Politics

South-East Leaders Demand Release of Nnamdi Kanu

Published

8 months ago

September 30, 2023

Olaitan Rafiu

In order to address security concerns in the region, South-East leaders and governors have reaffirmed their appeal for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the imprisoned leader of the illegal Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

They claimed that the zone’s security situation had gotten worse as a result of Mr. Kanu’s continued detention even after a court of competent jurisdiction had granted him freedom.

The decision was taken by the leaders at the 2023 Igbo Day Celebration on Friday in Enugu, which was sponsored by Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State and organized by Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide.

Numerous notable Igbo sons and daughters from the five southeast states, including Rivers and Delta States, attended the ceremony, which was presided over by Prince Arthur Eze, the Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Oranto Petroleum Limited.

The majority of the killings in the region, according to Ohaneze Worldwide President General Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, are attributable to Mr. Kanu’s continued arrest.

He claimed that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had carefully examined Mr. Kanu’s situation and had been unable to come up with any justifications for keeping him imprisoned.

According to the president general, Ohaneze has been pleading with the federal government to free him for a number of months.

“I thus urge the FG to free Mazi Nnamdi Kanu once more on behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo globally, especially since a court in Nigeria with appropriate authority has found him innocent.

“I consider myself a father as the president general of Ohaneze Ndigbo, and it pains me so much when my children are killed on a daily basis.”

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“I find it painful that the majority of them have both their lives and means of support shattered. Given that the situation has continued for the previous two years, I will make a forceful appeal to the FG. We must take a non-kinetic stance, he urged.

The pointless killings and destruction of lives and property would be diminished, if not prevented, he said, if Mr. Kanu were released and a non-kinetic strategy was used.

The Igbo Day celebration, according to Mr. Iwuanyanwu, was a significant occasion for all Igbos and signaled a turning point in southeast development and transformation.

In an opening remark, Arthur Eze said it had become necessary for the leadership of Ohanaeze to positively engage the FG for the release of Mr Kanu, whose reported health condition attracts huge sympathy.

He explained that Igbos had made some cases relating to marginalization in the past, and while some of the cases may have had merit, “I am of the view that long-lasting results can be achieved through roundtable discussions, strong undivided leadership, and an organized political structure”.

“Based on this, no number of meetings with the FG or political consultations on the matter will be too many.

“If the governors fail to do something urgently to arrest the current financial and human capital flight currently being experienced in the southeast, the trend will continue to do irreparable damage to the posterity of the people,” Mr. Eze said.

While congratulating President Bola Tinubu for his victory at the polls, Mr. Eze appealed to him to accommodate more Igbos in his administration.

Speaking, Ebonyi Governor, Francis Nwifuru, represented by his deputy, Patricia Obila, emphasised the need for all Igbos to unite and speak with one voice to ensure the speedy release of Mr Kanu as well as the development of Igboland.

Welcoming the celebrants, Governor Mbah of Enugu said he was excited about the large turnout of people who attended the event.

He also expressed the need for the Igbos to unite to realize their full potential toward developing the region.

The governor also said there was a need for the states in the Southeast to see themselves as a single entity and engage in huge investments to develop the area.

While appreciating Ohaneze for organizing the Igbo Day, the Governor of Anambra State, Charles Soludo, said Igbos should stop lamenting insecurity in the zone but acknowledge that “today is better than yesterday”.

He said, “There is no crime-free society anywhere in the world,” adding that the Southeast governors should work together for the benefit of all Igbos.

“Our future is in Nigeria, Africa, and the world, and an itinerary tribe shouldn’t be an intolerable nation”.

The highlights of the event were the state-by-state dances and the award of honors to Igbo past heroes.

Politics

Coalition Seeks Tinubu’s Intervention On Rivers Crisis

Published

19 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Olaitan Rafiu

A group, Rivers Coalition for Good Governance (RCGG), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the ongoing political crisis in Rivers State occasioned by a face-off between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike.

RCGG, in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by its conveners, Mr Soala Jumbo and Mr Inyefi Wobo, said it was deeply concerned over the political crisis in the state.

The group called on Tinubu to call for a new peace accord anchored on the Constitution that would guarantee stability and allow the state governor to focus on governance without distractions.

It stated that the crisis plunged into turmoil following the defection of 27 members of the State House of Assembly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The statement said the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that such defections result in the loss of the seats of the lawmakers as members of the House of Assembly.

RCGG stated that the defected lawmakers had continued to challenge the authority of the duly elected governor of the state.

The group said it recognises and respects the historical significance of Wike as the immediate past governor and now minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“We appreciated the President for the earlier Presidential accord which was done as an emergency measure but now need a constitutional peace accord that will bring peace and allow the governor to deliver good governance to the people,” the group said.

The group advised that the new peace accord should at least give way for the declaration of the seats of the defecting members as vacant and the holding of elections to fill those seats.

The coalition argued that the political interest of the FCT minister could be protected by other forms of guarantees or compromises that do not affect governance in the state.

Politics

APC Suspends Rep Member Aminu Jaji Over Alleged Anti-party Activities

Published

3 days ago

May 17, 2024

Olaitan Rafiu

The Zamfara Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended Rep. Aminu Jaji over some alleged anti-party activities and the fractionalization of the party’s organs, among other irregularities.

The State APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, announced the suspension at a press briefing in Gusau on Friday.

Jaji represents the Kaura-Namoda/Birnin-Magaji Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives on the platform of the APC.

Idris said other allegations against Jaji include the engagement in dishonest practices and habitual absenteeism from the party’s meetings and other activities.

He said the sanction was sequel to the notice of confirmation of suspension of Aminu Jaji from the Birnin-Magaji ward APC executives over the alleged anti-party activities, among other irregularities.

Idris said, “The suspension notice was forwarded to the state APC headquarters by the APC executive committee of Birnin Magaji Local Government.

“The state executive committee of the APC held an emergency meeting at the State Party Secretariat, Gusau today, Friday 17th May 2024, where Jaji’s suspension matter was tabled to the state executive members.

“The state APC executive committee resolved and approved the suspension of Aminu Jaji from the party.

”This is based on the recommendations of the State disciplinary committee in line with his earlier suspension by the APC Birnin Magaji Ward Executive Committee and affirmed by APC Birnin Magaji LG Executive Committee.”

Reacting to his suspension, Aminu Jaji told NAN in a telephone interview that all the allegations against him were baseless and untrue.

Aminu Jaji said the state APC leadership has not followed the constitutional provisions of the party.

He said, “This is a clear indication that the party in the state has no focus and leadership.”

Politics

INEC Distributes 373,030 Uncollected PVCs In Edo

Published

3 days ago

May 17, 2024

Olaitan Rafiu

Ahead of the Edo State governorship election slated for September 21, 2024, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo office yesterday disclosed that it would begin the distribution of about 373,030 uncollected permanent voters’ cards (PVCs) on May 27.

The state resident electoral commissioner (REC) Dr Anugbum Onuoha made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin on the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

Onuoha stated that the PVC collection exercise would be done together with the Continuous Voters Registration exercise scheduled for May 27.

Speaking further, Onuoha said that the statistics of registered voters in Edo was 2,501,081, while collected PVCs were 2,128,288, and uncollected PVCs stood at 373,030.

He said that the CVR and the PVC collection would be a 10-day exercise, from May 27 to June 5, 2024, from 9 am to 3 pm daily including weekends.

The INEC REC explained that the exercise would be conducted in the 192 wards and the state headquarters of INEC in Edo.

He also disclosed that each registration centre would be managed by two officials drawn from the commission and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)

“In addition to the registration of voters, the commission will also make available the uncollected PVCs for collection during CVR.

“Also note that no PVC will be collected by proxy. Registered voters should come in person to collect their voter cards

“There will be no pre-registration option because of time constraints,” he said.

Onuoha, however, appealed for the support of the media, CSOs, traditional rulers, and religious leaders in encouraging voters to locate and pick up their PVCs.

According to him, the commission has published the final list of candidates for the Edo governorship election following the conclusion of political party primaries.

A deputy director of Voter Registry, INEC Abuja, Mrs Doris kande-Wyom, who took stakeholders through CVR processes, appealed to stakeholders to mobilise prospective registrants for the exercise.