In Obinze, Owerri-West, Imo state, there are palpable fear, apprehension and tension over the gruesome murder of the Chairman, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association in the State.
The bloody, butchered, body of Alhaji Yaya Haruna, was found, sprawled on floor in Obinze, Imo State, on Saturday.
There were matches cuts all over his body, including his face, chest and neck. He was given no chance of survival. One of his arms was, almost, completely, cut off from the wrist.
The sub-urban community is one of the host communities of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, as well as the host community of the 34 Field Artillery Brigade of the Nigeria Army.
For several years, the Community has been home to Herdsmen, most of who speak Igbo language fluently. There have, also, been inter-tribal marriages between the Igbo and Hausa Community in the area.
While investigations are on, his immediate younger brother, Alhaji Usaini Haruna, pointed accusing fingers at their cousin, Sali Musa.
He revealed that Musa had been threatening to kill him and his, now, murdered elder brother, in order to take over their cattle.
Both the Sirki Hausawa at the 34 Artillery Brigade, Alhaji Saki Bello, and the Sirki of the Northerners in Imo, Alhaji Waziri Baba Suleiman, expressed shock at the murder.
Suleiman said the late Haruna had been, mostly, responsible for the peaceful co-existence between Cattle Breeders and Imo State indigenes and residents.
In 1960 when the then Vice President Richard Nixon contested the presidential election against Senator John F. Kennedy, the election was very close. Two states were very contentious.
Nixon narrowly lost the states of Illinios and Texas. He was advised to contest the results of Illinios and Texas. He refused, and rather called JFK and conceeded the election.
He later wrote in his memoirs the reason why he did not contest the result of the election.
He said that if he had contested the result of the election, two things were possible. It was either he was right or he was wrong.
He said that if his complaint was right, he would have become the President, and in doing so, he would have destroyed the myth of the invincibility of the American electoral system. According to him, that situation would have destroyed the moral standing of the United States in the eyes of those smaller countries who looked up to the United States as a beacon of democracy.
And, if he was wrong, people will look at him as a sore loser which will make it impossible for him to have another chance in the future.
This was the mistake Al Gore made in 2000 which ended his political career. That is the mistake Donald Trump is making now.
After 1960, Richard Nixon became the shinning star of the Republican Party. He led their charge for the White House in 1964. He campaigned across the country with Barry Goldwater who was their candidate in that election. Even though they lost the election to the incumbent President, Lyndon Baines Johnson, his national credentials were unparalleled.
In 1966 he helped the Republican Party to take over the two house of Congress.
Dr. Goodluck-Jonathan
He was elected President in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972 with a record electoral college votes. Unfortunately, he had to resign in 1974 as a result of the Watergate Scandal.
Another good example is our own Goodluck Jonathan. He showed statesmanship in 2015. He refused to elevate his personal ambition over the interest of the nation.
Look at where he is today. I heard recently that they are even begging him to come back and finish his second term.
If Trump had won this election, I know Joe Biden would have called to congratulate him.
In 2016 Trump won the rust belt states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania with very narrow margins. Those were the states that gave him victory. This time around, he lost the same states with a similar margin.
Hillary Clinton could have disputed his victory in 2016 but she chose to be a stateswoman by accepting the result and conceding the election.
Even in that 2016, Trump also claimed that the election was rigged against him in some states. Even though he was declared the winner of the election because he got the majority of the electoral college votes, he was not happy that Hillary Clinton scored about 3.5 million popular votes more than him.
He was concerned that majority of Americans chose Hillary Clinton over him. He became President because the US Constitution provides that it is the electoral college votes that matters instead of the popular votes.
By the time all the votes are counted in this year’s election Joe Biden will score about 5 million popular votes more than Donald Trump.
In order to cast doubt on the victory scored against him in the popular votes in 2016 he started claiming, though without any evidence, that the election was rigged against him in some states.
This baseless claim conveniently ignored the fact that since 1988 till now the Republican Party has not won the popular votes in a presidential election except in the 2004 election that re-elected President George W. Bush.
Many commentators are of the view that the 2004 exception occurred because President Bush was then in the middle of the Iraqi war. Americans always support their Presidents in the times of war.
What he is doing now is to give election riggers in countries like ours a reason to continue with their nefarious activities. If you question them they will tell you that even Americans rig elections too.
It happened to the Nigerian Bar Association. I’ve been a Chairman of a branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. I have also served as a national vice president of the same association. Because of the election crisis we had in the association in 2016 and 2018, we now find it hard to question the Nigerian politicians whenever they rig elections. If you query them, they will tell you to go and put your house in order first before you can come and lecture them.
Imo, a renowned Lawyer, was the Chairman of the NBA, Imo State, and the NBA’s immediate past Vice National President.
The All Progressives Congress, (APC), in Ekiti state has welcomed the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the suit filed by some aggrieved members of the party in the state.
The Federal High Court sitting had last Thursday dismissed the case filed by former Senator Babafemi Ojudu and others against the Constitution of Ekiti-State APC State executive.
In a statement by the party’s Public Relations Officer, Hon. Ade Ajayi, on behalf of the Chairman of the party, Barrister Paul Omotosho, in Ado Ekiti, APC noted that the judgement is a victory to all as it will deepen democracy in the state and Nigeria.
The statement added that “Ekiti APC is not gloating the outcome of the case and that we shall be magnanimous in victory.
“However, we are committed to moving the party to its eldorado.
“For the umpteenth time, lets state that we shall not depart from our resolve to turn APC into a formidable force and party to reckon with in Ekiti state.
“While the decision of the Federal High Court vindicates our stand that our executive members have always been overboard in all their dealings in the past, we shall remain committed in our determination to continue to rule Ekiti state.
“We remain a family and indivisible one, a sign for the opposition to continue to remain dormant and lick its wounds for ever in Ekiti politics,” the statement added.
The Federal High Court sitting had dismissed the case filed by Babafemi Ojudu and other members of the APC in Ekiti State .
The Court upheld the preliminary objections filed by the Counsel to the APC and Paul Omotosho led Ekiti State Executive Committee, Chief Rafiu Balogun and Shuaib Aruwa and dismissed the case.
The Court held that the matter that was filed after 14 days when the Congress of the Party in Ekiti State was conducted where the Omotosho-led Ekiti State Executive Committee of APC got elected was filed out of time prescribed by the Fourh Alteration to the Constituion of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby becomes statute barred.
The court also held that the case cannot be decided anymore even if not statute barred since the period of 180 days set out in the Constitution within which to hear and determine the case has lapsed by virtue of section 285(9) and (14) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended) .
The case was filed in April, 2020 when the Congress of the Party was conducted on 15th September,2018.
The case having been statute barred is liable to be dismissed and accordingly dismissed.
Senator Babafemi Ojudu and other members of APC in Ekiti State dragged the Party and Paul Omotosho-led Ekiti State Executive Committee to the Federal High Court, Abuja seeking the dissolution of the Paul Omotosho led Ekiti State Executive Committee of the APC for not being properly elected.
The South-west zone of Nigeria has asked for true federalism in the country. It has also asked the Federal Government to open the borders which has for over one year, remained closed. The zone said their closure has affected the lives of its people, and brought untold hardships to the people of the zone.
The leaders, also, asked for the protection of the assets in the zone, and decried the monumental destruction of Lagos.
These requests were contained in a communique issued at end of a meeting the region had with a Federal Government delegation, led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari. The delegation included the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and Ministers from the zone.
The delegation from the zone included Governors, Traditional Rulers, and other stakeholders.
The arson, killings and wanton destruction of lives and properties, especially in Lagos State during the #EndSARS protest, hijacked by hoodlums worried the leaders.
The dialogue hosted by the Lagos State Government, was held at the Banquet Hall , State House, Alausa.
The session offered traditional rulers a no-holds-barred opportunity to bare their minds on the marginalisation of traditional institutions in the process of governance.
Chairman of the region’s Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, said the coordinated violence sparked by the #EndSARS protest shook the Southwest to its foundation, given the unrestrained manner with which public assets and infrastructure that had sustained the region’s economy were destroyed by hoodlums.
He said the style of the attacks, especially in Lagos, was worrisome, emphasising that the peace in the region remained fragile in the aftermath of the violence.
Akeredolu said there is need to fully restore peace in the Southwest and address the issues that made youths to be used by those who orchestrated the destruction.
His words: “Before our very eyes, what started as a peaceful demonstration turned to different thing that became a threat to all of us, who are regarded as elite. What we witnessed in the violence showed that something needs to be done to address the underlying issues and come out with solutions. We must be able to sustain the peace in our region at all cost.”
Prof. Gambari, said the vigorous manner of the #EndSARS protest indicated the frustration of the youth, who, he said, had been ignored for a long time in governance. He said the political class must go beyond the lip service and equip the young people with skills that would make them competitive in market.
The discussion went into an executive session during which all the Southwest Governors, traditional rulers and head of security agencies deliberated on the way forward.
Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, applauded the initiative, which he described as the “right step” but upbraided the political class for lack of consultation with traditional institutions in decision making.
Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, attacked the unitary system being practised, saying the arrangement had led to insecurity and restiveness.
Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said security must be fortified in the region to protect the economy of the Southwest. He also called for the creation of Southwest Development Agenda to revamp and rebuild the destroyed assets.
Oba of Lagos fingered politicians as the cause of issues that led to the #EndSARS protest, saying unemployment contributed to the problem.
Following is the full text of the 13 point communique signed by the Ooni of Ife and the Governor of Ondo State on behalf of the participants.
We express appreciation to Mr. President and his administration on the responsiveness to the initial demands of the ENDSARS demonstrators and for his firm handling of the aftermaths of the protest.
We endorse the call by traditional rulers for regular consultations with state governors and federal authorities on challenges facing the State, and for appropriate recognition of their role in the Constitution.
The security architecture of the country requires adjustment to adequately address the threats and realities of insecurity in the country. There should be more police presence in communities in the South west states.
While there are legitimate concerns contained in the initial ENDSARS movement, these have been hijacked by criminal and other elements with ulterior and negative forces and degenerated into anarchy.
There is need to undertake preventive actions aimed at prevention of repeat of what happened in the country following the ENDSARS demonstrators. Security needs to be strengthened in all states.
We wish to encourage the Nigeria Police by responding to their needs and appeal to them to do more to protect lives and properties and enhance security all over the country.
We call for specific measures and proposals to repair damage done to the physical infrastructure and economic assets of the South West.
Review of reports of constitutional conferences including 2014 National Conference and implement some of the recommendations especially with reference to security, economy, equal treatment for citizens all over the country.
We believe that the prolonged closure of the border has caused economic difficulties and should be re-examined to alleviate problems of the people in the border communities and prices of some essential commodities. There is need to review the closure and permit resumption of economic and trading activities.
A comprehensive programme that addresses youth employment and empowerment should be prioritized. Closer coordination and complementarity between the states and the Federal Government. In this regard, the curricular of tertiary institutions should be reviewed, with emphasis placed on skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
We recognize the damaging and negative impact of fake/false news and worry about its destructive and dangerous potency of fake news. We call on federal government to use the instrumentality of existing laws and those regulations bench-marked from other countries to provide safeguards against the spread of fake news. 2015 Cyber Act will also be fully used.
Federal Government should ensure that technology is used effectively for the advancement of the Nigerian Security and not its destruction by working with the technology cum social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. The regime of checks and gate keeping should be fully employed.
We urge that every effort should be made to resolve the impasse between ASUU and the federal government so that students can return to school in earnest.
Prominent Disc Jockey Obianuju Catherine Udeh also known as DJ Switch has escaped from Nigeria over threat to her life, by those she considered to be sympathetic to the government.
The magazine learnt that the entertainer who was among the promoters of EndSARS, and played a crucial role in mobilizing protesters in Lagos moved out of the country as controversy looms over attacks on protesters at Lekki, Lagos state by soldier form 81 Division of Nigerian Army.
Contrary to claims by the Army authorities, Switch has maintained that, the soldiers were out to kill the protesters, following which has since been receiving death threats from unknown persons who are obviously, not happy that she has refused to change her version of what transpired at Lekki Toll Gate, last month after soldiers allegedly opened fire of peaceful protesters.
Narrating her experience to the Sub-committee on International Human Rights of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development of the Canadian parliament, Udeh said her life was under serious threats after she spoke out on what transpired at Lekki.
Switch: Soldiers After my Life
She said “I have been on the move because they have been after my life. The first threat came in, I thought it was a joke, I sincerely thought it was a joke. Just as I was leaving, I got a phone call that I should leave the vicinity because there are military men at the hospital.
“I had to abandon my home, I moved from people’s home, and then just to get out of Nigeria. I am still travelling, and I am not done with my trip.”
She explained that the threats to her life, was so much at a point that she had to flee the country into safety, particularly after good spirited friends started calling to warn her that the military were looking for her.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army has told the Lagos Judicial Panel set up by the state government to investigate the matter, that it did not open fire nor kill protesters in Lekki.
This was disclosed in a petition submitted to the Panel last Friday, a copy of which was obtained by Punch.
In the petition, Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Musa Etsu-Ndagi, said it was the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu that called the military to disperse the protesters.
General Etsu-Ndagi claimed the soldiers only fired blank ammunition into the air.
For years, Oluwashina Oluwagbemiga, Popularly known as Shina Rambo, was one of the most wanted and dreaded armed robbers in Nigeria. He held sway from the Benin Republic highway to Nigeria. At a point in his notorious career, he almost killed Obasanjo’s first daughter, Iyabo. Even though Iyabo was lucky two children of his friend, who were in her car, while she was in their mother’s car, were shot dead by Shina and his gang.
He was in the League of notorious Edo armed robber, Anini.
For close to three decades, Shina Rambo has been in Siberia. The stories which had made the rounds that he had repented and had become a Pastor, were dismissed by many. The questions were: Why is he not in jail? Why has he not atoned for the hearts he broke, for the atrocities he committed.
But this day in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State Capital, Shina Rambo confirmed the rumour. The once dreaded criminal appeared publicly, dressed in a Pastor’s robe, a Holy Bible in hand, propagating the gospel of God, winning souls for the kingdom of God.
It was Sunday night, during a weekend Yoruba programme monitored on Fresh FM Radio, Ado Ekiti, and anchored by ace gospel musician and owner of the radio station, Yinka Ayefele.
Shina Rambo confessed to be the same person whose gang terrorised some parts of the country for years and tormented innocent citizens with attacks, killings and maiming.
He said so many people, especially the police, would be surprised to know that the same man they claimed to have killed on a number of occasions was still alive today.
Claiming that he was now a complete child of God, preaching the gospel in prisons and other reform centres.
Rambo, who gave 1958 as his year of birth, said he was born as a native of Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, but was raised in Benin city.
“My father was a prominent person, and a soldier moving from one part of the country to the other. In my attempt to acquire black power then, I went to a total of 21 places, prominent among which were Minna, Niger state, and later Oro, in present day Kwara.
“I was in one of those places for 91 days in Idanre, Ondo state, where we were mandated to be sucking the milk of a possessed woman’s breast, as our only food and water, so occult powers can transmit to our body.
“At the end of the whole exercise, I possessed a total of 901 power images that can be used to cajole or disappear at a scene of crime, and project the image of another person. So, if I was killed at a particular point, I had the powers to resurface in another place in another form”, he said.
Rambo, however, expressed regret over his roles in a series of deadly crimes that held the country spellbound for years, claiming that he was misguided by evil spirits.
He said the moment he accepted Christ, he realized he had no more occult powers as the spirit of God suddenly descended on him directing him to drop all his bad habits and start preaching about God.
Quoting the Holy Bible copiously throughout the radio programme, Rambo said he had won many souls through his preaching, while a number of Churches had also been established.
Rambo stated that the death of his wife and three children on a single day in the hands of those who came to arrest him, but did not meet him, was the worst regret of his former life in crime
“I was to be arrested on a fateful day but those that came could not find me, so they killed them”, he said.
He urged the criminally minded to turn over a new record, and have a change of heart so as to receive divine salvation as well as avoid incurring God’s wrath.
In continuation of efforts by the Delta State Government to engage youths in the state in the wake of the #ENDSARS protests, a town hall meeting was held on Sunday, 8th November, 2020, with the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Sunday Dare.
The meeting which took place at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba was facilitated and hosted by the Delta State Ministry of Youths Development had in attendance, youth delegates from #EndSARS Protesters, Community Youth Groups, Ethnic nationalities, Civil society movement, Female Advocacy groups, Students movement and youth stakeholders in the state.
The youths listed the demands to include: job creation at the federal government level, resuscitating federal industries within the State, stable electricity, urgent need to address the bad condition of federal roads in the State, have a help desk domiciled in the State ministry of youths for easy access and network to the federal ministry of youth in its programs and project, the need to scale the ministry programs to accommodate more youths, youth inclusion at all levels of government.
The youths also appealed to the government to drop every attempt to stifle EndSARS protesters in any form either freezing of their account by CBN or seizing of their International passport.
The Minister in his remarks said the Federal Government has lots of programmes packaged to develop youths of the country, and urged them to exercise patience to enable government implement their demands.
The Minister who presented programs and projects put in place by the federal government for the youths promised to put together a document that will be presented to the Federal Executive Council.
He said that in subsequent meetings, he will bring on board other ministers to engage with the youths on issues that relates to their ministries directly.
He assured Delta youths of government’s commitment towards implementing the demands made by the protesters.
Earlier, The State Commissioner for Youths Development, Comrade Ifeanyi Egwunyenga, in his welcome address, intimated the minister and his team of the various programs government at the state level has done to engage the youths.
He informed the Minister of the proactive steps already taken by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to bridge the gap between the youths and the government.
Egwunyenga stressed that the Town Hall meetings held by the Governor with the youths including setting up of various committees to address cases of police brutality and extra-judicial killings were geared towards ensuring that such ugly incidents do not reoccur in the state.
He urged the youths to take advantage of the various job creation programmes of the government to better their lots.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has been accused of diverting over $21 billion which the government oil corporation failed to remit into the federation account, according to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC.
According to law, all revenue accruing to the federal government are to be paid into the federation account and shared by the federal and state governments.
This, RMAFC said, has not been done by NNPC, in a report the revenue sharing agency presented to the House of Representatives Committee on Public Accounts, noting that the funds was paid as dividend into the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas company and spent without recourse to due process and law.
It has, therefore, urged the National Assembly to investigate the issue with a view to finding the truth.
RMAFC said “It may be important to state that the Commission in the discharge of its monitoring mandate visited the NLNG in August, 2008, March 2013 and has consistently requested NNPC to remit all dividends received from NLNG to the Federation Account.
“Information available to the Commission indicates that a sum of $21,685,647,923.39 accrued into the NLNG Dividend Account from inception to 30th June, 2020.”
The document presented to the committee read in part “from the $21.686 billion revenue that accrued into the NLNG dividend account from 1999 to 2020, the NNPC expended $20,300,772,850 from the account leaving a credit balance of $1,384,875,073.39 as at June 30, 2020.
“$100 billion was generated by NLNG in sales revenue since inception. The company also paid over $18 billion as dividends through NNPC and $6.1 billion as Company Income Tax (CIT) through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
“In addition, the company also said that over $15 billion has been expended by NLNG for the purchase of feedstock gas for its operations.
“Furthermore, between April, 2002 and March 2007, the company paid a sum of $450,000 as Licence Fees and as sum of N28,696,259.30 as NLNG Licence Renewal between the period 1999 and 2017 to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
“With respect to the payment of dividend, the NLNG reported that it has fully paid all dividends due to the Federation Account to NNPC”.
It said all efforts to make the NNPC account for the funds has proved abortive.
According to RMAFC “It may be important to state that the Commission in the discharge of its monitoring mandate visited the NLNG in August, 2008, March 2013 and has consistently requested NNPC to remit all dividends received from NLNG to the Federation Account.”
The RMFAC said it was wrong for the NNPC to spend government funds as it pleases and that the agency “does not support any diversion of revenue that should accrue to the Federation Account for whatever reason, as the practice is illegal and conflict with section 162(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“That the NNPC or any other agency does not have the powers under the law to withdraw money from the NLNG Dividend Account for any other purpose outside remitting it into the Federation Account”
The RMAFC has asked the House to investigate the withdrawals.
The Wole Oke-led House Committee on Public Accounts has now invited the Group Managing Director of the NNPC Mele Kyari to appear before it to clear the allegation.
Meanwhile, this is not the first time the NNPC has been accused of diverting public funds.
Recall that in 2014, the former Central Bank Governor and now deposed Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi accused the oil corporation of non-remittance of over $20 billion.
The Leadership of the South-east has asked President Muhammadu Buhari for a joint operation in all the forests in the zone. The aim, the Leaders said, is to flush the forests of AK47- wielding youths who are wreaking havoc in the zone.
The zone, as other zones in the country, is burdened with the activities of armed robbers, kidnappers and assassins. The Leaders believe the forests in the zone are their refuge and operational base.
This request was part of the communique issued at the end of a meeting at the Government House, Enugu, attended by Governors, National Assembly Members, Traditional Rulers, Youths, and other stake holders.
The meeting was held with a Federal Government Delegation led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Dr Ibrahim Gambari, who was accompanied by others including the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed and a couple of others.
President Buhari set-up the the group, led by Gambari, in the wake of the #EndSARS protest.
The Leadership of the South-east, also, appreciated the presence of Herdsmen in the zone who, they said, have been living with the people, peacefully, for years. Of great joy to them, as well, is the full support the President is giving to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in her bid to become the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, just as they applauded his efforts to develop the South-east as exemplified by the President’s determination to complete the second Niger bridge, the upgrading of the facilities at the Enugu International Airport, and the Enugu- Porthacourt expressway.
But many Igbo are picking holes with the invitation issued to the President for a joint Operation to flush the zone’s forest of criminally-minded youths, and have expressed shock at such an invitation. They say it is an invitation to anarchy as they fear it could be abused. They fear innocent youths could be victims of such operation.
Dr Chidi Nwokoma, an entrepreneur, told this magazine: “There is already the Operation Crocodile Smile, over which our people are uncomfortable, and our Leaders are inviting a joint operation. What will be the fate of our youths?”
They also say that they found the communique weak, patronising, and did not address the needs of the people.
Following, is the full text of the communique signed by the Chairman of the South- east Governors’ Forum/ Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr Dave Umahi.
President Muhammadu Buhari
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A MEETING OF SOUTH EAST LEADERS WITH PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATION TO SOUTH EAST ON SATURDAY, 7″ NOVEMBER, 2020, AT THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, LION BUILDING, GOVERNMENT HOUSE, ENUGU
After an intensive deliberation and dialogue in a meeting with the
presidential delegation led by Prof. Ibrahim A. Gambari, Chief of Staff to Mr. President with the Inspector General of Police, Director General, Department of State Services, Hon. Minister of Information, Federal Ministers from South East with South East Governors and her leaders, today, 7 November, 2020, at Enugu Government House, we the leaders of the South East made up of all the Governors, South East National Assembly members, Federal Ministers of South East, Clergymen and women, Traditional Rulers, Representatives of all the youth organizations in the South East, and student leadership, have resolved
as follows:
We thank Mr. President for sending this powerful delegation to visit our people and hear from us.
We thank Mr. President for all the great works he is doing at the second Niger Bridge, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, dualized road of Enugu to Port Harcourt and some other projects in the South East.
Mr. President, we thank you so much for all your kind
commitment in the struggle of our sister, Prof. Okonjo lweala to become the DG of the World Trade Organization. We are
particularly grateful with the way you have engaged the world leaders to see her through the process. May God crown your efforts with success- Amen.
We request a joint operation into all our forests to flush out criminals and killer herdsmen with AK47, while pledging our
commitment to continuous co-existence with herdsmen who have been living peacefully with us for years.
We pledge our undivided support and love to our President and his administration.
We, lgbo leaders stand for an indivisible and united Nigeria, built on love, fairness, equity and justice. We believe that under this platform, we are bigger and stronger.
We thank Mr. President for the speed and restraint with which he handled the demand of peaceful ENDSARS protesters, especially his commitment to drive Police Reform and mainstream youth empowerment and also for his courage to deal with hoodlums, criminals and those who hi-jacked the initial protests, to hide under the peaceful protest and kill, maim innocent citizens, security agents and public and private properties.
We sympathize with the families of civilians and security agencies, who lost their lives and properties during the ENDSARS protests (both peaceful and criminal protests).
South East Governors have set up Panels of Enquiry to deal with all infractions of human rights of our people and security agencies, compensation funds for all civilians and security men who lost their lives during the protest. We have also set up empowerment/employment fund to help more of our youth earn their lawful daily means of livelihood.
We, therefore, with humility, request our President, the father of our nation, to please look into the demands of the various groups of our people, as presented today, review same with a view to solving them. South East people believe in one Nigeria and this is the reason we are in every part of this country erecting infrastructures, living peacefully with our host communities and doing our businesses.
We pledge to continue to protect all the various ethnic groups living in South East. We enjoin them to go about their businesses peacefully. We thank Mr. President, Governors and traditional rulers in other parts of Nigeria for their commitment to protect our people, especially during and after the protests. We must continue to live in peace.
We appreciate Mr. President’s delegation for carefully listening to, engaging with stakeholders and undertaking to report
faithfully to Mr. President for his consideration and necessary action.
We request Mr. President to commit the various presentations of all of us – Traditional Rulers, Religious leaders, the women group, the Ohaneze leadership and the youth groups, and give full support to actualizing these genuine demands.
We wish Mr. President’s delegation journey mercies as they travel back, as we pray to God to continue to guard our Presidents health and guide him, as he pilots the affairs of our nation.
The Lagos state government will not allow innocent persons to be punished over the recent EndSARS protest that rocked the state to its very foundation. It, has, therefore directed those wrongly arrested by the police and other security agencies as suspects to be released.
In the wake of the end police brutality protest, three weeks ago, which led to arson, looting and destruction of both public and private property, the Nigerian police have arrested some suspects believed to have unleashed mayhem on the state after hijacking the protest.
Over 360 suspects believed to have taken part in the destruction, the police said were arrested across the state and currently being prosecuted.
But the state Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo said the police have failed to establish a prima facie case against many of the suspects who are being detained and remanded in prison.
For this reason, Onigbanjo said, the state government has no other option than to set those suspect free so that they can go back to their families.
According to a statement by Kayode Oyekanmi, Director, Public Affairs in the ministry, 253 suspects are in this category and the state has no reasons to keep them further.
The state’s chief law officer said the decision was made after the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP had studied the case files from the police and has issues a legal advice on the accordingly.
The statement said “Out of the 361 persons, the DPP shall be prosecuting 92 persons for different offences ranging from arson, stealing, breaking into buildings, armed robbery and murder.
“The office has advised that 253 persons be released forthwith for non-disclosure of a prima facie case,” while “two case files in respect of 16 persons have been advised for further investigation by the police.”
Meanwhile, some close observers of events in the state told the magazine that government may have taken the decision to free the suspects as a token of re-assurance to the protesters that it really wants peace to reign, as it tries to address issues raised during the unrest.
