The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southeast report

  • Aba residents hail police

    Residents of Aba and Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State have praised the police for their prompt response to a bomb scare which would have probably caused loss of life and property  in the area.

    Reacting to the scare at the headquarters of the Osisioma Local Government Area which was successfully evacuated by the police anti-bomb squad, the residents thanked the police for responding promptly.

    It could be recalled that there was palpable fear within Osisioma Local Government Area on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. following the reported discovery of an object suspected to be an explosive device.

    Police anti-bomb squad that were alerted promptly arrived at the venue to diffuse and evacuate the improvised explosive device (IED) which was later discovered to be a military grenade suspected to have fallen off from one of the soldiers on duty.

    A police source that pleaded anonymity because he was not competent to talk on the matter, commended the public for alerting the police, saying that it shows that people were becoming more conscious of their environment. He urged the people not to hesitate to alert the police whenever they suspected any strange object within their environment.

     

  • Dashed hopes in Aba

    Dashed hopes in Aba

    Hon. Uzo Azubuike of the Peoples Democratic Party went into the National Assembly polls with high hopes to be reelected to represent the people of Aba North and South Federal Constituency. He failed because the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Mr. Ossy Prestige was elected instead.

    Mr. Prestige received 47, 763 votes to beat his opponent who received 19, 063 out of the 75, 536 total votes cast in the two local government areas that make up the constituency.

    In a chat with reporters after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer (RO), Prof. Celestine Udo Udoma Udo had issued him with a certified copy of the result sheet, he attributed his victory to the tenacity, commitment and courageousness of Aba electorate who want to effect change in their constituency.

    He said: “You are aware that before the election, we embarked on door-to-door campaign sensitising the people on the need to come out and vote for APGA. It was the message of change that we have been preaching that brought people out of their homes to vote for me and also ensured that their votes counted.

    “I am humbled to have won the polls despite the incumbency factor. It indicates that people are no longer voting for the party, but for the individual, having evaluated the antecedents of such person, which will compel the public officer to be accountable to the people. I promise the people that I am going to provide those amenities they lack in the past 16 years.”

    Mr. Prestige, who is noted among the constituents for his philanthropy and care for the oppressed, promised to improve their social well-being and to attract democratic dividends, saying his constituents should stone him if he fails to perform as their representative.

    Assessing the use of permanent voter’s card (PVC) for elections, he said even though there were cases of malfunction card readers, “it is an improvement in the electoral process,” even as he called on INEC to address logistical issues, among others, in order to ensure that materials arrived various polling units early in the governorship and house of assembly polls.

    He also used the opportunity to assure the people of Abia, especially those of Aba residents of his party’s commitment to transform the infrastructure and economy of the state. He called on registered voters to come out en masse during the April 11 polls to vote massively for the party’s governorship candidate.

  • Women inaugurate development centre

    Women inaugurate development centre

    Women of Christ Holy Church (CHC) International coprising members from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Liberia and Benin Republic have converged on Asaba, the Delta State capital, for the inauguration of the multi-million naira Women Development Centre.

    The project was executed by the women department of the church to help equip indigent members of the church with skills, with a view to scaling back unemployment, crime and youth restiveness, especially among youths.

    Trainees at the Centre will be instructed on making, among other things, different types of soap and bleach.

    Some of the personalities present at the event included the General Superintendent of the church, His Grace, Most Rev. Daniel C. Okoh, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Paulinus Akpeki, His Royal Majesty, Edmund Daukoru, Amanyanabo of Nembe Kingdom and his wife, Bishops and other clerics of the church in Nigeria and other African countries.

    The women, who were adorned in colourful uniforms, marched from Ezenei Road through Ogbogonogo and terminated at the venue of the occasion in a carnival-like occasion that attracted many admirers who thronged the city roads to catch a glimpse of them.

    The event, which served as the 2014/2015 Annual Women Conference/Dedication of the church also witnessed the launch of the maiden Women Musical Album which they recorded and produced.

    Various gospel groups, including the famous original band group of the church were on hand to add colour to the event as guests and church members danced to rhythm of the music.

    The three-day event witnessed activities such as Bible Studies, a Gala Night party at Grand Hotel, Asaba among other social activities to spice up the event.

    Speaking on the topic “Celebrating God’s Faithfulness”, the General Superintendent of C.H.C International,

    Most Rev. Okoh, thanked the women’s department of the church for executing such a wonderful edifice.

    He revealed that the women, in an attempt to eradicate crimes and poverty, among our children, built the Women Development Centre in order to train and educate not only Nigeria children but also children from all over the world.”

    Rev. Okoh further explained that the successful completion of the building project was a clear evidence of the manifestation of God’s promises to the founder of the church; the late Agnes Amanye Okoh, a.k.a Mama Odozi Obodo while she lived.

    The church’s General Superintendent and the chairman of Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), however advised the women to seek help only from Jesus Christ like the founder of the church, who he described as a woman of faith and a devout Christian did during her missionary work on earth.

    In her address, wife of the General Superintendent, General Deaconess Ngozi Okoh said the theme of the conference “You Will Build Houses and Dwell in Them” was an invitation to all the participants to celebrate the manifestation of God’s promises to all who believe in Christ Jesus.

    She thanked those who, in one way or the other, committed their resources in ensuring that the project was a reality. He expressed the hope that it would serve the purpose for which it was built, adding that the development centre would be open to people from all over the world.

    In his remarks, Mr. Paulinus Akpeki advised the women to continue praying for peace and unity of Nigeria.

    Highlights of the occasion were the unveiling of the founder’s statue, inauguration of the building and launch of C.H.C musical album.

  • Metamorphosis of widowhood

    Metamorphosis of widowhood

    No longer a solitary segment of the Igbo society, widows now seem to have become a veritable tool in the hands of politicians. But traditional rulers say it is a desecration of tradition, writes OKODILI NDIDI

    They used to be withdrawn, their words measured as much as their steps. Society was expected to be kind to them but not many freely associated with them. They bore the burden of their husbands’ death, sometimes even accused or suspected of having a hand in it. In some parts, there is a tradition that a widow be acquired as a wife by any of her late husband’s relatives. Though this practice is waning, thanks to the spread of the Christian faith, widows are still denied access to their late husband’s property.

    Those days of quietude seem over for the widows of the Southeast. They have since cast off the cloak of dejection and found a voice on various platforms.

    In Imo State, for instance, various political parties have their own groups of widows, funded and serviced as a tool to whip up public sentiment against their opponents.

    For the fact that the presence of widows in their traditional black attire provokes pity even in the heart of the strongest, they have been used in political protests, even over matters that do not in any way concern their welfare.

    In Imo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seems to have taken advantage of the women to pursue their ambition. Not too long ago, hundreds of widows were mobilised by the Minister of State for Education, Professor Viola Onwuliri, who is also a widow, to invade the Imo State Government House with a mock coffin in denunciation of Governor Rochas Okorocha over what was believed to be political disagreement.

    Another group of widows was also used to disrupt the state governorship debate organised by the Catholic Diocese of Owerri, when they stormed the venue in large numbers, adorning their trademark black as usual and disrupted the proceedings by protesting against the state Governor.

    Also in so many other cases, these widows have been incited by politicians, who take advantage of their poverty and deprivation to breach public peace, while they watch from a safe distance.

    Condemning what they called the desecration of the widowhood institution, traditional rulers warned against further misuse of the widows by mischievous politicians to incite crisis and sow the seed of discord among the people.

    The state chairman of the Traditional Rulers’ Council, Eze Agunwa Ohiri, described the practice as a taboo and an insult to the memory of the husbands of the widows.

    He said, “It is a dangerous desperation by politicians to use widows for their campaigns and this has to stop. It is a desecration of our tradition for widows that are still mourning their husbands to suddenly take to the streets to protest over political matters that does not concern them”.

    Speaking further, he said, “We are not going to allow this to continue and very soon we are going to pass a law that will deal severely with any politician or any other group that takes undue advantage of the widows in this state”.

    Also condemning the act, Governor Okorocha, while reacting to the invasion of the Government House by the widows, said that the opposition party mobilised women from neighbouring states and dressed them up in mourning clothes to make them appear to be widows in order to breach public peace in the state.

    He noted that the genuine widows in the state have been taken care of by his administration and could not be involved in any plot to disrupt the peace of the state.

    Also condemning the development, Chief Cletus Ibezimako, expressed worry that if the growing influence of the widows was not checked it could lead to the death of many young men.

    In his words, “if you look at what is happening today, widowhood has become a lucrative business. Widows now make huge sums of money holding protests for politicians and participating in fraudulent empowerment programmes. This is so much that even women whose husbands are still alive now wear mourning clothes and join the widows in protest.

    “Now the question is if these women whose husbands are still alive could join widows in protest to collect easy money, where is the guarantee of their husbands’ lives? Widowhood has now become a social club where women flaunt their wealth and position and this is worrisome and should be checked”.

    A leader of one of the groups of widows, Mrs. Eunice Njoku, who defended the actions of the widows, said that they have decided to take their destinies into their hands instead of languishing in abject poverty and dejection.

    She said, “We are not doing anything unusual. We are also part of the society despite the fact that we are widows, so when we see policies that affect us negatively or where we are exposed to any form of discrimination, we resist it through peaceful protests as a means to drive home our demands and no one can say that we have been violent in any way”.

     

  • Corps member trains 1000 students

    Corps member trains 1000 students

    A Batch B member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Omolekan Ajibola, serving with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ebonyi State, has trained about 1000 secondary school pupils on career choices.

    Ajibola who selected the students from three government secondary schools in Ebonyi Local Government Area said the training exercise was his contribution in the Community Development Service (CDS) of the NYSC.

    He said that he was motivated to organise the training having identified that students of government schools in the state lacked information and orientation about making sustainable career choices.

    “That is why I have embarked on this CDS project to enlighten the students on how to choose a sustainable career,” said corper Ajibola.

    Ajibola stated that he was hopeful that after the three days training, the participants would be able to choose a sustainable career by being a able to identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on themselves for the future.

    Ajibola also donated 40-leaf exercise books to the students.

    He appealed to government at all levels to employ teachers on career guidance and counseling so that students would be properly guided at all times on how to make sustainable career noting that in doing this the students would be fully developed to face the realities of life.

    The training which were anchored on two themes: ‘How to choose a sustainable career in life’ and ‘Developing a successful career strategy’, were handled by resource persons.

    In an interview with the Principal Inspector, Community Development Service (CDS) in state NYSC secretariat, Mr. Christian Obidimma noted that it was important to make a wise career choice in the sense that it helps one not to make a wrong step.

    Mr. Obidimma who described the seminar as a rare opportunity for the students to boast their sense of belonging in building their future, appealed to government to introduce skill acquisition programmes in schools to reduce unemployment in the country.

    He commended the initiative of Ajibola for organising such a  programme adding that teachers have a lot to do in guiding students toward making a right career choice just as he urged other well meaning Nigerians to emulate from the organiser of the training programme.

    During the training, the students were urged to do thing that will help them achieve their objectives instead of wasting their career in things that would not guarantee their future.

    They harped on the need for people to do things that they would be happy doing rather than considering its monetary value just as the students were educated on the need to know their value, personality and skills.

    The students who participated in the training including Eze Marvelous applauded the training as according to them it has opened a new vista in their academic journey.

    Eze Marvelous noted that the training has impacted her life and pledged to be guided by what she has learnt in making a sustainable career just as she advocated for similar training in schools across the state.

     

  • Relief for 300 women in Anambra

    Relief for 300 women in Anambra

    No fewer than 300 of women have benefitted from the philanthropy of a lawyer, Mr Ndubuisi Obiadi.

    Obiadi once contested for a House of Assembly seat on behalf of Anaocha Constituency 1 in Anambra State on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Every year, he presents various items to the needy.

    •Obiadi presents the gift wrapper to a widow
    •Obiadi presents the gift wrapper to a widow

    This time, Obiadi gave out yards of cloth to widows, saying that the gesture was his little way of helping out the needy women.

    He laos presented them with cash, urging them to go out and vote.

    “This gesture did not start today,” he said.

    “I have been doing it but I used this opportunity to mobilise for APGA and our flagbearers including Chief Victor Umeh for Senate, Ferdinand Dozie Nwankwo for Federal House of Representatives and Charles Azubuike Okoye for House of Assembly.

    “I pleaded with them too to continue to support our governor, Chief Willie Obiano and his wife Chief Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano in the good works that they are doing.

    “We are mobilising for election and we utilised this opportunity to educate our widows and others more on how to vote and who to vote.”

    The member representing Anaocha Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Ebele Leonard Ejiofor lauded the initiative of  Obiadi who he said continued his programme with widows despite not yet contesting any position.

    Ejiofor described Obiadi as being consistent and disciplined in politics and party loyalty.

    “It is a good development specifically because he is not contesting anything and for him to utilise the opportunity to mobilise APGA and the community for his political party shows he has character. It is a good development.”

    A guest at the event and APGA candidate for Anaocha House of Assembly constituency 1, Charles Azubuike Okoye, said it was amazing that somebody not contesting will be spending money to campaign for his party this way and buying wrappers for widows.

    “We are supporting his gesture with N100,000 and would be glad to do more if need be because he has supported us by campaigning for us and all other contestants in APGA despite the fact that his aspiration was not met. He did this as his way of supporting the government of Governor Willie Obiano’s administration and supporting APGA as a party to enable its candidate win the 2015 polls and you heard him mention that. I appeal to them to pray for Obiadi and the party for God to enable us win the election having worked hard’’.

    Some of the beneficiaries including Juliana Eugene-Orjiakor from Amaolu village; Theresa Onwuka from Okpalaegbu village; Lucy Uzoaga from Etiti Nnukwu; Theresa Agupugo from Amata village as well as Paulina Okoye also from Amata village differently lauded the initiative of Mr Ndubuisi Obiadi for his magnanimity for widows on constant measures and prayed that his pocket would not run dry to enable him to continue remembering them , politics or no politics. They also prayed for the candidates of APGA to win in all their constituencies and those who will contest under APGA.

    On his part, the Coordinator, Chief Victor Umeh campaign organization, Adazi Nnukwu Ward 2, Ugonnabuo Alphonsus and Chairman APGA ward 11Adazi Nnukwu , Nwako Christopher pointed out that women actually own the polling booths judging by the high number of women with PVC’s .

  • ‘How to curtail unemployment’

    ‘How to curtail unemployment’

    How can we thin down the population of the unemployed? How do we get undergraduates to create jobs rather expect them?

    These were some some of the questions that inspired a young man  Otta Okoro Ukaha to write a book, which was launched in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State.

    The book entitled: Construction and Management of Petroleum Retail Outlet,

    tries to inspire young people to think of the opportunities that will generate jobs and save them the horrors of searching for nonexistent white-collar jobs.

    The book, he said, is an attempt to present an overview of the construction and management of petrol filling stations, adding that “it is beneficial to those in architecture and civil engineering.

    “Students of petroleum engineering, marketing, economics and business management are expected to share in the benefit the book provides; so are the people engaged in the business of construction and management of filling stations.

    “It is also a reference material for those who are proposing to run petrol filling stations to enable them to run a successful business. The book is the first of its kind in the history of Nigerian petroleum industry.

    “Its major objective is to solve the challenges experienced by the players in the downstream sector of Nigerian oil industry and beyond,” he said.

    On how young graduates would cope with huge capital outlay involved in establishing a petrol station, Ukaha said government should be involved in the area of granting loans to these graduates.

    The author further noted that poor readership culture in Nigeria retards development.

    “Readership is the habit of reading. When it comes to readership in Nigeria, our rating is very low. Because of our low rating, life tends to be very difficult for us. If you consider Nigeria’s population, you will discover that over 70 per cent of the population doesn’t read. That is why the country’s development is very low.

    “Readership in this country is very poor and that is why majority of us don’t know what is going on in the world. The government has the responsibility to improve Nigerians’ readership.

    “Readership is the centre of civilisation. Without it, it will be very difficult for our country to progress. Business growth will only be achieved if our business owners imbibe reading culture and read extensively. A country like United States is a giant today because of the people’s reading culture,” Ukaha said.

    Reviewing the book, Mr. John Ihechukwu Oke of the Department of Marketing, Enugu State University of Technology advocated inclusion of entrepreneurial studies in Nigerian schools’ curriculum, especially institutions of higher learning.

    He said such initiative would equip Nigerian graduates to be self-employed after graduation.

    “Though there have been recent yearnings for the inclusion of entrepreneurial studies in the curriculum of schools, which has led to some institutions of higher learning in the country complying to that effect, but we are looking forward to a holistic compliance to the yearnings,” he said.

    Continuing, Oke said: “We are looking forward to a situation where petrol filling stations will be established and managed by graduates to reduce the increasing rate in unemployment in the country.

    “It is on this basis that the book should be introduced to institutions of higher learning.

    “Taking into cognisance the current trend where Nigerian graduates, especially from the areas of petroleum and other engineering departments, business studies and marketing, among others, roam the streets unemployed, this book is handy to remedy the situation. The missing link in our academic curriculum is blamed on lack of professionalism, and this has taken a toll on our economy.”

    Oke said the book provides an in-depth analysis of locating the site of a petrol station, saying that a prospective owner of a petrol station should avoid locating it along dual or three roadways, outside the metropolis. “This is because vehicles’ speed is always high along the highways.

    He said petrol stations should be located after convergence of three roadways, where traffic makes room for only single road, even as he said petrol stations should be located within accessible locations.

    The book also prescribed that mobile telephones are not designed and certified for use in explosive atmosphere.

    “Rather than applying total prohibition on the use of mobile telephones on petrol forecourt which has resulted in some anomalies and frequent abuse to staff, the following controls are recommended: “the device is not to be used by customers and forecourt staff while dispensing petrol into fuel tanks or containers; they should not be used during petrol deliveries on those parts that have been designated as hazardous areas by the site operator or the driver; mobile phones should not be used during other petrol handling operations or during the maintenance of petrol equipment unless a specific assessment shows the risks are negligible.

    It was the author’s view that there is need to restrict the use of mobile telephones, with respect to the safe-keeping of petrol, at other times or in the other areas of the forecourt. This includes the shop, motor vehicles parked on the forecourt or in other non-hazardous areas.

  • New leader for MASSOB soon

    The crack in the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) is getting wider as members of the pan-Biafra group have resolved to get a new leader to pilot their affairs. The new leader would be known at the burial of 69 members of the movement in Enugu.

    A member of the MASSOB interim administration, Comrade Ndubuisi Igwekani (aka) Agu Biafra told Southeast Report that the fallen members were those killed during peaceful protests across “Biafran territories” and deposited in mortuaries in Enugu and Onitsha.

    Igwekani said the Ralph Uwazuruike leadership has lost focus and no longer pursues the aspirations of what he called Biafrans and the Biafran Dream. He emphatically stated that “Ralph is no longer in control of MASSOB”.

    While insisting that MASSOB was not factionalised, Igwekani stressed that “what we are saying is that those of us that hold MASSOB believe that the leadership of Ralph Uwazuruike has disappointed the Biafran struggle.”

    Continuing, he said: “He has used the organisation to enrich himself and using our children the way he likes. He has diverted the resources which would have been used to advance the struggle. Our elders refused to understand initially, but by the special grace of God, many people have come to understand that he cannot continue to lead us.

    “This is a man who even claimed that he is richer than the people that control the resources of the states. It is during the burial of these fallen MASSOB heroes that you people will see the new face of MASSOB.

    “The fact is that MASSOB is a movement that focuses on giving the Igbo the identity of Biafra. So, if we are not Nigerians and we are Biafrans, how can Uwazuruike now mobilise people and say “Jega must go?” Jega is not a Biafran. He is a Nigerian coordinating the Nigerian elections.

    “It is for his selfish gains that he held the Jega-must-go march. In a week or two, we will know where we are heading to. We will give our people a new direction on what to do. We are not in support of our children roaming the streets.

    “What we are after now is to ensure that after the election, no single Igbo man will be killed neither would their property be destroyed, especially in the North. We know we are always the target. We are now sending signal that any state that allows its people to kill any Igbo man or destroy his property after the elections, we will hold that state to ransom.

    “We will mobilise all our security forces to that state to protect our property. Enough is enough.”

    On their preference between Jonathan and Buhari, Igwekani retorted: “We do not want to go into politics. But I can tell you that the devil we know is better than the angel we don’t know. We can’t come to the public to politicise issues. Every nation knows the best for them. Biafrans know the best for them. We have already communicated to our people on what to do. We have done our underground work and when the election comes, our votes will speak.”

    Igwekani, who represented MASSOB at a recent meeting of the Southeast professional group, Concerned Nigerian Professionals and Entrepreneurs Forum held in Enugu said they collectively agreed to send people to other states and deliver the resolutions reached at the meeting.

    “I was there as a representative of MASSOB. I was also invited to speak. What we are saying is that the Igbo living in other parts of Nigeria should send their wives and children home while they remain wherever they are to protect their property and also cast their votes.”

  • Abia police caution personnel

    Abia police caution personnel

    Abia State’s new Commissioner of Police Habila Joshak has warned personnel in the command against any acts that may breach the smooth conduct of the electoral process.

    Joshak who was speaking during his familiarisation visit at the Aba Area Command said that the Abia State Command would not hesitate to try, persecute or recommend the dismissal from service, any of its official found to be involved in any form of electoral malpractice.

    Responding to a question, the Abia CP said, “Let me assure you that the policemen are only going to be posted to polling stations to ensure there is smooth conduct of election. We (police) don’t touch sensitive and non-sensitive materials. Our main duty is to make sure that criminal element or those that doesn’t want the elections to be free and fair will be brought to book. It is the end of the road and the game will be over for any police officer that will be caught in any act of electoral malpractice because we are not going to condone such”.

    The Abia Police boss who said that they were working in partnership with other sister agencies to ensure that electoral laws and guidelines were obeyed on March 28 and April 11 elections, also urged police, military and other security apparatus in the state to get the handbook on electoral guideline for people that would participate in the elections which was recently recommended by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Suleiman Abba.

    According to him, the police and other security agencies were working out modalities to ensure that electoral crisis before, during and after elections would be curtailed, hinting that they have designed a mop up measures for any electoral crisis outburst.

    Joshak while lauding the cooperation existing between the police in Aba, the PCRC (Police Community Relations Committee) in various police divisions, army and among other security agencies called for more synergy to enable them nip crime in all place in the bud and to also ensure that the country’s democracy wasn’t truncated.

    The commissioner who had once served in the state as a youth corps member and a police officer said he knew the importance of Aba to the economy of the state, southeast and the nation as a whole also assured Aba and Abia residents including visitors alike that police in collaboration with other security agencies were willing to make the commercial nerve center a safe haven for their businesses to thrive, warning hoodlums in Aba and the state to relocate to another place as he would make the state uncomfortable for their operation.

    ”I am encouraged when I learnt about the cooperation between the police and other sister agencies in Aba. Such is not even obtainable at the state capital. It is important that we deemphasise the attention on the superiority of ranks and come together and share ideas on how best we can fight crime and achieve a peaceful and habitual environment to allow business and economic to thrive. Crime fighting should be a collaborative efforts and I am going to ensure that the police will work together and synergize with other security agencies to ensure that we fight crime in Aba and Abia Sate in general”.

    On the use of policemen by revenue contractors in their drive which has become a norm in the state, he directed that on no account should the police be used for revenue drive unless they were executing an order of court of competent jurisdiction, warning that any police officer used in revenue drive by any agent or contractor without the knowledge of the State Command risk losing his job.

    The CP who had earlier inspected some of the ongoing reconstruction and refurbishing of offices and police quarters in the Area Command called on DPOs (Divisional Police Officers) to emulate the pace set by the Area Commander, Peter Wagbara who despite the paucity of funds has improve the infrastructural condition of the command.

    He assured them that their welfare and logistic challenges facing the command would be properly addressed and urged them to ensure that they use whatever little logistics that the IGP had provided for them optimally to ensure productivity.

    Earlier in the speeches, the Deputy Comptroller of Prisons in Aba Prison, Emmanuel Maduako and Prince Ambassador Emma Nwosu, state chairman, PCRC on behalf of other security agencies in Enyimba city and members of the PCRC expressed happiness over the progress recorded so far by the Wagbara led administration since he assumed office in the command.

    Maduako noted that in the number of years he has put into service, it was in Aba under the administration of the Area Commander that he has witnessed the coming together of police and other sister agencies to a round table despite their ranks and differences in job functions to discuss on how to improve security and work collaboratively to fight crime and other criminality, stressing that it has breached the gap and also make them see reasons why they should work harmoniously with each other.

    The PCRC chairman also expressed their willingness to continue working together with DPOs of various commands in Aba and the state police command and assured that the lessons they learnt from the Aba Police boss will be replicated in other various police divisions in the state.

    The police commissioner before departing the command held an interactive session with officers and men in the command which it was learnt bordered on their welfare, the March 28 and April 11 elections and how best they can work effectively to tackle crime in Aba.

    Some policemen who chose to speak off record described the CP’s visit as a morale booster and hope that they would enjoy better and improved working condition under the current leadership of the police in the state and national level, stating that they were committed to ensure that they work harmoniously with the state police commissioner while his stay in the state lasted.

     

  • MASSOB warns Igbo against being used

    The Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has warned Ndigbo to be wary of politicians who will use and dump them after the general elections.

    Southeastern states of Anambra, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi and Enugu recently hosted the two major presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dame Jonathan and Femi-Fani Kayode who, at a press conference in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, solicited support for the re-election of President Jonathan and his Vice, Namadi Sambo and other PDP candidates at the March and April polls.

    The group said they were advising Ndigbo against some politicians who had no agenda for them but who answer Igbo names and become their in-laws during elections only to revert to their native names after winning elections.

    MASSOB said such people should not be allowed to use their campaign of deceit to get the support of the people who they would later dump or relegate to political background after being elected or re-elected into office.

    MASSOB’s National Assistant Director for Information, Sunny Okereafor said in Aba that it was annoying that Nigerian politicians were at it again; crisscrossing the entire Southeast to canvass votes, even when they had not done “anything for the people of the zone in the past”.

    “Nigerian politicians are at it again; some of them are once more answering Igbo names and also claiming that they are our in-laws, wooing the people for their votes, but when they win the elections, they will revert to their native names, and abandon the people of the Southeast.

    “They have fooled Ndigbo for a long time and MASSOB will not allow them to continue to fool the people.”

    According to Okereafor, it is only in Nigeria that someone would spend years in office, loot public fund and yet walks freely on the streets without being compelled to account for his actions while in office. When he is leaving office, he would force on the people, his or her preferred candidate even when it is against the wishes of the people.

    “It is in Nigeria that someone will occupy political position for four or eight years without tangible proof of achievement. Yet he will anoint a successor and force him on the people even when they refuse to accept such a person as their leader. This they do to help them cover their acts while they (outgoing public servants) were in power. This is a criminal act,” he said.

    While warning that Nigeria was at a crossroads, the MASSOB chieftain stated that the group would continue to use a non-violence means in pursuant of its campaigns for the emancipation of the people and the realisation of an independent state of Biafra.