Use of Pidgin English on stage has limited our comedians – Basketmouth

 A comedian, Bright Okpocha, popularly known as Basketmouth, on Friday said that adoption of Pidgin English on stage by Nigerian comedians had limited their reach and popularity.

Basketmouth in Lagos said that many comedians would have gotten international fame and recognition if they were entertaining in English.

He said that Nigerian comedians also needed to step up their game in order to be globally competitive.

“One of the problems we have right now in the industry and which makes it difficult to break out of our cultural background and society is the language barrier.

“Ninety per cent of our Nigerian comedians entertain their audience in Pidgin English and which limits their reach.

“You can only break even in Liberia, Ghana and Sierra-Leone, all English speaking West African countries, but can’t go beyond that in Francophone countries.

“So, if you continue being lazy as a comedian and not striving to be universal with your materials, you are going nowhere.

“Joke is a joke, as long as you don’t make it too cultural because nobody in America, with the right audience, knows about the Warri people or the Yoruba people or Hausa.

“So create your jokes and even more universal which is the major problem we have right now.

“This is the reason why South Africans can break into the Western world because of the fact that they deliver their jokes in English and their structure is better than ours.

“In Nigeria, the entertainment is massive, but with no structure, “he said.

Court jails wheelbarrow pusher for stealing 3 bags of bambara nuts

Mararaba (Nasarawa State) – A Mararaba Grade 1 Area Court on Wednesday sentenced a 23-year-old wheelbarrow pusher, Bashir Mohammed, to 12 months imprisonment for stealing three bags of bambara nuts worth N36, 000.

The convict stood trial for criminal conspiracy and theft, punishable under Sections 97 and 288 of the Penal Code.

The Judge, Mr Albert Maga, however, gave the convict a N5, 000 option of fine.

Maga said he had no option than to sentence the convict accordingly since he had pleaded guilty to the charges.

He also ordered the convict to pay the complainant N36, 000 for the bambara nuts.

“The punishment would have been more severe if you had not pleaded guilty and you should also stay away from bad friends, because they will only cause you more harm than good,’’ he said.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl. Friday Adaji, told the court that one Ugwuja Jude of Aso Pada, Mararaba, reported the case at the ‘A’ Divisional Police Headquarters, Mararaba on May 29.

Adaji said that on the same date, the complainant bought three bags of bambara nuts and asked the convict to convey them in his wheelbarrow to his shop located at Mararaba Junction.

“However, while the complainant was making a call, the convict conspired with one Husseini, now at large and stole the three bags of bambara nuts valued at N36, 000.

“He was caught when he tried to escape and the complainant raised an alarm,” he said.

My husband is not man enough, woman tells court

A 45-year-old businesswoman, Anna Oshomogbe, has asked an Igando Customary Court in Lagos to dissolve her marriage with Edmund because his family controls her home.

She told the court that Edmund with whom she had two children in their 18-year-old marriage could not make decisions on his own.

“My husband’s mother and brothers are controlling our home.

“If we discuss anything, my husband will first go to his family to consult with them, what they say will be my husband’s final decision.

“I am just like a maid, my decision is always rejected. In fact, I don’t have a say in my matrimonial home,’’ she said.

Anna also told the court that her husband was a drunk.

“My husband always spends his salary with his brothers at a beer parlour and after drinking to stupor, he will be staggering and falling into the gutter.

“He urinates and messes up everywhere in our flat whenever he is drunk and most times, he beats me without reason,” she said.

Anna accused her husband, who has failed to appear in court after receiving several summons, of being an irresponsible husband and father.

“When my daughter fainted when she had fever, I called my husband to come home so that we could take her to the hospital, he said that he was in a beer joint and that he could not come.

“He does not sleep at home most times as he stays with his brothers or mother.

“He always tells me that nothing can separate him and his family.

“I pay the house rent and the children’s school fees because my husband refused to pay,” she said.

Anna claimed that her husband asked her to go to his village for spiritual cleansing.

“My husband is forcing me to go to his village for cleansing; I don’t just understand what the cleansing is all about.

“Two of my husband’s elder brothers’ wives had gone to the village for cleansing, they died few days after returning to Lagos.

“I am afraid because I don’t want to die now,” she said.

The petitioner presented a text message sent to her by her husband that she should go to his village for cleansing and that he would not appear in court for any dissolution.

The court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, ordered the court bailiff to serve the respondent again and adjourned the case to June 28 for mediation.

Absence of EFCC witness stalls Saraki’s trial

Abuja – The absence of EFCC witness, Mr Micheal Wetkas, on Wednesday stalled the trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

Saraki is standing trial on allegations bordering on false assets declaration and money laundering.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed hearing in Abuja, for the continuation of cross examination of Wetkas, EFCC lead prosecution counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), sent a letter to the tribunal seeking adjournment.

Jacobs is seeking adjournment on the grounds that Wetkas is giving evidence in another criminal case involving former Governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido and his son, Aminu, in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

The prosecution counsel urged the tribunal to adjourn the case till either June 9 or June 10 for continuation of hearing.

No new date has been fixed for continuation of hearing.

Navy arrests Dogonyaro, Adamu, others for Vandalism in Niger Delta

The spirited efforts of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to checkmate the activities of illegal crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals operating in the Niger Delta has continued to yield positive results. The Service more than before stepped up its operations against all forms of threats in the maritime environment with more combat platforms injected into the security of critical economic assets and safer water ways.

In view of the above, 3 persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy in connection with series of maritime crimes. The suspects are Sani a.k.a Dogonyaro, Usman a.k.a smally and Adamu Mani. The suspects are still undergoing investigation and will be handed over to the prosecuting authorities for further action. The arrest of these suspects has proven helpful in the fight against the criminals.

Similarly, operatives of Forward Operation Base (FOB) Badagry have arrested 5 citizens of Benin Republic in connection with economic crimes. The suspects are Mr Philmen Agboku, Mr Penu Daniel, Mr Sule Soka, Mr Dosu Victor and Mr Sodope Olivie. They were arrested on 26 May 2016 along Tongeji-Port Novo axis at about 0500hrs in a wooden cotonou boat conveying about 900 jerricans. The jerricans contained product suspected to be stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). However, the suspects are being interrogated in order to get indepth view of the gang and its sponsors.

Additionally, on 26 May 2016 NN operative continued to deter criminals from operating illegal crude oil refineries and pipeline vandals. The Patrol team deployed from NNS DELTA destroyed a large illegal refinery with storage tanks containing stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at Ayakurumo Community in Burutu LGA, in Delta State. Also the patrol team recovered 3 pumping machine and a cotonou boat carrying 80 drums of illegally refined AGO measuring 300 liters each.

You are please requested to disseminate this information for the awareness of all.

Navy arrests Dogonyaro, Adamu, others for Vandalism in Niger Delta

The spirited efforts of the Nigerian Navy (NN) to checkmate the activities of illegal crude oil thieves, pipeline vandals and other criminals operating in the Niger Delta has continued to yield positive results. The Service more than before stepped up its operations against all forms of threats in the maritime environment with more combat platforms injected into the security of critical economic assets and safer water ways.

In view of the above, 3 persons have been arrested by the operatives of the Nigerian Navy in connection with series of maritime crimes. The suspects are Sani a.k.a Dogonyaro, Usman a.k.a smally and Adamu Mani. The suspects are still undergoing investigation and will be handed over to the prosecuting authorities for further action. The arrest of these suspects has proven helpful in the fight against the criminals.

Similarly, operatives of Forward Operation Base (FOB) Badagry have arrested 5 citizens of Benin Republic in connection with economic crimes. The suspects are Mr Philmen Agboku, Mr Penu Daniel, Mr Sule Soka, Mr Dosu Victor and Mr Sodope Olivie. They were arrested on 26 May 2016 along Tongeji-Port Novo axis at about 0500hrs in a wooden cotonou boat conveying about 900 jerricans. The jerricans contained product suspected to be stolen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). However, the suspects are being interrogated in order to get indepth view of the gang and its sponsors.

Additionally, on 26 May 2016 NN operative continued to deter criminals from operating illegal crude oil refineries and pipeline vandals. The Patrol team deployed from NNS DELTA destroyed a large illegal refinery with storage tanks containing stolen crude oil and illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) at Ayakurumo Community in Burutu LGA, in Delta State. Also the patrol team recovered 3 pumping machine and a cotonou boat carrying 80 drums of illegally refined AGO measuring 300 liters each.

You are please requested to disseminate this information for the awareness of all.

Decline in economic activities persisted in May – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Wednesday said that the decline in economic activities in the first quarter of the month persisted in May.

The CBN disclosed this in its Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) report for May.

The report revealed that, “Out of 16 sub-sectors in the manufacturing sector, eleven sub-sectors recorded decline in the review month while five sectors recorded expansion. Out of eighteen non-manufacturing sub-sectors, fourteen sub-sectors recorded decline, while four subsectors recorded expansion.”

In the manufacturing sector, “Production level, new orders, employment level and raw material inventories declined at a slower rate; supplier delivery time however improved at a slower rate.”

In the non-manufacturing sector, “Business activity and employment level declined at slower rate; while new orders and raw materials inventories declining at faster rate”.

The Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) CBN’s Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMII) are based on survey of manufacturing and non-manufacturing executives, who indicate change or no change in the level of business activities in the current month compared with the previous month.

The CBN stated that, “The Manufacturing PMI rose to 45.8 index points in May 2016, compared to 43.7 in the preceding month. This implies that the manufacturing sector declined at a slower rate during the review period.

“Of the sixteen manufacturing sub-sectors, eleven recorded decline in the review month in the following order: primary metal; paper products; petroleum & coal products; furniture & related products; fabricated metal products; printing & related support activities; non-metallic mineral products; electrical equipment; textile, apparel, leather & footwear; food, beverage & tobacco products and chemical & pharmaceutical products.

“The remaining five sub-sectors however recorded expansion in the following order: computer & electronic products; appliances and components; cement; plastics & rubber products and transportation equipment.

“The composite PMI for the non-manufacturing sector recorded decline for the fifth consecutive month. The index remained at the 44.3 index points registered in the preceding month. Of the eighteen non-manufacturing sub-sectors, fourteen recorded decline in May 2016 in the following order: professional, scientific, & technical services; public administration; management of companies; construction; real estate, rental & leasing; information & communication; utilities; finance & insurance; agriculture; wholesale trade; accommodation & food services; health care & social assistance; repair, maintenance/washing of motor vehicles and electricity, gas, steam & air conditioning supply.

“The water supply, sewage & waste management and transportation & warehousing sub-sectors remained unchanged, while the remaining two subsectors recorded growth in the order: arts, entertainment & recreation and educational services.”

ASUU, other unions battle UI management, FG over salaries

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities and other unions in the University of Ibadan have now drawn a battle line with the school management over part payment of their salaries and arrears from January 2016 to May.

The Chairman Academic Staff of Universities, (ASUU) University of Ibadan Chapter Dr Deji Omole disclosed yesterday that the unions had endured enough and “reached elastic limit and resolve to receive their full salaries from the Federal Government and not to receive part-payment of their salaries again.”

The union chairman stated that the President Mohammadu Buhari led federal government implemented the hike in fuel price while starving workers of their salaries.

While demanding full payment of salries and arrears of five months owed his members, Omole stressed that the UI ASUU had told the Vice Chancellor to pay all staff in full in May and not part-payment saying life had become difficult for Nigerians in general.

He said, “Since January 2016, salaries have not been paid in full and deduction were not remitted and we have been showing understanding because we were told things will change once the budget is signed by the president but immediately after signing the budget ‎he implemented increment is fuel pump price rather than meeting our welfare needs. But when the Vice chancellor us to a meeting last Thursday and said he received same shortfall. We have now reached our elastic limit. We can no longer continue. That was what happened in some states till today they cannot pay their salaries. We are putting a stop to it. Nothing is better than nonsense.”

“Enough is enough. If the salaries and arrears are not ready, the university should not bother to pay. Why will National Assembly members collect their monies doing little for the country while intellectuals and masses will not be paid at all or paid-in-part?”

Reacting, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Abel Idowu Olayinka explained that the Federal Government is presently owing the institution the sum of N782million as shortfall on personnel cost.

He hinted further that the shortfall had compelled the university not to be able to pay full salaries and remit full deductions to staff unions and cooperatives.

Professor Olayinka who assumed office six months ago, noted that the drastic shortfall in the overhead cost was creating crisis‎ of meeting utility needs of staff and students.

On the epileptic power supply which resulted in students’ violent protest five weeks ago, he lamented that the university needed about N1billion to meet its overhead expenses.
He added that the federal cost allocates N140m monthly which hardly can pay cleaning services within the university.

N1trn FCT land swap: I didn’t do any deal with developers – Ex-Minister

FORMER Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Bala Mohammed yesterday debunked insinuations that there were fraud in the allocation of 7,600 hectares of lands worth about N1trillion that were mapped out for land swap at the nation’s headquarters.

This is just as the Herman Hembe-led FCT House of Representatives Committee said it has discovered that majority of the Developers that participated in the land swap deal did not pay the compulsory N350 million as contained in the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, in the first 30 days to qualify them for the exercise.

 

Although, there was no direct attack on he former FCT minister, Bala Mohammed on the alleged sharp practice in the choice and allocation of lands to the developers, he debunked insinuations that he was involved in ‘deals’ in allocating lands to the investors.

The former minister explained that the idea of the land swap was as a result of infrastructure deficit at the FCT, despite N2 billion invested by the government in the development of the capital territory in the midst of scare resources, adding that since inception, FCT administration was only able to complete developments in 10 districts.

According to him, in the midst of the scarce resources, the government decided to bring investors especially as it discovered that the FCT land had value and could be given out for patronage.

He said” I invited the investors suffering today, I invited them personally. I forced the to come out of conviction. What I did, I did for Nigeria, posterity will judge me for what I have done.

“I didn’t make any deal. I did it with good intention, I didn’t need to get power from the National Assembly.”

But in the course of the public hearing, it was observed that most of the investors did not comply with the laid down guidelines on the land swap deal especially the non refundable sum of N350 million.

For instance, it was discovered that one of h investors, Abuja Investment Company Limited that was allocated 287.4 heaters of land had no record of payment, although, the former minister told the committee that he did not engage them, hence, they were not competent to participate in the public hearing.

Another company, Afri International Project Consulting Ltd was given a total of 317.21 hectares of land, yet there was no evidence of payment of the N350 million even the total bank account of the company as presented to the committee was below N18 million.

It was further discovered that there was no evidence of the payment of N350 million from Gwagwa Concession Ltd that was given a total of 841 hectares of land, but the company was the only one that had records of some payment which was not to the tune of the amount stipulated on the expression of interest.

Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre (AIIC), which got 289.9 hectares of land allegedly failed to pay the N350 million non-refundable fee in contravention to the terms of agreement between the FCT administration and investors.

In its submission to the FCT Committee, AIIC explained that the company is still seeking for credible investors that would buy into the scheme for the development of the allocated land.

Sani Yakubu, Head of Business Development for AIIC, at the opening of investigative public hearing on the alleged malpractices associated with the allocation of land to 25 investors under the Land Swap scheme of the past administration, admitted that the company was given the allocation under the Land Swap programme.

He said: “we did accept the offer but we did not have the document that said so.”

Hembe, the Committee Chairman pledged the resolve of the Committee to be fair as well as be guided by the submissions received in the bid to determine if the FCT followed due process as provided by the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and Land Use Act.

“Having established the legality of our actions herein, accordingly, the Committee set out to do the following to ensure that principles of fairness, priority and transparency are entrenched in the process.

“We requested from Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre all relevant information and documents related to the Land Swap programme. We also requested some information from investors in the programme and have received as much communication on the matter as both the AIIC and investors showed a willingness to supply.

“We viewed the provisions of the Land Use Act, in relationships with the Land Swap programme to determine that the programme was not in conflict with the Act. We sought to identify the ground rules set by the FCT through the AIIC for the conduct of the Land Swap programme were followed by the FCT itself and that the FCT ensured that the investors also followed the said rules.”

While declaring the investigative public hearing open, Speaker, Yakubu Dogara noted that the facts available to the House, showed that under the Land Swap policy, Government “set out to make up for the deficits in financing the development of the district’s by engaging private developers and investors to fund the development of these districts in the interest of the people of FCT and Nigerian as a whole.”

Other investors invited by the Committee are: Urban Shelter Infrastructure Limited; BDG Properties Limited; Day Spring Properties Limited; Gilmore Nigeria Limited; Dangote Group; Haitong International Nigeria Limited; Bolmus Nigeria Limited; Deepearth Nigeria Limited; AM-PM Global Network Limited; System Properties Development Consortium Limited; Excite Business Facilities Limited; Afri-International Project and Consulting Limited and Rosehill Group.

Others include: Waru Pozema District Infrastructure Company Limited; Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited; Knox Energy Limited; M. I. Solaries Industries Limited; Ketti East District Infrastructure Development Company Limited; Nice Corporate Services Limited; Locke International Consultancy Limited; Masanawa Enterprises Limited; Urage Real Estate; Abuja Investment Company Limited and Plethora Realty & Facility Managers Limited.

Terrorism: Jordan pledges support to Nigeria

As the Nigerian military moves closer to ending the Boko Haram menace, the King of Jordan, King Abdullah II yesterday sent a delegation to Defence Headquarters Abuja, with a pledge of collaboration with Nigerian military in ending the threat posed by Boko Haram Terrorists.

The Jordanian delegation which was led by the Special Adviser to the King on Political Affairs, Mr. Manas Dabbas, congratulated the CDS and the Nigerian armed forces for their doggedness at decimating the Boko Haram Terrorist and sought for closer collaboration in the area of intelligence gathering, regional cooperation and capacity building to enhance total eradication of extremist groups in Africa.

Acknowledging that the world is experiencing serious security threats from assorted radical groups like Boko Haram, Al-Qaeda, Al Shabbab, etc, the Special Adviser called for concerted efforts by affected countries to emplace mechanisms to under study conflicts and crisis occasioned by terrorist organizations with the aim of defeating such terrorist groups.

Mr. Dabbas lauded the efforts of the CDS in piloting the affairs of the Nigerian Armed Forces and pledged his country’s commitment to assist Nigeria in combating the threat posed by Boko Haram and other terrorist organizations in the country.

In his remarks, General Olonisakin thanked the Jordanian envoy for the visit and briefed the delegation on the operations of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and the synergy between regional troops to degrade the Boko Haram terrorists.

The CDS solicited for cooperation in the area of training and provisions of counter Improved Explosive Devices (IEDs) and emphasized the need to interface with regional forces and security agencies to eliminate the threat from radical terrorist organizations.

The CDS, accompanied by some Principal Staff Officers from Defence Headquarters received the Jordanian delegation.

INEC to conclude Rivers, Kogi elections July 31 if..

ABUJA—The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, in Abuja expressed its committment to conclude the suspended elections in Rivers, Imo, Kogi and Kano states not later than July 31, 2016.

The elections were earlier disrupted by violence, forcing INEC to cancel the polls and pull out its staff.

INEC, however, gave a caveat. It said provided that all necessary consultations and activities leading to the elections were concluded on time and that conditions were conducive enough for the conduct of the elections.

In a statement issued and signed by the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, the Commission reiterated that in spite of this commitment, “it would not return to conduct elections or hesitate to further postpone or discontinue the suspended elections in any area where there was imminent threat to lives or to peace or security, especially where such threats were likely to lead to breakdown of law and order”.

The Commission which issued a road map for the resolution of the crisis and violence which led to the suspension of the elections in the affected areas said it would fix the dates for the elections following consultations with political parties and candidates.

Meanwhile, INEC has scheduled the Continous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise for Edo and Ondo States from Wednesday, 22nd June to Sunday, 26th June 2016.

According to the Commission’s Decision Extract issued on 26th May 2016 and signed by the Director, Commission’s Secretariat, Ishaku A. Gali, the Commission has also scheduled Monday, 27th June 2016 as the conclusion of Claims and Objections.

Biafra: We acted in self-defence – Army

Following allegation of massacre of members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, and the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, Monday, by security agents in Onitsha, the 82nd Division, Nigerian Army said, yesterday, it merely invoked the extant Rules of Engagement (ROE) to resort to self-defence and protect the strategic Niger Bridge.


   

It also said its action was borne out of the need to prevent reinforcement by the pro-Biafran members, apparently surging ahead from the far side of the strategic Niger Bridge in Onitsha.

The Army also said five members of MASSOB/IPOB were killed, eight wounded, while nine were arrested.

In a statement signed by Deputy Army Public Relations Officer, Colonel H. A. Gambo, the army accused IPOB and MASSOB of launching a combined attack on the peace-loving populace as well as security agencies at about 0415 hours on May 30, 2016, to mar the first anniversary of the present democratic government.

The statement read:  “The attention of the general public is, hereby, drawn to the unwarranted attack launched by combined members of Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, against the peace-loving populace as well as security agencies at about 0415 hours on May 30, 2016.

“This attack was purported to have been orchestrated to mar the first anniversary of the present democratic government as part of the activities earmarked to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Biafra.

“Due to the widespread panic, tension and apprehension that generated from the activities of MASSOB and IPOB members, security agencies which comprised detachments of the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, Department of State Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, were compelled to intervene, in consonance with constitutional provisions of aid to civil authority where and when such occasion demands.

“The over-arching imperative to ensure a reign of peace, security and stability in this circumstance was most starring.”

How it happened

Continuing, the army said: “However, the MASSOB/IPOB members, who had earlier assembled at a school location on Ataa Road, near Saint Edmund’s Catholic Parish, Maryland, Nkpor-Agu in Anambra State resorted to fierce attack against the intervening security agencies that were carrying out their legitimate mandate.

“The nature of this attack involved brazen employment of various types of fire arms and all sorts of crude weapons, volatile cocktail such as acid and dynamites.

“Instructively, troops of 82 Division Nigerian Army, as the lead agency of the security agencies, had to invoke the extant Rules of Engagement (ROE) to resort to self-defence, protection of the strategic Niger Bridge, prevent re-enforcement of the pro-Biafran members apparently surging ahead from the far side of the Niger Bridge at Onitsha.

“All these efforts were in order to de-escalate the palpable tension as well as ward off the apparent threats to lives and property in the general area. In the aftermath of the fire fight that ensued, many of our troops sustained varying degrees of injury.

“These injured troops are currently receiving treatment at own medical centre. Similarly, five members of MASSOB/IPOB were killed, eight wounded, while nine were arrested for due legal actions.

“This unfortunate incident, notwithstanding, 82 Division, Nigerian Army, wishes to assure all of its professional commitment to the protection of lives and property of the good people of Anambra State and, indeed, across its entire area of responsibility in tandem with the recent directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the Chief of Defence Staff to the Chief of Army Staff to avert occurrences of such unwarranted and uncivilized attacks against the good and law-abiding people of  the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Police order disarming of IPOB activists

 Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Solomon  Arase, has directed the Assistant Inspectors General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in the affected area to immediately disarm members of the group operating with firearms

The IGP noted that the targeted attacks on Police personnel, who had been performing their statutory functions in the most professional and civil manner since the latest resurgence disorder, portrayed the IPOB activists, who are orchestrating the insurrection, as having crossed the threshold in their misguided attempt to test the common will of the nation.

While condemning the killing by members of IPOB, Arase also directed the arrest of any member of the group found in possession of firearms and to bring him/her to deserved justice, while all IPOB activists arrested in connection with the killing of the Policemen should be charged to court for murder.

According to him,  the Nigeria Police Force will continue to diligently work towards eliminating any threat to internal security and assure Nigerians of  commitment to their safety and security.

26 persons arrested by police not from Anambra— Govt

Stating its side of the story, yesterday, Anambra State Government said the state police command confirmed that none of the 26 persons arrested on Monday during the clash was from Anambra State. The police could, however, not react as the command said it was still investigating the matter.

Addressing reporters in Awka to clarify government stand on the protest, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, Ogbuefi Tony Nnacheta, said government had not ascertained the actual figure of those who died, although he argued that it was not near the figures published by some media houses.

He said: “All the people involved came into the state a night before the demonstration from states outside Anambra. We are willing to welcome visitors to Anambra, but we don’t want such visitors to bring violence. After dealing with issues of kidnapping and robbery, people came from other states to cause mayhem here.

“Also, the report that there was shooting in a church at Nkpor was incorrect . What we can say for sure was that two cars and a motorcycle were burnt at Nkpor.

“It will be difficult for government to announce the figure of casualties when the full report has not been received. It is, however, regrettable that our youths are being killed in such senseless manner and I want our people to understand the danger of illegally carrying firearms.

“It is also regrettable that a peaceful demonstration organized by the agitators was hijacked by miscreants and that was why there were casualties.”

Nnacheta said the state government would embark on mass orientation of youths to avoid a recurrence of such issue.

We raised alarm before the attack —IPOB

Meanwhile, IPOB said, yesterday, that it raised alarm that security operatives were going to attack them during the Biafra Day, but no action was taken to stop the attack on people, who were not armed in any way.

Media and Publicity Officer of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful, said Nigerian security agencies, particularly the Army and the Police, lied by saying that they were attacked by IPOB and other pro-Biafra agitators, who were not bearing arms.

The statement said:”IPOB under the leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu does not carry any weapon, whether dangerous or not. That is why even the clergy, doctors, lawyers and people of diverse professions can identify and show solidarity with us. We, therefore, condemn the killing of unarmed IPOB members and other Biafra agitators at Nkpor and Onitsha.”

Giving details of what happened on Monday, Powerful said: “Members of IPOB who travelled from outside Anambra State, on arrival, moved into St Edmund Catholic Church along Nkpor-Umuoji Road to seek the consent of God Almighty, who has been guiding us in this noble project.

“The worst side of the attack was that our members, who were coming to honour the Biafra fallen heroes and heroines had not reached the venue of the ceremony before they met their untimely death. That was why nobody could say that IPOB flag was being waved, unlike before.”

Pro-Biafra groups vow to take up arms

Angered by the killing of their members, the pro-Biafra groups, yesterday, vowed to take up arms towards the secession of Biafra.

This was even as MASSOB blamed Anambra State Governor, Wille Obiano, over what it described as acts of cowardice, inferiority complex, unsteadiness expressly exhibited by his administration which allowed the security agents to unleash terror on his subjects.

In a statement made available to Vanguard by MASSOB Leader,Uchenna Madu, it accused Igbo leaders of sabotaging their cause while demanding the release of all detained pro-Biafran agitators.

The statement read: “We condemn the brutality and the unprovoked killing of non-violent Biafran agitators during the annual anniversary of Biafra declaration mostly in Anambra State. The magnanimity of Nigerian soldiers and other security agents has been shown on the attack on armless Biafrans. This shows their primitiveness and unprofessionalism in discharging their duties.

“It also shows the high level of ethnic, religious and pathological hatred against the people of Biafra by the Nigerian government. The brutal onslaught against the people of Biafra is an indirect call that the non-violent Biafran agitators should start the militant way in Biafra restoration. We will, therefore, answer that call.

“Today, Nigeria economy is bleeding because of the intimidating, consistent activities of the Niger Delta Avengers. MASSOB roundly blames Willie Obiano, the Governor of Anambra State, who out of cowardice, inferiority complex and unsteadiness expressly allowed the security agents to unleash terror on his subjects.

“Anambra State is part of Biafra, and we shall continue to exist and have our programmes in Anambra State. MASSOB also noticed with disappointment the cowardly silence of key Igbo leaders, who thought that the activities of Biafran agitators do not concern them. MASSOB demands the unconditional release of all Biafra agitators arrested on Monday.

“We also demand the release of bodies of dead ones and the release of Maxi Nnamdi Kanu, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi, Ben Onwuka and 23 others detained at Awka and Onitsha prisons.

“These men are prisoners of conscience, who committed no criminal offence. They were only exercising their fundamental rights of existence.”

Getting  bail

The Imo State Police Command, yesterday, said it had released all the citizens arrested in Owerri, alongside members of IPOB, and MASSOB.

Confirming this to Vanguard, yesterday, in a telephone interview, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Andrew Enwerem, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the command released non-members of the two groups.

“You will recall that suspected members of IPOB and MASSOB were arrested during that illegal procession in Owerri. There were some of them that stoutly denied membership of the two groups. The police carefully screened the suspects and quickly released all the people that had nothing to do with the procession,” the PPRO said.

Meanwhile, Mr Okechukwu Nwogu, a leader of MASSOB, who spoke to journalists in Owerri, regretted the arrest of members of the group, who, according to him, were on a peaceful march to commemorate the 49th anniversary of Biafra and 17th anniversary of MASSOB.

92 granted  bail in Ebonyi

Also yesterday, Ebonyi State Police Command charged 92 members of MASSOB, to court. The suspects were arrested Monday in Abakaliki as they were about to embark on pro-Biafra protests.

The court premises was jam-packed with heavily armed policemen to ensure law and order during the prosecution.

The suspects were arraigned before the state magistrate’s court on a four-count charge of conspiracy, belonging to unlawful society, membership of unlawful group and possession of items calling for the declaration of Biafra.

After the charges were read before them, all the accused persons pleaded not guilty.

Their lead counsel, Jerry Ezenyi, made application for their bail, saying their offence was bailable.

But in his own argument, the prosecution counsel, Adeola Elumaru, opposed the bail application, saying the accused persons had been arrested in the past for same offence.

In her ruling, the trial magistrate, Stella Ogoke, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 and seven sureties who must be within the magisterial jurisdiction.

She said the sureties must be civil servants or businessmen and adjourned the matter till July 18, 2016 for definite hearing.

13 MASSOB members granted bail in Enugu

In Enugu state, the Police command through the State Criminal Intelligence and Investigations Department, yesterday, arraigned 13 persons suspected to be members of MASSOB and pro-Biafran members arrested last Monday at Edinburgh Ogui axis of Enugu State.

They were arraigned at Court 6 presided over by E. N. Alukwu in the Enugu North Magisterial District Holden at Enugu in charge No 245c/2016 for  belonging to unlawful society called Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495(a) of the criminal code cap 30 vol.11 Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004 and also by taking part in an unlawful assembly on the said date and place  to wit;and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 106 of the criminal code cap 30 vol.11 laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, among other charges.

Ohanaeze youths threaten to drag Buhari, Army to ICC

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has threatened to drag the Nigerian Army to the International Criminal Court at The Hague for alleged genocide.

The group also threatened to join President Muhammadu Buhari in the suit if he did not urgently call the military to order over their attacks on armless protesters.

In a statement condemning the killing of unarmed pro-Biafra protesters, OYC urged President Muhammadu Buhari “to fish out the cabal in the military who are pursuing ethnic cleansing against Ndigbo.

“We also warn the Nigerian Army that it is obviously crossing the boundary by its reckless killing of unarmed pro-Biafran protesters in the East. The Nigerian Army is making itself a candidate for trial at the International criminal court at The Hague for its crime against humanity.”

Senate set to debate motion on killings

Today, the  Senate is expected to debate on a motion seeking its condemnation and subsequent action on the  killings of members of IPOB by security forces.

The Senate’s readiness to have heated debate on the issue is coming at the instance of the Deputy Senate President,Ike Ekweremadu, who drew the attention of the red chamber to the tragedies arising from the unfortunate anniversary celebration of the organisation, during yesterday’s plenary.

Ekweremadu, who urged the Senate to treat the issue under matter of urgent national importance, condemned in strong terms, the killing of young men and women by security operatives in parts of the South-East, “all in the name of quelling disturbances.”

He noted that the country had recorded so much bloodshed in various parts of the country in the past and as such, security agencies must apply caution in quelling perceived disturbances in any part of country, whatsoever, to prevent young men and women from being sent to their untimely graves.

Nnamani leads Igbo delegation to meet Buhari

Apparently agitated by the killings, notable Igbo leaders, yesterday, convened a high powered meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The meeting, which held behind closed doors, had mostly politicians, technocrats and chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as members.

Coming under the aegis of South-East Group for Change, the group paraded former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani and Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State as leaders.

Members of the delegation arrived in a bus belonging to the Ken Nnamani Leadership Institute to the villa.

They included National Auditor, George Moghalu; former Senators  Ifeanyi Ararume and Osita Izunaso; former House of Reps member, Sharon Ikeazor; and former Executive Vice-Charman of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe.

Others were APC National Vice-Chairman (South East), Hon. Emma Eneukwu; member of the APC Board of Trustees, Chief Austin Edeze; Dr. Uzoma Obiyo;  and Chris Akomas.

Nnamani, like any other member of the delegation, refused to speak on what transpired at the meeting when approached by State House correspondents after the meeting.

Asked if the issue of Biafra came up  for discussion, the former Senate President replied: “No, no, not now.”

However, there were feelings that Biafra may not be the issue that brought the people to the villa as Nnamani visited the President with Governor of Katsina State, Bello Masari, who is also a former Speaker of the House of Representatives.

It is expected that the State House would issue an official statement on the outcome of the meeting.

FG orders arrest of ex-ministers, govs, others over diplomatic passports

Irked by the refusal of some past public officers to return their diplomatic passports and other official documents, the federal government has ordered their arrest.

The officials include former governors, lawmakers and others who served during the last dispensation of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan.

Government had since last year ordered all ex-officials to submit those documents to the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS, and threatened to apply sanctions on those who refused to heed the call.

New CG’s order

However, at his maiden briefing with top management staff of Nigeria Immigration Service yesterday in Abuja, newly-appointed Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Muhammad Babandede, ordered the arrest of all the former political office holders still in possession of their diplomatic passports.

 

The meeting was called to enable the CG unveil his operational guidelines to senior officers from the rank of Comptrollers.

He said:   “In view of the earlier publication for return of official/diplomatic passports by former political office holders and retired public servants, it must be noted that charges will be pressed against unauthorized holders of such documents.

‘’This is because, such persons are no longer in the eligibility list and are, therefore, in contravention of Section 10 of the extant Immigration Act, 2015.

“I am, hereby, directing that unauthorized holders of such passports be arrested at the airports and other points of entry/departure. Efforts will be made also to trace such unauthorized holders in their given addresses.”

According to Babandede, 158 diplomatic passports and 310 official passports have so far been retrieved.

The CG also read the riot act to personnel who would want to continue in the past, saying it was no longer going to be business as usual.

“I am aware of money being extorted from the hands of passport applicants and at various borders/check points in the country. What is happening in the liberated territories in the North East is most disturbing to me.

Illegal check points  and extortion

‘’Heartless Immigration officers set illegal check points at hinterland to bully and extort money from citizens already devastated by Boko Haram insurgency. I will not accept this Service to be the second grade of Boko Haram.

 Anti-corruption squad

“I am setting an anti-corruption squad, but before this, I will hold the zonal coordinators and Comptrollers responsible. I do not want your blood money, as organized crime law enforcement called ‘returns’.

‘’We will also do our best to send the limited resources available for operations to avoid operatives funding job with corrupt monies.

“Suddenly, under our very eyes, the NIS ship started drifting in the wrong direction. Indiscipline and corruption became the order of the day. The leadership became helpless with pressures on postings and deployments. Absenteeism became the norm in supposedly “non-lucrative” posts,” he recalled.

Decentralization of passport issuance and  administration

The CG also gave directives for the decentralization of passport issuance and administration. He listed other sweeping changes to include approval for change of name due to marriage which he said could now be given by the state comptrollers.

“Approval for replacement of lost passports shall henceforth be given by state comptrollers after online vetting and processing of application at the Passport Division in the Service’s headquarters.

‘’Effort will be made to stop passport officers from coming to Abuja for collection of booklets. This will hopefully reduce corruption.   Additional passport office will be opened in state commands where the existing passport office is getting overwhelmed with high demand.

‘’We will involve state comptrollers in the issuance of official passports to applicants in the state,” he added.

Stocks tumble on panic selling: Investors lose N425.6bn

The gains recorded in the Nigerian stock market were reversed, yesterday as investors lost N425 .6 billion as a result of panic selling.

 

Consequently, the All Share Index plunged 4.3 per cent amid profit taking and Foreign Exchange, uncertainty speech by President Muhammadu Buhari.

After the Index touched a year high of 28,902.25 point on Friday, the benchmark index tumbled to 27,671.08 points yesterday , sending Year to Date , YTD return (-3.4%) back to the negative region. The market value of stocks, market capitalisation shrank by N425.6bilion to close at N9.5trillion. The stock markets sharp decline was broadly driven by huge losses across the board, including market bellwethers such as ZENITH (-9.7%), NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-4.9%) and DANGOTE CEMENT (-4.6%). Market activity level was mixed as volume traded fell 46.1% to 334.9 million units while value traded rose 11.8% to N3.1bilion

In line with the above, all sector indicators trended southwards with the Banking sector index leading the pack, down 6.6% on the back of losses in ZENITH (-9.7%) and GUARANTY (-5.2%). In the same vein, the Industrial goods index fell 5.5%, as investors sold down on WAPCO (-7.8%) and DANGCEM (-4.6 %). The Consumer goods and Oil & Gas indices also followed suit, declining 2.8% and 2.3% respectively, as NIGERIAN BREWERIES (-4.9%) and FORTE (-5.0%) closed lower. The Insurance index also lost, 1.1% to close out the poor performance.

Sentiments further wane

Market breadth (advancers/decliners ratio) weakened, dropping to 0.2 times from 0.9 times in the previous session as 9 stocks advanced in contrast to 39 decliners. The top gaining stocks were TRANSEXPRESS (+9.2%), ETRANZACT (+9.0%) and UPL (+5.0%) while ZENITH (-9.7%), ETI (-9.6%) and FBNH (-9.4%) depreciated the most.

Breaking: Avengers strike again, blow up 2 Chevron oil wells

THE Niger Delta Avengers in the early hours of today blew up two major oil wells located at Dibi in Warri South West local government area of Delta State.

The oil wells are Well RMP 23 and RMP 24 belonging to Chevron Nigeria Limited.

 

Claiming responsibility for the attack, the Niger Delta Avengers on its twitter handle @NDAvengers on Wednesday morning, said: “With the heavy presence of 100 gunboats, 4 warships and jet bombers, NDA blew up Chevron Oil Well RMP 23 and RMP 24, 3:44AM this morning.

“This is to show the whole world that the Nigeria military is good in harassing innocent Nigerians.”

Redirect ship of state or risk revolution, Okogie tells Buhari

LAGOS—ARCHBISHOP Emeritus of Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos, Anthony Caedinal Okogie, yesterday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to return to his inaugural address to the nation, incorporate his ruling party’s blueprint and redirect the ship of state or risk a revolution.

Addressing newsmen in his Archbishop’s Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, as part of preparations for his 80th birthday and his 50th priestly ordination anniversary, the cardinal averred that one year after the inauguration of the Buhari administration, the poor masses were left to roam about without proper guidance, adding that majority  wallop in penury in the midst of plenty.

“The swearing in of the APC government last year was perceived as a major milestone in the people’s quest for positive change and improvement in their quality of life. But a year later,  thousands of workers are being laid off every day, the value of the Naira is falling drastically, while many states are owing their workers many months of unpaid salaries,” Okogie further agued.

Okogie, who took a cursory look at the state of the nation after one year of Buhari’s administration, warned that the Federal Government, which gave so much promise last year, must tread softly with the Biafra agitators and Niger Delta Avengers, noting that there was so much poverty among the youth.

“There is a popular saying that to jaw jaw is better than to war war, I am aware that the Niger Delta Avengers have reeled out a number of conditions to be met before seizing further attacks on oil installations. I am equally aware that President Buhari has vowed to deal decisively with the militants,” he maintained, adding that just a few day ago, the Nigerian military stormed Gbaramatu Kingdom in search of ex-militant, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo.

“While condemning the disruption of our oil facilities under any guise, I equally want to, stress that the use of military force is not a solution,” noting that option of military would only aggravatthe situation.

Travel ban on govs could plunge Nigeria into civil war’

OSOGBO—The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Osun State chapter, yesterday warned President Muhammadu Buhari against acts capable of plunging the country into civil war, saying tampering with the constitutionally guaranteed immunity of governors would spell doom for the country.

The party, in a statement issued in Osogbo by its Director of Research, Publicity and Strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, urged the President to immediately drop plans to alleged plans to impose travel ban on governors of Rivers and Ekiti states – Nyesom Wike and Ayo Fayose, respectively, saying there was nothing done to Buhari by the duo that Rauf Aregbesola of Osun did not do to Goodluck Jonathan while he was in office.

Odeyemi said the same Section 308 of the constitution that gives the President immunity also provides the governors with same leverage, adding that, instead of tinkering with the idea of travel ban on the governors, if any security infraction is noticed, the President should approach the court.

Recalling how the PDP Obasanjo-led Federal Government approached the court when the administration of Senator Bola Tinubu created local government areas in Lagos State, Odeyemi opined that adding the salt of travel ban on governors with immunity which is the same as the president, to the injury of constant flouting of court orders by the Buhari administration in the last one year is not portraying the president as a true democrat.

The statement reads in part: “Since the news broke of plans by Buhari to ban PDP governors Ayo Fayose and Nyesom Wike from travelling using Department of State Security, DSS, as threat, images of events of the past years have kept on reappearing

“We don’t want anything that can truncate this democracy. Attempt to strip two PDP governors of their immunity is capable of enacting civil war .”

The party then called on all past leaders to prevail on President Buhari to shelve the idea to save the country of needless tension and constitutional crises.

We didn’t kill 50 dead soldiers, Buratai telling Buhari lies – Avengers

WARRI—Hundreds of villagers, including women and children, fleeing from different Gbaramatu communities in Warri South-West Local Government Area of Delta State, following the siege by soldiers, have remained trapped in the bush for the past four days without food.

This came as Niger Delta Avengers yesterday accused the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt.General Tukur Buratai, of telling President Muhammadu Buhari, that its members were responsible for the death of 50 soldiers in the creeks of the Niger Delta.


 

gathered that controlled movement in and out of the creeks by soldiers ostensibly to checkmate the militants, had also compounded the woes of fleeing victims as they could neither move nor get immediate help from relatives outside the crisis zone.

Reacting to the development, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, in a statement by its spokesperson, Mr. Eric Omare, said: “The Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Worldwide wishes to alert the world of the massive military and genocidal attacks against Ijaw people and communities of the Niger Delta of Nigeria.

“From Monday, May 30 to the early hours of today, Tuesday, May 31, 2016, there have been massive military attacks against innocent Ijaw communities and peoples from Gbaramatu to Ogbe-Ijoh Kingdoms in Delta State to Southern Ijaw, Nembe, Brass and some other local government areas of Bayelsa State.

“In Gbaramatu, Delta State the people, especially women and children are in serious danger of mass death if they are not rescued from the rampaging military officers.

‘’Most people that ran into the bush in Oporoza, Kurutie, Kunukunuma, Kokodiagbene and some other villages and communities in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State are yet to be seen.

“In parts of Ogbe-Ijoh, especially the Naifor Island (Opposite Warri), the Navy throughout the night of May 30 to May 31, shot sporadically into the communities and in the process, a couple (Mr and Mrs Tiemo) were critically wounded.

“Ironically, this couple only recently ran to Naifor Island to escape the military onslaught. The villagers in desperation took the critically injured couple to the Navy base where they left them for the Navy to do whatever they wished to do with the couple.”

The state of this couple from Ayakoromo community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State is still unknown at the time of issuing this statement.

‘’The IYC recall a similar incident a few months ago at the start of the renewed hostilities in the Niger Delta region in the same community.

There is no oil facility in Naifor Island, Ogbe-Ijoh and none is close to the community. Therefore, there is no singular justification why the Navy has decided to use that particular community as its main target to justify the huge sum of money allocated to them to find the Avengers.’’

In its accusation of the Army chief, Niger Delta Avengers, NDA, in a tweet yesterday, gave account of how the soldiers perished, and denied claims by the Army that it arrested 10 of its members, last Saturday, at Oporoza, saying there was no truth in the claim.

The Chief of Army Staff had disclosed last weekend in Port Harcourt that the Niger Delta Avengers were criminals, adding that the group was killing soldiers in locations in the region and vowed that the army would crush them.

Buratai had said: “They have been attacking our troop locations, killing our soldiers. We will not tolerate them. We will deal with them according to the law. We will look for them wherever they are, they are not agitating for anything, and they are just into crime.

‘’Communities should be patriotic enough to expose these criminals. They have nothing to fear, they should help fish out these criminals killing our soldiers, and we will not tolerate that.”

But the militants said in response: ‘’The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General T. Y. Buratai, in his statement said NDA killed Nigeria soldiers, it is a big lie. Chief of Army Staff, we are not the ones killing your soldiers, stop lying.”

“The Chief of Army Staff deployed personnel to the creeks without amphibian training, that led to the death of about 50 soldiers. If not for the help of local fishermen, the death rate would have been up to 100.

“He has been lying to his Commander in Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari that NDA are killing soldiers. This is our stand; we have not killed any soldier. If we do, we will claim responsibility because we take pride and responsibility in all we are doing. That is our code.

“Nigeria military also lied that NDA kill soldiers. We have not engaged in combat with them, but if they want us to kill them, let them come after us.”

On the alleged arrest of 10 of its members, they tweeted: “Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of 10 Niger Delta Avengers boys by Nigeria military. None of our strike team has been arrested, it is all a lie.”

Meanwhile, ex-militants in the Niger Delta yesterday in Sapele, listed conditions for a ceasation in the current spate of bombings of oil installations in the region.

According to the ex-militants, unless the conditions are met by the Federal Government, there would be no respite in the area and more militant groups will emerge.

The conditions, according to their leaders, Paul Toruwei and Anthony Dango, include the fact that the Federal Government must audit all the records of payments made to ex-militants so far from the beginning of the Amnesty programme.

“The Amnesty Office must pay up all outstanding payments to us. It must pay all those who have not been receiving the monthly stipend since 2009.

‘’The Amnesty Office has lied to the President that it is paying everyone his stipends when it is not paying more than half of us who surrendered weapons to the Federal Government at the commencement of the Amnesty programme.

“The government has since January 2016 stopped the payment of N65,000 monthly stipend to those of us who have finished their school and skill acquisition training. We have no other means of livelihood, so the government must restore the payments.

We also want the government to correct the false information that the Amnesty Office has fully paid till date over 30,000 recipients their monthly amnesty entitlements of N65,000 each. That is not true, the true position of the actual number of people paid, which is far less than the figure of 30,000 persons, must be revealed to avert further trouble in Niger Delta.

“There would be more bombings and more militant groups will spring up, if these conditions are not met immediately,’’ the ex-militants stated.

Similarly, Ijaw People Development Initiative, IPDI, has also released the names of 10 persons arrested at Oporoza by the Army, saying they were students, plumbers, bricklayers, community youths and artisans and not Avengers as claimed.

National president of the group, Austin Ozobo, listed the 10 persons to include Ebis Emma Job (SS1 Student, Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza), Philip Gagha (Palace cook), Andrew (Palace driver) and Tebe-ebi (Palace tailor).

Others are Emotimifagha (Student of Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza), John David (Student of Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza), Solomon Teiwei (Student of Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza), Oromoni Peter Miyebi (Community boy), Godspower Abraham (Student of Gbaraun Grammar School, Oporoza) and Bright (mechanic)

Also, spokesperson of Gbaramatu Traditional Council, GTC, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, expressed regrets that soldiers seized two speedboats donated to the council by Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, and also dismissed claims that the 10 persons were members of the NDA.

Reacting to the situation in the region, two-time former governor of old Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia, said yesterday the renewed militancy in the Niger Delta was a challenge to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to focus on measures for alternative revenue for the nation.

Ogbemudia, who noted that the President had done well in the last one year, stressed the need for the nation to go back to agriculture.

According to him, agriculture produced the groundnut pyramids in the North, Cocoa pyramid in the East, palm oil and rubber in the Midwest and East which he said could not be bombed.

He said: “My personal opinion is that the bombing and destruction of pipelines in the Niger Delta is a challenge to the country to look for an alternative source of funding.

‘’If we had paid attention to agriculture as the North is producing groundnut, the West cocoa, the Mid-West palm oil and others do the same, nobody can sabotage the economy by blowing up pipelines. The pyramids in Kano, you cannot get there to say you want to go and bomb it.’’

In a similar vein, Human Rights Monitors and Ijaw women, under the auspices of Ijaw Women Connect, IWC, have also accused the Nigerian military of human rights abuse, following recent invasion on Oporoza and Kurutie communities of Gbaramatu Kingdom by the military.

The groups in separate statements signed by their coordinator and president, Fred Brisibe and Rosemary Naingba respectively, described the actions of the military as a ploy to militarize Gbaramatu under the guise of looking for suspected militants.

“It is clear from the ongoing assaults and mindless abuse of human rights that the intention of the Nigerian Army is to wipe out everything that has live in Gbaramatu kingdom,” they said.

National Association of Gbaramatu Students in a statement by the President, Seiyefa Ekpemupolo, in Warri, enjoined the international community to come to the aid of their people, following the siege and invasion of the kingdom by the military.

“We have to raise the alarm about the torture, pains and suffering being meted to our people by the military which had laid siege to our kingdom.

“We condemn the invasion as our people are neither militants nor members of the Avengers. We call on the United Nations to call President Buhari and his occupational army to order.

“Our students are out of school following the invasion and cannot prepare or sit for the common entrance and junior WAEC that will start in days,” it said.

Reacting to the invasion, Secretary, Gbaramatu Political Forum, Comrade Isaiah Ogah , called on President Muhammed Buhari to order the military to free the Gbaramatu monarch, HRM, Williams Ogoba, Oboro Gbauran II, from alleged house arrest.

Ogah in a statement in Warri, said: “There are no Avengers in Oporoza and Gbaramatu Kingdom . The house arrest of the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom by the Army is uncalled for.

“I appeal to the Nigerian Army too free the Pere of Gbaramatu kingdom and Oporoza community. The military continued occupation, beating of elders/chiefs, arresting and embarrassing of the people of Oporoza is inhuman.”

Niger Delta Youth Movement, NDYM, yesterday in Uyo condemned the recurrent bombing of oil pipeline facilities by militants and warned them to desist from such acts because of the attendant economic wastes and the tendency to scare away investors.

Speaking with journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, National President of the group, Mr. Joe Jackson, however, implored the Federal Government not to match fire for fire with the militants but dialogue with them to find an enduring solution to the resurgence.

“We condemn the continued bombing of oil installations in the Niger Delta region, it is not for our interest. The act is likely to ruin the economy of the region.”

Biafra: Atiku calls for restructuring of federation

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has called for a restructuring of the Nigerian federation to cater for the aspirations of its component units.

According to him, such restructuring is the only answer to the current agitation for a Biafra Republic.

The ex-vice president spoke,  yesterday,  in Abuja, at the unveiling of a book, ‘We are all Biafrans,’ written by a journalist, Chido Onumah.

“When I was invited to chair this occasion, I immediately understood that the title of the book is a metaphor for the legitimate feelings of marginalization by diverse segments of Nigerians that cut across the country.


 

Agitations by many right thinking Nigerians call for a restructuring and renewal of our federation to make it less centralized, less suffocating and less dictatorial in the affairs of our country’s constituent units and localities.

“As some of you may know, I have for a long time advocated the need to restructure our federation. Our current structure and the practices have been a major impediment to the economic and political development of our country.

“In short, it has not served Nigeria well, and at the risk of reproach it has not served my part of the country, the North, well. The call for restructuring is even more relevant today in light of the governance and economic challenges facing us.   And the rising tide of agitations, some militant and violent, require a reset in our relationships as a united nation.

“Some may say that we are saddled with more urgent challenges, including rebuilding our battered economy, creating jobs, fighting corruption and securing our people from terrorism and other forms of serious crimes.

“I believe, however, that addressing the flaws in our federation will help us address some of those very economic and security challenges facing this country.

“Nigeria must remain a united country.   Our potentials are enormous. But I also believe that a united country, which I think most Nigerians desire, should never be taken for granted or taken as evidence that Nigerians are content with the current structure of the federation.

“Making that mistake might set us on the path of losing the country we love or, as Chido Onumah puts it, result in our country sleepwalking to disaster,“ he said.