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Tag: destruction

  • Deaths, destruction as floods ravage states

    From Adamawa to Gombe and other parts of the country, floods are wreaking havoc.

    10 killed, hundreds

    displaced in Adamawa

    Adamawa State Emergency Management Agency ( ADSEMA) said flood had killed 10 persons and displaced scores of others, following the recent heavy rainfall recorded in the state.

    Dr Muhammed Suleiman, the Executive Secretary of the agency, made the disclosure in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Yola.

    Suleiman said hundreds of domestic animals, including cattle, were also lost to the flood.

    He said the deaths recorded were particularly from Yola South, Guyuk,  Lamurde and  Song  Local Government Areas of the state.

    “Flooding is becoming a serious challenge for us in Adamawa and the situation is indeed alarming.

    “We lost 10 people and hundreds of people have been displaced. Domestic animals in large numbers were equally lost to the deadly flood. Also, hectares of farmlands especially in nine local government areas located at the bank of River Benue have been completely submerged,” Suleiman said.

    He said the flood was also posing serious challenge to farming activities in the state, adding that it could be a threat to food security in the state.

    Suleiman said that more than half of the state population was currently under threat of impending flood and urged residents to be on the alert.

     

    Nine killed, 200 houses

    gone in Gombe

     

    Nine people lost their lives while over 200 houses were destroyed and numerous farm lands washed out by flood in Gombe between May and August, an official has said.

    Mrs Lamis Benjamin, Deputy Director, Rescue and Rehabilitation, Gombe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this to newsmen in Gombe on Thursday.

    Benjamin said four out of the nine deaths were recorded in May following a downpour in Gombe town.

    She said the remaining five deaths were recorded in Cham community of Balanga Local Government Area of the state in August also after a downpour.

    The deputy director also said over 200 houses and numerous farm lands were washed away in Nyuwar, Jesu Cham in Balanga and Komta Ayaba in Biliri Local Government Areas.

    According to her, the state government through SEMA acted promptly by providing 1,200 bags of maize as relief material to victims in the two councils.

    “For now, 1,200 bags of 100kg of maize were distributed as relief material to the affected persons. We are now waiting for the National Emergency Management Agency to come with their relief materials,” she said.

    She appealed to wealthy individuals and corporate bodies in the state to assist the needy to ameliorate the plight of the victims.

     

    Thousands homeless in Cross River

     

    Massive flooding has destroyed more than 175 houses, rendered at least 3,000 people homeless in Cross River, according to Mr John Inaku, Director-General of State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA).

    Inaku gave the update on flood situation in the state yesterday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar.

    Inaku, who said that the flood had seriously affected the victims, also told NAN that most of them had since relocated to upper lands for safety.

    He, however, said that no life had been lost in the menace,but disclosed that the flood started in the state in July.

    According to him, most of the victims are living along the water channels while others in swampy areas.

    He said that the agency had embarked on aggressive campaign, to sensitise residents in the state on the need to stop dumping refuse on drainage and building along water channels.

    He explained that the flood had affected residents in Boki, Ogoja, Yala, Calabar Municipality, Calabar South and other local government areas in the state.

    “Cross River has always been affected by flood during the raining season. Currently, we have over 175 houses destroyed and as a result, over 3,000 persons have been displaced.

    “This menace has greatly affected farming activities, especially in Boki, Yala and a few others areas.

    “We are looking at NEMA and other corporate organisations to come in and assist the victims,’’ he said.

    He listed the flooded areas in Calabar to include, Muritala Mohammed Highway, Ebito, Murray, Target and Nelson Mandela, Atu, Yellow Duke, Parliamentary, Efiote roundabout and Mayne Avenue streets.

    He appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the state with relief materials for the victims.

     

    NEMA sends delegations

    to flood-prone states

     

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sent delegations to flood-prone states following the flood alerts issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    The Director of Legal Services, NEMA, Mr. Umar Mohammed, confirmed the development when he led a five-man delegation to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, capital.

    Speaking in a courtesy visit to the state’s Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral John Jonah (retd), Mohammed said they were in the state to interface with relevant stakeholders concerning the impending flood,.

    “NEMA as the coordinating agency on disasters has constituted five teams to visit States that are likely to be affected by flood this year, with a view to assessing their level of preparedness in the event of flood as predicted by NIMET.

    “The essence is to articulate some proactive measures , identify flash-points as well as inspect equipment that could be deployed to tackle flood within the shortest possible time”, Mohammed said.

    Jonah reiterated the need to build flood shelter stations in all the local government areas of the state to accommodate displaced persons.

    He recalled that in 2012, the state government recommended the building of such stations to the Federal Government,  but said no concrete steps had been taken, except the designing of engineering drawings for the project .

    “Every flood-prone area should have a high ground identified and a big hall built to accommodate displaced persons whenever there is flood”, he said.

    The deputy governor also decried the “situation whereby relevant agencies of government do not do anything concrete concerning flood matters until the next flood season”.

    He said instead of the usual fire-brigade approach, proactive measures and early preparations should be made to deal with the perennial issues of flood.

    He said the state government appointed Incident officers  for all the local governments in the state with a responsibility to coordinate flood-related activities in their respective councils.

     

    5,000 hectares rice farms

    destroyed in Kano

     

    The Rice Famers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kano state says the recent flood has destroyed over 5,000 hectares of rice farm in some local government areas of the state.

    The RIFAN state chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday that the rice farms were affected in 10 local government areas of the state.

    Aliyu, who spoke through his Assistant Secretary, Alhaji Ado Yakasai, listed the affected local government areas as: Warawa, Minjibir, Bunkure, Wudil, Gaya, Garko, Gabasawa, Kabo, Rimin Gado and Ajingi.

    He said the disaster, which occurred in August affected most of the rice farms situated in Fadama areas, pointing out that only farms located upland were not hit by the disaster.

    “Each hectare of farm was expected to produce between six and seven tonnes of the commodity but with this disaster, the production will be seriously affected.

    “You know most of the rice farms are situated at Fadama areas which are water settlements. So when the incident happened many farms were submerged by water,” he said.

    Aliyu said the farmers, who collected loan facility under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower Programme, had lost over N5 billion as a result of the flood.

    “Each of the farmers collected fertilizer and other inputs worth N210,000 as the total loan package while some of them have even spent additional amount of money on top of the total loan package.

    “The association has already reported the incident to the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAISL) since the farmers are covered by the insurance company,” he said.

    He noted that the collapse of an earth dam in Bunkure local government area aggravated the situation.

    The chairman, however, called on the Federal and state governments to come to the aid of the affected farmers in view of the huge loss they incurred.

    He disclosed that no fewer than 44,800 rice farmers benefited from the Federal Government’s agricultural loan under the Anchor Borrower Programme this wet season.

     

    Evacuation flood prone areas,

    NEMA advises residents

     

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has urged the Anambra Government to begin immediate evacuation of people living in flood prone areas to emergency centres.

    Mr Vincent Owen, Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting of NEMA, Abuja, made the urgent call when he visited a flood prone area in Enugwu-Otu in Anambra East Local Government Area (LGA) on Thursday.

    “There is nothing to wait for in evacuation of the people living in the flood prone areas in Anambra, the indices seen in 2012 flood has manifested in all the areas NEMA visited.

    “In Ogbaru LGA, all the towns have been washed with flood, in Enugwu-Otu and Nkpundo Otu, the story is not different,” he said.

    The director warned that the forecast of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) that 2018 flood might come in same magnitude of 2012 should not be treated with kid’s glove.

    According to him, the update regarding the flood is so alarming and should not be treated lightly as  all the indices  during the 2012 flood has been seen and the speed at which the river is rising needs proactive actions.

    “The Anambra government should as a matter of urgency begin immediate evacuation of people living in the flood prone areas to the emergency shelter centres in the state,” he said.

    Owen said NEMA under Mr Mustapha Maihaja, the Director-General of NEMA was committed in providing relief materials to all states either in flood or other emergency issues in the country.

    He urged all the 12 states that were in flood prone areas not to play with the forecast and assured them of the agency’s speedy assistance whenever the need arose.

    Owen said the Federal Government had received a message from the Cameroon Government of its intentions to open its dams and asked for proactive measures by the affected states.

    He said if the forecast was not timely adhered to by the 12 states, it would be worse than 2012 flood experience and “NEMA do not pray for it”.

    Owen said NEMA was visiting the states that were flood prone to have a firsthand information on the preparedness of the states in moving the victims to higher grounds and providing decent camps for the affected communities.

    Owen said the volume of water noticed in Ogbaru and Enuwgu Otu was alarming and portended disaster if not proactively managed.

    He said NEMA was in the state to ascertain the level of preparedness of the government in response to the flood warning signals as issued by NIHSA and urged the government not to delay action .

    Mr Cprian Agupugo, Anambra Executive Director of SEMA, said the state government had since embarked on sensitization and enlightenment campaigns on needful actions to be taken by the people.

    Agupugo said the state had made ready 28 emergency shelter centres in the flood prone areas of the state and assured the agency that other necessary materials would be provided.

    “Now that it is evident that the flood is rising, the displaced persons will be evacuated and taken to centers closest to them in no distant time,” he said.

    He said that state government was committed towards safeguarding the lives of its citizens and would run to the NEMA before they exhaust the relief materials in their storage.

    Agupugo commended NEMA for reiterating the warning and reassuring SEMA on its willingness to play its part to ensure that nothing hinders the success of evacuation and safe keeping of the people living in the flood prone areas.

    Mr Sunday Ochie, a native of Enuguw- Out, said that the flood which started around July had increased beyond their expectation this September and had destroyed their farmland.

    Ochie said they were monitoring the rise and was still farming trusting that it was not going to be heavy but it had played out negatively and urged state government to give quick assistance.

    Mrs Grace Oneh, a health worker at the Christ the King Maternity in the community, said that the flood had covered the homes of many people adding that most of the victims had gone upland to stay with their relatives.

    Oneh said she was watching to see if the flood would recede if not, she would leave to upland where centers had been provided by the state government.

    She said that relief material should be distributed on time before it got too rowdy and the distribution should be monitored.

  • Floods of death, destruction

    It was a tragedy foretold. Months before the rains started, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) warned that there would be flooding in most parts of the country and advised those living in flood-prone areas to relocate. Rather than heed the advice, our people as usual pretended that there was nothing to worry about. They went about their businesses with fire literally on their roofs. The Federal and state governments, which should get the people to comply, were also not forceful enough.

    Both tiers of government did not want to offend voters. This has always been our problem. We are fond of giving every issue, no matter how serious it may be, ethnic or religious or political coloration. What is tribal, political or religious about an advice that those living in flood-prone areas should move for their own safety? Why can’t the government get the people to do the needful instead of waiting until the worst has happened? Which is better – prevention or damage control?

    The truth is there is nothing to do damage control about once the harm is done. How do you bring back a person killed by flood? How do you recompense a family who lost all to flood? How do you console an aged landlord whose house and only means of livelihood is swept away by flood in the twilight of his life? How! How!! How!!! The hows are many, but suffice it to say  that we brought whatever we might be experiencing today from the floods caused by last weekend’s downpour across the country upon ourselves. Despite NIMET’s warnings, we were not prepared for the floods.

    I make this submission with heavy heart because the pictures I saw of flooded roads, houses and submerged cars were not something to smile about. They were something to cry about and I wept in my subconscious mind for my country. The floods were brought about because we did not plan in advance. We knew all along that the rainy season was coming, but we did not deem it fit to prepare for the floods which will certainly follow. We have roads without drains and where there are drains, they are blocked by wastes and pet bottles. Many homes are the same; people care less about the condition in which they live; they know little or nothing about hygiene and when you try to tell them, they pick a fight with you.

    Many will not forget in a hurry what happened last weekend in the plush neighbourhoods of Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lekki, Banana Island, Park View, Victoria Garden City and environs in Lagos as well as in the not so rich towns in Niger State, where floods wreaked havoc. Eleven persons died in Suleja near Abuja and other towns in Niger State after a five-hour rainfall. In many of these places, nobody could escape the anger of the floods. Even those living in high-rise buildings were not safe. The floods were as high as these buildings that their inhabitants sought refuge on trees.

    Can we call these floods natural or man made disasters? I will say it was man made to some extent in the sense that we have tampered with the topography of the earth, especially around the coastlines, where new towns are springing up. For sure, society will develop, but such development should not be at the expense of human lives. If we are reclaiming the ocean for societal good as we are doing around the lagoon, what measures are we putting in place to safeguard lives and properties against disasters?

    Most of the plush Lagos neighbourhoods were submerged because there were no plans for arresting floods during disasters like this. And water, we are told, must always find its level. In doing that, it will force its way through whatever lies in its path, be it house, car, wall. Nothing can stop the force of water when it is angry. This is why it is dangerous to build on water channels or block dams, canals or drains because when there is a downpour the damage can be catastrophic. Many families are still counting their losses from last weekend’s downpour. We can still save ourselves from a bigger calamity by taking the necessary precautions.

    The rains have just started. The season is expected to be with us till around October/November. To say that it will not rain again like it did last weekend will be wishful thinking. We owe ourselves the duty of safeguarding our lives. We should not wait for the government to do that for us. Let us clear our surroundings of anything that can bring about flooding, while the government takes up the larger responsibility of cleaning the drains.

    And more important, the government should ensure that reclaimed areas are free of encumbrances that could lead to flooding. Otherwise, what happened in those posh areas last weekend will be child’s play compared to what may happen if such magnitude of rain – 178 millimeters – falls again.

  • Ondo monarch arraigned for ‘ordering’ destruction of school property

    The Ondo State Police Command yesterday arraigned the Olugele of Ugele community in the Akure North Local Government Area, Oba Clement Aladesaye, at an Akure Magistrates’ Court for allegedly ordering the destruction of some property belonging to the Federal College of Agriculture in Akure, the state capital.

    The property was said to be in millions of naira.

    The monarch was arraigned on a six-count charge.

    It was learnt that Oba Aladesaye entered the land to execute a 2012 judgment of the State High Court, which declared him the real owner of the land.

    The college challenged the judgment at the Court of Appeal but the appellate court has not delivered judgement on the matter.

    The charge sheet reads: “You, Clement Ajayi Aladegbaye Falodun and others now at large, between April 3 and June 20, 2017 at 8 a.m at Benin Garage Area of the Federal College of Agriculture in Akure in the Akure Magisterial District, did forcibly enter the land in actual and peaceable possession of Federal College of Agriculture in a wrongful bid to enforcing declaratory judgment in the suit…”

    The accused did not plead guilty or not to the charges.

    His lawyer, Dapo Agbede, averred that the court had no power to hear the case because, according to him, there was a subsisting judgment on the matter at the upper court.

    He said: “The case has been determined by the higher court and there is a perpetual injunction restraining the complainant from going into the land. The higher court has adjudged the man (Aladesaye) as the real owner of the land.”

  • Community laments destruction of property

    In 2009 the Ebonyi State government acquired the land of over 700 hectares. Then it proceeded to destroy the houses and economic trees. At the time, the excuse the government gave was that the people refused to vacate the land.

    They heaved a sigh of relief when the present administration came on board and promised to compensate and resettle them. But the people of Ndieze Inyimegu Unuphu, Izzi-Amegu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state have run out of patience, and are now seeking redress in court.

    According to history, Izzi-Amegu land belong to the state military cantonment even though that the people of their area are claiming that it is their ancestral home.

    In 2009, the then government of Chief Martin Elechi struck a deal with the military who agreed to give the land to the state government. The government after necessary procedure acquired the land.

    After the acquisition, the people of the area refused to vacate the land. The government had to use force and took over the land and immediately commenced developmental projects on some part of the land.

    A lot of houses and other valuable properties were destroyed by the government which led to pockets of protests by the residents which did not produce any results as the then government insisted that it cannot pay compensation to the people.

    Some of the residents vacated the land and relocated to other places. But many refused to leave even as their houses were destroyed. Some of them prepared local houses and remained in the land.

    Last year, governor Dave Umahi  who during his campaign in 2015 promised to compensate the people budgeting  the sum of N120million which  was approved by the state House of Assembly during a plenary.

    But the people, who are running out of patient, took to legal action. The land is where ultra-modern workers secretariat and International Market were constructed by the state government. Some federal agencies were also built in the land called Centenary City.

    Speaking to The Nation, a physically challenged woman Mrs. Maria Nwankwegu who is living under a roof which has been pulled down during demolition of structures in the area by the government, said she refused to leave because that place is her ancestral home.

    She noted that she lost her husband and co-wife over shock when their house was demolished in 2012.

    “I have been living under the demolished roof of my house since 2012 when government came into our land with soldiers and demolished houses. My husband and co-wife died of shock because of the demolition and I don’t have anybody living with me. My three children who were living with me and schooling, have dropped out of school and went to different cities in the country where they are hawking some goods’’, she said.

    Meanwhile, in a suit brought before the federal high court, the community sued the Military, police and the state government for allegedly breaching their fundamental human rights.

    In the suit which was filed by Chief Egbarada Nwanknwegu, Chief Nwibo Nwogbaga, Chief Christopher Nwaifuru, Comrade Sunday Ogbaga, Mrs. Maria Nkwegu and Mrs. Felicia Igwe on behalf of the community, the people   ‘alleged that the respondents violated their fundamental human rights of human dignity, private and family life contrary to sections 34 and 37 of th;e Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).

    The applicants also alleged that the respondents breached their fundamental rights to economic, social and cultural development, general satisfactory environment favourable to their development, and freedom from spoliation, contrary to Articles 17(2), 21, 22 and 24 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights , Cap A9, Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The applicants  further alleged that the respondents unlawfully, forcefully and without lawful authority, entered into their lands with bulldozers and other demolition equipment, destroyed, demolished  and cleared away some of their homes, farms and economic tress in December 2013 and 22nd November, 2016.

    According to the suit which was filed yesterday, the unlawful actions of the respondents rendered the affected applicants homeless, broke their families apart and brought starvation upon the applicants.

    The applicants  however sought injunction restraining the respondents from arresting them, carrying out any further  evacuation, demolition and/or destruction of their homes, buildings, farmlands, economic trees, etc, on the community.

    They also sought N1billion exemplary damages against the respondents.

    Meanwhile, ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the applicants’ counsel, the law firm of Ani and Edema at the  Federal High court sitting in Abakaliki,  the presiding judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered parties to the disputed Abakaliki new capital city otherwise known as centenary city, to maintain status quo in further development of the new city, pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by the indigenous land owners against the violation of their fundamental human rights by the state government and the Nigerian Army.

    Meanwhile, The Nigerian Army has denied selling a land housing the new Abakaliki capital city to Ebonyi state government.

    In a counter affidavit deposed by the army as respondent to a suit instituted by some indigenes and inhabitants of the disputed land, Ndieze Inyimegu village, the army denied previous ownership of the land.

    The state government had rushed to the court room, pleading to be allowed to file it’s counter affidavit out of time.

    The applicants are contending that the Nigerian Army and Ebonyi State government have continued to unlawfully demolish their humble homes and livelihood.

    The matter was adjourned to May 3, 2017 for further hearing.

  • ‘Fed Govt will not tolerate destruction of national monuments’

    ‘Fed Govt will not tolerate destruction of national monuments’

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said the Federal Government will not tolerate the destruction of national monuments anywhere in the country for whatever reason.
    Mohammed gave the assurance when he visited the site of a national monument, the 190-year-old Brazilian style building in Lagos.
    The building, which was acquired and gazetted as a national monument by the Federal Government in 1956, was destroyed by some developers. The Federal Government and the developers have since instituted cases in court over the property.
    ‘’Because they wanted to develop this place, they have broken so many laws. Fortunately, this is a country of laws and we are ready to meet them in court and one thing I can assure you is that nobody can benefit from his own crime.
    ‘’I want to assure you that we will challenge them in court and we are going to get our reliefs and we will restore this building to its former glory. We have the picture, we will rebuild it,’’ he said.
    Alhaji Mohammed said the monument, built by returnee slaves from
    Brazil, is unique because it chronicled the historical, cultural and social relationships between Nigeria and Brazil
    ‘’It is like a living monument of our (slave trade) past. It was a monument that exhibited the Brazilian architecture at that time, which is rare to come by anywhere in the world. It is a remembrance of what our ancestors went through in slavery and how they triumphed, came back and showed that they were well-to-do. The important thing is that a people without history will perish very fast. This building was worth billions of dollars because it symbolised our past.
    ‘’No amount of skyscrapers can replace this history and all important monuments that have been demolished, and I want to assure you that nobody can profit from his crime. You cannot go to court now and say that because the structure has been destroyed, the land should go back to the owner.
    ‘’This is why I have come here with the (Lagos State) Commissioner of Police, who has been quite helpful. I want to assure Nigerians that we are going to pursue whoever has destroyed this place. It may take time, but the hand of the law is long.

  • Ogun warns against reserves destruction

    The Ogun State Commissio-ner for Forestry, Kolawole Lawal, has warned  those destroying its forest reserves to stop or face the music.

    He gave the warning during a visit to sand evacuators at Alakala Communal Zone of Ipake Forest Reserve in Yewa South Local Government Area.

    He warned the sand evacuators to desist from encroaching into the forest reserve, adding that they should keep to the terms of their contract with the government and avoid going beyond the demarcated areas.

    ”We do not intend to victimise or deal with anybody except those found to be economic saboteurs, who through their actions or inactions, deliberately encroach on government reserves to make money; we urge them to immediately desist from such action before government clamps down on them,” he said.

    The Commissioner also cautioned cocoa farmers at Area J4 to desist from destroying the state’s economic trees in the reserves, advising them to replace the ones they have destroyed.

    He explained that the government has been magnanimous enough to allow Taungya farming in its forest reserves, saying that farmers should not abuse the privilege given to them through wanton destruction of economic trees and illegal activities in the reserves.

    Lawal said the government would revamp the depleted reserves.

  • LPG use will save Nigeria trees from destruction

    Nigeria will save millions of trees from destruction if many Nigerians switch over to use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), a report hass said.

    The report titled: “The socio-economic benefits of using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Nigeria and produced by ‘Concerned Liquefied Petroleum Gas Development Association of Nigeria(CLPDGAS)’’, said the Federal Government will  save millions of trees from destruction, once it provides LPG for cooking for its teeming population.

    It said the climatic impact of using millions of trees for cooking would be huge, urging stakeholders to fast-track the use of LPG for domestic and industrial purposes.

    He said deforestation causes exposure to the ozone layer, outbreak of diseases and others.

    The report said: “To save Nigeria from ecological problems caused by cutting down of trees, the Federal Government must try and do something to increase the usage of LPG in the country. When LPG use is increased, the desire to cut trees and use them as firewood would not be there.

    Also, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), Mr. Bassey Essien, said the increase in use of LPG would reduce the menace of tree cutting for cooking.

    He said the use of firewood for cooking was harmful, because it produces smokes, adding that the smoke causes respiratory problems  when inhaled over time.

    According to him, the financial and health implications of using charcoal and firewood for cooking are huge, arguing that the issue has resulted in the death of many people.

    “Based on this, the association is advocating for increase in the use of LPG in the country. We have organised many advocacy programmes in order to sensitize Nigerians on the use of LPG. LPG is a clean energy, friendly to the environment and cheaper when compared to use of kerosene, firewood and charcoal for cooking,” he added.

  • Riot over Fayose’s destruction of Olukere’s billboard

    Riot over Fayose’s destruction of Olukere’s billboard

    The destruction of a billboard bearing the picture of the Olukere of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin, by Governor Ayodele Fayose on Wednesday has sparked a riot in the town.

    The violence, which began at 6pm when Fayose was passing through the town on his way from Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, where he attended the thanksgiving service to mark the electoral victory of Governor Udom Emmanuel, continued yesterday.

    Youths blocked major roads leading to the town, condemning Fayose for “descending too low” and vowed to “spill their blood” to defend the Olukere.

    They destroyed some billboards which had the pictures of the Ogoga of Ikere, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu, who is enjoying the governor’s backing.

    Commuters passing through the town from Akure,  Ita Ogbolu, Iju, Ise, Emure, Ado-Ekiti and other communities were stranded as the irate youths barricaded the highway with logs of wood and other objects.

    Bonfires were lit on the road as the police mobilised  to prevent the mayhem from escalating.

    Businesses were paralysed by the crisis, which sent many residents indoors early.

    The contentious billboard was installed at the town centre by the Olukere’s subjects to mark the celebration of last year’s Olosunta Festival.

    The Olukere is locked in a rivalry battle with the Ogoga who has since been recognised by Fayose as the “only authentic paramount ruler in the community”.

    According to the state‘s website, Ikere-Ekiti has two Obas-the Olukere and the Ogoga-who have existed side-by-side for ages but the government  stopped the Olukere’s stipends in 1989.

    Tension between the two monarchs heightened on January 23 during the inauguration of the Ogoga’s palace when Fayose, who was represented by his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, an indigene of the town, declared that the only traditional ruler recognised by the government is the Ogoga.

    The contentious billboard was installed at Odo-Oja, which is the centre of the town.

    Addressing a briefing in Ado Ekiti yesterday where he displayed the pictures of Fayose and his security aides destroying his billboard, Oba Obasoyin called on the Federal Government to intervene because his life is under threat.

    Obasoyin recalled that he had about three weeks ago drawn attention to an alleged plan by the governor “to set the town on fire”, saying the destruction of his billboards was the fulfillment of Fayose’s earlier threat to him.

    According to him, when he heard of ‘Fayose’s plans’, he informed the two Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), the Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    He promised to do everything possible to calm down his subjects to ensure that peace returns to the troubled community

    The monarch added: “Fayose came to Ikere in the evening in a convoy and parked his car by the roundabout and started tearing my billboard. I can’t go to my palace.

    “I want to appeal to the governor not to burn Ikere. He should not set my town on fire. My life is at stake because if a governor can tear my billboard himself, you can imagine what he would do if he sees me face-to-face.

    “Let the Federal Government take note of what is happening in Ekiti State because I have never seen it anywhere in Nigeria where a governor will tear the billboard of a traditional ruler.

    “I don’t know my offence; maybe it’s a personal grudge against me I don’t know but he (Fayose) should not visit my sin on the people.

    “Ikere belongs to me and not to Ogoga and I will never surrender my authority to anybody, no matter how highly placed and powerful he may be. My people are warriors; they are ready to defend the Olukere throne, which had existed before that of Ogoga.

    “Fayose and Ogoga have forgotten so soon that the land Ogoga is occupying in Ikere and the authority he is using were given to him by my palace, including his crown.

    “Ogoga in history was never a crowned prince anywhere, including Benin, where he claimed to have come from. I made him who he is and he should not push my people to go into war. They should let Ikere be.

    “They wanted to ignite crisis and burn down my town, but I am pleading that they should desist because I am the owner of the land and I won’t allow it to burn.

    “I am a descendant of Oduduwa and one of the founders of Ekiti land; so we are going to resist any attempt by  Ogoga, who is a stranger in my land, to conspire with Fayose to obliterate my stool.”

    Fayose’s Chief Press Secretary Idowu Adelusi has accused Oba Obasoyin of lying against his principal.

    Adelusi said: “The allegations make no sense at all. There are some lies you tell and you win sympathy. But in other cases, you look foolish.

    “To say that the governor destroyed the bill board or sent people to destroy whatever is a lie carried too far.

    “Fayose is not from Ikere. He is not interested in who rules Ikere. How can he nurse animosity against the Olukere?

    “That this administration gave recognition to the Ogoga, Fayose was simply following the law, particularly on the Ikere issue.

    “None of the past administrations recognised the Olukere. Does the Olukere expect the governor to do otherwise and cause crisis in the ancient town?

    “The Olukere was only ventilating his anger when he alleged that the governor destroyed or sent people to destroy his billboards. The allegation is unfounded.”

     

  • Legal issues in destruction of illegal refineries

    SIR: Over the years, the federal government, via her Military Joint Task Force (JTF) has boasted of total clampdown activities on illegal refinery operators and/or oil thieves. It is not uncommon today to read or listen to reports on papers or telecast on how the JTF in Rivers, Bayelsa, etc, states have destroyed several illegal refineries.

    To state that there are laid down laws, rules, and regulations for virtually every activities of Nigerians vis-à-vis the government and vice versa is to state the most obvious. Ranging from the constitution to all other Acts and Laws made pursuant to it, actions and/or inactions criminalized and how to bring perpetrators to justice are clearly stated.

    There are laws regulating the operation of refineries in Nigeria even to the extent that violation of such laws is accordingly sanctioned. The principal enactment on the subject matter is the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (LFN), 2004 which provides in Section 3(1) that “No refinery shall be constructed or operated in Nigeria without a licence granted by the Minister.” Subsection (4) of the same section further provides that “the provisions of this section are additional to the provisions of the Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act.” The Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act, Cap 45, LFN, 2004 on the other hand provides in its section 1 that “subject to the provisions of this Act, no person shall refine any hydrocarbon oils save in a refinery and a license issued under this Act…”

    From these provisions, any place or facility used for the purpose of refining oil but without the requisite license is an illegal refinery.

    To determine whether a refinery is legal or otherwise, it must first be established that the operation is without the lawful licence envisaged by sections 3 and 1 of the Petroleum Act and the Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act respectively. Assuming that this first hurdle is usually crossed in the apprehension of the operators of illegal refineries across the country, the next hurdle is that which is expected by law to be done in the circumstance.

    Section 7(1) and (2) of the Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act provides as follows: “any person who refines hydrocarbon oils in contravention of the provisions of section 1 of this Act shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable – (a) on summary conviction, to a fine of not less than four hundred naira or more than two thousand naira or to imprisonment for a term of two years, or to both; (b) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of an unlimited amount or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both. (2) Any hydrocarbon oils in respect of the refining of which a person is convicted of an offence under this section shall be liable to forfeiture.”

    By the way, the penalty of fine prescribed by section (7) of the Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act leaves so much to be desired and goes to show how archaic our laws can be and how our legislature is hardly interested in updating our laws to meet current realities.

    From section 7 of the Hydrocarbon Oil Refineries Act, one thing is clear, the law expects that any person accused of operating an illegal refinery must go through the process of criminal trial to warrant conviction then, be faced with the legal punishment. It is crystal clear that the law does not envisage setting ablaze illegal refineries upon apprehending the operators.

    Aside the fact that the destruction is done in contravention of the law by the government itself, regard is never hard to the consequences of hydrocarbon fire (as a result of burning the illegal refineries) on the environment as well as human health. Need we be reminded that the environment in question is already subjected to all manner of degradation ranging from gas flaring to oil spillage among others?

    Is the government aware of the dangers of hydrocarbon fire on the environment and human health? When the law enforcement agents are the law breakers themselves, to whom do we run?

     

    • Ekpa F. Okpanachi,

    Anyigba, Kogi State.

  • ‘Unionism is not a platform for destruction’

    ‘Unionism is not a platform for destruction’

    The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has held a press conference to mark the 40th anniversary and 31st convocation of the university. During the event, the union president, Idris Alao, unveiled a maze statue built for the parliamentary arm.

    Addressing reporters, Idris said members of the union had distinguished themselves on platform both within and outside the campus. He said his colleagues had emerged winners of essay contests to make the university proud.

    He said the press conference titled: State of the union would unveil the union programmes in the 2015/2016 session. He said youths had been marginalised in national politics, saying the constraint was supported by legal framework and political parties’ rules.

    The union recommended age reduction in political participation to allow youths play roles in democratic process.

    The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic, Prof Nahimat Ijaiya, who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abdulganiyu Ambali, said gone were the days when Students’ Unions leaders fought and led destructive protest against the authorities.

    She said: “There is now a different unionism, which is gradually changing face of campus politics. There is a breakaway from unnecessary protests and destruction to property.”

    The DVC pointed out that the past leaders of the union showed good sense of leadership, she said contributed to the popularity of the university and made it choice of admission seekers.

    Prof Ijaiya said the peace on the campus had led to the improvement in the academic rating of the school. She urged the students’ leaders to show good example to their colleagues by taking their studies serious and reject urge to engage in unlawful action.

    The Sub-dean, Student Affairs Unit, Dr. A. Yusuf, said the readiness of the students’ leaders to embrace dialogue was evident. He hailed the students’ leadership for its dynamism and forthrightness.

    Others at the press conference included the Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Kunle Akogun, Speaker of the union parliament, Mashood Abdulsalam, and members of the legislative arm.