The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Anger

  • Anger as FCTA demolishes 200 structures in Bwari

    There was anger among residents of Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) when bulldozers from the Development Control Department of the Federal Capital Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday evening demolished over 200 structures in the area.

    The structures were said to have been built on water pipelines.

    The affected houses had been marked last year for demolition by the Development Control Department of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

    Our reporter, who visited the affected area yesterday, learnt that all houses within 130 metres of water pipelines were marked for demolition.

    The Director of the Development Control Unit Yahaya Yusuf said the demolition was to prepare the grounds for more pipes ahead of the inauguration of the Usuma Dam water project.

    Homes, shops, schools and places of worship were mostly affected by the demolition.

    The demolished houses were mostly in the newly rehabilitated SCC Road in Bwari town as well as neighbouring Pwabara, Jigo and Peyi communities.

    Some of the affected residents said they were shocked by the 130 metres stipulation adduced by Development Control officials.

    One of the victims, who works at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and spoke in confidence, noted that although most of the affected houses complied with the distance stipulated by the FCDA, it was surprising that their structures were being pulled down.

    He said the residents’ belongings were not spared because the demolition officials did not allow anyone to bring anything out of their buildings.

    “I suspect a foul play in the exercise. After we had complied, why do they still have to demolish our houses?” he said.

    It was learnt that the affected persons plan to sue the FCDA.

  • Anger, tears, confusion as 51 accident victims get mass burial

    Fifty-one victims of the Ugbogui Road accident were yesterday interred in a mass burial at First Cemetery in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    They were burnt to death in the accident that occurred on April 5th at Ugbogui Village along the Benin-Ore-Lagos Road.

    Many of the victims were burnt to ashes.

    The accident involved a tanker, a trailer and a luxury bus.

    It was the tanker that exploded after the trailer hit it from behind.

    Several other vehicles parked along the road including motor-cycles and properties worth millions in shops along the road were also burnt.

    Two brothers who were sleeping in their mother’s shop were roasted to death.

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said 36 persons died in the accident but the mortician at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Aikoriogie Wilfred said 51 bodies were brought to the hospital.

    He said he did all he could to preserve the body, adding that the victims could not be identified.

    Families of the victims were incensed when official of the FRSC informed them that death certificates would be issued to the 36 names on the manifest provided by the transport company.

    They argued that many of the victims did not include their names in the manifest.

    Eugene Odiamah said his mother, a nephew and niece died in the accident but only the name of their mother appeared on the manifest.

    Kevin Aniekwe said he lost his wife and two daughters in the accident.

    “It is very painful. I spoke with them before they left that day. The Lord is now my strength. I know I will see them again.

    “They were going to see their grandmother in Enugu. It was gathered that the driver of the vehicle took passengers of another bus that broke down along the way,” he recounted

    The corpses were taken from the UBTH morgue at about 8:30am loaded in a truck.

    At the cemetery, a brief service, led by Pastor Barnabas Chukwukere, was held for the victims.

    Chukwukere urged the families to believe in the Lord and continue to serve Him as death could occur at any time.

    He said: “Remember now the Lord your creator. Leave your life as if it is the end. We are nothing but sand.”

    The families brought photographs of the victims, including wreath and flowers to lay on their graves.

    They were further peeved when they learnt that officials of the transport company were not present at the burial ceremony.

  • Anger in Osun community over vacant stool

    FOR eRIN-IJESA, an ancient Osun State community, these are trying times. Its peace is being tortured by its inability to fill its vacant. The stool became vacant 14 years ago, following the death of its monarch.

    The community is renowned for its Olumirin waterfall. Now, tourists cannot access the waterfall because of the obaship crisis.

    Tourists from far and near, including foreigners who had come to visit the waterfall were prevented from doing so when youths took their anger to the streets. They want a monarch installed to facilitate the town’s development.

    Markets were closed and all access roads were barricaded with logs of wood. Thick smoke billowed into the air from various junctions where bonfires were made with tyres.

    Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were, however, on hand to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

    President of Erin-Ijesa Youths Forum, Ajimotokin Olalere, told The Nation: “We are tired of not having a traditional ruler. Our king died over 14 years ago and till now, the state government and the kingmakers have been foot-dragging on the process of installing another king for us. This town is not moving forward owing to the absence of a king who should protect our interest.

    “Smaller towns and villages around here are developing and enjoying amenities while Erin-Ijesa remains stagnant. Enough is enough. We need a king in this town and that is why we are protesting.”

    Another youth leader, Ayoade Olawoye, and the community’s women leader, Mrs Funke Gbonjubola, accused the kingmakers of “turning the process into business,” urging them to waste no further time in picking the right person from the ruling house that should produce a new king.

    Under Section 4 (2) of the Chieftaincy Declaration of February 22, 1960, there are three Ruling Houses in the town – Ogbagba-Lawo, Iyandereketa-Sehin, and Osefiri Agbojukori from where a king could emerge by rotation.

    A kingmaker, Chief Samuel Adebolale, the Odofin of Erin-Ijesa, said when the throne became vacant after the death of Oba S. A. Adeosun in 1999, the Ogbagbalawo ruling house was expected to produce the next king since the late monarch hailed from Osefiri. He said Ogbagbalawo was once invited to present a candidate, but the Ruling House said it had not got a candidate then.

    He said when Iyandereketa, the next to Ogbagbalawo, was also asked to present a candidate, it too said it had no candidate yet, adding: “That was why we moved to Osefiri House with three branches – Ojuku, Obiti, and Ayeni. Each of them presented a candidate – Ayeni Adeyeba Isaac, Aremu Oriowo, and Stephen Oladeru.

    “When the process of picking one of the three was already in top gear, another person, Toso Akinleye signified, claiming that his paternal grandmother was from Ojuku, but it was faulted.

    “This led to a court case instituted at the Ilesa High Court by Osefiri Ruling House against the government which was later withdrawn after due intervention by the Reconciliatory Committee set up by the indigenes. It was at that point that the committee advised the kingmakers to start the process afresh. And the kingmakers agreed.”

    The kingmakers, it was learnt, returned to Ogbagbalawo House again, but it “failed” to fulfil the provisions of an existing Chieftaincy Declaration; hence, the candidate’s rejection by the kingmakers.

    It was learnt that the government intervened and the kingmakers, after due process, were about installing Ayeni Adeyeba when the other houses kicked, thus aborting the process.

    The Head of Osefiri-Agbojukori, Hezekiah Adewusi, said he had nominated candidates from his Royal Family to occupy the throne and urged the kingmakers to pick one of them.

    Also, head of the Iyandereketa Family, Alhaji Sulaimaon Kayode, said it was not the turn of the Osefiri Agbojukori Family and advised the house to step aside. He added: “The immediate past king was from Osefiri Agbojukori Family; that is why it can’t produce another king now. We all know that it is the turn of Ogbagbalawo.”

    The head of Ogbagbalawo, Albert Adegoke Obisesan, said it is the turn of his House, adding that it had sent the names of some princes to the kingmakers.

    Meanwhile, the agitated youths insist that if a new king is not installed soon, they would continue to protest.

    Yesterday, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Akinrogun Sunday Akere, said the government would not get involved in the selection of a monarch for the town, adding that it is the responsibility of the kingmakers.

    The government, he said, would perform its responsibility of installing a king for the town as soon as the kingmakers choose and present a candidate for the stool.

  • Misdirected anger

    Misdirected anger

    •Gov. Chime has himself to blame for the negative reaction to his prolonged stay abroad for treatment

    Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State’s disappearance from, as well as return to the country, after four and a half months of cloudy medical visit abroad would continue to generate ripples. His media clarification clarified nothing; rather, it exacerbated the situation. For the first time in months, worried indigenes and other Nigerians got a clue of the ailment that kept the governor away from his duty post. He personally declared that he underwent surgery and post-surgery treatment for cancer of the nose in Britain.

    Chime gleefully mentioned that he was “completely cured and declared cancer-free by the doctors.” The clean bill of health purportedly given the governor is praiseworthy. But the entire saga is just a reminder to all that ill-health is no respecter of persons or class; after all, people in power are not superhuman beings, as they could at any time fall victims of health challenges.

    We recognise and take this as a fact of life. Thus, Chime’s return to his duty post is a big relief to the citizens of his state. At least, normal governance, devoid of avoidable apprehension and tension that were the hallmark of the past months, can once again be witnessed in the ‘Coal City’ state of Enugu. But we consider as misplaced his criticism of a section of the media over the reportage of his ailment. How can he chastise the media when he deliberately kept the public in the dark over his whereabouts and medical predicament for months?

    It is trite that under a situation where government hoards information, speculations are inevitable. Why should Chime be livid over the ‘bizarre’ stories that were published against his person that arose from poor media management of his ailment? Ab initio, he ought to have informed the public of his true state of health and demanded for their prayers during the period that he was away for treatment. There is no doubt that millions of people would have sympathised with him and also wished him well if they were duly informed. His being secretive about this made speculations and public tension to be elevated and condoned.

    How could a governor go on four and a half months vacation at a stretch? This manner of vacation, especially for a governor that did not disclose any medical challenge, is one carried too far. In case Governor Chime has forgotten, we want to remind him that he was elected by the people of that state to govern them and not to disappear from work without any clue about his whereabouts. The inhabitants of Enugu State and, by extension other Nigerians, deserve to know his state of health and whereabouts at any point in time.

    His unusually long absence from duty without the people’s knowledge smacks of contempt. He merely successfully exploited the lacuna in the constitution that places no time limit on the duration for which a governor can stay away from work. Chime may have gotten away with this unwarranted scorn for the people; but since the situation is ongoing, the time to take another look at a system that permits noticeable abandonment from duty without official reason by men of power, is now.

    The governor’s curious explanations regarding what kept him away for so long from that exalted position were belated. If he had done that earlier, the polity would not have been unduly heated. Perhaps, he should thank his stars that he has a legislative arm in the House of Assembly that was, regrettably, so pliable. Otherwise his case would have been settled a long time ago and he would have returned as a private citizen.

  • Anger in Rivers over kidnap of commissioner, others

    Anger in Rivers over kidnap of commissioner, others

    There is anger in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, following the kidnap of Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Augustine Wokocha, and two others.

    Gunmen at the weekend also whisked away Dr. R. F Quadri,the Librarian of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area and the institution’s Director of Academic, Planning and Statistics, Dr. Richard Ihua Maduenyi.

    Security agencies were yesterday on the trail of the kidnappers, but the victims’ whereabouts remained unknown.

    Rivers Police spokesman Ben Ugwuegbulam, told The Nation to seek confirmatuion of the kidnap elsewhere.

    It was gathered that the operatives of the Joint Task Force (JTF) were making progress in their efforts to rescue the victims alive. They were also intensifying efforts to apprehend the unknown kidnappers.

    Spokesman of the JTF, Major Michael Etete, who doubles as the spokesman of the 2 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Bori Camp, Port Harcourt, was not available to comment last night.

    But the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Rivers State called for complete overhaul of the security agencies. It described the incidents as criminal, cruel and evil.

    Speaking through its Publicity Secretary, Jerry Needam, yesterday, it said: “We demand immediate and complete overhaul of the security systems, including total redeployment of all rank and file of security men in Rivers state.

    “The kidnap of Wokocha, Quadri and Maduenyi reminds us that our security system has collapsed. We demand explanations, in the face of high rate of kidnapping in Rivers state, how billions of naira security vote and tax payers’ money is spent.

    “The kidnap of these men is criminal, cruel and evil. We demand their immediate and unconditional release and the perpetrators of this evil act be fished out and prosecuted.”

  • Anger in Senate over lynching of four students

    Anger in Senate over lynching of four students

    There was anger in the Senate yesterday over the killings of four students of the University of Port Harcourt , Rivers State .

    This followed the adoption of a: “Motion condemning the murder of students of the University of Port Harcourt and one other person at Omuakiri Village, Aluu, Rivers State’’.

    It was sponsored by Senator Ayogu Eze (Enugu North) and supported by 90 others.

    On October 3, the Senate decried what it called the reprehensible murder of 46 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State .

    Senate President David Mark, described the ‘gory incident’ especially as posted on social network as totally condemnable and atrocious.

    He noted that the manner of the students’ death has brought to the fore the urgent need for state police.

    The Senate President deplored the inability of security agents to apprehend perpetrators of crime in the country.

    But he insisted that Nigeria should not be classified as a failed state, saying that the existence of the legislature, judiciary and executive arms of government clearly show that the country is not a failed state.

    He said: “There is no doubt that this act is condemnable. We feel for the students who have lost their lives, we feel for their parents, but there is a local saying that when you point a finger to someone else, four others are pointing at you.

    “So, we all have a share in ensuring that there is safety of lives and property in this country.

    “It is not that crimes don’t happen else where, but the difference between crimes else where and crimes in Nigeria is that outside this country, the perpetrators are arrested as quickly as possible and brought to book.

    “The reason why people don’t want to commit crime is the fear of punishment that is the consequences of it.

    “Here if you commit crime and you think you can go scot free, then it is jungle justice.

    “I must also emphasise that the legislature exist in this country, the judiciary is there and the executive and this clearly are not signs of a failed state.

    “If we have not reached where we ought to reach and where we want to be that doesn’t make us a failed state. I must emphases that.

    “The mere fact that we can sit down here and debate issues is a clear indication of democracy at work.

    “In a failed state, you will never have an institution like the Senate, every one will be out on the street with guns and machetes and knives.”

    Mark said what happened in Aluu community and the way it was posted on the social media show the merit and demerit of the social media.

    “One thing that has come out of it is that those who were at the scene of the incident can easily be arrested by the police.

    “The video is there and they can easily be identified and so they should as quickly as possible bring them to book as a lesson for others.

    “I think the police truly is being challenged and there cannot be police everywhere but the moment it happens and they get a report they should be able to bring those involved to book

    “I have said this before that I was against state police but I have since changed my mind.

    “I said so the other day, because the actions, the frequency with which so many crimes are being committed in this country and the difficulty the police have in carrying out their investigation means that there are real security challenges that we need to address.

    “To address them realistically, we must make sure that there are enough police men that can police this country.

    “Those who are against state police of course they have their good reasons but the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages at the moment.

    Senator Eze lamented the lynching and burning on October 5 of the three 200-level students, Chiakika Lordson (Theatre Arts), Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor (Geology), Mike Lioyd Toku (Civil Engineering) and their friend, Tekena Erikena, all below the age of 22 years.

    He urged the Senate to condemn the dehumanising manner in which “the four students were stripped naked, marched along like common criminals, battered into stupor and eventually coma in a most horrifying display of callousness ever captured on celluloid before setting them ablaze in the full glare of cheering and enthusiastic spectators and traducers.”

    The Enugu State lawmaker said he was appalled by “the flimsy and yet-to-be substantiated allegation of theft of laptops and blackberry phones.”

    He quoted a Student Union activist Rhino Owhorkire, who is an indigene of Aluu, as saying that “till date the laptop and blackberry phone have not been produced as evidence of the trumped-up robbery tale.”

    Senator Eze said all the theories adduced as the reason for the crime, including allegations that the killing was masterminded to cover up the brutalisation the deceased suffered in trying to recover a debt owed them by an indigene of Aluu as well as that the deceased and one other person allegedly at large were conducting cult rites when they were caught, “be thoroughly investigated for a clue to this descent into barbarism.”

    He said the Senate should be worried that the Uniport incident is coming one week after another systematic murder of over 40 persons, majority of them students in another institution of higher learning in Mubi, Adamawa State and less than two weeks after another shooting within the University of Jos.

    He cautioned that the situation could flare up across the country and escalate out of control if not properly diagnosed, treated and curtailed.

    The Senate, he said, should equally be worried by “the cold attitude of leaders of Aluu community who allegedly gave approval for this extra judicial killing after keeping the victims between 5.30 am and the time they were eventually hounded into death in a most gruesome torture known to modernity.”

    Eze agreed with the spokesmen of the Police in Rivers State , Ben Ugwuegbulem, Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ajienka and the Rivers State Government that the community had no right to take the law into its hand or to indulge in self help in dealing with the students.

    He described the arrest of the traditional ruler of Aluu, Alhaji Hassan Walewa and 12 members of the community as a good step but “a little too late in the day given that a police station is allegedly located within a shouting distance of the scene where the killing took place, yet the noise that attended the spectacle did not attract the attention of the police till after the boys had been liquidated.”

     

  • Anger over high fees, multiple tax in oil sector

    Anger over high fees, multiple tax in oil sector

    Stakeholders in the oil, gas and health sectors, especially of users radioactive substances and devices for non-destructive testing are unhappy with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority over what they called the arbitrary increase in fees and multiple taxes.

    In a letter to the President, copies of which were sent to the National Assembly, the NNPC and major oil firms, the stakeholders said the action of the regulatory agency was a way of killing the Federal Government’s oil industry and the local contents drive.

    In fact, they argued that if the new regime is allowed to stand, there would be job losses in a very high dimension as the affected companies would be forced out of business.

    Among those who signed the letter were: Sir Rowland Nze of Oceaneering, Chief Nnamdi Mbelu of Allied Inspection Services Ltd and Chief Ben Ogwu of Benok Consolidated Ltd.

    Others were: Mr Andrew Emeri of Ozma Inspection Services Ltd, Mr Aroyehun Julius of Batek Nigeria Limited, Andrew Benjamin of SGS Inspection Services Ltd, Nick Azamosa of Blueveld Ltd, Clems Eribo of Advanced Inspection Services Ltd, Harrison Iretor of Neat Inspection Services Ltd.

    The rest inculded: Pius Ajabhu of Arco Pipelines Ltd, Frank Nwanodi of Tracespec Global, Funmilayo Joseph of Funtola Nigeria Ltd, Dagogo Aki of Aftrac Ltd and Sam Onyechi of Inspection and Tests Nigeria Ltd (ITL).

    They said: “It is worthy of note that apart from the International Oil Companies and some international oil and gas service companies that use the high-end sources, over 90 per cent of the users of Iridium 192 sources are local companies just emerging into the oil and gas service industry to render the service of nondestructive testing which hitherto has been the exclusive preserve of foreign expatriate companies.”