Sunday, March 21, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
JOS: Slaughter Capital of Nigeria!
The Federal Government of Nigeria owe Nigerians a serious apology for its failure to end the incessant Jos crisis. Re-occurring crisis of this nature is more than enough to bring down governments in the developed countries. Without doubts, the Federal Government, its security agencies and the perpetrators of these crimes should together be held responsible for the Jos massacre. In my opinion, the government should be prosecuted for security failures. The primary responsibility of every government is welfare and security of its citizens. On this occasion (Jos Crises etc) the government has simply failed. (See gory picture on the right)
I will advocate serious compensation from the government to those who lost loved ones, even though compensation will not bring back lost relatives. By virtue of the record number of religious crises in Jos and the higher number of deaths resulting from it, Jos has earned for herself, The Slaughter Capital of Nigeria . Just in a space of less than 3 months, over 800 people have lost their lives to religious crises. In January 2010, over 300 people were killed. In this month of March 2010, over 500 were slaughtered. Life is too cheap in Nigeria . I pray that, these killings should be the last. I pray this prayer each time there is a crisis, but I understand that heaven helps those who help themselves. In our own case we have not helped ourselves, therefore heaven might not help us.
To make matters worse, our government has abdicated from their responsibilities (security and welfare). There is no difference between a state sponsored killings and the inaction of our government through their security agencies. Government has no regards for the lives of Nigerians. Government’s inaction also runs counter productive to some of their programmes like re-branding etc
I was highly embarrassed when some of my work colleagues (mainly Africans from other countries) confronted me with the news of Jos massacre on March 9th. Earlier in January (2010), I was also confronted with the same Jos crisis. On each case I was short of words. Imagine if these people were foreign investors or have friends who want to invest in Nigeria . These negative stories will never leave their minds whenever Nigeria is mentioned.
The greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment. On the other hand, soft sentences can boost crimes, an example is the light sentence given to Olabode George. If the government cannot get tougher with punishing criminals and perpetrators of religious crises etc, then they will only be toying with our future. No one is safe. Even the so called “leaders” Nelson Mandela once said that ‘Security for few is insecurity for all’
Removing the National Security Adviser is not enough. Heads of other relevant security agencies should also be sacked. Another reason to sack other security chiefs is the way and manner our President was smuggled inside the country like a thief. I read from online news sources that most of our security chiefs claimed ignorance of smuggling of Yar’Adua. We should remember that ignorance is not an excuse in law and therefore cannot be accepted by Nigerians. There (security services) inaction means they cannot justify their wages/salaries etc and there is no point wasting the taxpayers money on whoever cannot justify his/her pay.
The Jos crises is also a serious blow to the people who protested on the streets of London, Abuja, and New York that Nigerians are not terrorist(s). What more do we call terrorism than events in Jos. My biggest concern is how to prevent similar crisis in future? Do we have any assurances from the government and its security agencies that such incidents will not happen again? What are government plans for those displaced from their homes and businesses? What about the traumatised children and women? There are a lot more questions than answers. May God bless Nigeria.
Scripted by:
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
I will advocate serious compensation from the government to those who lost loved ones, even though compensation will not bring back lost relatives. By virtue of the record number of religious crises in Jos and the higher number of deaths resulting from it, Jos has earned for herself, The Slaughter Capital of Nigeria . Just in a space of less than 3 months, over 800 people have lost their lives to religious crises. In January 2010, over 300 people were killed. In this month of March 2010, over 500 were slaughtered. Life is too cheap in Nigeria . I pray that, these killings should be the last. I pray this prayer each time there is a crisis, but I understand that heaven helps those who help themselves. In our own case we have not helped ourselves, therefore heaven might not help us.
To make matters worse, our government has abdicated from their responsibilities (security and welfare). There is no difference between a state sponsored killings and the inaction of our government through their security agencies. Government has no regards for the lives of Nigerians. Government’s inaction also runs counter productive to some of their programmes like re-branding etc
I was highly embarrassed when some of my work colleagues (mainly Africans from other countries) confronted me with the news of Jos massacre on March 9th. Earlier in January (2010), I was also confronted with the same Jos crisis. On each case I was short of words. Imagine if these people were foreign investors or have friends who want to invest in Nigeria . These negative stories will never leave their minds whenever Nigeria is mentioned.
The greatest incitement to crime is the hope of escaping punishment. On the other hand, soft sentences can boost crimes, an example is the light sentence given to Olabode George. If the government cannot get tougher with punishing criminals and perpetrators of religious crises etc, then they will only be toying with our future. No one is safe. Even the so called “leaders” Nelson Mandela once said that ‘Security for few is insecurity for all’
Removing the National Security Adviser is not enough. Heads of other relevant security agencies should also be sacked. Another reason to sack other security chiefs is the way and manner our President was smuggled inside the country like a thief. I read from online news sources that most of our security chiefs claimed ignorance of smuggling of Yar’Adua. We should remember that ignorance is not an excuse in law and therefore cannot be accepted by Nigerians. There (security services) inaction means they cannot justify their wages/salaries etc and there is no point wasting the taxpayers money on whoever cannot justify his/her pay.
The Jos crises is also a serious blow to the people who protested on the streets of London, Abuja, and New York that Nigerians are not terrorist(s). What more do we call terrorism than events in Jos. My biggest concern is how to prevent similar crisis in future? Do we have any assurances from the government and its security agencies that such incidents will not happen again? What are government plans for those displaced from their homes and businesses? What about the traumatised children and women? There are a lot more questions than answers. May God bless Nigeria.
Scripted by:
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Casualties of Ezza-Ezillo War
Pictures, you mu
st have known, tell a thousand stories. Below are gory pictures of the devastation and wreckage from the on-going fratricidal war that escalated between two sister communities of Ezza and Ezza-Ezillo. The war which broke out recently, claimed several lives and property, including passers-by
on the Enugu-Abakiliki high-way, close to the warring communities. It was, indeed, a tale of woes, as militant youths even waylaid police and army patrol personnel deployed to the area to quell the crisis. Many police officers were wounded in the heartless attacks, while a few others were killed by the singing bullets from the boy’s superior firearms.
st have known, tell a thousand stories. Below are gory pictures of the devastation and wreckage from the on-going fratricidal war that escalated between two sister communities of Ezza and Ezza-Ezillo. The war which broke out recently, claimed several lives and property, including passers-by
on the Enugu-Abakiliki high-way, close to the warring communities. It was, indeed, a tale of woes, as militant youths even waylaid police and army patrol personnel deployed to the area to quell the crisis. Many police officers were wounded in the heartless attacks, while a few others were killed by the singing bullets from the boy’s superior firearms.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tunde Bakare and Posterity
Dearest Tunde (Pastor) Bakare,
I have had the opportunity of reading through the State of The Nation Broadcast by you. This speech is both inspiring and motivational like your church sermon(s). I have no doubt, that efforts of people like you will definitely yield positive results in Nigeria . I was glad on hearing that you were part of the delegation of Save Nigeria Group that met with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan. We have no choice but to save Nigeria . My prayer is that many more faith leaders should join you in the crusade to save our motherland.
Religious groups are in a better position to mobilize people for change. Another reason is also because; fewer institutions are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, worship centers etc. Therefore, faith leaders by virtue of their calling and congregation they lead should not hesitate to mobilize people for changes. Quoting Martin Luther King “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter”. Therefore every one should speak out and perhaps, join the crusade to save our country. No sacrifice will be too much. Enough is enough.
I believe in one Nigeria where there is justice, equity, fairness and good governance. I also believe there could be unity in diversity. With togetherness and determination we can achieve a lot in saving Nigeria . Fidel Castro of Cuba once said that, no force on earth can defeat a determined people. Dearest Tunde (Pastor) Bakare, I have no doubt that the Save Nigeria Group, which you are part of, believes in progress and prosperity of our country. It is on this note that I make another appeal to all pro Nigerian groups both home and abroad to join your group (Save Nigeria Group) or Save Nigeria Group will join them. If Mohammed cannot go to the mountain, mountain can come to Mohammed. Various pro Nigerian groups should retain their identities and focus while identifying with Save Nigeria Group. Better still there should be synergy amongst all pro Nigerian groups.
The idea is to form a formidable group, with links abroad that will challenge the status quo at home. Assuming the heat generated by Yar’Adua,s sickness settles down, there will still be a lot of works to be done to put our country on the better pedestrian. I would pray for the Save Nigeria Group, to put pressure on the National Assembly to pass the freedom of information bill, removal of immunity clause on the constitution, abolition of federal character/quota system etc.
Coalition and synergy amongst all pro Nigerian groups will be a step in the right direction towards challenging our numerous problems. I also understand there might be challenges of coordination when the groups are many. But consider division of labour. Groups with interest on electoral reforms could come together under the larger group, while groups with interest on anti corruption could be grouped together under the larger group. This was the concept behind my call for a shadow government/cabinet. I could explain further as and at when needed.
Punch Newspaper of 2nd March 2010 (online version) reported that Ribadu and 45 others formed shadow parliament. It might be a good idea for Save Nigeria Group and other groups to join Ribadu. This project (Shadow Parliament/Shadow Government) will obviously strengthen the opposition parties/groups which is the beauty of every democracy. The planned Mass Action by Save Nigeria Group on 10th March 2010 is also part of democracy. I pray many Nigerians to support this cause.
Furthermore, I urge Nigerians to support Save Nigeria Group in cash and kind. PDP raised over N2 billion naira for Soludo’s election in Anambra State. Therefore, Nigerians should donate their widows’ mite to Save Nigeria Group. No amount will be too small. We should remember that freedom is expensive, please read my article on that; (http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/2009/06/freedom-is-expensive.html).
Another idea you and your group might consider, should be to field credible candidates during next year (2011) general election. It should not matter even if a member of your group wins only the councillorship or chairmanship election. That way you can begin to show Nigerians a true taste of governance. You can stand for elections yourself. Reverend Chris Okotie of the Household of God Church Ministries contested the 2003 presidential elections. It might be easier to change from within than from outside.
My other advice will be for you and the Save Nigeria Group or other pro Nigerian groups to produce political messages in both DVD’s CD’s Cassettes etc, to be distributed to Nigerians. There is need to increase the political consciousness of our people. I call this idea Political Evangelism. It could be in form of documentaries or it could take any form. These political messages could be produced in various native languages of Nigeria. Picture effect(s) can do much in increasing the political consciousness of our people.
Using the home videos and various religious evangelisms as a case study, you will agree with me that many lives have been shaped through that. Political evangelisms in DVD’s CD’s etc will have similar impact on our society. People in remote areas will be empowered politically through such messages.
Finally, it’s also important to remind Nigerians to plant trees or sponsor one to plant on their behalf. Turn off your electrical appliances/lights when not in use. Government and companies should send less paper work and do more email, telephone, and sms. May God bless Nigeria?
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of “Support Option A4 Group” Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Chime has Performed Poorly
By: Barrister Ray Nnaji, Chairman, Enugu State Chapter of PDPWhat has it been like being on the opposition to the government of Enugu state in the past two and half years?
You know quite well that opposition has, in actual sense, put Governor Sullivan Chime on his toes. Our opposition has made him to, at least, do the little ones he has been doing because without these criticisms and the rest of them, I believe he would have been sleeping over the development of this state. And opposition is a way to sensitize some people that there are some bad aspects of the governance which a lot of people are given credibility. As a result of this, others will be gingered to open their eyes to what happens in their state.
There are observations in some quarters that more funds have come into Enugu state in the past two and half years of Chime’s administration than in the eight years of administration of former Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. How would you react to this?
Yes, I am aware of the remarks. I even saw the papers containing the information, but I have not taken time to talk about the issue because I have not done my investigations on the figures being to be sure of the accounts. You know in issues concerning funds and figures one has to be sure of what one is talking about. It is a sensitive matter. But I know quite well that this government was lucky to have met a buoyant allocation. Whether it is almost two-thirds of what Chimaroke Nnamani got in eight years I don’t know because I have not been able to verify all the facts but I saw the details.
In the face of the whooping figures talked about, what is your rating of Chime’s government so far?
If what I have been hearing is anything to go by, I would tell you that Chime’s performance is not commensurate with the funds he has received, taken into consideration that, in Enugu city, he has done ‘a little fine job‘. But when you go to the rural areas, you don’t see anything there. And that is what actually gives me worries. And Chime has not performed well in other sectors, including education, judiciary, health, industries and what have you. So if the figures we are talking about are anything to go by, I don’t think that the work Chime has put on ground is commensurate with the funds he received.
How would you want this state to be run in the remaining part of this tenure (2009 t0 2011)?
One other aspect the governor has woefully failed is in the issue of human empowerment. So many people are complaining. So many people are complaining. Even if you are doing a lot of things, it is human beings that will enjoy those things. So many people are feeling so disenchanted because of the fact they have not been getting anything from the government. We want a situation whereby the government should be open, transparent and accessible. When you want to see your governor you see your governor. It is not a situation where you find it impossible to see your governor. Even in public functions, you find it difficult to have a glance at Sullivan Chime. That is not the best way to run the government.
How do you react to Chime’s government’s alleged indebtedness to the tune of about N50 Billion? This government reportedly took such loans from the banks, and they (the loans) are yet to be repaid.
N50 billion is a staggering amount. It is not a small money. If this is found out to be true, it is too bad that one has to feel sorry for the state because we know quite well that in the old Anambra state there was some debt which are still being deducted at source from the coffers of Enugu state. I don’t know whether those debts were exhausted before Chimaroke left office. And if they had not been exhausted, this N50 billion forms an additional burden on the state and its people. N50 billion! It is going to tell on the state terribly.
How?
It means that anybody coming as governor will be confronted with the task of paying debts alone. There won’t be development. It is going to be so difficult and that is why internal revenues will continue to be increased in the sense that it is the only way government can augment the financial allocations coming in. And when you hike internal revenues, then, the people are the ones suffering for it. It is the people that bear the brunt of it.
Interview conducted by KlinReports
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
UNN Partners with American University
A new international friendship and partnership is forming between two universities in the United States and Nigeria. (Picture shows Vice Chancellor Bartho Okolo)North Dakota State University and the University of Nigeria Nsukka have signed a memorandum of understanding that may lead to a variety of joint endeavours. The agreement comes as a result of a recent visit to the NDSU campus by representatives of the Nigerian university.
In November, Vice Chancellor Bartholomew Ndubuisi Okolo; Bennett Nwaguma, senior special assistant to the Vice Chancellor on Research and Academic Output; and Nnaemeka Chukwuone, development officer in charge of research and innovation, met with NDSU officials to discuss areas of mutual interest.
During that visit, they met with the NDSU vice president for Agriculture and University Extension and the vice president for Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach. In addition, the delegation held discussions with the deans of the NDSU Colleges of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Human Development and Education; Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Sciences; and Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources. The group also toured the College of Business and NDSU’s Research and Technology Park.
“We are now identifying areas where we will focus for collaboration,” explained Kerri Spiering, NDSU associate vice president for Equity, Diversity and Global Outreach. “One priority area of discussion is agriculture, with a lot of different areas of interest. Communication is another possible area for partnerships.”
Spiering said joint research efforts likely will be the initial step as the universities work together. She suggests faculty may join forces to prepare journal articles for publication or develop research grants.
“We’re very excited about the partnership with the University of Nigeria Nsukka,” Spiering said, noting her Nigerian counterparts also are interested in having their faculty earn doctorates that may not be available in their country. “We see it as beneficial to both schools in regards to possibilities of research collaboration, faculty exchange and, hopefully one day, student exchange.”
That enthusiasm is shared by personnel on the Nigerian campus.
“We are doing everything to ensure that our partnership is very active and successful,” said Vice Chancellor Okolo.
According to Spiering, the collaboration discussions between the universities were initiated by NDSU professor of communication Charles Okigbo. He is currently on leave, heading the policy engagement and communication division of the African Population and Health Research Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
The University of Nigeria Nsukka has a student population of more than 35,000, with an academic staff numbering more than 1,700. It has 106 academic departments, and 10 semi-autonomous institutes and research centres, a school of postgraduate studies and a school of general studies. The university has four campuses in Nsukka, Enugu, Ituku-Ozalla and Aba.
NDSU, located in Fargo, N.D., has an enrolment of more than 14,100 students, and its annual research expenditures top $100 million. During the past decade, NDSU has undergone approximately $150 million in major new construction. The university is comprised of the College of Agriculture, Food Systems and Natural Resources; College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Business; College of Engineering and Architecture; College of Human Development and Education; College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Allied Sciences; College of Science and Mathematics; College of University Studies; and College of Graduate and Interdisciplinary Studies.
With more than 100 undergraduate programs, NDSU offers 44 doctoral programs, 59 master’s programs, an educational specialist degree and 10 certificate programs. The university is listed in the top 100 research universities in several National Science Foundation categories. In fiscal 2007, NDSU ranked 28th in agricultural sciences; 41st in research and development among schools without a medical school; 42nd in social sciences among research universities; 74th in physical sciences; and 94th in chemistry among all colleges and universities receiving grants from the NSF.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
ENUGU: Ekweremadu Battles Chime
Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President, exploits his chummy relationship with Acting President Goodluck Jonathan to hijack the 2011 PDP governorship ticket in Enugu state from the second-term-seeking Governor Sullivan Chime.That the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, aspires to occupy the Lion Building, Enugu com
e 2011 on the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is now an open secret. Ekweremadu is from Mpu community in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu state, and he represents Enugu West Senatorial District at the national assembly. (Picture is that Governor Chime; Right is Senator Ike Ekweremadu)Before now, the Deputy Senate President’s ambition seemed shrouded in secrecy, as he was not so sure of support from the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s presidency should he openly decide to run against the second-term-seeking incumbent Governor Sullivan Iheanacho Chime.
As a matter of fact, Chime remains one of the closest state governors to ailing President Yar’Adua. It is, to this effect, widely held that were Yar’Adua to be in control of state of affairs in the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he (Yar’Adua) would not readily lend his presidential weight behind Ekweremadu’s governorship bid in Enugu state. It is common knowledge that apart from on close official quarters, Chime and Yar’Adua’s family, also, enjoy very personal relationships. The implication of this is that for President Yar’Adua, Chime’s second term in office as Governor is a foregone conclusion.
But now, the political coast appears somehow conducive for Senator Ekweremadu to bring his hitherto latent governorship ambition in the state to the fore, especially, as President Yara’Adua has, following his illness, given way to Jonathan. And nobody is certain of how long it would take Yar’Adua to fully recover from his ailment.
Senator Ekweremadu, it would be recalled, has been one of the greatest supporters of Goodluck Jonathan’s pre and pro acting presidency in the senate.
To buttress this relationship, it was Ekweremadu, as Deputy Senate President, who actually moved the motion at the floor of the senate to the effect that Jonathan should be empowered to take over from sick Yar’Adua as Acting President. Not a few Nigerians including, perhaps, the Deputy Senate President himself, seem convinced that President Yar’Adua may be back on his feet so soon, a situation which has given rise to alignment and realignment of political forces across the states of the country.
Because past President Olusegun Obasanjo seemed to have related more closely with Vice President Jonathan than President Yar’Adua (although he single-handedly installed both of them), the thinking in some quarters is that, with Jonathan’s emergence as Acting President, Obasanjo would become the defacto President, ruling the country rather than Jonathan. Therefore, cronies of Obasanjo immediately began to throw their political weights about across the states, believing that they are now in control, power having changed hands to one of their own-Jonathan. Senator Ekweremadu is believed to belong to this class of politicians.
On record is the fact that Governor Chime, alongside other Yar’Adua acolytes, stoutly resisted Jonathan’s empowerment as Acting President. In fact, Chime used the occasion of the Conference of South East Governors, held January 27, to vehemently argue against Jonathan’s ascension. Speaking from the pavement of a lawyer, Governor Chime insisted that sick Yar’Adua was still fit to run the affairs of the country, and, as such, should not be replaced by the Vice President.
“It is true that President Yar’Adua is ill, but it is not enough to replace him with his vice for now. He is still capable of steering the ship of the country. The constitution does not say that when a president is ill, his vice should take over power from him”, Chime asserted during the Governors’ conclave.
Governor Chime having, so to say, unsuccessfully, led the continuity train of ailing Yar’Adua, the permutation of Ekweremadu and, of course, his supporters is that he (Chime) will, naturally, run out of favor with Acting President Jonathan, and might lose his second term bid in Enugu state.
Many believe that it is this calculation that has propelled Ekweremadu to quickly oil his political machinery and line-up across the seventeen councils of the state, with a view to emerging Governor after Chime would have served out his first term next year, 2011.
Thus on Friday February 6 this year, almost immediately after the inauguration of Jonathan as Acting President, Ekweremadu cruised back home to address his supporters and stake-holders who, before then, had been discussing his governorship ambition with hushed tones.
Ironically, the senator had, in the past, probably because of unfavorable political climate for him at home, stringently, denied that he was going to contest the governorship of the state against Chime. Ekweremadu had used the opportunity of a PDP rally in Enugu West senatorial zone to debunk the notion that he was nursing guber ambition.
Ekweremadu went further to embrace Governor Chime in the full glare of party faithful, assuring him (Chime) that he (Ekweremadu) would support his second term bid. Highlighting all the achievements of Chime’s government so far, Ekweremadu maintained that God had given him all the blessings of life, elevated him to many positions of authority until he got to that of Deputy Senate President of Nigeria. Ekweremadu, therefore, wondered how he would then descend low as to come to struggle for the governorship of the state with Chime. But the turn of events now indicate that this denial was Senator Ekweremadu’s stratagem of playing the politics of the time.
At the moment, Insider Weekly can authoritatively reveal that the former Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG) has deployed all the arsenals in his political armory towards realizing his Enugu state gubernatorial quest come 2011.
Conferred with the traditional title of Ikeoha Ndigbo by Eze (Dr) C.I. Ilomuanya (Obi of Obingwu), Chairman, South-East Council of Traditional Rulers about two years ago, Ekweremadu inaugurated IKEOHA Foundations in specific areas, including football, education and human empowerment to facilitate his political project. IKEOHA foundations are founded on the vision of empowering women and youth of Ekweremadu’s constituency.
As displayed in the Deputy Senate President’s personal website: www.ikeekweremadu.com, IKEOHA Education Foundation has, since 2005, awarded scholarships to indigent students of the senatorial zone. Apart from using the scholarship schemes to create awareness on his ambition, Ekweremadu, also, introduced a regular football competition amongst communities in the constituency. And he has been doling out trophies and cash prizes at the end of the contests which are held amidst pomp.
Ekweremadu.com lists constituency services of the senator to include micro-credit scheme for the needy, as well as generation of employment and appointments for the constituents.
From all indications, Governor Chime is not unaware of the schemes of Ekweremadu to hijack the 2011 PDP governorship ticket of the state, there halting his second term bid. This development could explain the cold relationship which has existed between both since the inception of this political dispensation.
Political pundits, also, think that it could have been as a result of Chime’s lack of confidence in Ekweremadu that made him not to pay homage to him (Ekweremadu), on Saturday January 16 this year, when he undertook an official tour to his senatorial zone, in particular, Ohofia Ndumeze in Aninri council area, to hand over staff of office to the community’s monarch, Onyioha Godwin Nwanjoku.
Rather than visit the home of Senator Ekweremadu who, himself, was one of the recipients of chieftaincy titles from the newly inaugurated Igwe Nwanjoku, Governor Chime chose to visit the home of former Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Abel Chukwu, before returning back to Enugu. The interpretation, to many, was that the former Speaker (Hon. Chukwu), rather than the Deputy Senate President (Ekweremadu), is Governor Chime’s preferred leader of the party (PDP) in the zone.
As it were, while Senator Ekweremadu may derive his political strength to actualize his guber dream from his much-talked-about goodwill to his people and his closeness to Acting President Jonathan, Chime derives his from his incumbency and acclaimed developmental projects in the state, especially, his administration’s aggressive reconstruction of dilapidated roads in Enugu metropolis.
Culled from Insider Weekly Magazine
Monday, February 22, 2010
King Abdullah Must Read This!
His Royal Highness, King Abdullah,The King, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Thro:
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
30 Charles Street, WIJ 5DZ
Tel: +442079173000 +442079173000
Email: ukemb@mofa.gov.sa
London
20th February, 2010
Dearest King (Abdullah), the government and the good people of Saudi Arabia:
Please permit me to make a special appeal for your intervention towards solving a lingering political and constitutional crisis in Nigeria.
You might be wondering why Nigerians need your intervention. The good people of Nigeria need your intervention because our President (YarAdua) was admitted to a hospital (King Faisai Hospital) in your country since November 23rd 2009.
Since our President left Nigeria, he has only spoken once (thru an interview to the British Broadcasting Corporation, but less than a minute) to Nigerians. His medical trip to your country has generated a lot of controversies and political tension.
My appeal/letter is a citizen led diplomacy intended to: (a) coincide with the planned visit to your kingdom of another delegation (six members) from the Executive Council of the Federation, (b) to request your support so that, this delegation can see President Yar’Adua.
As you might be aware, previous delegations from Nigerian government were not allowed to see him.
First, a delegation from the Nigeria s Lower House of Parliament (House of Representatives), led by Shehu Baba Agaie, was not allowed to see him.
Second, a delegation led by the leader of our President’s political party (Peoples Democratic Party), Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, failed to see him.
(c) Bring to your attention that Nigerian people will gratefully appreciate if you could help them know the true health status of their President.
The state of health of every individual should be a private affair, but not when it concerns a president of a country like Nigeria which is nearly 150 million in population. Our country is a multi complex political entity.
When late Yasser Arafat (The Leader of Palestine Liberation Organisation) was taken to a French hospital before his death, the entire world was kept informed of his situation.
Also when former Israeli Prime Minster (Ariel Sharon) was taken to hospital, the world was kept informed.
Our Presidents ill health cannot be an exception. We deserve to know, more so since his absence is over-heating our political system.
I am sure your ambassador to Nigeria would have furnished you with the nature and details of the controversies, political and constitutional crisis that our President’s medical trip to your kingdom has caused to Nigeria and Nigerians. It has almost polarized our nation, and it is not in the best interest of Nigeria s image internationally. Whatever affects Nigeria will affect the entire sub-region. Besides, we now live in a global village, what happens in one part affects the rest of it.
Your assistance to the above request will surely go a long way towards solving the problems, which resulted from our Presidents medical trip to your Kingdom.
I will be asking fellow Nigerians to register their concerns on the above subject through the enclosed email/web address (ukemb@mofa.gov.sa or www.mofa.gov.sa) or they should forward their letters/concerns to any Saudi Arabia s embassy nearest to them.
Thanking You in Anticipation of Your Co-operation,
Sincerely yours,
Chinedu Vincent Akuta.
An activist and leader of Support Option A4 Group Leicester-UK
akutachinedu@yahoo.com
http://briefsfromakuta.blogspot.com/
Enugu’s Novel Trade Fair
For the first time in decades, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) holds its international trade fair at its permanent fair ground beginning from March 19 this year.The 21st Enugu International Trade Fair has been slated to hold from Friday 19 to 29 March this year (ten days). (Picture shows Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu state)
But this time around, the fair which has, for decades, held at its temporary complex on Abakiliki Road, finally moves over to its permanent site by Golf Course Housing Estate, off the Enugu-Onitsha expressway.
With the theme, ‘Economic Recovery and Development through Public/Private Partnership’, this year’s fair, according to Sir Okechukwu Nwadinobi, the newly elected ECCIMA President, will feature not less than 500 exhibitors. Apart from this large number of participants, the fair is expected to be declared open by Vice President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
On a general note, the fundamental principles and general objectives of trade fairs across the world are promotion of goods and services both at local and international levels, as well as to boost economic and investment opportunities.
To this effect, Nwadinobi maintained that this year’s Enugu fair will, among other things, expose and promote the vast investment and business opportunities in Nigeria; provide the forum for comparison of local products with foreign ones to achieve qualitative economic development and healthy competition; strengthen the political and economic relations between Nigeria and other nations, as well as facilitate the exchange of technical and commercial information, and the expansion of trade transactions in order to enhance the development of the national economy.
President Nwadinobi assured that his Chamber is determined to make this fair the most successful in the history of Enugu International Trade Fair, despite the fact there had been a lot of challenges in hosting it at the permanent site.
“Happily, we have a more spacious arena, the location is very accessible and we are striving to provide necessary infrastructure and facilities to boost the success of the fair”, Nwadinobi told journalists during a recent press briefing to announce the fair.
Nwadinobi was, during the briefing, flanked by Professor Ikechukwu Nwosu, 2nd Deputy President; Dr. Theo Okonkwo, 1st Deputy President; Sir Emeka Okereke, Director-General; Peter Ezeibe, Public Relations Manager; Emeka Nwandu, Ndukwo Ndukwo Ogbuja, Emma Nwankpa and Lady Clair Asogwa-all council members among others.
Nwadinobi commended Governor Sullivan Chime for assisting the body in hitch-freely moving over to its permanent site. He said the governor had directed all the relevant ministries to assist ECCIMA in upgrading and completing the basic infrastructural needs in the permanent site. Nwadinobi added that Chime’s government is, also, already re-surfacing the access road to the complex.
Not to be left unmentioned was ECCIMA’s commendation of the federal government over upgrading of facilities at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport. However, the body expressed deep concern on the implications of the intended closure of the airport from February 10 this year for twelve months to allow for the expansion of the runway.
“If carried out, this will further cripple the economy of the south East, as the Akanu Ibiam Airport remains the major gateway to the East. With the bad state of roads in the zone, and absence of rail transport system, our business men and women have no alternative as the nearest alternative airport is more than two hours away to catch a 45 minutes flight”, Nwadinobi regretted.
ECCIMA thus recommended that a second runway be constructed so that the existing one could continue to provide air services to the teeming air travelers from the zone, adding that members of ECCIMA who are tested contractors would be willing to partner with the federal government to execute this project on mutually beneficial terms.
ECCIMA’s appeal in this direction, also, went to the federal government, Governor Chime and other stake-holders to assist in ensuring that the proposed runway extension at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport is carried out in a way that will not disrupt regular flight operations, and, by extension, affect participation at the forthcoming fair.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Genocide in Ebonyi
Aside a pending suit, Ezza-Ezillo community of Ebonyi state drags soldiers, deployed to maintain peace between her and her Ezillo kinsmen, to the Presidency for intimidation, serial killings and rape of their womenfolk. (Picture shows Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi state)The story of Clement Nwode Alichi, headmaster of Ntezi Primary School, Ishielu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, is chilling enough! Nwode Alichi lost all his property in the raging Ezillo, Ezza-Ezillo communal crisis.
It would be recalled that the twin communities of Ezza-Ezillo and Ezillo had engaged in bloody wars since May 2008 following a rift between an Ezillo youth and his Ezza-Ezillo kinsman over the citing of a business centre in the Ezaa-Ezillo territory. A day after, the feud developed into a full blown war, with both sides losing lives and property to the mayhem.
In particular, Nwode Alichi, an Ezza man, in one fell swoop, lost a J5 Bus, two private cars, a 24 room bungalow, cows, well stocked yam barn, fowls and goats, as well as over 150 bags of rice. Nwode Alichi, ultimately, had to scamper out of the community for his dear life without a pin as property.
But the tragedy of Nwode Alichi pales into insignificance with the alleged murder of his only son, Ezennaya, a graduate of Ikwo College of Education, Ebonyi State, in Abakiliki town, by a mercenary soldier. Nwode Alichi identified his son’s killer as a soldier, called Tasunda. Tasunda is said to serve at Nkwu Agu Military Cantonment in Abakiliki. Ezennaya, it was gathered, was pointed out to Tasunda for murder by some conspiring indigenes of the rival Ezillo community, including James Abah, Thomas Abalishi and Peter Elom among others.
According to Headmaster Alichi, “When Ezennaya (my only son) returned, one of the Ezillo people called the soldier, Tasunda, on phone telling him that the boy they were looking for was back. Tasunda came with other soldiers, met my son, and murdered him in cold blood. They shot him severally on the legs and stomach in the presence of his wife…These murderers carried the corpse of my son away, and I have never seen it till now. I wanted to go and report the matter to the police, but I was warned never to come out; that if they see me they will kill me. They, also, sent some soldiers to look for me at Ntezi where I am teaching. They want to kill me as they killed my only son. I am now in hiding”.
As it were, Nwode Alichi’s heart-rending account forms part of a petition sent by Ezza-Ezillos on October 14, 2009 to the Presidency concerning gross violations of their fundamental rights.
The petition, signed on behalf of the Ezza-Ezillos by their counsel, Uche Wisdom Durueke (Esq) of Durueke’s Law Firm, Owerri, Imo state, claimed that the people of Ezillo, because of their connections and involvements in the government of Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi, have been influencing the peace keeping soldiers to unleash all sorts of onslaughts against the Ezzas. Apart from evicting them from their ancestral homes, the soldiers allegedly deny the Ezza-Ezillos freedom of movement and association contrary to their Ezillo counterparts.
Particularly, the petition stated that Joseph Nwaorie, an Ezza man, was arrested in the Ntezi area of Ebonyi state by the peace-keeping soldiers at a road block. On the discovery that Nwaorie came from Ezza-Ezillo, the soldiers, the petition alleged, subjected him to merciless torture, and compelled him to make a telephone call to one of his relations, feigning that he was involved in an accident and quickly needed assistance.
Within a short time, two relations of Nwaorie, Moses Njoku and Clement Nwankwo arrived at the scene in a vehicle to possibly convey him (Nwaorie) to hospital. But the peace-keeping soldiers reportedly swiftly arrested the duo of Njoku and Nwankwo amidst torture.
According to the petition, Nwaorie was shot on his leg, and denied medical treatment, even when the leg was about to decay, oozing out odious smell. Njoku, on his own part, was unluckier, as he allegedly died from the army torture four days back in a military cell at Nkwu Agu Military Cantonment. Njoku was said to have died as a result of severe and multiple injuries inflicted on him by the soldiers.
“We are told that till date, no account has been given by the Army of his (Njoku)’s corpse. The other two persons are still in military detention and their fate is uncertain. The citizens committed no offence other than that they are natives of Ezza-Ezillo”, Durueke’s petition to the Presidency affirmed.
Instances of torture and dehumanization of the human persons of the Ezza-Ezillos seem endless! The petition recounts that, last year, August, in Ndiegwu Okpoto, a community located on the Abakiliki-Enugu Expressway, three other natives of Ezza-Ezillo were arrested and detained by the peace keeping soldiers at a road block. The three kinsmen included Stephen Nwanga, a sick elderly man, and the duo of Ndubuisi Agwu and Sunday Nweke who were taking sick Nwanga to his wives in a nearby local government council for comfort and medication.
Curiously, the pathetic condition of sick Elder Nwanga did not sway the soldiers who allegedly pounced on the trio. While they shot Agwu on the leg, Nweke sustained varied degrees of injuries arising from his torture. And apart from assisting in conveying the sickly Nwanga to his wives, Nweke, an herbalist, was, also, going to treat another sick person, one Ifeanyi Chukwu. But this sordid incident brought Chukwu’s medical mission to a halt, as the injured Chukwu, subsequently, died for lack of medical attention. And till date, the trio of sick Nwanga, Agwu and Nweke still languish in the military detention, waiting to die anytime death beckons.
Still, there is a case of an old native doctor, Nweze Alo, who was, recently, arrested at Ode Ntezi by the soldiers and hauled into detention. Alo, an Ezza but not of Ezza-Ezillo extraction, was invited by an Ngbo woman to help her make juju to stop thieves from stealing her property. Alo who is still in military detention, was arrested simply because the youths there accused him of being an Ezza man.
Importantly, women and children of Ezza-Ezillo extraction are not left out of these alleged human rights violations by peace-keeping soldiers.
“The women have been victims of brazen assault by the military but are very shy to come out in the open to make complaints”, stated the community’s petition.
The petition lamented that for more than a year now, Ezza Ezillo children have been refused education, having been earlier forced out of their ancestral homes, a development which the Ezza-Ezillos perceive as Ezillo’s strategy to halt their progress in life.
Part of the complaints of the petition is that both the government of Chief Martin Elechi and the Ezillos look down on and treat them as second class citizens.
‘Presently, the Ezillo people are facing human resource depletion and poverty…a subtle program of annihilation through economic strangulation. It is disheartening and criminal that Ebonyi State Government has treated our clients so inhumanly. We are alarmed that a State Government in Nigeria can pursue a course that is obviously one of crime against humanity in this 21st century. The question is: Why is the Ebonyi State Government not pursuing a course of promoting reconciliation, peace and co-existence?’ the petition quizzed.
Elechi’s government, in collaboration with the Army, allegedly left a standing order for the arrest and ruthless handling of any Ezza-Ezillo person seen around their community. The petition listed persons already declared wanted, dead or alive, by the Army to include Chinedu Onele, Uche Dada, Okoro Agwu, Simon Nworie and Ezennaya Nwode (who has already been slain by the soldiers in Abakiliki).
In fact, the experience of the Ezza-Ezillos appears worse than incarceration, as they cannot, at the moment, go in and out of their Ezza-Ezillo ancestral homes, while their properties are not spared either.
The petition, further, recounted how Emmanuel Ovu, an indigene of the area, was, on June 18 last year, pursued by soldiers for apparently attempting to leave the Ezza-Ezillo community on his motorcycle. As Ovu ran for his life, he abandoned the motorcycle, which the soldiers confiscated.
Ovu’s was, as a matter of fact, the fourth motorcycle seized by the soldiers, and fears abound that all the motorbikes have disappeared. The peace-keeping soldiers were, also, said to have impounded vehicles belonging to some Ezza-Ezillo indigenes, including Clement Nwankwo’s Nissan bus. The farmlands and livestock have, similarly, been vandalized by the soldiers.
‘It may interest you to learn that while the Peace Initiative led by the Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly was still on course on 11 October, 2009, women from Ezza-Ezillo were waylaid on their way to Ntezi community market, a market outside Ezillo, and their wares were destroyed. We were informed that a complaint was lodged to the said peace committee on account of the incident. The soldiers admitted the incident and alleged that they acted on the instruction of Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, one Barrister Peter Onwa, who purportedly claimed that the women were found within where he had declared a ‘Buffer Zone’, the petition narrated.
Apart from destruction of their wares, livestock and economic trees, Insider Weekly was informed that the peace-keeping soldiers have, often-times, sexually assaulted women of the community. And one of the rape victims, Mrs. Mary Ugoama, accused the soldiers of, in addition, laying ambush for them inside their farmlands, forcing them to uproot their farm crops and, subsequently, destroying the crops.
Indeed, the contention of Ezza-Ezillo petition is that, going by the declaration of Minimum Standards and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, Ezza-Ezillo women, children, physically challenged and elderly are entitled to be catered for, but this has, unfortunately, not been so. Thus many Ezza-Ezillo indigenes are currently said to be facing ‘severe hunger and diseases’ as a result of their situation.
The Ezza-Ezillos have, for the umpteenth time, through their counsel, Uche Durueke, called on the federal government to step into the matter, with a view to, ultimately, reinstating them to their ancestral homes and addressing all the injustices being unleashed on them.
The Ezzas, also, called for the setting up of a panel of inquiry to investigate their claims of torture and extra-judicial killings, the molestation of their women, especially, the incident of June 18 last year, as well as alleged sale of motorcycles of Ezza-Ezillos impounded by the Army.
Equally, the petition asked the federal government to prevail on the Nkwu Agu Military Cantonment to give account of the whereabouts of the Ezza-Ezillos being detained by the Army without trial. The Ezza-Ezillo detainees are named as Joseph Nwaorie, Clement Nwankwo and Stephen Nwanga, Ndubuisi Agwu, Sunday Nweke and Nwaeze Alo, an Ezza but not of Ezza-Ezillo extraction)
Among the appeals of the people is that the Nkwu Agu Military Cantonment be made to account for the whereabouts of the corpses of their sons, Ezennaya Nwode and Moses Njoku respectively.
The Ezzas, also, demanded that they, being predominantly farmers and depend on the land for livelihood, should be allowed to go to their farms to work. The petition insisted that the destruction of Ezza-Ezillo farms, even by soldiers, for no reason whatsoever, be halted.
Of note is that the resistance of the Ezza-Ezillos to vacate their ancestral homes is traced to their traditional history. It was learnt that the Ezza-Ezillos, over 70 years ago, came into their present abode, called Umuezeoka-Ezza and Umuezokoha-Ezza, on the invitation of the then war-torn Ezillo people.
Part of the information is that in that era of inter-tribal warfare and quest for territorial expansion, the Ezillos had invited the Ezzas to assist them ward off their powerful Ngbo and Okpoto neighbors who were on the verge of annihilating them, with a view to taking over their lands and bringing them under total control. On the discovery that the magnitude of the war would not require the participation of the entire Ezza stock, located in Onueke, present Ezza South council area, the people unanimously sent their Umuezeoka and Umuezekoha-Ezza kinsmen to help the Ezillos subdue their Ngbo and Okpoto invaders.
But the involvement of the Ezzas in Ezillo, Ngbo-Okpoto wars, of course, followed an agreement to the effect that after the war, the Ezza warriors would not return back to Onueke, but would unobtrusively settle in their present areas of abode, that is, the Ebonyi River side of Abakiliki. And true to the agreement, the Ezza mercenaries, after the war, with the full consent of the Ezillos, settled in the agreed area and, subsequently, acted as a shield to the Ezzillos over their Ngbo and Okpoto assailants. The duo had, since then, cohabited until the hostilities broke out between them.
Sad enough, the intervention of Chief Martin Elechi government in the blood-chilling conflicts aggravated the already worsening situation between the two sister communities. Elechi government had, in an infamous public broadcast on October 2 of 2008, directed the Ezza-Ezillo people to vacate their ancestral homes and farmlands, and move into a completely barren location called ‘Egu Echara’. The Ezzas, with a population of over 12,000, complained that this ‘Egu Echara’ piece of land was not only small, but presently occupied by the Ezillo and Ngbo people.
“In Egu Echara, there are no houses for re-settlement, no schools for our children, no hospital or clinic for our health needs, no play grounds for our children, no market for us to buy and sell our wares, no churches to worship our God, no portable water, no access roads and so on”, the Ezza-Ezillos lamented.
It would be recalled that Governor Elechi’s pronouncement followed a report of a peace committee, headed by Eze Chibueze Agbo, traditional ruler of Ezzamgbo community. The membership of Eze Agbo committee, set up to inquire into the crisis, included, among others, Ambassador Icha Ituma, Dr. Offia Nwali, Chief Chris Nwankwo, Rev. Fr. John Odey, Eze John Oge, Chief James Alobu, Eze Martin Nweke, Chief Okoro Alochi, Chief Nwafor Echie and Chief Francis Eze Igwe among others.
Incessantly harassed by both the peace-keeping soldiers and Elechi government to vacate their abodes and farmlands for the forest, Ezza-Ezillos, in April last year, sought redress in the law court.
The suit, filed before an Abakiliki High Court by their counsel, Uche Durueke, has Governor Elechi, the state’s Commissioner for Works and Transport, Surveyor-General and Eze Agbo as defendants. The plaintiffs, suing on behalf of themselves and Umuezoka-Ezza and Umuezokoha-Ezza of Ezza-Ezillo in Ishielu Local Government Area, included Chief Paul Ogbule, James Nwali, Augustine Egbe and Jonathan Omena.
The suit, numbered HAB21/2009, among other things, sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Governor Elechi by himself, his commissioners, assistants, officers, servants, workmen, agents, representatives or successor from relocating the Ezzas or moving the Ezzas out of their present abodes and farmlands to ‘Egu Echara’ or anywhere else as contained in the infamous broadcast of October 2 last year.
The suit, equally, sought the court’s declaration that the governor’s directive to the effect that the Ezza-Ezillos should relocate from their ancestral homes and farmlands is wrong, unfair, inhuman, unjust, unlawful, illegal and, therefore, null and void. Part of the prayers of the Ezza-Ezillos include a declaration that the report of Eze Agbo’s Peace Committee in respect of the crisis is not binding in law, and that the recommendations were made without giving them equal opportunity to present their case before the committee like their Ezillo neighbors.
Another relief being sought by the community is an order of perpetual injunction restraining Elechi’s government from asking or insisting on implementing their planned eviction.
Understandably, the constitution of Eze Agbo’s Peace Committee would never have gone down well with the Ezza-Ezillo people, who contended that the outcome of the committee’s assignment would, naturally, tilt against them.
The contention of the people was that Eze Agbo, being an Ngbo man, would not be objective enough as to dispense justice in the crisis. Similarly, Ambassador Icha Ituma, himself an Ngbo element, and, indeed, many other members of the Peace Committee, allegedly, had sympathies for the Ezillos against the Ezza-Ezillos. The Ngbos are believed to be sworn enemies of Ezza-Ezillos because of the latter’s acceptance to help the Ezillos in defeating them in warfare decades ago.
Giving credence to their fears, the Ezza-Ezillos queried the rationale behind the Peace Committee’s hurried submission of its interim report to Governor Elechi even when presentations before it had not been concluded.
For instance, the Ezza-Ezillos nominated a six-man delegation to represent them before the Peace Committee, but the delegates, it was alleged, were intimidated and harassed by Ezillo youths, such that four of them discontinued their attendance at the committee’s peace and reconciliation sittings. The two other delegates who struggled to make presentations reportedly did so at the risk of losing their lives, and, as such, they could not effectively represent their people in the meetings.
It was as a result of alleged intimidation of her delegates that Ezza-Ezillo community petitioned the Peace Committee and Elechi’s government to shift the venue from Ishielu council headquarters to Abakiliki, at least, considered as a neutral place. But both Governor Elechi and Eze Agbo’s Peace Committee reportedly snubbed the request, and went ahead with the Ishielu venue.
To add insult to the injury of the Ezzas, one of them, Sylvanus Nwonu, was reportedly arrested and detained in the presence of Governor Elechi and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Barrister Augustine Nwankwoegu, on the day and place of the inauguration of Eze Agbo’s Peace Committee.
Even at that, the Ezzas, in the suit, contend that the majority of the five sub-committees of Eze Agbo’s Peace Committee never recommended their re-location, adding that neither Elechi government nor the committee itself made any attempt to include women or hear their voices in the so-called peace process. The suit argued that this non-involvement of women was a big flaw, as women are known for their neutrality in issues of conflict of this nature.
Aside the suit and current petition to the presidency, the harassed Ezza-Ezillo community have, also, petitioned other relevant quarters, including the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigeria Armed Forces Headquarters, Enugu and Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly. They, also, variously, copied the petitions to the President of the Senate, Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, as well as the Human Rights Commission. All eyes have been on the national assembly and the other authorities complained to, to intervene in the feud that is unsettling the ‘Salt State’ of Ebonyi.
While the Ezza-Ezillos look up to appropriate authorities for intervention to avert their impending pogrom, the legal battle between them and Elechi government may commence soon.
Meanwhile, the office of the GOC, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, reacted to the avalanche of allegations against her peace-keeping soldiers.
A Press Release, dated 16 December, 2009 and signed by Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, Assistant Director of Public Relations, maintained that ‘some unscrupulous elements and mischief makers’ in the area, disappointed with the peace keeping efforts of the soldiers, have been busy fanning the embers of war and disunity among the people.
These unscrupulous elements and mischief makers are said to be politicians who, it was learnt, are plotting their strategies towards the 2011 general elections. The politicians allegedly continue to instigate their people (Ezza-Ezillos) in order to create a situation of anarchy and instability in the state wherein Elechi government would be branded a lame luck, and a state of emergency imposed on the state for their own personal political benefits.
“Let me use this opportunity to appeal to unscrupulous elements and mischief makers not to drag a noble and dignified institution like the Nigerian Army into the communal/political disputes. The 82 Division under the leadership of Major-General MD Isah would remain forever neutral and apolitical in the discharge of its assigned roles”, Musa assured.
The statement described the allegation of extra-judicial killings and molestations of Ezza Women as baseless and unfounded.
“At the time, there has never been a recorded case or an established case of molestation of women or any other person for that matter by the troops on legitimate patriotic duty in the areas mentioned”, the statement stated.
The soldiers, according to the press release, were deployed to Ezza-Ezillo communities purely in aid of civil authority to ensure maintenance and sustenance of peace, law and order between the warring communities.
Stressing that the Nigerian Army has no interest whatsoever beyond making peace in the crisis, the Army authority added, ‘Let it be on record that the formal procedure for troops’ deployment in aid of civil authority in troubled areas is dully followed. Let it be on record that nobody was killed by the soldiers on duty in Ezza-Ezillo communities, ours is just to maintain and sustain peace in the troubled area’.
The Army, equally, denied the allegation of ejecting the Ezzas from their farmlands, saying, ‘the allegation is equally unfounded. It is the handiwork of mischief makers as there was an agreement voluntarily accepted and signed by both parties that the Ezzas were to accept a parcel of land allocated to them by the state government”.
Among personalities who reportedly witnessed the signing of the agreement were elders of the two communities, Chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area and other officials of his council, the GOC, 82 Division, as well as representatives from the state government.
The Press Release emphasized that throughout the period of the on-going crisis, the GOC 82 Division has been playing a fatherly role, non-partisan and mediator, adding: ‘He (the GOC) has consistently remained open and accessible to any stake-holder in the matter including both government officials and private individuals. Thus it is surprising that some highly placed individuals with interest in the crisis could accuse the soldiers on legitimate, patriotic duty of being partisan in the conflict in spite of the Division’s efforts to contain the crisis and return peace and security to the area.
But will peace ever return between the two sister communities of Ezillo and Ezza-Ezillo?
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