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Imo Condemns Killing Of Soldier, Burning Of Houses In Awommamma; Orders Investigation

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The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

The Imo State Government has expressed shock and dismay over the ugly incident that took place on Monday at Awommamma in Oru East Local Government that led to the death of a soldier and destruction of property.

The Government not only described the incident as regrettable and avoidable, but condemned, in its entirety, the murder of a soldier by unknown gunmen.

Consequently, Governor Hope Uzodinma has ordered an immediate investigation into the ugly incident with a view to unravelling the cause of the crisis and the attendant loss of life and property.

“Certainly, this soldier who was on a legitimate duty to ensure free flow of traffic and to  protect lives and  property on this fateful Monday of November 22nd,  did not deserve to die such a gruesome death,” Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba said in a statement on Tuesday.

However, Emelumba added:  “On the other hand, Government deprecates reports of wanton destruction of property visited on the community by aggrieved soldiers.

“The indiscriminate burning of residential and businesses premises of innocent citizens was not an appropriate response since two wrongs will never make a right. Government has good reasons to believe that there is more to the sad event than meets the eyes.

“Government, therefore, advises both parties to exercise utmost restraint and maintain the peace while the investigation lasts.

“Government appreciates the enormous sacrifice by security agencies with the attendant risks, to keep lmo safe for all law abiding citizens. Equally, government restates its charge to security agencies in the state to always abide by the rules of engagement as spelt out by their services while carrying out their legitimate assignments.

“On the other hand, communities are advised to always cooperate with security agencies to track down and arrest criminals in their midst.

“Finally, Government extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the dead soldier while deeply sympathising with the victims of the crisis. Government will take immediate measures to ameliorate their losses while at same time ensuring that such an ugly incident does not recur.”

Odili’s Daughter, 21 Others Appointed High Court Judges

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The Source
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Njideka Nwosu-Iheme

By Uche Mbah

Daughter of Supreme Court Judge, Justice Mary Odili, four children of serving and retired Judges, were among the 22 new Judges inaugurated Tuesday as High Court Judges by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Muhammed Tanko.

In 2020, there were controversies over the list of nominees that snowballed into protests.

President Buhari approved the nominations.

The new Judges include Njideka Nwosu-Iheme, daughter of Justice Mary Odili of the Supreme Court, who was a Magistrate at  Wuse Zone 6. She joined the Bench in 2015. Her mother-in-law, the Hon. Justice Chioma Nwosu-Iheme is a Judge of the Court of Appeal.

Relatives of eight Judges are said to be on the list.

They include Fatima Abubakar Aliyu, the daughter of the immediate past President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa; Mimi Katsina-Alu Apena, daughter of late CJN, Aloysius Katsina-Alu, and Ibrahim Mohammed, the son of a former Grand-Khadi of the FCT.

Some others are Nwabulu Chineze, said to be a sister to the presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Akure;

Other Judges are Madugu Alhaji, Agunloye Kayode, Enenche Eleojo, Aminu Abdullahi, Nwecheonwu Elewe, Sadiya Mayana, Kanyip Indinya, Aliyu Shafa, Mohammed Zubaru, Oluyemisi Adelaja, Agashieze Odinaka, Aliyu Ahmed, Hafsat Abba-Aliyu, Olufolake Oshin, Binta Dogonyaro, Muhammad Adamu and Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi

Speaking at the inauguration of the 22 judges, the CJN told them that the Bench is not for people with questionable character.

“The Bench is neither for the prosaic, the greedy nor those with questionable character who can easily fall for a plate of porridge offered by desperate litigants,” he said, adding that “appointment to the Bench is not an appointment to wealth, vain glory, dishonest disposition or ostentatious lifestyle through corrupt acquaintance. Our radar is sophisticated enough to detect every form of corruption and wrong doings. The remoteness of your location of adjudication can never blur our sight on you,” the CJN added.

The Judges are of the Federal Capital Territory.

Emekuku Mourns Dr Amaeshi, As HRM Eze Obi Ejeshi Announces His Death

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The Source
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Sylvanus Obichere Amaeshi

The Ancient Kingdom of Emekuku Autonomous Community in the Owerri North Local Government Area, Imo State, is in deep mourning. The Kingdom has lost a great son, Dr. Sylvanus Obichere Amaeshi.

Announcing his death on behalf of the Eze-in-Council, the Town Union, and in consultation with the Amaeshi family, Ezeogba, Emekuku, the Traditional Ruler, His Royal Majesty, Eze Obi Ejeshi, the Ezeukwu IV of the Ancient Kingdom of Emekuku, in a statement he personally signed, said Emekuku has lost a son, a community leader and a philanthropist.

He extolled what he called Dr Amaeshi’s uncommon courage  and forthrightness.

The late Amaeshi was  a Medical Doctor, and had a Doctorate degrees in Orthopedics and Trauma. Until his passing at the age of 83 years, he was the proprietor of the popular Christina Memorial Specialist, Hospital, Egbu, Owerri.

HRM Obi Ejeshi’s statement reads in part:

“His Royal Majesty, Obi Ejeshi, Ezeukwu IV, in Council, the Town Union and the entire people of the Ancient Kingdom of Emekuku in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, in consultation with the Amaeshi family of Ezeogba, Emekuku,  hereby announce with heavy heart, the death of their son, distinguished Medical Doctor and foremost Community leader, Dr. Sylvanus Obichere Amaeshi. He was aged 83 years.

“Until his death, Dr Amaeshi was the Proprietor of the popular Christina Memorial Specialist Hospital, Egbu, Owerri.

“As a Specialist Surgeon, with a Doctorate Degree in Orthopedics and Trauma, he also, served in various professional capacities in the Health sector since 1977 when he returned from Europe, at the special invitation of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Dr Amaeshi was a frontline Community leader and philanthropist who made far reaching and significant contributions to the growth and development of the Ancient Kingdom of Emekuku and, also, Egbu where he established his private medical practice in 1985.

“He would be remembered for his uncommon courage and forthrightness and his unflinching commitment to the progress of Emekuku and its people.”

His Royal Majesty disclosed that Dr. Amaeshi left behind his lovely wife and two sons. And prayed for the repose of his soul.

Dr Amaeshi will be laid to rest on January 7, 2022, at his residence in Ezeogba, Emekuku, Owerri North, LGA.

ATC Strike: Flight delays hits Airports

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Routine operations at local Airports across the country, have slowed down as the  Air Traffic Controllers Association began a two day strike Tuesday.

The strike is a warning strike, with a notice of a major strike after two weeks if their demands are not met.

They are demanding for better working conditions.

A statement from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association signed by NATCA National President, Abayomi Agoro; and General Secretary, Agbonlahor Felix Tuesday  warned that the Air Traffic Controllers would slow down traffic flow.

Departure time was generally delayed by 20 minutes on all domestic flights at the four major airports; Lagos, Abuja, Port-Harcourt and Kano.

The statement read in part:

“It will be recalled that an Air Traffic Controller, Anniekan Effiong, slumped and died during the early hours of Monday while on duty at the Abuja control tower. This informed an emergency meeting of the Executive Council of NATCA yesterday.

“The Executive Council of our noble profession met yesterday and discussed extensively on the state of ATC operations vis-a-vis our collective survival within the system.”

The Association lamented the operations of the ATC system which disregarded the welfare of ATC officers, and ultimately became a death trap for officers.

“Commencing from 6am Nigerian time today, 23rd November 2021, all ATC units nationwide should operate flow control. All departures should be spaced at 20 minutes interval. All international flights are exempted.

“That all ATCOs should endeavour to be on high alert should there be a need to escalate this exercise beyond flow control, we are ready to further such actions. That this exercise will be for two days and will be strictly executed at the four major airports with strict coordination from adjacent aerodromes before any start up is issued.”

“That ATC operational rooms are provided with adequate and quality ATC operational chairs and headsets.

“That at least 500 ATCOs be recruited to address the critical dearth in ATC manpower within the next two years starting with 70 recruits within the next three days.”

Recall that a Manager at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Monday slumped and died while on active duty.

Aniekan Effiiong, Air Traffic Controller of the Nigerian Airspace Management Authority, NAMA, had slumped and died at  the left side of the Abujan Airport TRACON.

Before his death, he was an Assistant General Manager, Operations, NAMA.

In a statement signed by its spokesman, Khalid Emele, NAMA,  Monday, confirmed the incident.

“He was a hard-working and dedicated staffer who died at the prime of his career.

“Effiong reported to duty at the Abuja TRACON on November 21, 2021 at 6pm without any sign of illness whatsoever. He was to close by 7am today (Monday). However, at about 4am this morning, he experienced difficulty in breathing. A FAAN ambulance was called to take him to the nearest medical facility. He was immediately taken to the Air Force base clinic, where he died.”

Uzodimma Hits Okorocha; Returns Lands Forcefully Taken By Him To Owners

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The Source
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Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State on Tuesday made good his pledge to return all property forcefully taken away from their rightful owners by the Government of Senator Rochas Okorocha to them.

He has also reiterated his Administration’s desire to promote due process and protect the interest of all law abiding citizens of Imo State.

At a town hall meeting of stakeholders and the Committee on Implementation of the Imo State Whitepaper on Lands and Other Related Matters held Tuesday at Concorde Hotel Owerri, Governor Uzodimma spoke on the need to assuage the pains of the people who were wrongfully treated.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, who said Governor Uzodimma’s administration has “human face”, has a “listening ear” and “empathetic,” the Governor noted the Town Hall  Meeting with stakeholders was a way of sending out a clear message that the era of impunity and violation of the rights of the people of Imo State is gone.

Uzodimma: “I realized that the only way to assuage the pains of the people was a complete restoration of the lands back to their rightful owners. And, today, we have gathered for the first phase of the restoration of lands forcefully taken away from their rightful owners.

“To those whose lands are being restored today, I congratulate you and urge you to be confident that my administration will support and promote only forthright processes.

“At the time that I took over the mantle of leadership of our great State, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Lands and Related Matters was already sitting. At my interactive session with the members of the Commission, I confirmed that the Commission should continue and complete its work and I promised Imo people that I will implement the report of the Commission.

Hope Uzodimma
Governor Hope Uzodimma

“When the report was submitted on 1st June 2020, I immediately saw and felt the pains of Imolites whose lands were forcefully wrested away by the then administration. The Government itself was not spared on this land-grabbing madness. Government lands and properties were sadly converted to personal use by the management of the Senator Rochas Okorocha administration,  their families and friends.

“In Orlu, all Government lands at the Government Station Layout and the Eastern Palm University were brazenly taken over by the same people that the people of Imo State entrusted with the sacred duty of protecting and preserving public property.

“In Owerri,  entire layouts (including the proposed New Government House at Area P), Judiciary quarters and many other areas were taken over for private use. The perpetrators also paid no heed to the basic principles of town planning in their drive. Then I realized that the only way to assuage the pains of the people was a complete restoration of the lands back to their rightful owners.

“Today, in line with the 3R mantra of my administration (Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery) we are actively reconstructing roads and infrastructure. We are rehabilitating institutions and services. And today, we have gathered for the first phase of the restoration of lands forcefully taken away from their rightful owners.

“Our Town Hall meeting this morning is one of our ways of sending a message to past and future leaders of our State that nobody can violate our sacred values and get away with it.

“My administration will continue to be the protector of the helpless. The era when leaders or Government officials will usurp the property of Imolites and hope to get away with it is over.

“To those whose lands are being restored today, I congratulate you and urge you to be confident that my administration will support and promote only forthright processes.”

Amid thunderous applause from the stakeholders who filled the Sam Mbakwe Conference Hall of Concorde Hotel, Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie noted that what had happened was a “promise kept, hope restored.”

Other findings by  the Panel are as follows:

  1. Public Buildings Plot P/2 Otamiri South Extention Layout ( part of public Plot 2 given to Ministry of Women Affairs for the establishment of Skills Acquisition Centre for women), Plot P/5 Naze Residential layout( initially part of Primary Education Commission) were illegally converted to private use by Sen. Rochas Okorocha and given to his wife for her ALL- IN STORE along Aba road.
  2. Magistrates Quarters, Co-operative office, and Girls Guide office all along Orlu road, Owerri, were illegally converted to private use by Sen. Rochas Okorocha and is unlawfully being used as Market Square and Kilimanjaro etc.
  3. IBC Quarters at Orji and the public road leading up to it were illegally converted to private use by Sen. Rochas Okorocha and now houses Rochas Foundation College.
  4. Legislative Aides/Staff Quarters opposite Concorde Hotel was illegally converted to private use by Sen. Rochas Okorocha and is now unlawfully being used as Heroes Apartments Residential Estate.
  5. Almost the entire Area   ‘P’ , the proposed new Government House was illegally converted to private use by Senator Rochas Okorocha and is now in the hands of his various family members, inlaws and friends.
  6. Ministry of Works yard along Okigwe road, Owerri, is now an estate of private apartments known as Diaspora Village while all the equipments and the engineering laboratories installed there were carted away by Sen. Rochas Okorocha and his cronies.
  7. Part of Deputy Governor’s Lodge and Government Office building at Orlu road were converted to Chief Rochas Okorocha’s Willowood Hotel.
  8. Plot 75A, Housing Area “Old D” ( Speakers Residence) was demolished and re-allocated to Chief Emma Ugorji who now uses it privately.
  9. Eastern Palm University,  Ogboko was converted to personal use by Chief Rochas Okorocha.

The Committee, thereafter, notified all those who have any of their properties or equipment on any of the listed Government areas to vacate them on or before middle of December 2021, noting that “Thereafter, Government through this Committee will recover the land for Government and the good people of Imo State.”

The Judicial Panel, readers would recall, was set up by former Governor Emeka Ihedioha, and was inherited by Uzodimma upon replacing Ihedioha.

Every pressure to get Uzodimma to disband the Panel was resisted by him.

CBN Intervenes In First Bank Tussle, Retains Interest Rate

By
Bayo Bernard
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By Fola James

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has disclosed that it will intervene, when necessary, in the ownership tussle in First Bank Plc, as the first generation bank is too strategic to the nation’s economy and cannot be allowed to fail.

Godwin Emefiele, the CBN Governor stated this, on Tuesday, in Abuja, while speaking to journalists at the end of the monthly Monetary Policy Committee, MPC meeting.

At the end of the 2-day meeting, the Committee voted unanimously to retain the Monetary Policy Rate, MPR also known as interest rate at 11. 5 percent, while other economic policy parameters such as the Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR and Liquidity Ratio were retained at 27. 5 and 30 per cent, respectively.

Speaking on the ownership tussle between business magnate Femi Otedola and Hassan Odukale, over who is the single largest shareholder of the commercial bank, the CBN Governor said the commercial bank is too big to be owned by a single individual.

He said the apex bank has made serious interventions in First Bank in the last six years which have paid off, adding that it will not allow the bank to fail in the interest of shareholders and customers.

According to him, “First Bank was established in 1894 and is the oldest bank in Nigeria. It is a powerful domestically significant bank in Nigeria. If anything happens to First Bank, it means that something has gone wrong with the Nigerian banking system. And it is for this reason that we are taking advice on how to keep the bank afloat very seriously.

CBN interventions have put the bank on the right path, Emefiele said, adding that the struggle to control the bank is a healthy one.

He said “six years ago, as a result of the accumulation of non-performing loans on the books of First Bank, the fair value of the share price was approximately N2 per share, and we took it on while everyone else was fleeing.

“Because we have cleaned up the balance sheet, non-performing loans have dropped dramatically. People are seeing that First Bank is returning to profitability and are now competing for a stake in the company,” he said.

“Why should I argue that people are competing for the shares of First Bank, which was N2 six years ago and they fled from it? Now, the last time I looked at First Bank’s share price, it was N11.55kobo over the weekend.

“I am pleased to see that they are competing for First Bank shares. Of course, we all know that First Bank is so large that no single person can own it. In running the banks, they should see themselves as representing others.

On why the MPC decided to retain the economic policy parameters one year after, the CBN Governor said the decision has placed the country on the path of growth and recovery.

Emefiele said “this meeting MPC was gratified that its policy actions in the past had started to yield positive result through remarkable improvement in Gross Domestic Product, which stood at 4.03 per cent during the third quarter of 2021.

“There was also the sixth consecutive month moderation in inflation to 15.99 percent in October.

“Given the level of its conviction about the efficacy of its actions on macroeconomic variables, MPC felt that tightening could increase cost of funds and constrain growth, while loosening could compound distortion in the money market.

“The MPC believes that the existing monetary policy stance has supported economic growth and recovery and should be allowed to continue for a little longer for consolidation,” he said.

He said the CBN is keeping watch on the trend in global economic activity and will respond appropriately when it needs to.

“The committee also feels that the old stance will enable it to carefully access the implication of unfolding global developments around policy deepening and normalisation by the advanced economies,” the CBN governor said.

Ex Commandant, National Defence College, Charges Media On Good Governance

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rear Admiral Samuel Alade

By Ayodele Oni

A former commandant of National Defence College, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade (rtd) has said that the media should promote good governance, religious tolerance and understanding among the diverse elements in the country.

Delivering a lecture in Akure, at the opening ceremony of this year’s Press Week of the Ondo state council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Journalists, Ondo State, the commandant noted that non dissemination of false information by the media was an antidote to national security.

The title of the lecture is ‘A Nation at crossroads: The Media amidst National Security and Economic Woes.’

He maintained that the strategic importance of the media in influencing the outcome of national affairs was an important tool for national security and development.

“Globally, nations use various ways and means to ensure the well-being and security of their citizens.  In achieving this, they employ all strategic resources at their disposal including the efficient use of the media.

“Over the years, the media has remained a veritable channel through which countries inform their citizens and the world of their activities, decisions and policies, which have direct bearing on national security and interest.

“The media consists of all the means and platforms used in communication and broadcasting events, programmes and activities in a country.

“It is categorized into various forms including the print, social and electronic, examples of which are television, radio, newspapers and magazines, amongst others.

“Due to its wide usage, the media strongly influence the dynamics and outcomes of conflicts and accounts for why parties to a conflict aim to exploit the media to foster their goals, activities and objectives.

“It is within this context that countries and security agencies seek to use the media as a viable option in conflict resolution.

“The media should consider national security implications of what they broadcast at this time when technology has put a big question mark on the practice of journalism as everybody is now involved in reporting and editing.

“Technological advancement in this Twenty First Century has revolutionized the mode of human communication and perception in modern societies.

“The media is usually employed to inform the public about national security concerns such as civil strife agitations and conflicts.

“It is also employed in promoting good governance, religious tolerance and understanding among the diverse elements of the state.

“National security implies the protection of all facets of the State such as its values, territory, people as well as socio-economic and political institutions and facilities.

“National security also forms the basis for economic growth and development of a nation. This is because a peaceful nation encourages foreign and domestic investors to operate freely without tension or apprehension.

“Radio and television are essential organs for national development and should, therefore, be used for the promotion of Nigerian’s cultural, economic and political development.

“As the media utilizes the airwaves, which belong to the public, the broadcasting media should be used to improve and promote unity and security of the people of the nations.

“The role of media in managing Nigeria’s national security is very crucial. In fact, they are key players in the field. The media function as watchdogs capable of blowing the whistle to call attention to serious national issues.

“The issue of national security is now a monumental challenge as it impacts on the economy, socio-cultural and political development and national image including citizen’s mental and psychological well-being.

“It is indeed a desperate situation that needs desperate action for the country to experience appreciable socio-economic development. All of this may have not been fact-checked and could mislead the public.

“The effective use of the media does better than harm to the government and the citizenry therefore enhancing economic growth and national security.”

He, however,  charged the NUJ to use its influence to teach, enlighten and to pursue causes to serve humanity and never to manipulate the feelings of the ignorant majority.

Ondo Govt Imposes Curfew As Violence Rocks Ikare Community

By
The Source
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Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Following reports of pockets of violent intra Communal crisis in Akoko area of Ondo state, the State Government has ordered the imposition of a twenty-four hour curfew on Ikare Town.

Ikare, a cosmopolitan community, is the headquarters of Akoko North East Local Government Area of the State.

The curfew, announced in a statement by the commissioner for information, Mr Donald Ojogo is coming just as the earlier one clamped on Igbara oke 10 days ago following crisis which trailed a bye election into a councilorship position was lifted.

According to the statement, the latest curfew is with immediate effect.

The statement added that government action “comes on the heels of security reports and credible intelligence arising from the situation in Ikare.

“Specifically, some deaths have been recorded as a result of sporadic gunshots that have pervaded the ancient town in the last 12 hours. This is most unacceptable.

“Security agencies, especially the Police and Amotekun have already been directed to ensure full compliance and enforcement of the curfew imposed.

“All Traditional Rulers, Opinion and Religious Leaders are enjoined to give maximum support to this order just as they are to rein in their subjects and wards.

“Meanwhile, the curfew imposed on Igbara-Oke since last week is hereby lifted.

“The State Security Council at its meeting on Monday,  reviewed the situation and concluded that while efforts are not spared to sustain the relative peace, it was only appropriate to lift the curfew, for now.

“This notwithstanding, all those arrested in connection with the crisis shall be prosecuted accordingly.”

FG Rubbishes Report Of Lagos Panel On #EndSars Protests, Calls It Tales By Moonlight

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Lai Mohammed

By Ayodele Oni and Akinwale Kasali

After days of unsettling silence and tons of criticisms and calls for the resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over the report of the Panel set up by the Lagos State Government on the bloody #EndSARS 2020 protest, the Federal Government has rubbished the report which is in circulation.

It outrightly rejected the report of the Judicial Panel of Inquiry that investigated  cases of police brutality as well as the incident of Oct. 20th, 2020, at Lekki Toll Gate, and dismissed it as “tales by the moonlight.” The Panel wasted funds and time, the FG declared.

Since the report which was very indicting of the Military and the handling of the situation by the Federal Government leaked, reactions  have been coming like claps of thunder  from across the world. The United Nations, United States of America, USA, Britain, among other global organisations, have expressed interest in it, asking the President Buhari Administration to see that justice is done.

In Nigeria, the reactions have been particularly stinging with calls for the resignation of Buhari and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as well as their prosecution. There have also been petitions to the International Criminal Court, ICC, against Buhari and the leadership of the Nigerian Army at the time.

A member of the Panel,  Ebun Olu-Adegoruwa, SAN, has alleged a threat to his life, and, a witness , Miss Kamsiyochukwu Ibe, was on Sunday, attacked with  dangerous weapons after she had allegedly been identified as a witness.

But making the  Federal Government’s  stand known on Tuesday, the Minister of Information,  Lai Mohammed, stated that the report contained so many anomalies.

The Minister declared at a press conference:

“Without mincing words, let me say that never in the history of any Judicial Panel in this country has its report been riddled with so many errors, inconsistencies, discrepancies, speculations, innuendoes, omissions and conclusions that are not supported by evidence.

“What is circulating in public space is simply a rehash of the unverified fake news that has been playing on social media since the incident of October, 20th, 2020.

“It is simply incredible that a Judicial Panel set up to investigate an incident has submitted a report laden with allegations, the same allegations it was set up to investigate in the first instance.

“Instead of sitting for all of one year, the Panel could have just compiled social media ‘tales by the moonlight’ on the incident and submitted, saving taxpayers’ funds and everyone’s time.

“That report is nothing but the triumph of fake news and the intimidation of a silent majority by a vociferous lynch mob.

“Gentlemen, we have read some critical analysis of the report by a courageous few.

“One commentator, a lawyer, said it raised more questions than answers. Another commentator, a journalist, called it a ‘disgraceful report by a disgraceful panel’, saying it reported allegations instead of investigating the allegations.

“Yet another wondered how a Judicial Panel could use the words ‘massacre in context’ and equate such to a massacre.

“All these and many more have raised valid questions on that report. We salute their courage and refusal to be cowed by the rampaging lynch mob that has been screaming blue murder since the report was released.

“We do not intend to bore you by rehashing details of the discrepancies, innuendoes, inconsistencies and errors in that report.

“They are already in the public space. Let us, however, point out some key highlights of such discrepancies, errors, omissions, etc.

“The report threw away the testimony of ballistic experts who testified before it. The experts said, inter alia, in their testimony.”

The Federal Government has, since the incident, denied there were fatalities at the Lekki Toll Gate on the night soldiers dispersed the unarmed protesting youths. But the Panel, headed by Justice Doris Okuwobi said  nine people were shot dead, four missing and presumed dead, and 35 people injured.

Governor Sanwo-Olu has set up a five-man Panel on the report to produce a Whitepaper. Lagos State was the epicenter of the protest that caused the loss of lives, nationwide and the unprecedented destruction and looting of public and private concerns.

An Appeal For My Father’s Remains, As MOSOP Seeks For Saro-Wiwa’s Exoneration

By
The Source
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Suage Badey

By Suage Badey

My name is Suage Badey.

I am one of the many normally silent Ogonis who are opposed to an exoneration for the late Ken Saro-Wiwa because I believe that he masterminded the brutal murder of my father, late Albert Tombari Badey, a former Secretary to the Government and Head of Service to the River State government from 1987-1993.

My father, Albert Badey loved his people dearly, he was a devoted Christian of the Methodist faith and   a responsible family man. His love for my mum, my siblings and I was indisputable and at any given opportunity, when free from the tasking responsibilities of state, he always ensured he had quality time with us.

On the 21st of May 1994, my father and three of his friends – Chief Edward Kobani and the Orage brothers, Chief Theophilus Orage and Chief Samuel Orage – were brutally murdered in cold blood in broad daylight; and I hold the machinations of Ken Saro-wiwa and his cohorts responsible for this disaster.

Ken-Saro-wiwa’s  campaign for a restoration of our environment was apt and right at the time and all the elites came together to give the umbrella body known as the Movement for the survival of Ogoni people (MOSOP) the steam it required to actualize its objectives.

But when Saro-wiwa introduced violence by setting up a militant wing of the movement know as National Youth Council of Ogoni  people (NYCOP), which later became his private army, hell broke loose and Ogoni from then on suffered a lot of setbacks internally that still hurting us till today.

The pioneer President of MOSOP, Dr Garrick Leton, along with his deputy, Chief Edward Kobani and other members of the steering committee, resigned and Saro-wiwa saw the golden opportunity and declared himself President of the movement.

Ogoni during Saro-wiwa’s reign experienced a lot of crisis. Ogonis were fighting almost all their neighbors – the Andonis, Okirikas, and Oyigbos; and our internal crisis led to the fratricidal killing of my poor dad and his friends.

Saro-wiwa defamed the character of all his contemporaries and made all who dared to challenge his methods an enemy of his army of thugs. Defamatory leaflets were circulated around Ogoni describing those with opposing views, which included my father, as “vultures” who fed on the miseries of the masses.

My father had served in several capacities with military government from the 1970s till the 1990s without blemish and had lobbied for human and infrastructural developments for our people. He had as a commissioner connected Ogoni to the national grid at a time Ogoni had no electricity in its local government head-quarters and villages, he sponsored a lot our people through government scholarships abroad and paved the way for creation of three more local government areas, which ultimately quadrupled our position at the seat of governance as well as offering more employment opportunities to our people.

He was a visionary man, he never believed in being boisterous but knowing our weakness as a minority in a nation of over 250 ethnic nationalities, he adopted diplomatic measures to intractable problems and by so doing he succeeded in employing several Ogonis into the civil service and enhanced our ethnic group’s participation at the centre of power.

He also felt that the ordinary Ogoni boy or girl child should be able to easily access an institution of higher learning within Ogoni territory; and with that objective in mind, he ensured that a polytechnic was established. It is the only institution of higher learning in Ogoni till date. This was the man Saro Wiwa tagged a vulture.

Ironically today, the polytechnic is named after Saro-wiwa because Saro Wiwa’s supporters have a very effective propaganda machinery that seeks to distort facts and promote falsehood.

I still remain shocked that after 27 years, the gruesome murder of my father and his friends has not attracted sufficient sympathy from the people my father sacrificed his life for. The murders of the Ogoni Four are treated with levity and disdain as if they deserved to die. These men were besieged in a meeting to foster peace and reconciliation and descended upon by thugs.

Machetes, clubs, bottles, axes and rakes were used to hack them down. Orage’s eye was plucked out, a rake was driven into Kobani’s skull, my dad suffered multiple matchet cuts and while gasping for breath and in need of his inhaler, being an asthmatic, they threw it away and spat at him.

The Ogoni Four finally gave up the ghost before their lifeless bodies were dragged through foot paths littered with stones and debris to a pre-arranged destination to be cut to bits, never to be seen by their loved ones till date.

The questions I ask are:

*When will the conscience of Saro-wiwa’s supporters and descendants come alive to profess the truth?

*Are we to accept that anyone who styles himself as an activist or to be more precise, an environmental rights crusader is one incapable of committing crimes?

I see a people lacking in empathy as they remain unremorseful and lacking in conscientious behavior. I am not in any way bothered by the calls for exoneration by PANDEF, the apex Niger Delta group,  because they don’t know the facts and are only playing the Niger Delta script in support of their fellow Niger Deltans.

However, we must be heedful of what we stand for because, as they say, history always replicates itself.

I kindly appeal for the remains of my dad and also use this medium to appeal for the remains of his friends too. We need their remains, even if MOSOP considers an exoneration far more important.

I believe in the integrity of the tribunal that tried the nine and in the thorough investigations that lead to their capture, even as we know that many of the culprits still lurk around in the shadows.

Saro Wiwa’s execution has been described as judicial murder; but the truth, as far as I am concerned, is the truth.

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