The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), yesterday questioned the alleged silence of the government of the United States of America (USA), over the extraordinary rendition of its leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from Kenya.

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It noted that it was aware through history that it was the United States of America that acted as the world’s conscience to challenge some European countries after the world wars and compelled them to let their colonised African nations go with flag independence from the 1950s, wondering what had gone wrong that was making them silent on Mazi Kanu’s ordeal in Nigeria.

A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful. titled: “Biafra questions to the United States of America government’s silence over Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s extraordinary rendition from Kenya to Nigeria”, told the USA government to complete the work it started by intervening in Kanu”s alleged illegal rendition.

• Govt accused of disobeying court order

Over 165 workers of College of Education, Sagbama, Bayelsa State, said to have been wrongfully dismissed by the state government four years ago, yesterday shut down Yenagoa, the capital, protesting the failure of the government to reinstate them after court order.

The workers, who staged a peaceful demonstration, undertook a procession march on some roads and streets in Yenagoa, to draw public’s attention to their plight.

Human and vehicular movements were affected while the protest lasted, as passengers were stranded. Commuters and motorists made a detour to escape the gridlock.

After the procession, the protesters thronged the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State chapter, to express their grievances.

They carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Enough is Enough’!  ‘Governor Diri, obey court order’, ‘Our children are out of school’, ‘We have suffered untold hardship’, among others.

Speaking to reporters during the protests, the leader of the disengaged workers, Mr. Kokobaikeme Lawrence, said they were unlawfully dismissed from the institution since 2018 by the administration of former Governor Seriake Dickson.

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He said after the unlawful disengagement, they approached the Industrial Court in Yenagoa to seek redress and they got victory.

Lawrence said the court judgment compelled the government and management of the college to reinstate them.

He said despite the court order, the government refused to obey the ruling.

He said: “The wrongful dismissal has resulted in the deaths of some of the affected persons, while others have suffered critical health conditions such as stroke, hypertension and varying degrees of mental disorders.

“We have been rendered impecunious and we can’t afford to take care of ourselves and families. We are suffering; we implore the authorities to do the needful. They should allow the rule of law to prevail.”

Lawrence said instead of the government to reinstate them in line with the court judgment, it set up a panel headed by Koku Obiyai, a lawmaker in the House of Assembly.

He claimed that since the panel was inaugurated, it had been redundant and nothing meaningful had come out of it, thereby worsening the plight of the disengaged workers.

He alleged that there had been selective payment to some of the disengaged workers, especially some persons that hailed from Sampou, the community of Governor Douye Diri.

Lawrence urged the governor to intervene in the matter, which had lingered for long by directing the management of the institution to reinstate them.

He reminded Diri that as a beneficiary of the court, he should not be seen to be acting in disobedience to court judgment.

The Chairman of Izzi Local Government of Ebonyi State, Steve Nwamkpa, yesterday called for investigation into the fire outbreak recorded at the commission’s office in the area.

He expressed displeasure about the burning down of the office located at Iboko.

Read Also: Suspected arsonists burn INEC office in Ebonyi

The chairman, who said some officials of the commission have questions to answer over the incident, wondered why the deployment of security personnel to the INEC office couldn’t avert the fire incident.

He wondered how the office caught fire when it was locked and security operatives were on the premises.

According to him, the INEC official that locked up the commission’s office without prior notice to the security agencies posted to secure the office, had questions to answer, as to who gave him such directive.

National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Anambra State has charged corps members’ employers to place premium on their welfare and security during their service year.

State Coordinator, Mrs. Blessing Iruma gave the advice during a one-day Awka Zone Corps Employers workshop themed, “Achieving improved productivity of Corps members through enhanced welfare and security during the service year.”

She also urged them to ensure they retained hardworking, disciplined and value-adding corps members who distinguished themselves in their various duties.

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She argued that retaining outstanding corps members would go a long way to encouraging dedication, faithfulness service oriented attitude.

She said, “This is my first corps employers’ workshop since I assumed duty here in Anambra few months ago, hence the desire to put heads together on the need for proper care to the corps members to stimulate proactiveness.

“You will agree with me that with the total wellbeing for these corps members, they will give better results and production will be greater.

“Let me remind you that the security of the corps members is paramount considering the recent security challenges nationwide. Their welfare is also key to achieve greater output.

“It is important to also state that corps members should be paid very reasonable allowance from N10,000.00 upwards to enable them perform optimally in line with the current economic realities facing the country.”

Earlier, Assistant Director, Corps Inspector and Monitoring, Ayonda Ayorinde said the workshop was targeted at brainstorming on the theme to arrive at cogent and vital decisions towards enhancing and improving existing partnership between the scheme, state and corps employers.

By Damian Duruiheoma, Enugu

• Ogbu condemns killings in Enugu community

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on arrival at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, yesterday evening, proceeded straight to Eha Amufu, on a fact-finding visit to obtain first-hand information about the issues that led to the recent crisis in Aguamaede and Mgbuji communities.

Governor Ugwuanyi, accompanied by the State Commissioner of Police, CP Ahmed Ammani, the Garrison Commander, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. M.K Ibrahim, and the Anglican Bishop of Nike Diocese, Rt. Rev. Dr. Christian Onyeka Onyia, visited Mgbuji community, different forests, markets, village squares and other locations in Eha Amufu where he interacted with the indigenes to ascertain the remote cause of the recent crisis in the community with a view to addressing the lingering issues in the area decisively.

The governor empathised with the people, ascertained how they were faring, and assured them of his administration’s commitment to their safety and wellbeing as well as the resolution of the crisis between farmers and herders.

The Eha Amufu indigenes appreciated Governor Ugwuanyi for the rare visit, especially at night, stressing that the gesture was a demonstration of his commitment to ending the farmers/herders issues in Eha Amufu.

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They pointed out that Ugwuanyi was the first governor to visit Eha Amufu over the lingering crisis in the area and thanked him for the N10 million he released for the immediate needs of the victims, among other interventions.

Meanwhile, the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Enugu East Senatorial District, Princess Ada Ogbu has condemned the recent herdsmen attacks in Aguamaede and Mgbuji communities in Eha Amufu, Isi-Uzo Local Government Area of Enugu State which claimed the lives and properties of many residents.

In both incidents, the crisis was said to have had certain undercurrents before it reached a full scale point in which not only lives were lost but also properties and farm crops in an area that has witnessed recurring attacks for the past two years.

Princess Ada Ogbu bemoaned the loss of lives and properties and the suspension of commercial activities in the area as well as academic activities in the College of Education Eha Amufu owing to the fact that residents of the area were living in palpable fear as many had fled to the neighbouring communities thus causing a sort of refugee situation.

She called on the federal, state, and local governments to act fast to reassure the people living in these areas of their safety as well as deal with the culprits by ensuring that they are brought to book.

She further called for the attention of the security agencies to other security flashpoints within Enugu State such as the Four Corners-Udi Road axis of the state, and the new road leading to Nsukka owing to rising reports of insecurity in those areas.

She urged the people of such communities to remain calm and peace loving irrespective of such provocations.