By Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide has vowed to pursue the establishment of a regional security outfit in the New Year to police the Niger Delta region, especially the Southsouth geopolitical zone.

In his New Year address in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, the IYC President, Peter Timothy Igbifa, said like the Amotekun in the West, it had become expedient for the Southsouth to float its security outfit.

Igbifa listed the security challenges in the zone, especially the Ijaw-speaking communities, saying the youths would mount pressure on the governors to undertake all executive and legislative processes required to evolve the outfit.

He said: “We are not alien to the reports of infiltrations of the herdsmen and other groups in our bushes and environment. The recurrent discovery of guns and live ammunitions on the highways is a clear indication that we must be prepared at all times.

“The news of our women being raped and killed in bushes, farmers intimidated and maimed on a regular basis and travellers robbed and killed is becoming unbearable.

“We, therefore, call on all structures of the council, zonal chapters and clans to set up mechanisms to check this unfortunate security threat in our region. I and my team are seriously considering the establishment of our own regional security outfit in line with the proposal made by the governors of our region. We shall push for this outfit and impress it upon the governors to invoke the required legislative process to give it a legal backing”.

Read Also: Ijaw youths reject new ward in Delta council

Igbifa said the IYC under his leadership would push for the relocation of the headquarters of oil multinationals to the Niger Delta region in obedience to presidential directives; the passage of the Petroleum Industrial Bill (PIB) into law; practice of true federalism, stoppage of military invasion in Ijaw communities  and issuance of indigenous licenses for modula refineries.

He said the IYC would hold all political holders from the region accountable and compel them to defend the common course of the Ijaw people.

“As 8th President of IYC, I urge all political office holders both at the national, regional, state and local levels to rise up and defend the cause of the Ijawland and challenge every law that has kept us as tenants even in our own homes.

“We want them to challenge the Land Use Act; the waterways laws; environmental acts, the ecological problems among others. We the IYC will collaborate  to defend any of our political office holders willing to tread on the path of  Ijaw”, he said.

Igbifa decried the disunity among different stakeholders in Ijawland lamenting that if the division remained unabated, the Ijaw people would not be able to realise their common aspirations.

Our Reporter

The Management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) said on Saturday it had concluded plans to roll out no fewer than 90,870 meters to customers in its franchise areas of Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states  in the first quarter of this year.

The BEDC head of Public Affairs, Mr Tayo Adekunle ,told newsmen in Benin that the meters were allocated to BEDC by the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Adekunle noted that the meters would be distributed under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP), starting from Edo.

He said that the metering would cover four BEDC franchise states on selected distribution transformers covering 90,870 customers over a period of six months.

He explained that Edo would get 40,995, Delta 22,247, Ondo19,453, while Ekiti would get  8,294 of the total number of meters allocated to BEDC

“The meters will be distributed through the BEDC Meter Asset Provider (MAP) for its franchise areas,” he said.

According to Adekunle, metering under this scheme is free and customers will not have to pay.

He, however, said that all premises have to be enumerated and shall be certified by electricity inspector before installation of the meters.

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“Customers who have collected tellers for meters under the MAP and have not paid shall not pay any amount to acquire a meter.

“Any amount paid to the account of MAP shall be refunded in 21 days subject to customers providing the account details for refund.

“Twenty per cent of the meters are three phases while 80 per cent are single phase.

“Customers in Band A, which include those with minimum of 20 hours supply; Band B, minimum of 16 hours; and Band C, minimum of 12 hours of power supply, will benefit from the metering during the exercise.

“Band D with minimum of 8 hours and Band E with minimum of six hours of power supply will benefit from the metering in the second quarter of 2021,” he added.

Speaking on the court case between BEDC and civil society organisations in Edo, Adekunle said the lawyers of both parties had resolved to settle out of court.

By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

If the crisis between Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and ex-Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State is not amicably resolved soon, it may consume the entire Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a renowned cleric has warned.

The warnings form part of the 2021 prophesies and vision released by the Presiding Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church, Arogungbogunmi International, Prophet Richard Kolawole during the end of the year convention of the church which held at the international headquarters, Ibadan.

The cleric who also disclosed that there is an ongoing gang up between members of the ruling PDP and leading opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC) against Governor Makinde, called on the PDP leaders to ensure they amicably resolve the Makinde-Fayose feud to save the PDP in the country. Prophet Kolawole said “PDP and APC are trying to reunite to remove Makinde.

These people are working every day to make sure they unseat him.

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“Everybody should be praying for Seyi Makinde to finish well because these people are trying hard and they have vowed to remove him, so the governor should also put his house in order to make sure that the problem is over. He added that there will be an increase in kidnapping as there will be cases of flooding and fire outbreaks in many states of the federation, just as he charged all state governors to be ready and fight these challenges. “There will be increase in kidnapping and the numbers of bandits.

“The Lord says He’s ready to face those in authority with death, a lot of high caliber and eminent personalities will die because they refuse to bring in the change the country desires. The Lord says, He is ready to visit the house of God because a lot of Minister of God that refused to say the truth will do or suffer serious ailments that will stop them from appearing before the church of God. The Lord says, He will strike a lot of Minister that are close to this present government and refuse to do the needful. The Lord says, the economy will remain as it is because this government has lost its focus.

Our Reporter

THE Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosu, vowed on Saturday to get rid of robbers and cultists with the adoption of community policing strategies in the state.

Odumosu, who made the promise through a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer OlumuyiwaAdejobi, said that police operatives attached to Akodo Division arrested two suspected members of Aiye Confraternity at Eleko Beach while trying to attack their targets in the afternoon.

“Items recovered from them include one locally-made pistol with some live cartridges and some charms.

“The suspects will be transferred to State CID, Panti, Yaba for proper investigation and prosecution,” he said.

Odumosu said that it was imperative to take the battle against robbery and cultism to their dens across the state and flush them out according to the provisions of the law.

Read Also: Sowore spends New Year Day in police cell over Abuja protest

He reaffirmed his zero tolerance for crimes and social vices, especially cultism, which he said is the root of all violent crimes.

“Similarly, the Rapid Response Squad operatives on New Year day arrested two suspected robbers operating on motorcycle and eight suspected criminals in their various hideouts.

“Preliminary investigation reveals that the trio connived, converged and lodged on Obalende Area, Lagos, in preparation for their robbery operation,” Odumosu said.

He said that items recovered from the robbery suspects include two knives and their operational motorcycle.

“Meanwhile, eight suspected criminals including three suspected cultists and five drug dealers were picked up at different locations within the state on new year’s eve.

By Adeola Ogunlade

The Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, has advised the federal government to take bold steps in addressing the fears being expressed by citizens.

In his New Year message at the 2021 World Peace Celebration and Media Interaction with the Archbishop at the Holy Cross Cathedral, Lagos

Archbishop Martins said the nation’s leaders need to urgently address the issues by putting in place appropriate measures and policies that would mitigate against the economic challenges that may come with the New Year.

The clergy identified sources of fear in the country to include rising insecurity from kidnappings, ritual killings, endemic rape, the ongoing health crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic and the challenges from the current economic recession, which has resulted in job losses, collapse of some industries, and mounting poverty, among others.

Read Also: Archbishop Samson Benjamin, salutes Muslims at Sallah

He noted that government has a crucial role to play by diligently attending to its constitutional responsibilities without playing unnecessary politics with issues that affect the day-to-day lives of the masses.

Martins said for instance, so many challenges came up in 2020 in various areas, particularly in the economic, health, security and education sectors, adding that government must make objective appraisals of the situation and take necessary steps to reassure the people that they have a government that cares.

“The onus is now  on  the federal, state and even the local governments to listen to the people and act speedily to save them from the agonies they have to face daily,” he said.

While calling on government at all levels to be more humane in their approach to issues of governance in the New Year, he frowned at the renewed spate of insecurity across the country.

He cited the instance of the recent abduction of the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri, Bishop Moses Chikwe, which he described as an act  of  sacrilege.

By Toba Adedeji, Osogbo

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has charged repentant thugs to channel their strength and wisdom to sustain peace in Nigeria.

Oluwo disclosed that efforts are in top gear to commit a special fund for proper rehabilitation and reintegration of the youths in his community.

He noted that most of them involve in criminality because they either feel not being catered for or being used and abandoned by politicians.

The monarch, while addressing the repentant thugs and their leaders who are from the Iwo community and its environs in his palace, advocated for peace, saying: “The society that bred miscreants over the years has the responsibility to refine them and make them useful for themselves.

“I consider youth engagement as part of my social contribution to ensure that youths, particularly those that are socially tagged as thugs, are sensitised, rehabilitated and turned to positive agents of the society.

“We are going to give them scholarships. If they want to learn trades, we will empower them. The era of raising thugs for destructive purposes is gone. The era is dead. I want to give promoters of thuggery in Iwoland a red card.

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“Most of them thrive in criminality because they either feel not being catered for, some leaders in the past disappointed them. I believe they can still be useful, especially for the security of this country. We have to change and rehabilitate the people we tag as thugs.

“It is the society that bred them. The problem did not just start now. So we have to dialogue with them and we have made up our mind to invest in them. We want to change those bad eggs to become good eggs.

“We have to avert what happened during the ENDSARS protests when property belonging to people was destroyed. You can imagine, one of the illustrious sons of this town, his property that was built over the years, even before he ventured into politics was destroyed. We don’t want that to happen again,” Oluwo said.

Also speaking, Prof. Lai Olorode, who had addressed the youth groups on why they were brought together by the monarch, said: “They have not been effectively co-opted into the mainstream of the society and there is an indication that these groups are increasing. They are recruiting more and more into their fold and if the society continues like that, it may well mean that those people acknowledged as deviants will outnumber those who are the norm in the mainstream of the society. No leader in the society should play with the idea of increasing those who are in the marginal.”

By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

The Police have launched an investigation into sexual harassment preferred against the Commissioner for Environment in Ogun State, Hon. Abiodun  Abudu -Balogun.

The Ogun State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, while reacting to the viral video, said investigation has commenced in respect of it, disclosing the Area Commander for Ogbere Police Area Command, is conducting the investigation.

Abimbola, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stressed that the outcome would be made known to the public at the appropriate time when it is concluded.

A teenage girl, who identified herself as Melojuekun Barakat Mayowa, had in a viral video alleged that Hon. Abiodun Abudu – Balogun sexually harassed her when she visited him looking for employment.

In the viral video, the girl further claimed that the former Reps member fondled with her breasts.

But the commissioner, Abudu-Balogun, has refuted the allegations, saying it is a “pure political blackmail” concocted by his political “adversaries.”

Reacting to the allegation, in a statement yesterday, he said the matter is already being treated by the Police and his legal team, pleading with his supporters and associates to remain calm and not engage anyone on the said issue.

He said: “My attention has been drawn to a purported video circulating on social media of a girl alleging that I attempted to sexually harass her. Let it be noted that in my entire life and political career, I have assisted many youths to secure jobs; some are working with me in my different businesses.

“On this said day, the girl was brought to my house by one of my loyalists who is her uncle, to assist her get a job as a Computer Operator at the ICT Centre I facilitated while I was serving as a member of the House of Representatives years back which has been moribund but I am about to rehabilitate in order to empower more youths in our local government.

Read Also: Police nab two robbery suspects in Kano

“I met her at my sitting room for a few minutes where many of my loyalists are, people that came to visit me for the New Year. I chatted with the lady for a few minutes and as part of my usual gesture, I gave her some amount of money for her transportation.

“A day after, I was informed by some people that I have been alleged to have attempted to sexually harass the girl and I should invite the family for a meeting so as to settle the matter amicably. It was after my refusal to yield to their threats that they went ahead to make a tele-guided video leading the lady on what to say to implicate me. This is purely a political blackmail by my adversaries.

“Let me state emphatically that I never attempted to sexually harass anyone,” he said.

Our Reporter

The Ebonyi State Government on Saturday directed schools across the state to resume for the continuation of the first term of the 2020 /2021 academic session on January 18.

Education Commissioner, Onyebuchi Chima, said in Abakaliki that “resumption of academic activities in Ebonyi schools has been shifted to Monday, Jan. 18, as against the initial resumption date of Jan. 4.”

“The postponement is due to the need to take precautions against the impending second wave of COVID-19 and in compliance to the directives of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19 pandemic,’’ Chima said.

Tertiary institutions in the state will resume academic activities tomorrow on condition of strict observance of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) COVID-19 protocols.

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The commissioner said Governor David Umahi explained that the decision to allow tertiary institutions to reopen was to ensure the return of students to full academic activities, especially as the Academic Staff Union of Universities had suspended its nine months industrial action.

The government had directed schools to vacate for the Christmas holiday on Dec. 18, 2020, after it reopened schools in October, with the lifting of lockdown due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

By AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Kaduna

The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has joined others in the civil rights community to condemn the arrest and detention of Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore, by the Nigeria Police on New Year eve.

CNG views the arrest of Sowore along with four of his friends during a candlelight procession to usher in the New Year in Abuja as another sign of brutal encroachments on people’s fundamental rights that is becoming the hallmark of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

In a statement issued by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said, “We remind government and its agencies that the universal right to move freely means that a person cannot be arbitrarily forced to remain in, or move to or from, a particular place.

Read Also: #EndSARS protesters accuse Sowore over moves to hijack demonstrations

“The right includes freedom from physical and procedural barriers, like requiring permission before entering a public park or participating in a public demonstration in a public place.

Based on the above premise, we view Sowore’s arrest for participating in a religious rite indiscriminate, unwarranted, uncalled for and downright unacceptable and a dangerous tendency towards totalitarian oppression and suppression of people’s rights,” CNG said.