The Nation Newspaper

Tag: town

  • ‘Town leaders have sold women’s farmlands’

    ‘Town leaders have sold women’s farmlands’

    The men have had their way but one woman, at least, is speaking out against their action. Since leaders of Amankwo Eke Town Union in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, sold 20 acres of land to an industrialist, Chief Loretta Aniagolu, an activist and politician, has continued to oppose the sale. Aniagolu, a two-time governorship aspirant in the state, argues that the sale has denied women their right to farmlands, considering that in the community it is mostly women who farm. The men mostly tap wine from palms. She also believes the land sale underscores the aged practice of overlooking women’s inheritance rights.

    The executives of Amankwo Town Union sold off the land to an industrialist for the purpose of building a factory. Aniagolu questioned the logic and propriety of selling the vast land without considering that majority of the women of the Eke community directly depend on land for sustenance.

    She said she was not against establishing an industry in the area, only that selling off such a vast area would deprive the women of the community of their source of livelihood.

    Her protest was dismissed by the leaders of the community on the grounds that women in Igbo land have no say in matters relating to land. They advised her to “shut up” and mind her business as the community had already taken its decision.

    She went to court, not to challenge the sale of the land but for the court to declare whether or not females have a say in matters relating to land in Igbo land, particularly Amankwo Eke in Udi. The case came up on Monday for Judgement at the Enugu High Court.

    At the court, a group of women led by Mrs. Joy Ada Onyeso, president of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom were conspicuous in their red T-shirts with the inscription “Bring Back Our Girls”. .

    Onyeso spoke to our correspondent, saying: “This is a very interesting case because the case borders on the relevance of women in the society.  The case involves one of our partners, Chief Lorreta Aniagolu.  The thing about the case is that it is about the executives of the town union selling land to a man that wants to build a factory in Udi and they sold to him 20 hectares of land. Probably she is saying that…for prosperity case.  The critical thing for that case is because of the argument that she is a woman and she has no right to bring the case to court and she has no right to be in the decision making body of the community and that is very critical.

    “There was recent ruling by the supreme court that women have a right in whatsoever community to inherit both at common law and traditionally and for us, it is very very critical for a woman to be deprived of such right, and that’s why we are here in solidarity to hear what the judge has to say.  The case has been going on for a while now and today was supposed to be the final judgement.  However, the court could not sit today; it was postponed to the 30th of this month. So, on the 30th, we will be here again to listen to what the judgement will be.

    “This is a very interesting case because the case borders on the relevance of women in the society.  The case involves one of our partners, Chief Lorreta Aniagolu.  The thing about the case is that, it is a case about the executives of the Town Union selling land to a man that wants to build a factory in Udi and they sold to him 20 hectares of land. Probably she is saying that …for prospecting.  The critical thing for that because she is a woman she has no right to bring the case to court and she has no right to be in the decision making body of the community and that is very critical.

    “There was a recent ruling by the supreme court that women have a right in whatsoever community to inherit both at common law and traditionally and for us it is very, very critical for a woman to be deprived of such right, and that’s why we are here in solidarity to hear what the judge has to say.  The case has been going on for a while now and today was supposed to be the final judgement.  However, the court could not sit today; it was postponed to the 30th of this month. So, on the 30th we will be here again to listen to what the judgement will be.”

     

  • ‘Town unions grow communities’

    The three tiers of government have been urged to partner with town unions because they are agents of community development.

    The President-General of the Association of Imo State Indigenous Town Unions, Chief Emeka Diwe, gave the advice at the inauguration of Owerri, Imo State, zone chapter of the Association of Indigenous Town Unions, Aba, Abia State. He said the object of town unionism is grassroots development.

    “Town unions are the real agents of development which all levels of government should partner with for the welfare of the people. There is no doubt that town unions have fast tracked development of their respective communities. Nobody can claim ignorance of the fact that town unions in many areas of Igbo land established primary and secondary schools, community markets, institution of scholarship schemes for indigent students, maintenance of roads, law and order within their jurisdiction. In fact, at the end of civil war in 1970, town union gave hope to the Igbos. So, town unions are synonymous with development in Igbo land.

    “Town Unions have through various ways offered support to our people who were affected in the crisis in the North East and other crisis ridden areas. So, the importance of town unions in community development cannot be over-emphasised.”

    He debunked reports that town unions are political structures which are set up for the purposes of election.

    “Town Union is political, but not partisan. Town union members can belong to any political party of their choice but we don’t support any political party. Town Union is the only identity of the Igbo man that has stood the test of time. I assure you that it is the most democratic structure found in Igbo land. Town Unions can guide members on political decisions, particularly the election of quality people in leadership positions in the society. For instance, we have been sensitizing our members on the need to shun money politics. This is because the person who gives you money to be elected and runs to Abuja only to return during the next elections is not fit to be called a representative. So, we have a duty to enlighten our people to support people who are conscious of the development. Town Unions are only for development. This is why we say; Town Union, Development to the Grassroots,” he said.

    Earlier in his address, Chief Whip of Owerri zone chapter in Aba, Dr. Bartholomew Eze noted the responsibilities of town unions in mobilizing and enlightening the citizenry for sustainable community development as well as the development of structures for improving the quality of life of local communities in Imo state and her indigenes.

    Eze commended the contributions of the President General in championing the course of town unionism in Imo State and beyond and described him as a man endowed with rare leadership qualities.

  • Town with three kings

    Town with three kings

    The ancient town of Igboho in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State for many years has been enmeshed in a tussle over who among the three kings – Onigboho, Alepata and Onibode – is the paramount ruler. SINA FADARE, who visited the historic town, reports that there seems to be no end in sight to the supremacy battle.

    With three prominent traditional rulers laying claim to being its paramount ruler, all seems not well for Igboho in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State.

    Igboho occupies a key place in the history of the old Oyo Empire.

    There are three prominent kings in the town, with each claiming to be the paramount ruler. More confusing is the fact that each of them gives different versions of history to back up his claims.

    And the rivalry is so intense that an unsuspecting first time visitor to any of the three kings could get a hostile reception and his motive suspect, if he was found out to have visited one (king) before coming to the other. So, all a visitor needed to tell the king to avoid trouble was that he had not visited either of the two other kings before coming to his host.

    And this was exactly what happened when The Nation visited the palace of the Alepata of Igboho, Dr. Johnson Olayide Oyeyiola Igbaroola 111. The first question thrown at the correspondent by one of the palace secretaries who looked at him straight in the eyes was whether he had been to any other place before coming to the palace of Alepata?

    When the response was negative, he managed a dry smile and asked for the mission of The Nation. He dashed into the inner chamber of the palace to inform the king that a reporter from Lagos was waiting for him.

    Oba Igbaroola did not waste any time as he went straight into history after he was well seated on his royal stool; how his forefathers came all the way from Ilesha to found Igboho in the 16th century.

    “The origin of Igboho started from our forefathers who migrated from Ilesha. There was a chieftaincy tussle then, they installed the younger brother as the king instead of the senior one, which was the custom after the death of the king.

    The (aggrieved elder) brother left the kingdom to give peace a chance. That senior brother that left the palace of Owa was called Gbage Olabinukuro; he founded his own village called Ebiti. All his supporters, including hunters, followed him to this new abode. That is why if they want to refer to our history till today, it has origin in Ilesha.

    According to him, there was Fulani invasion of old Oyo Empire. Alaafin and his people were forced to vacate their home. “When he got to Ebiti, he met our forefathers, Gbage, who came from Ilesha, today we can also contest the royal stool of Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland. Alaafin Ofinran saw that Gbage was a powerful man who had a lot of charms and was very formidable in the act of warfare and hunting. Alaafin Ofinran was so amazed that the settlement was so peaceful. So, he inquired who was the head, usually called Baale and Gbage was sent for.

    “Alaafin was very powerful in Yoruba kingdom. He was welcomed by Gbage. Alaafin Ofinran told Gbage that he was looking for where to settle down with all his people and entourage. Gbage, who knew the terrain because of his hunting expeditions during which he had killed various dangerous and carnivorous animals, promised that he was going to help him. They embarked on a search for a place to settle the Alaafin people.”

    Oba Igbaroola explained that when they got to a river (Sanya) after Kishi, one of the wives of Alaafin gave birth to a baby boy named Tella Abisipa, that is, a child that was born on the path.

    “When they got to the middle of Igbo-Oba which is still named so till today, the oracle told them that was the place they were going to stay. As the herbalist was making divination, two birds were fighting on a tree under which they all sat, the two birds fell in front of the herbalist, one was Igbo bird (Eye Igbo), the other one Oyo bird (Eye Oyo). The two birds were killed and their blood used as a sacrifice to Ifa.

    “From these two birds Igbo and Oyo, the name Igboyo was formed and it later became Igboho. If anybody is telling any other story that person is telling lies. It was at that place that Alaafin Ofinran was buried,” he said.

    He went further that after about four Alaafin died; Tella Abisipa that was born at the bank of River Sanya (who had become the Alaafin) said he wanted to return the seat of governance of Oyo Empire back to Oyo-Ile. But the Oyo-mesi did not want him to go back, therefore, they took some of the deformed/disabled persons in the palace to Oyo-Ile and when Alaafin’s emissary got there, they (the disabled) chased them away pretending to be spirits with a warning that ‘this place is not your home go back’, until Alaafin sent Alepata and his hunter-like, Akasa, Okere, Emo and Iloko to go and unravel the mystery of the spirits.

    He explained that the arrival of Alepata (back to Igboho) with all those so called spirits made the Alaafin to change his name from Gbage to Alepata and ever since then, they referred to Alaafin Abisipa as the king that arrest spirits ( Oba-Amoro)

    “Alaafin Abisipa eventually left for Oyo-Ile with all his entourage while Alepata and his hunters accompanied him. They were in Oyo-Ile for about three years when crisis erupted in Igboho, Alaafin now told Alepata to go back to Igboho to become their leader and ever since then our fore fathers have become the head of the village till today,” Oba Igbaroola said.

     

    Another history

     

    However, speaking to The Nation on the account of his own historical antecedent, the Onigboho of Igboho, Oba John Bolarinwa Oyetola, Olubiyi 11, who dismissed what Alepata said, argued that “It sounds most ridiculous, untenable and fallacious that on fleeing from his headquarter, Oyo-Ile, the Alaafin will have nowhere to go but into a wilderness to found and establish a new settlement at a sport chosen by two birds fighting on a tree and falling few minutes later at the feet of the herbalist in front of Alaafin. That was a cock and bull story better told to the marine.”

    Oba Oyetola insisted that his great grandfather who founded Igboho came from Eruwa. According to him, the truth about founding Igboho is that one Tondi, a prince from Eruwa was supposed to have been crowned as the king after the death of their father, but because he was a formidable hunter and spent most of his time hunting for carnivorous animals like lion, leopard and python, the people of Eruwa preferred his younger brother who was a successful farmer, who was more homely and friendly.

    “Against this backdrop, Tondi and his families, an Ifa priest and all his admirers who felt that the people were unfair to him left Eruwa and settled at a place in the wilderness which they later called Igboho. The wilderness was later called and referred to as ‘Iju Sanya’ because of Tondi’s wife who was childless and got pregnant on getting into the wilderness and delivered a male child, who was named Sanya, so also the wilderness was named after Sanya, meaning Iju-Sanya and the river from which they were fetching water to drink and cook.”

    He explained further that the wilderness contained big rock with large holes inside them in which animals and snakes used to habitate. “Therefore, all the passers-by used to refer to the wilderness as Igbo-Oniho, from which the name of the town as ‘Igboho’ was later coined out.”

    He emphasised that “when the Alaafin and his entourage were escorted out of Shaki by some powerful hunters and personal body guards who included Alepata, on arrival at Igboho the Alaafin was received and was accorded a royal welcome by the Onigboho, Oba Otugbede who was the 7th Onigboho to reign at Igboho before the arrival of Alaafin.”

    Oba Oyetola noted that the era of politics has relegated the stool of Onigboho, adding that history is very clear. In the first republic, my people did not belong to the party that was the rave of the moment in the Western Region; Action Group (AG). They joined Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s party (NCNC); that was the beginning of our predicament. It is the current Alaafin of Oyo, HRH Oba Olayiwola Lamidi Adeyemi who knows the authentic history and keeps quiet on the issue for political reason. The history is on my side,” he said.

     

    Yet another history

     

    The Onibode of Igboho, Oba Rasheed Jayeola Adetoyese, said that all the historical linkages of the founder of Igboho to Eruwa or Ilesha are mere beer parlour tales that cannot withstand the test of time.

    The Oba who referred The Nation to a book written by Prof. Atanda, ’the History of Eruwa’ noted that Igboho had been founded before Eruwa, therefore, the people of Igboho could not come from Eruwa.” Those people who claimed that they came from Ilesha, they are telling lies. There was an enquiry in 1982, they are from Ibaruba, all the lies they said are mere fabrications which cannot be backed up by any evidence.

    The traditional ruler who agreed that the theory of two bird fighting where Igboho derived its name was absolutely correct, but emphasised that “all the names of those that have passed in Igboho have no relation with Ijesha. Igboho came to being through the story of two birds fighting and fell in front of the herbalist. There was no trick and fake history when Rev. Samuel Johnson published his book on the Yoruba in 1921.

    “The problem with them is that l have a child in government and other ones that are rich who give me backings, that is why they are envious. I am recognised anywhere I go, that is why the envy continues,” he said.

     

    Historical facts

     

    However, Rev. Johnson in his book, “The History of Yoruba” published in 1921 affirmed on page 161, the theory of two birds that were fighting and eventually fell at the feet of the herbalist as the origin of Igboho. “The city was built there and named Oyo-Igboho after the two birds, Igbo and Oyo. There he (Alaafin Egungun-Oju) buried the remains of his father, Alaafin Ofinran.”

    Johnson emphasised that when Alaafin Abisipa who was otherwise known as Oba M’oro (Ghost catcher) wanted to return the capital of Oyo back to Oyo-Ile, he sent six formidable hunters to dislodge the mystery ghost that had prevented his emissary from entering his father’s home (Oyo-Ile). Among them are Boni, Igi-Isubu, Alepata, Loko, Gbaadan and Olomo.

    According to the book, after Alaafin Abisipa returned home, all those people who went with him stayed for three years.

    “When they were about to return home, the king in order to honour them, sent a special messenger with them as his representative and lest this servant of his should not be a burden on them, he was allowed the privilege of receiving tolls for his livelihood. He became really the new Governor of the town with the title of Onibode (receiver of custom). Hence, that title is bestowed of the chief ruler of Igboho to this day. The remaining act of this king was consolidation of his kingdom. He buried charms in several places in the city that it might never be destroyed by war,” Johnson submitted.

     

    The loopholes

     

    Despite all claims by the concerned kings and the account of Rev. Johnson, it was obvious that there are a lot of questions begging for answers. For example, when Alaafin Abisipa left Igboho, definitely somebody must have been left behind as the leader of the people, but this was not mentioned either by Johnson or any of the kings except Onigboho, who insisted that there was order to the throne before the coming of Alaafin and after his exit.

    Another area needing clarification is whether prior to the arrival of Alaafin Egungun-oju, the people of Igboho had no king or any leader as claimed by Alepata and Onibode? Whereas Onigboho claimed that the 7th Onigboho was on the throne when the Alaafin and his people arrived.

    From the account of Oba Igbaroola, the Alepata of Igboho, after the return of the seat of Oyo Empire to Oyo-Ile by Alaafin Abisipa, he sent Alepata back to Igboho to become their leader. Whereas Johnson claimed that it was Onibode that was sent. Definitely at this juncture someone is economical with the truth.

    A history teacher in one of the secondary schools in Igboho who spoke to The Nation on condition of anonymity said that in the 16th Century when the first white man entered Igboho with all his emissaries with guns, all the villagers fled because they had never seen any white man before. Later, Alepata who was a brave hunter was asked to go and face them war for war and action for action.

    According to him, when they saw Alepata, the interpreter told him that they came for peace and that the white man would like to end all the inter-tribal wars in the kingdom. “It was Alepata that later became the intermediary between the Igboho people and the white man, therefore when the chips were down, they considered him as the leader of the people and that was why it was gazetted that he was the paramount ruler till today.

    The Nation investigation revealed that with the number of cases pertaining to this issue that are scattered in various High Courts and even Supreme Court in the country, it is obvious that the last has not been heard concerning who actually is the authentic Oba of Igboho town in Oyo State.

  • One town, three ‘kings’

    One town, three ‘kings’

    Tension is growing in Bakatari, a sleepy town on the Oyo and Ogun states boundary over the ownership of the community of just 5,000 residents as three people lay claim to being the traditional ruler. OSEHEYE OKWUOFU reports.

    There is palpable tension in Bakatari town along the Ibadan-Abeokuta highway as this community of 5,000 is torn between loyalty to three different chiefs parading themselves as the ‘Baale’ or traditional ruler of the area.

    Besides, the people, though indigenously Yoruba, are divided over which of the sub-tribes within the Yoruba nation they belong to. While some, especially two of the disputing ‘monarchs’ claim they are Egba/Oke-Ona and therefore part of Egbaland in Ogun State, the other ‘Baale’ and his supporters are insisting that Bakatari is part of Ibadanland in Oyo State.

    Though the dispute over who owns the land is in court, each of the three claimants to the throne; Chief Yekini Abobade Ayodele, Chief Ayinde Popoola Farioro and Chief Olubanwo Coker believes he is the authentic Baale.

    While Ayodele was appointed by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana, Odugade I, both Farioro and Coker were appointees of the Osile of Oke-Ona, Egba, Oba Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso.

    The disputed stool of Baale of the town is expectedly causing frequent bickering; suspicion and distrust among the residents, and this might be responsible for the negligible government presence in the area.

    Apart from lacking in basic infrastructure and social amenities, a primary school, Anglican Primary School and a secondary school, Bakatari Community High School are just about the only presence the government has in the area.

    The town, though largely Yoruba speaking is equally multi-lingual with other inhabitants drawn from Hausa, Tiv, Ibo, Igede and even French speakers from neigbhouring Benin Republic and are mostly engaged in farming.

    As the matter of the ownership of the town between the Egba and Ibadan is in court, all the parties are avoiding official comments but expressed confidence that victory would eventually come their way. But, in the meantime, the town is suffering as there have been frequent clashes between factions loyal to the gladiators.

    Following such skirmishes in the town, last year, the Deputy Governors of Oyo and Ogun states, as well as the Surveyors General of the two states met at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan where issues arising from the ownership of Bakatari were discussed, after which the officials set up a committee on the boundary dispute to fashion out ways to put a permanent stop to crisis.The committee is yet to submit its report.

    Meanwhile, to check break down of law and order in the community, Chairman of Ido local government area in Oyo State where Bakatari ‘falls’, Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela has built a police station at Omi-Adio that will further address any violence that may arise as a result of the boundary dispute.

    He said pending the time when the committee will summit its report, the state government will not fold its hands and allow lawlessness in the area.

    “And that is why we sited the new police station at Omi-Adio, a few distance away from Bakatari, it will serve the urban growing Omi-Adio as well as Bakatari town. We are confident that peace will remain in Bakatari.

    “Apart from this, we are putting every measure in place to ensure the protection of lives and property not only in Bakatari but every nooks and crannies of the council,” the council boss said.

     

  • Town & Gown Gigs to run alongside NUGA

    Town & Gown Gigs to run alongside NUGA

    AS the 2013 edition of the Nigerian University Games (NUGA) goes to the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, The Town and Gown Gigs, a musical festival, has been slated to hold alongside the competition.

    Scheduled for October 1 14, organisers say that Town and Gown Gigs will be a memorable musical festival that will run in a manner that would remain in the minds of all participants for a long time to come.

    Bayo Bankole, aka Boy Alinco, Director of Communication, T&GG, says that the target is to create an atmosphere of celebration in the spirit of sportsmanship, provide the platform for relaxation after daily sporting activities, create an atmosphere of friendship among sportsmen and women, supporters, officials, and the general public, and also build a platform for brands to merchandise.

    “Apart from the daily dose of music and comedy, there will be enough to eat and drink, from the popular akara Osu, Ife palm wine, NUGA biscuits, Isedale fruit tarts, and barbeque, among others. As part of our delivery plans, we are working to put together a parade of brands, festival products, fashion show, tie and dye show-off, with a huge array of competitions so that participants from time to time shall have one prize or the other to show for their attendance. There will be Yoruba traditional poetry, dance competition, stage plays, and a collection of time-fulfilling entertainment to keep body and soul together,” Alinco stated.

    Put together to spice up the atmosphere of friendship that NUGA games will create, he added that Town and Gown Gigs would feature all grades of artistes from different genres of music such as hip hop, R&B, highlife, juju, fuji, and apala, among others. The show will also parade world class DJs, comedians, fashionistas and competitions.

  • Town’s head in prison custody

    The Baale of Kirikiri town, Lagos Chief Waheed Sunmonu, 81, tasted the bitter side of the law last weekend as he was remanded in prison custody on the order of an Apapa magistrate court.

    The Octogenarian had to spend the weekend in Kirikiri prison custody having failed to meet the bail conditions set by the trial magistrate, Mrs. K.O. Shonubi.

    Chief Sunmonu and four others had been arraigned by the police for allegedly threatening to kill one Babatunde Babalola .

    Other defendants in the suit are Chief Oseni Adewale, 77 years; Kayode Ewarawon, 53 years; Julius Ajanlekoko, 69m years and Adewale ijuaogbomo, 50 years.

    The police had preferred a five- count charge against the defendants.

    The first count stated that the five defendants “sometimes in 2013, at Karimu Street, Kirikiri, Lagos did threatened to kill one Babatunde Babalola”.

    The police alleged that the third defendant, Julius Ajanlekoko and one other at large, on the same day, time and place assaulted Babatunde Babalola by strangling his neck.

    Ajanlekoko and another at large were further alleged to have damaged one Canon Camera valued at N175,000 property of one Mustapha fatai.

    The police further alleged that the fifth defendant. Adewale Ijaogbomo had on December 19, 2012 at Doctor Lucas Memorial College, Kirikiri town, Lagos assaulted Babatunde Babalola by pointing finger at his face.In addition, it was alleged that the five defendants sometimes in 2013 at Kirikiri town, did conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by granting press interview to disparage the person of Babatunde Babalola.

    The police said the offences committed are punishable under sections 56. 171, 348 and 166(d) of the L:agos State Criminal Law 2011.

    All the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the five count charge preferred against them by the police.

    The trial magistrate, Mrs. Shonubi set bail conditions at N500,000 or two sureties in the like sum for each of the five defendants.

    The magistrate excluded teachers from the sureties who must be civil servants onn grade level 10 and above.

    She, thereafter, adjourned the matter to September 20.

     

  • Recycling comes to town

    Recycling comes to town

    Recycling is here. And its first port of call is the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) headquarters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    It is just as well.

    Ridding the FCT of filth is an ongoing project. But how do you conserve funds or even make money simply by disposing of waste?

    Recycling is the answer, and it has started in earnest at the nation’s capital, beginning right from the AEPB headquarters itself.

    In a brief ceremony, the Acting Director, Mrs. Aishat Adebayo said it was important to start the process of sorting our waste at home before it gets to the landfill site, noting that what most people regard as waste is not actually waste but wealth.

    According to the Acting Director, the process of sorting waste at source is being introduced so that wastes that could be recycled can be retrieved, because if we carry all our waste to the landfill site, it will get filled on time.

    Mrs. Adebayo further said: “In line with the popular saying that charity begins at home, Abuja Environmental Protection Board has decided to commence the pilot project within its premises. The blue bins have been made available to all the offices for materials that could be recycled.

    “Waste materials meant for the recycle bins, (blue bins) are plastic bottles, cans, newspapers, nylon bags and other materials that can still be put to use.”

    Continuing, Mrs. Adebayo said: “The Federal Capital Territory Administration is building more waste transfer stations that will make recyclable materials to be easy to manage.”

    She appealed to members of the public to co-operate with the board so that the scheme will achieve its aim of ensuring a cleaner environment.

    “For now, we plan to introduce it to our headquarters in Area 2 and other offices. This mini-launch is an awareness programme aimed at enlightening the public on how to sort their wastes at home. Please, ensure that only dry waste goes into the blue bin,” she said.

    Mrs. Adebayo further said the scheme was meant to serve the residents of the Federal Capital City better and it is expected that all hands will be on deck to ensure its success.

    The Acting Director said she was optimistic that the introduction and use of the blue bins will be a success because it’s working in other cities.

    “Abuja residents are intelligent and cultured; and I know that they will work with AEPB,” she added.

  • Death at a border town

    Death at a border town

    Even journalists, who are known to have a thick skin, were shocked on hearing the news. 185 persons killed in the border town of Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State! It sounded unbelievable. ‘’How can 185 persons be mowed down in one fell swoop?” some wondered. ‘’Haha, and you believe that such a number can be killed just like that when we are not at war”,others said.

    This was the situation in many newsrooms on Monday when news filtered in of the killing by the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) of 185 persons. Who are they? Boko Haram members? Children? Old men and women? For now, their identities remain a secret because they have been buried in line with Islamic injunctions, which stipulate that the remains of the dead should be interred within 24 hours. The MJTF was said to have unleashed its firepower on people of the town in its bid to smoke out members of the Islamic sect Boko Haram from the community. The task force’s brief is to castrate Boko Haram at all cost.

    So, when it heard that members of the sect were in the border town, it moved in to clip their wings before they became a menace. According to reports, when the task force got there, the Boko Haram elements opened fire, killing a soldier. Since the task force operatives comprise soldiers from Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, we are yet to be told the nationality of the killed combatant.

    As a bloody civilian, I respect soldiers a lot because they don’t usually go about showing off that they have the skills to kill in over 1000 ways, as some of them are wont to say. Well trained soldiers are cool-headed; they are not moved, no matter the provocation to unleash their power on the defenceless. It is the ability of a soldier not to give in to anger or undue provocation in any situation that makes him stand out in any gathering. The hallmark of a soldier; a good soldier at that, is his levelheadedness even in war.

    A good soldier is expected to exercise restraint in the face of provocation. In any situation, when others are losing their heads, he is expected to keep his because if he should do otherwise, the end result will not be palatable. With what happened in Baga, we have seen what the uncontrolled anger of a soldier can lead to.

    If soldiers are not levelheaded, they will commit a lot of atrocities during wars, especially among the civilian population. But because of their training, which forbids them from killing, except if extremely necessary, we often don’t hear of extra-judicial killings during wars. Where we hear about such acts, as some soldiers will still behave irrationally, they are few and far between. Those are the soldiers who give the military a bad name.

    These are the soldiers who kill old men, women and rape girls in full public glare under the pretext of military operation. I wonder what kind of military assault will approve of the killing of innocent children and the raping of women. When such things happen, soldiers are no longer soldiers but savages. It is only a savage that will stoop so low as to kill the aged, both men and women, as well as children and also rape young girls. If such are permissible in war, what about in peace time?

    Nevertheless, such sadistic acts are disapproved of in war, so why must they happen when we are not at war? What happened in Baga last weekend is despicable. From the look of things, it was a premeditated act of murder. The soldiers deliberately went out to avenge the killing of their colleague without a thought for the consequences of their action. They probably did what they did in order to teach the civiolian populace a lesson that you don’t shield those who kill a soldier. But that was a wrong approach.

    In 1999, former President Olusegun Obasanjo adopted a similar strategy when he ordered the levelling of Odi in Bayelsa State over the killing of some soldiers. Yes, Odi was levelled; children, old men and women were killed, but what did he achieve? Did the action serve as a deterrence? As a former soldier, I appreciate the show of esprit de corps by Obasanjo, but he more than any other person ought to know that you don’t achieve anything through force.

    This is why till today, I respect the soldiers who arrested the late Yusuf Mohammed, the former Boko Haram leader, in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, in 2009. The soldiers treated the late Mohammed well and even treated him of his wounds. But when they handed him over to the police, the story changed. Mohammed was killed in police custody and the Boko Haram members became madder than ever. This is, however, not to justify the sect’s insensate actions ever since.

    If the soldiers could treat the late Mohammed nicely just four years ago, what could have happened to their temperament between then and now? Before the late Mohammed was arrested in 2009, members of his sect had killed many soldiers, yet when he fell into JTF’s hand, he was not skinned alive. He was treated like a gentleman and granted his full rights.

    In peace keeping as in war, soldiers have rules of engagement. The rules differ for both operations. These rules do not sanction the invasion of a community under the guise of hunting down suspects even where soldiers are killed. This is so because in a purely civilian setting as is the case with Baga, the collateral damage that may be done will be enormous during such invasion. In the MJTF’s desperate search for the killers of a soldier, they virtually wiped out a village.

    There is no way the soldierscan justify their action.

    Yes, we feel for them over the killing of their colleague, but the solution to that does not lie in killing innocent people. Those killed may not know anything about Boko Haram. Or are the soldiers saying that all those killed were Boko Haram members? We are yet to get the full picture of this massacre. We may be in for a big shock when the full details of this gruesome act become public.

    For now, all the soldiers, who took part in that bitter enterprise, should be withdrawn from this mission and courtmartialled. They should be made to tell us why they took part in these extra-judicial killings. Whether the carnalthy figure is one, 25, 37, 185 or 300, a life is a life and it should not be taken so cheaply. Soldiers more than any other professional should know that life is precious.

    How can they justify the killing of this lot for the death of a soldier, who knew from the day he joined the army that he had signed away his life? Some people are tried for war crimes in other climes for offences not as grievous as the Baga massacre; so nothing should stop us from getting those who committed this atrocity.

     

  • KESHI CONFIRMS: Mikel, Moses in town Tuesday

    KESHI CONFIRMS: Mikel, Moses in town Tuesday

    Super Eagles Chief Coach told SportingLife yesterday that Chelsea Football Club of England stars Mikel Obi and Victor Moses will storm Calabar tomorrow.

    The Coach disclosed that in a routine check on his players the two England based players promised to hit Calabar on Tuesday on time to participate in the evening training of the team.

    “Mikel and Moses have told me that they would be in Calabar unfailingly on Tuesday. They have promised to be there on time to participate in the evening training of the team”, Keshi told SportingLife yesterday.

    The former Togo and Mali coach also confirmed the availability of other players that will arrive in Nigeria today. Players like Ahmed Musa, Elderson Echijile and Brown Ideye are expected to arrive in Nigeria tomorrow (today).

    “I also expect Ahmed Musa, Elderson Echiejile, Brown Ideye and others to join us if possible in Abuja tomorrow (today) if they arrive on time before we depart for Calabar tomorrow (today).

    “The plan is that players that have matches yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday) should be in Nigeria latest Monday (today) and tomorrow (Tuesday). So any player that arrives on time tomorrow (today) will travel with us to Calabar tomorrow (today) while others would definitely join us in Calabar. We hope to start training on time if time permits Monday evening for the all important match. We are leaving no stone unturned to have a successful outing come this Saturday”, Keshi vowed.

  • Flower Girl comes to town

    Flower Girl comes to town

    FROM Producer and Director, Michelle Bello, whose last film, Small Boy, won two African Movie Academy Awards, comes a tale of love lost and won in the city of Lagos, Flower Girl.

    A romantic comedy, Flower Girls is the story of Kemi, a shy florist, who is desperate to tie the knot with her long-time boyfriend Umar. Contrary to her expectations, Umar suddenly breaks up with her, leaving her devastated. In a desperate bid to get him back, Kemi teams up with a most unlikely ally, Tunde Kulani, a famous playboy Nollywood star.

    According to the producer, the movie addresses the issue of young women who are in a hurry to get married thinking only about their prefect wedding day and not the long-term commitment required by both individuals to make it last.

    Set for release in 2013, the ensemble of stars paraded in the flick includes Damilola Adegbite, Chris Attoh, Eku Edewor, Bikiya Graham Douglas and Chuks Chukwujekwu, starring for the first time as a male lead. Also starring in the film are famous actors Patrick Doyle, Teni Aofiyebi and Tosan Edremoda-Ugbeye.