Category: South East

Wife of late Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, Iyom Bianca Ojukwu has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to release leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu from detention to heal past wounds.

Speaking yesterday at the 10th edition of Ojukwu Memorial Day in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Mrs. Ojukwu decried the continued detention of IPOB leader and called on the Federal Government to consider the pleas for his release.

The former Ambassador to Spain also thanked the Igbo leaders who visited the president recently in pursuance of this objective, and appealed to President Buhari to consider the caliber and age of these igbo statesmen and grant this request in order to demonstrate a genuine commitment to healing the wounds of the past.

The wife of the late Biafra Leader equally stressed that no sacrifice was too much to promote and sustain a peaceful coexistence of all the tribes in the nation.

While noting that the clamour for secession, which has reached fever pitch in the country today “is a direct consequence of the inequities of the Nigerian state as currently constituted, she maintained that the Igbos continue to feel the pains of marginalisation and exclusion on a daily basis, adding that in as the issue was not addressed, there would continue to agitations for separate state.

“For as long as this is not addressed, and in so far as the Federal Government continues to  exclude the South East from certain political positions and critical developmental projects such as the National Railway plan , and the zone continues to suffer the ravages of the deteriorating conditions of existing federal infrastructure, most especially roads in the  South East , the feelings of collective victimization can only be reinforced and will continue to sustain the agitations for a separate state.”

The son of the Late Biafra Leader Engr Afamefuna Odumegwu Ojukwu who was present at the event thanked Chief Ralph Uwazuruike for consistently hosting this event every year following the demise of his father.

The event, a cultural festival of sorts, featured a brief interdenominational service, traditional dances and masquerades, colorful parades, drama sketches and a live band eulogising in music, the exploits of the Biafra hero.  There was an outpouring of tributes in celebration of the Igbo hero.

Anambra State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday announced the suspension of its Chairman, Chief Basil Ejidike.

The party cited insubordination and disrespect to the office of President Muhammadu Buhari as reasons for the suspension.

The Caretaker Chairman of the APC, Anambra State chapter, Okonkwo Okom, told reporters in Awka that the decision was part of the resolution of the state congress of leaders and stakeholders “to reposition our party.”

He said details of the reasons for their actions were contained in a concise petition submitted to the party’s national leadership, for justice to be done.

Reacting, Ejidike dismissed the suspension as laughable, saying those who spoke to reporters were not members of the state Executive Committee of the party.

Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in failed federal roads in the state.

He assured the residents that work will soon begin at construction sites when the dry season begins.

Dr. Ikpeazu, who spoke yesterday at the Government House Lodge in Aba during an interactive session with reporters, said that the slow pace of work at most construction sites was caused by the persistent rains, which did not allow the construction firms engaged by the government to move at the pace they should have been moving.

The governor, who said that the Ariaria-Faulks road was dear to his heart, promised to complete it in January.

He appealed to the Federal Government to fashion out ways of addressing the poor condition of federal roads in the state.

Ikpeazu lamented the huge economic loss the state had and is still recording as a result of the deplorable nature of federal roads, especially those that serve as major entry and exit routes (Aba-Ikot Ekpene, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene, Aba-Port Harcourt roads, among others) of the state and its neighbouring Southeast and Southsouth states.

He said that the continued neglect of federal roads in the state by the Federal Government seemed as if there was a deliberate plan to hold Abia by the jugular.

• It’s a ploy to demonise group, says IPOB

• Police: disregard such rumours

There is panic in Anambra State, following unconfirmed reports that some hoodlums are again planning to attack security facilities in the state.

Sources said it was the reason the police command had blocked the road leading to Amawbia roundabout through Zik’s avenue.

Although the area was blocked during the era of “unknown gunmen”, the police command opened it in the morning to allow residents move to destinations.

However, as a result of an alarm raised on Tuesday, the area was blocked again from the Correctional Centre at Amawbia to the Police Headquarters, making it difficult for residents.

Contacted, police spokesman Ikenga Tochukwu told The Nation that there was no such thing “to the best of my knowledge.”

He added: “But we have been getting security report on how to improve security in the state and we have been working on it

“The areas blocked have been like that for some time now and the command has been meeting to reopen the places.

“We have not received any security report that some people want to attack facilities in Anambra State.

“The command has stabilised security in the state and nobody is thinking towards that direction at the moment. Discard such rumours.”

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) said yesterday that the pro-Biafra group had no intention to attack any facility in the state.

This was disclosed to The Nation through a statement by the Media and Publicity Secretary of the group, Emma Powerful.

According to him, “IPOB-ESN has no plan to attack any place in Anambra State or any other state in the whole of the Southeast.

“IPOB is a peaceful movement and an organisation. Anybody linking IPOB and ESN to this purported attack is not sincere to Anambra people.”

Dressed in black attire and displaying placards, the Wailing Women of Niger Delta (WWND) yesterday barricaded the corporate headquarters of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

They called on President Muhammadu Buhari to ignore the antics of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and inaugurate the substantive board of the commission.

Also, in separate reactions, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the Itsekiri Liberation Group (ILG), the Southsouth Youths Initiative (SSYI) and the Ijaw Interest Advocates (IIA) slammed Akpabio’s recent comments that a new term of reference for NDDC was the reason behind the delay.

In Port Harcourt, motorists had a hectic time navigating the Marine Road, as the women, who also carried banners singing sorrowful songs in solidarity, disrupted traffic for hours.

On the banners were boldly written, “Niger Delta Women insist on a board for NDDC”, “Enough of illegal Sole Administrator”, while some placards contained messages like “80% of our women are vulnerable due to negligence”, among others.

The women, who wore mourning faces, sat on the ground, blocking the main entrance of the headquarters, lamenting that Akpabio had arrogated his personal ambition above the collective interests of the Niger Delta.

Read Also: Niger Delta women accuse Malami, Akpabio of blocking NDDC board’s inauguration 

The women, who also requested the publication of the audit report, demanded slots to be allocated to women in the coming board of the commission.

The Coordinator, WWND, Adinenbo Odighonin, said the only thing that would assuage them and guarantee peace in the region was the immediate inauguration of the NDDC board.

She said: “What we want is simple. We want the illegal sole administration to be dissolved.

“We want Akpabio, Malami and Buhari with immediate effect to constitute the board of the NDDC. What is going on is contrary to NDDC Act. It is an illegal operation.”

One of the protesters, Loveth Timothy, said they decided to march on the streets because the men had failed them.

An Assistant Commissioner of Police, U.M. Ugochi, who addressed the protesters, promised to take their grievances to the management.

PANDEF slammed Akpabio for developing a new tactics to delay the board and called on President Buhari to stop the minister from abusing his power as the supervisor of the NDDC.

PANDEF’s National Publicity Secretary, Ken Robinson, described the minister’s recent comment on the NDDC as “ridiculous and preposterous,” emphasising that the Act establishing the interventionist agency made provisions for its operations and functions.

The Itsekiri Liberation Group (ILG) said the minister was only bidding his time to actualise a hidden agenda.

Its Chairman, Oris Mone, said: “We believe it is very wrong and the presidency should call him to order. But we know the game that Akpabio is playing and at the right time, we will respond to him. This time we will respond in action. It is unfair that since July nothing has been done.”

The Ijaw Interest Advocates (IIA), also known as Izanzan Intellectual Camp, described the delay in the constitution of the board as portraying President Buhari in “bad light” to the people of the Niger Delta.

The group in a statement by its Coordinator, Arerebo Salaco Yerinmene, said that Buhari’s name was being used to peddle “illegality,” giving the “excuses” that had trailed the inauguration of the board.

The leadership of South-South Youths Initiative (SSYI) lamented that Akpabio’s action could plunge the region into crisis with national economic consequences.

The National President, SSYI, Saviour Oscar, said: “The desire of the people of the region has remained that their communities be developed in line with the mandate given NDDC. Anything short of this remains unacceptable.”