Author: The Nation

Gunmen on Saturday went on rampage burning shops and vehicles at Izombe Community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.

According to an eyewitness not less than 18 shops and seven vehicles were burnt during the incident.

Thoughno casualty was recorded, scores sustained injuries while scampering to safety.

The incindent occurred few hours after gunmen suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) attacked the Agwa Divisional Police headquarters in the same local government area, killing four oeratives.

Two of the operatives, female police officers, were set ablaze after being killed.

Our correspondent gathered that the gunmen arrived the community in the early hours of Saturday, shooting sporadically and looting after destroying the shops.

The eyewitness, who spoke on phone said: “They burnt seven vehicles, burnt about 18 locked-up shops, stalls, comprising pharmaceutical shop, machine spare parts, wine, assorted drinks shops, decoration, boutique shop all filled to their brim were razed down by the gunmen.”

It was gathered that incident may not be unconnected to one in Agwa as a source hinted the heavily armed gunmen looked like people returning from a mission.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident threw the entire community into confusion as everybody ran helter skelter seeking for safety.

As at the time of filing the report, it was gathered that the police were yet to arrive there.

Imo Police spokesman has not picked calla but a source said no such incident has been reported to the station.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State has solicited prayer for the immediate past Governor Ibikunle Amosun for suffering from what it described as “political amnesia and out-of-office loneliness.”

The APC, in a statement in Abeokuta on Saturday by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Oladunjoye, faulted Amosun’s claim that Governor Dapo Abiodun, did not win the 2019 election.

The party described the Ogun Central Senator’s claim as “an after-lunch belching of a man suffering from political amnesia and loneliness.”

The statement reads: “The attention of our party has been drawn to a statement reportedly credited to the immediate past governor of Ogun State and the Chief Promoter of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), His Excellency, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

“The quoted statement was not only an insult to the psyche of the people of Ogun State, but also a sad indication that the former governor is yet to purge himself of extreme arrogance and intolerance that were his trademarks, which earned him suspension from our party, even as a sitting governor.

“The APC, therefore, calls on the general public, and particularly our esteemed members, to pity and pray for the former governor as he obviously suffers from political amnesia, loneliness and absolute lack of touch with reality.

“There is absolute no truth in the specious utterance of the former governor who is obviously still sulking from the electoral defeat of his surrogate party in 2019. Our party and candidate not only won fair and square, the victory of Prince Dapo Abiodun was also attested to by his co-contestants, many of whom later joined APC and are still in APC.

“Never in the history of governorship elections in Ogun State have candidates of other parties so instantaneously congratulated and visited the Governor-elect, as it happened in the case of Governor Dapo Abiodun, whose Iperu country home hosted candidates and leaders of other parties, including late Prince Buruji Kashamu, Otunba Rotimi Paseda, Mr. Gboyega Nasiru Isiaka (GNI), and Otunba Gbenga Daniel, among others.

“It is on record that many of the then opposition figures like former Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Alhaja Salmat Badru, the deputy governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Rueben Abati, GNI and others served in the Economic Transition Committee chaired by Mr. Tunde Lemo, which was set up by Prince Dapo Abiodun immediately after the elections.

“As provided for in a democracy, the candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement challenged the results of the election at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in Abeokuta and lost. His ramshackle petition was dismissed. While confirming the victory of Governor Abiodun at the Saturday, March 9, 2019 election, the tribunal led by Justice Yusuf Halilu, in its judgment, stated that: “This petition does not only fail, it is destined to fail, it fails and hereby dismissed.

“Not satisfied, the APM and its candidate went on appeal at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan and later at the Supreme Court where they also lost. It is remarkable that in all the petition and court cases, the judgements were unanimously passed without any dissenting voice from the Tribunal members and the judges at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

“If the APM was as popular as the former Governor wants us to believe, he would have contested his senatorial election on the platform of the APM and not on the platform of the APC. We recollect vividly that it took the support of Prince Dapo Abiodun and the open appeal of our father and leader, Chief Olusegun Osoba, who pleaded during his visits to all the wards in Ogun Central Senatorial District that our members should consider the interest of the party by voting for Amosun.

“Having been witnessing the frustrating exodus of his former political allies who openly said they were tired of endemic lies; and his failure to wrest the party structures from the incumbent governor, the recourse by Senator Amosun to “elated” after-lunch belching is understandable and pitiable.

“Furthermore, Amosun is still pained that despite the violence wrecked on our members, despite unfinished projects whose costs were mostly paid 100 percent upfront, despite the handover without a handover note, despite the wanton destruction of public facilities including pipe-borne water taps in Abeokuta, and notwithstanding the untoward provocations and shenanigans; Governor Abiodun remained focused and determined to leave Ogun State much better than he met it.

“While commending Governor Dapo Abiodun for his giant strides since assumption of office, we urge him to remain focused continuous delivery of the dividends of democracy for which Ogun people elected him; and not to join issues with sore losers.”

Imo Police Command has blamed members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) for the early hour attack on Agwa Police Station, which left four officers dead.

Reacting to the attack on Saturday, Police Commissioner Mohammed Barde said the suspected IPOB/ESN members used a tipper vehicle to forcefully gain entrance into the station before throwing Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs that killed the officers on duty.

In a statement by the police spokesman, CSP Michael Abattam , the police Commissioner accused the IPOB)/ESN members for the attack.

“The hoodlums suspected to be members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militia affiliate, Eastern Security Network (ESN) attacked Agwa Police Station in their numbers. The hoodlums who came in two vehicles and a tipper, shooting sporadically, used a tipper vehicle in forcing the gate open to gain entrance into the station, throwing Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDS) and petrol bombs .

“The police operatives of the division joined by the Command’s Tactical Teams gave the hoodlums a stiff resistance, engaging them in a gun duel. The hoodlums who were fatally hit with a lot of casualty on their side, retreated, escaping in their vehicles.”

According to him, the fire which affected a parked private car and some motorcycles was later put off, preventing it from causing more damages.

“Fortunately, the building was not affected, but two suspects in custody escaped, four police officers gallantly paid the supreme price, while one rifle is yet to be recovered.”

Barde, who went to the scene on the spot assessement of the incident, visited the Eze of the Community, HRH Eze (Dr) I. O Asor in his Palace where he assured him and members his community of the Command’s commitment in ensuring that peace is restored and the Command will leave no stone unturned until the perpetrators of this dastardly act are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Former Ogun Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun has vowed his successor Dapo Abiodun won’t return in 2023.

Amosun, who has remained averse to Abiodun’s governorship bid since 2018, stressed he is not in support of the current administration in the State.

He vowed he won’t stop at anything to dethrone Abiodun politically in 2023.

The former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant spoke shortly after receiving an award from the Abeokuta Club to commemorate its 50th anniversary on Saturday.

He claimed the 2019 Ogun governorship candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Hon. AbdulKabir Akinlade, who he backed, won the election.

Accordingro him: “I am elated to have heard people saying that when we were there, we have done the works of four, five, past governors combined, we are happy that people appreciated the little we have done.

“You know clearly my stand on this matter, just wait very soon, you will hear from us. My stand is where I stand, I am not in support of this administration, he must be removed,”

The Abeokuta Central Senator said there wasa gang-up against him in 2019, claiming those involved have since apologised.

Responding to a comment that he did not spread his administration achievements across the State, Amosun said his land mark projects are present in all the senatorial districts.

Former Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba commended Amosun for the infrastructural upgrade of Abeokuta capital city, including the ongoing amphitheatre at the Alake palace.

Primate, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, His Grace, Most Rev. Henry Ndukuba, has assured protesting staff of Paul University, Awka, Anambra State of soonest payment of their outstanding salaries.

He asked them to exercise patience with the management, assuring them that their labour would not be in vain.

Some staff of the university had during the commissioning of Law Faculty building of the institution named after Archbishop Ecclesiastical Province of the Niger and Anglican Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Alexander Ibezim, carried out peaceful march over unpaid salaries by the management.

The protesters carried placards with various inscriptions including, “Working without payment is unscriptural”, “starvation is the worst form of attack, pay your staff or shutdown”, “Primate have mercy on us”, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, acting ICT Head, Chidi Gabriel, said while the Adjuncts Staff were being owed 28months, those on contracts and regulars were owed 24 and 14 months respectively.

He said it was unfortunate that an institution jointly owned by about 55 dioceses of the communion would find it difficult to pay its staff.

He however absolved the host, Archbishop Ibezim, who he said had periodically cushioned their suffering through provisions of bailout funds.

He said: “We have been working these months without salary with promises without any fulfilment. Imagine what our families are passing through without salary?

“There’s a saying that a goat owned by the public dies easily. That’s our experience in this school. Why not shut down the school if they can’t afford to pay?”

But the Primate assured them he has waded into the matter, promising that their grievances were receiving attention.

He said: “Your issues are receiving attention. I’ve stepped into the matter. The labourer deserves his wages and you won’t labour in vain. I stand with you and feel your pains.

“I and other Bishops, Senate and management will put heads together to ensure your matter is addressed. I’ve also directed that some money be released for you. In due time you’ll hear from us.”

The Primate, accompanied by Archbishop of Enugu Archdiocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma, and other Bishops also commissioned Renaissance Modern Polytechnic Mbaukwu and Millennium College of Nursing Sciences, all owned by the Awka Diocese.
Photos: 1) protesting staff
2) Primate Ndukuba commissioning the Law faculty building
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