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Tag: violence

  • 2019: Will ‘Rivers of blood’ know peace?

    Rivers State in the Niger Delta, hitherto the hotbed of militancy, is now gaining notoriety for violence and thuggery. Our Southsouth Bureau Chief, Bisi Olaniyi, writes that all stakeholders must unite, cooperate and re-strategise to ensure peaceful general elections next year

    THE general elections between 1999 and 2003 were not so bloody in the three core states of the Niger Delta, namely: Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta, since Nigerians were just recovering from military rule, tyranny and dictatorship, with many politicians not sure that the transition to civilian rule would work, thereby making many competent and qualified persons to stay away from politics.

    The polls in 2003 were quite different, as the well-educated and decent persons, who earlier stayed away from politics, decided to throw their hats in the ring, with the then incumbent elective office holders, especially the governors, desperate to be re-elected, thereby allegedly purchasing arms and ammunition for mostly educated, but jobless youths, to work for them as thugs with the singular bid of rigging elections.

    With the pay reportedly irresistible, the “boys” took up arms against political opponents of their masters and their supporters, thereby “winning” the elections at all costs, but with some of the thugs also losing their lives in the process.

    Insiders confided that with the elections won and lost, the politicians who emerged “victorious” through thuggery did not bother about retrieving the guns. This, The Nation gathered, was the genesis of militancy in the Niger Delta, although disguised as a movement for the emancipation of the crude oil and gas-rich region.

    The supremacy war among the militants heightened in 2005, leading to the emergence of many “Generals.” While Chief Government Ekpemupolo, aka Tompolo, was in charge in Delta State, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, aka General Boyloaf, was controlling the “boys” in the creeks of Bayelsa State. Rivers State had a former President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, the leader of Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) and Ateke Tom, who led Niger Delta Vigilance Movement, among others as leaders of the militant groups.

    Dokubo-Asari, an indigene of Buguma, the headquarters of Asari-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, was almost in charge of the major militant camps in Rivers, but top Rivers State Government officials sponsored Ateke against him, for support during the 2007 elections.

    The former IYC President (Dokubo-Asari) was later arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), moved to Abuja and was put in an underground cell for many months before he was eventually released, in view of agitations and protests by prominent Niger Deltans and friends of the region.

    Dokubo-Asari also refused to accept the 2009 amnesty offer to repentant Niger Delta militants by the administration of the then President Umaru Yar’Adua, insisting that he and his teeming freedom fighters were not criminals. Shortly after his release from detention, the former President of IYC relocated to Benin Republic, where he established a university.

    Ateke’s base in Okrika was later destroyed by the military, when Rotimi Amaechi, now Transportation Minister, was governor of Rivers State, because the Ubima, Ikwerre LGA-born politicians declared that he would not have anything to do with criminals and militants, thereby chasing them out of town, with the leader of Niger Delta Vigilance Movement (Ateke) relocating to Lekki, Lagos.

    Ateke and his numerous militants eventually embraced the Federal Government’s amnesty offer and they surrendered their arms and ammunition at a colourful ceremony in Port-Harcourt.

    In 2014, Amaechi joined other progressive Nigerians to form the All Progressives Congress (APC), but his former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port-Harcourt (2007-2011), Nyesom Wike, who was the Director-General of Amaechi Governorship Re-election Campaign Organisation in 2011, and recommended by Amaechi after the 2011 polls to the then President Goodluck Jonathan, to be made the Minister of State for Education, showed interest in succeeding his boss (Amaechi).

    With federal might, sudden return of the chased-away militants, thuggery, violence, beheading and killing of no fewer than one thousand members of the APC, Wike, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared winner of the election, reportedly rigged massively but the governorship candidate of the APC, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, now the Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), approached the tribunal to contest the result. Wike eventually got victory at the Supreme Court on technical grounds.

    The apex court admitted that 2015 governorship election in Rivers State witnessed unprecedented violence and massive rigging, but posited that APC and Peterside could not call a witness from each of the polling units across the state, where the rigging took place, which was a Herculean task.

    Quite unforgettable during the governorship campaigns in early 2015 was the attack by fully-armed militants and thugs in Okrika, the headquarters of Okrika LGA of Rivers State, the hometown of the then First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, and Ateke, both of PDP, with Peterside and other APC leaders escaping death by a whisker, as the campaign was about to kick off, but the “boys” took over, shooting sporadically, while a policeman was killed in the process, with many journalists and others injured and their personal cars, other vehicles and other valuable property were either vandalised or burnt.

    The then Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Chief Davies Ikanya, stated that the Supreme Court had set a precedent with its judgment on the 2015 governorship election in Rivers State, with most politicians to prefer to win through massive rigging and violence, while the opponents could go to the tribunal or court, where it would be extremely difficult to get justice.

    After the 2015 elections, the Rivers of blood continued during the legislative reruns, with many innocent persons killed/beheaded, maimed or injured, while the electorate became scared of getting close to their polling units to exercise their franchise.

    Shortly after settling down as Rivers State Governor and as a way of expressing gratitude for the support during the campaigns and elections, Wike approved the appointment of Ateke as the King of Okochiri-Okrika.

    Some of the ex-militant “Generals” are currently members of the Rivers State House of Assembly (names withheld), while many of them are top officials of the Rivers State Government.

    In spite of having ex-militants in Rivers State Government, APC leaders vowed to unseat Wike in 2019, while the Rivers State Governor is to either seek reelection or become a running mate to one of the presidential candidates of PDP from the North, especially Aminu Tambuwal, since he reportedly sponsored the election of Prince Uche Secondus, an indigene of Andoni LGA of Rivers State, as the National Chairman of the main opposition party.

    The by-election controversy

    To confirm that the political rivalry may not stop in the near future is the intrigues that have trailed by-election for Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers House of Assembly. It would be recalled that recently, the representative of Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers House of Assembly, Victor Ihunwo, of the PDP, resigned in June this year to contest as Chairman of Port-Harcourt City Local Government Council, which he won.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, an indigene Cross River State, therefore announced that the vacant

    Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 seat would be filled on August 18, through a by-election.

    But as leaders and members of APC were preparing for the by-election, the lawmaker representing Rivers Southeast Senatorial District, Senator Magnus Abe, a governorship aspirant on APC’s platform, decided on August 17 to inaugurate a parallel secretariat of the party at Waterlines Bus Stop on Aba Road, Port-Harcourt, which was earlier vandalised by hoodlums.

    The duly-elected Chairman of APC in Rivers State, Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, however, insisted that there was no faction in the state’s chapter of the party.

    Flag-Amachree stated that the activities of Abe were nothing to worry about, while admonishing loyal and committed members of APC to remain focused, while ignoring the distractions.

    The Director-General of the Free Rivers Development Initiative, Sampson Ngerebara, an engineer, who is a chieftain of APC and an ally of Amaechi, also disclosed that the only senator of the PDP in Rivers State, Osinakachukwu Ideozu, who was “elected” for the first time in 2015, is set to defect to the APC.

    Ngerebara, while speaking on a local radio station in Port-Harcourt, disclosed that in the next few days, Ideozu, the representative of Rivers West Senatorial District, would be joining in the APC, Senators Andrew Uchendu (Rivers East) and Abe, with Wike no longer having any senator, while more lawmakers and many top officials of Rivers State Government are also concluding arrangements to move to the APC.

    Rivers APC chairman said: “All through last week, there were heightened enquiries from the media, concerning the inauguration of what the journalists referred to as ‘parallel office’ of the APC in Rivers State. I want to use this opportunity to discountenance that suspicion and to clearly state that it is far from the truth.

    “Let me state for the umpteenth time that APC in Rivers State is not in factions and there is no basis to even conjecture that we will ever get to that situation. There were no parallel congresses of the APC in Rivers State, from the 319 wards, 23 Local Government Area congresses to the state congress.

    “Indeed, we believe that with party primaries drawing near, many aspirants to various offices under our party are already erecting campaign offices, in pursuance of their aspirations and no one can possibly fault that.

    “However, it must be stated that, given the possibility that some human beings may sometimes decide to act in unconscionable manner, should any attempt be made by anyone or group of persons to cause mischief, by deliberately naming campaign office as Rivers State APC secretariat, the leadership of the party will take deliberate steps, within the ambit of the law, to ensure that such malfeasance does not succeed.”

    Flag-Amachree also assured members of the public that Rivers APC is one, under the able leadership of the Minister for Transportation and himself, as the authentic state chairman.

    The face-off between Amaechi and Abe, an ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) in Amaechi’s administration, took a dangerous dimension on August 11, as yet-to-be-identified hoodlums, suspected to be political thugs, vandalised the senator’s parallel state secretariat.

    The parallel APC’s secretariat of Abe’s faction has a former Deputy Chairman of the party, Prince Peter Odike, as the Acting Chairman, while the duly-elected Rivers Chairman of APC (Flag-Amachree), is loyal to Amaechi, the leader of the party in the state and the Southsouth zone.

    Amaechi, the Director-General of Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Campaign Organisation, recently declared that the governorship candidate of APC in the state for the 2019 election must come from the riverine part of the multi-ethnic state, to ensure even development, equity, justice and fairness, since Rivers governors since 1999 had been from the upland part of the state.

    Abe, an indigene of Bera-Ogoni in the upland part of the state, claimed that Rivers APC’s governorship ticket was zoned in 2015 to his senatorial district and yet to be changed, but it was immediately dismissed as a lie, by the party’s Deputy National Secretary, Chief Victor Giadom, from the same Bera-Ogoni as Abe.

    Besides Abe, who was a governorship aspirant of APC in 2015, there are other governorship aspirants in Rivers chapter of the party, namely: Dr. Dakuku Peterside, the party’s governorship candidate in 2015, Tonye Cole, the Chief Executive of Sahara Energy, Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, an oil magnate, and AkpoBari Celestine, a renowned human and environmental rights activist.

    Wike’s allegations

    On August 17, Rivers governor, in a statewide broadcast, called on all eligible voters in the affected communities to come out en-masse, not only to vote for the party and candidate of their choice, but also to defend their votes and ensure their votes count.

    Wike said: “We have it on good authority that some failed politicians are planning to use cultists and political thugs to intimidate voters and attempt to disrupt the voting process.

    “I wish to reiterate that the Rivers State Government will not close its eyes to such thoughtless acts by any person or group of persons to deny our people their God-given right to freely and fairly elect their leaders. We shall not hesitate to apply the full weight and force of government and the law on any delinquent.

    “This election, important as it is, must not be taken as a do-or-die affair. I urge leaders of political parties and their candidates to advise their supporters to peacefully conduct themselves during and after the by-election.”

    Rivers governor also admonished all the persons who had no business with the election process to, in their own interest; keep their distance from the constituency during the duration of the by-election.

    Heavy gunshots, thuggery, violence and snatching of electoral materials, however, marred the by-election, with soldiers, policemen and other security personnel forcing residents to raise their hands on the streets of Port-Harcourt, the state capital, where the election took place.

    In spite of Rivers Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed’s announcement on August 17, during a news conference in Port-Harcourt that 1,500 policemen would be deployed for the poll, with the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCSC) also providing more personnel, the thugs were undeterred, as they unleashed mayhem, with many innocent persons critically injured.

    Candidates of four political parties took part in the by-election, but the real contest was between PDP’s Chiemeka Merukini and APC’s Mr. Dickens Worlu.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Mr. Obo Effanga, an indigene Cross River State, who earlier assured that the election would be free, fair and credible, stated in the morning of August 18 that the electoral materials were sent to all the polling units on time, stressing that he had assurances from the heads of security agencies in Rivers State that the poll would be peaceful.

    The polls took place in Rumuokowu, Ihuwo-Orogbu, Rumuokara-mati, Rumuelechi, Oro-obaziolu, Rumu-enyika, Rumuopareli, Rumuobiekwe, Rumukpalukwuozu, Rumuogbarawehu and Rumuwoji communities, all in Port-Harcourt, with Rivers Police Commissioner announcing restriction of human and vehicular movements from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., which was enforced by security personnel.

    Effanga, in the evening of August 18, announced the suspension of the by-election due to violence and irregularities.

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Chris Finebone, however, insisted that members of the main opposition party (APC) were not involved in the violence and thuggery.

    He said: “The Rivers chapter of APC notes with sadness how the PDP resorted to large-scale violence across the units and wards of Port- Harcourt Constituency 3, State House of Assembly, during the by-election.

    “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency by-election witnessed unprecedented voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting activated by PDP members, in line with their usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.

    “It is encouraging that the people of Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 stood their ground and resisted the intimidation by PDP leaders in the area. It signifies that PDP will no more have its way, as was the case in the past years.

    “The talk that the Rivers State Chairman of APC, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, was engaged in any form of activity in the constituency during the election is mere façade created to mask the evil machinations of the PDP during the by-election.”

    The Chairman of the Rivers chapter of the PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, however, lauded INEC and its REC in Rivers State, for suspending the by-election.

    Obuah said: “I commend INEC for the suspension of the entire exercise (by-election), following the large-scale violence visited on the constituency by APC hoodlums and anti-democratic forces, with their collaborators in security agencies.”

    Rivers Chairman of APC urged INEC to lift the suspension and announce the results of the poll, won by APC.

    Flag-Amachree stated that the hasty decision of REC of INEC in Rivers State to suspend the by-election was disappointing, considering the fact that collation of the results had gone far at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Emenike Junction, Mile One, Diobu, Port-Harcourt.

    Chairman of the main opposition APC in Rivers said: “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency by-election witnessed pockets of voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting, activated by the PDP, in line with the party’s members’ usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.

    “It is worthy of note that security agents gallantly rose to the occasion and effectively quelled the pockets of violence that threatened the by-election in some wards in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, leading to the eventual collation of the results.

    “Members of APC in Rivers State want to believe that the suspension is to allow INEC’s officials to sort itself out and conclude the process accordingly. As a political party, APC is not questioning the judgment or discretionary powers of INEC to make decisions about the by-election. However, such decisions must strictly conform to relevant laws guiding the system and specifically do not include cancellation of a process that has commenced.

    “It is pertinent to remind INEC and reassure APC members and the public that, when it comes to any election process that has commenced, the powers of INEC end at suspension of the process for evaluation and eventual conclusion. Such powers do not include cancellation, as widely and erroneously peddled. It is only the tribunal or court that can decide on the cancellation of such a process, on approach by relevant stakeholders.

    “In view of the need to timeously conclude the by-election process and douse the anxiety of voters in the constituency, APC calls on INEC to swiftly and fairly do the needful and subsequently conclude the process and declare the result accordingly. It must be emphasised that INEC has no luxury of options over the matter, but to audit the process up to the collation stage, when the process was suspended and direct action towards bringing the process to a conclusion.”

    INEC explains

    INEC, however, described the violent disruption of the by-election as shameful, but lauded the Rivers Police Command for preventing a slip into chaos in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, while Wike blamed the police for allegedly declaring war on Rivers State, but the governor hailed the electoral commission for its good organisation.

    The three RECs of INEC: Rivers (Effanga), Mike Igini (Akwa Ibom) and Cyril Omoregbe (Bayelsa), who conducted the by-election, at a news conference in Port-Harcourt on August 19, expressed “gross” disappointment at the display of shamelessness by politicians and their supporters.

    Effanga accused political heavyweights of openly storming polling units with thugs and armed security personnel to disrupt the well-arranged and peaceful process.

    REC of INEC in Rivers said: “The commission, in full readiness for the by-election, deployed personnel and materials in the 142 polling units involved. However, midway, miscreants and hoodlums accompanied by heavily-armed security personnel in uniform stormed the various polling units and registration areas, disrupting voting activities, destroying and carting away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes. In addition, many electoral officials were manhandled, injured and held hostage.”

    Igini, who represented INEC’s National Commissioner for Southsouth, disclosed that an official of the commission was stabbed, others beaten up and held hostage, while a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member’s leg was broken.

    Akwa Ibom State’s REC of INEC stated that reporters were also attacked and voters injured by thugs in some of the polling units, while commending Rivers Police Commissioner, Zaki Ahmed, for providing experienced personnel for the by-election, but wondered where the heavily-armed personnel were brought from by their sponsors.

    Igini said: “What happened on August 18 was a tragedy. It was shameful. It represented a higher level of electoral discredit, falling below the minimum expected standards. Elections must be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, which will allow voters to vote and leave the centre without grumbling.

    “While election was going on, there was violence in significant areas of the polling centres. Some journalists, INEC staff, including NYSC members, were attacked and held hostage during the by-election. An official of the commission was stabbed, others beaten up. Also, a youth corps member’s leg was broken, individuals beaten and injured.

    “Thanks to the security personnel who worked with us (INEC); they were not part of those who disrupted the election, as they were not armed, according to the law.”

    Wike, in a statewide broadcast in the afternoon of August 19, alleged that the consistent sabotage of the electoral process by the police amounted to a declaration of war against the people of Rivers State and their solemn rights to freely and fairly choose their leaders and representatives.

    Rivers governor said: “Clearly, there are dangerous times ahead, but we must not give in to intimidation, lest we lose our liberties and become slaves in our own land.

    “As we had feared, the police failed us completely once again and negated all that they promised. Instead of providing security for voters and INEC officials, the police brazenly colluded with political thugs of the APC to subvert the democratic process and deny the people of Port- Harcourt Constituency 3 their rights to free, fair and credible elections.

    “Confirmed reports from the field indicated that INEC promptly and rightly distributed election materials to all the polling units within a record time. However, while voting was underway, armed thugs from the APC moved freely from one polling unit to another, violently assaulted the voters and INEC officials and carted away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes.”

    Wike also claimed that the police aided and shielded the leader of the thugs from arrest and prosecution.

    APC states case

    The Acting National Publicity Secretary of APC, Yekini Nabena, however, hailed Rivers people for standing up and bravely defending their votes, in spite of the violence and snatching of electoral materials, which he insisted were perpetrated by the members and leaders of PDP.

    Nabena said: “Nigerians will recall how the PDP, speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, had earlier vowed to deploy all means, schemes, shenanigans in all ramifications and magnitude, to rig all coming elections in Nigeria.

    “While we condemn the PDP-sponsored violence and failed attempt to rig the by-election in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, the APC calls on the Rivers State electorate and indeed all Nigerians to continue to stand their ground and resist any attempt to rig elections. Votes must count. The people’s will must prevail in all elections.

    “The PDP’s rigging plan is a red flag that requires urgent attention by INEC and relevant security agencies.”

    While later speaking during a news conference in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers chairman of APC alleged that Wike reached out to him during the August 18 by-election for Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 of the Rivers House of Assembly, pleading to have his cooperation for PDP’s candidate, Chiemeka Merukini, to emerge victorious.

    Flag-Amachree, a former chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council of Rivers State, revealed that as a loyal member of APC, he declined Wike’s advances and promptly reported the offer to the leadership of his political party, while continuing to work for the success of APC’s candidate in the election, Dickens Worlu.

    He maintained that there are deliberate actions of Wike, Rivers Government officials, PDP members and officials of INEC, all aimed at scuttling the by-election.

    Flag-Amachree said: “Some hours after the voting process commenced across the 142 polling units of the Port-Harcourt Constituency 3, words came out through the agents of both parties (APC and PDP) that the APC’s candidate was winning comfortably in most of the polling units.

    “No sooner the information was given to Wike that he mobilised his Chief Security Officer (CSO), Mr. Promise Nwosu, who led fully-armed officers and men of the Nigeria Police attached to Government House, Port-Harcourt to invade various polling units to forcibly disrupt an otherwise peaceful exercise for the purpose of rigging the process in favour of the PDP’s candidate. In the course of the intervention, many shots were fired to intimidate both voters and electoral officials.

    “It was encouraging to observe that despite the massive violence orchestrated by the team of policemen led by Wike’s CSO, most of the voters in the constituency stood their ground and resisted the spate of shootings, assault, battery and intimidation by the armed policemen from Government House, Port-Harcourt.

    “In a failed mission to bribe me, Wike and his CSO became more determined to scuttle the by-election, by joining forces with their armed hoodlums to shoot sporadically around the polling units they visited, beating lawful voters and in some cases either destroying or carting away voting materials. From that moment, Wike decided to undertake a smear campaign against me, as demonstrated in his subsequent broadcast and interviews.”

    Rivers chairman of APC also stated that the state governor lied against the Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in Rivers State, Akin Fakorede, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), who was in Abuja with other F-SARS commanders in Nigeria for a conference with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, when the Port-Harcourt by-election was ongoing, but he was accused by Wike of rigging the poll for APC.

    Flag-Amachree asked the REC of INEC in the state to complete the electoral process by announcing the winner of the by-election, without further delay or meet the party in court.

    The ex-Chairman of Asari-Toru Local Government Council also stated that members of APC were not surprised that Wike and Rivers REC of INEC were working hand in gloves to rig elections in the state, declaring that the recruitment and posting of Effanga, described as a confessed PDP apologist and virulent critic of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, was beyond mere accident, considering his earlier piece in a national newspaper, where he thoroughly abused Buhari’s government, before he was mysteriously employed and posted to Rivers State as REC of INEC.

    Rivers chairman of APC declared that members of his party and other electorate in the state were determined to kick Wike out of Government House, Port-Harcourt on May 29 next year, thereby putting an end to his bad governance, without loss of life and property.

    Rivers governor, who reacted through the state’s Commissioner for Information and Communications, Chief Emma Okah, described Flag-Amachree as a chronic liar.

    Wike said: “He (Rivers Chairman of APC) should stop his cheap lies, meant to divert attention from the atrocities he committed during the by-election in Port-Harcourt Constituency 3. No matter how long he tries to run, the atrocities will continue to haunt him. Nobody offered him N200 million bribe.

    “Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 is a stronghold of the PDP. Even if a goat is fielded as PDP’s candidate in the area, the goat will still win for the ruling PDP.”

    The REC of INEC in Rivers also denied working for Wike and PDP, stressing that he remained unbiased and is committed to conducting free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in Rivers State, without taking sides.

    Effanga said: “I am not working for PDP or Governor Wike. I am working for the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria. My only interest is Nigeria.

    “I cannot stop anybody or political party from going to court. People have the right under the laws of Nigeria to go to court.”

    Rivers Commissioner of Police, while later briefing reporters at the police headquarters on the by-election, insisted that officers and men of the command were not involved in the disruption of the poll.

    Ahmed said: “Police did not at any time collude with any political party to discredit the political process, as alleged in some quarters. Information at the command’s disposal revealed the presence of political thugs at Miles 2 and 3 in Port-Harcourt, who were armed and were disrupting the voting process.

    “The police, in the wake of the information, deployed more personnel and Armoured Personnel Carriers to safeguard the electoral process, lives and property. It must be emphasised that the timely action of the police in checkmating the political thugs prevented loss of lives and property.

    “The INEC officials, who appeared to have been intimidated by the thugs, were reassured by our presence. Accordingly, our counter measures against the thugs and the thuggery they exhibited, calmed the situation and the INEC officials left with some of the electoral materials and subsequently suspended the entire process.”

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC also raised the alarm on the ongoing efforts by Wike and officials of Rivers Government to enlist the services of a judge of the Rivers State judiciary to sit and grant an injunction stopping INEC from proceeding to conclude and announce the result of the by-election.

    Finebone said: “So far, all the judges approached to execute the scheme have politely turned it down. The APC salutes the courage of these judges. We call on those yet to be contacted to emulate their colleagues and turn down an attempt by the Rivers State Government to abuse the judicial system.

    “The APC believes that despite the threats being made against the judges who have refused to be dragged into the matter, the judges of the Rivers State Judiciary, as noble men and women, will continue to display this kind of uncommon bravery and strict adherence to the tenets of the hallowed profession of dispensing justice without fear or favour.

    “We urge Wike and the PDP in Rivers State to abandon their evil agenda, meant to, once again, drag the judiciary into the murky political waters of the state.”

    Coalition calls for end of game

    The Coalition of Opposition Political Parties in Rivers State equally declared that the white lie of the REC of INEC in the state on the controversial by-election remained unacceptable and a disgrace to Nigeria’s democracy.

    In a news conference on August 22 in Port-Harcourt, the coalition, through Sobrasua Johnbull of the Democratic Alliance, and Lucky Ekeji of Mass Movement of Nigeria, disclosed that members of the political parties and civil society might consider self-help and mass action.

    It expressed surprise that Effanga, rather than admitting that he was working for Wike and PDP, gave flimsy excuse of suspending the by-election for Port-Harcourt Constituency 3 of the Rivers House of Assembly, already won by candidate of the APC, because of alleged violence and irregularities.

    The coalition said: “We find the news of the suspension of the Port -Harcourt Constituency 3 by-election by Rivers REC of INEC as astonishing, unnecessary and against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.”

    Members of the opposition political parties in Rivers also called on INEC to immediately make public the results, as declared in the polling units and wards that were collated.

    The politicians declared that they would no longer fold their arms and see corrupt people steal the power of the electorate, which was described as the drama unfolding in the by-election of Port-Harcourt Constituency 3.

    The coalition said: “It is our belief that Mr. Obo Effanga (REC of INEC) will never associate himself with such levels of lies and deceptions to rob the winner of the by-election of August 18, 2018.

    “We align with the statement made by Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed, earlier in a news conference in Port-Harcourt, in which he attested to the fact that the pockets of violence noticed during the by-election were successfully quelled. We agree that this is the only election in Rivers State that saw the least of violence, as no single soul was lost or property burnt, as was rampant during previous polls in Rivers State.

    Members of the coalition also strongly called on INEC to promptly conclude the collation process of the by-election and results released immediately, to avert possible self-help by affected stakeholders and civil society mass action.

    The REC of INEC in Rivers State, however, insisted that his only interest is Nigeria, while denying supporting Wike and PDP.

    For now, it cannot be guaranteed, if there will not be a repeat of the 2015/2016 Rivers of blood in 2019, considering the desperation being displayed by many political leaders and their supporters, who must be called to order, in order to avoid war, loss of lives of mostly innocent persons and valuable property worth billions of naira. A stitch in time saves nine.

  • Rivers: INEC suspends poll, as violence mars 
 bye-election

    Heavy gunshots, thuggery, violence and snatching of electoral materials marred yesterday’s bye-election for Port Harcourt Constituency 3 in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    Soldiers, policemen and other security personnel forced residents to raise their hands on the streets of Port Harcourt, the state capital, where the election took place.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner Obo Effanga in a statement said “As a result of widespread and wanton disruption of  the electoral process reported,” the elections have been suspended.

    Thugs operated freely despite Rivers Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Zaki’s announcement that 1,500 policemen would be deployed for the poll with the Nigerian army, Department of State Services (DSS) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCSC) also enlisted.

    They unleashed mayhem, beating innocent persons many of whom were critically injured.

    As at press time, collation of results was ongoing at St. Andrew’s Primary School, Emenike Junction Mile One, Diobu, Port- Harcourt with the area and adjoining roads condoned off by fully-armed security personnel.

    Candidates of many political parties took part in the bye-election, but the real contest was between Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP’s) ChiemekaMerukini and All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) Mr. Deacon Worlu.

    The then representative of Port Harcourt constituency 3, Victor Ihunwo of the PDP, resigned in June to contest as Chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, which he won.

    The poll took place in Rumuokowu, Ihuwo-Orogbu, Rumuokara-mati, Rumuelechi, Oro-obaziolu, Rumu-enyika, Rumuopareli, Rumuobiekwe, Rumukpalukwuozu, Rumuogbarawehu and Rumuwoji communities, all in Port Harcourt with police announcing restriction human and vehicular movements from 7 am to 6 pm, which was enforced by security personnel.

    There were accusations and counter accusations between members of PDP and APC about persons involved in the violence.

    Rivers Publicity Secretary of APC, Chief Chris Finebone, blamed PDP members for the violent acts.

    He said: “The Rivers chapter of APC notes with sadness how the PDP resorted to large-scale violence across the units and wards of Port Harcourt Constituency 3, state House of Assembly, during the bye-election today (yesterday).

    “It is unfortunate that what should be a mere state constituency bye-election witnessed unprecedented voter intimidation, harassment, vote-buying and shooting activated by the PDP, in line with their usual character of rigging elections through killing and maiming of APC members.

    “It is encouraging that the people of Port Harcourt constituency 3 stood their ground and resisted the intimidation by PDP leaders in the area. It signifies that PDP will no more have its way, as was the case in the past years.

    “The talk that the Rivers State Chairman of APC, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree, was engaged in any form of activity in the constituency during the election is mere façade created to mask the evil machinations of the PDP during the bye-election.”

    Pastor Jerry Needam, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Rivers Chairman of PDP, Chief Felix Obuah, however didn’t respond to calls and text messages to his MTN line as at the time of filing the report.

    Rivers Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nnamdi Omoni, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), also did not answer calls from 6:30 pm while text sent to the same line at 6:37 pm had not been replied as at press time.

     

  • BDC operator’s murder sparks violence in Lagos hotel

    •As masked men attack carpenter

    Violence erupted on Wednesday night at a hotel in Ebute-Meta on Lagos Mainland following the murder of a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator identified simply as Mohammed.

    It was gathered that Mohammed had escorted a colleague of his, also identified simply as Mohammed, to Exclusive Mansion Hotel at Ondo Street on Apapa Road to sell gold jewellery estimated at N300,000 to some clients.

    Mohammed’s supposed clients, The Nation gathered, had contacted him with the claim that they wanted to change a foreign currency and buy three-piece gold jewellery.

    The dealer was to meet them at a hotel in Orile Coker or at a bank on Costain-Apapa Road, both of which he reportedly rejected.

    Following persistent calls from the would-be clients, the dealer was said to have accepted to meet them at a new location, Exclusive Mansion Hotel, where he went in the company of Mohammed.

    The duo were reportedly taken to a room on the last floor of the hotel and presented the jewellery to the supposed buyers, said to be two men.

    But two suspected members of the gang came out of the toilet.

    The four men, suspected to be fraudsters and armed robbers, were said to have descended on the merchants, hitting them with bottles and other objects.

    While the dealer was said to have passed out and later resuscitated at a hospital, Mohammed reportedly died on the spot.

    A resident, Ishola Agbodemu, said news of the attack got to their colleagues around 8 p.m and they invaded the hotel.

    He said: “What happened was that the BDC operator and his friends were attacked by supposed clients they went to transact business with. I was among those who intervened. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was resuscitated.

    “The criminals killed his friend, whose name is also Mohammed. According to the victim, the people have been calling him since 12 p.m to come with three pieces of gold necklaces and an anklet at a hotel in Orile-Coker. He said he refused to go and then, they changed the location to a bank on Apapa-Costain Road, which he also refused to go.

    “Around 5 p.m, they called again that he should come to Exclusive Mansion Hotel on Ondo Street. So, he went with his friend and they were taken to a room on the last floor.

    “While they were in the room and had brought out the items, one of the men opened the toilet door and two others came into the room. They started hitting the traders with bottles. That was how his friend died on the spot.

    “He passed out and was revived at the Federal Medical Centre at Railway Compound. Around 8 p.m, the news of Mohammed’s death reached the Hausa community in Ebute-Meta and they mobilised to the hotel.

    “They broke into the premises, chased lodgers out and vandalised the hotel. It took the intervention of the Area “C” Police Command, Denton Police Division, voluntary vigilance groups and community leaders to restore calm.”

    Also, hooded armed men early Wednesday attacked a carpenter, Busari Ikusanu, at his Dawudu Lane, Ilogbo, Ebute-Meta home.

    The carpenter was reportedly macheted around 1.45 a.m when four masked men broke into his home.

    Although it was unclear if the attackers robbed Ikusanu of any valuable, it was gathered that the victim sustained head and arm injuries.

    Agbodemu, who decried insecurity in the neighbourhood, claimed the residents had reported the activities of a group of hooded men to the police and were yet to get any result.

    “The state of insecurity has been our concern for a long time. I have written series of letters to the Lagos State Police Command. We have reported the activities of this particular group of hooded men but nothing has been done,” he said.

    Police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), said three suspects were arrested in connection with the kiling at the hotel.

    Oti said: “We were alerted about the incident by the hotel management and our operatives swiftly responded to the distress to avoid escalation.

    “Already, three suspects are in our custody. I cannot say whether they are part of the group that attacked the traders or not. Investigation is ongoing and I can assure that more suspects would be apprehended.

    “On the man (who was attacked at his home by masked men, we have no record of it. No one incidented such a compliant.”

     

  • Zimbabwe charges 24 opposition supporters with violence

    Twenty four members of Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC Alliance appeared in court yesterday on violence charges, a day after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared winner of the historic first elections following the downfall of Robert Mugabe.

    Mnangagwa, a former Mugabe ally, has called for unity after presidential rival Nelson Chamisa rejected the results, insisting he was the real winner of an election marred by a deadly crackdown on opposition supporters.

    At least six people died after troops in the capital Harare opened fire on demonstrators Wednesday, sparking an international outcry and raising grim memories of post-election violence under Mugabe’s repressive rule.

    Mnangagwa has accused Chamisa’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) of fomenting the unrest, but said he would set up an independent commission to investigate the killings.

    The 24 opposition members appearing in court were charged with “public violence” during the protests, accused of smashing windows at offices of the ruling ZANU-PF party, throwing stones and setting fire to vehicles.

    A magistrate told the packed Harare courtroom the tribunal was “overwhelmed” and that the case would be postponed until tomorrow.

    Defence lawyer Denford Halimani said the 16 men and eight women had been caught up in an “opportunistic dragnet” against the opposition.

    Mnangagwa has insisted that the landmark election was “free, fair and credible”, and has called for national unity as he pushes for an end to Zimbabwe’s international isolation.

    International observers praised the peaceful conduct of the vote, though EU monitors said Mnangagwa enjoyed an “un-level playing field” including heavy state media coverage.

    Mnangagwa won 50.8 percent against Chamisa’s 44.3 percent, according to official results — just enough to avoid a presidential run-off.

    Chamisa, a 40-year-old pastor and lawyer, has urged his supporters to refrain from violence as he prepares to challenge the results in court.

    “We won but they declared the opposite. You voted but they cheated,” he said on Twitter yesterday.

    Mnangagwa, 75, has said Chamisa is free to mount a legal challenge, though such a move appears to have little chance of changing the result.

    A former right-hand man to Mugabe, Mnangagwa was chosen to lead ZANU-PF after the brief military intervention last November that ousted him after 37 years in power.

    Mnangagwa was allegedly involved in state violence during the 2008 elections when the opposition pulled out of the run-off, following the deaths of at least 200 supporters in attacks.

    He has hailed this week’s polls as a “new beginning” and pledged to represent all Zimbabweans, including those who did not vote for him.

    But rights groups have expressed concern that heavy-handed policing to prevent more opposition protests is a sign of how he intends to govern.

    Amnesty International said more than 60 people had been “arbitrarily arrested” in a post-election clampdown on the opposition.

     

     

  • Ekiti: One shot in violent clash over traditional festivals

    • Soldiers, armed policemen take over security

    One person was shot on Friday night as the celebration of Odun Oba and Olosunta traditional festivals in Ikere-Ekiti turned violent.

    The Odun Oba Festival celebrated by the Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado, reached its peak yesterday with paying of homage and celebration of the New Yam.

    The climax of the festival also marked commencement of the weeklong Olosunta festival by Olukere, Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin.

    Soldiers, riot policemen and men of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps have mounted guard in Odo Oja area, which was the battle ground to prevent a reoccurrence of violence in the town.

    Olukere and Ogoga are trading accusations on who caused the violence which started Friday night and continued till early hours of yesterday.

    Ogoga alleged Olukere’s thugs attacked the Oloris (palace queens) on Friday and wounded some of them during a traditional dance to some locations in the town.

    Olukere alleged security men working for Ogoga invaded his

    (Olukere’s) palace at about 1.00am yesterday shooting sporadically.

    Obasoyin also alleged the billboard mounted in Odo Oja area to advertise the Olosunta Festival was vandalised by Alagbado’s loyalists.

    He said: “Ogoga’s security men shot one of my boys, Oladimeji Aluko. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

    “I am indoors because the Olosunta festival commenced today

    (Saturday). Information reached me that they invaded my palace and were firing gunshots.

    “When they could not find me, they went to my private residence in Ado where they were resisted but they also shot somebody there.

    “We found eight to ten pellets on the ground from their gunshots and we have informed the Commissioner of Police.”

    “I don’t have any problem with Ogoga, all I am demanding from the state government is my staff of office because I am King in this community and they should give me my right.”

    But Oba Alagbado fired back: “There is a thug who called himself

    Olukere, Ganiyu Obasoyin. He is an impostor because he was not

    approved by the prescribed authority, the Ogoga.

    “Yesterday (Friday), all the oloris danced from the palace to the Post Office area, the land belongs to the Aladeselu family.

    “Obasoyin and his thugs attacked the women there shooting guns on the day ‘Opekele Ayaba.’ His thugs seized their two cameras, destroyed their drums and some old women fainted, the local trumpeter was attacked.

    “Ikere has only one Oba, the Ogoga, Odo Oja is headed by Ologotun.

    “Obasoyin has constituted himself as a nuisance in this town.

    “Nobody can be a chief in this town without my approval. Who owns this town? Can you divide my town for me? We are waiting for the current Police regime to do their job.”

    Police Public Relations Officer, Caleb Ikechukwu, Deputy

    Superintendent of Police could not be reached for comments at press time as his phone was switched off.

    He was yet to respond to a text message sent to him.

     

  • CSO seeks sanction for politicians involved in violence

    A CIVIL society organisation, Election Monitor, has called for sanctions for political office holders and other highly placed individuals that may be involved in electoral violence during the Ekiti governorship election.

    Its National Coordinator, Abiodun Ajijola, made the call at the public presentation of the 2018 Ekiti Governorship Election Observation and Research Guide, in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    He called security agencies to announce sanctions for security operatives involved in election malpractices during the election.

    Ajijola said sanctioning security personnel involved in malpractice would serve as deterrent to politicians and others who may want to be involved in such conduct.

    He said: “There should be effective sanctions for political office holders and other highly placed individuals involved in Electoral violence. At least handing them over to the police for prosecution.

    “There is a need for INEC to appeal to the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to intervene by providing very clear consequences for security operatives who are partisan and work against the conduct of peaceful elections irrespective of political affiliations.

    “This is key because much of what has happened in the past where insecurity did not allow elections to be concluded is a show of force of different political actors who have influence over security in different ways.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • How do we stop this cycle of violence?

    Today, violence has taken the lead in all parts of the country. There is no state where it has not been deep-rooted. This unfortunate turn of event has shattered the historical amity that existed among people. The continued escalation of violence in different parts of the country has indeed made the essence of peace a mirage. This wanton killing is really alarming, the way and manner in which innocent souls are wasted on daily basis calls for a serious concern.

    People are being massacred every day and those in authority pretend as if all is well. We must not forget that when a hunter does not understand the steps of a lion, he may end up in its stomach. A day will surely come when nemesis will catch up with those fuelling these crises.

    The way Benue people are swimming in tears every day is very painful and pathetic. From January down to June 2018 alone, the number of innocent souls killed there will ever remain a misery in the minds of the people who lost their loved ones as a result of these killings. Imagine turning women into widows when they are not prepared, imagine parents losing sons and daughters just like that, imagine seeing able bodied youths who should be entrusted with the affairs of this nation been wasted. For how long should we keep mourning?

    Few weeks back, a fresh crisis erupted in Barkin Ladi in Plateau State where shootings lasted for hours, leaving many people dead. Instead of the crisis to abate, it is rather spreading fast across several villages. No place in Nigeria is safe today except the Aso Villa where security is mounted and planted forever. I cry out for this country, if we are really going this far. A country where the life of an animal is superior to that of human beings, a country where the less-privileged in the society languishes in penury and die a miserable death.

    I think we must not go the route of countries like Sudan, Northern Ireland, Somalia to fight a fratricidal civil war first before sitting down to talk. Let us all sit down and talk now that we are still in our senses. Let us come together and see how we can stop this cycle of violence in our dear country. For how long can we sit and fold our hands to watch innocent souls disappear just like that? Politicising events like this will not take us to the Promised Land. We must forget our differences irrespective of our tribe, religion, economic status or even political affiliation. We must stop this blame game that is accelerating this cycle of violence.

    We must dismiss this notion of ‘my families are not involved, my religion is not affected;’ it has nothing to do with my political members, if not, we should be ready for a full-blown war. This is not a prophecy of doom but the way these crises are developing is foreboding. We must come together as one and say no to this cycle of violence in our dear country. A stitch in time saves nine. We must unite to combat security challenges.

    • Aondover Eric Msughter,

     Department of Mass Communication,

    Bayero University, Kano.

     

  • Delta aspirant accuses ex-lawmakers of causing violence 

    A House of Assembly aspirant in Delta State,  Sheriff Mulade, has accused past lawmakers of Warri South West constituency of bad leadership.

    Mulade, a renowned environmentalist, spoke while unveiling his five-point agenda for the council area during a news conference in Warri on Monday.

    He vowed to ensure peaceful coexistence between the Ijaws and Itsekiris, the two ethnic nationalities in the constituency, if elected in 2019.

    The lawmaker hopeful, running under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said: “It is no gain saying the fact that the failure to pursue a programme that embraces both Ijaw and Itsekiri in Warri South West is the bane of development and progress in the area. For years, we have allowed ethnic differences to separate us. The consequences of what they did with the mandate we gave them was violence, hatred and divide and rule policies that attracted the anger of our young people that caused even greater problems than we could imagine.

    “Our people cannot afford to go back to the days of insanity perpetrated by some self-centred leaders with questionable characters. The cry of every right thinking person in Warri South West is for a man or a woman who has the capacity to build bridges of peace between the two inter-married Ijaw and Itsekiri ethnic tribes in the council area.

    “Our people are in search of a person who for years has seen the need to work for the progress of our people through peaceful advocacy. Let me say with all sense of humility that if I am given the opportunity to serve, I will do everything possible to ensure that we will never again get involved in inter-ethnic strife. I will give equal attention to the needs of both ethnic groups. From henceforth, the people of Warri South West will view their representatives, not as Ijaw or Itsekiri, but as leaders with vision and mission for our rich and oil bearing communities.”

    He added that he would sponsor bills that would lead to the provision of quality education.

     

  • Kukah, N’Abba, want end to killings

    ….Imansuangbon blames politicians for killings

    The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Mathew Kukah and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali N’Abba, at the weekend called for an end to the killings and violence in some parts of the country.

    They both agreed that the country was not in a good place right now.

    The former speaker and clergy man spoke at the graduation ceremony of students of Pacesetter Group of Schools, on Saturday, in Abuja.

    Kukah said there was need for the Federal Government to take concrete action to end the killings going on in some parts of the country.

    He said: “I don’t think where Nigeria is now does good to anybody. Prayers are important but they are not enough. We need to also see some really practical actions.

    “We are hemorrhaging badly. Everybody who lives in this country knows and whatever needs to be done- and I think those in power understands what needs to be done and we need to be properly communicated with.

    “We cannot have a country where illiterate people, people who have no contribution to really make to this country, wherever they are coming from, men and women of darkness to take over the country. It is not acceptable and the reason why government exists is to secure the territorial space of Nigeria. Where we are we are not working.”

    On his part, the former speaker sought for collaborations to end the killings in the country.

    Read Also:How to end killings, by ex-IG Abbah, Senator Ibrahim, others

    According to him, the federal government alone cannot handle the current situation the country has found itself.

    Mr. N’Abba said: “I think a long time ago communities must have been engaged properly by this administration. I don’t think communities are being engaged. These conflicts have been raging on even before this administration and I thought the administration must have been prepared enough to meet with most communities where these conflicts have been taking place with a view to engaging them not on one off basis but on a continuous basis. I don’t see this happening.

    “I don’t think it has been handled in the most appropriate manner. I don’t think he (Buhari) can handle this problem alone and the impression he has given most people is that he is working alone.

    “If he wants to solve problems in this country he has to engage many people as possible- elders, the party and everybody that can assist. Problems cannot be solved just governmentally and that is what I think they are doing and not everybody in the government possess the right kind of wisdom for them to be able to solve these intricate problems.”

    Chairman of Pacesetters Group of Schools, Barr. Kenneth Imansuangbon described the present situation in the country as disturbing.

    He blamed the violence and killings in the country on the struggle for power by politicians.

    Barr. Imansuangbon said: “What is happening in our country today is very laughable and disturbing. This is not the Nigeria that we know. This was not the Nigeria Tafawa Balewa, Saudana, Okotie-Eboh, Prof. Ambros Ali, Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Okpara gave to us. They left a good and united country for us. In their time there was no killings.

    “I will hold the past 17 years of politicians responsible for this evil and shameful killings. As far as I am concerned I have no respect for any politician because they are selfish and greedy.

    “I don’t think this is a Christian – Muslim war but the drums of war are beating. We can see it.

    “We need to support the president now for us to have peace, good elections, create jobs, for roads to work and for water to run. Every Nigerian has the constitutional responsibility to make sure the country works.

    “It’s a shame to our generation that we are now human killers and eaters. What is happening in Nigeria if you don’t know the consequence, it will take the next 100 years for somebody to believe in our country. Do you think a serious human being will want to invest in Nigeria with the killings? Very soon if we don’t stop this nonsense everybody will pay the price- both the rich and the poor.”

  • Labour to Nigerians: ensure violence-free 2019 elections

    Organised labour has urged Nigerians to reflect on how the forthcoming general elections could be conducted devoid of violence.

    Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama said Nigerians should embrace the virtues of personal sacrifices, piety and self denial. He called for dedication, discipline and diligence.

    He said the deficiency of these virtues were the fundamental reasons why countries that we were at par with in the 1970s have all left us behind, noting that the time to look beyond all “artificial social, political and economic divisions, including minor ethnic and religious differences in the society is now,” Kaigama said.

    He implored Nigerians to be patriotic and strictly allow the cardinal principles of their respective religions to reflect in their dealings, as they remain the only way to ensure peace and unity of the nation.

    “We should exhibit oneness to be able to stand strong together through diverse difficulties and challenges. We must focus on the things that bind us together. That is the new Nigeria we want,” Kaigama stated.

    Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) President Prince Williams Akporeha urged Nigerians to spare a word of prayer for Nigeria in the face of various economic challenges as the campaign for the 2019 national elections gathers momentum.

    “On our part, we will strive to do everything within our powers to maintain industrial peace in the country while we urge the government and relevant agencies to guarantee fairness, justice and equity on issues that have to do with workers’ welfare,” he said.

    He, however, called on the Federal Government to ensure that other parts of the harmonised version of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB), which has just been passed by the National Assembly, are speedily passed to help recover and maximise the industry’s operational capacity.

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Ayuba Wabba, noted that in view of the divisive political currents flowing all over Nigeria and mainly driven by irresponsible politics, it is important that Nigerians learn that united in love and sharing, the country stands divided in prejudice and hate, it falls.

    He said: “As we gradually approach another election year in 2019, we urge all Nigerians to intensify prayers for national peace and work towards a violence free and credible elections. It is our prayer that in the 2019 elections, the will of the electorate will prevail and be respected.

    “Well, in the midst of harrowing general inflation, Nigerian workers have soldiered on in self-denial, dedication and diligence as partners in the onerous mission of nation building. The government can make workers’ load lighter by quickly approving the demand of organised labour for a New National Minimum Wage,” he said.