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2023: Politicians Scramble For Relevance Over Atiku Presidential Bid

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Two Groups with identical name are tackling each other over the control of one of the presidential aspirants that has emerged as the race for 2023 general elections gathers momentum.

The aspirant, Atiku Abubakar, who publicly announced his intention to contest on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), is a former Vice President.

Atiku’s bid will be the fourth time he will be jostling for the Presidential  ticket.

His present bid has, however, pitched two Groups against each other as the two are laying claim  to being in charge of the former Vice President’s aspiration.

The Groups, Atiku Loyalists, under a female politician from the South, is laying claim to the fact that it has been in charge  while the other, headed by another politician from the north insists that Atiku Loyalists Group belongs to a group of youths.

A statement at the weekend, signed by one Adewumi Adekemi insists that “It has been brought to my attention by members of this group, that the message below has been circulating by another group calling themselves ATIKU LOYALISTS team.

“This is a rude shock to us and unprofessional, we thought it was a lie and can’t be true.

“I, Princess Adekemi Adewunmi has been the ATIKU LOYALISTS  National President for about 5 years now, with a proper documentation and duly registered, with the organisation and recognised.

“It is good we are all supporting the same agenda, but we are not afflicted with this new group using our name as their new name too.”

In what looks like a reaction, another Northern politician declared that “My name is Engr. Aliyu Usman from Kano State and I am the convener-general of “The Atiku Loyalists”

“The group consists of concerned youths, who noticed the myriad of problems facing Nigeria and realized the necessity for taking giant steps toward solving them collectively.

“We came up with an idea of strategic campaign for Alhaji

Atiku Abubakar targeting people from the grassroots, who are the real voters, not involving political thugs.

“Having settled that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is the best choice for the 2023 Presidential election, the initiative considers it a patriotic act to propagate and sell out his candidacy to the youth and grassroots voters.

“This would be possible by engaging youth through necessary means possible, which will inevitably assist in the realization of the long-awaited dream of living in a promised Nigeria.

“This initiative was formed based on experiences and knowledge of the hyper-connected youth leaders across all the 7 Northwestern States.

“It is designed with a more strategic campaign that carried everyone along and that which is wise in dealing with the current situation in the country; that is mentally conscious to positivity and negativity; that is friendly; that enjoys greater leadership and political participation; that ensures equality and that, which is committed to development.”

Sit-at-home Ill-Advised, Counter-Productive, Blurs Our Demands, Agitations – Ndigbo

By
The Source
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By Charles Igbo

At a joint meeting of the Anambra State Government, Traditional Rulers, and Clerics, as well as, allegedly, representatives of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, it was unanimously agreed that the Sit-at-home order imposed by IPOB on Igboland has done more harm than good to the Region and the people.

The meeting  held in Awka,  was to discuss the security situation in Anambra as well as the South-east in general.

Attended by very high profile  Igbo, it was agreed that the sit-at-home order imposed on the region blurs whatever grievances and Agitations the Region has.

In the wake of the arrest in June, 2021, of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB had declared a weekly, every-Monday  Sit-at-home order in Igboland to pressurise the Federal Government into releasing Kanu. But it has had no effect, as the FG has hardly taken any notice. Instead, it has brought untold hardship to the people.

For instance, it has completely grounded the Zone, reduced its economy to zero, disrupted education and all social lives. Worse, it engineered the killing of hundreds of people.

IPOB had, earlier, under pressure and appeals limited it to only the days Kanu would appear in Court, but it has not been a full success, as people still get harassed, properties destroyed, and lives even list. The suspicion is that a rogue IPOB has hijacked it as IPOB Spokesman, Emma Powerful, has consistently denied IPOB’s complicity, declaring the enforcers criminals.

But in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the Leaders noted that: “It is abundantly clear that the Monday Sit-at-home is ill-advised and counter-productive.”

They also noted that it has not helped the call for the release of Kanu or IPOB’s cause.

They noted in the communique: “While we have severally and individually supported the call for his release from incarceration, the experience of the past 14 months, however, leaves no iota of doubt that the Sit-at-home is blurring the intent and objective of the agitation and it is time for us to count our losses and move. It is beyond doubt that the Sit-at-home exercise has done incalculable damage to the economy of Anambra State and indeed the South-east.”

In the past few days, insecurity has escalated both in Anambra and Imo States.  IPOB denies complicity.

IPOB has, reportedly, agreed to end all Sit-at-home order. And days of prayers for peace in the Zone has been fixed. Following is the full text of the Communiqué, and its signatories.

Joint Statement by The Government of Anambra State and the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulers and Bishops/Archbishops on the State of Insecurity in the Igbo Homesteads

Preamble

  1. Further to the call by the Joint Body of South East Council of Traditional Rulership and Bishops/Archbishops (Joint Body) on Peace and Conflict Resolution in October 2021 for restoration of genuine peace and normalcy in the South East based on justice, equity, fairness, love, mutual understanding and respect; and to the invitation of the new Governor of Anambra State, at his inauguration address on March 17, 2022, to all non-State Actors to interrogate their goals and methods, the representatives of the Traditional Rulers and Religious Leaders in Anambra State convened a meeting with representatives of the Anambra State Government and the Counsel to Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to consider path ways to restore normalcy in Anambra State.
  2. You may recall that a number of groups have previously called on the Federal Government to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to no avail. Indeed, the present Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, solidarized with Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whilst he was held in Kuje prison, awaiting trial, on February 28, 2017 an…

Fayose Endorses Former Deputy For Ekiti South Senatorial Seat

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Fayose and his Deputy

By Ayodele Oni

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has declared his support for former Deputy Governor of the State and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2018 election, Prof Kolapo Kolade-Eleka, for the Ekiti South Senatorial seat.

Prof Eleka served as deputy Governor during the tenure of Fayose.

Incumbent Senator representing the southern Senatorial district, Biodun Olujinmi, now on second term is yet to make public her decision to return to the red chamber, but she is being rumoured to be nursing the third term ambition.

She was among those who  showed interest during the Governorship primary of PDP but withdrew from the race at the last minute.

Fayose, who made this declaration during a town hall meeting with PDP stakeholders in Ise/Orun Local Government on Saturday,  said his endorsement of Prof Olusola-Eleka will, however, not prevent other members of the party from contesting the primary election.

Fayose and his Deputy
Ayo Fayose and Prof Kolapo Kolade-Eleka

“The endorsement of Eleka is in the interest of the PDP and it will not shut the door against anyone.

“It is our position that Ikere Ekiti, being the second largest town in the State, cannot be left bare in the scheme of things.

“Therefore, Senator Biodun Olujimi, the present occupier of the seat should see this decision beyond the personal ambition of any individual.

“More so, that she has benefitted immensely from the party by going to the House of Representatives and Senate for two terms.”

Olujimi was also Fayose’s Deputy Governor during his first term in office.

2023: Amaechi To Fly South-south/South-east Flag; Says “I am Igbo, Don’t Deny Me My Ancestry”

By
The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

The Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, will fly  represent two Zones while pursuing his ambition of becoming the President in 2023. He will be representing the South-south and the South-east.

Amaechi is from the South-South. But he is of the South-south Igbo. And he proudly claims it with two hands. “My birth names are Igbo names – Chibuike Amaechi. I am an Igbo man. Let no one deny me of my Igbo heritage, birthright, Ancestry, please. Unless you want to be sectional and deny the Igbo people. I have made myself clear repeatedly, that I, Chibuike Amaechi from Ikwerre, am an Igbo man. Our people are Igbo people.”

Amaechi proud declaration of his Igbo ancestry is unlike the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who even though he is Ikwerre, and of Igbo ancestry, brazenly denies being Igbo.

Amaechi is yet to declare his aspiration, but speculations have been rife,  strongly, especially, since after he was honored by the Daura Emirate, with a high profile traditional title, and, was visited, thereafter, at home, by the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, to congratulate him. President Buhari is from the Daura Emirate.

However, since after the National Convention of the  All Progressives Congress, APC, on March 26, 2022, the speculation over Amaechi has been raised.

This has been followed by a release of his manifesto which contains his political-life story and his achievements so far.

It also contains photographs he had taken with one high profile political figure or other, as well as other influential Nigerians.

Amaechi was a two-term Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, two- term Governor of Rivers State, two term Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, and now, a two-term Minister for Transportation.

Not a few people think that President Buhari could back Amaechi in order to kill two birds with one stone – make the South-south  complete a second term which was aborted in 2015 with the defeat of Goodluck Jonathan, and give the Igbo a sense of belonging, since Amaechi is of Igbo ancestry

IPOB Cancels Sit At Home In South East

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafran separatist group, said it has permanently cancelled its sit- at-home order in South East Nigeria.

IPOB had instituted the controversial sit order to protest the arrest and detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

The order was so effectively policed that the Eastern States converted Monday into a non-working day and added Saturday as a work day.

IPOB’s new position is reportedly on the intervention of the new Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported Saturday from Awka that IPOB yielded to the appeal by the Anambra Government and Traditional rulers to pave the way for peace, since all Igbo stakeholders and religious leaders have declared their intention to find a lasting solution to insecurity and incessant sit-at-home directives in the South East.

The decision was disclosed by the Chairman, Anambra Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, during a one-day peace building and security meeting held in Awka on Saturday.

His Royal Highness, Igwe Achebe, who is also the Obi of Onitsha, said that the stakeholders have continually held meetings on the way forward to lasting resolutions of the impasse with the agitators.

He said that after its meeting with the group on Friday, April 1, it was agreed that a call to release the IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would be a step to dousing the tension in the state.

He said that after the meeting, the group placed a call to all its members to sheathe their swords, put down their guns and go the way of dialogue.

“We call on all who had taken the way of gun to put down their guns and take up the olive leaf from the Government to better themselves,” Achebe said.

He said that the State Government has set April 4 for prayers aimed at seeking God’s face to restore a lasting peace in Anambra and South East as whole.

NAN quoted Achebe as indicating that it was agreed that on April 4, all Churches in Igboland and South East will join in prayers to seek God’s forgiveness and to restore peace in the area.

“Igboland has lost so much in economic and social development of the zone and we are tired of the situation and want peace,” the Traditional Ruler said.

According to him, “It is agreed that on Sunday, April 3, all Churches will announce the IPOB decision to their  faithful to come out on Monday 11am to their various churches to offer prayers to God for the restoration of peace and economic development.”

Lots of other speakers at the meeting spoke in line with the decision.

The speakers include Mr Uche Okafor, Anambra Speaker, who assured that the legislators would partner with the State Government to enthrone lasting peace and economic development of the state and the zone.

Chief Damin Ogene-Okeke, the National Vice President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, urged the public to embrace the decision to establish peace building amongst “ourselves and work towards improving security sanity in the state”.

He called on the Governors of the South East States to represent their people well and speak the minds of the citizens who elected them into office.

Kaduna Train Attack: How Obi of Onitsha Was Saved

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The Source
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Obi of Onitsha - Igwe Alfred

By Charles Igbo

But for a phone call, one of four things could have happened to the revered Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe. He would either have been dead, kidnapped, injured or, well, alive.

If any of the first three, especially, the first two had happened, hell would have been let loose. For, there would have been no way to convince the Igbo that the attack was not executed, deliberately, to get at the revered king.

He had purchased the ticket for the Train trip, Abuja-Kaduna, for that evening of March 28, 2022. He had a meeting in Kaduna.  And, in fact, was already at the Train Station, waiting to board. But just before he boarded, he received a phone call which changed his plan, stopped his trip to Kaduna, and saved the Nation a worse embarrassment than it has already suffered since the incident.

Telling the story by himself on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at a function organised by the Afamefuna Socio-cultural organization in Enugu, Igwe Achebe told his shocked listeners the story of his escape.

He said: “I was among the passengers meant to be on the Train last Monday because I had a meeting I was suppose to be attending. I was already at the Train station when I got a phone call over an emergency, and I had to leave the station to attend to it.”

It was the phone-call which told him of an emergency, that saved the Obi.

Recall that terrorists had planted bombs on the Railway tracks between Abuja and Kaduna. On the day of the incident, the ill- fated Train was bombed, and terrorists invaded the Train. A number of people ( the Government says eight) were killed. Reports say about 136 passengers are either missing or kidnapped, and remain unaccounted for. About 26 people were injured, and are in the hospital.

No arrests has, so far, been made.

OPINION: Bola Ige: Perhaps Closed Files Should Remain Just That – Closed?

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The Source
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By Wole Soyinka

“With the election of the prime suspect in the murder of the late Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, as National Secretary of the Ruling Party, the investigative revisit promised by President Muhammadu Buhari is already hamstrung and disrobed of credibility. I think the nation should simply relieve President Buhari of his pledge.”

Barely three months have passed since the twentieth anniversary of the murder of the late Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, an occasion that I utilized to remind President Mohammed Buhari, of a subsisting election pledge.  That pledge was to re-open the files on the spate of unsolved political assassinations that had plagued the nation in recent decades.

Prominent among those cases was that of the Minister of Justice, murdered on his way to take up a prestigious position with the United Nations.

Presidential response was swift. Buhari ordered the Inspector-General of Police to re-open those files and resume investigations.

The nation has patiently awaited even a hint of Work in Progress. Most, I am certain, expect no less than a revaluation of prior investigative efforts. None, to my knowledge, has attempted to rush the Chief of Police and his team into judgment.  We all take solace in the knowledge that the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they arrive.  Eventually.

However, an unusual turn of events has raised questions. The ruling party, headed by the same President, has just elected as its National Secretary one of the prime suspects of this most notorious of the nation’s unsolved murders. Not for a moment does one suggest that mere accusation, even trial, presumes Guilt. More than a mere verdict is involved in any trial, however.

The process of arriving at that ultimate destination – justice – is integral to the very concept of democracy and equality under the law. That process is one of the structures of civic education.

Unresolved till today were quite a number of untidy, even suspect aspects of investigation, prosecution and trials, aspects which revealed improper cell co-habitation by suspects under custody. That this led necessarily to recantations of earlier depositions is not thereby proven, but the fact remains that such U-turns did take place. One was so brazen that it induced a heart attack that proved fatal to the victim’s wife, another Justice – Mrs. Atinuke Ige.

That the prime suspect was privileged in a number of improper ways went beyond mere allegation. Political interventions, including pressure on the judiciary during bail hearings cannot be denied. A judge under such pressure kept a diary with accusations, pages of which he consigned to friends for safe keeping.

With the emergence of the said prime suspect as National Secretary of the Ruling Party, is the Inspector-General of Police equipped to confront political obstacles in a resumption of investigation?  Is there any guarantee that the result will see the light of day? How suspect, ab initio, will be the conclusions, given the present political ordering?

I repeat: we are speaking of blatant, undeniable exercise of POLITICAL interventions during investigations and the arraignment of suspects.  Prior incumbency of the position of National Secretary of a ruling party has demonstrated the potent interventionist clout that can be wielded from that office.

The president has personally received, and thus anointed the new incumbent.  Since he remains central to any re-investigation – whatever form or direction it takes – just what value of objective assessment can be placed on the presidential pledge?

To this layman, that investigative revisit is already hamstrung and disrobed of credibility.  I think the nation should simply relieve President Buhari of his pledge.

I am certain the Inspector-General of Police will be equally relieved and can now turn his mind and energy to the national accustomed posture – Business as Usual.

Soyinka is Nigeria’s only  Nobel Laureate  and a Citizen of the World

Imo Commissioner Loses Country Home To Bombs

By
The Source
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0
Prince Ford Ozumba House

By Charles Igbo

Prince Ford Ozumba, Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, Imo State, has lost his magnificent country home, in his community, Umuhu Okabia, Orsu Local Government Area, to hoodlums.

They, in their numbers, attacked Ozumba’s home during an uncivilised hour of Friday April 1, 2022, and threw petrol-bombs into the compound. The explosion set fire on the compound, and razed it.

Mercifully, no life was lost in the dastardly act, as there was nobody in the compound.

Ozumba, a former Journalist and former Managing Director of Imo State Newspapers, was in Owerri when the incident happened.

A devastated Ozumba who spoke to Reporters in Owerri, lamented his fate as properties worth millions of Naira were lost.

“We were all  in Owerri, only to learn this morning that my family house has been burnt down. I was told that the attackers wreaked havoc in the dead of the night. They threw a Petrol bomb into the compound.

“What a sad day. My family compound in my village has been razed down by hoodlums last night.

Incidentally, Ozumba is the third Cabinet member of the Governor Hope Uzodinma- Government whose country home has been petrol-bombed.

Before him, the Commissioner for Information, Declan Mbadiwe and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Akaolisa had suffered same fate.

A few weeks ago, it was the turn of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General, Professor George Obiozor.

Incidentally, all the victims are from the same Orlu Senatoral Zone – Imo West.

Both Uzodinma and his predecessor, Senator Rochas Okorocha are, also, from same zone.

The Zone, surprisingly is the centerpiece of insecurity in Imo State.

Afunanya Represents DSS On NBC’s Board

By
The Source
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Peter Afunanya,- DSS Spokesperson

The Spokesman of the Department of State Services, DSS, Dr Peter Afunanya, has been appointed and inaugurated as a Board member of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission, NBC, by  President Muhammadu Buhari.

Afunanya was inaugurated, along with other members, on Friday, April 1, 2022 by the Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed. He is to represent the DSS on the Commission.

Afunanya holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the Abia State University(ABSU), a Masters degree in English from the University of Uyo, a Masters Degree in Peace and Strategic Studies from the University of Ilorin and a PhD in Security and Strategic Studies from Nassarawa State University, Keffi.

He has attended courses in Innovation and Strategy at Harvard University, Security Co-ordination and Management in London, as well as other local and international training programmes.

He also possesses many laurels and awards such as the President’s NYSC National Honours Award for Outstanding Performance during the 1998/99 national service year, DGSS Meritorious Award 2021 amongst others.

Afunanya is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators (NiCarb), the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); the Society for Peace Scholars and Practice (SPSP); the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) and the Nigerian Institute for Nigerian Institute for Industrial Security (NIIS).

He is also a member of the Nigerian Red Cross (NRC), a Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration (ICA) and a Fellow of the Security Institute (fsi).

Qatar 2022: Davido Performs World Cup Theme Song; As Draws For Mundial Is Held

By
The Source
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0
Davido at FIFA

By Akinwale Kasali

Though Nigeria’s Flag wouldn’t be hoisted at the World Soccer Showpiece in Middle East, Qatar, but Nigeria’s Music Sensation, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, thrilled guests at the Conventional Hall in Doha, Qatar, where the draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup draw was held, making the world feel the Nigeria vibes and presence.

The theme song for the soccer fiesta is titled ‘Hayya Hayya’ (Better Together).

Davido had  tweeted, “I’m honored to be featured on the Official ⁦#FIFAWorldCup 2022 Soundtrack! See y’all later 2NITE! This one is for Africa! TULE!!!! WE RISE!”

Aside from Davido, the single featured US star Trinidad Cardona, and Qatari sensation Aisha ahead of tonight’s final draw for the tournament.

Justifying the choice of Davido and others, FIFA on its official page, said their choice is to “connect with audiences worldwide through the shared passions of football and music.”

“The entertainment strategy was conceived to create innovative and meaningful connections between football fans, music enthusiasts, players, artists, and the game and songs they all love.

“The combination of breakthrough US star Trinidad Cardona, Afrobeats icon Davido and Qatari sensation Aisha captures the spirit of the FIFA World Cup™ and the FIFA Sound strategy by bringing together inspiration from across the globe.”

The draws saw the Host, Qatar in Group A, alongside Senegal, Netherlands and Ecuador.

In Group B, the Three Lions of England is to play Iran, USA and the winners between Wales, Scotland and Ukraine in the final playoff rounds.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina is to Face Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia in Group C, while defending Champion, France will face Denmark, Tunisia and the winner between United Arab Emirates, Australia and Peru.

In the other Groups, Spain, Germany, Japan with the winners in the playoffs between Costa Rica and New Zealand joining the other the three countries in Group E.

Second ranked team in the world, Belgium will face Canada, Morocco and Croatia, while World Number one, Brazil will slug it out with Serbia, Switzerland and Cameroon in Group G.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are in Group H Alongside Super Eagles of Nigeria conqueror, the Black Stars of Ghana, Uruguay and Republic of Korea.

The tournament will commence in November 21 to December 18, 2022.

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