The Nation Newspaper

Tag: freedom

  • ‘This election’s about freedom’

    ‘This election’s about freedom’

    The vice presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has described the February 14 presidential election as a vote for freedom for Nigerians. “It is a vote for the freedom of the Nigerian people; freedom from want, freedom from poverty, freedom from hunger, freedom from oppression, freedom from sickness and freedom from all the things that have held us down,” he told people  at a Town Hall Meeting in Ketu, Lagos yesterday.

    The Town Hall Meeting was put together by a group, the Friends of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the Abundant Life Parish of the Redeem Christian Church of God, Ketu, lagos, to provide a platform for interaction with the people. Osinbajo, who started his presentation in Yoruba, but switched to English after a few minutes, said when a certain class of people hears APC members shout change, they are usually gripped by fear. He said those who are afraid of change are those who have stolen the nation’s wealth and do not want to see a change in the polity.

    While thanking Nigerians for their patience and perseverance, Osinbajo, who is a pastor and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), reiterated that there are so many reasons why Nigerians must vote for change on February 14 and that the APC has carefully designed its manifesto to tackle most of the anomalies in the country. He added that since the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government at the centre is not ready to initiate programmes that would alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, it should pack its bag and baggage and leave.

    On poverty and unemployment, Osinbajo said the party has worked out plans to create 20,000 jobs in each state in the short and medium term, in collaboration with state governments. He said an APC-controlled Federal Government would also encourage the private sector to assist in the creation of more jobs, through granting of tax holidays to firms that assist in that regard. He did not however on the criteria that must be met by such private sector collaborators to qualify for the tax holiday.

    The vice presidential flag bearer said a General Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, if voted into power, would accelerate the rate of development of roads and infrastructure, to give Nigerians to give Nigerians a sense of belonging. He added that if the resources of the country is well managed, that there is no reason why it would not be enough to do many things.

    On education, Osinbajo said an APC-controlled government at the centre would not only provide free and compulsory primary education to school-age children in Nigeria, but would also provide midday meal for every child in school. He said such free meal programme is already being implemented in Osun state, which is controlled by the APC. “This would help them to learn better,” he added.

    Prof. Osinbajo noted that there is need for proper funding of education at every level. But, added that funding is specifically the bane of tertiary education in the country. “That is why we have frequent strikes,” he said, adding that the APC will give preference to science, engineering and mathematics, through provision of scholarships to deserving students.

    On health, he said under an APC government, every Nigerian should be able to go into a hospital and receive free treatment. This, he said, would be made possible through health insurance. He said if every citizen pays N1,000, the Federal Government would pay the rest, a pool of fund can be created for the insurance scheme, adding that $1 billion can pay for the insurance of every Nigerian in a year.

    He assured the disable, the elderly and the poor that they would be taken care of through a social security scheme that would be put in place under an APC government at the centre. He noted that the above category of Nigerians will be paid a stipend monthly, adding that a similar scheme is already being implemented in Osun State and that it was also implemented during former Governor Kayode Fayemi’s era in Ekiti State.

    In agriculture, Osinbajo said the APC intends to put in place a system that will stabilize the price of agricultural produce in the country, to stop post-harvest losses by experienced by many farmers. He also added that a Buhari-led government would invest in processing plants, to turn primary produce from agriculture into semi-finished products. All these, he said, would encourage people to take to agriculture and thereby it would help to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

    On insecurity, the APC Vice Presidential candidate said the issue of the welfare and equipping the entire security system is key; if Nigeria wants to win the war against insurgency. He said he was shocked when he heard on CNN recently that Nigerian soldiers have to buy their own boots and uniforms. He wondered how the N4 trillion budgeted for defense annually is spent.

  • Discussing freedom

    Discussing freedom

    At the Freedom Park, Lagos, recently some literary eggheads met to discuss in search of freedom and what it constitutes to societies across the world. The issue of what societies do with freedom and their aftermath was the bane of contention. Edozie Udeze writes

    In every situation in all parts of the world when people agitate for freedom, what first comes to their minds is how far-fetched is this dream of obtaining freedom. There is nowhere in the world; whether in Africa or elsewhere where freedom is obtained on a platter of gold. But even then, when this freedom is finally got, what else follows; what do the people do with it to ensure that they consolidate on the gains of this freedom in order to take their society to a greater height?

    These and more were some of the issues that preoccupied the minds of Olayinka Oyegbile, Toni Kan, Derin Ajao, Kola Tunbosun, Femi Odugbemi and others during the just concluded 16th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). In the theme of the discussion which centred on freedom and its aftermath the discussants took a swipe at the works of some authors who have written variously on this theme. In search of freedom, and freedom of what? This was the rhetorical question on the lips the of discussants.

    In introducing the topic, Odugbemi opined that books have helped societies across the globe to view their situations better. From apartheid in South Africa, to the cold war years and the fall of the Berlin walls, it is important to see how some very critical books have emerged on these sensitive issues to help the world grasp the situation in such a way as to guide against reoccurrence.

    Oyegbile’s topic which was unique both in its presentation and subject-matter dwelt on the work of Alaa Al-Aswany, an Egyptian author resident in the United State of America. In his book entitled Chicago, Al-Aswany, an award-winning writer dealt with the crisis of identity for most Arabs who are torn between their own strict moral lifestyle in Egypt and the sort of freedom and loose society that pervades the United State of America. “It is the story of sex, love, freedom and identity”, Oyegbile averred.

    Yet it is the story of some Egyptians sent by the government to the USA on scholarship to return back home to Egypt to help rebuild their society. Most of them now find themselves in a confusing state; being immersed in a country where morality is loose, yet the people are making progress. “They could not understand it; yet God has blessed and will continue to bless America. Back in Egypt, the people are made to live a strict religious life, yet there is strife everywhere; there is war and peace eludes the people. Even the Jews are better placed in the world. Is it because they are friends with America, that things are better for them?” Oyebile intoned, dwelling on the deep psychological impact of the book, both on the Egyptians who are torn between the two worlds and some Americans who keep the company of these Arabs.

    It is intriguing, but mostly, Chicago exposes the trauma of a people who live amidst the deluge of an endless lie; a people who are not, as it were, allowed to be true to themselves, to their beliefs and convictions. “Based essentially on a university campus lifestyle, it chronicles these experiences in a post 20/11 Chicago and also brings to the fore the inevitable role of America as the land of freedom and diverse ideas,” Oyegbile surmised.

    In the second book which he discussed, Oyegbule equally ex-rayed the place of the News magazine and its founding editors in championing the cause of freedom from the clutches of military rule. “It was tough, yet these brave writers rose to the occasion. In devising all sorts of strategies and methods, they were able to rattle the military,” Oyegbile said. This story of the News, is the story of democracy in Nigeria today and it is incomplete to celebrate this dispensation without giving kudos to the likes of Bayo Onanuga, Seyi Kehinde, Kunle Ajibade, Dapo Olorunyomi and others for their sense of commitment and bravery that gave freedom to Nigeria.

    In his own contribution, Toni Kan dwelt on the situation in Jos, Plateau State, at the moment where fear and trepidation rule the hearts of the people. “This is a place where love ruled before; where people from all over the world converged to enjoy the bliss of the society. But today man-made strife, hatred and anarchy have taken over. What we see today is a replica of the Berlin wall. You have to be restricted to your own area in the city if you want to enjoy your life,” Kan revealed, “Jos, may not be the same again in a long time to come,” he lamented.

    There is so much fear in the city of Jos. Kan related this scenario to the early years of the Berlin walls when the two Germanys were so scared of one another. Not even social contacts were made possible. Communism and capitalism were then pools apart. The issues of the beliefs of the people along social lines were the basis for deep mistrust. So then, what do we have in Jos now? Anarchy and fear for tomorrow have taken over the entire enclave. If that is the case, what then is freedom; how does man obtain freedom in order to prosper in the world? These are the salient issues in search of freedom raised and they are issues that indeed trouble the soul of humanity.

    How can man himself work to keep the society trouble-free? Tunbosun who discussed apartheid per se, was not happy that the world did not or could not see the true ironies of this monster until years later. By then, a lot of damage, deep-rooted for that matter, had been established to keep the Blacks perpetually backwards. “And this is what the Black South Africans are suffering today. That trauma of a situation so long perpetuated in their society is still haunting them. As a matter of fact, it will take a long while for them to get out of it,’ Tunbosun argued.

    To him, the white supremacy in the enclave was perpetuated mainly to deny the Blacks of the right to vote. They were also denied the right to go to school and be exposed to the world. This worked for a long time, until people like Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others began to challenge the white rulers of South Africa. And when the centre could not hold anymore, freedom came; came in such a way that the era of trauma cannot be easily forgotten by the people who were at the receiving end.”

    The discussants harped on the need for people to begin on time to stand for their rights. No one has the monopoly of victimization or the withholding of other people’s rights and freedom. Freedom is freely given to every man and therefore every man has the right to be respected. Why would people assume the policeman of the world or even go as far as dictating to other societies on how to order their lives? This was the main thrust of the matter and so where these rights have been knowingly or unknowingly infringed upon, people should rise to fight against it. And once this freedom is won, let there be concerted efforts to make the society better so as to justify the need for this hard won freedom.

  • Discussing freedom

    Discussing freedom

    At the Freedom Park, Lagos, recently some literary eggheads met to discuss in search of freedom and what it constitutes to societies across the world. The issue of what societies do with freedom and their aftermath was the bane of contention. Edozie Udeze writes

    In every situation in all parts of the world when people agitate for freedom, what first comes to their minds is how far-fetched is this dream of obtaining freedom. There is nowhere in the world; whether in Africa or elsewhere where freedom is obtained on a platter of gold. But even then, when this freedom is finally got, what else follows; what do the people do with it to ensure that they consolidate on the gains of this freedom in order to take their society to a greater height?

    These and more were some of the issues that preoccupied the minds of Olayinka Oyegbile, Toni Kan, Derin Ajao, Kola Tunbosun, Femi Odugbemi and others during the just concluded 16th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). In the theme of the discussion which centred on freedom and its aftermath the discussants took a swipe at the works of some authors who have written variously on this theme. In search of freedom, and freedom of what? This was the rhetorical question on the lips the of discussants.

    In introducing the topic, Odugbemi opined that books have helped societies across the globe to view their situations better. From apartheid in South Africa, to the cold war years and the fall of the Berlin walls, it is important to see how some very critical books have emerged on these sensitive issues to help the world grasp the situation in such a way as to guide against reoccurrence.

    Oyegbile’s topic which was unique both in its presentation and subject-matter dwelt on the work of Alaa Al-Aswany, an Egyptian author resident in the United State of America. In his book entitled Chicago, Al-Aswany, an award-winning writer dealt with the crisis of identity for most Arabs who are torn between their own strict moral lifestyle in Egypt and the sort of freedom and loose society that pervades the United State of America. “It is the story of sex, love, freedom and identity”, Oyegbile averred.

    Yet it is the story of some Egyptians sent by the government to the USA on scholarship to return back home to Egypt to help rebuild their society. Most of them now find themselves in a confusing state; being immersed in a country where morality is loose, yet the people are making progress. “They could not understand it; yet God has blessed and will continue to bless America. Back in Egypt, the people are made to live a strict religious life, yet there is strife everywhere; there is war and peace eludes the people. Even the Jews are better placed in the world. Is it because they are friends with America, that things are better for them?” Oyebile intoned, dwelling on the deep psychological impact of the book, both on the Egyptians who are torn between the two worlds and some Americans who keep the company of these Arabs.

    It is intriguing, but mostly, Chicago exposes the trauma of a people who live amidst the deluge of an endless lie; a people who are not, as it were, allowed to be true to themselves, to their beliefs and convictions. “Based essentially on a university campus lifestyle, it chronicles these experiences in a post 20/11 Chicago and also brings to the fore the inevitable role of America as the land of freedom and diverse ideas,” Oyegbile surmised.

    In the second book which he discussed, Oyegbule equally ex-rayed the place of the News magazine and its founding editors in championing the cause of freedom from the clutches of military rule. “It was tough, yet these brave writers rose to the occasion. In devising all sorts of strategies and methods, they were able to rattle the military,” Oyegbile said. This story of the News, is the story of democracy in Nigeria today and it is incomplete to celebrate this dispensation without giving kudos to the likes of Bayo Onanuga, Seyi Kehinde, Kunle Ajibade, Dapo Olorunyomi and others for their sense of commitment and bravery that gave freedom to Nigeria.

    In his own contribution, Toni Kan dwelt on the situation in Jos, Plateau State, at the moment where fear and trepidation rule the hearts of the people. “This is a place where love ruled before; where people from all over the world converged to enjoy the bliss of the society. But today man-made strife, hatred and anarchy have taken over. What we see today is a replica of the Berlin wall. You have to be restricted to your own area in the city if you want to enjoy your life,” Kan revealed, “Jos, may not be the same again in a long time to come,” he lamented.

    There is so much fear in the city of Jos. Kan related this scenario to the early years of the Berlin walls when the two Germanys were so scared of one another. Not even social contacts were made possible. Communism and capitalism were then pools apart. The issues of the beliefs of the people along social lines were the basis for deep mistrust. So then, what do we have in Jos now? Anarchy and fear for tomorrow have taken over the entire enclave. If that is the case, what then is freedom; how does man obtain freedom in order to prosper in the world? These are the salient issues in search of freedom raised and they are issues that indeed trouble the soul of humanity.

    How can man himself work to keep the society trouble-free? Tunbosun who discussed apartheid per se, was not happy that the world did not or could not see the true ironies of this monster until years later. By then, a lot of damage, deep-rooted for that matter, had been established to keep the Blacks perpetually backwards. “And this is what the Black South Africans are suffering today. That trauma of a situation so long perpetuated in their society is still haunting them. As a matter of fact, it will take a long while for them to get out of it,’ Tunbosun argued.

    To him, the white supremacy in the enclave was perpetuated mainly to deny the Blacks of the right to vote. They were also denied the right to go to school and be exposed to the world. This worked for a long time, until people like Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others began to challenge the white rulers of South Africa. And when the centre could not hold anymore, freedom came; came in such a way that the era of trauma cannot be easily forgotten by the people who were at the receiving end.”

    The discussants harped on the need for people to begin on time to stand for their rights. No one has the monopoly of victimization or the withholding of other people’s rights and freedom. Freedom is freely given to every man and therefore every man has the right to be respected. Why would people assume the policeman of the world or even go as far as dictating to other societies on how to order their lives? This was the main thrust of the matter and so where these rights have been knowingly or unknowingly infringed upon, people should rise to fight against it. And once this freedom is won, let there be concerted efforts to make the society better so as to justify the need for this hard won freedom.

  • Discussing freedom

    Discussing freedom

    At the Freedom Park, Lagos, recently some literary eggheads met to discuss In search of freedom and what it constitutes to societies across the world. The issue of what societies do with freedom and their aftermath was the bone of contention. Edozie Udeze writes

    In every situation in all parts of the world when people agitate for freedom, what first comes to their minds is how far-fetched is this dream of obtaining freedom. There is nowhere in the world; whether in Africa or elsewhere where freedom is obtained on a platter of gold. But even then, when this freedom is finally got, what else follows; what do the people do with it to ensure that they consolidate on the gains of this freedom in order to take their society to a greater height?

    These and more were some of the issues that preoccupied the minds of Olayinka Oyegbile, Toni Kan, Derin Ajao, Kola Tunbosun, Femi Odugbemi and others during the just concluded 16th edition of the Lagos Book and Art Festival (LABAF). In the theme of the discussion which centred on freedom and its aftermath the discussants took a swipe at the works of some authors who have written variously on this theme. In search of freedom, and freedom of what? This was the rhetorical question on the lips the of discussants.

    In introducing the topic, Odugbemi opined that books have helped societies across the globe to view their situations better. From apartheid in South Africa, to the cold war years and the fall of the Berlin walls, it is important to see how some very critical books have emerged on these sensitive issues to help the world grasp the situation in such a way as to guide against reoccurrence.

    Oyegbile’s topic which was unique both in its presentation and subject-matter dwelt on the work of Alaa Al-Aswany, an Egyptian author resident in the United States of America. In his book entitled Chicago, Al-Aswany, an award-winning writer dealt with the crisis of identity for most Arabs who are torn between their own strict moral lifestyle in Egypt and the sort of freedom and loose society that pervades the United State of America. “It is the story of sex, love, freedom and identity”, Oyegbile averred.

    Yet it is the story of some Egyptians sent by the government to the USA on scholarship to return back home to Egypt to help rebuild their society. Most of them now find themselves in a confusing state; being immersed in a country where morality is loose, yet the people are making progress. “They could not understand it; yet God has blessed and will continue to bless America. Back in Egypt, the people are made to live a strict religious life, yet there is strife everywhere; there is war and peace eludes the people. Even the Jews are better placed in the world. Is it because they are friends with America, that things are better for them?” Oyebile intoned, dwelling on the deep psychological impact of the book, both on the Egyptians who are torn between the two worlds and some Americans who keep the company of these Arabs.

    It is intriguing, but mostly, Chicago exposes the trauma of a people who live amidst the deluge of an endless lie; a people who are not, as it were, allowed to be true to themselves, to their beliefs and convictions. “Based essentially on a university campus lifestyle, it chronicles these experiences in a post 20/11 Chicago and also brings to the fore the inevitable role of America as the land of freedom and diverse ideas,” Oyegbile surmised.

    In the second book which he discussed, Oyegbule equally ex-rayed the place of the News magazine and its founding editors in championing the cause of freedom from the clutches of military rule. “It was tough, yet these brave writers rose to the occasion. In devising all sorts of strategies and methods, they were able to rattle the military,” Oyegbile said. This story of the News, is the story of democracy in Nigeria today and it is incomplete to celebrate this dispensation without giving kudos to the likes of Bayo Onanuga, Seyi Kehinde, Kunle Ajibade, Dapo Olorunyomi and others for their sense of commitment and bravery that gave freedom to Nigeria.

    In his own contribution, Toni Kan dwelt on the situation in Jos, Plateau State, at the moment where fear and trepidation rule the hearts of the people. “This is a place where love ruled before; where people from all over the world converged to enjoy the bliss of the society. But today man-made strife, hatred and anarchy have taken over. What we see today is a replica of the Berlin wall. You have to be restricted to your own area in the city if you want to enjoy your life,” Kan revealed, “Jos, may not be the same again in a long time to come,” he lamented.

    There is so much fear in the city of Jos. Kan related this scenario to the early years of the Berlin walls when the two Germanys were so scared of one another. Not even social contacts were made possible. Communism and capitalism were then pools apart. The issues of the beliefs of the people along social lines were the basis for deep mistrust. So then, what do we have in Jos now? Anarchy and fear for tomorrow have taken over the entire enclave. If that is the case, what then is freedom; how does man obtain freedom in order to prosper in the world? These are the salient issues in search of freedom raised and they are issues that indeed trouble the soul of humanity.

    How can man himself work to keep the society trouble-free? Tunbosun who discussed apartheid per se, was not happy that the world did not or could not see the true ironies of this monster until years later. By then, a lot of damage, deep-rooted for that matter, had been established to keep the Blacks perpetually backwards. “And this is what the Black South Africans are suffering today. That trauma of a situation so long perpetuated in their society is still haunting them. As a matter of fact, it will take a long while for them to get out of it,’ Tunbosun argued.

    To him, the white supremacy in the enclave was perpetuated mainly to deny the Blacks of the right to vote. They were also denied the right to go to school and be exposed to the world. This worked for a long time, until people like Oliver Tambo, Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and others began to challenge the white rulers of South Africa. And when the centre could not hold anymore, freedom came; came in such a way that the era of trauma cannot be easily forgotten by the people who were at the receiving end.”

    The discussants harped on the need for people to begin on time to stand for their rights. No one has the monopoly of victimization or the withholding of other people’s rights and freedom. Freedom is freely given to every man and therefore every man has the right to be respected. Why would people assume the policeman of the world or even go as far as dictating to other societies on how to order their lives? This was the main thrust of the matter and so where these rights have been knowingly or unknowingly infringed upon, people should rise to fight against it. And once this freedom is won, let there be concerted efforts to make the society better so as to justify the need for this hard won freedom.

  • Falana seeks convicted soldiers’ freedom

    Falana seeks convicted soldiers’ freedom

    Lagos lawyer,  Femi Falana (SAN), has urged the military authority to set aside the death sentence passed on 12 soldiers by a Court Martial.

    His plea was contained in a petition to the Chief of Army Staff,   Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah on behalf of the convicts, pursuant to Section 149(1) of the Armed Forces Act (Cap A20) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

    Falana said the convicts were illegally charged with mutiny under Section 52(1) of the Armed Forces Act.

    He said  the prosecution during the trial failed to  prove that the convicts disobeyed a military act in connection with any operation against the enemy.

    In view of this, he submitted that the judgment of the Court Martial cannot be justified.

    He claimed it was characterised by grave errors of law, which occasioned miscarriage of justice.

    According to him, the soldiers ought not to have been convicted as charged since there was no evidence that they wanted to kill the General Officer Commanding (GOC).

    While praying the military authority to temper justice with mercy by granting the convicts full pardon, Falana stated that the 12 soldiers ought not to have been charged with attempted murder, nor convicted and sentenced to death.

    “We pray the confirming authority to temper justice with mercy by granting the convicts full pardon. Even though they were ill-equipped and ill-motivated they had fought the Boko Haram troops with courage, commitment and loyalty to their country.

    “In the process they had lost many of their colleagues including the 10 whose corpses were brought to the Mailamari Cantonment.

    In considering the extenuating circumstances we are compelled to remind the Confirming Authority that the military high command confirmed the allegations of the soldiers who took part in the protest.

  • Man regains freedom

    A man identified as Mr. Ezebunwa, a native of Ekeakpara community in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of Abia State has reportedly regained his freedom after three days in his abductors’ hands.

    Unconfirmed report has it that Ezebunwa was released on the third day of his abduction after he had paid an undisclosed amount of money to his captors.

    Sources who spoke on anonymity told disclosed that the victim was trailed by gunmen who after rounded him up along New Umuahia drove away with him in his Toyota Camry to an unknown destination from where they opened communication with the victim’s family, demanding for a ransom for his release.

    It was gathered that after the family and the captors had reached agreement and the money delivered at unnamed location, the victim who had since been reunited with his family was dropped along Abayi Ohanze village in Obingwa Local Government Area by the hoodlums.

    Geoffrey Ogbonna, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) could not be reached and was yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile phone.

    However, a senior police officer who preferred anonymity said they were unaware about the ransom and attributed the Ezebunwa’s release to the heat mounted on the captors by police team after the case was officially reported to them.

    “We swung into action after the case was officially reported to us. Police doesn’t involve in negotiations with hoodlums. What I can tell you is that the man was released by those that allegedly kidnapped him when the heat was too much on them. It is our duty to protect lives and property in the state and to also reduce crime to the barest minimum and that we shall continue to do,” the source stated

    The immediate family of the victim could not yet been reached for comments on whether they paid any ransom to the abductors or not.

     

  • Freedom for 94-year-old prisoner

    Freedom for 94-year-old prisoner

    In just six years, Pa Canice Egbunanne would have marked his 100th birthday in prison if he lived that long. Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha’s prerogative of mercy saved the nonagenarian from making such negative history. He walked out of his cell aged 94 accompanied by prison staff.

    Still, Pa Egbunanne remained a newsmaker. His age and grey beard kept tongues wagging. What was offence? Why was he not set free before now?

    How long he served his term was not disclosed, but he and 15 other inmates of the Owerri Prison were pardoned by the governor during his visit to the facility on the anniversary of Nigeria’s Independence Day.

    Frail and bent over, with a distant hollow look that betrays his inner thought, Pa Egbunanne, probably the oldest prisoner in Nigeria, cut the figure of a man that had resigned to fate.

    A prison official who didn’t want his name in print,  said Egbunanne was respected as a father by fellow inmates and prison officials alike.

    Prodded further on the circumstances that brought the nonagenarian to prison, the official declined further information, claiming that it was against the code of the service to disclose ‘certified’ information about inmates.

    Speaking barely above whispers, Egbunanne, who was looked  indifferent to his new found freedom, thanked the state governor and the prison officials for their kindness, adding that he never dreamt of coming out alive.

    Although he was not allowed to disclose the crime that brought him to prison by the prison officials, he said his incarceration has transformed him into a better citizen, assuring that henceforth, he would keep away from trouble and all forms of criminality.

    Meanwhile, the journey to freedom began for Egbunanne and 15 other inmates, including two on death row, with the Independence Day announcement by Governor Okorocha, which granted them instant pardon in line with his prerogative of mercy.

    This was the first time in 10 years that serving prisoners were granted pardon in the state. The governor had acted on the recommendations of the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, which he had earlier set up with the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Chief Chukwuma–Machukwu Umeh (SAN) as chairman.

    Eleven out of the 15 pardoned prisoners were imprisoned for non-capital offences and had almost served out their terms, and have less than six months left to regain freedom.

    Walking out of the prison after perfecting their paper works, two weeks later, the 16 pardoned inmates praised Governor Okorocha for his compassion.

    While signing their Bond of Good Conduct, they expressed joy that they were given an opportunity to re-unite with their families and pledged to be of good conduct in the society.

    Addressing the beneficiaries,  chairman of the Committee on Prerogative of Mercy and Attorney-General of the State, Chief Umeh who was represented by the Secretary of the Committee, Mr. Jude Nwokonkwo said the exercise was to properly document the process of their release and ensure that appropriate records were kept.

    He said the governor’s decision to free the prisoners was borne out of his desire to extend generosity of spirit to them as was recommended by the committee, even as he warned the beneficiaries to stay away from all forms of criminal tendencies as they are integrated back into the society.

    The Attorney-General assured them that the state government had concluded plans to assist in their rehabilitation.

    The Controller, Imo State Prison Command, Mr. Ifeanyi Amaliri said the occasion was to formalise the release of the 16 inmates who were pardoned.

    He commended the Imo State government for its magnanimity, even as he enjoined the freed inmates to refrain from crime.

    Mr Amaliri said: “Always avoid conflict with the law and things that will bring you back into the prison.  Don’t say the prison is full and can’t admit you.”

    One of the beneficiaries, Mr. Austin Chukwuemeka who was serving life imprisonment out of which he had spent 17 years, wrote a book while in prison. The book was entitled Stay Afloat in Righteousness while in Prison.

    He said the news of his pardon came to him as a shock.

    “I was shocked when I was told that I have been pardoned by the governor. It was not my own making, but I am convinced that God saved me from the jaws of death for a greater assignment.

    “My confinement has proved to be a blessing because it has brought me closer to God and I will serve Him all the days of my life.”

    Another beneficiary, Mr. Chinedu Ogbonnaya also serving life imprisonment but had spent 16 years said his vision is to carry out enlightenment campaign to educate youths on the consequences of crime.

    He advocated the teaching of Nigerian Constitution in all institutions of learning to keep the youth abreast of the dangers of crime.

  • Chibok: we didn’t sell our daughters’ freedom

    Chibok: we didn’t sell our daughters’ freedom

    The Chibok community has debunked claims by some Nigerians that the Chibok parents sold the freedom of their daughters to the Federal Government.

    They said their children are priceless and they would continue to advocate their safe return.

    Chibok community spokesperson in Abuja Dauda Iliya said the thought of anyone assuming that is insulting to the parents.

    He also said the community has settled the quarrel they had about money, as those back home now understood there was no money brought back to the village to distribute as earlier insinuated.

    He said the money distributed in the community where some received N5,000 and others N7,000 was from the N1 million given to the villagers as Ramadan gift by a House of Representatives member.

    Iliya spoke yesterday in Abuja, at the usual sit-out of the BringBackOurGirls protesters.

    He said: “We are credible people, we couldn’t have come here even after a 100 days advocating for the girls to be brought back if money was the issue.

    “Sometimes you may see villagers, people that are humble farmers at home and all that and given the security situation and displacement at home, you may say that some people may be swayed by money but some people are firm in the belief that money is a distraction and our core focus is the rescue of these girls.

    “It is simply mischief and blackmail; I don’t know if you are a parent but I am a parent and I know the value of children. Children are priceless, it is insulting to us to insinuate such, there is no price you can pay for a child.”

    He also said “there is no quarrel anymore, the mischief was around the fact of N1 million, which has been debunked completely, the people in Chibok where the entire mischief started also got to understand about the money that was shared to them where some of them got five or seven thousand, which they compared naturally with people that got a 100, 200,000 in Abuja.

    “It became clear when they were told that no money was given to them in the village by the Presidential people.

    ‘’But a member of the House of Representatives gave N1 million at the hotel, which was handed over to the Chibok Local Government chairman.

    ‘’He  took it and shared it his own way, how he came about the five or seven thousand naira is best known to him and those in Chibok’’, he said.

  • Beyond freedom for the Chibok girls

    Beyond freedom for the Chibok girls

    Attacks against the hapless Chibok community didn’t end with the abduction of the over 300 schoolgirls from the dormitory on the night of April 15. Since then Boko Haram has carried out several sorties into areas surrounding the town.

    It would appear, however, that pain and death have taken residence in the town. One recent report states that 11 parents of the kidnapped girls have died since their children went missing.

    Of that number, seven are among the dead from an attack in the nearby village of Kautakari this July. Four more parents are said to have died of heart failure, high blood pressure and other illnesses that the community blames on trauma due to the mass abduction.

    We have the assurance of the authorities that not only do they know where the girls are, but that their freedom is imminent. That should offer a measure of comfort to the grieving families.

    Still you cannot help but wonder what kind of girls would be returning from Boko Haram captivity. What sorts of unspeakable experiences have they been subjected to? Will they ever be able to live normal lives again?

    The world owes it to these girls and their community to ensure that the one day leaders of Boko Haram, their financiers and collaborators pay for their crimes against humanity. Our duty doesn’t end with demanding their release; we should faithfully document the atrocities of this group for the day they would face justice.

  • War against our collective freedom

    When we trace the history of terrorism in Africa, we may recall that it all began when the Al-Qaeda in Maghreb (AQIM) started its activities in Sudan under the directive of the late Osama Bin Laden.

    While Bin Laden held sway, the militants under his tutelage were reported to have masterminded many terrorist attacks in the war-torn country.

    The activities of the terrorists were extended to countries in the Middle East, such as Yemen, which had the criminals bombing parks and hostels. They also planned an assassination against the embattled former Egyptian leader, Hosni Mubarak. With these unabated terrorist activities, it appears Africa is now the safest haven for terrorists to operate.

    In 2004, there was a report of the presence of terrorist group in Nigeria, but the Federal Government dismissed the reports and failed take urgent steps to suppress terror tendencies in the country. In the same year, the former Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mike Okiro, raised an alarm over impending Al-Qaeda attack on Nigeria. Okiro reportedly made the statement at a conference for senior police officers in Obudu, Cross River State.

    This, perhaps, led to the creation of the anti-terrorist squad, which borne out of the mission to safeguard our environment against terrorist attacks, even when the nation had not witnessed one. But the squad was ill-equipped to contain threats and terrorist action against the country. Today, we have full-blown insurgency in northern part of the country, claiming lives in high magnitude.

    Assuming the ex-police boss’ opinion was taken seriously and drastic steps were taken to nip terrorist attack in the bud, we would not have been so much troubled the way we are presently. If the spate of bombing and killings of the people is allowed to continue, the end result may be too disastrous for the nation.

    As the situation calls for great concern, many are still wondering how we got to this stage. How did Boko Haram become our home-grown terror? What is the level of its link with Al-Qaeda? Many Nigerians had thought Al-Qaeda could not have establish its presence in Nigeria but the terror group started its bloody campaign with the heinous Boxing Day bombing in Madalla, near Abuja, leaving scores dead.

    It is instructive to note that the activities of Boko Haram sect increase after the controversial killing of its leader, Mohammed Yusuf, in 2009. The insurgents have good supply of sophisticated arms from AQIM and other sponsors. The terrorists are cashing in on bad leadership, poverty and greed of a few to disrupt peace in the country. Now, this is threatening national unity.

    In 2010, when the sect declared their association with Al-Qaeda, Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, the then commander of AQIM, hinted that the group would provide Boko Haram with weapons to defend Muslims in Nigeria. What other evidence do we need to know that we are in dire straits?

    In 2011, a Thisday ex-columnist, Simeon Kolawole, wrote a piece titled: The Metamorphosis of Boko Haram in which the writer reminded us the genesis of the sect. Kolawole wrote that the sect started its activities by preaching a form of Islam that was not in consonant with teachings of the religion and described their fellow Muslims who didn’t share their belief as infidel.

    The Boko Haram sect members were banished from mosques and they had no option than to set up a small country, where their bloody activism started. They preached about bad government and immorality in high places. Western education to them became a sin, while their other objective was to Islamise Nigeria.

    Many of the fighters have been arrested in some covert operation of the State Security Service, but the sect members seem determined to pursue their skewed belief.

    Abubakar Shekau, leader of the sect, in one of his videos, demanded the release of its members in prison in exchange for the 276 girls abducted from Chibok in Borno State. The government is, however, not disposed to the idea openly, saying it is impracticable and impossible to give in to the sect’s demand. Opinions are divided on whether the government should negotiate the girls’ release or not. Some have said the girls must be brought back home alive, whichever way government wants to use to secure their release.

    But it appears majority are disposed to negotiation; we may likely agree that government should exchange the girls for Boko Haram fighters in prison, even as the consequences of such undertaking are yet to be known. There is a tendency that after this, Boko Haram may kidnap another set of people and also demand for exchange, maybe, this time, islamisation of Nigeria. Then, the same set of people putting pressures on the government will have their heads bent in shame. We cannot win the fight against terrorism in a day, but we can win the fight by the collective will and effort of all.

    Although, government has failed in the past to deal with the issue, but the frequency of killings in the country has given it a nudge to change tactics and act pro-actively. We must know that terror activities are against our collective existence. Therefore, there is need to join hands with the government’s effort in dislodging the sect out of Nigeria. We must be ready to complement the efforts of our armed forces and international forces to rescue us from the bloody campaign of the terrorist. We have no other country apart from this one.

    Mark, a final year student of Business Education, YABATECH