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APC Planning Tenure Elongation – Stoking Crisis To Abort 2023 General Elections – PDP

By
Adesina Soyooye
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President Muhammadu Buhari

By Adesina Soyooye

The All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari does not want to leave office. It wants to stay for more years in office, not through the ballot, but through an illegal tenure elongation.

This allegation was made by the main opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in Abuja on Sunday, May 2022.

The PDP alleged that one of the ways the APC plans to achieve its aim is to continue to stoke political crisis in the country. But the PDP has warned the APC to perish such thoughts.

The PDP also pointed at President Buhari’s reluctance to sign the amended Electoral Act, 2022, insisting it is a ploy to rubbish the Electoral process.

PDP: “The Party alerts Nigerians of the plot by the APC to use orchestrated insecurity and political uncertainty to derail the electoral process, stall the 2023, general elections and create a situation to justify a tenure elongation.”

The party puts the blame, and plot of tenure elongation, at the doorsteps of some APC Leaders.

Said the PDP: “There are revelations that desperate APC leaders are behind the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in signing the amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 so as to frustrare the smooth conduct of Primaries by Political parties and derail the entire electoral process.”

The PDP, however, said: “Our Party cautions the APC to note that its plans has been exposed and that Nigerians will never allow it to perpetrate its misrule through an orchestrated tenure elongation.”

Following, the full text of PDP’s statement.

Perish Your Tenure Elongation Plot, PDP Cautions APC

…Accuses APC of Stoking Political Crisis to Stall 2023 Elections

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the All Progressives Congress (APC) to perish the thoughts of subverting the electoral process as part of its desperation to elongate its abysmal tenure beyond May 29, 2023.

“The Party alerts Nigerians of the plot by the APC to use orchestrated insecurity and political uncertainty to derail the electoral process, stall the 2023 general election and create a situation to justify a tenure elongation.

“There are revelations that desperate APC leaders are behind the delay by President Muhammadu Buhari in signing the amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 so as to frustrate the smooth conduct of primaries by political parties and derail the entire electoral process.

“It is not surprising to the PDP that Mr. President was again “absent” having travelled to the United Arab Emirate and abandoned his constitutional duty of signing the crucial amendment to the Electoral Act.

“This attitude of Mr. President to an issue that is critical to our electoral system is consistent with APC’s plot to cause confusion in the polity, orchestrate an unconducive environment for elections, stall the 2023 general elections and achieve a rumoured third term agenda.

“The regularity of the electoral process as well as the confidence of the people in the certainty of timelines and outcomes of elections are the hallmarks of democracy, which the APC has been dislocating apparently with the view to undermining the electoral process.

“It is clear that the APC has already commenced this ignoble plot with its desperation to use the Court to overthrow the outcome of the FCT Area Council election held on Saturday, February 12, 2022 which was overwhelmingly won by candidates of the PDP, halt the swearing in of the newly elected Chairmen and Councilors and impose an undemocratic government in the FCT.

“The PDP is concerned about APC’s exposed plot to deploy such despicable underhand methods to subvert elections in 2023 where they do not favour APC candidates.

“Moreover, it is now clear that the APC administration has been compromising our security system, opening our nation up to attacks and permitting shared sovereignty with terrorists over large portions of the territory of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, apparently to further orchestrate a security situation that will justify the stalling of elections in 2023.

“This probably explains why President Buhari has failed to confront terrorists, contrary to his promise to lead the fight against terrorism from the front and why he remains “absent” and “weak” as terrorists pillage our citizens in various parts of the country.

“This is in addition to the provocative comments that have promoted disunity, agitations and restiveness in various parts of our country, including tagging a particular part of the country as “a dot in a circle”

“Our Party cautions the APC to note that its plans has been exposed and that Nigerians will never allow it to perpetrate its misrule through an orchestrated tenure elongation.

“Nigerians are determined to vote out the APC and return our nation to the path of unity, stability and economic prosperity under the PDP.  No amount of shenanigan can keep the APC in power beyond May 29, 2023.”

This medium recalls that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Clarke, recently asked Buhari to elongate his tenure by two years because of the unprecedented insecurity in the country.

Ebonyi Will Not Be Part Of Biafra – Umahi; Says Insecurity In South-east Political; Blames Ohanaeze For Kanu’s Situation

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

“The Igbo should be wise. Sit-at-home is nonsense. It is useless and nonsense  because even if there were to be Biafra, Ebonyi will NOT be part of Biafra. I have said it, and I will continue to say it – Governor Umahi

Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, an Engineer, has excused his State from the Republic of Biafra, if and/or when it is realized.

Ebonyi State will not be part of Biafra, the Governor emphasised.

Speaking in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital, when he received in audience members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Umahi, who is also a 2023 Presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress, APC, said: “Sit-at-home is nonsense. Igbo should be wise. It is useless and nonsense because even if there were to be Biafra, Ebonyi will not be part of Biafra. I have said it, and I will continue to say it.”

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is agitating for an independent South-east Zone, to be known as the Republic of Biafra, based on alleged glaring marginalization of the South-east in all aspects of government and governance in Nigeria. IPOB says Nigeria has been unfair to the Zone, has not treated it as equal partner in the Federation, and is, therefore, asking for a referendum to enable the people of the Zone to decide whether they want to remain in the Federation under the existing situation, or opt out of it.

Governor Umahi, also, attributed the insecurity in the South-east, which worsens by the day, to politics. He, however, debunked the notion that  South-east Governors were not working together to curb insecurity in the Region, but admitted that the Governors “are not bonded” in the fight against the security problems.

South-east Governors Not Bonded; Insecurity In Zone Political

“When it comes to security, I must tell you in all honesty there is politics in our security situation in this Region. Do we say all the Governor’s are bonded towards tackling security challenges? The answer is no. There is extreme politics in this Region. And it must stop for the sake of our people.”

Insecurity Grew Wings From IPOB

Insisting that the insecurity in the Region gradually grew wings from the initial activities of IPOB, Umahi said:

“When we started, we were all working together, and I was the person championing against the activities of IPOB; that the agitation is not good for our people; that the kind of agitation being meted out was not correct; the kind of hate speech. And from there, it developed to violence, and we continued to lie to our people, ‘oh, they have infiltrated.’ Not true. It is  the South-east killing South-easterners and security people. And, if we are not able to speak out, it would continue.

Umahi Blames Ohanaeze For Kanu’s Continued Detention

Speaking on why  a political solution has not been used to secure freedom for Kanu,  Umahi put the blame on the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide led by Professor George Obiozor. He said it has not been possible to secure Kanu’s release  because Ohanaeze leadership refused to follow- up on the already established discussion between South-east Governors and President Muhammadu Buhari.

Umahi, Economical With The Truth

However, not a few people say Umahi is economical with the truth. They recall a number of times the Igbo leadership, passionately, appealed to the President to release Kanu, using a political solution.

One of the times, 94 year-old Chief Amaechi Mbazulike, first Republic Minister for Aviation, led a delegation of some Igbo leaders to the President, to specifically appeal to him to release Kanu. Mbazulike personally asked Buhari to look at his age (94), and release Kanu to him as a special favour before his (Mbazulike’s) exit from Mother-Earth.

Buhari gave the delegation hope when he said it was a difficult request to make, but promised to look into it.

He never did.

Buhari’s About-turn

On a working visit to lmo State a couple of months later, the Igbo leadership, led by Ohanaeze, at a meeting with Buhari at Government House, Owerri, again, passionately appealed to Buhari to release Kanu seeing that only a political solution would resolve the situation, the President refused, worked back on his promise to Mbazulike, and insisted  Kanu’s case must go through every legal process.

During his recent visit to Umahi’s Ebonyi State, the Igbo leadership, also, made same request, but again, Buhari turned the request down, and took refuge on legal processes.

All these are apart from the several other times the Ohanaeze Ndigbo made same requests from Buhari each time they had an enlarged Stakeholders meetings.

Not Ohanaeze, Blame South-east Governors Over Kanu

On the contrary, the chorus is that the South-east Governors Forum, led by Umahi, has never gone to Buhari, as a Forum, to request for Kanu’s unconditional release from custody and prosecution.

Said an angry elder who pleaded anonymity: “They (Governors) don’t care. They are too pre-occupied with their political  future to care. They are angling, each of them, for the position of Vice President in 2023,  So, they don’t have the courage to speak to the President. They lack the courage to tell him the truth and what to do.

The sad thing is that with the insecurity in the Zone which has worsened since Kanu’s arrest, only the innocent people and the masses are either being killed, suffering untold hardship, or living in fear. The Governors are in their comfort zones.”

Why My Fmr. Deputy Blamed Me For His Political Misfortune – Ayo Fayose

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ayo Fayose and Olusola Eleka

By Ayodele Oni

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayo Fayose, has replied his Deputy, Prof Olusola Eleka, who dropped his Senatorial ambition over an alleged sellout by his boss.

Fayose, in a letter, dated 21st May, copies of which were sent to the leadership of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), berated his former  Deputy for speaking evil of his person, going by their past relations.

In the letter, the former Governor stated: “I read your outburst in your letter to the National Chairman of our party, the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, on the withdrawal of your Senatorial aspiration for Ekiti South.

“As my former Deputy and follower, a self-professed “Aremo Osoko,” even though I feel strongly that I should not join issues with you, it is important to set the records straight, especially on your use of words like deceitful and arrogant in addressing my person, which is highly regrettable.

“Most importantly, as a political follower and a Professor of repute, I feel you should not forget history that soon, by allowing yourself to be taken over by emotions such that you will speak ill of a man you once called your “greatest political leader.”

“Have you forgotten that you were in the classroom when I brought you to be my Deputy in 2014 without being part of my emergence as PDP candidate? This is aside the fact that you were unknown to anyone in the party then.

“Then, I was not deceitful and arrogant, but the best, if I may quote you rightly.

“Recall it was condition precedent that we will leave office together in 2018. Rather than leaving with you, I endorsed you as PDP Governorship candidate and by the grace of God, you emerged the candidate against all odds and interests.

“I became the enemy of those who were opposed to your emergence as candidate without being tagged as deceitful and arrogant.

“I also worked tirelessly for your election as Governor, and you know that you are not the governor of Ekiti State today, not because we lost the election. Then, I was to you, the greatest among leaders.

“Unfortunately in 2022, for reasons known to you, you missed the privilege of being endorsed as I did in 2018, part of what earned me your new title of deceitful and arrogant.

“I have become a man you openly disparage, forgetting that everyday is not Christmas.

“However, I consider this as prize for leadership. Nonetheless, all necessary lessons learnt.

“Interestingly, the public you intend to get their sympathy against me are no fools. They certainly have a sense of history.

“Eleka, as I always call you, I think it is time you do a soul searching and ask yourself what went wrong.

“Finally, let me state that my love for you goes beyond political followership and my doors shall remain open for you always. I wish you well.”

The Professor had last week, in a letter to Professor  Ayu, withdrawn his aspiration to run for the Senate, saying that Fayose, who had earlier endorsed him, has set him up for defeat by endorsing somebody else behind his back.

Yoruba Group Links Hausa/Fulani Okada Riders, Beggars, To Funding of Terrorism; Alerts SW

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

We have a strong evidence linking most Okada Riders and Beggars in Lagos and other States in the South, to the funding of Terrorism. It is run by a cartel. They have active and silent cells. They return money to their leaders here who remit same to destination.” – Group

As the spate of insecurity continues to rise in the country, various socio-ethnic groups have stepped up efforts to secure their areas.

In the South-west region, Political leaders have been tasked to step up efforts especially in arresting the menace of Okada riders and beggars that massively throng the region.

The advice, coming from one of the socio-political groups, is to protect the region and to avoid chaos, mob killing and an imminent unholy ethnic crisis.

The Yoruba self determination group, Apapo Oodua Koya, (AOKOYA)  which raised the alarm, pointed out that  terrorism, mainly  Islamic State for West Africa Province, (ISWAP), Boko Haram and terrorist groups  and terrorists’ funds, are linked to a strong cartel which sources of revenue are from Okada riders and a chain of Beggars’ Colonies.

According to the group, this is usually being coordinated by a cell leader who remit funds to the terrorist gangs.

Last week, the Lagos State Government gave an order restricting the operations of commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada to certain areas of the City.

The order has generated mixed reactions especially among the Hausa-Fulani residents in Lagos State, with their leaders calling for restraint on the part of Government.

The group, in a statement signed by Captain Oladapo Bashir (rtd), Head of homeland intelligence, said the South-west is the most lucrative for the terrorist funding mechanism.

AOKOYA said the terrorist groups operating in the South-west have both sleeping and active cells with strong links to Al Shabaa in East Africa and ISIS

AOKOYA listed the terrorist group operating in Western Nigeria as Boko Haram, ISWAP, armed Fulani herdsmen and An Saru.

The Group said with a combination of discrete communication tracking, research, intelligence- gathering, interrogation with victims of kidnapping, planting of moles within the enemy and outright interference of signals, AOKOYA  established, beyond reasonable doubt, a strong link between thousands of Okada Riders and beggars in South West and terrorism financing.

“This is a strategic information that we are compelled to share with the public after many years of Intel analysis”

The Yoruba group warned authorities in the South West not to treat Okada and street beggars as an economic issue, but that the leaders understand its link with terrorism financing.

It added that terrorists are anti-civilisation and would be anxious to burn down historical legacies and treasures of the Western Region without hesitation

“Our intelligence team made up of experts have worked for more than five years on terrorism financing in the South West.

“Our findings are intriguing. Terrorists raise funds from using unsuspecting minors as beggars. Some 1000 beggars are brought to Lagos State every month for instance.

“They are coordinated by a leader usually refered to as “Mallam”. Each beggar is expected to return N200 every week under very strict injunction backed by oath taking.

“There are about 300,000 beggars in Lagos more than 70 percent of who are connected to the cartel. With about some 200, 000 about  N80million is realised by the gang every month.”

AOKOYA said that its latest report is with public spirited security experts within and outside the system.

“This is at the root of the violence and the resistance against the removal of beggars and Okada riders in the South West.

“We are dealing with an organised and well disciplined group with iron cast determination to take over the South West with force of arms. Their activities is with the full support of some powerful people in Government.”

The Group further alleged that apart from raising huge sums of money from beggars and kidnapping, they also invest the illicit funds in Okada in Lagos.

“Thousands of Okada riders get their motorcycles from a terrorist  cartel that operate under registered enterprises.

“Each of the Okada riders returns N500 every week. With N2000 per 20,000 Okada, the terrorist cartel makes some N40m every month.

“This is different from the billions of funds raised through covert and overt cases of kidnapping, implication being that the terrorists will continue to buy arms from abroad and from local sources to fortify themselves in preparation for their ill conceived war.

AOKOYA said the Yoruba political and business classes are unreasonable, shallow in thinking and have a false illusion that they are safe when their assets can go up in flames in just few days through terrorist attack.

The only way out is for the people to take the bull by the horns and salvage the situation.

“We see most rich people today becoming beggars and destitutes because of their foolishness and their failure to support the campaign for freedom in Yorubaland. Very soon, it will be too late for them.”

AOKOYA berated some South West Governors who it said are surrounded by “hypocrites, educated, but lacking in wisdom, who are motivated by primitive accumulation of wealth, rather than consideration for the livelihood of their people.

“In the Fulani North, the position of Chief of Staff for instance is too strategic to be given to any ordinary person, who is not conscious of the Fulani history and heritage.

“But in Yorubaland, the position of Chief of Staff is given to people who have no sense of history, people whose main motivation is to accumulate wealth and win the next election.

“While the Fulani North thinks of the future of its generations, most of the South West leaders think of elections for personal gains.

“This is partly responsible for the dangerous generation gap between the Yoruba leaders and the masses who are burning with anger and rage over the siege place on them by Fulani raiders and the helplessness of the leaders they elected but have failed  to protect them.”

Beheaded Lawmaker: Soludo Places N10m on Murderers; Fears His Aide Killed Too; Murderers Threaten More Killings

By
The Source
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Hon Okechukwu Okoye is found and beheaded

By Charles Igbo

The Gunmen who abducted, killed and beheaded Hon. Okechukwu Okoye, the member representing Governor Charles Soludo’s Constituency in the Anambra House of Assembly, have warned they would go after more politicians.

Okoye was abducted on May 16 in Aguata, his LGA, along with his Aide, Cyril Chiegboka. His body-less head was discovered on Saturday, May 21, where it was conspicuously hung.

Even though the Police are silent on the fate of Chiegboka, the assumption is that he may have been killed too.

The threat by the gunmen to go after more politicians was  contained in two notes they dropped by the side of  Okoye’s head which they left hanging at Chisco Motor Park, Amichi, Nnewi.

This is as a completely  devastated Soludo, whose shock at Okoye’s beheading is palpable, placed a N10m bounty on the heads of the murderers.

In one of the notes placed by Okoye’s head, the gunmen wrote: “We give the Politicians 48 hours to withdraw all the soldiers in Biafra land or face our wrath or the consequences.”

In a second note, they threatened Politicians who are allegedly colluding with Security Agents. “We will attack you one by one because Soldiers and Police  officers are no longer our problem.”

Soludo vowed that those who killed and beheaded Hon. Okoye will be hunted down. For credible information, a N10 million bounty is waiting.

The State Commissioner of Police, Echeng Echeng, described the hoodlums as cowards, and their action barbaric.

Okoye’s murder has kept the State and its people in a state of unprecedented fear and anger and outrage.

The insecurity in the State has escalated in the past couple of weeks.

Anambra: Outrage As Governor Soludo’s Assembly Member, Hon. Okoye, Is Beheaded

By
The Source
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Hon Okechukwu Okoye is found and beheaded

By Charles Igbo

“I regret that one of you, the member representing the good people of Aguata 11 Constituency in the House of Assembly (my own representative), Hon. Okechukwu Okoye is still in the custody of the kidnappers. The Security Agencies are working very hard and around the clock to secure his release. God is on the throne, and Anambra will win. Let me leave it at that”

The above quote was by Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo. It came from him on Wednesday, May 18, 2022,  when he went to the Anambra State House of Assembly to present the revised 2022 Budget.

A couple of days earlier, gunmen had poked their hands into Soludo’s eyes by kidnapping the House of Assembly Member representing the Governor’s own Constituency, Aguata 11.

Honourable Okechukwu Okoye and one other were kidnapped May 15, 2022, in Aguata while he was driving his Sienna car. The Police recovered the abandoned car, but  Okoye was nowhere.

Everybody was optimistic that his abductors would make contacts and ask for ransom, and release him thereafter. Afterall, he had been kidnapped before, and was released.

When Soludo spoke about Okoye on Wednesday, he, too, was optimistic. He raised hopes.  But it was an optimism that has gone awry. Hope that has become hopeless.

Honourable Okoye has not only been killed, he was beheaded. His  body-less head was found on Saturday at Nnobi in the Idemili South Local Government Area of the State. His abductors took away his body, and left his head where it would be found.

An eye-witness said his head, freshly cut-off, was mounted at Chisco Motors Motor Park.

Outrage has greeted his killing and beheading. His Isuofia Community and the entire State are reeling in palpable shock.

“A sacrilege”, sreamed an elderly man who pleaded anonymity. “Igboland has gone to the dogs”, he added,  his hands on his head.

Another, with tears carousing his cheeks said:  “This is worse than the murder of Deborah in Sokoto. In Sokoto, they said Deborah committed blasphemy. In this cases, what did Okoye do?”

“This is not who we are and, thus, must be rooted out of our communities. It is hightime all Igbo Communities take drastic action to get to the root of this violence, killings and arson attacks across Igboland”, said another.

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the beheading of Honourable Okechukwu Okoye. But no arrest has been made.

Governor Soludo was yet to react at the time of filing this story.

In past few weeks, the insecurity in Anambra State has escalated.

Anglican Communion, Egbu Kingdom Mourn as G.J Amadi Dies

By
The Source
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GJ Amadi of Egbu Anglican Dies

By Charles Igbo

Egbu Kingdom, an autonomous Community in Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State, has been thrown into deep mourning.

The kingdom has lost one of its very prominent and responsible sons in whom it was well pleased.

Godfrey Justin Amadi, more popular as G.J.,  has passed on.

Mourning with Egbu Kingdom is the Anglican Communion, in Nigeria, especially, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, TBS, Lagos, where he worshipped  and was a staunch member, and, more especially, All Saints Cathedral, Egbu, Diocese of Egbu, where he was a pillar, a driving force, and Diocesan Board member.

Reliable sources said he passed-on in a Lagos Hospital on Saturday, May 14, 2022, of old-age related illness. He was aged 89 years.

Making public his passing, Mr Kelechi Amadi, who signed on behalf of the family, informed Egbu people of the passing of “Our ICONIC son.”

He wrote: “Umunnem nde Egbu Kingdom, with grief in our hearts but total submission to the will of God, we, the Amadi Family of Akujobi family in Akpadike kindred of Umuayalu, wish to inform you about the passing of our  ICONIC son, brother, uncle, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, G J. Amadi.

“May his loving, kind and generous soul Rest In Peace.

“The family will announce the program of events in due course.”

Amadi was an accomplished Boardroom guru. He had worked in the oil industry with both the defunct ESO and UNIPETROL. He was, also, on the Board of a number of companies.

G.J. was, in his lifetime, an accomplished philanthropist who not only sponsored a number of Egbu youths in their education but was responsible for their job placements “here and there”.

He was, also very deft in raising funds for both Community and Church projects.

Married to his devoted Dorothy, (née Odunze), their union was blessed with six children – four females and two males. One of the girls passed on in London, a couple of years ago, leaving her husband and children. G.J. and his wife were  blessed with a number of  grandchildren.

He will be sorely missed by his family, Egbu Kingdom and the Anglican Communion.

Arthur Nzeribe Was A Great Man, Says Uzodimma

By
The Source
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Arthur Nzeribe

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, on Saturday, described late Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe as a great man who will be missed by all.

The Governor spoke at the funeral service for late Senator Nzeribe at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oguta.

Addressing the congregation at the end of the burial Mass, Governor Uzodimma, accompanied by his wife, Chioma, said everyone is in agreement that Sen Nzeribe was a great man and that his death is touchy.

The Governor said:  “He came a great man, lived a great man and is going a great man. Events surrounding the late Sen. Arthur Nzeribe show that he was a great man both in life and in death.”

He described late Nzeribe as one of Igbo’s and Nigeria’s best and brightest and further affirmed that the late Senator of was a “common denominator in the political lexicon of Nigeria.”

Governor Uzodimma assured those who came to Imo State for Sen. Nzeribe’s burial both from within and outside the State, that their security is guaranteed.

Later at the palatial home of the deceased, Governor Uzodimma and his wife signed the condolence register after which they witnessed Sen. Nzeribe’s internment.

In the condolence register Governor Uzodimma wrote:

“There’s no other way of defining a great man outside what you represented here on earth before your passage. May the good Lord grant you eternal mercy and place in heaven.”

In a vote of thanks to the congregation who graced the Church Service, the former Deputy Governor of Imo State,  Gerald Ironna also described late Nzeribe as “a great man even in death.”

Earlier in his homily, Rev Fr Obilor admonished the living to always ask for God’s mercy in line with bilbical injunction: “Blessed are the mercyful for they shall obtain mercy.”

He  pointed out that the worst sin in the world is the denial of justice hence he urged the congragation to seek God and do good while they are still living.

Fr Obilor said late Nzeribe started on time to prepare for his eternal journey, noting that he was a practising Catholic even unto death.

Also, he said Sen. Nzeribe lived for the poor, spoke his mind as a politician and never compromised his personal relationship with his God.

The burial attracted important personalities from Imo State and beyond including the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof Placid Njoku, former Governor Ikedi Ohakim and his wife, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and his wife, Chairman of Imo State Elders Council, HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and former INEC Chairman, Prof Maurice Iwu.

Others were the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kennedy Ibe,  his deputy, Rt. Hon Amara Iwuanyanwu, Secretary to Government of Imo State, Chief Cosmas Iwu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie and other top government officials.

One Dies As Building Collapses In Lagos; Heavy Rain Wreaks Havoc In Ogun State

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Building Collapase in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali and Uche Mbah

Residents of Freeman Street, Lagos Island, and other parts of Lagos are counting their losses over the heavy  downpour that lasted for over three hours wreaked havoc.

A four-storey building under construction in the said area collapsed, leaving one dead. Many are still under the rubble.

Emergency Responders swung into action as soon as they were alerted of the collapse and rushed to the scene on a rescue mission.

Luckily, two persons were immediately rescued from the rubble of the collapsed building and was rushed to the Hospital by the National Emergency Management Agency, NAMA and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, both of which were on ground.

The cause of the collapse of the building was immediately attributed to the heavy rain and windy storm. But this magazine gathered that the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, had already noted that the collapsed building was in violation of safety protocols.

Said a source: “It was discussed that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statuyory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Level.

“Further investigation determined determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Agency confirmed the collapse in a preliminary report titled, ‘ Situation report on collapsed four-floor building at 4 Alayaki Lane, Lagos Island on Saturday, 21st May, 2022’.

The report read, “The Agency responded to the above incident which was already in violation of building safety protocols.

It was discovered that the building had been captured by the LASBCA District Office and served with all Statutory Notices, Sealed at District and Central Enforcement Level.

“Further investigation determined that the developer had continued clandestine operations mostly at night and at the weekends.

“An unconfirmed number of people are still trapped inside the building. Two people have been rescued alive while another was recovered dead

“Search and Rescue operations ongoing. Further updates to follow.”

In other parts of the State, the heavy downpour led to the flooding  of the roads and poor visibility for Motorists plying the roads.

Vehicular movement was halted in the Lagos Island of the State as the road was waterlogged with Vehicles stranded in the flood, with Motorists waiting patiently for the flood to subside before they can continue their journey.

It was a sad tale for residents of Sango, Oju Ore, Iyana Iyesi, Aparadija, Ayetoro area of Ado Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The heavy rain saw roofs of some houses blown off by wind, while some were bailing water from their houses due to the heavy flood.

Passersby in the area were walking at snail speed due to the heavy flood that has taken over the road and fear of not falling into the drainages and gutters.

There was no vehicular movement on the Lagos Abeokuta Expressway as the road that was already in a pathetic state worsened with the heavy downpour.

It would be recalled that Commissioner for the Lagos State Ministry for Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, had during a briefing on the 2022 seasonal climate predictions and socio-economic implications for the state, noted that Lagos Island is expected to have a rainfall onset date as from April 6, cessation date as  November 30 and a total rainfall amount of 1627mm.

He stressed that the peculiarity of Lagos, as a coastal state and its strategic position as the economic hub of the nation, has necessitated the need to disseminate crucial information on the 2022 climate prediction to prepare people ahead of the likely consequences of the rains and other relevant weather parameters.

As predicted, the rainfall in Lagos and its environs was intense, resulting in multiple crashes in some areas of the state and its neighbouring State, Ogun.

How IPOB Killed Missing Woman Inspector, Felicia Nwagbara, In A Shrine; Her Husband, Casmire, Is IPOB Member – Police

By
The Source
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0
Suspected Killder of Inspector Felicia

By Charles Igbo

“Declared missing since 2017, Inspector Felicia’s Camouflage Police Uniform which she wore on the day she went missing, was recovered in a deadly shrine, along with a live python. Her husband and six others were arrested at the Shrine”

A Woman Inspector of Police, Felicia Nwagbara, was,  in the year, 2017, declared missing by the Imo State Police Command.

Nobody could explain her whereabouts, or the circumstances surrounding it. She simply disappeared into thin air.

After fruitless efforts to trace her, she was declared missing by Police authorities. Her husband Casmire Mgbugba, 53,  it is gathered, was inconsolable.  He joined in the search. The Inspector was his second wife, who, everybody thought, was his favorite.

But on Thursday, May 19, 2022, the Police had a breakthrough. It made a startling discovery.

Inspector Nwagbara was killed in a deadly shirne, a shrine where  live python was kept. And where alleged seven members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, were arrested.

The shock: Inspector Nwagbara’s husband was one of the seven suspects arrested at the shrine.

When the dreaded shrine was invaded and raided by the Police, based on information credible  informantion and intelligence reports, the Inspector’s Police uniform, which she was wearing before her disappearance, was one of the items recovered. The  meaning is  that for years, her husband knew his wife had been killed by him and his colleagues, or had been fed to the python in their shrine.

The Spokesman of the Imo State Police Command, Michael Abattam, revealed the Inspector’s tragic end in Owerri on Thursday when he addressed Reporters. He said: “The Command has uncovered a deadly shrine and arrested suspected  seven members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and its affiliate, Eastern Security Network and a live python.”

The live python, Abattam revealed is for the use of the members to fortify themselves.

On how they were arrested, Abattam told a gripping story. He said: ” The Command’s Tactical Teams on 18/5/2022, at about 0600 hours hastily hastily mobilized when it received credible information that the native doctor who prepares charms for fortifications against bullets and knives for the group before their operations, has returned after fleeing the community.

“With the positive revelations made in the course of interrogating the suspects earlier arrested, in connection with killings, the Team was able to locate the criminal hideout in Ubah Agwa in Oguta LGA of Imo State, and immediately, cordoned off the area and tactically went into the den.

“The hoodlums, on sighting the Police operatives attempted to escape, only to discover that the whole escape routes, has been saturated with Police Operatives. They were arrested.

“The arrested suspects are: Casmire Mgbugba, ‘m’, aged 53 years, Hycent Chimezie, ‘m’, aged 30 years, Hycent Azunna, ‘m’, aged 28 years, Hycent Ifesinachi, ‘m’, aged 26 years, Hycent Chimobi, ‘m’  aged 23 years, Chukwuemeka Wisdom, ‘m’, aged 22 years, and Nnadiike Clifford, m, aged 72 years.

“Recovered from the shrine are: Toyota Camry Car with registration number, AKD 73 BF LAGOS, one live python, eight locally made pistols, 18 rounds of live cartridges, one Biafran flag, a look pair of Police camouflage uniform belonging to late Inspector Felicia Nwagbara ‘f’, who has been declared missing since 2017 by Police authorities.”

It is not known if Inspector Nwagbara’s now arrested husband has held funeral rites for her since she had been missing since 2017. It is, also, nor known if Police authorities have paid all her entitlements, and if so, who the beneficiary was – her now arrested husband?

Imo State, like other States in the South-east, has been bedeviled by unprecedented insecurity which, even though both the State and Federal Governments have been trying very hard to contain, is being gradually reduced to a no-go-area, especially, Orlu zone.

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