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Tag: Ikpeazu

  • Ikpeazu seeks spiritual intervention to tackle violence

    Ikpeazu seeks spiritual intervention to tackle violence

    •Babcock University graduates 1,616

    Abia06 State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has urged Nigerians to ponder on the crises plaguing the nation and look heavenward for solutions.

    He spoke while delivering the keynote address at Babcock University’s 14th undergraduate and fifth postgraduate convocation yesterday.

    Ikpeazu said: “Nigeria is looking for solutions to various problems: insurgency, Fulani herdsmen, among others. We must ponder on what time we are in history and look heavenward for solution.”

    He urged the graduands to be apostles of the ministry, who will provide those solutions, while the rest of the world follows their lead.

    “The apostles of these solutions are graduands of Babcock University. Therefore, the world is looking upon you to show us the way so that the rest of us will follow… Depend totally on God and be yourselves. Be the change agents of the world, rather than allow the world change you. Every effort you make without looking first upon God will come to naught.”

    Delivering the commencement address, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Mr. Aigboje Imoukhuede told the graduands to exploit every opportunity and shun phobia of starting up their own business.

    He noted that the Africa Initiative of Governors (AIG), an NGO he founded, has signed a bill, over the weekend, to grant scholarships to Nigerian and Ghanaian students to have their masters in public policy at Oxford University, United Kingdom (UK).

    The former Access bank boss said: “The AIG was founded to teach governors how to improve governance and transform the public sector. The initiative was just signed by Kofi Annan last Friday. But all the recipients must commit to come back to Nigeria to practice for at least five years.”

    The university graduated 1,616 undergraduates and 220 postgraduate students.

    Among them, 66 made first class honours, of which Comfort Inyang of the Department of Computer Science emerged overall best with cumulative grade point average of 4.96.

    The university’s vice chancellor, Prof Ademola Tayo, in his advice to the graduands, said: “You have been trained to solve real world problems… That makes you entrepreneurial job-ready graduates. You must continue to function to lead and influence the thinking on best strategy to align infrastructure, education and skills to growth and productivity. As you move into the world, the new challenges and opportunities that come your way would demand fresh thinking and a different way of working to make positive impact.”

  • We’ve done well in one year, says Ikpeazu

    We’ve done well in one year, says Ikpeazu

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has said the state has experienced development and progress in the last one year of his administration.

    The fourth democratically elected governor of the state said his administration went to work immediately he took the oath of office.

    He said the government has been implementing a robust blueprint for the state’s development since last year.

    Ikpeazu said a modern state like Abia required a lot of knowledge to govern, adding that it required detailed planning and methodical execution.

    The governor said his administration had not deviated from its development plans for the state.

    His message was contained in yesterday’s broadcast to the residents on Democracy Day celebration.

    Ikpeazu recalled that when he assumed office, he laid out a Five-Point Agenda, which the government would use as its compass for development.

    He said: “We knew it would pave the way for the rapid development of our state.

    “This is in line with our vision of making Abia State the premier destination for investors, tourists and visitors in East of Nigeria. The five pillars we identified are: Agriculture, Oil and Gas, Commerce, Industry and Education.

    “In the area of agriculture, we are sanitising the

    fertiliser distribution programme of this government and we have directed the Agriculture Commissioner to ensure that the land acquired by previous governments for agriculture is utilised.

    “Efforts are being made to cultivate massively high-yield and disease-free resistant species of various crops, especially those in which we have comparative advantage.

    “I, therefore, call on farmers to form cooperative unions as no single farmer can get all the requisite equipment and funding required for comprehensive value chain development as the funds we are accessing can only be given to cooperative unions and not individual farmers.

    “In the area of education, the state has been doing very well as the last west African Examinations Council (WAEC) results recently released showed that we had the highest number distinctions, while Abia State University’s Law graduates have continued to achieve first-class results at the Law schools.

    “We have renovated five schools in the state and installed boreholes in six others for enhanced social conditions as well as ensure that students and pupils do not suffer to get portable water.

    “On employment, 7,000 youths have been gainfully employed through the Transport and Indiscipline Management Agency of Abia State (TIMASS), including Utility Maintenance Agency, while resuscitated moribund industries have been employing as well.

    On security, we have been able to procure over 30 vehicles for various security agencies in the state and also set up Security Trust Fund through which we intend to partner with the private sector to fund the purchase of security equipments.”

     

  • Ikpeazu: A workman and his tools

    Ikpeazu: A workman and his tools

    How time flies! One year is gone, just like yesterday! It is a time of stock-taking and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State is stepping out to the village square, his scorecard in his hands, to show himself an approved workman that needs not be ashamed.  He has, with every zeal and energy, taken the tide at the flood and it is today clear where the Abia journey is headed.  If you take the tide at the flood, as Shakespeare reasoned over 500 years ago, the journey “leads to fortune”.  But if omitted, “the voyage is bound in shallows and in miseries”.

    Indeed, Ikpeazu has taken the tide at the flood! In just one year, he has laid solid foundations for a new political culture in Abia State. He has given political power a new meaning as a call to service. This new value re-orientation is permeating every facet of public service in Abia State today.  The personality of the leader in power is robbing off on the way and manner government business is conducted and the result is that, in just one year, Ikpeazu is brandishing a scorecard of excellent performance. He is flaunting 65 road construction works, out of which 27 have been dully commissioned. This is in addition to having executed a massive desilting of drainages, gutters and storm water ways in Aba.

    He raised the bar in quality and innovation in road construction by introducing rigid pavement technology also known as cement technology into the lexicon of road construction in Abia. Though the cost of this technology is higher than the conventional construction methods, the governor decided to experiment on it as a measure to strengthen the load bearing capacity of some roads in Abia and boost the strength and quality of the finished work. This is because roads constructed with this technology has a sustainability guarantee of 10 to 20 years.

    The city of Aba has also been a major focus of the Ikpeazu administration in the last one year. This has involved a total repositioning that encompassed infrastructural renewal, trade and investment, rebranding and capacity building.  To achieve this, he created the Aba Urban Renewal Authority and the body has been the anchor unit for the drive towards the infrastructural renewal of the city. The body  has  worked to restore order and sanity in building of shops, kiosks, office and residential buildings. The body also drove the new programme towards the park reform and general rehabilitation work of Aba.

    This broad approach in dealing with the issues of Aba has given birth to many tactical actions directed towards developing the latent ingenuity and creativity for which Aba is celebrated.  It has led to a renewed attention to the artisans of Aba and a review of the future of the fabled Aba Made Goods. It has led to a general sanitation of the city, including the open markets, leading to war against street trading and illegal structures.

    The Ikpeazu administration has also paid attention to the agric sector. Early in the administration, the government entered into partnership with the Songhai Farms in Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin,   for the training of 40 youths annually on a train-the-trainer initiative in the entire agricultural value-chain. The state later launched ‘The Return to Farming and Women in Fish Farming Initiative’, which is aimed at empowering the youths and women by setting up  farming cooperatives which will help drive key government policy as regards agriculture.  The government, through the initiative, would make land, finance and training accessible for farmers.  The government followed this up by sourcing N1 billion Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) loan for agricultural revolution. The entire vision is to explore the agric-economy as a support base for the state economy.

    There has been a concerted effort towards revitalisation of moribund industries. This effort has taken the centre stage in the activities of the governor. He started by embarking on an inspection tour of Golden Guinea Breweries Industry in Umuahia to extract a commitment and an assurance from the investor that the company will come upstream this month of May. Government and the investors are collaborating to achieve this time goal.  The governor later repeated the same performance at the International Glass Industries, Aba, when he personally visited the site for on the spot assessment of the progress of work by the new managers who are working to revamp the moribund industry. Today, the Aba industry has about 400 staff in their employ and has commenced partial manufacturing of bottles for pharmaceutical companies.

    In the last one year, the government has also paid attention to rural infrastructural development. One of the strategies adopted in this regard is the establishment of the Abia State Rural Infrastructure Development Initiative (ASTRIDE). This initiative is aimed at providing at least one project in each of the 184 INEC Wards in the 17 local councils and the idea is close the gap of infrastructural development in the rural areas. Many rural roads are being opened up for easy access to the city.  The governor has initiated efforts to link Aba to the sea through the development of the Obuaku City Port. This will give a great boost to Aba as the commercial hub of the South-East.

    With the establishment of the Abia State Markets Development Committee, the governor has conducted a successful review of the status of the markets. Through the Integrated Payroll Verification System (IPVS), he conducted several staff auditing exercise to ascertain the actual strength of the workforce. The state has also recorded huge success in the area of government public finance restructuring. Through this effort, it has harmonised taxes and levies, waged war against double taxation, eradicated touts and illegal agents in the revenue drive and blocked all leakages and drain pipes through which government finances were being siphoned.

    What strategy has he adopted to ensure security in Abia in the last one year? Sorry. I may not tell you about strategy when it comes to security. But, I can boldly inform you that Ikpeazu has contained the excesses of the underworld men of every category to the extent that Abia has become too hot for the deviant society. Indeed, the workman is ready to give account of himself.

    -Adindu is the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.

  • Ikpeazu, Orji task children on education, commitment

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has challenged children to study hard and equip themselves and prepare properly to take hold of the future as leaders of the next generation.

    The Abia governor in his message to children advised Abia children to shun all forms of vices and negative influences and focus their energy towards becoming great ambassadors of the state and illustrious sons and daughters of their community.

    Ikpeazu warned that parents and the educational institutions that mentor children will be failing in their responsibility if they do not focus attention on developing children that will have the capacity to right the wrongs of the past and change the world.

    In a related development, the immediate past governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, has reaffirmed his commitment towards the wellbeing of the Nigerian children and also pledged to continue to invest in their future.

    Orji’s pledge was contained in a press statement to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration, signed by his Media Adviser, Mr. Don Norman Obinna, and made available to newsmen in Umuahia.

    Orji who is the senator representing Abia Central said, “As future leaders whose shoulders lay the greatness of our country Nigeria, we shall not relent but strive to initiate actions that will benefit and promote children’s welfare, mutual exchange and understanding and the way we can achieve these is by exposing the children to modern education.

    A nation reproduces its species by investing in the future of her children through education and the only way I know that a child can become a human being is through socialization and socialization in this contemporary age is done through the exposure of the child to the modern educational system.”

    He maintained that education is the pivot with which development activities revolve and enjoined parents not to encourage hawking among their underage children but to endeavor to send them to school as that remains the best legacy they will give to them.

    He urged both federal and state governments to ensure the proper implementation of the 6-3-3-4 educational system which provides students in senior secondary class opportunity for vocational studies.

    Orji said by ensuring the full implementation of the system, it will help to reduce the alarming rate of unemployment in Nigeria as students will graduate to become employers of labour rather than remain unemployed after graduation.

    The former Abia governor said his concern for the future leaders of the country made him to introduce a scholarship scheme that will produce 240 graduates as well as empowerment programmes.

    He added that the programme has seen the donation of various vocational items to thousands of young people and school leavers in his constituency, Abia Central Senatorial District, in his 365 days in the Red Chambers of the National Assembly.

  • Traders to Ikpeazu: we won’t relocate

    Traders at the Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State have rejected the order directing them to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall.

    They also accused the State Market Development Committee of planning to take over their shops.

    Speaking with journalists in Aba, Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, NANTS, Deacon Michael Aniorji, accused the state government of planning to sack traders from the market under the guise of rebuilding it, adding that the distortion of the original plan of the market was done by government officials and its agencies who allegedly encouraged erection of shops on drainage channels.

    The traders’ union said they support the demolition of structures built on drainages and walkways, but are against the plan to relocate them to the Aba Mega Mall which they described as a private facility.

    Aniorji said, “We are 100 per cent against the planned reconstruction and demolition of already existing structures not built on drainages. They now want us to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall; this is a ploy to rob us of our shops. No trader is relocating. Why can’t the government partner with us in the development of the market? Are not willing and able to provide the needed funds for the development of the market? Ariaria International market is enjoying international status only by the sweat of the traders who has made it what it is today. These shops are our only investments. It is from these shops that we pay our rent, train our children; it will be inhuman to take it away from us.

    “We therefore call on the Abia State government to resist the temptation from selfish politicians and gold-digging businessmen to lure it into demolition and reconstruction of shops in Ariaria market.”

    He called on the government to rather focus its attention in reconstruct roads in the market such as Ukwu Mango and Faulks Road, to check flooding.

     

  • Ikpeazu: I ‘m on rescue mission in Abia

    Ikpeazu: I ‘m on rescue mission in Abia

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has a mission. On May 29, last year, he unfolded what he described as a transformation agenda. Eleven months after, has he fulfilled his promises to the people? EMMANUEL OLADESU examines the challenges of governing a “poor” state by a technocrat-turned politician.

    When Okezie Ikpeazu, former university don and Chairman of the Abia State waste Management Board, succeeded former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji last year, there were a lot of expectations. He inherited a lean purse. Besides, his victory was being disputed by Dr. Alex Otti, the former All progressives Grand Congress (APGA) governorship candidate. Despite the distraction, he managed to stay focused as he begun to implement his developmental programmes.

    According to critics, Dr. Ikpeazu put more efforts to develop Abia to curry the favour of the people during the court battle. The litigation was his baptism of fire. Reality dawned on that he did not get to power on a platter of gold.

    On his first day in office, he unfolded seven road projects in Aba, the commercial nerve centre that appeared to have been neglected by previous administration. The state generate enormous income from the two major markets in the state. For the first time in a decade, the traders started to have faith in governance.

    The governor’s vision, which is to create a private sector-driven economy, in the next 10 years, if also coming into fruition. This, he explained, should be characterised by the ease of doing business and the security of life and property. Ikpeazu said the vision would be achieved by direct invest flow, especially in the areas of agriculture, industrialisation, commerce, education, oil and gas.

    In Abia, infrastructure development, is a priority. The state has become a huge construction site. There is an emphasis on road projects across the state, thereby galvanising the state to becoming economically viable. Today, there are 47 roads projects, apart from the three roads that were commissioned during Ikpeazu’s first 100 days in office.

    The governor may have introduced a novelty in road construction through the use of cement technology, otherwise known as rigid pavement technology in road construction. The technology entails casting the road with concrete over a mass of iron before asphalting it. It is an innovative engineering technique aimed at extending the durability of the roads. Ikpeazu also said that the method is cost-effective.

    The state has completed the construction of a new bridge at Okonu Afia, Ohafia. It realigned the bridge at Umunneochie. The solar light is being erected on both sides of the bridges. Abia is also committed to the programme tagged ‘zero tolerance to potholes.’ Old roads are periodically asphalted and resurfaced in Umuahia, the state capital, and Aba. Some of the roads that have been completely resurfaced are St Micheals Road, Park Road, Kent, Ube and others in Aba.

    The state has also established trade centres for the revival of old professions. The supervisors Mexicans and Philipinos. The goal is to teach Abia children the rudiments of the old craft works, including carpentry, masonry, house wring and others so that the state can produce its household items, instead of the recourse to importation.

    Ikpeazu said: “To teach such handiwork as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, tiling etc is to help the artisans add some professionalism and education to their trade and we expect that the trade centres will create jobs and empower people with skills.”

    During his 51st birthday, the governor launched a project, ‘Friends of Abia Schools Adoption Initiative (FASAI)’ The purpose is to mobilise funds from well-meaning Abians to renovate the worst primary schools in the 17 local government areas.

    Ikpeazu urged his friends to give a facelift to dilapidated primary schools to turn around their fortunes and give the pupils a conducive learning environment and a sense of belonging.

    Plans are also underway to launch the Abia Industrial Clusters project. The governor said Aba is the starting point. Efforts are being made to to procure the appropriate equipment that can match the standard of technological development needed for the clusters.

    The aim is to mechanise and automate the process of leather-making and other artisanship works since Abia is a leading state for technological innovation in Nigeria. The Aba Industrial Cluster would involve 40,000 shoemakers, who are capable of producing 1000 shoes daily.

    In the area of skill acquisition, government has resuscitated three moribund technical schools to run the skills acquisition programme. Already, construction work has started at the permanent site of the Abia Polytechnic, Osisioma. The government is revitalising 52 water schemes in the state . Ikpeazu also promised to instal streetlights along roads in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia.

    It is good news that the Golden Guinea Breweries PLC is being revatalised. This is on keeping with the governor’s promise to make it an income-yielding venture, thereby boosting the internally generated revenue.

    Ikpeazu has given adequate support for the development of the Mational Directorate of Employment (NDE) ICT Skill Acquisition Centre, Osieke. The centre has commenced the training of youths. The governor has promised to pay N25,000 monthly stipends to the first 125 intakes.

    Under the Universal Basic Education (UBE)scheme, the Abia State Government has launched a pilot project to feed 30,000 primary school pupils three times a week in 10 local council areas. The pupils are to be fed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

    Taking a cue from the LASTMA initiative in Lagos, no fewer than 200 formerly unemployed youths are working with the Abia State Traffic Management Agency. There is also the Public Infrastructure Management Agency, which was set up is to make sure that those who abuse government infrastructure, remove solar lights, and steal the armoured cables are checkmated. This will also prevent the abandoned project syndrome.

    One of the major achievements of the governor is the restoration of security. Crime reduction is necessary for the safety of life and protection of investment. Ikpeazu said kidnapping has reduced in Abia State.

    Another success recorded was the performance statistics of candidates for the 2015 May/June West African School Certificate Examinations (WAEC). The Southeeast emerging top in the performance chart of candidates, who obtained credits in at least five subjects, including the English Language and Mathematics. Abia State topped the chart with 33,762 of its 52, 801 candidates getting five credits and above, thereby scoring 63.94 per cent.

     

  • Ikpeazu urges ABSU grad to look beyond certificates

    The Abia State Governor and visitor to Abia State University at Uturu, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has tasked graduates of the university to look beyond their certificates and be resourceful to be relevant in society.

    Ikpeazu gave the charge while speaking at the 24th convocation of the institution held at the university convocation pavilion.

    The Governor said the said the era of paper certificate had ended, arguing that the present times require that graduates look for avenues to become self reliant instead of depending on the government for jobs which no longer exist.

    He promised to do his best to meet the needs of the institution, announcing that he would donate a 40-seater bus and generator.

    Ikpeazu said he would donate the generator to illuminate the campus at night, encourage students to live on campus and discourage cultism.

    He warned that he would publicise the names of cult members in all institutions in the state.

    In his speech, the Vice Chancellor [VC], Prof Uche Ikonne, announced that the school had gained full accreditation for Science Laboratory Technology and Computer Science.

    Ikonne said a total of 3,561 graduands received first and higher degrees.  Of the 2,956 undergraduate degrees, he said two had First Class; while the remaining 603 received post graduate degrees.

    Four Abians received honorary awards at the event.

    Highlighting some of his achievements, Ikonne said his administration had recorded some gains fighting cultism.  He noted that the school management and security agencies were investigating a cult-related incident that happened near the institutions few weeks ago, adding that some arrests had been made. He also mentioned that proprietors of private students’ hostel and traditional rulers met with the school over measures to check security their hostels.

    As part of the convocation activities, the vice chancellor said there was a security and anti-cult awareness programme for students.

    Ikonne added that the school management has resolved that all cadres of workers and students of the school should swear affidavits that they do not belong to any cult group.

    The VC also said that a special security office has been set up to be manned by the Commandant of the Man’O’war where complaints of intimidation or any form of threat will be reported and investigated.

    Regarding academic activities, the VC said that grants by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) are being used to strengthen research activities in the institution.  Already, he said the university has 13 research topics approved for by the National Universities Commission (NUC), while it has submitted eight research topic to TETFund for higher national research activities.

  • APGA urges Ikpeazu to tackle insecurity

    APGA urges Ikpeazu to tackle insecurity

    The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia State has urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to tackle rising insecurity in the state.

    In a statement by its Chairman, Rev. Augustine Ehiemere, APGA said it was imperative for the Ikpeazu administration to come up with a well thought-out strategy to tackle the menace and keep the state from “sliding back to the dark days when insecurity caused by armed robbery and kidnapping crippled economic activities and sent large population of the city packing.”

    The statement added, “The party regrets that presently, the increasing insecurity in the state is taking a toll on business activities as fear of armed robbers and kidnappers is greatly affecting socio-economic activities of the people greatly, especially Aba residents and visitors to the city.

    “We are urging Ikpeazu not to treat this call with levity, but to insist that security agencies in the state are alive to their responsibilities of crime fighting and ensuring that business and economic activities thrive in the state.”

    Ehiemere also used drew the attention of the governor on the deplorable nature of roads in Aba and other parts of the state, stressing that the roads when put in good shape will help to attract more business investors to the state and enable road users in the state to have easy access in and out Aba.

    APGA also condemned the recent alleged report by the DSS, which claimed that bodies of dead Fulani herdsmen allegedly killed by members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) were discovered in a bush between Abia and Imo State.

    “The party is shocked at the attempt by the DSS to link IPOB with the alleged murder of five herdsmen in Abia and wish to say that the pattern and ethnic connotation given to the sad incident even when there were no genuine evidence to prove that the perpetrators are IPOB members was highly unprofessional and inciting against the state and Ndigbo.”

    The party equally advised the DSS and operatives of other security agencies to properly verify their facts and its consequences before letting them  out to the public.

  • Traders to Ikpeazu: get rid of extortioners, stop relocation plan

    The leadership of National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANTS) at Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State has cried out over what they called harassments and threats of their members by persons posing as agents of the state government.

    The traders urged Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to get rid of the people who repeatedly extort them.

    NANTS officers also urged the governor to shelve the government’s plan to relocate traders to a new site.

    In a two-page letter addressed to Ikpeazu captioned “Plea for your urgent intervention in respect of indiscriminate harassment of traders and threat to demolish shops at Ariaria International Market, Aba” the traders alleged that some people who pose as agents of government under various names have been coming to the market to extort money, sometimes claiming they were sent by the governor.

    A part of the letter signed by Chairman Michael Aniorji and Secretary Ben Amaechi, read in part, “We write to bring to the attention of Your Excellency the atrocities going on at Ariaria International Market, Aba with particular reference to the daily indiscriminate harassment of traders at the market by touts and other people posing as agents of government. Some of them claim to come from office of the Governor, while others claim to come from office of the Deputy Governor. They go by different names such as Abia State Market Development Committee, Abia Urban Renewal, Task Force or simply People from Governor’s Office. These people extort money from the traders and threaten to demolish shops if they are not ‘settled’. Right now, many shops in Ariaria International Market have been marked for demolition even when these shops are clearly located within the approved areas.

    “Traders in Ariaria International Market are now confused and do not know who to listen to or who to obey as these people with conflicting demands are claiming to be working for the Abia State Government. As a result of the activities of these enemies of the state coupled with the continued flooding of the market, most traders no longer pay their rents and storage fees.”

    “Many are now relocating to Akwa Ibom and other neighbouring states in groups. If this development is not checked now, Ariaria International Market, Aba will soon become a place for few traders… these facts can be verified so that if Your Excellency so desires, he can set up an Independent Investigation Panel to determine the truth or otherwise of our allegations.”

    The market union reiterated its support for the state government.

    They also commended the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads in Aba by the state government even as they pleaded that such government gestures should be extended to roads leading traders and investors to the Ariaria International Market which are in deplorable state especially, Ukwu Mango, Umule, Faulks road amongst others.

    In a related development, shop owners at Park I, II, A-line Zone, C-line lockup zone, respectively in Ariaria International Market has urged the state governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu to consider rescinding its action of relocating them from their present location.

    The state government through a radio announcement had directed dealers on Mobile Phone and its accessories, Electronic dealers at Pound road, Hospital road and amongst to relocate to the Aba Mega Mall, Osisioma.

    But the traders said they feared that the decision of the state to relocate them to the Aba Mega Mall would displace over 2000 traders from their legal means of livelihood.

    According to one of the traders who simply gave his name as Goodluck, majority of the traders were allocated their shops by the past government when the place was still a shanty which they used their money raise them to block shops.

    “Should we at this time be uprooted from our investments and livelihood and thrown unto untold hardship of relocating to a private landlord’s property where we are not even sure of our future, it is not going to be in the interest of the traders. We are not civil servants that depend on their pension to survive. This is our pension. Most of us have spent over 40 years here and government should see reasons why it should rescind its decision because of the negative effect it will have on our businesses.”

  • Ikpeazu, Okorocha and DSS

    When the Department of Security Services DSS recently announced its investigations claiming that members affiliated with Indigenous Peoples of Biafra IPOB, abducted, murdered and buried five Fulani men in a shallow grave in Abia State, many discerning Nigerians must for good reasons, have been frightened. The shock is not only borne out of the dastardly nature of the alleged criminality but the frightening prospects of the incident ruffling the fragile peace that currently pervades the nation’s landscape.

    DSS spokesman, Tony Opuiyo, said the five men who resided in the Isuikwuato LGA of Abia State were discovered in the Umuanyi forest where they were suspected to have been killed and buried, amidst 50 other shallow graves of unidentified persons. He further alleged that the IPOB was gradually showing its real colours.

    But the IPOB vehemently denied the allegation by the DSS describing it as “fabricated lies”. The group said it was unfortunate to link a non-violent body with the alleged abduction murder and burying of five Fulani men. IPOB further alleged that the accusation was meant to instigate northerners whom they do not have any problem with against them so that there will be reprisal killing of their people in the north for no justifiable reason.

    Since then, the matter has remained at the realm of claims and counter claims as no further evidence has been adduced by the DSS to show how it arrived at the conclusion that IPOB was responsible for that murderous act.

    But a new dimension came into the controversy last week when the governors of Abia and Imo states- Okezie Ikpeazu and Rochas Okorocha addressed the press. In that media briefing after a joint security council meeting of the two states, the governors while condemning the killing of the five Fulani men in a border forest of the two states, said it was an act of kidnapping by criminals which has been rife in the states.

    More specifically, Okorocha said the killing was an act of kidnapping and had nothing to do with ethnicity. The governor said “information reaching us reveal that it is not just five Fulani men as there were two corpses believed to be Igbo from the area, so it is not just a direct attack on any ethnic group”. The governors also disclosed the arrest of the culprits who have been giving useful information with a promise that they will be made to face the full weight of the law.

    With the intervention of the two governors, it is now obvious who between the DSS and the IPOB, is telling the truth in respect of the motive behind the killing of the Fulani men. It would also seem that speculations on who is responsible for the killings have been laid to rest especially given the arrest of the suspected masterminds of the devious act.

    The intervention of the two governors, as commendable and timely as it was, has brought to the fore the conduct of the DSS in the matter. Here is a responsible security organ of the government that went to town to announce that members affiliated with IPOB abducted , murdered and buried five Fulani men in a shallow grave. And given the high regard the public has for that security arm of the government, many must have believed that the DSS must have had their facts right since they claimed the disclosure was a product of their investigations.

    But we have now been made to know after a joint security council meeting of the two states that the five men as reprehensible as their killings were, fell victim to the rampant kidnapping in the two states. What is more, two other bodies believed to be Igbo from the area were among the victims of the murderous activities of the kidnappers.

    How the DSS came to the conclusion that the five Fulani men were killed by the IPOB remains largely curious. Why it also chose to ignore the fact that there were two other bodies suspected to be Igbo victims of the murder at that site littered with 50 other shallow graves puts serious doubt on the purpose the information dished out by DSS was meant to serve.

    And given the sensitivity of such information and its frightening prospects to further compound the fragile security situation in the country, it remains a puzzle why the DSS rushed to town with information now faulted by the joint security council meeting of the two states. It is noteworthy that such joint meetings have among others in attendance, the state directors of the DSS.

    My reading of this development is that having participated in the joint security council meeting of the two states where it was agreed that the five Fulani men were victims of kidnapping, the DSS apparently admitted that the information it fed its national headquarters on who killed the Fulani men was incorrect. That was why the two governors had to announce to the public that the killings had nothing to do with ethnicity, which link the IPOB angle inevitably conveyed.

    By that also, the governors have diffused the tension and prospects of reprisal killings that may have followed that disclosure. It is nothing new that reprisal killings have before now been rampant from the part of the country where the five men come from. In the past, we have seen how even a cartoon that appeared outside this country resulted in reprisal killings in north from people who considered that cartoon offensive to their religion.

    Why the DSS could not factor such incendiary prospects while taking a decision to go public with an allegation that has now been proven wrong is a sad commentary on the proficiency and competence of those who handled that piece of information. Even at that, if the DSS had in verity stumbled at information linking the IPOB with that killing, what ought to have been its appropriate response to it? To go public with it or spread its dragnet to apprehend the culprits and make them face the full weight of the law?

    For this writer, the rational option for that security agency would have been to liaise with other security organs of the government to apprehend the masterminds of that devious act. Since it was able to finger the body allegedly connected with the incident, we presume the agency had a fair idea of those who took part in the killing. The right approach would have been to arrest and prosecute them rather than going public with unconfirmed information that could further create serious security challenges.

    We have now been told by the governors that the masterminds have been arrested and are giving useful information to the security agencies. That is the right path the DSS should have taken rather than dishing out tendentious information that would later be faulted.

    As much as one resists the lure of imputing motives into that hasty announcement by the DSS, it is utterly disappointing that that agency could not anticipate the mortal harm the development is to the lives of those on whose behalf the IPOB claims to be crusading.  Even if that piece of information was to be correct, the public had no need for it because it could result in reprisals killings. When that happens, would that agency not have failed in its statutory duties?

    We demand a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the filing of aspects of that report that has now turned out false. Those found culpable for acts of omission of commission should be punished. That is the right way to correct the festering impression by the IPOB that linking it to the killings was primed to precipitate reprisal killings of their people in the north.

    Above all, Ikpeazu and Okorocha deserve commendation for their bold and timely intervention that has saved the nation another cycle of violence arising from the poor handling of the matter by the DSS.