, allegedly, by Police Operatives at the NLC Secretariat, Owerri while the Congress was organizing a mass protest of Workers in the State.

Thereafter, he was taken to the Police Hospital for treatment, and from there, to the Federal Medical Centre for a thorough check and treatment of the grave injuries inflicted on him.

While the Police denies any complicity in Ajaero’s ordeal,  and, instead, claimed he was taken into protective custody to aAnd,, being  lynched by an alleged mob, eye witness accounts insist he was brutalized by Police Operatives who, thereafter, arrested and whisked him away.

Photographs of Ajaero and accompanying videos which surfaced online, showed a badly brutalized Ajaero.

Ajaero’s ordeal has attracted strong condemnations from many quarters, with a number of Workers Unions, threatening  strike over it.

A statement issued by Nick Opara-Ndudu on Tuesday,  November 2, 2023, condemned,, strongly, the fate of Ajaero in the hands of the Police in Owerri. It called on “all men of goodwill to rise up and condemn Ajaero’s manhanding.”

In the statement, Opara-Ndudu, a former Commissioner in the State under the Rochas Okorocha administration noted: “Whatever Joe Ajaero did, it was well within the powers of the Security Agencies to arrest and prosecute him for any identified wrong doing. But to resort to the physical abuse of his person is unconscionable and totally unacceptable.”

He, also, condemned what it described as a resort to jungle justice and urged that all those involved in the condemnable act be brought to book.

Following the full text of the statement.

The Brutalization of Joe Ajaero – A Time For Action By Mezie/Dozie Owerri And All Men of Conscience And Goodwill

“Yesterday our brother and compatriot, Comrade Joe Ajaero, was beaten up by security agents while discharging his duties as the National President of the Nigeria labour Congress.

“Photographs making the rounds in the social media show that he was manhandled by the agents of the state and from his own account, the severity of the physical assault could have resulted in his death. God forbid!

“Whatever Joe Ajaero did, it was well within the powers of the security agencies to arrest and prosecute him for any identified wrong doing. But to resort to the physical abuse of his person is unconscionable and totally unacceptable.

“Mezie-Dozie Owerri, Ezuruezu Mbaise,Olu Okigwe,Orluzurumee and, indeed,all men of goodwill must rise up in condemnation of this barbaric act just as we await the reaction of the Imo Council of Elders.

“As a citizen of Imo State, I find it totally absurd and unacceptable that our State would continue to be in the news for the wrong reasons.

“Joe Ajaero has led protests in the past even against the Federal Government but his actions and those of his Comrades have been handled by the Federal Government with utmost civility and decorum to the admiration of most Nigerians.

“It is, therefore, imperative in the current situation that those involved in this despicable act are brought to account.”

The State Government, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, washed its hands off the arrest of Ajaero and any ordeal he suffered in the State.

For the records, the NLC President is from Imo State.

Electricity Union Workers Protest Ajaero’s Brutalization By Police, Switch Off Power Supply

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

National Union of Electricity Employees, has threatened to shut down electricity supply nationwide over the humiliation of the President of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Joe Ajaero by the Imo State Police Command.

The shutdown, which starts in the early hours of Thursday, was contained in a statement signed by the General Secretary of the union, Dominic Igwebike.

“We cannot be at work, while NLC is incapacitated and we cannot be at work while the rights of workers are being trampled on with utmost impunity.”

It described as atrocious and inhuman the treatment meted on the NLC president by the police in Owerri on Wednesday.

Also, National Union of Petroleum Employees (NUPENG) President, Williams Akporeha said, “We condemn with the strongest term the arrest and brutalization of Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and other labour leaders by the agents of Imo State Government.

“We reject the act of violence and barbarism being unleashed on labour leaders, workers and others. We cannot accept this uncivilized behaviour in a democracy.

“The workers of Imo State must be freed. We are determined to free the State workers because injury to one is to all.”

Contrary to police claim that Ajaero was taken into protective custody,  the NLC insisted that he was brutally beaten and thereafter rushed to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owerri, where he is receiving medical attention.

The NLC Head of Information and Publicity,  Benson Upah, disclosed that Ajaero’s right eye was completely shut.

Ujah’s statement reads: “Contact has been made with Congress President, Comrade Joe Ajaero this evening at the Police Hospital in Owerri from where he was taken to Federal Medical Centre, Owerri where he is receiving medical attention.

“Thoroughly brutalized, his right eye at the time of contact was completely shut. Ajaero was beaten up blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where more brutalization took place, sometimes with bottles.

“His phones, money, and other personal effects were taken off him and have not been returned to him.”

Fubara: CNPP Cautions Wike, Urges Him To Come Clean On Alleged 25% Return On Rivers’ IGR Demand

By
The Source
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0

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has cautioned the former Governor of Rivers State and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, over alleged plot to impeach his successor, Siminilaye  Fubara.

The umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria also called the FCT Minister to clear the air on allegations that the scheming for the impeachment of Governor Fubara was fueled by determination of the former Governor to continually rake-in a whopping 25% of the state’s federal allocation and internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the oil-rich state.

This was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the CNPP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, James Ezema.

According to the CNPP, “Our democracy will continue to be under threat if former Governors would continue to meddle into the affairs of their state and expecting the incumbents to accept what they did not allow while they were in office.”

The CNPP maintained that “the level of destruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex just to ensure that the plot to impeach a sitting Governor was achieved was a needless venture, a waste of taxpayers resources, criminal, and anti-democratic behaviour that must be strongly condemned by all.

“While we don’t want to believe that the Minister of the FCT is demanding a 25% from Rivers State’s monthly Federal Allocation, and another 25% from the monthly internally generated revenue in the state as being alleged, it will be Emperor-like for the former Governor to make such demands.

“The political turbulence in Rivers State is needless and the plot to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara over yet to be understood ‘’gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of the office of the governor’’ is amusing and very ambiguous.

“If Governor Fubara has breached any provision of the constitution to warrant impeachment, such infractions must be made public in the spirit of fairness, transparency and rule of law.

“We were shocked to watch in a viral video how come Chief Security Officer of Rivers State, Governor Fubara, of gunshots, tear gas canisters and water cannons at him as seen in some viral videos.

“Ordinarily, should the state Governor not be at the scene of the explosion at the state Assembly Complex to assess the level of damage to government property?

“According to media reports, Governor Fubara had accused the police of shooting at him directly, saying “I am worried that a facility like this that we used taxpayers’ money to build will be destroyed for selfish reasons just to please somebody. From what I have seen, even the security is compromised because they were shooting at me directly. The DC operations was shooting at me.”

“We call on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately fish out the police officers involved in the shooting at the Governor and bring them to justice publicly.

“Meanwhile, the CNPP in Rivers State has been put on red alert and will continue to monitor the development for appropriate actions should the situation in the state degenerates further”, the statement noted.

Wike: “Why I Fell Out With Fubara”, Warns: “Be Careful, I Have Capacity To Fight Back”

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

Nyesom Wike, the immediate-past Governor of Rivers State, has hinted at the reasons why he fell out with his successor in office  and political godson, Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Wike, now the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, also, told those he said are fighting him that he is not one to he toyed with. “Be careful, I have the capacity to fight back”, he warned.

Wike said this when he met with the Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja on Wednesday. From what Wike said, his face-off with Fubara is all about his political structure in the State. It is all about power. He also accused Fubara of dining with the enemy by bringing in those who fought him, Wike, when he was struggling to make Fubara Governor, close.

“You cannot work, and people will begin to bring enemies, those who fought you when you were struggling for the person to be in office. Nobody does that”, Wike said.

It was the first time Wike would meet with PDP Governors since the Presidential Primary of the Party when he lost to the PDP Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and also was sidelined for the former Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, in Atiku’s choice of a running mate.

For the losses, Wike turned coat and worked for the then Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, against PDP and Atiku in the Presidential Election. Tinubu  was declared the winner by INEC, and, subsequently, affirmed duly elected by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

Wike’s meeting with the PDP Governors was a consequence of the face-off he had on Monday with Fubara.

The disagreement between godfather and godson boiled over when the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Wike attempted to impeach the Governor on Monday. On the eve of the plan, the House of Assembly complex was set on fire by political thugs ostensibly to prevent the House from sitting so as not to begin an impeachment process against the Governor.

However, some of the members still converged on Monday and suspended those loyal to the Governor, including the House Leader, Edison Ehie.

A shocked Governor who visited the Assembly Complex Monday morning, accompanied by his supporters, to assess the damage was, according to him, shot directly at, tear-gassed and water- cannoned by Police Personnel stationed at the Assembly.

His supporters alleged an assassination plot. But the Governor, who for the first time, took charge, since he was sworn into office, May 29, 2023, let it be known that: “I am the Chief Security Officer of the State and the Head of Government. Asserting his authority, again, for the first time, he dismissed the suspension of his loyalists in the Assembly as “rubbish.”

Then, surprisingly, he rallied his supporters round, reversed the suspension, and instead engineered the suspension of the Speaker, Martin Amaewhule and the ringleaders in the impeachment saga. The Leader of the House who had earlier been suspended, Ehie, was nominated  the new Speaker. His first assignment: He suspended Amaewhule and the impeachment ringleaders. He, also, adjourned the House indefinitely.

Speculations have been rife over what caused the crisis between Wike and Fubara. “It’s all about money, the treasury of the State which Wike still wants to control”, some people said. Some said “It’s because Fubara had become tired of Wike breathing down his neck and running the State from Abuja.”

However, speaking during his meeting with PDP Governors, Wike said in more than a few words that the face-off is all about his political structure in the State. “I will not allow anybody to to tamper with the political structure in Rivers”, he said.

He, also, dismissed as “absolute rubbish”, the talks that the face-off was because of the finances of the State. Wike, also, did not see anything wrong in the attempt to impeach the Governor. He said impeachment is not a military coup, but something in line with the provision  of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Wike: “Nobody can take away the political structure in Rivers. Nobody can intimidate me. If I want to do something, I will do it.

“The impeachment is not a military coup. It is provided under the Constitution. Also, I am not interested in all the rumours, money this, and that. Rubbish. Absolute rubbish.

“I just left the office how many months ago? And, I am FCT Minister, so which money? But nobody can take away our political structure. No one.

“You cannot work, and people will begin to bring enemies, those who fought you when you were struggling for the person to be in office. Nobody does that.

“I am not a political ingrate. But don’t touch the political structure of the State. I will not shut my eyes.

“Forget about the Obidients and the Atikus who have lost and felt that I did not support them, and those that I revoked their Certificate of Occupancy.

“Oh, Wike did this, Wike did that because I didn’t support Obi, and didn’t support their own Presidential Candidate  and, all of you just teamed up: ‘Wike! Wike! Wike!’

“I am not disturbed. I will do what is right, and my conscience is clear. I am not the person that you think you can go on Social Media and say all kinds of things.

“You must be careful. I have the capacity to fight back.”

Wike, also, assured the PDP Governors led by the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum/ Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, that he is still a PDP member, working for President Bola Tinubu. “I am not working for APC”, he said.

President Bola Tinubu has since waded into the face-off between Minister Wike and Governor Fubara.

OPINION: Seyi Tinubu Feels Like The Scarface Of Our Time

By
James Orji
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0

By Duke Of Shomolu

I think the president was playing to the gallery by telling us that he saw his son’s picture amongst those who sneaked to attend the federal executive council meeting.

If you ask me, I think the president tried to win some brownie points with that revelation. There was no need to tell us, as we didn’t really need to hear that his nosey parker son has decided to be part of state taking decision.

The main reason why his statement didn’t catch fire with me and many right-thinking people is that this same boy has flown our presidential jet on personal tours is running around with more security than the chief of army staff and state governors, has a free reign around the villa and generally has been carrying himself like a self-imposed emperor, so why won’t he feel that it is his inalienable right to attend FEC meetings where his input as a very influential member of the regime will be needed.

Anybody who appears surprised at this or jubilates at the president’s ‘courageous’ statement must be a very poor student of his political trajectory.

In his journey from an ambitious Chicago returnee, through the senate to his emergence as the most influential and powerful person in modern-day Nigeria, up to the presidency, a respect for due process and institutions has always been very challenging.

We have seen a journey that has bent or in some cases broken very critical rules of engagement in a never before seen very aggressive engagement with power to the point that we now feel like a captured people and not free citizens of the largest democracy in the black world.

For the first time in our history, we are now saddled with a mercurial family with strategic members carving out stupendous power and privilege for themselves leaving us at their regal mercy.

From a daughter who makes a national broadcast under the coat of arms and after the national anthem(?), to a very powerful first lady and deservedly so being a senator to a son who simply feels that he can be the Scarface of our time, roller scatting with the very best of our security architecture running behind him while kidnappers and terrorists run amok in the land.

Seyi Tinubu is not a teenager, from the pictures I have gleaned, having never met him but seen him from a distance is that of a man very far from his teenage years and as such should have imbued some level of responsibility that would see him being an asset to his father’s regime, rather than being a liability and adding more problems than Atiku could ever be capable of doing.

He should understand and be made to understand that this mandate does not include him and as such, his services especially at the highest level of executive decision making are really not needed. He could limit his advisory role to a father-and-son fireside chat instead of an embarrassing appearance at the FEC.

If this was even a young man with any delineable value he was bringing, one would have pushed for an SA position but a cursory look at his background throws up nothing really firm in terms of capacity in any known sector that one could say, “let’s take advantage and get his services for free” — except we would like to leverage on his social media and Tiktok expertise to strengthen the image and communication capacity of the regime, then just maybe we can possibly give him an opportunity to make a presentation at the FEC and not carry a stool and sit at the back listening to discussions over a bottle of beer.

I am even surprised that he has not convened a meeting of children of political office holders making himself life-president with a charter and constitution that will have the supreme court endorse such that he will brook no challenge on his authority.

He should do that after all his sister is the Iya Oloja of the Federation, his stepmother is the first lady of the federation and his father is the president of the country, it will only just be fair that he too as the first son of the federation must be given his well-deserved respect and honour.

Make him the second vice president of Nigeria abeg make we hear word.

Ajaero, NLC President Was Beaten Up, Taken To Hospital For Treatment – Imo Police Command

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Imo State Police Command has confirmed that Comrade Joe Ajaero, the National President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, was beaten up by a mob.

In a statement issued by the Command on the viral news of  Ajaero’s arrest  in Owerri by the Police, the Police said that far from arresting the NLC President, its Operatives saved him from being lynched when he was attacked by those the Police described as  “a mob.”

The statement did not quite say the circumstances that led to the brutalization of Ajaero other than admitting that there was an altercation and argument between Ajaero and some people when they were discussing the modalities for the strike action declared in the State by the NLC. The Police, also, admitted  that Ajaero was taken to the Police Hospital for medical attention, a consequence of the beating he received.

The Police Command issued the statement in its defence of the news that it arrested the NLC President and took him to an unknown location.

The NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the State against the State Government.

Said the Police statement in part:

“In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport, which led to the resistance of the process by some individuals.

“This led to scuffles and heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the President by a mob.

“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed.

“The Commissioner of Police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack.

“He has, therefore, been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.”

Mbakwe’s Family Endorses Uzodimma For Second Tenure

By
The Source
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0

In what appears to be an express endorsement of the second tenure of Governor Hope Uzodimma,  the family of the first civilian Governor of the State, late Chief Sam Mbakwe will, Thursday, confer the Imo helmsman with an award.

In a statement signed by the first son of the late sage, Engr Alex Mbakwe, the award of Beacon of Hope For Good Governance will be conferred on the Governor under the platform of  Chief Sam Mbakwe Leadership  Award 2023.

It is understood that this is the first time that such an award is being conferred on either a sitting or former Governor of Imo State.

The award will be preceded by a lecture to be delivered by an accomplished academic and former Director at National Universities Commission, Prof  Engr Val Ikechukwu.

The theme of the lecture is – The Challenge of Leadership in Imo State: Lessons from Sam Mbakwe Model.

According to the statement, the ceremony which will hold at Rockview Hotel, Owerri will be presided over by Tech Giant, Chief Leo Stan Ekeh.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu  will be the Father of the day while former Imo State First Lady, Mrs Victoria Mbakwe is the Chief Host.

Governor Uzodimma is seeking reelection and is set to contest with 17 other candidates next week Saturday.

The award from Chief Sam Mbakwe Leadership Award is among dozens of awards and endorsements he has received ahead of the election.

Among those who have honoured and endorsed him are the Nigeria Labour Congress,  Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.

Ajaero: Imo Police Command Says NLC President In Protective Custody, Not Arrested; NLC, TUC Warn Govt.

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Joe Ajaero

By Ayodele Oni

The Imo State Police Command has clarified that the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC) Joe Ajaero, was saved by Police from mob attack, and was not arrested by the Command.

A statement in Owerri, signed by the Police Public relations Officer, Imo State Command, confirmed that the NLC President was in Owerri as part of arrangements of the Congress to mobilize workers for a mega protest rally in the State.

“In the course of their planning, it was reported that suggestions arose for the lockdown of some essential facilities particularly the airport, which led to the resistance of the process by some individuals.

“This led to scuffles and heated arguments and an eventual attack on the person of the President by a mob.

“Upon receiving this report, the Imo Police Command swiftly deployed Police operatives to the scene where the Officer in Charge exercised his operational discretion by taking the NLC President into protective custody at the State Command Headquarters to ensure the protection of his life and that he was not lynched in the scuffle that followed.

“The Commissioner of Police thereafter directed that he should be taken to the Police Medical Services, Owerri, where he would be accorded medical attention as a result of the attack.

“He has, therefore, been accorded adequate security cover to proceed on his other legitimate engagements for the day.”

The statement emphasized the existence of a Court injunction from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria holden in Owerri with Suit No. NICN/OW/41/2023 dated 27th October, 2023, barring the NLC from holding the intended protest rally in Owerri.

The NLC had earlier threatened to embark on nationwide strike if its President is not released.

The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Police Command, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde,  therefore urged all concerned parties to ensure compliance with the Court directives so as to avoid jeopardizing the current security arrangements in Owerri and other parts of Imo State, even as the State gears up for the forthcoming electioneering process on 11th November 2023.

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