The Ebonyi State House of Assembly has asked the National Executive of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), to zone the presidential position of the party to the Southeast in the coming 2023 general elections.
The House which made this decision known through a Communique signed by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru on Monday, also gave the People’s Democratic Party seven days to implement the request of the Assembly or face possible division and destabilization of the party.
The Assembly also warned the party not to change the position of the party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secundus, as it is customary that the zone (South) from where the National Chairman comes from produces the Presidential Candidate of the Party.
Below Is The Full Text Of The Communique::
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE RT. HON. SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE 6TH EBONYI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY TODAY, OCTOBER 19, 2020
The unity of our beloved country, Nigeria, has always been hinged on the principles of equity, justice and fairness. It is on such conventional wisdom that the country has striven to grow and develop equally across all her geopolitical zones.
In furtherance of the above principles, we, the Honourable Members of the sixth (6th) Ebonyi State House of Assembly, wish to draw the attention of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the rightful yearning of our industrious and peace-loving people of the South East Nigeria, that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 29th May, 2023, be zoned to the South East.
Since the inception of this democracy, the zone has paid its dues having worked assiduously and massively voted for all the presidential candidates of our great party – Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when the people of the South West in the year 1999 and 2003, the people of North West in 2007, the people of South South in 2011 and 2015, the people of the North East in 2019, all contested for Presidency. It is on record that since the inception of democracy in this country, from 1999 till date, the five (5) States of the South East have always delivered the presidential candidates of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 100 per cent.
It is only appropriate in the spirit of democracy, equity, justice and fairness that the position of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023, be zoned to the South East.
South East has presidential personalities, people who are globally renowned, reliable, acceptable, tested and trusted to the position; having discharged their duties efficiently and effectively in the positions held before now. Persons like Peter Obi (Former PDP Vice Presidential Candidate in the 2019 elections and former Governor of Anambra State), Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim (former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation), Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu (former 3-time Deputy President of the Senate), Sen. Theodore Orji (former Governor of Abia State), Achike Udenwa (former governor of Imo State), and a host of others. So we have qualified people who are very much available for this position. We did not mention our Governors not because they are not qualified but these highly qualified persons are not holding positions currently and there are other eminent qualified Igbo leaders as well who are trusted, competent, capable and reliable. That tells you, gentlemen of the press that we are not asking for what we don’t have, so our party should not turn this request down.
On this note, we are giving our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), 7 days ultimatum to convocate the National Executive Committee of the party and zone the position of the Presidency to the South East Nigeria, especially as INEC has officially announced the date of the presidential elections.
In no minimal measure, this will further develop and unite our dear country.
Equally, the party should not contemplate to remove the National Chairman of the Party, Prince Uche Secundus as it is customary that the zone (South) from where the National Chairman comes from produces the Presidential Candidate of the Party. If this advise is not adhered to, it will further divide and destabilize the party along sectional and regional lines.
Failure to adhere to these kind requests will cost our party heavily and we, the Honourable Members of the 6th Ebonyi State House of Assembly will leave no stone unturned in taking decisive actions to ensure that traditions and dividends of democracy are respected in our party.
Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru Honourable Speaker, Ebonyi State House of Assembly
Recent Killings In Afikpo; Concerned Authorities Should Take Note!
AZUBUIKE INYA, EMMANUEL ENI AND MRS & MRS ONYA, ALL FROM NKPOGHORO, AFIKPO MURDERED BETWEEN MAY AND OCTOBER, 2020
{…Afikpo North Council Chairman, Barr. Obiageri Oko Enyim With The Help Of The State Governor Should Do Something Now To Save This Ugly Situation In Our Land}
Compiled By AJM NEWS Director, Otu Obiahu
For some couple of months now, horrific incidents had been recorded in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, making the town to be in the news and to be seen in a bad light.
Nkpoghoro community in particular have lost 4 persons through strange killings, between May and October, 2020. As usual, we at AJM NEWS did our best by contacting the families of those killed, getting information of what really transpired and reporting same to the public via our different news platforms.
Unfortunately, no serious thing had been done to those allegedly involved in the killing of these poor Ehugbo indigenes, as the suspects are seen walking around freely and going about their businesses.
Below Is A Flashback On The Killings Recorded In Afikpo ( The 4 Persons Are From Nkpoghoro), Between May 22 and October 8, 2020.
🔖THE DEATH OF AZUBUIKE INYA (Amankwo Nkpoghoro)
Amankwo in Nkpoghoro, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was on Friday, 22 May, thrown into a state of disarray and mourning, as some sword wielding young men allegedly working for a politician attacked some selected persons, killing one Mr. Azubuike Inya, aged 46 and a father of four, and wounding others.
However, a former Commissioner for Border Peace and Conflict Resolution in the state, Chief Donatus Ajah (Zentus), was on June 18, arrested by the men of the state police command and later released over his alleged involvement in the murder of Inya. Both Ajah and Inya hail from Amankwo village where a misunderstanding had allegedly erupted among the people of Azu Ukwu Ewa in the night of 22nd May 2020, resulting to Inya’s death.
Battle For Supremacy
Residents said the skirmish was triggered by supremacy battle between two factions in the community. The two groups were said to be loyal to a former Chairman, Interim Committee of Amankwo Eziukwu Welfare Association, Ifeanyi Obila and the former Commissioner, Ajah. The former Commissioner’s group was alleged to have oppressed people in the area particularly those in the habit of challenging their opinions in the village. It was gathered that the suspected killers had stormed a pub in the village and attacked some villagers; inflicting machete cuts on them, a situation that caused anxiety and pandemonium in the community. Inya, on hearing the cries of the people at the pub, was said to have rushed to the scene and begged the attackers to stop what they were doing. It was at that point that the hoodlums pounced on him; giving him several machete cuts until he died.
People in the area alleged that one Ifeanyi Ogbonnia Chukwu, a known ally of Ajah, perpetrated the heinous act. A resident, Pastor Emmanuel Nwachukwu while giving background information about the incident said that disunity brewed in the community towards the end of last year (2019) after Ajah had singlehandedly given out their communal land to a telecommunication company to be used for the installation of mast without the consent of other villagers.
According to him, Ajah allegedly collected over N2million but presented the sum of N700,000 to the community as money for five years lease. Irked by what they perceived as under hand deal, the community rejected the N700,000 and dragged both Ajah and the company to court. “After Hon Donatus (Ajah) had told us about the business, we requested for either Memorandum of Understanding or duplicate of the cheque given to him but he stoutly refused to provide us with any and having found out that he was not transparent in the deal, around January, 2020, we instituted litigation against him and the company,” Nwachukwu said.
Following the position of Ifeanyi Obila and another prominent indigene of the area, Titus Obila, who had insisted that proper account be rendered, the former Commissioner felt aggrieved and allegedly incited his supporters against his opponents. They had allegedly threatened that hell would be let lose in the area if the matter was not withdrawn from court. Pastor Nwachukwu also said that after Ajah and his cohorts found out that the people in the rival camp were not moved by their warning, they went further and erected some lockup shops at the entrance of Titus Obila’s compound as payback for his adamant position on the issue. He added that some stakeholders reported the matter to the police and the local government town planning authority after they sensed the imminent danger associated with the illegal construction. The town planning authority visited the site and condemned the construction of the lockup shops on access way. They came back some days later and demolished the structure.
It was further gathered that it was after the demolition that Ajah’s supporters allegedly invited into the community a large number of hoodlums believed to be members of a cult group who started attacking members of the opposing camp one after another. It was in the process that Inya was killed after they had inflicted serious machete cuts on Mr Emmanuel Eluu and others.
Ifeanyi Obila’s brother, Joel, corroborated the pastor while Titus Obila, a surveyor from the community, added that it was after Ajah discovered he (Titus) was among the plaintiffs in one of the suits against him that he decided to witch hunt him by erecting the illegal structure on the road to his compound. “Since 2018, Hon Donatus (Ajah) had been doing all manners of wickedness to frustrate our efforts from obtaining justice until recently when he influenced some persons against others in the village which has cost the life of Mr Azubuike (Inya)”, Obila, the surveyor said.
🔖 THE DEATH OF EMMANUEL ENI (Ezi Ogudu, Amuku Nkpoghoro)
Another tragedy occurred again in Afikpo on Sunday, June 22, 2020, with the discovery of the lifeless body of a young man, aged 40, believed to have been strangled to death by unknown persons, lying close to Holy Child School, Ugwuegu Afikpo North Local Government Area.
AJM NEWS was rightly informed by a close family member of the diseased whose name was given as Mr. Jackson Ekoh from Ezi- Ogudu, Amuku Nkpoghoro, Afikpo, that the late Emmanuel was found dead on Sunday, June 7, 2020 at Ugwuegu.
Late Emma’s Wife Speaks Out! THE GRUESOME KILLING OF EMMANUEL ENI IN AFKPO; AFIKPO JOKWA SPEAKS WITH LATE EMMA’S WIFE, ANTHONIA:
Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS
On Sunday, June 7, 2020, the family of Eni in Ezi Ogudu, Amuku Nkpoghoro, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State was thrown into a mourning mood with the shocking news of the killing of their family member, husband and uncle, Mr. Emmanuel Eni, as earlier reported by Afikpo Jokwa/ AJM NEWS.
The wife of the late Emmanuel, who spoke with AJM NEWS correspondent revealed what led to her husband’s unfortunate death.
Hear her: “My name is Mrs. Anthonia Okpani Eni. I’m the wife of late Mr. Emmanuel Eni who was murdered last Sunday.
“I got married to my husband, Emma and we wedded in November, 2016. The very day we wedded, some men came to our house and attacked my husband for leaving a lady he had earlier dated, to marry me.
“It took the intervention of our neighbours to get my husband rescued from the attackers who were sent by the former lady he dated, who also had a baby girl for him.
“However, when I enquired from my husband why he decided not to marry the lady, he told me he was always having quarrels and misunderstanding with her. No peace in their relationship, no matter how hard he tried; which made him to quit the relationship to settle with another woman.
“My late husband also did his best to contribute to the training of the little girl whom his former lover bore for him, but as it was always the case, the lady would not accept anything from my husband on behalf of the little girl, even if it was school fees. She would rather ask my husband to go to her mum to see if she would accept his contribution. When my husband goes to the mother as directed, the woman would not still receive whatever he came with. Notwithstanding, I kept on encouraging my husband to keep supporting in the upbringing of the little girl no matter the treatment he was getting from the lady and her mother, because the girl is still his child.
“In several occasions, the lady would tell my husband that she would deal with him seriously, and atimes when she sees me on the road or crossing in front of her shop (where she sells provisions), she would begin to abuse and rain insults on me, and even threatened that I can never ever bear a child for my husband.
On Saturday, June 6, 2020, my husband came to pick me from my business centre at Ukpa (where I sell food). As we got to a Suya Joint beside Zenith Bank, Afikpo, my husband packed his motorcycle for us to buy some Suya; then I noticed that the younger brother of my husband’s ex-lover also parked his own motorcycle somewhere along the road with one young boy he was carrying on the bike.
“However, my husband did not like the Suya, we mounted on our bike and moved down to the Suya Joint at Ngwori Centre near EBOTRANS park. But as we moved to the joint to buy the Suya, I also observed the young man was coming behind us with the boy he was carrying on his bike, and still came to the same Ngwori, packed his bike and then went inside the hotel with his colleague; which I immediately out of fear told my husband about the suspicious movements of the two guys, but he told me to forget about them.
“Then On Sunday, June 7, 2020 my husband received a call, left the house towards evening time and was later found dead beside his motorcycle at Holy Child, Ugwuegu Afikpo”.
However, Late Mr. Emmanuel Eni’s ex lover was arrested by the police for interrogations and had been since released, as Mr. Eni’s corpse is still lying in the mortuary up till date.
🔖THE DEATH OF MR AND MRS ONYA OKO (Amuzu Nkpoghoro)
HUSBAND AND WIFE MURDERED IN THEIR FARMLAND BY UNKNOWN PEOPLE IN AFIKPO NORTH:
{…Some Have Linked The Killing And The Associated Raping Of The Woman To Herdsmen Living In The Area}
By Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS
Nkpoghoro, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State has once again been thrown into a state of mourning with the mysterious death of a couple from the community, Mr and Mrs Joseph Onya, who were found lifeless in their farmland located at Ameta, Ozizza Afkpo, in the morning of Friday, 9 October, 2020.
As at the time of this report, the remains of Mr and Mrs Joseph Onya had been laid to rest in their home town, Amuzu Nkpoghoro, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Mr. Onya and his wife went to farm on Thursday but could not return; unfortunately, their lifeless bodies were discovered lying in their farmland.
Tears rolled down people’s cheek uncontrollably, as the murdered couple were being lowered to their grave.
According to the information made available to AJM NEWS by Hon. Christian Inya Agha, Management Committee Member (member 1) In-Charge of Education and Social Welfare, Afikpo-North East Development Center, Afikpo-North LGA, Ebonyi State, who is also a member of the bereaved family; “the late couple went to farm on Thursday, 8 October, 2020, but never came back. On Friday morning, the family members decided to search for the couple with the assistance of their first son.
“On getting to the farm, we discovered to our chargrin the lifeless bodies of both the husband and the wife carefully dropped in their farm hut, with light bruises on their bodies.
“We, the family members and the DPO then took the dead bodies to Mater Hospital, Afikpo for examinations, where the doctor confirmed that the couple were murdered, adding that the woman was raped severely before murdering her”.
Hon. Christian Inya Agha also noted that the killers left an axe in the farmland, probably used to hack life out of the couple.
Hon. Christian Inya revealed that investigations carried out at the moment have not been able to unravel the cause of the killing or those behind the wicked act, though some people have linked it to herdsmen who live around the area.
More Information On This Coming From AJM NEWS! Keep Following Us!
The Entire Family Of Chief Nwazufu Nweze In Okwerike Ofia-oji Ndi-egu Okpuitumo, Ekumenyi Development Centre Under Abakaliki Local Government Area Of Ebonyi State. Regret To Announce The Death Of Our Lovely Wife, Mother, Sister, In-law, Grandmother & Great Grandmother, LATE MRS UGBALA JOESPHINE NWAZUFU NWEZE (Nenne yeegeyege Nwogayi Ajokeoginyi Omerunwa 1) Aged 65 Years,1955-2020.
Mrs Ugbala Josephine Nwazufu Nweze Died On The 12th Of September, 2020.
Until Her Death, Mama Was A Well Known Farmer And Trader In Various Commodities Such As Rice, Yam And Other Food Items.
Mama Was A Virtuous Woman Whom God Revealed Herbs And Roots To, For The Curing Of Various Kinds Of Illnesses, (A Gift Her People Benefited From Greatly).
Mama Owned A Maternity Home Where Lots Of Women, Particularly Pregnant Mothers Come For Her Services, And They They Had Safe Delivery And Went Home With Their Babies With Joy.
Indeed, Mama’s Departure Has Created A Big Vacuum In Our Family; We Would Always Miss Her!!!
BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS::
Date: Thursday 29th October 2020 Time: 7:00pm All Night Wake At Her Husband’s Compound.
Date: Friday 30th October, 2020. Time: 8:30am Body Leaves St-Vicent Hospital Ndi-bia Igbeagu, To Her Husband’s Compound.
Burial Time 12:30
Interment: 3:30pm
Signed COMRADE KENNETH COLLINS N (Member, Committee For Defence Of Human Rights, Lagos State Chapter)
May Her Gentle Soul Rest In The Bosom Of The Almighty God. Amen!
For Enquiries, Call Comrade Kenneth Collins. N On: 0816 388 5356 09013882020
The Entire Family Of Chief Nwazufu Nweze In Okwerike Ofia-oji Ndi-egu Okpuitumo, Ekumenyi Development Centre Under Abakaliki Local Government Area Of Ebonyi State. Regret To Announce The Death Of Our Lovely Wife, Mother, Sister, In-law, Grandmother & Great Grandmother LATE MRS UGBALA JOESPHINE NWAZUFU NWEZE (Nenne yeegeyege Nwogayi Ajokeoginyi Omerunwa 1) Aged 65 Years, 1955-2020.
Mrs Ugbala Josephine Nwazufu Nweze Died On The 12th Of September, 2020.
Until Her Death, Mama Was A Well Known Farmer And Trader In Various Commodities Such As Rice, Yam And Other Food Items.
Mama Was A Virtuous Woman Whom God Revealed Herbs And Roots To, For The Curing Of Various Kinds Of Illnesses, (A Gift Her People Benefited From Greatly).
Mama Owned A Maternity Home Where Lots Of Women, Particularly Pregnant Mothers Come For Her Services, And They They Had Safe Delivery And Went Home With Their Babies With Joy.
Indeed, Mama’s Departure Has Created A Big Vacuum In Our Family; We Would Always Miss Her!!!
BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS::
Date: Thursday 29th October 2020 Time: 7:00pm All Night Wake At Her Husband’s Compound.
Date: Friday 30th October, 2020. Time: 8:30am Body Leaves St-Vicent Hospital Ndi-bia Igbeagu, To Her Husband’s Compound.
Burial Time 12:30 Interment: 3:30pm
Signed COMRADE KENNETH COLLINS N (Member, Committee For Defence Of Human Rights, Lagos State Chapter)
May Her Gentle Soul Rest In The Bosom Of The Almighty God. Amen!
For Enquiries, Call Comrade Kenneth Collins. N On: 0816 388 5356 09013882020
HUSBAND AND WIFE MURDERED IN THEIR FARMLAND BY UNKNOWN PEOPLE IN AFIKPO NORTH, BURIED TODAY
{…Some Have Linked The Killing And The Associated Raping Of The Woman To Herdsmen Living In The Area}
Photo Speaks
Mr and Mrs Joseph Onya
By Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS
The remains of Mr and Mrs Joseph Onya, who were found dead today in their farmland located at Ameta Afikpo were this evening laid to rest in their home town, Amuzu Nkpoghoro, Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Mr. Onya and his wife went to farm on Thursday but could not return; unfortunately, their lifeless bodies were discovered lying in their farmland.
Tears rolled down people’s cheek uncontrollably, as the murdered couple were being lowered to their grave.
According to the information made available to AJM NEWS by Hon. Christian Inya Agha, Management Committee Member (member 1) In-Charge of Education and Social Welfare, Afikpo-North East Development Center, Afikpo-North LGA, Ebonyi State, who is also a member of the bereaved family; “the late couple went to farm on Thursday, 8 October, 2020, but never came back. On Friday morning, the family members decided to search for the couple with the assistance of their first son.
“On getting to the farm, we discovered to our chargrin the lifeless bodies of both the husband and the wife carefully dropped in their farm hut, with light bruises on their bodies.
“We, the family members and the DPO then took the dead bodies to Mater Hospital, Afikpo for examinations, where the doctor confirmed that the couple were murdered, adding that woman was raped severely before murdering her”.
Hon. Christian Inya Agha also noted that the killers left an axe in the farmland, probably used to hack life out of the couple.
Hon. Christian Inya revealed that investigations carried out at the moment have not been able to unravel the cause of the killing or those behind the wicked act, though some people have linked it to herdsmen who live around the area.
More Information On This Coming From AJM NEWS! Keep Following Us!
{…We’ve Been Informed That Ebonyi State Government Is About To Spend Another N4 Billion As ‘Second Phase Of COVID-19 Palliative’, Says AESID}
AESID CALLS ON EFCC AND OTHER ANTI-GRAFT AGENCIES TO PROBE EBONYI GOVERNMENT OVER THE SHARING OF PALLIATIVE IN THE STATE
Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS
A diaspora group, Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has called for caution in the spending of resources by the Ebonyi state government, even as it called on anti-graft agencies to monitor closely the sharing of another Covid-19 palliative in the state.
The group specifically called on the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant agencies to come to the rescue of the state.
In a statement signed Tuesday by its President (Worldwide) Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, the association expressed disappointment on the way the current administration in Ebonyi continued to manage what it described as scarce resources in the state.
The group claimed it has information that the state government is about to spend another N4 billion as ‘Second phase palliative’ to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“AESID therefore call on the relevant anti-graft agencies whose mandates include monitoring and forestalling of financial crimes to beam its light very brightly on the Ebonyi state government to uncover, expose this obvious plot to swindle the poor State of its scarce resources in the guise of palliatives. The Ebonyi State government should be brought to book to also account for the various sums ordinarily meant for the development of the State which has officially been reported to the anti-graft agencies as having been diverted.
“We at AESID are quite disturbed about the way and manner the Ebonyi state government has continued to mismanage the scare resources of our poor state without any scintilla of accountability. We hold this view because the Umahi-led administration to the best of our knowledge is yet to give any account of an earlier approval of N4bn it made in July this year which it had christened ‘palliatives for Ebonyians.’
“Of course, we still recall the hues and cries of the Ebonyi poor masses over the extremely bizarre food items which included few sachets of noodles shared to just a hand-few of particularly party loyalists in the guise of palliatives after a very protracted period by the government. As a non-interest group whose mandate remains to continue to hold state actors accountable, AESID is calling on the Ebonyi state government to halt the proposed plan to lavish another whooping N4bn under the façade of COVID-19 palliatives.
“Rather, the government should first of all account for its management of the earlier sum approved and released as palliatives. It should show accountability by detailing the masses with how same was expended. We say so because of our vehement suspicion that the COVID-19 has since its outbreak in the country become for Governor Umahi and indeed some other Nigerian leaders a huge business and the most unsuspecting means to loot and divert lean resources accruing to the States they govern.
“Otherwise, how can Ebonyi state that never recorded more COVID-19 cases than states like Lagos claim to have now proposed to spend over N8bn? What kind of palliatives would take away over N4bn from the coffers of a government with lean allocation like that of our dear Ebonyi state? There is actually nothing less to suspect except to conclude that this is not just another hoax but another masterfully-designed plot by the Governor Umahi administration to siphon Ebonyi’s poor treasury!
Again we may wish to ask: Why is Umahi focusing only on projects and contracts that would enrich only him and his family without paying attention to genuine human empowerment programmes for our state which is rated as the poverty capital of Southern Nigeria?
“Why has he allowed rural roads that are completely impassable for local farmers to concentrate on mere cosmetics and artificial monuments that add no reasonable value to the lives and economic well-being of the average Ebonyian?
“What achievements can the Umahi administration truly boast of in the critical Education and Health sectors in Ebonyi state? What about attracting firms interested in operating in the State that can offer the teeming unemployed population job opportunities? This platform therefore urge the Ebonyi State government to reverse itself and not tow this path of ignominy by wasting resources in the guise of palliatives.”
The group, however assured the people of Ebonyi “that we shall continue to do all within the ambits of the law, the principles of fairness, equity and natural justice to protect and defend their interests at all times even as they pass through this difficult era of deceptions, lies and vicious propaganda.”
BISHOP HASSAN KUKAH’S OCTOBER 1ST MESSAGE TO THE NATION
{…Our Country Now Looks Like A Boiling Pot That Everyone Wants To Escape From. Nepotism Has Become The New Ideology Of This Government}
AJM NEWS
1: I want to first thank God Almighty the Father of all creation and the maker of Heaven and earth. Strange as it may sound, I would like to thank the colonial heights masters who wove our diverse peoples together and for all the efforts that they put into ensuring that we had everything a people had to launch itself into a modern state. It is a time to thank those brave and selfless missionaries who laid the foundation for our modern civilisation by providing us with high quality education.We must appreciate the context of colonialism and the fact that its driving philosophy was the exploitation of our resources and we must concede that they laid the solid foundation for extracting our resources for the development of their own country. Their interests were buried in the womb of the country they created. Today, we have destroyed the institutions they created and distorted their vision for our development.
2: On October 1, 1960 when we became independent, our joy clearly knew no end. It was my first year in primary school.We all turned out as neat as we could afford to be to hear our Head Master talk about the terrible white men who had come and stolen our lands. I didn’t understand this because I never saw anyone stop my father from going to farm. We played around freely in the village and so, I thought to myself, which land did white people take? I had seen only two white men in my life then. Both of them Priests and even though I did not know fully what a Priest was, they were good men and came from a very far country.
3: They had built a Church and school for our village and that was the first building I saw that was not thatched. It was impossible for me to understand how any white man could be wicked or even steal our land. The teacher talked about a new song which we were to sing in praise of our new country even though I did not see anything that was new. I had no idea what was being said in the song but we all tried to murmur something in excitement. The greatest treasure was the little flags and cups that were distributed to us. Holding to my first cup in my life and waving a little flag seemed like a great contradiction to the Head Master’s portrayal of the white thief.
4: We soon learnt the name of our new Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa the man who came to be known as the golden voice of Africa. In his speech on October 1, 1960, the Prime Minister announced that;our new day had arrived and promised to dedicate his life for the service of the country. He noted that our country had emerged without bitterness and bloodshed and that; building of our nation proceeded at the wisest pace: it has been thorough, and Nigeria now stands well-built upon firm foundations.
5: Barely six years later, we murdered him. He became a symbol of the blood sacrifice that has now drenched our country in a sea of blood arising from a civil war and endless circles of communal bloodletting which have now become part and parcel of our governance structure. Successive leaders have not come to terms with how to end this culture of death. Today, our country is littered with the very sharp pieces of broken promises. Yesterday’s dreams have become our worst nightmares. As we look back today, watching our country drift in a wide sea of uncertainty, we ask, from where our help come? (Ps 121: 1). After sixty years, bloodletting has become embedded in our culture of existence. So, how do we celebrate?
6: There is enough blame to go around. We can blame the British, blame the politicians, blame the military but none of these changes anything. It is the fate of nations to go through the furnace and crucible of suffering. Under the banner of religion, Europe fought the 30 years war (1618-1648), the world lost millions of men and women in two wars propelled by human greed (1914-1918, 1939-1945). Fleeing from the Kuomintang army, Mao led his people on the famous long march stretching thousands of miles (1934-1935). Mr. Mandela’s Long Walk to Freedom is a metaphor for the struggles against white domination. Journeys to greatness require more than just good people, more than just good will, more than just hope. Those journeys have to be led by men and women with vision and tested character prepared to mobilise their people towards the attainment of a goal.
7: It is easy to say that we have been one unlucky country. The evidence is glaring. One of our Presidents marveled at how a country that had taken so much beating was still standing. In spite of huge resources after 60 years, we cannot feed our people, we cannot keep our people safe, we are still in darkness, we cannot communicate with one another by roads or railways. What we inherited, we have either stolen, broken or thrown away. The nation is a wasteland littered with white elephant projects, conceived and abandoned but all paid for. In Nigeria, governance is a criminal enterprise, not a call to service.
8: No nation has ever taken a short cut to success, not because we have not tried, but because no such road exists. The military, perhaps even worse than the colonial state destroyed the very foundations of our Democracy, Bureaucracy and public service by introducing a culture of arbitrariness and violence as a means to power. A combination of these laid the foundation for corruption as the worst manifestation of a culture of total lack of accountability. To be sure, when General Abdusalami A. Abubakar broke with the military tradition of clutching to power in 1999, he laid a foundation for the return to Democracy and a retreat of the military. We thank God that after over 20 years, we have conducted five back to back elections even in the most controversial of circumstances. After 16 years of being ruled by one political party, the nation decided it was fed up with arrogance and blatant thieving and looting that had become the political culture. Its citizens made a radical and unprecedented turn.
9: In 2014, the unexpected happened: a sitting President conceded defeat against the run of play and even well before the tally of all the votes had come in. The nation, well across ethnic, religions, regional and class lines believed it had turned the corner. The new President had campaigned on a rich menu of promises, ending corruption, ending Boko Haram, ending poverty, uniting the country among others. He ushered in his administration by promising to uphold the Constitution and said he would “belong to everyone and to no one”. We all looked up in hope to a man who had campaigned on the key philosophy of Integrity and Character.
10: Today, the tide has turned. The President has turned his back on almost all the key promises he made to the people of Nigeria during his campaign. Our country now looks like a boiling pot that everyone wants to escape from. Nepotism has become the new ideology of this government. In following this ideology, it is estimated that the President has handed over 85% of the key positions to northern Muslims and has ensured that men of his faith hold tight to the reins of power in the most critical areas of our national life; the National Assembly and the Security Agencies!
11: In chapter 2 of our Constitution, under Fundamental Objectives and Directive Principles of State Policy, the Constitution states very clearly and unambiguously in Section 13 that: “It shall be the duty and responsibility of all organs of government, and of all authorities and persons, exercising legislative, executive or judicial powers, to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of this Chapter of this Constitution.” Section 14(1) states very clearly that: “The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.” Article (b) follows by stating that: “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government”, and subsection 3, states that: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.”
12: By adopting Nepotism as a primary ideology, clearly unable to secure our country and people, President Muhammadu Buhari is in flagrant violation of the Constitution which he swore to uphold. Today, our sense of national unity is severely under threat and test. Our common citizenship has been fractured and diminished. The principles of equity, fairness and egalitarianism on which our Constitution hangs have been assaulted and diminished.
13: Nigerian citizens feel collectively violated. There is clearly a conflict in narratives and understanding between the principles and ideologies contained in the Manifesto of the Party on which he campaigned and the brutal realities of today. It would seem that it was in anticipation of this dissonance that the President built such a firewall of protection around himself by the partisan selection of Security Chiefs based on religious and ethnic affiliation. It could be the reason for the adoption of the same principles in the National Assembly today. The President has been quite diligent and focused in the pursuit of an Agenda that is clearly alien to the aspirations and hopes of our people across religious lines. Nigeria was nothing like this before he came. How long will this lie last before it melts in our faces? We are living a lie and we know it.
14: The motto of our dear nation reads: Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress. Today, where is Nigeria’s Unity? Today, who has Faith in Nigeria? Today, where is the Peace? Today, where is the Progress? The whole world stood with Nigeria sixty years ago expecting us to lead Africa and beyond. TIME Magazine on December 5th, 1960 made our Prime Minister its Man of Year. No black person had been conferred with this honour. Where are we today with that trust?
15: At the end of his speech 60 years ago, our beloved Prime Minister thanked the missionaries for the great work they had done in Nigeria. We as a Church are still on out duty post, following the legacy of those who have gone before us. The Catholic Bishops spent the last forty days praying every day for an end to the killings. As we celebrate our independence today, I call on the President to please urgently make a turn and heed the voices of Nigeria’s friends and the rest of the world.
16: We all face a dilemma: it is our national day but how can we sing a song when our country has become a Babylon? Where are the Chibok daughters? Where is Leah Sharibu? Who are the sponsored murderers who have overrun our land? Our land is now a pool of blood. Mr. President, please reset the clock before it is too late. I pray for you that God will touch your heart so that you embrace the ideals of those who came before you. This is not the Nigeria they dreamt of. This is not the Nigeria you went to war for. With hope in God, but sorrow in my heart, I say to Nigerians, let us stand bug together. Let us renew our faith. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed (Rom. 13:11). God bless our beloved fatherland.
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND WIFE TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, AS THE PANDEMIC IS GRADUALLY RISING AGAIN AROUND THE GLOBE
AJM NEWS
The President of the US, Donald Trump, 74, and his wife Melania, 50, are self-isolating and in quarantine after receiving their Coronavirus result, which tested positive.
The president said in a tweet posted early on Friday morning::
“Tonight, @FLOTUS and I tested positive for COVID-19. We will begin our quarantine and recovery process immediately. We will get through this TOGETHER!”
Mr Trump, 74, earlier said he and the first lady, 50, were self-isolating after Hope Hicks, one of his top aides, tested positive.
Mrs. Melania, Trump’s wife also tweeted::
“As too many Americans have done this year, @potus & I are quarantining at home after testing positive for COVID-19. We are feeling good & I have postponed all upcoming engagements.
“Please be sure you are staying safe & we will all get through this together.”
A letter from Sean Conley, physician to Mr Trump, confirmed the positive test on Thursday and said the president and first lady would remain at the White House during their isolation.
It added: “The White House medical team and I will maintain a vigilant watch, and I appreciate the support provided by some of our country’s greatest medical professionals and institutions.
A FEMALE STAFF OF FIRST BANK SENTENCED TO 98 YEARS IMPRISONMENT VIA EFCC, FOR STEALING N49M AND $368,000 FROM THE BANK
First Bank Staff
Otu Obiahu, AJM NEWS
A former staff of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Oreoluwa Adesakin, was on Monday, September 28, 2020, handed a cumulative 98 years in prison by Justice Muniru Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court for fraud.
Adesakin, female, was found to have committed financial fraud against her employers, the First Bank to the tune of N49,320,652.32 (Forty-nine Million, Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-two Naira, Thirty-two Kobo), and additional $368,203.00 (Three Hundred and Sixty-eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Three United States Dollars) belonging to the bank which she converted to her personal use.
The convict was prosecuted by the lbadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), on 14-count charges, bordering on stealing, forgery and fraudulent accounting.
EBONYI WOMAN BUTCHERED BY SUSPECTED HERDSMEN BLEEDS TO DEATH:
AJM NEWS
Photo Speaks
The woman in the photo was reportedly attacked by Fulani herdsmen at Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on Tuesday, 22 September, 2020.
Efforts made by some sympathizers to rescue her life proved abortive, as she died on her way to hospital due to excessive blood loss arising from the deep machete cuts she got on different parts of her body in the attack.
Meanwhile, no official statement has been made by the state government or security agencies regarding the attack.
In another development, Afikpo women on Tuesday came out in their numbers to protest against the destruction of their farmlands and crops by herders in the town.
The women who had lost a lot by the unwarranted invasion of their farmlands by herders, were seen walking along the road with sticks in their hands, warning all the herders to keep off their farmlands for the sake of peace, adding that they cannot keep mute and watch their crops destroyed by herders and their cows.
AJM NEWS 