Wike call for true federalism and political restructuring.... read more!!!

Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers said on Tuesday in Port Harcourt that true federalism and the restructuring of the political system will correct perceived anomalies in the country.

Wike said this when the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural organisation of Igbo people, paid him a courtesy call at Government House.

He said that he would continue to advocate for true federalism because it would usher in equity and fairness.

Furthermore, he said he would also continue to encourage harmonious co-existence and unity of the nation.

The governor commended the leadership of the association for its call for national security and unity.

Wike gave an assurance that his administration would provide the enabling environment to attract investments in the state.

He said that the Greater Port Harcourt Development project was open to people interested in investing in Rivers.

In his remarks, the President-General of association, Chief John Nwodo, lauded the governor for the “massive” infrastructural development recorded by his administration.

Nwodo urged the governor to establish industries and provide land for members of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the diaspora wishing to invest in Rivers.

He noted many Igbo people in the Diaspora wished to build schools and universities in Rivers but were constrained by the lack of land.

IPOB vows to drag Army to ICC over alleged Port Harcourt killings ....read more!!!

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has vowed to drag the Nigerian Army to the International Criminal Court, ICC, in The Hague.

The group said the army’s refusal to admit that it killed 11 members of IPOB during the group’s rally in support of US President, Donald Trump, on January 20, 2017 was a blatant lie.

IPOB also accused the army of alternating between calling its outing in Port Harcourt a “protest” and a “rally” at the same time.

The Deputy Director of Army Public Relations of 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Colonel Aminu Iliyasu, had in a statement recently denied killed any member of IPOB during the rally, describing it as a “criminal gang.”

But IPOB spokesmen, Mr Emma Nmezu, and Dr. Clifford Chukwuemeka Iroanya, in their reply to the Army, said it had become customary for the army to kill IPOB members and deny it.

“This is not the first, neither is it going to be the last time that the Nigerian Army will kill our members and shamelessly come out to deny it”, he stated.

Part of the IPOB statement read: “International human rights groups have consistently labelled the Nigerian Army as perennial liars incapable of ever telling the truth when it comes to their culpability in the mass execution of unarmed civilians.

“IPOB and those who read the haphazardly written statements from Col. Aminu Iliyasu are left wondering how on the one hand he stated that IPOB conducted a rally in support of President Trump while on the other hand, he called it a protest.

“IPOB will like to remind this quota-system Colonel that the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-written Nigerian Constitution which he referred to is very explicit on the responsibilities of the Nigerian Armed Forces (not just the Army alone), especially in Section-217(2) and this does not in any way stipulate using live ammunition on peaceful and unarmed civilians.

“We will also like to remind Iliyasu that security agencies, media organizations, foreign embassies, and specifically, the Commissioner of Police in Rivers State were all informed ahead of time of the pro-Trump rally, through an official letter signed by the leadership of IPOB.

“This Colonel must understand that a rally or even a protest is not an armed rebellion that will warrant deployment of troops of 29 Battalion of Nigerian Army with a mandate to fire live bullets at peaceful and unarmed civilians.

“May we ask why the same deployment of troops was not carried out on those who protested against President Trump in Abuja on the same date?

“How come troops were not deployed to shoot and kill civilians during the recent “anti-Buhari” protest that was led by the likes of Charles Oputa a.k.a. Charlie Boy? Why must the Hausa-Fulani dominated Nigerian Army and Police regard every IPOB assembly or rally as an opportunity to embark upon some kind of mini Jihad designed to kill as many non-Muslims as possible?

“IPOB is extremely pleased that what transpired that day was captured on pictures and videos as most of the unspeakable atrocities of the Nigerian Army and police are.

“On his insinuation, borne out of panic, that IPOB will post old videos and pictures from our archives in social media, we advise the Colonel not to worry but to leave the authentication of the evidence we have to the civilized panel of judges at the International Criminal Court, ICC.

“It is reassuring to observe that at least the lying Nigerian Army is aware that all their murderous outrage on January 20, 2017 were captured on video.”

LAUTECH Lecturers suspend strike ...read more!!

Lecturers of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, have suspended their months’ long strike after a meeting Tuesday.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, in the school ended its strike after receiving a letter of commitment on how Oyo and Osun state governments intend to fund the university, its chapter chairman said.

The chairman, Biodun Olaniran, said the decision was informed after appraisal of the current situation on campus.

He however said the union would not hesitate to return to strike if the government fails again on the promise of funding the school.

“After consideration of all issues, we have decided to immediately suspend the strike and return to work with immediate effect,” he said.

Students reacted with elation to the news.

“Congratulations to all LAUTECH students, at some point I didn’t know how to ask for money from home, they kept asking me what I am doing in school,” a student, Busari Azeezat, said.

The LAUTECH chapter of ASUU went on strike in June 2016.

I met Buhari in Good health - SARAKI.. read more!!!

The President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday insisted that the President Muhammadu Buhari he saw in London was in good health and spirit.

Saraki made the remark while briefing the Senate on the recent trip by the leadership of the National Assembly to the UK, where they met with Buhari.

Speaking after he read pending letters to the Senate from Buhari on the extension of his vacation, as well as letters from the acting President Yemi Osinbajo requesting the confirmation of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the substantive Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, and the nomination of an additional ambassadorial nominee, the Senate President maintained that Buhari was in good spirit.

Saraki said, “Further to the correspondence from Mr. President, let me also use this opportunity to brief my colleagues on the visit I led a delegation of myself, the Honourable Speaker and the Majority Leader to visit Mr President Buhari on Wednesday 15th of February to convey the greetings and best wishes of the National Assembly and I am happy to report that we met the President in good spirit, in good health, chatty as usual and conveyed his best wishes and hopes to be back very soon.”

Recall that Saraki, alongside the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara had on February 15 visited Buhari in London.

Buhari, who embarked on vacation few weeks ago, had extended his time London indefinitely, citing health issues.

Just yesterday, the President through his media aide, Femi Adesina, revealed that a series of medical check-ups he carried out in the cause of his medical vacation had necessitated his prolonged stay in London.

BREAKING NEW: Why We cant impeach Governor Obiano - Anambra Lawmakers... read more!!!

Members of the Anambra State House of Assembly have explained why they can’t impeach 

the state governor, Willie Obiano base on a petition from a non-lawmaker and an opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

The factional state chairman of the PDP, chief Ken Emeakaye, in a press conference in Awka on Sunday called on the House to impeach the governor for allegedly proceeding on vacation for 30 days without remitting a letter to the House of Assembly.

Reacting to the petition, a member representing Onitsha north, Chugbo Enwezor, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said Emeakaye’s request showed somebody that was ignorant of the provisions of the constitution on impeachment proceedings on a governor.

According to him, “That statement was ill conceived and came from somebody who does not understand the constitutional provisions of section 188 (1-11) and section 190 of the 1999 constitution as amended.

“First and foremost, he lacks knowledge of the law. The call is mischievous and should be discountenanced.”

Enwezor said no legislature embarks on impeachment proceedings of the governor on the promptings of an opposition party.

He added that the Assembly did not require a petition to begin impeachment proceedings of the governor if the need arose.

Fake news more dangerous than BOKO HARAM - Lia Muhammed.... read more!!!

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the phenomenon of fake news if left unchecked, poses more threat to the nation than insurgency and militancy.

The minister reiterated this position on Tuesday in Abuja at the seventh edition of the National Security Seminar with the theme “Consolidating on the Gains of Counter-Terrorism Operations in Nigeria.”

The seminar was jointly organised by the National Defence College of Nigeria, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Alumni Association of National Defence College.

Mohammed said that the phenomenon of fake news propagated majorly by the social media “is so serious that it threatened to break the country rapidly even more than insurgency.”

He noted that to consolidate on the defeat of the Boko Haram insurgent, the armed forces should give special attention to its communication and information dissemination strategy.

“We must pay adequate attention to communication strategy and have our people who will be very active also on the social media.

“It is a front that has been largely neglected which we must now pay special and adequate attention to,” he said.

According to him, fake news phenomenon is a situation where someone or some persons will fabricate stories capable of setting one group or religion against the other and send them out through the social media.

“Regrettably, fake news is circulated worldwide through the means of the social media and it travels faster.

“Only recently, we have to refute the fake news that Nigeria today is the most difficult place for Christians to live.

“There was also the fake report that the armed forces of Nigeria armed the Fulani herdsmen and instigate them to carry out attacks.

“All these news are unfounded, fake and has the capacity to set one religion or group against the other,’’ he said.

The minister said the most recent of such disinformation was the news of the alleged killing of some members of a pro-Biafra group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Mohammed said that the allegation was false, malicious and intended to set the country on fire.

He also recalled the recent visit by two leaders of All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu and Bisi Akande to President Muhammadu Buhari in London which the champions of disinformation claimed it never happened.

He said similarly, it took the intervention of the US government to set the record straight through a release that its President, Donald Trump truly had a telephone conversation with President Buhari.

Earlier in a welcome address, the Commandant of National Defence College, Rear Adm. Ilesanmi Alade, said the annual seminar provided opportunities for discussion of the topical issue of national security. Alade said the theme of the seminar was apt because having technically defeated Boko Haram, there was the need to build upon the gains and guide against relapse or outbreak of any other crisis.

On his part, the Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali, commended the armed forces for winning the insurgency war in the North East within a short period of the administration of President Buhari.

The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Danjuma Shedi, said that the isolated attacks being witnessed were expected but assured that there would be an end to them soon.

Ohanaeze worried about maltreatment of Por-Biafran supporters- NWODO... read more!!!

Ohanaeze President John Nnia Nwodo has frowned at what he described as oppression to pro-Biafran supporters.

He said the Federal Government treats supporters of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) with disdain.

Nwodo stated in Port Harcourt yesterday during a tour, that if the MASSOB and IPOB members were treated like the Niger Delta Avengers and the Boko Haram in the North East, the agitations would be tamed.

Nwodo however said the Federal Government should shun violence against the pro-Biafran agitators.

He said, “Our people feel marginalized, they feel ill-treated. In this country the most sensitive position pertains to the national security, but there is already a vote of no confidence that the Ibos cannot be trusted with the security of the nation.’’ No Igbo man heads the Nigerians police, no Igbo man heads the military, no Igbo man heads the Federal Road Safety Corps, no Igbo man head the Department of State Service and others. We are not the Minister of Defense despite the zoning policy of the federal government.

“I don’t know why the Federal Government does not want to give people fiscal freedom. We are calling for true federalism.

“I know of the Niger Delta Avengers who are angry as the MASSOB and IPOB and are destroying oil facilities. I don’t know any of them that have been arrested. What has the IPOB done to be treated differently?

“The fact that we have not joined them means that they have not received our cheers because we still believe that the FG can still handle the situation. I call on the Federal Government to have a rethink on how they handle the issues of IPOB and MASSOB. If they treat them as they have treated others they will have a rethink.”