President Buhari attends Agreement signing on the establishment of combined Maritime Policing and Security Patrol Committee between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea and departs Malabo for Abuja on March 15.
Tag: Malabo
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Buhari condemns political violence in Rivers State
*Vows to deal with violence sponsors
*Says new national airline not his priority
*Says anti-graft war will be merciless
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Malabo condemned recent political violence in Rivers State.
According to him, killing of people over political differences was primitive, barbaric and unacceptable.
In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said: “We will deal decisively with all sponsors of violence. I have given the security services clear directives in this regard.
“We will show that violence in any form will no longer be tolerated before, during or after elections,” the President said at an interactive meeting with Nigerians resident in Equatorial Guinea.
President Buhari said that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be encouraged to explore the possibility of Nigerians abroad voting in the 2019 general elections.
Noting that some African countries have started allowing their citizens resident abroad to vote in national elections, the President said that he fully empathized with the desire of Nigerians in the Diaspora to vote in national elections.
He said that he will therefore do all within his power to fulfil that desire.
“I want all Nigerians to know that I respect them and their right to choose their leaders,” he said
The President also said that establishing a new national airline was not currently on the Federal Government’s list of priorities.
He said that his administration’s main area of focus now was reducing the level of poverty in the country.
The President said that developing the infrastructure needed to boost production in all sectors of the economy and creating more jobs for young Nigerians, and other actions that will directly improve the living conditions of ordinary Nigerians will continue to be prioritized by his administration.
President Buhari was responding to complaints by members of the Nigerian community about the absence of direct flights between Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea.
He assured them that his administration’s war against corruption will remain “fearless, relentless and merciless”.
“We will be merciless and relentless in pursuing all those who abused public trust. Nigerians will see how some of the elite conspired to run the nation down,” he said.
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Buhari arrives Malabo
President Buhari being received by H.E. Mr Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea at the Malabo International Airport as President Buhari arrives in Malabo Equatorial Guinea for a 2 day State Visit for talks on Maritime Security 
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Maritime policy: Buhari leads security team to Malabo
To achieve greater security of lives, resources and investments in all parts of Nigeria and its sub-region, President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to Malabo today for talks with President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea.
The talks will centre on measures to protect the people and resources of the Niger Delta and Gulf of Guinea.
The conclusion and signing of an agreement by Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea for the establishment of a combined maritime policing and security patrol committee on Tuesday is expected to be the major outcome of President Buhari’s talks with his host.
A statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari and President Mbasogo are also expected to discuss and agree on other collaborative measures to combat crimes such as piracy, crude oil theft, attacks on oil rigs, arms smuggling and human trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea.
Both leaders will also confer on the rescheduling of the joint summit of the Economic Community of West African States and the Economic Community of Central African States on additional cooperative measures to curb terrorism and violent extremism in West and Central Africa.
The summit was to have been hosted by Equatorial Guinea last year but was postponed because of Nigeria’s general elections.
Buhari will be accompanied by Minister of Defence Brig.-Gen. Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd.), National Security Adviser Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.) and other senior security officials.
He is scheduled to return to Abuja on Tuesday.
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Group to FG: Revisit Halliburton, Malabo, Siemens scandals
A Civil Society Organisation under the auspices of the Citizens Arise Movement of Nigeria has given the Federal Government a 21 -day ultimatum to revisit the Halliburton, Malabo and Siemens scandal or face a mass protest across the country.
Addressing journalist after a protest march at the a Eagle Square, Abuja, on Tuesday, the leader of the group, Dino Melaye said government should immediately declare the production and sales capacity of the nation’s crude oil per day.
The protesters carried placard with various inscriptions such as: “Terrorism has no political party, save us, stop insurgency now,” “Goodluck stop secret meeting with Boko Haram,” Malabo oil deal and subsidy thieves, “ “Rescue our Chibok girls now “ and “Enough of corruption,” among others.
Melaye also asked the government to be transparent in the production and sale of the nation’s crude oil and wage total war on illegal oil bunkering and refineries.
The former member of the House of Representatives urged the government to adequately mobilise and encourage the military to go full blast and defend the nation against insurgency and recapture very inch of Nigerian territory occupied by the insurgents.
He said further the federal government should do everything possible to ensure that the abducted school girls are reunited with their families, while demonstrating total commitment to free, fair and credible in 2015.
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Enter Igwe of Malabo Kingdom
The Federation of Igbo Students (FIS) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has picked Henry Chinedu Umeokonkwo as its Igwe (the king), ending the four-year battle for the stool, reports EMMANUEL AHANONU (Political Science).
After a long battle, the Federation of Igbo Students (FIS) at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) has resolved its differences, with the selection of Henry Chinedu Umeokonkwo as its Igwe (king).
The stool was established in 1994 to serve as a symbol of unity for Igbo students. The former Igwe, Gabriel Ejikeme, then a Public Administration student, spent five years on the throne. When he graduated, he could not hand over because of the crisis rocking the association. Ejikeme and his chiefs were accused of dictatorship and maladministration.
Ejikeme served as the Eze mmuo (chief priest) before he was selected by 24 of the 34 kingmakers to lead the association.
The crisis deepened in 2011 when some members challenged Ejikeme’s right to hold the Ofala. They said he lacked the authority to organise the event because he had graduated. According to tradition, an Igwe whose tenure has ended does not have the right to hold the festival.
However, instead of holding the historic event on the campus as tradition prescribes, Ejikeme took it to Airport Field, an off-campus location. After the festival, he convened a council of elders’ (chiefs) meeting to choose a new Igwe. The meeting ended in a deadlock.
One of the contenders accused Ejikeme of monetising the stool.
After a series of failed handover attempts, as none of the contenders met the Igwe’s criteria, Ejikeme left office.
Despite his exit, the group remained polarised. All efforts to instal a new Igwe and restore peace in FIS failed because of what some students described as traditional restriction, which allows only the outgoing Igwe to crown the new Igwe and his chiefs.
To salvage the situation, some of the chiefs, who served under Ejikeme were contacted to prevail on him to perform his traditional duty. He agreed and few days later, the process of choosing a new Igwe started.
As expected, Ejikeme played a major role, breaking the kolanuts and pouring libation to ordain incoming chiefs. Two old chiefs screened the contenders for the stool and tested their knowledge of Igbo culture and tradition.
The incoming chiefs were allowed to choose their chieftaincy names but some names attracted special condition. For instance, anyone who chose Ogbuefi (one who kills cow) must either kill a cow or buy parts of a cow for the old chiefs.
The Igwe’s selection was full of drama. It took hours before the old and incoming chiefs gave Ejikeme the nod to crown his successor. Before Ejikeme performed that duty, he was made to swear an oath that his reign would not exceed a year.
At a ceremony held at Abang Arang in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, Henry Chinedu Umeokonkwo, a 300-Level Public Administration student, who took the title of Ogbuefi Na Uko Efi was crowned the 13th Igwe of Malabo Kingdom. He chose the name: Mmiri Mara Ugo 1ofMalabo(rain that falls on eagle).
The chiefs, who scaled the tough screening, were also conferred titles with their wives.
There was a celebration on the night of the coronation; some chiefs came with their wives to rejoice with the Igwe. Members of the association were served Igbo delicacies, such as Ugba (African salad), palm wine, pepper soup, roasted yam, gin and kolanut.
The Igwe’s first Ofala festival was held simultaneously with this year’s Igbo Cultural Day, which took place at Malabo Square.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof James Epoke, represented by his deputy on Academic, Prof Austin Obiekezie; Dean of Students’ Affairs Prof Eyong Eyong, represented by Mr Emmanuel Emore; Director of General Studies, Dr Chike Ekeopara; pioneer FIS president Azubuike Iloakasi, and second Igwe of Malabo Kingdom, Charles Njoku, were in attendance.
The VC praised the Igbo students for holding onto their culture. He charged them to be steadfast in their academic pursuit, saying: “While you are passing through the school, you should also allow the school to pass through you, and that cannot be possible if you are such a student who goes from your hostel to class from class back to hostel. You must dedicate time to read your books.”
In his speech, Igwe Henry listed the criteria for the award of chieftaincy titles. He said: “To be conferred with a chieftaincy in Malabo Kingdom, you must have moral and academic excellence. You must be one who commands respect on campus.”
He urged his chiefs and members to promote excellence and Igbo culture.
There was a cultural contest in which students from the Southeast participated; each state showcased its peculiar attire and food. Anambra State emerged the best. The event also featured wrestling as done in traditional Igbo society; news broadcast in Igbo, cultural dance by students and drama.
The association unveiled its almanac and honoured some of its members, including the president, Ekene Odumegwu.
