Nwanosike Onu, Awka 

ANAMBRA State Governor Willie Obiano has lifted the suspension of some monarchs.

Obiano suspended 12 monarchs some months back for visiting Abuja without permission.

Obiano last week lifted the suspension of five and dethroned three. The fate of others remains unknown.

But the people of Alor said lifting the suspension of their monarch, Anthony Okonkwo, does not concern them. They insisted the community has a new monarch – Ebelechukwu Chukwumesili.

Minister of Labour and Employment Chris Ngige is from Alor.

President-General of Alor People’s Assembly (APA) Sir Uzoma Igbonwa, in a statement yesterday, said Okonkwo was an imposition on the community.

The statement reads: “The government has lifted the suspension placed on some traditional rulers, including the self-styled and purported traditional ruler of Alor, Mac-Anthony Okonkwo. However, the APC cannot assure or stop the people’s ‘passive resistance’ to this six-year-old imposition re-enacted by the extant restoration of certificate to Okonkwo as a monarch.

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“The reason is that every ruler needs the acquiescence of the subjects to be. Unfortunately, Okonkwo has none and therefore cannot be. We dare say that by the reason and decision of the majority of Alor people, he is not our monarch. Certificate makes no Igwe, just as the hood makes no monk. Only the will of the people, clearly expressed in the sovereign power, does.

“The power and the authority of the people have been given to Collins Chukwumesili as Ezediohamma III, the Igwe of Alor…”

But Okonkwo hailed Obiano for ‘his magnanimity in lifting his suspension’. He insisted he was still the recognised traditional ruler of Alor

He appealed to the people to remain calm as ‘Alor is united and peaceful.’ Okonkwo maintained there were no two monarchs as being speculated, and called on all sons and daughters of the community to unite to make the land a better place.

 Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

THE Bakassi Returneees’ camp in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has got a make-shift primary school 14 years after the camp was set up in 2006.

The camp is occupied by over 300,000 indigent Bayelsa families who returned after the Federal Government ceded the Penissula to Cameroon in 2006.

The camp has been without a school and other basic amenities after series of promises by the state and local governments.

But the Rotary Club International, in partnership with the Love to Slum Initiative, at the weekend handed over a complete makeshift school to the camp.

Assistant Governor of District 9141 (Zone 14) Owebi Godspower said the donation was part of the seven areas of focus in the Rotary International peace advocacy initiative.

He said: “The Rotary International believes that with basic education and literacy, the people will embrace peace and development.

“I thank the club’s president, Izibeloko Jack-Ide, for her leadership role and in ensuring that this project came to fruition.”

The club also distributed dictionaries to pupils in higher classes to aid learning amid encomiums and heartfelt gratitude

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Head teacher Eniekebi Ebilakaemi said the make-shift school – God’s Favour Academy – was built with planks few years back to bridge the gap in the educational development of children in the camp.

He, however, praised Rotary International and Love to Slum initiative for upgrading the school building with blocks, and donating dictionaries to the children.

Camp Chairman Godbess Ojoto thanked their benefactors, and called on the state and local governments to come to the community’s aid by providing modern school structures and basic amenities.

Governor Duoye Diri has praised Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Timipre Sylva for his contributions to the state’s development.

The governor spoke at the weekend during a reception in Sylva’s honour at Okpoama Kingdo, Brass Local Government Area.

Diri, represented by his Chief of Staff, Benson Agadaga, also hailed the Amanyanbo of Okpoama Kingdom, Ebitimi Banigo, and other stakeholders for recognising Sylva’s modest effort.

He said: “Honour is given to whom it is due. Today, we’re enjoying your contributions as a former governor and now minister of state.

“We thank you for those things that you want to do for the state that will increase our IGR. We also felicitate with you for the new face of Bayelsa, the face of love and collaboration…”

Rosemary Nwisi, Port Harcourt

THE police in Rivers State have arrested a Sergeant who allegedly killed Abiodun Jimo (38).

Jimo, a father of three, was killed last Friday at the gates of Elelenwo Police station, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.

A statement on Sunday by the police spokesman, Nnamdi Omoni, said Commissioner of Police Joseph Mukan regretted the act.

He added that the suspect has been arrested and orderly room trial will begin, even as plans are on to test his psychological status.

The statement reads: “Commissioner Mukan condemned the killing of a civilian by a Sergeant serving at Elelenwo Police Station.

“The incident happened at the station. The Sergeant, without justification, shot Abiodun Jimoh, who was rushed to the hospital but later died. His remains have been deposited in the mortuary.

“The incident is being investigated and the outcome will be communicated to the public. Meanwhile the suspect is in custody for debriefing and psychological evaluation. His Orderly Room Trial will begin in earnest for possible arraignment…”

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The deceased younger brother, Ismaheel Jimo, who witnessed the incident, said they were returning from a party; they rode on a motorcycle.

“My brother and I were returning from a party on Friday when a some policemen stopped us. They searched us and found only our identity cards and three phones, two belonging to my brother and one mine.  They said we should follow them to their station at Elelenwo and we did not argue with them.

“When we got to the gate of the station, instead of driving in, one of the officers asked us to bail ourselves. We still did not argue but told them we had only N1,500 left on us.

“The team leader then asked that we be allowed to go since nothing incriminating was found on us, but one of them insisted we could not be freed like that. Instead of letting us go, the officer who later shot my brother began to beat me, hitting me with his shoes and gun.

“His colleagues and my brother begged but he did not stop. Then my brother decided to go inside the station to look for the DPO but, sensing what my brother was up to, he shot him on the leg.

“My brother died of blood shortage having lost so much blood from the injury. Efforts to save him failed as the three hospitals we took him to rejected him, including his company hospital.”

Ismaheel appealed for justice, calling on the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mukan, civil society groups and well meaning Nigerians to come to his aid, and give justice to his innocent brother.

The deceased’s wife, Azeezat, described her late husband as law abiding citizen. The mother of three called on the government, police authority and well meaning Nigerians to come to her aid.

 Emma Elekwa, Onitsha and Chris Njoku, Owerri

THE proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has slammed governors of the Southeast for rejecting the ‘Eastern Security Network’ (ESN).

IPOB last week announced the inauguration of ‘Eastern Security Network’ to check activities of herdsmen in ‘Biafraland’.

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi, who doubles as Chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum (SGF), had reportedly distanced the governments and people from IPOB’s security arrangement.

But a statement on Sunday by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, described the governors as cowards with shameful actions.

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The statement reads: “We condemn the shameful statement credited to Governor Dave Umahi, on behalf of his fellow coward governors, against the Eastern Security Network.

“Such a cowardly statement is nothing but a shameful display of their irredeemable enslavement and loyalty to their slave masters who, in the first place, appointed them governors.

“We reiterate that ESN is not a Biafra army, but a vigilante group established to protect Biafrans against terrorists. The outfit is a child of necessity born to bridge the gap of leadership failure by states and the federal government to protect lives and property of Biafrans who are daily dehumanised, raped and killed by herdsmen and terrorists unchallenged by any security agency.

“ESN is beyond IPOB; it’s the people’s irreversible resolve to defend themselves against conquest and occupation by aliens who enjoy protection of the Federal Government and security agents. Anyone trying to oppose the security outfit is testing the will of the people, and does so at his own peril.”

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

The leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has debunked insinuations that the security outfit recently floated by the group; Eastern Security Network (ESN) is targeted at attacking and clamping down anyone that speaks against their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Publicity Secretary of the group, Comrade Emma Powerful stated the vigilante group which he said is akin to Amotekun in the South West is to eradicate terrorism and criminality in Biafra land over the inability of security agencies to effectively police the Southeast.

According to Powerful, the establishment of ESN is not targeted against law abiding citizens but only after criminal elements and terrorists in the Southeast.

Kanu who lambasted a group; Conference of Igbo Elders for Peace and Development (CIEPAD) for making derogatory comment about the formation of the security outfit said

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“Well-meaning individuals and groups like Afenifere, the leading socio-cultural organization in Nigeria have already hailed the formation of ESN. Easterners both home and in the diaspora have also continued to send goodwill messages over this uncommon feat. Even the usually frightened National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, has grudgingly offered his support to the security outfit.

“This is the only reason the security agencies who are already jolted by the outpouring of commendations trailing the formation of ESN from across the world is making frantic but belated efforts to discredit ESN by using faceless groups. This lame strategy is not new to us.

“We wish to also remind the public of the Okwudili saga, another fictitious figure created in the minds of DSS operatives to usurp the leadership of IPOB, that failed spectacularly. How about fake groups like RENIPOB, REPOB, SEXIPOB floated at various times in the past in an attempt to deceive the public into thinking that the great IPOB family is factionalised. It all failed and so will this latest joke called IEPAD.”

By Sunny Nwankwo, Umuahia

Ania State Commandant of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Vincent Ogu has urged personnel of the agency to be professional in handling their weapons.

Ogu who was speaking at the end of a refresher course organized for arm bearing personnel of the NSCDC, Abia State Command while re-echoing the Commandant General’s; Abdulahi Gana Muhammed tolerance for “accidental discharge and other unacceptable conducts of the personnel with rifle, warned that the leadership of the agency would not tolerate any case of accidental discharge from the officers.

The NSCDC State Commandant sternly warned participants to desist from every form of unprofessional engagement, adding that they should leverage on the opportunity offered by the retraining exercise to serve their country better.

Ogu who stated that the refresher course was to ensure effective and efficient light weapons handling among arm bearing personnel of the command stated that henceforth, armed officers found brandishing riffles without proper certification, being improperly dressed in the corps’  approved uniforms or found firing to entertain audience shall be summarily dealt with in line with established “rules of engagement.”

By Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

The Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State Command, Mr Mike Okoli, has suspended all casual leave and directed all officers of the command to be on red alert during the festive season.

He gave the directive to police officers on Friday at the Police Officers’ Mess the end of the year gathering of senior police officers.

He directed the Divisional Police Officers and Head of Departments to rejig their strategy of fighting crime and enhance the visibility of policemen to ensure a peaceful yuletide in Bayelsa State.

He reiterated the command’s ban on the use of knockouts and unauthorised fireworks during the festive season.

The CP further assured members of the public of a peaceful festive season and enjoined the cooperation of all to forestall any untoward incident.

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By Elo Edremoda, Warri

Governors of the South-south states have been tasked to establish a regional security outfit, like their counterpart in other parts of the country.

A rights activist, Comrade Israel Joe, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Warri, on Saturday.

The statement noted with the establishment of Amotekun and the Miyetti Allah in the South west and northern regions of the country, it was high time leaders in the oil-rich region create such a network for the “defense” of the zone.

According to the statement, “only the South-south still wallows in ignorance and feels the Nigerian state can protect them.

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“I want to thank the Delta State governor for creation of Operation Delta Hawk, but an indigenous security outfit is immediately needed not just for Delta State but the entire South-south.

“As it is right now, any region can overrun the South-south because we do not speak with one voice. The real deal is not security but the fact that every region fears the unknown and wishes to protect their region except the South-south that still feeds the entire nation.

“Our roads are not safe, our seaports are not working, oil companies relocated to Abuja, our crude is to be taken to Niger Republic or Dangote refinery, Lagos to be refined and brought back to us for higher sales, yet no Niger-Delta youth would be employed in those places.”

 Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

BAYELSA State Governor Douye Diri, his Rivers State counterpart, Nyesom Wike and Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, among other stakeholders, have stressed the need for synergy between the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and state governments in the region.

They made the call over the weekend at the 4th meeting of the National Council on Niger Delta which held at the Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The meeting with the theme, ‘Relieving Uncommon Development in the Niger Delta Region: Roadmap and Strategy,’ also had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Moses Ekpo, Special Adviser on Niger Delta, Senator Ita Enang and the newly appointed NDDC Sole Administrator, Mr Effiong Akwa.

Speaking at the event, Diri, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, said effective collaboration between the intervention agency and its catchment states would enhance well-coordinated development in the Niger Delta.

On his part, Wike decried what he described as lack of legitimate governance structure in the NDDC which had subjected it to all forms of manipulation and corruption.

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Represented by his Deputy, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, Wike called on the Federal Government to draw from the Sovereign Wealth Fund to urgently fund and complete the East-West Road as it is doing for other regions of the country.

In his remarks, Senator Akpabio urged the leaders and people of Niger Delta to support the ongoing forensic audit of the NDDC and cautioned the political class against politicising development issues in the region.

In a communiqué, the stakeholders called on the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to properly coordinate all actors in the region to enhance the much-needed synergy to avoid duplication and abandonment of projects.

The meeting, which was adjourned until September 2021 in Delta State, also approved the establishment of a Transport and Mobility Programme as well as the new urban renewal and housing programme of the ministry.