An Open Letter to the Ijaw Nation, “Know Your Enemies”

An Open Letter to the Ijaw Nation, “Know Your Enemies” 

Written by Wabiye Idoniboyeobu  

For about a year, I have deliberately avoided issues pertaining to the Ijaw Nation. Not because I don’t understand my role as a stakeholder and a National Executive of the Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide; but simply because I wanted to give the enemies of the Ijaw Nation, more time to expose themselves. Though some of the traitors are still camouflaged like a chameleon in the forest, it has become imperative that some of us raise our voices and speak against the cancerous trend engulfing the Ijaw Nation. 

What I call the “Pull Down To Rise” syndrome, is gradually eating into the day to day lives of our people. This disease with symptoms like envy, blackmail, fake news and propaganda; has become the main source of livelihood for well-respected Ijaws. The sooner we isolate this disease, purge those of us already infected and cart a new course for our Region, the quicker progress and development will knock on our doors.  

The Ijaw Nation is blessed with abundance! We have all we need! Developed nations crave for little things we have and overlook; but yet, we still live in abject Anger, Hate and Poverty. Some may ask, “Where did we go wrong?” The answer to this question is clearly stated in Falz’s new song “Hypocrite”. HYPOCRICY is the new cash cow. Payoffs from blackmail, fuel the cars of our leaders; propaganda and lies, shape our thoughts and define our next move. How can we grow in such a land?

Nothing works in our land anymore. Everything we set out to do is either dead on arrival or factionalized. 28 years after; where is the Ijaw National Congress (INC)? 21 years after; what do we have left of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC)? Greed, Envy and Hate has enslaved our minds. We think we know the real enemy, while the real enemy is ‘ignorance’. You think we have leaders? WE DON’T! We have failed to understand that the so-called name “Ijaw leader” is now a tittle used to open volts and rip off the region. 

The solution is simply Love and Unity. Let us ignore propaganda, shun lairs and support ourselves unconditionally. Support those given leadership positions and respect those you are mandated to lead. That’s the only way to build a strong formidable force. The days of the traitors are numbered. The lies and blackmail will all be exposed in due time. We are blessed with abundance. We have all it takes to blossom. Join the train and fight for what is right; it won’t be long now; victory is in sight. 

Wabiye Idoniboyeobu is a Media Consultant in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

South-South Region: Amaechi/Akpabio Reconciliation Thrills Eze

The recent decision of the Minister of Transportation, Rt. Hon Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, and the former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to mend fences in the interest of their party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the development of the country has been lauded as exceptional.

A chieftain of the APC in the South-South region and one-time spokesman of the defunct new People's Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, who commended the two political leaders and former governors of two oil-rich states in the Niger Delta; Rivers and Akwa-Ibom respectively, noted that the selfless decision would in the end payoff for the stability of the Niger Delta region, give the APC a surer footing in the region, even as it would curtail the divisive intents of external Intruders, who had worked to deprive the region of its pride of place in the party.

It would be recalled that both Amaechi and Akpabio had recently met in the Abuja home of Alhaji Nasiru Danu, an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari, having both their host and the Director of Strategic Communications of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), as witnesses, had both resolved to bury all grievances, work together for the interest of the party, the Niger Delta region and for the success of the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.

The meeting, which took place at the private residence of Alhaji Danu in the Asokoro region of Abuja, lasted several hours, during which the leaders frankly and honestly talked about their various disagreements from their days as Governors in PDP and in the then Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

Eze, however, commended Alhaji Danu,  (the Dan Amarna of Dutse) and Barrister Keyamo for the peace-maker role they played in the process, noting that the bold step recently taken by the two key Niger Delta and Nigeria's political actors is in the best interest of both the region and Nigeria, adding that the effect of it had started reverberating and causing those with selfish ulterior motives, both within the party and outside serious sleepless nights.

"At the end, both leaders agreed to close ranks and work in unison for the overall interest of the party, their region and the country. They promised to put behind them all previous perceived misgivings between them and to give a positive direction to the teeming supporters of the party across the country.

"These two great political giants need no much introduction and sadly their political differences even during their days as Governors of their states have always polarized issues that would have been of common interest to the region, which other political leaders from other regions have always capitalized on to deny the region some of its rights in areas of development and appointments.

"Their coming together will put a stop to such negative impact on the socio-economy of the region and will cause the region to take its rightful position in the political setup of Nigeria.

"I therefore commend and congratulate these two illustrious sons of Niger Delta region for this bold step that will checkmate external intruders that don't have the interest of the region at heart.

"I expect these two to galvanize and mobilize other leaders of the region so that collectively they can present a common front that will enhance and speed up the emancipation and development of the region as the region can no longer continue to lay the eggs that feed this nation and continue to suffer deprivation and lack of development", Eze said.

ENDS

  

Source: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

 

All is set for Alaka Children's Day, says Henry Ovie, Others

Over one thousand children will be participating in the 2019 Alaka Children's Day programme.

Scheduled for May 27, 2019 at Alaka Community Recreation Centre, Surulere, this year's programme has been designed as a series of plenary and parallel sessions focusing on children's welfare, with speakers chosen to lead discussions on definite action and steps to be taken by parents to complement government effort in child development.

In a statement in Lagos, the organisers said the event would promote peace, respect and environmental concern.

"It will also bring awareness to children around the globe that have succumbed to violence in form of abuse, exploitation and discrimination” the statement signed by Henry Ovie Ebireri, Nasir Olayinka and Peter Odukoya said.

"There will be talk on drug abuse, career development, examination malpractice and child labour. There will also be singing, dancing, debating, quiz, poetry, drama and drawing competition” the statement added.

Credit: Henry Ovie Ebireri, Nasir Olayinka and Peter Odukoya

MOSOP Condemns Latest Military killing in K. Dere Community

- Calls for Thorough Investigation_

Galled by latest report of shooting and killing in Kegbara Dere community, Gokana LGA, of Ogoni, allegedly by men of the Nigerian Army, the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People, MOSOP, totally condemns such operation and calls on the security agencies to stop reckless killings in Ogoni communities.

MOSOP, yesterday ( Friday, April 19, 2019), received report of military raid in K. Dere Community about noon, which led to the death of a middle aged man, Nen-elkpege Lezor, and one Lenu Kpegezor, who was shot but still in a hopeless condition. The natives stated that men of the Nigerian Army came in company of SPDC pipeline workers and started shooting without any explanation resulting to the sudden death of a young man and other casualties.

Even though the Movement is in support of genuine efforts by legitimate authorities and government to fight criminality in Ogoniland and other parts of the State or country, we do not support and will not tolerate unprovoked military onslaught and reckless killings in any Ogoni community or elsewhere.

Lenu Kpegezor also shot in K.Dere but still in critical condition

MOSOP urges that security actions should be taken with respect of the rights of innocent citizens and that the military or any arm of the security agencies should act within the ambit of the law, especially, according to the rules of engagements.

We call on relevant security agencies, particularly the Police to urgently commence investigation into the reported military raid and killing in K. Dere Community and ensure that all those behind such destructive and unwarranted operations are brought to book to avert total break down of law and order in the area.

"Most painful about this incident is the issue of the military men coming to the community, providing security to Shell workers but killing our people. This is unacceptable," MOSOP President, Legborsi Pyagbara, said.

Signed:

 *Sunny Zorvah* 

 _Acting Publicity Secretary_ 

Saturday, April 20, 2019.

Sack of 12 council Chairmen: Wike exposes INEC as his corruption tool - Eze

Sack of 12 council Chairmen: Wike exposes INEC as his corruption tool - Eze

…Rewards Abe for his loyalty and inputs

….Targets Commissioners that failed to win their Areas

In what might be a post-elections reappraisal of his dismay and awful performance in the last governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers state, Governor Nyesom Wike has sacked 12 council Chairmen and 15 party council Chairmen, in whose domains the People's Democratic Party (PDP) had woefully performed.

Indications also emerged on Friday that the governor, who was said to be apparently angry with the failure of his men to stop the All Progressives Congress (APC) backed Biokpomabo Awara of the African Action Congress (AAC) from making any major impact, is also expected to sack at least 14 of the members of his Executive Council soon.

Governor Wike and the PDP concurrently announced both the sack and suspension of the council chairmen and party chairmen respectively on Thursday, giving various reasons, Governor Wike's own being that the axed council chairmen failed to attend state function.

The executive chairmen of local government councils reportedly 'suspended' by Governor Wike were those of Okrika, Emohua, Abua/Odual, Degema, Khana, Gokana, Ahoada East, Ikwerre, Eleme, Andoni, Omuma, and Ogu/Bolo.

However, a chieftain of the APC in the state, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, in a statement issued and circulated in Port Harcourt on Saturday, noted that the governor's latest action had further exposed the criminal conspiracy between him and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in the elections in the state, noting that it had become glaring that besides other tardy mistakes, including issuing pre-assigned Certificates of Return to Wike and others, the governor fired the council chairmen because they woefully lost their council areas to Awara in the real elections.

"The result  of how INEC manipulated Governor Nyesom Wike into office, against the wishes of Rivers people,  is becoming clearer as the governor recently sacked, uniliterally and unconstitutionally, the council chairmen of the 12 local government councils that voted against him massively during the 2019 polls. Also sacked were 15 PDP local council chairmen that allowed AAC to prevail in their areas of jurisdiction.

"The said local government areas were the ones that voted massively against PDP and Governor Nyesom Wike before INEC, in their characteristic manner, suspended the collation of the results in order to tamper with the results in favour of Governor Wike and his PDP candidates. The council areas are Okrika, Emohua, Abua/Odual, Degema, Khana, Gokana, Ahoada East, Ikwerre, Eleme, Andoni, Omuma, and Ogu/Bolo.

"Wike had during his electioneering campaign threatened to deal with any political appointee or local government that fails to vote for him and the PDP candidates so the sacking of these council chairmen on the flimsy excuse that they didn't attend state function is an excuse meant for those who don't understand the politics of Wikeism", Eze said.

Eze, who has been known to be a staunch critic of the PDP regime in Rivers state, also exposed plots by Governor Wike to compensate Senator Magnus Abe for his role in depriving the APC and Rivers people a chance of contesting in the last election and having a chance to choose as they would have wanted in the last election, respectively, by appointing six of the senator's men as part of his Thanksgiving and Inauguration Committee, even as he said Abe is being considered for his previous office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

"Governor Wike, also noted for rewarding those who identify with his type of politics, has listed six of key actors of Senator Magnus Abe divisive and destructive plot against the APC in Rivers state that resulted in her not fielding any candidate in the 2019 polls in his Thanksgiving and Inauguration Committee. These members are as follows: Hon. Marcus Nle Eji - number 10 on the list; Hon. Aye People - number 2 on the list; Mr. Felix Nweke - number 8 on the list; Mr Hamilton Robinson - number 11 on the list and Kurotamunoye Briggs - number 3 on the list

"Governor Wike who recently announced that his second term administration will be an inclusive government had Abe's team in mind as he has promised to add some of his men into his cabinet. The office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) has been reserved for Abe, in case he fails to cajole APC into giving him a ministerial appointment.

"The world can read through the type of politics that INEC has played in Rivers state and on the Rivers people", Eze said.

ENDS

Source: Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze

Extra Judicial killings: Rights Group reports Nigeria security agents to Presidency

 ....Warns against unlawful torture, violation of human Rights
  
   .....Appeals to NHRC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, others

A reputable Civil Rights Organization In Nigeria, Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has called the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government officials against the unlawful continuous violation of fundamental human rights of Nigeria citizens by the trigger happy personnel of security agents in the country, noting that it has become unbearable for innocent Nigeria citizens to continue with extra judicial killing and illegal torturing by the security apparatus.

The group also appealed to the international human rights organizations to come to aid of the victims of ongoing series of human rights abuses in the land.

According to a Press Statement issued and signed by the group’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi, Alimi Sulaiman which copies were made available to newsmen on Thursday after the group's monthly emergency meeting in Lagos to review the recent security challenges
facing the country from the hands of security personnel which they were now violating the rights of the innocent Nigerians at will,

It alleged the Military personnel (Soldiers), Custom, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) with the Department of the States Security Services (DSSS) of their continue undemocratic violation of citizens' rights which is tantamount to the breaking down of law and order they were supposed to maintain in the society.

The group, which quoted and reminds President Muhammad Buhari on his response to the recent unlawful murdered of innocent Nigeria Citizen (Late Kolade Johnson) by the officers of the Nigeria Police that the "Government will not tolerate in any way the brutalization of Nigerians or the violation of their rights, which President further says any officer of the security apparatus or any government functionary who caught in this dastard act would not go unpunished,adding that the President Buhari still made promised by admitting that a lot of steps need to be taking to put the mind boggling incidents under control.

The group further stated that, due to the above statement make the group referred President Buhari to the reports of the Amnesty International of Friday, September 19th, 2014 which still existing till the present moment that "5,000 to 10,000 Nigerians in the security agents custody, were commonly used techniques tortured that similar with that of military in the war front in order to ensure that he or she made confession to the offence they were not committed.

The group maintained that the Amnesty International revealed that the report was tagged as "Welcome to hell Fire”, stressing that this serious and authentic reports came out from the office of Director of Amnesty International Research and Advocacy, after their visitation and research to Nigeria Police Stations and Prisons for period of Seven (7) Years and the said report was compiled from hundreds of testimonies with evidence gathered for over Ten (10) Years.

According to the report, hinted on how women, men and children are often detained illegally in large dragnet operations and torture, include "beatings with whips, gun butts, machetes, batons, sticks, rods, and cables as punishment to extort money or to extract "confessions" as a shortcut to "solve" cases.

More over, the Amnesty International and it's office of Research and Advocacy still reported further through its Director that, torture and other ill treatment by the Nigeria Law Enforcement Agencies and it's Agents routine and common throughout the length and breath of the country, cited their bitter experiences in the North which, hundreds of women and girls in Police and military custody are being subjected to a range of physical and Psychological torture, assault and other ill treatment include "rape and sexual harassment, with inserting bottles and other objects into a woman's private part; Shooting people in the legs, foot or hands during interrogation; extracting Nails, teeth, fingernails and toenails with pliers; suspending detainees upside down by their feet for hours and so on."Amnesty International lamented".

In the face of avalanche of proofs and preponderance of evidence, the Amnesty International tasked the country's parliament to enact law criminalizing torture with immediate effect and to take this long overdue step without any further delay.

CHRSJ which strongly believed in the damning report of the Amnesty International that the degree of molestation of innocent citizens by the Nigeria Law Enforcement Agents in the guise of legal duty is alarming and  debunks all claims to democracy of the Nigeria nation as the report also reveals how most of those detained are held incommunicado, denied an access to the outside world, including lawyers, families and the court, which it still thrives up till today in all Nigeria Law Enforcement formations, most of the times, the innocent will be arrested, intimidated, brutally assaulted unjustly and not based on facts or law, "what errant nonsensical exhibition of ignorance?

In as much the President is aware now that Nigeria law enforcement agencies and it's agents are fast becoming a despicable nuisance in the sphere of operational illegalities and abject violation of the Fundamental Human Rights of the citizens of this nation and this nonsensical ignorance of Law perpetrated by this so called law enforcement agents must be stopped now or to be stopped by the Mass action with Political struggle and legal, which June 12 of 1993 to 1999 and Occupied Nigeria of 2012 will be a Child Play."The group advised".

As the illiteracy and low intellectual capacity of these law enforcement agents are exposed on physically abused of the citizens,common assault, peculiar insult, blackmailing, harassment,intimidation, illegality and marked the innocent for unlawful detention, the CHRSJ still call Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, National Human Rights Commission and host of others to rise up to the occasion by  promptly takes the urgent action against this persistent madness and its perpetrators,who refused to have respect for the rule of law and not to desist from disrespect of citizens rights,

It therefore urged the international organizations not to relent in its efforts by continuing their visitation from time to time to the security formations across the country, particularly in the area of decongesting  the nation’s Prison yard so as to rescue innocent Nigeria citizens from the baptism of fire under Nigeria Security agents watch.

Signed,
Comrade ADENIYI, Alimi SULAIMAN.
(Revolutionary Alfa)
Executive Chairman, CHRSJ