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Jonathan is promoting impunity – APC

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Jonathan is promoting impunity – APC

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of promoting impunity, unconstitutionality and overheating the polity thus threatening the peace and stability of the country.

The party said that President Jonathan, more than any other leader in the history of the country, has promoted and encouraged impunity and unconstitutionality, divisive policies and exploited religious and ethnic differences – all in his attempts to cling to power till 2015 and beyond.

Reacting to last week’s blockade of the Rivers State Government House, by the police, the party in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Lai Mohammed, blamed the President for the incident, noting the police would not have taken the action if they were not assured of support from higher authorities.

“As far as the crisis in Rivers is concerned, the buck stops on the President’s desk. Here is a President who decided, unwisely, to make the election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum a referendum on his administration’s credibility. Even after he lost woefully, he has failed to learn his lessons, as he has continued in his hot pursuit of a fellow-elected political leader,” the APCsaid.

The party warned that giving presidential backing to the police or any national institution at all to commit impunity and violate the nation’s constitution, is the fastest means to destroy such institutions and erode public confidence in them.

”In the case of the police, what is happening in Rivers is sending a wrong signal to the polity concerning the role of the force in 2015. How can a malleable police be trusted to be neutral and to help ensure the conduct of a free and fair election – with the President as a candidate – in 2015?” APC queried.

Condemning the act of using police force as a mechanism to harass, intimidate, arrest and persecute all his real and perceived political enemies, the party said the police under President Jonathan, has increasingly become a lawless institution whose allegiance is only to the President and not to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The APC noted that since the onset of the Jonathan-inspired political logjam in Rivers State and the implosion of PDP, the President has been depending on the police to shore up his dwindling political fortune.

Instances given by the party include the insubordination of the Rivers State police commissioner Joseph Mbu; the police-sponsored fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly; the assault on the five visiting governors by thugs and the unlawful occupation of the new PDPSecretariats in Abuja and Lagos.

APC also stated that the President has set an unenviable record of being the first sitting President of the country to suffer the indignity of being walked out upon by governors and federal legislators elected under the platform of his own party; as well as senior members of the same party at its National Convention in the full glare of local and international media.

”Under his watch, his party which at the height of its self delusion prided itself as the biggest party in Africa that is destined to rule the country for the next 60 years has now imploded and the fallout of this implosion is threatening the fragile unity of the country,” the party said.

Niger Bars Six Women From Hajj

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Niger Bars Six Women From Hajj

Nma Shekwolo
Six female intending pilgrims from Niger State have been disqualified from the forth-coming Hajj to Saudi Arabia.

The state  commissioner for health, Ibrahim Sule, disclosed to journalists on Sunday in Minna, during the flag- off of the inoculation of intending pilgrims against yellow fever, polio and cerebral spinal meningitis.

He said they were excluded because they were discovered to be pregnant by the medical team in charge of screening.

Sule noted that the decision is in order to protect the women and their pregnancy from the demanding activities to be carried out by pilgrims in the holy land, which conforms with the directive of the National Hajj Commission.

Travelling documents of the affected women have been recovered from them by the medical team in a bid to ensure the ban on their pilgrimage is enforced.

The commissioner said another round of screening for the female pilgrims, would be conducted hours before their departure to the holy land and urged all intending pilgrims to present themselves for the free immunisation against diseases during the Hajj.
Sule warned that yelllow cards would not be issued to any pilgrim who refuses to be vaccinated as the Saudi authorities are very strict about the administration of the vaccines.

Pregnant females have also been barred from the Hajj in other states across the country, including Kano, where seven women were disqualified from the trip, and in Lagos state where pregnant women, children, aged people and those with terminal diseases like cancer, stroke and others were excluded.

Killing Of Youth By Policeman Sparks Protest In Borno

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Killing Of Youth By Policeman Sparks Protest In Borno

The alleged killing of a member of the youth vigilante group by a policeman in Maiduguri, BornoState on Saturday sparked protests from hundreds of people in the city.

According to the account of the vigilante group, the shooting occured as members were returning from a trip made to some Boko Haram identified quarters where they were to arrest some suspected insurgents and hand them over to a military post opposite the Borno Express Transport Company.

According to the youths, they were confronted by two policemen along the popular Kano road who accused them of violating traffic law by driving against the traffic and as the arguments dragged, one of the policemen threatened to shoot and subsequently pulled the trigger.

Realising what he had killed the young man, the trigger happy officer ran for his life but his colleague was attacked by the angry vigilante group.

Afterwards, members of the group, popularly called the Civilian JTF, along with other youths inMaiduguri took to the streets chanting “police is Boko Haram”.

The protest caused traffic gridlock along the major roads for hours as the youths barricaded roads, burning tyres and wielding dangerous weapons to scare off motorists.

They also tried unsuccessfully to raze down the state police headquarters as they were prevented by soldiers who came to the assistance of the policemen on duty.

The governor of the State, Kashim Shettima, whose convoy ran into the protest, appealed to the youths to keep the peace, promising to address their grievances.

Speaking to some youths later at the government house, Shettima who  said he was sadden by the incident commiserated with the family of the deceased and promised to pay them a compensation of N3.5 million.

He also promised to personally attend the burial of the youth whose v life was cut short, as a way of regaining their confidence.

The Civilian JTF is a voluntary group of youths who have decided to team up with security men in the state to fish out members of the notorious Boko Haram sect, in order to  restore peace to the state.

Ondo State Ex-Gov, Olusegun Agagu is dead

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Ondo State Ex-Gov, Olusegun Agagu is dead

Former governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Agagu, is dead.

 

The former governor slumped on Friday evening and died before he could be taken to the hospital, a day after returning from vacation in the US.

 

Confirming the news of his death to www.icirnigeria.org, Agagu’s former Chief Press Secretary, CPS, Yemi Owolabi said the former Governor had slumped during a meeting he was attending in Lagos at about6pm and was immediately rushed to the hospital.

 

He added that his former boss was certified dead on arrival at anIkoyi hospital.

 

Owolabi noted that Agagu had shown no sign of weakness since his return from the US on Thursday.

 

Agagu, a scholar, was born on February 16, 1948. He was governor of Ondo State from May 29, 2003 to February 2009 before the court nullified his re-election as on account of electoral fraudulence.

 

Agagu was the first minister of aviation during former PresidentOlusegun Obasanjo’s first term from 1999.

 

He had his primary school education in different schools across the country between 1954 and 1960.

 

They include St. Luke’s Anglican School, now known as St. Paul’s Anglican School Okitipupa, Ebenezer African Church School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, Ebenezer Methodist School and Baptist Primary SchoolSabon-Gari, Kano and Ebenezer African Church School, Ibadan.

 

He proceeded to Ibadan Grammar School between January 1961 and 1967 where he passed his West African School Certificate and the Higher School Certificate examinations.

 

He was admitted to the University of Ibadan in 1968 to study Botany but later changed to Geology and graduated in 1971.

 

Agagu went to the University of Texas between 1973 and 1974 for his Masters degree in Geology, returning to Nigeria, for a Ph.D degree in Petroleum Geology from the University of Ibadan in 1978.

Fire guts Nasarawa Information Ministry

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Fire guts Nasarawa Information Ministry

The Nasarawa State ministry of information and ethical re-orientation on Friday was thrown into pandemonium over a fire outbreak that gutted part of its offices located along Shendam road in Lafia.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the inferno.

 

No life was reportedly lost in the fire but archival materials including calendars, historical documents, diaries and electrical appliances were burnt.

 

The ministry’s staff including the commissioner, Hamza Elayo, were seen making efforts to put out the fire before the arrival of fire fighters.

 

Speaking to journalists, Elayo said that the fire was caused by power fluctuations noted from the ministry’s store that was recently re organized.

 

He said that the fire started around 10.30 a.m but was extinguished through efforts of the ministry’s staff before the arrival of fire fighters from the state fire service.

 

Elayo said that experts would be invited from the state ministry of works to ascertain the level of damage in the building to avoid cracks that might lead to its collapse.

Boko Haram Members Desperate For Food – Army

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Boko Haram Members Desperate For Food – Army

Recent attacks carried out by members of the outlawed Boko Haramsect in Borno state have been done out of desperation for food and cash, the military has said.

Army spokesman in the state, Sagir Musa, said in Maiduguri on Friday that recent attacks on some communities in the state indicate that the terrorists, who are still holed up in various hideouts, may be running out of supplies.

“The recent distressed attacks on isolated villages in some agrarian areas of Northern Borno state brings to the fore the blatant desperation of Boko Haram terrorists in search for food items, cash for survival and sustenance of their sacrilegious activities,” he said.

According to the spokesman, sect members who have now also resorted to cannibalism for survival, rob helpless villagers of food and money.

Musa said that the sect had sent a letter to traders in Dikwamarket demanding N1 million to enable them purchase food items and other logistics, failure of which would invoke their wrath.

He also recalled that on Thursday, troops from Banking Forward Operating Base on a mission to 202 Battalion in Bama discovered some Boko Haram members on the road from Bama road carrying out armed robbery attacks on traders and travellers.

“The terrorists had killed three passengers and collected unspecified amounts of cash and food items during the robbery incident,” he said.

A confrontation that ensued left seven casualties on the side of the insurgents, Musa said.

He attributed the recent upsurge in attacks by the sect to the on-going activities of the 7 Division Nigerian Army combat operations team targeted at Boko Haram bases and enclaves in the rural communities of Bama, Damboa and Gajiram.

Some camps which served as shelter for the group have been destroyed and members dispersed to different locations from where they come out and attack innocent civilians.

Musa noted that these new bases and enclaves have been identified, assuring the public that the army is on top of the situation.

Insecurity Shoots Up Polio Records In Borno

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Insecurity Shoots Up Polio Records In Borno

The recent rise of poliomyelitis cases in Borno State has been blamed on terrorist activities in the region.

Borno has recorded 14 cases of polio so far this year, double the figure recorded last year and the highest among eight other northern states in the country yet to kick out the virus.

According to the state commissioner for health, Salma Anas-Kolo, the insecurity in parts of the state made it difficult for health workers to immunize children, thus leading to higher records of the polio virus.
Anas-Kolo said this at a sensitization programme for traditional leaders in the state to create awareness on the need to meet the World Health Organisation, WHO target of a polio-free world by 2014.

She said Maiduguri was picked for the kick-off of the sensitizationprogramme because it recorded the highest cases of six out of 14 in the state, adding that the incidencts could have been higher but for the dedication of health workers in spite of the insecurity in the area.

On his part, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Al-Amin Elkanemi, who hosted the sensitization programme at his palace, called on his subjects to immunise their children from a few months to five years against the scourge.

He also called on all traditional institutions in the state to intensify effort towards fighting polio, insisting that the government will not give them any drug that will harm them.

In Nigeria, 37 cases of polio have been recorded this year, over 70 per cent of the global 44 cases.

The other states yet to completely eradicate the virus areAdamawa, Kano, Niger, Gombe, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Yobe and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

 

Niger and the FCT have the lowest record of one case each.

Edo State Traditional Ruler Kidnapped

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Edo State Traditional Ruler Kidnapped

In what now seems to be the norm in Edo State, the traditional ruler  Udo Community, Patrick Igbinidu, has been abducted by unknown men.

His abduction came only hours after human rights activist, MikeOzekhome, was released by his kidnappers nearly three weeks after he and his driver were whisked away.

The traditional ruler, who is the Iyasere of Udo and an in law to the Benin Monarch, Omo N’oba Erediauwa, was kidnapped at about 7pmby a four-man gang while playing draft with his friends close to his palace in the community and forcefully taken away to unknown destination in an Audi car.

Chairman of Ovia South-west local government area, MorrisonOgunrobo, confirmed the kidnap of the traditional ruler, adding that security operatives have been drafted to the area.

Udo, a small community in Ovia South-West local government area of Edo state, is a significant community in Benin Kingdom, where all crown princes to the Benin throne must perform certain rituals before being crowned as Oba of Benin.

Meanwhile, Ozekhome who was freed Thursday morning has asked the federal government to grant amnesty to kidnappers in the country.

Recounting his ordeal to newsmen at his Lagos residence, he described his abductors as “angry and desperate well-read graduates” who have a network of cells across the country.

He said during his interactions with them, they told him that they were pushed into kidnapping due to unemployment and poverty but that they were prepared to sheath their swords and embrace a deal with government if they were assured of their lives.

“As a matter of extreme urgency, I want the Federal Government to immediately grant amnesty to all kidnappers and institute an amnesty programme for all kidnappers,” Ozekhome said.

He also urged the government to declare a national state of emergency on youth unemployment and infrastructure decay, adding that the security situation in the country was a national calamity which demanded urgent attention.

Anambra Polls: Court Orders PDP, INEC To Maintain Status Quo

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Anambra Polls: Court Orders PDP, INEC To Maintain Status Quo

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Thursday ordered the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognise and deal with the two factions of the party in Anambra State.

The presiding Judge, Hyeladzira Nganjiwa gave the order while ruling on a motion filed by a factional chairman of the PDP in Anambra,Ejike Oguebego, praying the court to declare Andy Uba as the party’s candidate for the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state.

The faction also prayed the court to direct INEC and National Working Committee of PDP not to recognise, Ken Emeakayi’s faction of the party in the state, which produced Tony Nwoye as its candidate for the election.

Justice Nganjiwa in his ruling directed that the order should stay pending the determination of a suit.

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The judge also ordered the two factions to maintain the status quo and obey the order of a Federal High court in Akwa, Anambra, on May 31

The judge, after giving the order, announced that he was handing off the matter due to a petition he received from Ekem Ekem law firm, adding that he would inform the Chief Judge of Federal High Court and await his directive.

“I will not hear this matter again until I see my chief judge,”Nganjiwa said and adjourned the case to September 17.

Gunmen Kill Two In Attack On Police Station In Adamawa

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Gunmen Kill Two In Attack On Police Station In Adamawa

The Adamawa Police Command said on Thursday that two policemen were killed in an attack by gunmen on a police station in Lala, Gombi local government area of the state.

The command’s public relations officer, Mohammed Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in Yola that the gunmen attacked the station at about 9: 25 p.m. on Wednesday.

Ibrahim said that the attackers fired shots and explosives during the operation.

“The station was burnt because of the explosives used. We lost two of our men and one other sustain injuries,” he said.

Ibrahim added that the attackers escaped to Borno State.

The attack was the first of its kind since the imposition of a state of Emergency on the state by President Goodluck Jonathan in May.

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