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The death toll of policemen killed by members of the Ombatse cult in Nasarawa State has climbed to 72 following the discovery of the bodies of 25 policemen that had been hitherto declared missing in a mass grave in an unnamed village in the state.

Security authorities had earlier confirmed 57 operatives, comprising 47 policemen and 10 agents of the State Security Service (SSS), killed in the attack that took place on May 7 when they were on a rescue mission to a village in Nasarawa State.

The police, which launched a manhunt for the killers, had declared the 25 policemen missing because their bodies could not be found to confirm if they were dead or alive and nobody knew their whereabouts.

The manhunt for the killers however yielded fruit yesterday as seven of the suspected Ombatse cultists were said to have been arrested in Borno State while trying to flee to Niger Republic.
While the police are still searching for the killers, the Chairman of the Northern State Governors’ Forum (NSGF) and Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, yesterday called on the federal government to fish out the killers and bring them to justice.
A top police source confided in THISDAY yesterday that contrary to the hope among the police authorities that the 25 policemen might still be alive, their bodies were recently found in a mass grave in a village.  But he declined to name the village and when the bodies were discovered.

“By the time we found the missing policemen, their bodies were already decomposing in a mass grave in the village. It was a gory sight,” he said.
He promised that the police would spare no efforts and resources in ensuring that those behind the killings are found and prosecuted.

Efforts to get more details from police spokesperson, Frank Mba, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), proved abortive, as he did not pick or return his calls.
It was also learnt yesterday that seven of the suspected killers of the security agents have been arrested in Borno State while trying to flee to Niger Republic.

The arrest has however not eased tension in the state as many people feared that the case will not be closed until the arrest of the chief priest of the Ombatse shrine whose concoction people believed helped the cultists to become invulnerable to injuries from weapons.

THISDAY learnt that the fear stems from the fact that the power and influence of the chief priest is known to the people, especially politicians who had also benefited from his mystical powers in 2011 during the general election.

The cult, according to a source, is said to be bitter that those who climbed to positions of power through its influence turned round to send enforcement operatives to destroy it.

The seven suspected Eggon militants believed to have been apprehended at the weekend by the Joint Task Force (JTF) operatives in Borno State may have been handed over to the Nasarawa Police Command.

Initial investigations have also shown that some top politicians in the state had patronised the shrine during the campaign for the last general election and helped in the funding and provision of logistics, especially sophisticated weapons used by the cultists.
Inspector General of Police (IG), Mohammed Abubakar, while visiting the troubled area at the weekend, had called on elders and eminent citizens of Nasarawa State to collaborate with the police to fish out the killers.

The IG, who was in the state along with the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade (rtd), described the killing of the security agents as “callous”.

He said some officers were still being held hostage by the militants, adding that efforts were being made to free them.

“We are making every peaceful effort to ensure that some of our men still being held hostage are released unhurt,” Abubakar said.

On his part, Olubolade said such a “barbaric act” of snuffing out the life of security personnel, who are meant to safeguard lives, was unacceptable in a decent society.
“Somebody, somewhere is causing havoc for whatever reason and the society must not allow that to continue,” he added.

The Niger State governor also  Monday made a case for the apprehension and prosecution of those behind the killing of the security agents in Nasarawa State.
Aliyu, who spoke in Abuja during a peace forum and launch of polio eradication almanac, which was organised by the Northern State Governors’ Wives’ Forum (NGWF), also called for equal compensation to families of security agents killed in Nasarawa State.

Over N70 million was raised to encourage the peace mission and polio eradication in the region.

The governor said it was deplorable that security agents who are symbols of the nation’s authority could be killed by insurgents.

“I heard that a policeman’s life is worth N500,000 and that it took the intervention of the Force Headquarters to make it N1 million, while that of the SSS is N10 million and a house. We should begin to treat our security agents equally,” he said.

Chairperson of NGWF and wife of Benue State governor, Mrs. Yemisi Suswam, said the peace forum would allow for open and fair interaction and exchange of ideas on the peaceful co-existence of the nation.
Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, who also spoke on the occasion, blamed ethnic bigotry and religious intolerance for Nigeria’s problems and urged women to instil strong moral values in their wards.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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There were indications that the ongoing military onslaught against members of the Boko Haram sect might have recorded some success as the curfew earlier slammed on parts of Borno and Yobe States was relaxed  Monday.

But as Borno and Yobe got some breather, 200 troops arrived Yola, the Adamawa State capital, yesterday, with more troops expected to join them to enforce the emergency rule imposed on the state by President Goodlu ck Jonathan.

The president, however, got another endorsement on the state of emergency declared in the three North-east states from the ECOWAS Parliament, which described it as a necessary and legitimate measure to stamp out terrorism in Nigeria.

A round-the-clock curfew was slammed on 12 wards in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Saturday, even as many parts of the towns in the state experienced restricted movement between 8 pm and 6 am, while a curfew was in force in all parts of Yobe.

In a press statement by the Special Adviser, Press Affairs and Information to the Yobe State governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Bego, the review of the curfew was necessitated by the return of peace to all parts of the state.

The statement read: “This is to inform members of the public that in view of the need to sustain the relative peace that all parts of the state currently enjoy, Governor Alhaji Ibrahim has approved an adjustment of the hours during which public movement is restricted around the state.

“Consequently, restriction on movement now starts from 6 pm to 6 am daily throughout the state with effect from today, Monday 20th May 2013 (yesterday).”
The statement said further: “The decision for this adjustment follows a meeting that the governor had with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.

“He urges the general public to continue with the exemplary support and cooperation with security agents to ensure lasting peace in the state. The governor also urges the public not to relent in prayers to the Almighty Allah (SWT) for the restoration of peace in the state and the country in general.”

In some parts of Maiduguri, the curfew, which was imposed over 72 hours ago, had prevented the residents from having access to food, water and other basic amenities, as they had to stay behind closed doors.

In a press statement signed by the spokesman of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno, Lt. Col. Sagir Musa, the JTF said the round-the-clock curfew on 12 wards in Maiduguri had been reviewed to 7 am to 5 pm.

Musa advised all residents of the 12 wards to remain indoors once movement is restricted as the checkpoints were still in progress in the affected areas as well as other areas within the city.

However, the Nigerian Special Forces deployed to enforce the state of emergency continued to secure new territories yesterday and dislodged the Boko Haram insurgents from their bases.

The Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade, confirmed that the military had secured the environs of New Marte, Hausari, Krenoa, Wulgo and Chikun Ngulalo after destroying all the terrorist camps sited in the vicinity of these localities.

Olukolade said the troops were already interacting with the locals and residents assuring them of their safety and freedom from the activities of the insurgents.
“Terrorists fleeing towards Chad and Niger Republic are being contained as they have had encounters with the Multinational Joint Task Force (MJTF) in various locations towards the border.

“Advancing troops also observed a few shallow graves believed to be those of hurriedly buried members of the terrorist group,” he said.

The Defence spokesman also disclosed that in Maiduguri, about 120 terrorists were arrested as they organised the burial of one of their commanders who died in an encounter with the military on Sunday. He said that the arrested insurgents were in the custody of the JTF where they are being interrogated.

“Meanwhile, Defence Headquarters has observed the use of photographs purportedly taken in the areas covered by the operations and wishes to state that the photographs are questionable as they do not reflect any related reality of the social or geographical environment.

“This also makes the story they claim depicts Nigerians fleeing to Niger Republic and other countries doubtful. The media is advised to always strive to associate stories with accurate pictures in order to avoid misleading the public,” he said.

In Yola, the Brigade Commander of the 23 Armoured Brigade, Brigadier General Fatai Oladipo Alli announced that 200 troops arrived the state capital yesterday, stating that more troops would join them for the full implementation of the emergency rule imposed on the state last Tuesday.

However, as the troops arrived Adamawa, some inhabitants fled the state to neighbouring states where the emergency rule was not imposed. Mallam Musa Adamau, a meat vendor, told THISDAY at the Jumbutu motor park that he was fleeing the state because he did not want to be a victim of hostilities.

“If a soldier is killed in an area, anybody that is living in that area where the soldier is killed might encounter the wrath of the other soldiers, and many others are seen fleeing the state for the same purpose,” he said.  

Alli while addressing the troops, who were singing war songs in preparation for their assignment in the state, urged them to conduct themselves with a high level of professionalism.

“I urge you to conduct yourself in this onerous national assignment with the highest level of discipline, professionalism, and abide by the rules of engagement and the code of conduct that will be given to you,” he told the soldiers.

He reiterated the rules of engagement and the purpose of their deployment to them, adding that they should ensure victory over the insurgency bedeviling the state and restore peace and order that had eluded Adamawa for a long time.

Alli disclosed that the troops would be deployed in all nooks and crannies of the state especially local government areas that share borders with neighbouring countries where attacks had been prevalent in recent times.

He also warned them against misconduct during operations and to respect the communities where they would be sent to in order to avoid unnecessary civilian casualties as the emergency rule lasted.

“The 200 troops sent to Yola is the first batch which marks the beginning of the deployment of more troops into the state for the exercise and l believe more troops are on their way to the state,” he said.

In the meantime, the ECOWAS Parliament has expressed its support for the declaration of emergency rule in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno States as a necessary and legitimate measure to contain terrorism in Nigeria, adding that Nigeria must wage a successful war against terrorism in her territory before it can assist to curb terrorism and insurgency in the sub-region.

Speaker of the Parliament, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, relayed the stance of the legislature at the close of the 2013 First Ordinary Session of the Third Legislature of ECOWAS Monday.

He also expressed concern that unless member states worked more strategically to co-manage their borders, the porous nature of the borders would make it easy for the terrorists and insurgents to evade apprehension by security forces.

“It could make it easier for the merchants of death and pandemonium to slip into neighbouring states including some CEMAC member states, when the security agencies turn the heat on them, but only to return to their dastardly business when it is conducive again,” he said.

As terrorism is a transnational crime, which receives assistance across national borders, it is necessary that a Summit of Heads of State and Governments be convened to appraise the security situation and build better synergy in combating common enemies, Ekweremadu stressed.

He also restated opposition to every form of forcible takeover of governments, impunity, militancy, terrorism and insurgency in the sub region, promising to mobilise local and international support against such acts.

The ECOWAS Parliament also commiserated with the government and people of Nigeria over the passing of literary icon, Prof. Chinua Achebe.

“This is one death that shook the world because Achebe was not only the king of African literature, but indeed used his literary works to correct the wrong image cast on the continent around the world,” Ekweremadu who is also deputy speaker of the Senate added.

The ECOWAS Peace Ambassador, Ms. Hyeladzirra Banu, in her address, said young people engaged in social vices due to idleness caused by lack of employment.
This has also made them prone to being used as pawns for religious or political crises, she observed.

"Africa has the youngest population in the world, the number of Africans aged between 15-24 will double to 400 million by 2045.

“According to the Africa Development Bank, the current rate of job creation will not keep pace with population boom, which means that a majority of young people will be unemployed,” she warned.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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The state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States, may not last for the six months stipulated in the 1999 Constitution, as amended, before it is lifted, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, hinted Monday.

The minister, who was fielding questions from 112 analysts from across the world during a conference call in her office in Abuja, also assured the international community of the safety of their investment notwithstanding the emergency rule in the three states.

According to her, with the emergency rule, the security forces have been given the latitude to flush out the insurgents by attacking their operational bases, adding that although the  constitution provides for a period of six months, the government is envisaging a shorter time for military operations to last.

She however described the emergency rule as not the best option needed to restore economic and social activities in the affected states as well as sustain the positive economic fundamentals the country has recorded in recent years.

The minister said the emergency rule, which has received positive endorsement in Nigeria, was aimed at restoring order in the affected states with a view to integrating  them into national development agenda.

The conference call, which was organised by StanChart and anchored by Razia Khan, witnessed analysts asking questions ranging from what emergency rule is all about, the duration, whether the federal government was considering a supplementary budget, effect on the economy, Nigeria’s oil revenue, and sundry issues.

Okonjo-Iweala stated that by the declaration of emergency rule, government’s intention was to restore security in the states  where socio-economic activities had been disrupted to the extent that children and teachers were no longer allowed to go to school just as agriculture, the main economic activity of the North-east was threatened.

According to her, with emergency rule, the security forces have been given the latitude to flush out the insurgents by attacking their operational bases, adding that although the Nigerian constitution provides for a period of six months, the government is envisaging a shorter time for military operations to last.

She said the government was adopting a multi-pronged approach in tackling the security problem posed by Boko Haram, including political dialogue, which is already ongoing; counter-terrorism; state of emergency, and economic inclusion.

Okonjo-Iweala explained that  emergency rule is  a short term action underpinned by long term  strategy of economic inclusion—a long term approach, which includes developing the agricultural potential of the zone, creating jobs for the  youths and the unskilled, among others, through the Youth Enterprise with Innovation (YoUWin) and Graduate Internship Scheme.

On whether the government is considering a supplementary budget to take care of the military operations foisted by emergency rule, the minister said it was not anticipated for now, stating that such issues fall under the president’s contingency vote, already captured in the 2013 budget.

The contingency vote, according to her, is transparently managed and is already being drawn to tackle the current challenge in the North-east.

On oil revenue, the minister said although oil prices had fallen, the country was not yet affected by price shocks as prices had not fallen below the benchmark price, adding that the only shock being experienced was that of quantity, arising from oil theft.

She explained that the quantity shock was to the effect that while the budget was based on oil production of 2.53 million barrels per day, the production is currently at between 2.1 and 2.2 million barrels per day.

The minister said it was, however refreshing that the foresight in creating the Excess Crude Account (ECA) was paying off as the federal government had drawn $1 billion on two occasions to provide the necessary buffers against the quantity shock.

Okonjo-Iweala also disclosed that the government would build the buffers again as efforts were being made  to curb oil theft through security agencies.

While explaining that much as oil is the nation’s mainstay, the ultimate buffer for the economy is diversification, which is being vigorously pursued through agriculture.
She said to underscore the seriousness attached to agriculture, President Goodluck Jonathan had removed agriculture from being a development project to a commercial business.

This, she added, had led to an innovative and effective fertiliser distribution system to farmers, gradual but effective reduction in  the importation of staple food such as rice, among other measures.

On budget benchmark, which has been a perennial source of friction between the executive and legislature, the minister said the Chile model was being explored, adding that if adopted, it would see an independent body fixing the benchmark price devoid of influences.

The minister also disclosed that an internationally reputed consulting firm, McKinsey was being engaged by the government to boost revenue from tax.

She said with the consultants, the government was projecting a tax revenue of $500 million, adding that the underlining approach would be to find the most suitable way of maximising tax revenue.

Meanwhile,  the Board of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has approved an investment allocation formula into the three distinct funds under the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), in what it considers as initial portfolio investments.
The three ring-fenced funds are Stabilisation Fund, Infrastructure Fund, and The Future Generation Fund.

NSIA Managing Director, Dr. Uche Orji, in his maiden press briefing in Abuja yesterday, said the Stabilisation Fund would have an initial investment of $200 million, the  Future Generation Fund $250 million, while The Infrastructure Fund would attract $325 million.

Orji noted that each of the funds are ring-fenced, which means that once money is allocated to them, it cannot be reallocated from there to any other component.

According to him, with the initial $1 billion seed capital, the NSIA board has approved an investment allocation formula in the ratio of 32.5 per cent each for The Future Generation and Nigerian Infrastructure Funds while the Stabilisation Fund gets 20 per cent,  leaving about $150 million funds unallocated.
The allocation formula, Orji said, would be revisited by the board periodically, adding that the process would be transparent and publicised.

"Investment in the Stabilisation Fund will start early June. The Future Generation Fund has the same timeline but will continue until end 2013 because it is a more diversified portfolio with a more complicated process. For the Infrastructure Fund, a very detailed and thorough review of possible investment areas and projects is ongoing. The investments being considered are in healthcare, transportation, water resources, power, housing etc. Our focus is investments that are both relevant to the current needs of Nigerians and profitable and sustainable at the same time," he said.

Orji said much work had gone into getting the NSIA operation, which according to him, is quite fast compared to those of the nation's peers across the world.
On how the funds would be managed, Orji explained that the management of the Stabilisation Fund would initially be outsourced and would later being taken over by in-house experts.

He explained that the reason it was being outsourced was because it would take some time to do the infrastructure to trade domestically.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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If human beings have the luxury of choosing the kind of ailment to suffer from, Nigerians will be advised not to choose any ailment that will require the attention of a plastic surgeon, because even the country's most equipped medical facility do not have one.

It is difficult to believe that the federal government seems to have only one consultant in plastic surgery on its payroll in the entire Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and getting the lone-professional’s attention, especially in emergency situations is a matter of special grace.

Getting attended to at the National Hospital, Abuja, further defines how decrepit the nation’s services have fallen. Everything seems tough and frustrating. At several points, the staff are not available, but they post a rough notice for those requiring their services, urging them to “Please call or flash” their numbers.

Penultimate Thursday, somebody called THISDAY office in Abuja, to say that their colleague, Samson Oliver, popularly known as ‘Police’ was involved in an auto crash.

‘Police’ is a circulation officer in the office. He is a resourceful fellow who helps out in other office routines. His pleasant demeanor prompted a rapid response, as many staff trooped to the Maitama General hospital, in Abuja, where he had been hospitalised.

After first-aid treatment was administered, doctors informed Oliver’s colleagues that the hospital lacked the capacity to administer proper treatment on the bleeding victim as he had lost so much skin through burns, adding that treating him would require the urgent attention of a plastic surgeon. Oliver was then referred to the National Hospital.

But it was the wrong place to go. There was no such surgeon at the National Hospital. A nurse on duty at the emergency ward expressed readiness to admit the victim, but disclosed that Oliver was not likely to get instant medical help in the hospital since they had no plastic surgeon.

She told Police’s colleagues that he could be admitted and kept in the hospital, the wound will be dressed but proper medical help will not be administered on him. Meanwhile, Oliver was groaning and writhing in pain in the vehicle that was used to convey him, crying for help.

The nurse further advised that Oliver be taken to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital in Gwagwalada, which had a plastic surgeon. To get there requires an hour’s drive from the National Hospital.

When Oliver and his colleagues arrived at the UATH at about 11 pm, it was like jumping from the frying pan to fire. The nurses were as indifferent as they were negligent. Their excuse: no bed space to admit any patient. Besides, no amount of pleas to get any form of medical attention meant anything to them. The neglect was total.

“The nurses on duty said there was no free space, they even refused to check the extent of the injuries ‘Police’ sustained, they treated us with a very poor attitude; the security personnel at the teaching hospital were even more sympathetic than medical staff,” said a colleague who went to Gwagwalada.

Seeing how desperate the case was, an aged patient at the emergency ward offered to trade his space in exchange for settling his medical bill of N1,700. “He called me and said, bring your brother to occupy my space, I will manage, but please you will assist me in paying for the drugs I need to buy. It is N1, 700, if this can happen in the FCT, the nation’s seat of power, I wonder what the situation will be in my village.”

But as odd as the arrangement was, the nurses who insisted that Oliver would not be accommodated in the hospital shut down the plan. One yelled at the patient, saying he had no right to offer his space to another patient, more so that there were other people waiting to get a space before Oliver’s arrival.

Here, there was a plastic surgeon but there was no bed space, and left with no option, Oliver and his colleagues headed back to the National Hospital, where there were free bed spaces but no plastic surgeon.

But they soon ran into a greater challenge. It was the night President Goodluck Jonathan was returning from his aborted trip to Southern Africa. As usual, vehicular movement, for security reasons, had been stopped for about 30 minutes before his plane landed. But Oliver was determined to live. He got back to the National Hospital at about 12 mid-night, Friday morning.  .
The spokesperson of the National Hospital, Dr. Adetayo Hasstrup when contacted, said it may not be necessary to have a resident plastic surgeon in the hospital as their services were rarely needed, but said there was a visiting consultant from the UATH Gwagwalada who comes on call to the hospital regularly.

“Don’t forget, these are rare areas, neurosurgeons, plastic surgeons are rarely needed, they are not like obstetricians and gynaecologists, paediatricians, or orthopaedic surgeons,” he explained.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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In its continuous quest to curb the menace of crude oil theft as encapsulated in the Strategic Guidance 01 of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Dele Ezeoba, the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Pathfinder, weekend smashed a top oil theft syndicate in Rivers State.

THISDAY investigations revealed that the syndicate, which has over 100 tank farms where the stolen products were hidden, had successfully carried out daily massive sales before its nefarious activities became known to security operatives.
It was also gathered that in the state, the syndicate’s reach spanned over seven communities through which the well-oiled major oil theft production in the state prospered and boomed.

The suspects had engineered their nefarious activities such that the tank farms and refineries had pipes that ran several kilometres and were connected to the  respective houses of members from where they attend to their customers.

During the raid by personnel of NNS PATHFINDER under the Commanding Officer (CO), Commodore Emmanuel Duja Effedua, they discovered  the communities involved in the illegality to include Idama, Ikpokri, One man Camp, Kii, Ele Creeks and Bille, KM 45, where several local tank farms used in storing illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) and crude oil were located.

Confirming the incident to THISDAY on the telephone, the Base Information Officer, NNS PATHFINDER, Lieutenant Abdulsalam Sani, said the special task force instituted by the command had carried out the raid based on a tip off.
 He said: “The NNS PATHFINDER carried out more raids in those communities and other accessories used in these criminal acts were destroyed.
No arrest was however made but we are going back next week to destroy the remaining tank farms.

‘In Ikpokri alone, we discovered over 30 tank farms and in KM45, it was uncountable. These people probably bunker pipelines and connect it to their tank farms and then supply to their numerous customers.”

“The base once again is warning landlords, village heads and community leaders that anybody whose house is conjoined with the illegal tank farms/refineries and fails to report, should consider such houses as collateral damage.

“Such houses would be destroyed alongside these illegal facilities when we carry out our tearing down operation. This warning will not be repeated. However, investigations are on to trace the source of the products in the tank farm.”

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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Former federal permanent secretary, governor of Anambra State, and presidential adviser, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife in this interview with Vanguard responds to issues arising from the Boko Haram insurgency, the 2015 presidential contest among others. Excerpts:

What is your reaction to Dokubu-Asari’s war threat that there will be no peace if President Jonathan is not returned in 2015?

You have to put that statement in the context of Nigerian history. I wouldn’t want war. We have had more than enough war now. But he has a point he is making. The point he is making is that we have had well above 50 years of Independence and out of those years, thirty-eight and half, the North supplied the headship of Nigeria. It is not that everybody was happy, but nobody made war. Nobody tried to make the country ungovernable for Shagari, not the talk about the military people. But now, a southern person from the eastern part is president.

Before his election, we heard talks of making the country ungovernable if he wins. In fact, he won, and; look at what is going on. Blood flowing everywhere. Don’t you think that people from the south-south even south-east will think that this is going on because somebody from that part of the country is President?

There is something Igbo people say “Eji ndu eme gini? (What is the use of life)? There is a situation you may say “what is the use of life?” Let’s fight to the end. Death is welcome. So, it is a bitter statement made by Asari Dokubo and it will not be advisable to take it as an idle threat. It is not an idle threat and people should think. I had said before that each month Boko Haram remains active, it will mean one year of the north being out of power.  And let’s us calculate the months and see how many years the North is already pushed out of power.  Are you ruling cattle? We are human beings. At a point, we will say, “eji ndu eme gini, what is life for?

Some allege Asari’s statement was a response to earlier comments by Lawal Kaita in 2011 of making Nigeria ungovernable for Nigeria if Jonathan won in 2011?

That is what we are talking about. A number of prominent Northerners not just Lawal Kaita said the country will be made ungovernable if Jonathan wins and he won and what are we getting? The country is being made ungovernable. Blood all over the place.

Are calls to arrest Asari justified?
Well, we are idle people in Nigeria talking nonsense most of the time. This young man blows up out of accumulated tension and frustration and you say, arrest him. Start arresting from the beginning.

Do you foresee Nigeria hitting the rocks by 2015 with all these perennial problems?
My view is that Nigeria must remain a permanent Nigeria. But there are things that must be done to make it permanent. As for the prediction of some foreign countries, it is their own interest that they are serving. Some powerful nations on earth decided to themselves that an Islamized Nigeria, in her position, mumbled, will be difficult to manage and therefore they think it will be best for the country to break up into pieces.

Where does the Igbo nation stand in 2015?
I see Jonathan as an eastern person holding the office of the President and put there by principally the south-east. It is the confidence oozing out of the south-east that enabled south-south to galvanize. In 1987, we had a meeting with the Middle-Belt and they told us the moment they see the south east standing firmly on an issue, they will go with us. What happened in 2011 presidential election?

The Middle Belt went with the south-east. South-south went with the south-east. So, we put him there, it will not be just to hound him out. But when he is looking for his second term, we are requesting for our first term. Hausa has ruled. Yoruba has ruled.

Legitimate interest
Of the major tribes, only the Igbo has not. By 2015, every zone shall have supplied leader of Nigeria except south-east. So, we have legitimate interest in 2015 yet our man is there. I don’t think it makes sense to go and compete against Jonathan but what I have said from the beginning is that we play a game of cooperation with Jonathan. He would understand us fighting to be President.  We understand him fighting for second term. Before the primary election, we should meet and look at the field and ask him, “Mr. President, do you think, you can win in this field without damaging everything?”

Game of cooperation
If the answer is yes, we support him. But we have to convince ourselves that it is yes. But if on the other hand, it looks like he doesn’t win, we will ask him to support us. That is the game of cooperation I mean.

Are you corroborating what Senator Ben Obi said sometime ago that Igbo should forget 2015?

Well, it is a matter of a language that is used. There is a way you can say “thank you” and it looks like you said “go away”. And if he said it blatantly like that, it is not good. But I am sure what he means by that is that ultimately, we will have to support Jonathan for 2015.

Opposition parties have gathered to form APC so as to unseat the ruling PDP by 2015. Do you see that happening?

I think that APC is red light for Nigeria. I was one of the eight permanent secretaries who recommended two -party system for Nigeria and we found it fantastic. It worked very well. People didn’t understand how it came about.  They thought it was the military that imposed it. It was people like us. We first of all worked on it and recommended it, then IBB announced it.  Every body who lived through that two-party system knew that it’s the best thing for Nigeria.  We were bonding. A person from Sokoto coming to Anambra where I was Governor will think he is going home if it is SDP. A person from Anambra going to Sokoto where NRC was ruling will think he is going home if it is NRC.

So, there was bonding along two lines. So, if any other major party is developing to rival PDP, such major party must be based on ideological ground; a little to the left, a little to the right. Any thing geo-religious is dangerous for us. And we don’t want risking the radicalization of western Muslims who are the best examples of how to live with different religions. So, APC is not the party we are looking for to make a two-party Nigeria. It is a danger signal to Nigerian polity because it is not based on ideology.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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The body of late Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe arrived in Nigeria earlier today in Abuja. Prof. Achebe's body arrived in a Nigerian flag-draped casket which was received at the airport by Nigerian officials led by the Secretary to the federal government.

His coffin was then wheeled first to a church service at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport before proceeding to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

ENUGU STATE DELEGATION: Secretary to Enugu State Government, Mr. Amaechi Okolo with SSA to Gov. Chime on Media, Mr. Afam Okereke, Prof. Mrs. Christy Achebe, wife of late Prof. Chinua Achebe, Dr. Ike Achebe, son (right) and the Commissioner for Poverty Reduction and Human Development, Mr. Godwin Ogenyi (left), at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, to receive the remains of Prof. Achebe …yesterday

Enugu State SSG:Secretary to Enugu State Government, Mr. Amaechi Okolo commiserates with Dr. Ike Achebe (son of late Prof. Chinua Achebe), while his mother, Prof. Mrs. Christy Achebe looks on, during the reception of late Prof. Achebe’s remains, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu…yesterday

Chief Daniel Achebe: Chief Daniel Achebe (brother to late Prof. Chinua Achebe),middle, flanked by some family members, at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu to receive the remains of the late Prof. …yesterday

{gallery}stories/galleries/Chinuas-burial{/gallery}

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.

ionyclaret@gmail.com

https://www.codewit.com

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