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2023: Group Bars Igbo From VP’s Office

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The Source
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By Charles Igbo

A Group which goes by the name The Movement For The Actualization Of Nigerian President Of Igbo Extraction, MANPIE, has barred every Igbo man/woman from aspiring to the office of the Vice President in 2023.

MANPIE is a new Association which main focus is to see an Igbo occupy the office of the President in 2023. It says it is, by so doing that so that  the Igbo will have a sense of belonging in Nigeria. If the South-south and the South-west can aspire to the office of the President, so can the South-east, MANPIE insists.

Not a few people from the South-east insist that if Nigeria is a country of justice and equity and fairness, then somebody of Igbo extraction should be the President of Nigeria in 2023.  Every other zone has had their son occupy the office, except the South-east. The people think it is deliberate marginalization.That Nigeria deliberately kept the South-east off the radar of the Presidential seat. That is what MANPIE is all about, and has, therefore, barred any Igbo from aspiring to the office of the Vice President, or the coordinator to any Presidential candidate from another zone.

Sylvester Unuero,     MANPIE’s South-east Chairman,  in an address he presented at the launch said a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023 will be an affirmation that the Igbo belong to Nigeria just like other tribes. He said that with one voice, the Igbo can achieve that.

His words: “Ndigbo only need to get their acts together for an Igbo to emerge as President of Nigeria in 2023. The arc of the universe is long but it always bends towards justice. Ndigbo are the major ethnic group in Nigeria yet to produce a President.

“And so, if we go forth with this faith and this determination to achieve the Presidency of Nigeria in 2023, Ndigbo will usher in a new day and a new Nigeria

“When that day comes, the fears of insecurity, marginalization and doubts clouding Nigeria’s future will  be transformed into confidence and excitement that Nigeria will accomplish creative goals.”

On how the Group intends to enforce the campaign, the Chairman said: “The campaign will be mounted in open spaces of the land, in the public domains, in the mainstream media, and the internet. It will have nothing to hide.

“This campaign solicits the support of all Nigerians who believe in equality of all people, in fairness and social justice.

“It demands the attention of all our patriots who subscribe to the principle of equal access to opportunities including power. The project calls for an understanding of conscience and refined sensibility who are unfettered by the prejudices  of our past unencumbered by illogical myths and legends.

MANPIE reassured Igbo sons to hang in there. It said:” Today, MANPIE says to Igbo sons and daughters be not afraid, shun seeking for Vice President and Coordinator positions and run for the President. If the South-west/ South-south emerged from the Presidential contest, why can’t an Igbo man emerge in 2023? So, today we are saying that no Igbo man should run for Vice President in any political party.”

Till date, only former Senate President/ Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, has declared an interest in the office of the President under the PDP. The other person is Sam Ohuabunwa, a Pharmacist and former NIEMETH boss.

Nobody knows yet under which party he plans to run.  As it is, the APC seems to be tilting towards the South-west.

The two main parties are the PDP and the APC.

Insecurity: Okorocha Denies Uzodimma’s Allegation; Invites IGP To Investigate

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The Source
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By Charles Igbo

The former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has asked the Inspector General of Police, to investigate the allegations against him that he is the sponsor of the security breaches in Imo State.

The Imo State Government, speaking through the Commissioner for Information, Declan Emelumba, had accused Okorocha of being behind the various security breaches which the State has been battling for months.

The State Government was reacting to Okorocha’s request on the floor of the Senate, for the intervention of the Senate in the security situation in Imo State. Stung by Okorocha’s submission, the State Government said it was made in bad fate, and that Okorocha was indirectly  calling for a state of emergency to be declared in the State. It wondered on what basis Okorocha was inviting the Senate’s intervention, and asked if the security situation in Imo was worse than those of a number of States in the country. If Senators from those other States are not calling for such intervention, why is Okorocha wishing it on Imo State?

The Government accused Okorocha of being behind the insecurities in the State. Those harassing the State, the Government said, are Okorocha’s goons who he uses to harass the State just to create a poor impression of the State and its Government.

But Okorocha, reacting to the Imo State Government’s Allegation in  statement by his Media Adviser, Sam Onwuemeodo, said his request on the floor of the Senate was in good fate. He said he expected commendation for drawing the attention of the Senate to the Imo situation, instead of being called names.

He said he would never sponsor insecurity in a State he governed for eight years, and dismissed the allegation as unguarded.

He, therefore, called on the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to investigate the  allegation against him and make the findings public.

Okorocha: “The lmo  governor decided to take the route of abuses and propaganda against his brother Senator, who had governed the State before him and who is also the Senator of his Zone. He should have collaborated Okorocha’s fresh ideas on the floor of the Senate, on how to solve the Imo Security problem.

“Having said all these, it is our candid request, that the Inspector-General of Police  and other Concerned Security Agencies,  should investigate the Imo governor’s accusation against Okorocha, with the aim  of finding out the truth or otherwise of this costly accusation. We would also delight that the outcome of their findings be made public in due course.”

Governor Uzodimma and Senator Okorocha, even though in the same party, APC, are  not political friends. Aside from seeing Uzodimma as being responsible for his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, not succeeding him as Governor, Okorocha has not forgiven Uzodimma for not disbanding the various Judicial Commissions and Panels of Inquiry set up against him by the former Governor Emeka Ihedioha’s administration. All pressures  on Uzodimma to do that was in vain as he said disbanding the Commissions and Panels would be unfair to Imo people.

The Government, in implementing the Whitepaper on  the reports of the  Panel on  Land and Other Related Matters, has just stripped Okorocha, his family and cronies of over 86 plots land forcefully taken from people and the State. They have been returned to their original owners.

DSS Warns: Terrorists Are Coming To Invade Border Communities

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The Source
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By Gideon Njoku

From the Department of State Services, DSS, comes a scary warning. Terrorists are coming.

Ever alert to its primary duties of intelligence gathering, the DSS alerted that Insurgents are on their way to attack border communities in Ogun State and other border Communities around the country. Their main targets, the Secret Police said, would be military installations and facilities, its intelligence gathering strongly confirms.

The DSS has, therefore, warned the Nigeria Customs Services and other security agencies to be on alert and repel the terrorists.

The warning, according to a report by the Punch, was contained in a letter by the State Director of the DSS, Ogun State, M.B. Abdullahi,  dated November 25, 2021, to his counterparts in the Customs and other Security Agencies.

Terrorists have been on the prowl in Nigeria for years, especially in the North where it has worsened in the past couple of years.

Abdullahi’s letter which he titled Plans By Insurgents To Launch Attacks On Military Bases In various Border Communities reads:

“Available intelligence indicates plans by insurgents and criminal elements to carry out simultaneous attacks on Military bases in various border communities across the nation anytime from now.

“In view of the foregoing and the likelihood such attacks are not limited to military personnel only, all law enforcement and security agencies with operational bases at border communities are advised to take note of the above threat and emplace countermeasures with emphasis on personal security of operatives to frustrate the planned attacks, please.”

Nigeria has lost thousands of souls, both on the side of  civilians and security agencies to such sudden attacks by insurgents and other criminal elements.

Insecurity: HURIWA Tells Garba Shehu To Cover His Face In Shame; Travel By Road Without Escort

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Garba Shehu

By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government has come under strong criticism from prominent Civil Rights Advocacy Group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, over the worsening insecurity in the country.

Garba Shehu, President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity had earlier said that his Principal deserves credit for his efforts in tackling security issues in Nigeria, prompting the Human Right Group to challenge Shehu to embark on a road trip without security details from Abuja to Zamfara and Katsina and from Abuja to Lagos.

HURIWA, in a statement, said that the Presidential aide should cover his face in shame for talking down on the hundreds of innocent citizens wasted on Nigerian roads especially in the North West by terrorists in the last six years.

It stressed that the nation is in a pathetic State as regards insecurity, and for Shehu to make such statements shows he has no regard for human lives lost daily as a result of the lackadaisical and hypocritical approach of the Federal Government in addressing the issue.

Shehu had made this remarks while presenting a paper at the tenth year anniversary of Federal University Dutsin Ma (FUDMA) in Katsina State.

According to him, the Buhari administration is the only Government that has provided a workable solution to herder-farmer crisis

HURIWA recalled that  Shehu, while presenting the paper, tagged ‘Fake news: Challenges of information management’, stated that it’s incorrect to assert that the Government has not,  or is not doing anything to address insecurity.

According to him, the current administration led by Buhari is the only government of Nigeria since independence that has put forward a working solution to the herder-farmer challenges.

The Rights group said  Buhari spokesman “lacks decorum and respect for the memories of hapless and innocent citizens whose lives were deliberately taken away by different armed non-state actors including, but not limited to the rampaging armed Fulani terrorists who have continued to escalate their terrorism and are unleashing unprecedented violence and bloodshed in parts of Plateau and Southern Kaduna State even as we write.”

HURIWA said it defies logic and commonsense to think that one of the key spokesmen of President Muhammadu Buhari “could be this insensitive and reckless to utter such words that insecurity has been brought to a manageable level when in actual fact the nearly 100 worshippers of Alheri Baptist Church in Kaduna kidnapped and ferried into the lawless Kaduna forests are still being held hostage and indeed the hostage takers and Fulani terrorists have just reportedly demanded over N88 million cash as ransom before these innocent citizens whose lives were jeopardised by the crass inability of the President to take effective measures to combat terrorists, would be freed in this 21 St century World and yet Garba Shehu the spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari is making such a reckless and senseless statement.”

The Group reminded Shehu that only a few days back, armed bandits who are indeed terrorists blocked the Abuja-Kaduna Road on Sunday afternoon and kidnapped many travellers. According to one of the travellers who escaped the abduction, the armed bandits blocked the road at Katari village at about 2pm and operated for more than an hour.

It added that another traveller told journalists that “We had to turn back when we heard the shooting of guns and parked some kilometers away from the scene. After two hours when we saw other vehicles coming from the other side, we continued our journey. Many travellers must have been kidnapped or escaped into the bush as we saw at least fifteen cars parked and empty when we passed the scene of the attack.”

HURIWA recalled that Katari village is one of the most notorious havens of kidnappers along Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Also, HURIWA recalled that terrorists waged unrelenting war against citizens travelling around the North West just as recently the proprietor of Famak British International schools with branches in Kaduna and Abuja Alhaji Sagir Hamida was killed by  terrorists along the Abuja/Kaduna Highway just as Mr Atto who was a former Secretary to the Government of Zamfara State regained freedom in October after spending 32 days in the kidnapper’s den.

It also recalled that media reported that in this latest attack, at least one person was killed by the attackers where many were kidnapped. Others escaped abduction as many vehicles in which they were travelling were abandoned by the roadside after they were apparently ransacked by the attackers.

HURIWA, therefore, is challenging the Spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari Alhaji Garba Shehu to embark on televised road travels from Abuja to Zamfara and Katsina and from Abuja to Lagos with no security protection so he can have the bragging right to ask Nigerians to heap praises on his master if he thinks security has improved.

The Rights group said there is nothing like resolving the attacks massively launched against farmers by armed Fulani herdsmen because the Federal government has refused to charge any armed Fulani terrorists to court over the incessant bloodshed and premeditated attacks against farmers all over Nigeria with Benue, Southern Kaduna, Plateau, Ebonyi States and Enugu state as flashpoints of armed Fulani terrorism.

“How do you solve a crime without the suspects being brought to face the full weight of the law for their atrocities against farmers including the killings of many Catholic Priests in Benue State?”, HURIWA asked.

2023: INEC Targets 100m Voters

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 General Election approaches, the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu-led Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it is targeting over 100 million people on its voter register for the 2023 general elections.

The Electoral Commission had disclosed that it discovered 51,108 double registrations in the recently concluded  Anambra State Governorship election that saw the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Candidate, Charles Soludo, triumph at the polls.

INEC said that the deployment of technology has helped to reduce electoral malpractices.

INEC Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, Festus Okoye and Rotimi Oyekanmi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Commission’s Chairman, made the statement at a world press conference in Lagos.

Oyekanmi, who explained the purpose of the interaction, said: “The current overpopulation, according to the 2019 figures, is 84,004,084, excluding the ongoing Continous Voter Registration.

“Before 2023, INEC is targeting over 100 million voters as more Nigerians continue to respond to the voter registration.”

He urged the media to offer constructive criticisms and remain a willing partner in democratic development.

Nigeria is notorious for low voter turn out during elections. Not more than 30 million people, nationwide cast their votes during elections. They include under-aged voters, especially, in the North.

2023: Tinubu Declares Interest To Succeed Buhari

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Bola Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

The rumours have been strong. The speculations too. But the man around whom they revolve has kept sealed lips. Apparently, he has been exploring. And strategising. And working and discussing behind closed doors. He has been visiting people. And setting up, by proxy it is alleged, groups rooting for him to run for the office of the President of Nigeria in 2023.

He even had to celebrate his 69th birthday party in Kano, the State which returns votes, during elections, more than any other State in Nigeria.

His proxies have been talking, hinting on his ambition every now and then. From the North to the South. But nobody, or Group, has said ”He asked us to campaign for him. He told us he would run for the office of the President of Nigeria.”

However, on Friday, the cat, as they say, was let out of the bag. Not from him. But from an Elder Statesman, Tanko Yakasai.

The 94 year old Yakasai has let it be known that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu visited him in his Abuja house to tell him he would run for the office of the President, and to solicit for his support.

Yakasai, a strong member of the Arewa Consultative Forum, says he would support Tinubu to achieve his ambition. He told the Punch that the former two-time Lagos State Governor visited him on Wednesday to tell him of his ambition to be the President  of Nigeria.

When Tinubu finally publicly declares his ambition, he is not likely to be short of supporters. Many groups including Traditional Rulers from his South-west zone are rooting for him. And so are a number of APC Governors.

Just before he came back from the United Kingdom where he was, for  medical attention,  the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu launched a group, the South-west Agenda, for the purpose of realising Tinubu’s ambition.

While he was in the UK, his residence became a Mecca of sorts for Politicians. In the lead was President Muhammadu Buhari, who was also on a medical trip to the UK. He made out time to visit Tinubu to wish him a quick recovery. His visit was followed by that of a number of State Governors, and the Northern House of Representatives Caucus led by the Deputy Speaker of the House. A delegation of the Lagos House of Assembly also visited.

Since his return, nothing has changed. Politicians and groups, including Afenifere, have been trooping to his Ikoyi residence to wish him well.

Some days ago, he visited the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, apparently to brief him on his ambition. Kalu, in a statement, said both of them discussed National issues and how to move Nigeria forward.

A couple of days ago, former Lagos State Governor, and now, Minister for Works, Babatunde Fashola, said on a television programme that even though Tinubu has not, yet, told him of his desire to run for the office of the President, he, Tinubu, would make a statement on that in January, 2022.

Tinubu, a former Senator, National Leader of the APC, is the most visible and the most influential of his class of Governors – 1999 to 2007.

His wife, Remi, is  currently, a ranking Senator.

Covid: Only Vaccinated Junior Officers in Federal Civil Service Will Resume December 1st – FG

By
Uche Mbah
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Federal Secretariat Abuja

By Uche Mbah

The Federal Government has approved the full resumption of Junior Civil Servants on grade level 12 and below to resume work Wednesday December 1st after they have been forced to work from home due to COVID-19.

Recall that during the COVID lockdown, the Federal Government directed all junior workers to work from home due to social distancing. Senior officers were reporting for work and this created administrative bottlenecks and resulted in slow pace of productivity.

The Federal Civil Service has not been fully digitalized as most works are done by moving physical files from table to table, a bureaucratic inheritance of the pre colonial era.

Consequently, FG has approved vaccine mandates for all Civil servants under it in compliance with the directive of Presidential steering committee for Covid 19.

The Committee has decreed the vaccine mandate in order to comply with international standards and COVID travel protocols.

Already a new wave of COVID is being announced by the media, with a new variant allegedly found in South Africa.

Many European countries are now restricting travel to and from South Africa, with Portugal leading the way.

Canada has temporarily placed a travel ban on some African countries.

It is believed that it is the public announcement of measures taken by the Government that Nigeria has not been placed on ban by her international neighbors.

In a circular signed by the Head of Service of the Federation, Folasade Yemi-Esan,dated November 26,2021, FG said all Federal Civil Servants are expected to show proof of vaccination or show a negative COVID 29 PCR test result done within 72 hours prior to resumption.

“All Federal Government employees would, therefore, be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or present a negative COVID-19 PCR test result done within 72 hours,” it said, at the same time directing  the staff yet to be vaccinated to proceed to designated centres for immediate vaccination.

“All Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Agencies and Extra-Ministerial Offices are enjoined to bring the contents of this circular to to the attention of their staff and ensure strict compliance,”the circular read, noting that as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic,”officers from GL 12 and below were directed to work from home.”

“Following the advice of the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, these category of officers are expected to resume duties on Wednesday,1st December, 2021″.

Northern Youths Council Hail Court Declaration of Bandits As Terrorists

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria has hailed the declaration of Bandits as terrorists by an Abuja High Court.

The Federal Government had filed an Ex-parte Motion through the Federal Ministry of Justice in an Abuja High Court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo requesting that the court declare bandits terrorists.

The court, in its rulings, had stamped bandits as terrorists in a radical departure from the tacitly accepted norm of not describing bandits and other violent groups as terrorists and their organisations as terrorist organisations.

Many prominent voices, both political and civil groups, have been clamoring for the designation, with critics of the Government citing the designation of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, as a terrorist organisation when the members are nowhere near as murderous as the Bandits.

Only recently, Katsina State House of Assembly called on the Federal and State Governments to declare bandits as terrorists.

In a statement in Kaduna immediately after becoming aware of the court ruling, signed  by Comrade Isah Abubakar, President and

Mock Samuel Kure, Director General, Media and Publicity, the group said the security agents should take steps to arrest and prosecute them.

“We will welcome full military operation in Northwestern and North Central parts of the country as it is happening in Northeast against Boko Haram and ISWAP elements which have drastically reduced their activities,” the statement said.

“The Council hereby urges our Armed Forces and other sister security agencies, to arrest and prosecute anybody seen giving the terrorists support be it materially, morally or otherwise no matter how highly or lowly placed.

”The Northern Youths will stand with ( Security Agencies) in (the) quest to stamp out terrorism in the North and Nigeria at large,” they said.

Bandits have taken over parts of Niger state where they hoisted their flag and are forcibly converting natives to Islam. They impose levies and taxes without let or hindrance. Ironically, they have been operating relentlessly in President Buhari’s home state, Katsina, where a Federal Lawmaker had his brother abducted recently, but he was allegedly released when the father of the leader of the bandits was allegedly held hostage by security agencies until they released the lawmaker’s brother in exchange.

This has tended to paint a picture of complicity with the security agencies which they have always denied.

Jonathan Tasks International Observers on Benchmark for Election Reporting

By
The Source
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0

Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has tasked international election observers to seek to make more impact towards promoting democracy by developing a grading framework that would capture all the electoral processes in their post-election reports.

Dr. Jonathan also reiterated his call for the introduction of what he called  ‘Democracy Marker’ to serve as a bench-marking system of election reporting, as a means of strengthening the efficiency and effectiveness of observer involvement in elections in emerging democracies.

The former President stated this on Tuesday in a keynote address he delivered in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire at the15th Annual Symposium of the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) with a theme, ‘Contributing to Credible Elections in Africa through Improved International Observation Practices’.

Jonathan said: “I feel that there is the need for an organisation like EISA, which provides technical assistance to many inter-governmental institutions on electoral matters, to lead the initiative to develop a grading system for elections, in order to encourage nations to strengthen democratic practices.

“I should point out that I had proposed what I called a ‘Democracy Marker’ to serve as a bench-marking system of election reporting, at a Commonwealth virtual programme last year.  I am convinced the proposal bears repeating here because of my belief in its capacity to improve the quality of elections.

Stressing that one of the biggest criticisms against  international election observation missions (IEOMs) lies with the nature of their mission statements following the election, he said: “I believe that a grading framework or template for the assessment of a country’s performance could be incorporated in the reporting manual as a way of encouraging countries to aim to improve their election records. This will indeed guide them to benchmark their performance against other democracies.”

The former President further suggested that the grading template should be aggregated into four clusters, for the sake of transparency and effectiveness. He identified the clusters as pre- and post-election assessment of how the electoral management bodies (EMBs)  manage the electoral processes, the security  involvement in elections and the conduct of security personnel, the actions of citizens and political parties and their behaviour on election day, as well as  the discharge of judicial processes relating to the elections.

He noted that the suggested method of ranking and measurement is already being carried out successfully in other aspects of our social life.

According to him: “They are being conducted by such organisations as Transparency International which is an NGO that developed the Corruption Perception Index (CPI); the Human Rights Watch that monitors and rates nations on respect of people’s rights, Fund for Peace, which conducts the failed nations index as well as the International football federation (FIFA) which routinely ranks nations according to the performance of their national teams.
“I believe that a similar grading system, focusing on elections and determined by a body of credible election observation missions, will not only make observer reports more useful and relevant; it will also go a long way in improving the system of elections in many countries.”

Jonathan stated that the “value in inviting international observers to an election is underpinned by the belief that they play an impartial and  vital role in ensuring that the elections are peaceful, transparent, free, fair, and that the outcome is accepted by voters, political parties and candidates.”

OPINION: EFCC’s Inelegant Drama Over Anambra Governor

By
The Source
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0
C-Don Adinuba

By C. Don Adinuba

Nigerians were dismayed that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) went a new low on Wednesday, November 24, 2021, when it sponsored media reports claiming that it has placed Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State on its watch list. The EFCC provided no details of how Governor Obiano has been placed on its watch list, but made a reference to a letter it purportedly wrote on November 15, 2021, to the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) asking it to inform the anti-graft agency anytime the governor is travelling out of the country.

Everything that can be wrong with politically motivated statements like this one is obviously wrong with this statement. The EFCC knows full well that it is acting inelegantly in this instance, and so has tried as much as possible not to make an official public statement on the alleged placing of Chief Obiano on the watch list. It furtively gave a section of the media the news report it wrote based on ostensibly its letter to the NIS on November 15.

Governor Obiano is out of the country currently. And he travelled through one of the country’s international airports. He did not disguise himself, but rather left the country with his identity fully disclosed at the necessary immigration point.

The EFCC sounded more inelegant when it claimed in the sponsored press report that it received intelligence reports that the governor plans to “flee” from Nigeria once he hands over power next March 17 to the newly elected Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo. Chief Obiano has never left any persons in doubt that he will relocate to his base in the United States once he finishes his tenure. As early as Wednesday, March 4, 2020, he announced his decision to a meeting of the Anambra State Council of Elders, comprising such personages as the erstwhile Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku; the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe who is also the chairman of both the Anambra State Council of Traditional Rulers and the Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers; a former Anambra State governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife; an ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, mni; the founding Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi; the Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican Church in Anambra State, The Most Reverend Dr Maxwell Anikwenwa; and the Catholic Bishop of the Awka Diocese, Rev Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor.

Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State chief executive. Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution. The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.

It is, indeed strange that the EFCC is making a show that it is investigating a high public officer. Anti-corruption agencies, like intelligence services, conduct their investigations discreetly, and not on pages of newspapers. Media trial has never benefitted the EFCC.

The whole nation knows those behind all the present histrionics about Obiano. They are those who didn’t want the November 6 election to hold. They are those in high places who unsuccessfully canvassed for emergency rule in Anambra supposedly on security grounds. They are those who masterminded the Birnin Kudu High Court charade in Jigawa State over the APGA leadership and, more importantly, the authentic APGA candidate in the November gubernatorial election in Anambra State. They are those responsible for the sacrilege of a customary court in Abuja issuing criminal summons to Professor Soludo, a former Central Bank of Nigeria governor. These people are still fighting the gubernatorial battle on behalf of their badly defeated friends and political associates in the Anambra vote. They will fail badly, as they have done in the recent past.

The EFCC should not allow itself to be used by politicians who are mere birds of passage. Its ongoing Anambra drama is in bad taste. It did not serve Governor Obiano any notice. Nor did it invite him to answer questions about his service record. It just went to the press. Yet, the governor is willing to answer any questions about his years in office. After all, he has received a prestigious award from the United Nations Development Programme for social service integrity.

God bless Anambra State, the Light of the Nation.

Don Adinuba is the Commissioner for Information & Public Enlightenment, Anambra State.

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