There have been widespread reactions to the recent death of Timothy Adegoke, an executive MBA student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife, Osun State, at the Hilton Hotels (Honours), Ile-Ife. The owner of the hotel, renowned educationist and businessman, Dr. Rahman Adegoke Adedoyin and other accused persons in the incident are currently under investigation and would soon be arraigned in an Osun court. Adedoyin’s wife and founder of Chapel of Blessings Evangelical Ministry International, Prophetess (Mrs) Iyabo Oluwafunmilayo Adedoyin, speaks on the incident in this interview with GBENGA ADERANTI.

Your husband is one of the people accused of having a hand in the death of Timothy Adegoke at the Hilton Hotels (Honours) owned by him. What is your take on the allegation?

As a mother, let me first sympathise with Timothy Adegoke’s family. The whole incident is very unfortunate and we are sad. Everybody will die one day, one time and somewhere. He was alleged to have lodged at Hilton Hotels (Honours) Ile-Ife which is one of the arms of my husband’s businesses in Ife. I can categorically tell you that my husband was not at Hilton Hotel on the said night.

How do you feel about the whole incident?

Like I said before, I feel very sad that such an incident was alleged to have occurred at one of my husband’s hotels. This is the first time something like this would happen since he ventured into the hospitality business about 21 years ago. To me, the whole thing looks like a bad dream. Some social media reports alleged that your husband must have killed him for money rituals…

My husband did not kill Timothy Adegoke or send anyone to kill him. I’m certain of this and I strongly believe that his innocence will be established in court in the course of his trial. I have been married to my husband for close to 40 years. He is a devout Muslim, and I can confidently tell you that in all the years we have been together, he has never been involved in anything fetish or ritual. His enemies capitalised on what happened at Hilton Hotels (Honours), Ife to use the bloggers who specialise in destroying people’s reputation to make money to smear his image. They took advantage of the sad incident at Hilton Honours.

All their evil plans and machinations will fail unless he was the one that killed the late Timothy Adegoke.  Some of the dismissed employees of his establishments, some enemies within Ife community who have an axe to grind with him and are envious of his successes, took advantage of what happened to bastardise his name.

But he was charged with unlawful interference with a dead body and tampering with CCTV cameras, among other offences…

These are mere allegations, and I believe that the court will vindicate him at the end of the day. How can someone who was not at the scene of an incident tamper with anything at the scene? My husband is a business man and a renowned educationist with several tertiary institutions, among many other businesses. He visits each of his businesses occasionally like a tourist. He has his personal office in the house and holds most of his meetings and other official engagements in the house. He hardly spends up to an hour whenever he visits any of his businesses. So, my husband was not there when the incident happened and has not been there ever since.

Read Also: OAU student: Police withdraw murder charge against Adedoyin

There are allegations by bloggers and other social media enthusiasts that your husband used Timothy Adegoke for money rituals…

Money rituals are lies and machinations of the devil. It is complete deceit, and it is unfortunate that in this part of the world, people view rich people as ritual killers. It is out of sheer ignorance that uninformed people refer to successful individuals as ritual killers. We are leaving this for the courts to determine. Someone who has five thriving tertiary institutions and charges about half a million naira per year on each of about 5, 000 students in one of them is by all standards already very comfortable.

The recognition and popularity given to money rituals in our society, especially those in the film industry, the bloggers and other media has turned the feeble-minded youths and adults alike into traders in human parts as means of getting rich quickly. It is very unfortunate. The average person nowadays believes he can only be rich through money rituals. How many foreign films have you seen attributing riches to money rituals? Films in Africa will not sell unless you introduce ritualism into it.

The late Timothy Adegoke was said to have paid the hotel fees into a private account. Why?

This is quite unfortunate if proven to be true. If that is the case, I believe he must have been misled by the staff to do that as that was wrong. Hotel business is not the best when the owner is not present to oversee things.

Your husband said the late Timothy’s stay at Hilton Hotel (Honours), Ile-Ife was illegal. But he slept there?

He didn’t say it was illegal. He only said that the mode of payment was wrong, as it could not be traced initially in the records of the company.

Your husband has been in custody for a while now. Could it be that the police know something that the rest of us we don’t?

The police concentrated on him, investigating money ritualism as alleged by Facebook posts instead of investigating the cause of the death of Timothy Adegoke. When the whole thing started, some bloggers said Adedoyin had cut the body into pieces for rituals, but It was the local authority that buried Timothy Adegoke where it was dumped. The police invited Timothy Adegoke’s family. They checked the body in the presence of press men and all agreed that all the body parts were intact.

The corpse was taken to Osun State University Teaching Hospital Complex in Osogbo for autopsy. Before the autopsy, the police called the government pathologist, asked the family of the late Timothy to bring their own pathologist and asked our family to bring ours too. The police did excellently well.

After the autopsy, one of the professors said that Timothy died of trauma; the other said that the cause of death could not be ascertained. The fact remains that he died and my husband’s hand is not in his death. But I am not happy that he died, because I am a mother.

Are you hopeful that police investigation will vindicate your husband?

I am not in the position to speak on behalf of the police. But I believe that with the arraignment of the suspects before the FCT High Court, investigation is deemed to have been concluded.

By Yusuf Alli, Managing Editor, Northern Operation and Jide Orintunsin, Abuja

• President asks them to submit idea to Caretaker Committee

• Cracks among govs widen over plot to undermine CECPC; to meet today on zoning

• Aspirants in the dark over sales of nomination forms 24 hours to start of exercise

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected a proposal from two All Progressives Congress (APC) state governors to adopt a certain aspirant as the next national chairman of the party during the February 26 convention.

Buhari, The Nation gathered yesterday, asked the two governors to take their proposal to the party’s Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), their fellow governors and other party leaders for consideration.

The back door approach of the two governors is said to have widened the cracks in the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) which is scheduled to hold a make or break meeting today in Abuja on the zoning of party offices.

The PGF’s proposal is expected to be relayed to Buhari by tomorrow for a final decision by him, party sources said.

Several APC governors and members of the CECPC are understood to have been upset by the conduct of their two colleagues who allegedly sought to sell their favoured candidate to the President through the back door.

Members of the CECPC members saw the action of the two governors as a move to undermine the caretaker committee.

The chairmanship aspirants include ex-Governor Abdulaziz Yari;  Mallam Saliu Mustapha (Turaki Ilorin); ex-Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura; Senator Sani Mohammed Musa and ex-Governor Ali Modu Sheriff.

Others are Sunny Sylvester Monidafe; Mohammed Etsu; ex-Governor George Akume; ex-Governor Isa Yuguda and Dr. Sani Abdullahi Shinkafi.

Also said to be eyeing the position are ex-Governor Abdullahi Adamu and a former Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bawa Bwari.

Investigation revealed that three of the 22 APC governors had agreed to recommend an aspirant to the President.

Two of them are from the North and one from the South.

However, the Southern governor backed out of the visit to the President at the last minute.

It was gathered that the two Northern governors, including one of them said to be aspiring to be Vice President in 2023, proceeded to see the President with a view to convincing him to adopt an aspirant.

A source familiar with the development said: “The affected governors went to the Presidential Villa for political ambush but the President turned down their proposal for a commitment on one of the aspirants.

“He told the governors to send their proposal through the Caretaker Committee. He said since there is a party structure in place, they should use the same platform to communicate with him. They don’t know that President Buhari is a due process man.

“The governors failed in their bid to anoint one of the chairmanship aspirants. And they cannot go back to their colleagues.”

Sources said the action of the governors has widened the cracks in the PGF which is yet to reach a consensus on the party’s next chairman.

Another source said: “Many of the APC governors are angry with these two colleagues who were trying to be smarter.

“They knew that one of them, who is aspiring to be Vice President in 2023, plotted this move.

“Some CECPC members considered the shuttle to the Villa as a ploy to undermine the Caretaker Committee. They now have reasons to suspect them.

“It is clear that some governors are not with the CECPC which is being led by Buni in spite of their outward posture.

“The game will now be more complex before the national convention of APC. We hope that the President will save the situation by providing a direction.”

Governors meet today to decide on zoning

Governors elected on the platform of the APC are scheduled to hold a make or break meeting today in Abuja on the zoning of party offices.

Their proposal is expected to be relayed to President Muhammadu Buhari by tomorrow for a final decision by him, party sources said.

The uncertainties surrounding the zoning are believed to be largely responsible for the delay by the party in releasing for sale nomination forms for the various offices.

The Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), which is saddled with the responsibility of conducting the convention, had fixed February 14 for the sale of nomination forms and February 19 for submission of same.

Investigation showed that the party’s national secretariat was yet to take delivery of the nomination forms from printers last night.

The CECPC had promised to set up a vital sub-committee, especially the budget sub-committee.

But with the convention only 14 days away, stakeholders are wondering what is delaying the composition of sub-committees to handle various aspects of the convention.

Members feel frustrated by alleged lack of information from the CECPC on the convention.

The only signs at the party’s secretariat yesterday that a convention was around the corner were the numerous billboards and banners of aspirants jostling for different positions.

A youth leader aspirant from one of the North Central states expressed concern yesterday over the development.

He was also concerned about the delay by CECPC in setting up the convention sub-committee.

The youth leader, who does not want his name in print, said: “If by today (Saturday) the party is yet to give us details about the sale of nomination forms, if we are in the dark about the cost of purchasing nomination forms, if we are not in the true picture of which zone will produce what, then I foresee danger and confusion.

“Since January 19 that the CECPC announced the convention date, one would have expected that vital issues like sale of forms and zoning should not be left in the realm of speculation, and aspirants kept in the dark.

“By today, we ought not to be asking about the cost and mode of purchasing the nomination forms. The party ought to have placed an advertisement in the dailies stating the cost of purchase of nomination forms for various offices and the mode.

“I don’t think the party should be putting our people in avoidable tension like this. I pray there is no sabotage.

“As things are now, only the members of CECPC seem to know the mode of purchase and the cost of the forms.”

Secretary of the Caretaker Committee, Senator James Akpanudoedehe, could not be reached yesterday to comment on the situation.

He was said to be preoccupied with the Federal Capital Territory local government election.

But a top member of the party said the sale of nomination forms may have been shifted by two days to enable stakeholders make wider consultations and ensure a rancour-free convention.

The source said the convention date of February 26 was sacrosanct.

On zoning arrangement, the party chieftain said stakeholders would harmonise all considerations and submissions and come up with an acceptable arrangement.

His words: “The truth is that the issue of zoning will be concluded by Monday. Some stakeholders are already meeting. The governors are to meet tomorrow (Sunday).

“Their position will be harmonised with other stakeholders and an acceptable arrangement will be presented to the President on Monday for his approval.

“Given this development, the sale of forms may be shifted by two days. But the national convention date of February 26 stands.”

On the delay in setting up sub-committees, the party official said: “The Caretaker Committee gave 19th of February for the announcement of the sub-committees. We are on course on this and there is no cause for alarm.

“Much of the work has been done. The sub-committees will only come to implement.

“It may interest you to know that the governors are already booking hotels for their delegates. The convention is holding as planned.”

A source close to the Progressive Governors Forum confirmed yesterday that the zoning arrangement would top the agenda of today’s meeting of the governors.

Some of the governors are already in Abuja for the meeting and also to perfect arrangement for their delegates.

Yet-to-be-identified armed thugs have attacked the Soka residence of the Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho in Ibadan.

An aide of the embattled Yoruba nation agitator Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho) simply identified as Kokoro killed by hoodlums during a violent attack on his supporters.

Igboho’s lead counsel, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), confirmed this to The Nation last night.

The deceased was said to have been killed at Soka area of Ibadan at about 3pm on Saturday as a confrontation between Igboho’s supporters and the motor park touts escalated.

The fracas was said to have been triggered by some touts who accosted an Igboho supporter who wore a shirt on which Igboho’s picture was printed. The hoodlums were said to have confronted the man, querying him for wearing the customized Igboho shirt. It was learnt that the incident occurred in the morning.

Igboho is currently being detained in a prison facility in the Republic of Benin, after he was arrested at Cardinal Bernardin International Airport, Cotonou, while on his way to Germany in July.

The thugs, The Nation learnt, raided his house on Saturday afternoon around 3pm.

The development was also confirmed by one of Igboho’s aide, Onaolapo Ademola Omiyale, who ran a live Facebook broadcast.

He claimed that Igboho’s supporters were the focus of the target.

Omiyale said, “Soka Junction, Sanyo, Academy, Oremeji is currently under attack, they are attacking anyone wearing Yoruba Nation Vest and Igboho’s face caps.”

The Nation has not been able to independently verify his claims yet.

But sources in the area who spoke with our correspondent said there was pandemonium in the Soka community in the afternoon following sporadic gunshots.

Also, in the videos seen by our correspondent, some of Igboho’s supporters who reportedly confronted the armed thugs, sustained injuries.

Police spokesman in the state Adewale Osifeso was unavailable for comment.

By Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta and Alao Abiodun

• Why I informed Buhari of my presidential ambition first

• APC national leader fought, worked hard for APC – Ayade

National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Saturday paid a courtesy call on the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo in continuation of a nationwide consultation towards actualisation of his ambition to lead the country in 2023.

Tinubu who arrived at the palace of Oba Gbadebo, at 4:30p.m. told the paramount ruler and his chiefs that he elected to first visit President Muhammadu Buhari and intimate him of his presidential ambition as a necessary decision and in order not to step on toes.

He disclosed that the President afterwards advised him to also let the world – Nigerians know about his 2023 presidential aspiration.

The former Lagos State governor said he was at the palace to seek the support and blessings of the monarch towards his 2023 presidential ambition.

He was accompanied by Prof. Tunde Samuel, chief Kemi Nelson, former deputy governor Femi Pedro, James Odunbaku, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Senator Gbenga Obadara, Senator Anthony Afuye as well as a host of leaders and coordinators of various groups singing  ‘Tinubu for President in 2023’.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Tinubu visits Awujale for royal blessings

Tinubu had earlier stopped over in Ijebu – Ode, the royal home of Awujale and headquarters of Ijebu – Ode Local Government Area where he informed Oba Sikiru Adetona of his political ambition and sought the support as well as blessings of the revered monarch.

While in Ijebu Ode, he was welcomed to the palace of Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Adetona, by a crowd of enthusiastic supporters.

At the  Alake’s palace, Abeokuta, Tinubu  said it was the people who  asked him to make himself available for the number one office in Nigeria come 2023, recalling that he had contested for a senatorial seat and governorship office in Lagos and won in all the instances.

“I contested the Senate at the youngest age ever, I won. I contested for the governorship, I won twice. Before that, I was part of the struggle for the return of democracy in Nigeria. We supported several persons for several positions, the Governor, Senate, House of Representatives, House of Assembly, chairmen of councils, councillors and helped people in several political positions in the country.

“This time, it is the people that asked me to contest for the presidency of Nigeria. When they started, I was not there and they had moved to several places.

“I have told the President, Muhammadu Buhari, that I want to step into his shoes and not his toes. When I told him, he said I should tell the world. That is what I am doing now. I need your prayers for the project.

“I am here to seek the support of Kabiyesi and the people of Egbaland not only to be the candidate of the APC but to win the presidential election and govern the country.”

Speaking on behalf of the Ogun State government, Mr Shuaibu Salisu, the Chief of Staff to Governor Dapo Abiodun, said the Alake palace was reputed for producing presidents of the country dating back to the colonial days.

Salisu said the governor would have graced the courtesy call on Alake, but for his travel abroad and had sent a state delegation, including commissioners and party leaders in the state.

He said: “This palace is a presidential palace. In the colonial days, a president of Nigeria sat here. In 2011, you were here, in 2015, you were here, in 2015, you were also here and you succeeded.

“Egba Nation, would play her role in Nigeria. This state serves as the Gateway to Nigeria. Nobody can enter Lagos, which is the economic nerve centre of Nigeria without entering Ogun State. This state therefore, is a Gateway to fulfilment of destiny.”

Responding to the request of Tinubu, Oba Gbadebo prayed God to grant his request. The monarch also prayed that it shall be well for Ogun State and Nigeria in general.

Tinubu thereafter left Abeokuta for Ilaro to visit the Paramount Ruler of Yewaland and Olu of  Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle for similar consultation on his ambition.

Meanwhile, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has stated that Tinubu deserves to contest for the 2023 presidency because he worked and fought hard for the party.

Speaking with BBC pidgin, monitored by The Nation, Ayade said: “Anybody that has come to contest from the South is in his/her right to do so. More people will still come out.

“If you ask me about Tinubu, I would say it is correct that he came out, because he fought and worked hard and supported Buhari to put this government that is in place. Such a man will expect that since we are talking about a southern presidency, let him try to contest.

“Anyone that is saying he is not supposed to declare his intention is not doing the right thing. He should try his best. I cannot say it is not good. I can’t say that. I belong to a party, and the party will calculate. If the party says it is Tinubu, I will support him.

“If the party decides to go with someone else, I will lead the convoy that will go and beg Tinubu about the party’s decision. This is because I know that the man has worked hard for this party, and I have a conscience.

“I am waiting for the party. If the party makes the calculation and says it should not be Tinubu for any reason, everyone deserves respect on their own level. He (Tinubu) deserves special respect. We must go and convince him. He is not a bad person. He is a good person. If he sees that he is given a good reason that convinces him, then we can go ahead. That is my position,” he said.

• President appoints Sani Zorro as SSA in First Lady’s Office

• Redeploys three others to SSG’s office

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved a reorganisation of the workforce in the Office of the First Lady, leading to the sack of a political appointee, redeployment of three others and appointment of a new one.

In the new development, President Buhari appointed renowned journalist and former member of the House of Representatives, Muhammad Sani Zorro, as his new Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs and Strategy, deployed in the Office of the First Lady.

A statement issued Saturday morning by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, disclosed that three of the aides of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari, were redeployed at her request from her office to that of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF).

The statement also disclosed that the President approved the immediate disengagement of his Special Assistant on Domestic and Social Events in the Office of the First Lady, Zainab Kazeem.

The reason for Kazeem’s sack was yet to be ascertained at press time.

Those redeployed to the OSGF from the Office of the First Lady are Dr. Mohammed Kamal Abdulrahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development Partners and Personal Physician to the First Lady; Hadi Uba, Special Assistant to the President on Administration; and Wole Aboderin, Special Assistant to the President on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Muhammad Sani Zorro, journalist, politician and former lawmaker, as the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs and Strategy, Office of the First Lady.

“At the instance of the First Lady, Mrs Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, the President has also approved the immediate redeployment of three of the political appointees in her office to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, pending their assignment to some other government departments or agencies.

“Those affected by the redeployment are: Dr. Mohammed Kamal Abdulrahman, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health and Development Partners and Personal Physician to the First Lady; Hadi Uba, Special Assistant to the President on Administration and Wole Aboderin, Special Assistant to the President on Non-Governmental Organisations, NGOs.

“Also approved with effect from 11th February is the disengagement of Zainab Kazeem, the Special Assistant to the President on Domestic and Social Events, Office of the First Lady.

“Zorro, a famous journalist brings to the new job decades-long experience in media practice, publishing and unionist leadership.

“He was at various times President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, West African Journalists Association (WAJA) and the Federation of African Journalists, FAJ.

“He was in the House of Representatives where he chaired the committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Refugees and Initiatives on North East.”

• Governor: It’s politics taken too far

• VP, NAF apologise

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State was left fuming yesterday after security personnel at the Air Force Base, Makurdi prevented him from receiving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo during a stop-over in the state.

Osinbajo however apologised for the development and sought to make amends by meeting the governor a few hours thereafter.

The Air Force authorities also apologised to Ortom for the conduct of the security men.

The Governor had been scheduled to receive Osibanjo who was transiting to Wukari, Taraba State through the Makurdi Air Force Base.

But the security personnel at the entrance of the military formation denied him and his entourage entry, claiming they were not informed about the governor’s visit to the base to receive the vice president.

The governor, a known critic of President Muhammadu Buhari, took the action of the security men as an attempt by the federal government to hit back at him.

He hurriedly called a press conference to narrate his ordeal, calling it politics taken too far.

“How can I go to the Air Force base and I am bounced back? In my state? It’s politics taken too far and somebody must account for it,” he said.

Continuing, he said: “I feel so sad that there are certain things you don’t play politics with, and I must continue to talk about this injustice.

“It is a normal thing when distinguished dignitaries like the President or the Vice-President is passing through your state, that the governor receives him.

“I decided to mandate the Deputy Governor to represent me at the burial of Prof. Ayua. So, this morning, I got prepared and went to the Air Force Base where the Vice President was supposed to land en route Wukari, and unfortunately, I was bounced at the gate; in my own state.

“It doesn’t happen. This is a breach of protocol and this is not accepted.

“If a personality like the Vice President is visiting my state and I cannot go there to welcome him, then it will be a breach of protocol on my part.

“How can I go to the Air Force Base and I am bounced at the gate? I mean, it has never happened anywhere in this country.

“Maybe the same Presidency that wrote to me is not aware. But I think we should, if we must make progress, to differentiate between politics and government activities.

“It is a government activity that I welcome Mr President or Vice President; that I welcome any dignitary that comes here from the Federal Government.

“There is no permanent enemy or permanent friend in politics. Tomorrow I can be the best friend of the President if they choose to do the right thing.

“I do not have any problem with the President or Vice President, and all the things that I say, they are meant to add value to our development and get things right.

“I have never insulted the President, the Vice President or the Federal Government. But there are certain things that they are doing which are wrong that should be corrected.

“I will report this breach to the Vice President because it was protocol for me to have gone to receive him and then see him off; also to receive him back when going to Abuja.

“It’s really unfortunate. I feel very sorry.”

The Presidency, in a February 10, 2022 letter with reference number VP/SP/DOP/26 had informed Ortom that the Vice President  would be “transiting  through NAF Base, Makurdi on his way to Wukari, Taraba State on Saturday,12th February 2022” and return by the same route later the same day.

Osinbajo, NAF apologise to governor   

The matter was however resolved a few hours later as the Vice President was returning to Abuja.

He stopped over at the NAF Base and was received by Ortom.

Osinbajo and the NAF authorities apologised for the incident and the governor accepted the apologies.

He said it was all caused by an error in communication.

Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his proscribed separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB) have come under severe criticisms for dissociating  themselves from  the Monday sit-at-home  protests that have led to mindless killings and disruption  of economic cum social  activities in the South East region.

Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, last weekend revealed that Nnamdi Kanu told him while in detention that he neither ordered nor knew about the Monday sit-at-home which has continued to be observed in the region.

IPOB, during the week issued a statement backing Abaribe and restating that it had washed its hands off the exercise.

“Comments from Abaribe are true, because we stated it before now that Kanu, through his lawyers had asked IPOB members and its leadership to stop the Monday sit-at-home order.

“Those purportedly enforcing the directive have been killing and burning property of Igbo people and they will incur the wrath of IPOB in due course,” the statement partly read.

IPOB through the spokesman, Emma Powerful had on July 30, 2021, issued a statement declaring an indefinite sit-at-home every Monday till Kanu is released.

The statement read in part: “We the global family of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, wish to announce to all Biafra citizens, friends of Biafra and lovers of Biafra freedom and independence that IPOB leadership has declared every Monday ‘a ghost Monday’. This declaration takes effect from Monday, August 9, 2021. Nobody should attempt to flout this directive as doing so may come with huge consequences. Anybody flouting this order is taking a grave risk,”

People of the region have asked the separatist group to take responsibility for their actions and not further insult their senses by dissociating itself from the Monday-sit- at-home protests.

Speaking on the development, a social analyst, Mr. Benson Offor, said “Those who started the Monday sit-at-home should equally look for possible means to stop it if they claim that they are no longer in support of it. It is the monsters that they breed that are propagating it. They know them and know where to find them.

“It is in their hands to quench the fire that they lit and let me say this for emphasis; the fire that they lit in the southeast will soon consume them or even their relations.”

He added: “When we were telling people that IPOB is bigger than Kanu, people thought that we are stupid. What is happening in their camps now shows that we were right, after all.

“We learnt that there is a serious issue of trust among them. Ekpa and his group believed that Nnamdi Kanu’s brother and among others are coming to reap where they didn’t sow.

“Remember what happened when Kanu was arrested. Remember that it was the breakaway group that told people that Emmanuel Kanu, Emma Powerful and DOS members had collected money from the federal government.

“They demanded to see Kanu alive in court and asked people not to believe what Kanu’s lawyers are saying.

“We thought that they were going to call off the sit-at-home when Kanu eventually appears in court, but that was not the case as the group who saw the support that they got from the gullible IPOB or Biafra members decided to continue to push for the sit-at-home.

“How do you expect people to go to the market and offices when the members of security agencies that were supposed to guide the citizens are not even on the road on Mondays?

“The truth is that, if Kanu led IPOB comes out today to say that they have called off the sit-at-home, people will not want to come out to their shops because nobody wants to risk his or life.”

A security expert who spoke on condition of anonymity said from investigations, those still enforcing the suspended sit-at-home are suspected IPOB members who may  have gone rogue.

The source said: “Well looking at it from a security point, I think some members of IPOB have gone rogue and have refused to adhere to the cancelation of the programme.

“This is what happens when there is a lacuna in such an unstructured organisation. Kanu was the sole leader of the group. Everything went through him. So when he was arrested, the other supposed leaders couldn’t control the members.

“So those of them who were armed, seemed to have refused to stop the sit-at-home. Also, there is also the possibility that some criminal elements have capitalized on this to carry out their criminal activities.

“They may be working with the rogue IPOB members or working separately but the thing is that failure of leadership in IPOB is directly or indirectly responsible for the continuation.If they didn’t declare the sit-at-home in the first place, we won’t even have the problem.”

A trader, Okorie James said the group was responsible for declaring the sit-at-home in the first place.

He alleged that the inability of the group to control its members whom it armed as be the reason why the sit-at-home has not stopped even when  IPOB announced the  suspension of the exercise.

The chief mediator of World Zionist Union in the Southeast, Prophet Geoffrey Gbujie, stated that both the pro-Biafra agitators and criminal elements, were involved in the ongoing sit-at-home enforcement.

He added that both groups were rather enforcing the sit-at-home order to enrich themselves rather than agitating for Biafra independence.

According to him, “It is very unfortunate that what Ralph Uwazuruike’s MASSOB initiated and executed thrice without hitches, had been turned to a weekly routine and ritual wittingly and unwittingly by certain pro-Biafra agitators and other unidentified covert actors, whose interests are clearly not in tandem with the raging Biafra national independence agitation.

“Criminals have come into the whole thing to enrich themselves. They harass people, break into stores and shops to loot all in the name of sit-at-home.

“They stop motorists, motorcyclists and keke people and collect their money. I witnessed one incident at NOWAS Junction here in Enugu. I was standing in one of the offices upstairs watching them as the hoodlums attacked people and robbed POS operators”.

Also speaking, a cleric, Ven. Daniel Uche attributed the problem to the splinting of the group, with each of the groups issuing threatening orders separately.

He said, “The situation is so unfortunate that before you embark on any trip, you’ll confirm from any member of the group if the road is clear. If he said you should go, then I go. Otherwise, you’re on your own.

“Yes, government has asked market leaders to open various markets for business. But the problem is not ordering opening of market. The market is always open every Monday, but who will go and sell?”

“The only solution to the problem is releasing Nnamdi Kanu. Just like Mbazuluike Amechi told the President, the matter can’t be solved politically.

“All these gorilla warfare will continue unabated with increased casualties and economic losses until the arrow head is released.”

Criminal elements fingered

The Director, Centre for Victims of Extra- Judicial Killings and Torture, Comrade Frank Kalu-Agu, in an interview with The Nation was emphatic on those behind the traditional sit-at-home or ‘Holy Mondays’.

According to Kalu-Agu, “They’re criminal elements who want to hide under the IPOB cancelled sit-at-home to create a state of insecurity so that they will have access to anything they want. Their plan is just to cause confusion and create a sense of fear so that whenever they like they strike without restraints. In fact, they just want to hijack the streets and lord it over the defenseless citizens”.

He insisted that the whole thing was an attempt to smear the image of the IPOB.

“It happened in Aba during the time of Bakassi Boys. Eventually along the line, criminal elements hijacked it and made nonsense of the whole exercise.

“So, we have experience about this kind of thing. So, it’s not surprising that criminals have hijacked it. Those people are not IPOB. IPOB is organised. They said they have stopped the sit-at-home after one outing. So whosever that is pushing or enforcing it is not IPOB. These are criminal elements”, he said.

Kalu-Agu also suggested that those, he described as enemies of the Southeast might have a hand in sponsoring the violence in the region, which hitherto was the most peaceful in the entire country.

He said, “There is this other group circulating letters to markets, parks, business centres and individuals warning them to stay away from streets and markets on Mondays.

“We’re suspecting that those people are not even Igbos. They are the enemies of Ndigbo who want our economy to run aground.

“There’s the possibility that they might have infiltrated here and started circulating those letters asking people not to come out in order to ensure that this evil process continues until our economy crumbles”.

Speaking with The Nation, the Ogrishi-Ndigbo, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka,(Rojenny),  said what is happening in Igboland is spiritual

He said the sit-at-home and killings will not stop in the zone until all the corpes in every Correctional facility in Igbo land are evacuated

Ezeonwuka, maintained that those perpetrating the sit-at-home every Monday are the spirits that are angry and not members of IPOB as being speculated

According to him, “those dead bodies are angry in Igboland and nothing will stop what is happening now unless the bodies in different mortuaries are released and buried.

“Those dead bodies are seriously angry and nobody can stop them unless they are released to their owners and those without anyone to pick them, should be buried in a mass grave

“Mark my words, very soon, a lot of things will happen in Igboland, if those things are not done and it can lead to collapse of Igbo” Ezeonwuka declared

Some other stakeholders who spoke to The Nation proffered different other  solutions to the lingering quagmire.

Chairman Civil Liberty Organization (CLO), Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme called on those responsible for continued observation of sit at home order to consider the interest and welfare of the southeastern states.

He said, “IPOB has confirmed postulation of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe that IPOB leader never sanctioned or supported sit at home order.

“We are appealing to those responsible for continued observation of the sit at home order to consider the interest and welfare of the southeastern states.

“The economy of hitherto flourishing and vibrant southeast is collapsing rapidly and beyond redemption if urgent steps are not taking to remedy and rectify the despicable situation.

“Most pathetic are the students that miss classes every Mondays, and will compete with students from other zones in external examinations.

“There are many parents who depend on their daily incomes for upkeep of their families. Let us be our brothers and sisters keepers and ensure adequate protection of less privileged and the oppressed.”

Immediate past chairman, UNIZIK -ASUU, Prof. Dennis Aribodor called for a dialogue between Southeast governors in order to provide effective and humane leadership.

He said, “President Buhari promised to consider the request of Igbo leaders led by Elder statesman Mbazuluike Amechi. He should quickly do that to douse the tension.

“With the release of Nnamdi Kanu, there will be a clear and known command for IPOB for meaningful engagement and political solution. That is where to begin as military solution cannot solve the problem.

“Southeast governors should come together and initiate meaningful dialogue; provide effective and humane leadership to give hope to the people especially the youths by providing enabling environment for massive job creation to contain youth unemployment.

“The Governor-elect of Anambra State is being looked upon to provide the needed political leadership for the Southeast and I hope he will live up to the expectation.

“Political, traditional and religious leaders should sincerely partner the academia towards providing scientific workable solutions to the political and economic challenges of the Southeast.

“People are losing hope on the system and this is very dangerous. Every effort should be made to give hope to the people.”

Financial experts lament economic setback to region

A financial expert and former Economic Adviser to Abia State government, Chief Agu Ojukwu who expressed worries over the dangers Abia State and Southeast may face as a result of the continued sit-at-home protest by pro-biafra agitator, in a telephone interview with our correspondent feared possible relocation of businesses from the Southeast by business owners who may have seen the continued sit-at-home as a potential danger to their business.

According to the former Economic Adviser, “if businesses are shut down in Aba, the state will be losing nothing less than N2 Billion.

“This doesn’t include revenue coming from other sources. What Southeast loses on each sit-at-home day cannot be calculated.

“We all knew what happened during the Osisikankwu saga; where businesses relocated out of Aba.

“The danger in the continued sit-at-home is that a lot of persons who are calling for continued Monday sit-at-home do not have serious business in Aba, Abia or southeast.

“Those with serious business are not happy with what is happening and what it means is that, they will relocate their business outside Aba, Abia or southeast to another place where there won’t be sit-at-home.

“Some of the persons coming to Aba or southeast will look elsewhere to be doing their business on Monday.

“For governors of other zones, it is to see this as an opportunity to improve the economy of their states by ensuring that the state has what drives people to the southeast.

“I am sure that there are people including shoe makers who are not finding it funny with the every Monday sit-at-home and are willing to go elsewhere to establish their business.

“Those in Lagos who are backing what is happening in the southeast on Monday, do they close their shops on Monday’s? The answer is obvious No.

“If we don’t want to lose the few strong businesses that we have in the southeast, it is time we have a rethink.”

President of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Barr. Jasper Nduagwuike also expressed concern over the effect s of the continued Monday sit- at home and security challenges in the Southeast region.

Nduagwuike, who spoke newsmen in Enugu shortly after his investiture as the 16th President of ECCIMA stated that insecurity has left Southeast economy barren.

He said, “Imagine an economy that does not work on Monday’s, what kind of economy is that? An economy that does not work 4 days in a week, what kind of economy is that? what kind of economy are we building?

“Unfortunately business is moving out of South East slowly, we had similar incident in Nnewi and before they knew what was happening, spare parts marketers have moved to Ladipo market in Lagos.

According to him, ”Ladipo market  was not there before, it was the movement from Nnewi that created Ladipo market and nobody came back because once you leave, you have left .

“And again business is moving to Asaba, Uyo, Port harcourt, business is moving to states around South East, and Southeast is left barren due to insecurity.

The new ECCIMA boss, said “Before this problem started, Igbo’s have started coming back to establish in their states but with this situation, nobody wants to come around again.

“If you asked them to bring their investment home, they will tell you that their investment is safe where they are, due to insecurity challenges in Southeast, they don’t want to come home and invest anymore, so something must be done about the security situation in the Southeast so that we can have a situation where the Southeast will thrive economically, politically and be stable again,” he said.