The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Group stresses values, culture at anniversary

    Group stresses values, culture at anniversary

    At a time when the economy is in recession, prompting looking inwards, a group, Adorable Social Club, has appropriately marked its fifth anniversary making a case for the Igbo culture, values and philanthropy.

    Members of the all-women group founded on the imperatives of celebrating the Igbo culture as well as helping the needy, turned out in commanding native wear, comprising double wrappers topped off with the colourful, multi-layered headgear called gele. There was also an elaborate session of kola nut breaking relished by members and invitees. The event took place Amuwo-Odofin, Lagos.

    In her opening speech, Princess Ada Okeke-Amam said the core objectives of the organisation in adding values to the society have been met, though she added that the journey has not been easy.

    “Adorable Social Club was established by me five years ago,” she said. “It was to help those in need and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. What we started then to project the core indigenous values of Igbo race here in Lagos has grown to an international level. We have branches all over Nigeria and we are spreading to the West African coast. We even have a programme in Ghana soonest. We really thank God for his blessings.

    ”Team work was the reason for calling a few of my friends together then, and we thank God that what we started on a small note has become a gigantic project in the areas of creating positive and better values to the society.

    “In the Southeast, we are very well known; same anywhere we have our presence. We have wiped many tears, fed the poor and are still feeding them, given shelter to those in need and even secured legal services to those in core need of them, so that they don’t suffer for what they didn’t  do. Truly, there is need to thank God. But I must confess the journey has not all that been easy, but with sheer dedication and determination, and the glory of God Almighty in us, we have played laudable roles in the society. I want others out there to do likewise.”

    Guests hailed Okeke-Amam for her vision and enjoined her to keep the good work, especially in rendeing positive service to the masses. The members were also commended for sharing same vision with their leader.

    There were raffle draws in which winners were rewarded with mobile phones, DVDs and power banks, among other prizes.

    Established five years ago, Adorable Social Club has birthed Adorable Foundation International, an NGO dedicated to charity work in Nigeria and West Africa. They have also campaigned against drug abuse, created awareness on societal ills, and visited various orphanages.

    Some guests at the event included Chief G.U.Y Ikoku, a legal practitioner and a representative of Chief Mrs. Modupe Jemibewon of Jemibewon International Schools, among several others.

  • Jobs tools for freed inmates in Ebonyi

    Jobs tools for freed inmates in Ebonyi

    Abakaliki Prisons was in the news last month for the wrong reasons when some of its inmates reportedly lost their lives in a foiled jailbreak. But the facility seems to have moved on from the ugly incident as five inmates were released following the completion of their two years jail sentence. They were not just released but also trained in some vocations and given tools to enable them launch their new trades.

    The Ebonyi State Command of Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) at a send forth of the five inmates inside the prison premises handed over to them the workings tools with which they can use to start new businesses in their chosen fields and become useful to themselves as they reunite with their families and the larger society.

    Handing over the tools to the freed inmates in the presence of their family members at the prison yard, the State Comptroller, Mrs Emilia Oputa disclosed that the Command trained them on the skills as part of its core mandate.

    Five of them, all married with children, Peter Nwankwo, Sunday Iboko, Sunday Ogodo, Moses Abarike and John Nwenyi were trained in carpentry, welding, electrical maintenance, tailoring and catering.

    The state comptroller explained that they were able to procure the tools through government funding and individual contributions.

    Mrs Emilia who urged them to pay deaf ears to what people might be saying about them when they get home, charged them to live a useful life and shun acts capable of bringing them back to prison.

    She noted that both the Federal and State governments had turned to agriculture to grow the economy and urged them to queue into it to be self-dependent.

    She further explained the Command had trained many of the inmates on different skills/hand works and solicited for the assistance of the public to enable them provide them with necessary tools, noting that government ‘would not do it alone.

    Five of them who are from Otam Nkaleke in Abakaliki local government Areas were jailed for conspiracy and attempted murder and had spent two years each in prison before freedom came their way.

    The freed inmates thanked the NPS and pledged to put the tools to the best use in order to be able to adequately fend for themselves and their families.

    One of their family members, Isaiah Moses, thanked God for keeping them alive all along and also the prisons officials who made their release possible.

  • Fed Govt trains 5,000 graduates in Anambra

    Over 5,000 graduates have been trained in Anambra State under the Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS).

    Before the training in Awka, the state capital, about five groups of 50 graduates each had been trained, with additional five groups taking their turn next.

    Speaking at Geo-Gold Hotels in Awka, the project Director, Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), at career development and entrepreneurship skills said the federal government was trying its best in making sure that the youth are employed.

    He was represented by Mr. Fola Jimoh, who said that the FG’s scheme had given hope to thousands of youths in the country.

    Jimoh said, “The federal government is not ready to fail on this exercise; rather the President Muhammadu Buhari administration is doing everything possible to fight graduate unemployment.

    The era of unemployment is over in this country with this (GIS) programme, but whatever stipend being owed to anybody will soon be paid by the government”.

    Jimoh was in Anambra State with Mr. Johnson Iyiola, project implementation unit (GIS), Garba Shehu, Principal Officer Ministry of Finance and Jamey Yakubu of Nansel selzing-N-Miz International Limited for the programme.

    He said the initial plan by the previous administration was to recruit 50,000 which according to him did not work until the present administration came in and raised the stake.

    “However as long as thousands of graduates still remain unemployed, we will continue to improve the capacity of the scheme to absorb more applicants”

  • Police, churches tackle crime in Aba

    Police, churches tackle crime in Aba

    There is an uptick in crime in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State, but something is being done about it. The police and churches have teamed up to put kidnappers, robbers and other criminals at bay.

    At a meeting, the police and leaders of various churches agreed to collaborate more, and that the churches would intensify efforts in grooming good citizens.

    Aba Area Commander Peter Wabara, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, told our reporter at the end of about three hours of talks with the church leaders that the police were collaborating with the churches because of their role in inculcating good moral values and virtues in parishioners.

    According to the Commander, “We are only trying to deepen our community policing policy as directed by the (Acting) Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Kpotun Idris who on assumption of office, directed that committee of eminent persons be set up in order to widen consultation with critical stakeholders in the business of policing, that the committee of the eminent personalities was inaugurated in Umuahia by the Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Adeleye Onyebade.

    “What we are doing is a follow-up and we have identified religious bodies as critical stakeholders as people that we should partner with to enable us reach out to a larger percent of the populace as part of our strategy and campaign to checkmate crime and criminality in Aba and the state at large.

    “We are partnering with the church specifically to target teenagers and youth who are involved in kidnapping, robbery and other crime related offences. We realised that the church, especially in this part of the country and Aba in particular have large followership and we want to use that platform to talk to them using entertainment and amongst others”.

    Continuing, Wagbara added “We have event coming up on October 6 at the Abia State Polytechnic. The event is targeted at students from various higher institutions and secondary schools in Aba metropolis and its environs. Ex-cultists, armed robbers and others who have turned to a new leaf from their old ways including Men of God, and other respectable citizens will be on ground to talk to the youths. Our view is to catch them young, to restrain them from crime and to use the scheduled programme to further push the campaign against youth involvement in crime especially as we are entering the ember months”.

     

  • Widow seeks help for kidney-patient son

    Widow seeks help for kidney-patient son

    A 58-year-old widow Mrs Chineyere Agatha Onyebuchi has called on public-spirited individuals and corporate organisations to help save his son’s life after he was diagnosed with a kidney condition.

    Onyebuchi, who hails from Arondizuogu in Imo State, but has been living with her family in Aba, lost her husband after 20 years of marriage and has been carrying the family burden ever since.

    After the death of her husband, the responsibility of the upkeep of their six children fell on her and she has been doing it with joy, believing that one day, one of them would come out of school to help her in training the others but sickness crept into her family to shatter her plans.

    Onyebuchi said, “I got married in 1978 and blessed with six children, but my husband died after 20 years of marriage, leaving the whole burden of caring for six children for me alone.

    “I kept trudging on, with the meager salary of a civil servant, providing for the family within my own ability. When my 28-year-old son Chimaobi gained admission to read Electrical/Electronic at Federal Polytechnics, Nekede and finished his ND, our plan was for him to work a little, raise money and go back for his HND, because the whole thing had started telling on me”.

    “But unfortunately, he woke up one morning in December last year and started complaining of fever, I took him to hospital and he was treated. Not quite long after, he complained of stomach problem and I took him to another hospital and we did a scan test and the doctor said that he has inflamed appendicitis; he was operated upon in January this year, and after the surgery, the wound had healed very well, the stomach problem started again”.

    “I complained to the doctor who did the surgery and he referred us to Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, we went there and stayed over one month there, then his legs, and hands started swelling, including the swelling of his stomach.

    “We kept staying there without any noticeable result, I then brought him back and took him to one other private hospital and after undergoing further treatment, we came back without any good result”.

    “I took him to Seventh Day Adventist Hospital (SDA), Aba, from there they referred us to Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Umuahia, where we have been going to take treatment”.

    “It was at FMC, Umuahia that they told us that he has Kidney problem, since then we have been on it, from that January till today, we have been relying on the good will of people to feed, having exhausted all our family savings”.

    “I am calling on the good people of Nigeria and the world as a whole to come to our assistance as I don’t want to lose my son, not now that he has grown up to wipe away my tears after all my sufferings, Satan wants to take him away from me”.

    “People should please help I know that there are still good people in this world that would hear the cry of a poor widow like me, I don’t want to lose my son, If he is alive he will be useful to the country and its people”.

    Onyebuchi said that they have been carrying out dialysis on her son and that doctors have asked her to prepare for kidney transplant , “Where would a poor widow get N8 billion to do kidney transplant.”

  • Ebonyi flags off one man, one hectare agric plan

    Ebonyi flags off one man, one hectare agric plan

    Ebonyi State has launched the one man, one hectare agricultural programme aimed at making the state one of the highest food producers in the country.

    Minister of Agriculture Audu Ogbe launched the programme at the Ebonyi Demonstration Farm, Ezillo, by planting palm trees. He blamed past administrations in the country for not diversifying the economy, saying they depended wholly on oil and resorted to massive importation.

    “The country imported virtually every item from toothpicks to palm produce but the country doesn’t have money again to import,” he said.

    The minister noted that the federal government therefore decided to go into massive production with much emphasis on agriculture.

    He said, “The hunger in the land might last for a while but soon, there would be enough food in the country and for  exportation.”

    He advised the politicians to have a ‘second address’ because political offices can end abruptly and they can farm peacefully when politics ends.

    “The government would provide machines to Ebonyi for the harvesting of rice and other farm produce and those to prepare crop nursery before planting,” he said, noting that wrong application of fertilisers can destroy soil nutrients and ultimately cause poor yield of crops.

    “The federal government would inaugurate dams in all states of the country in the next two years, to ensure all year farming activities.

    He urged the youths to go into farming as a means of lifting themselves from poverty

    The state governor David Umahi noted that the state was showing agricultural revolution to make its economy self-sufficient.

    “All political office holders in the executive and legislature have farm lands in this demonstration farm as the programme would be the order of the day in the state.”

    He noted that all citizens of the state would cultivate at least one hectare because the government does not want any land to lie fallow in the state.

    “We want to excel in palm produce  sector as we have done in rice production, as we are going to plant the produce at 10 metres of verges of roads in state and federal roads.

    Launching the one man, one hectare agricultural policy of the state government and commissioning of agricultural mechinaries and equipments at the Abakaliki township Stadium, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh assured that more federal government programmes and policies in agriculture would be implemented in the state.

    Ogbeh who was impressed with the state government policies in agriculture added that more agricultural seedlings, machineries and cottage industries would be assigned to the state to boost the present administration’s impact in the area of agriculture.

    He charged the people of the state to be part of the agricultural policies of the present administration even as he urged Nigerians not to depend mostly on imported goods but products produced and certified in the country for safety and longevity.

    In his remark, Governor David Umahi who expressed the readiness of the present administration to uplift the living standard of Ebonyi people assured the federal government of its continued partnership necessary for the wellbeing of the state.

    He said the state government will come up with a policy that will allow Civil servants to work half day on Fridays so as to allow them go and attend to their farms.

    “Members of the state Executive council have led by example as they already have started farming. Each member agreed to farm at least 2 hectare,” Umahi added.

    The state government also flagged off the distribution of N250,000 each to 3000 unemployed Ebonyi youths for human capital development in the area of agriculture and Empowerment. ENDS

    Pic-Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbe and Governor David Umahi on one of the tractors procured by the state government for the One man, One hectare programme.

     

  • Community elects ex-police officer as king

    Community elects ex-police officer as king

    After a long spell without a leader, the people of Isingwu community in Umuahia North, Abia State, now have one, in the form of a former police officer.

    Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu has been chosen as the Ngwu IV.

    His first love was the police, in which he rose to the rank of inspector before he retired. His people have prayed for his reign to be peaceful and long.

    The community had elected Eze Charles Ezebuiro as the first Ngwu I but he died soon after and was replaced by Eze A. N. Ihuoma (Ngwu II) who also died during the reign of the former governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, and was replaced by Eze Sam Uzor Ebule (Ngwu III), who died four years ago.

    After the mourning of the death of their last traditional ruler, the people decided to elect another Eze, in the person of Chief Daniel Iheanyichukwu Ukaegbu as the Ngwu IV.

    The new Eze who hails from the Umuokoro clan in the Isingwu community, was the immediate past Palace Secretary to the last traditional ruler. He became the consensus candidate of the entire community and was presented to the Isingwu Welfare Union (IWU), which in turn presented him to the people with overwhelming acceptance.

    Presenting the new Eze-elect to the people of Isingwu, the president-general of IWU, Elder Onyeoforo Igwe thanked God for his mercies and protection for them to witness the day of the emergence of their new king and prayed God to continue to protect and guide their people both at home and in Diaspora.

    All the people who spoke at the presentation ceremony from the president of the women wing of the IWU, Mrs Nneona Ihuoma praised the people for the peaceful way they chose the new traditional ruler which has set them out as peaceful community.

    The youth wing president of the IWU, Sunny Chimaroke urged the people not to leave the new king alone as no one is an island of knowledge, stressing that he needs all the advice that would help him to lead the community.

    In his acceptance speech the new Eze-elect, HRM Eze Ukaegbu promised not to disappoint the people of Isingwu who have placed their destiny and kingdom in his hands, stressing that he will always strive to keep to the tenets of their custom, culture and tradition.

    Eze Ukaegbu also pledged to take the Isingwu community to the level where it will be the envy of other communities around, “I want to assure you the people of Isingwu community that I will not bring shame and disgrace to my people, rather I will ensure that we are at the position we deserve to be and remain there for the good of all”.

    The highlight of the presentation ceremony was the handing over the new traditional ruler to God by His Lordship. Rt Rev F. O. Ekeleme, who is also the chaplain of the Eze-in-council with prayers and asking God to keep him a life and give him a long reign for the benefit of the people of the community.

  • ‘How Imo subdued criminals’

    ‘How Imo subdued criminals’

    Criminals once had a field day in Imo State. Not anymore, thanks to increased policing. Several Commissioners of Police posted to the state did their best to stamp out criminality, but the hoodlums often reinforced and returned to continue with their nefarious activities.

    After the current Commissioner of Police Mr. Taiwo Lakanu took over the command, the state has had a major break from most heinous criminal activities, especially kidnapping and armed robbery.

    Today it is no more business as usual for kidnappers and other criminal elements in the state. In the last three months according to available records, the command has arrested a total number of 120 suspected kidnappers, 109 armed robbery suspects, 78 suspected cultists and 17 child traffickers.

    Also within the time under review, the command rescued five kidnap victims, recovered sizeable number of arms and ammunition and five stolen vehicles, which have been handed over to their owners.

    Speaking on the achievements recorded since his assumption of office, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that the task to rid the state of kidnappers and armed robbers was taken headlong immediately he took over the command.

    He pointed out that the collaboration with the public had assisted the police in fighting criminal elements in the state to a standstill, adding that, “the police rely on credible information to fight crime”.

    He said, “We have made Imo State unconducive for all manner of criminal elements and we will continue with the onslaught until they are totally sacked from the state”.

    On how the police overpowered kidnappers in the state, Lakanu, strategic support from the current Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and the State Government has motivated the command.

    He added, saying “Immediately after I assumed office, I took a study of the crime situation in the state and discovered that majority of the kidnap incidents are coordinated from the riverine communities, where the kidnappers have their dens where they hid the victims”.

    Lakanu who led most of the rescue operations, especially the rescue of medical doctors who were abducted in the state while on health mission and the abducted Channels Television reporter, stated further that except for few isolated cases where families of victims have withheld the information from the police, all kidnap incidents have been tracked and busted with the suspects arrested.

    Lakanu stressed further that, “we also in our bid to ensure proactive and efficient policing of the state distributed telephone lines where residents can report any incident in any part of the state and get prompt response from the Police. This measure has helped us to foil most robbery cases. I also gave out my personal phone number where people can reach, especially those with useful information and are afraid about the police disclosing their identity. They come to me and I treat the information with utmost confidentiality.”

    On how the police was able to avert Fulani herdsmen and farmers’ clash in the state, the Commissioner of Police disclosed that, “when we got intelligence about looming crisis between cattle herders and farmers in Okigwe Local Government Area, I led a team of policemen to the area and set up a peace committee and resolved the crisis. We also visited all the communities where cattle herders had their settlements in the state and ensured that they lived peacefully with the host communities.

    “We have also continued to partner other stakeholders to ensure that every Nigerian living in the state, irrespective of his or her tribe and religion is free to do business in the state without fear or molestation.

    “The command has also fought against human trafficking, also known as baby factory, sex trafficking of both juveniles and adults.

    ”In order to ensure cohesive community policing, the Command has partnered with state-owned security outfits as well as community-based vigilance groups. The Command has also built strong partnership with interest groups in the communities including traditional rulers”.

    Meanwhile, available records within the time under review showed that, on the 12/08/2016 “following a distress call that a five-man gang of armed robbers had invaded a victim’s compound at Umukabia Nkwerre and carted away properties and cash including a Nissan Xterra Jeep with Reg. No. KSF 829, eagle-eyed operatives of the command were quickly dispatched to the scene and one Chinonso Okoroafor ‘m’ native of Ihiala in Anambra State was arrested while trying to escape with a tricycle. Other members of the gang arrested include; James Eze ‘m’ native of Oguta, in Oguta Council Area, Onyeka Uchendu ‘m’ native of Ubomiri in Mbaitoli L.G.A. Tina Damian (wife of one of the suspects), Items recovered from the suspects include; Nissan Xterra Jeep with Reg. No. KSF 829   Assorted electronic gadgets, a generating set and handsets.”

    The report also informed that, “following information received on 10/07/2016 that one little Chinecherem Njoku ‘m’ aged 4yrs was stolen at Ehume Obowo, operatives of the command swung into action. The baby boy was however recovered on 11/07/2016 and one Ndidi Ihezie subsequently arrested on 13/08/2016.

    “On 13/08/2016 following concerted and well-coordinated effort of operatives of the command, one Charles Anayo Obi ‘m’ 25 years of age, native of Amadaba Ibiasoegbe in Oru West L.G.A and member of 3 man notorious gang of kidnappers believed to be involved in series of kidnap/armed robbery incidents in the state in recent times was arrested. Suspect has made useful statement to the police disclosing the identity of other members of the gang still at large.

    “On 25/7/2016, operatives of the command arrested one Stanley Chukwuemeka Nwaobi ‘m’ aged 21yrs of Umuachalu Oke Uvuru in Aboh Mbaise L.G.A. a member of a syndicate who specialize in dispossessing unsuspecting travellers of their personal belongings as well as stealing children from their parents. Investigation is ongoing and suspect will be charged to court accordingly”.

    Furthermore according to the report, “on 13/08/2016 in the course of routine patrol at Obinze in Owerri West L.G.A., operatives of the command arrested one Chinyere Amadi ‘f’ 47yrs of age from Amaraku in Isiala Mbano L.G.A. with a 3 year old baby girl identified as Uchechi believed to have been stolen from a restaurant at FUTO junction Obinze Owerri West L.G.A. Suspect has made useful statement to the police and investigation is still ongoing.

    “On 22/7/2016, operatives of the command arrested one Private Bright Nwaogwugwu aged 23yrs ‘m’ attached to 33 Artillery Brigade Bauchi State leader of a four-man gang of armed robbers operating along Ohoba/Asah Road in Ohaji/Egbema LGA. The suspects while robbing the driver of a Picnic bus, on sighting dense presence of security, took to their heels.

    “On 29/6/2016, a four-man gang of armed robbers operating in a Mercedes Benz car robbed one Isaac Ugochukwu Mbika of his Sienna car. Operatives of the command immediately swung into action and after a hot pursuit, the hoodlums abandoned the vehicle and took to their heels but one Godswill Amaefule ‘m’ 36yrs from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a member of the gang was arrested”.

    It continued that, “following a tip off on 14/8/2016 that a gang of armed robbers robbed a residence at Speed Bath, Akwakuma and raped a victim, eagle eyed operatives of the command on 4/8/2016 through a well-coordinated effort arrested one Chukwudi Nwoke ‘m’ aged 24years from Isu in Nwangele LGA in connection to the crime. Suspect has made useful statements confessing to the crime and is assisting the police to trace the whereabouts”.

    The Command also recorded major breakthrough in its fight against cultism with the arrest of 39 suspected cultists.

    Parading the suspects at the Command Headquarters, the State Commissioner, disclosed that the suspects were arrested at different points in the state during their initiation ceremony.

    According to him, “considering the spate of cultism in the state and following a tactically coordinated operation by operatives of the State Police Command through credible source stormed the initiation party organized by the cultists for new members within the Nekede area of Owerri”.

    He continued that, “on the receipt of the information, covert operatives of the Command were promptly mobilised and dispatched to the area to monitor the situation. Notable flashpoints within Nekede and environs namely, ‘South Africa ‘, ‘Shrine Tree Square’ and Pentagon Bar Umuofocha’ were surrounded and cordoned off by ever ready operatives.  As a result, 39 suspected cultists who converged in the aforementioned location for initiation and other cult activities were rounded up.

     

  • Abia police chief warns against extortion

    The new Abia State Commissioner of Police (CP) Adeleye Oyebade has warned officers and men of the state command to desist from extorting residents of the state or face prosecution.

    Oyebade said that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris has zero tolerance for corruption including extortion from motorists and suspects.

    Addressing officers and men of the state command in Umuahia on his maiden interaction with them, Oyebade who is returning to the state after leaving it as deputy commissioner of police said that it will no longer be business as usual for any corrupt officer.

    Oyebade said that the era when police is seen as reactive, corrupt and lethargic institution is over, “The new police are committed to changing the perception people have about us, and we want to be seen as purely professionals”.

    He said, “It will be dangerous for a police officer that is not ready to imbibe the culture of professional best practices, diligence and discipline to remain in the present Nigeria Police Force”.

    “My advice to such police officers is that they should kindly change their attitude or else they will be fished out, the new police under IGP Idris is a people’s police which will be proactive”.

    “The new police order is community based, intelligence-led and dynamic police institution, alive to the responsibility of ensuring public order, prevention of crimes and protection of lives and property”.

    Oyebade said that policing is a collective responsibility of all well-meaning Nigerians, adding that it is only when there is a reciprocal trust that the appropriate support and cooperation will be gotten from members of the public.

    He charged his men, “We should perform our duties with the fear of God, in our patrols, while investigating crimes and even when handling suspects, the job should be done, but we must be fair and firm. We must respect the fundamental human rights of the people in the line of duty”.

    The CP called on the Divisional Police Officer (DPOs) to create an environment that will be conducive for those working under them to work effectively, “We should realize that our subordinates are our greatest assets, as no man is an island of knowledge”.

    Oyebade said, “I am a team player and we all are members of the same team, this team must be able to identify and map out effective strategies to defeat the opponents, we must conduct our investigations with professional dexterity.”

  • Uzoamaka:  In defence of Umahi

    Some weeks ago, the news of the torture of a teenager from Ebonyi State, Uzoamaka Chukwu, went viral with a retinue of gusto speculations, falsities and other condiments the major cooks added to it to whip up negative sentiments against Governor David Umahi and his government. The issue here is not the indomitability of the said crime visited on the 15-year-old girl, it is the other cooked-up propaganda  political hunters and rumour mongers have come up with to give what would be described as a show of executive apology by Governor Umahi a bad perception to the public.

    This article stands as a rejoinder to a provocative publication by The Nation newspaper on Thursday, 25th  of August 2016. The piece was authored by an anonymous scribbler dubbed ”Our Reporter.” by the newspaper.  The title of that piece was: “Ebonyi’s strange (human) property law.”  The   question every conscious-minded reader should ask is why the writer chose to be anonymous if he  was sure that he  had written facts devoid of public scrutiny? Or was it wise for him to tell the truth in anonymity?

    In the spunky article, many issues best   recaptured in bias and propaganda were raised, among which is: Was it wise for a governor of a state to say an indigene of his state is a property of the government?

    He had said: “It is not clear why the government chose to describe the harassed girl as a state property, whether they mean it in the endearing sense in which great sporting or intellectual assets are described, or in the ordinary and mercantile sense in which slaves or indentured servants were described when the practice of owning humans flourished during the era of slave trade and thereafter.”

    He talked about property in terms of mercantilist and slave sense and concluded that Engr. Umahi ”could not be said to be managing the problem sensibly like a governor.” What a gross disrespect for the office of His Excellency and his person. This anonymous writer needs to be educated more on the definition and classification of a person as a property. Since it is indisputable that humanity has its roots in anthropology and sociology, no enlightened mind would quarrel with the governor’s description of Uzoamaka as the property of Ebonyi State.

    According to Wikipedia, in sociology and anthropology, property can be defined often “as a relationship between two or more individuals and an object, in which at least one of these individuals holds a bundle of rights over the object. I know he may want to find out the meaning of an object but to save him the sweat and time of doing so’ the same Wikipedia lists an object as a being.

    Also, “the Restatement (first) of Property defines property as anything, tangible or intangible whereby a legal relationship between persons and the state enforces a possessory interest or legal title in that thing or object(Wikipedia remains a referencing tool). .

    I observed that the writer willfully did not   admit the governor’s sincere apology to Uzoamaka’s family, including her over 80-year-old grandmother that welcomed His Excellency and his entourage to their home in Umunaga, Uburu, Ohaozara LGA . He also failed to appreciate the empathy shown by the governor by  putting aside  other important state activities to visit the home of the humiliated teenager   immediately he returned from his foreign trip.

    The Nation’s unnamed reporter  saw it abominable, the governor’s sincere  assurance of  his government’s resolve to take upon itself, the wholesome rehabilitation  and  sponsoring of  the young girl  to  university level. He saw black in Governor Umahi’s avowal to ensure that justice ran its full course in the matter.  But I ask here: Was the writer expecting the governor  to have  done all he had done  while away? Nop, His presence was highly needed because that would signpost executive concern.

    Now, it will be good to give a rapt attention to the governor’s speech while in the home of the brutalised girl: “We felt very bad as a people, as a government and as brothers and sisters of Uzoamaka.  We felt that what happened was a gross violation of her right and man’s inhumanity to man.  So, we feel bad about it. Government is asking wherever she is, she should come back so that we can take over her training from secondary school to university level.  We will also be able to rehabilitate her.  For now, we don’t know where she is, but we ask that she returns because she is the property of the state.”

    Going by his posture, one would ask why  the acrid writer had to be skeptical about a pledge made by a government whereupon no such pledge had been made and reneged in the past by any government in the state. One also wonders if the writer was writing with any fact to substantiate his doubting spirit.

    He also continues: “Governor David Umahi has finally roused himself from his lethargy to take some tentative steps”.  What did the writer mean by ‘tentative’ steps?

    The truth that cannot be altered is that the governor on learning of the development immediately ordered the intervention of relevant government agencies while outside our shores.

    One was that the state police command should arrest all those involved in the teenager’s brutalisation. Two, he directed the Ohaozara LGA chairman and the Ministry of Women Affairs to locate Uzoamaka and take custody of her. I know, because I personally spoke with the Governor’s Special Assistant on Women and Child Development, Emerald Akaji, a day after the video of the girl’s brutalisation went viral. Akaji had on getting the marching orders headed for Uburu where she made frantic efforts to locate Uzoamaka.

    Unfortunately, the SA’s efforts yielded no positive results because some   political hawks spirited the teenager away to Abuja where she was hidden until they decided to make a media show of the matter and portray the state government as uncaring. Their actions were purely to settle political scores and   gain cheap political popularity. If the writer meant well, why did he not ask why such politicians did not hand over Uzoamaka  to the state or any of the security agencies in the state capital. Why take her to Abuja? Before his piece, one of the politicians was part of the governor’s entourage that visited the girl’s family. It is the same politician, who is National Assembly member that he quoted as having asked His Excellency to suspend or sack Enekwachi Odii, the Uburu Development Centre Coordinator whose home was   Uzoamaka’s place of torture.

    Since the politician was there when the governor said his government was not aware of  the girl’s  whereabouts,   why did The Nation’s biased writer not express surprise that National Assembly member did not disclose the location of the teenager to the entourage? Does he think that common sense required him (Our Reporter) to have done just that in his piece?

    Let me inform the writer that in news stories published August 16,  Governor Umahi had said:” I watched the video online and I felt terrible about it. It is very inhuman to have so acted. I personally directed the police to arrest and prosecute all those involved.”

    His directive was carried out. All   the suspects, including  Odii, are currently facing trial by a competent court of law. Odii is  on bail and is assumed innocent in the  eyes of the law. Like erratic social media goons, emergency social commentators and human rights activists, what peeves The Nation’s anonymous  writer  the most is the governor not listening to their calls for the coordinator’s suspension or sacking. Engr. Umahi has chosen not to do either of the two for now because he believes that the police and the judiciary must be allowed to perform their duties.He definitely is not the one to pass judgement. The anonymous writer and his ilks must wait for the judiciary to pronounce Odii and other suspects guilty. It is only when the governor fails to wield the big hammer on the coordinator  if found guilty that  he and his co-critics, would have a justification to lampoon my boss.

    I urge the Nation to be circumspect in providing pages to veiled writers. Being one of the nation’s most revered news organisations, it should  constantly toe  the line of objectivity like another newspaper which on Monday, August 29 wrote:”Where some other governors would have played politics, the Ebonyi governor chose the path of justice.”

     

    .Anya is the Chief Press Secretary to Ebonyi State Governor