Buhari to implement Yar’Adua’s agreement with N’Delta militants

Buhari to implement Yar’Adua’s agreement with N’Delta militants

Late President Umaru Yar’Adua

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently studying the gazette signed by late President Umaru Yar’Adua on the Niger Delta crisis as one of the possible ways of tackling the renewed violence being orchestrated by the Niger Delta Avengers in the region, SUNDAY PUNCH has learnt.

The purpose of revisiting the gazette, it was further learnt, was to ensure that all the agreements contained in the document were implemented by the Federal Government.

The development is coming at a time the destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta by the militants has crippled crude oil production and power supply.
By Friday, power generation was said to have dropped to 2,832.5MW because of the attacks.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, confirmed to our correspondent on Saturday that the Federal Government was doing all within its ability to restore peace to the Niger Delta.

Adesina listed some of the steps being taken to include consultations and the revisiting of the document signed by the late President.

“Every effort is being made to restore calmness to the Niger Delta, including consultation, and taking a fresh look at the gazette signed by the Umaru Yar’Adua government, so that the agreements contained therein will be implemented,” the presidential spokesman said.

The Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, had at a press conference on Friday confirmed that some of officials of the Federal Government were already holding discussions on how to end the violence.

Enang had said some ministers along with top government officials from the Niger Delta had opened talks with the governors and aggrieved people from the region on how to resolve the conflict.

He said the government was prepared to peacefully resolve the conflict.
He listed Federal Government’s representatives currently engaging in dialogue with the stakeholders in Niger Delta to include the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (retd.); Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru; Co-ordinator, Amnesty Office, Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.) and other ministers from the region.

He said, “The Minister of Niger Delta, the Minister of Interior, the Coordinator of the Amnesty Office have been taking actions consistent with their powers and with what I know, almost all the ministers and officers from the Niger Delta region have returned to their respective states, zones and blocks to talk to their leaders and their aggrieved persons on the need for us to maintain peace.
“That is going on and they are the representatives of Mr. President. I will not tell you what Mr. President wants to do in person but these are officers and offices which are dealing with this matter.”

NAVAL OFFICER, 18 OTHERS KILLED IN RIVERS STATE.

Gunmen kill naval officer, 18 others in Rivers

Some militants

Gunmen suspected to be cult members on Saturday killed 19 persons in Aluu community in Ikwerre Local Government Area and Obite community in Etche council area of Rivers State.

A naval officer was among those killed when members of two cult groups stormed the communities and engaged each other in a free-for-all.
The gunmen, believed to be of Greenlanders cult, invaded Aluu in reprisal against a rival group, Icelanders and killed 15 persons, including a nursing mother.

A naval personnel, who was among the Joint Task Force team that went to the area to bring the situation under control, was hit by a bullet from the cultists.
Many others were injured during the attack in the Aluu community.
It was gathered that the cult members also killed some innocent persons and left several others with bullet wounds.

Some of the cult members also stormed Etche community and killed four persons, a community source, who witnessed the shootings, told SUNDAY PUNCH.

It was learnt that the gunmen invaded a superstore in Omuoda village, opened fire and killed several people.

The bandits later advanced to Omuahunwo village and killed four of their victims who were suspected to be cultists.

Our correspondents gathered that the assailants carried out the coordinated attacked based on information that some members of the Icelanders were taking refuge in Aluu. The incident left the residents of the area in anxiety as some people in the affected communities fled their homes.

A source who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Some cult members believed to be members of Greenlanders entered the community and killed some people. The boys operated in a very terrible manner. They went to a supermarket where people usually go to buy something and opened fire on over six people.

“Some people narrowly escaped with gun wounds. We do not know the cause of the killings, although we suspected that it is a cult war.’’
In Obite, four persons suspected to be members of the Greenlanders were allegedly killed by the Icelanders.

A source in the area told SUNDAY PUNCH that the cult group invaded Obite at 8am on Saturday, destroyed and looted many property in the community.
“At the moment, people are running away and nobody knows who is who. The cult boys entered the community by 8am and started shooting the people they described as their enemies.

“The Icelanders boys were the ones that shot the Degbam boys, but the fear now is that the Degbam cult group has written a letter to the community, asking the residents to flee because they are going to revenge,’’ a source said.

When contacted, the Caretaker Chairman of Ikwerre LGA, Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, stated that the reports about the incident were overblown.
Nwanosike stressed that the government had swiftly responded to the situation and restored normalcy in the area.

The council chairman, who visited the area with some security personnel, stated that the bandits had been chased out of the community.
Nwanosike added that soldiers raided some hideouts in the area and rescued a victim, Kenneth Wobunwo, who was abducted two weeks ago. Wobunwo is the paramount ruler of Aluu community.

Nwanosike, however, confirmed that some of the hoodlums, who caused that unrest in the area, had been arrested during the security intervention.
When contacted, the state Assistant Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Grace Iringe-Koko, said she had not been briefed about the incident.

But a security source, spoke on condition of anonymity, told SUNDAY PUNCH that a naval officer was killed during the incident.

Osinbajo in charge. ..as PMB embarks on 10 days vacation abroad

Osinbajo to act as President for 10 days

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo

President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday said he has transmitted a letter to the National Assembly intimating the federal lawmakers of his 10-day vacation starting today.

Buhari disclosed this while speaking to journalists at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly before leaving for London where he is expected to attend to his ill-health.


With the letter to the National Assembly, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to act as President for the period Buhari would be away.

Imo Assembly recalls suspended members

Three suspended members of the Imo State House of Assembly, Ifeanyi Lawrence Duruji, Ngozi Sylvia Obiefule and Obinna Arubrose Egu representing Ehime Mbano, Isu and Ngor Okpala State constituencies respectively have been recalled to join their colleagues in the law making body.

Hon. Acho Ihim, the Speaker of the House, who pronounced their reinstatement during a fully attended session of the House, said that the suspended lawmakers were being recalled based on their manifest demonstration of remorse and penitence which they exhibited while on suspension.

Hon. Ihim who represents Okigwe State constituency, the report of the committee set up to look into their parliamentary conducts which led to their suspension indicated that they regretted their action that earned them the suspension.
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Ihim said while one of them went totally on her knees before the committee pleading for forgiveness, another as contained in the report dropped his arrogance, wrote a confessional and humble letter denouncing his actions and that of his constituency, just as the third dissociated himself from the acts that gave rise to the suspension, pleading for pardon.

Ihim who is also the Vice President of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) African Region affirmed that following their plea for leniency and forgiveness, the House in line with the committee’s recommendations lifted their suspension beginning from Tuesday, June 7, 2016 when the House would reconvene.

It would be recalled that the recalled legislators were suspended two months ago by the House over acts capable of crippling the operations of the Assembly.

Beheading of Igbo Woman : Okorocha reacts

GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA’S REACTION TO THE REPORTED MURDER OF AN IMO WOMAN IN KANO


The governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has received with rude shock and indeed with utmost dismay the unfortunate report that a woman from the State, Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme was murdered in cold blood in Kano State over related religious issues and described the killing as the height of recklessness on the part of the perpetrators.


When he was informed about the disturbing incident, the governor took the necessary steps and even went beyond the media reports on the sad development to confirm the report and discovered that the woman in question was truly from Mbaitoli Local Government of the State.


At this stage, the governor has no option than to call on all relevant security agencies in Kano State to leave no stone unturned in carrying out thorough investigation into the killing of the woman, and also stop at nothing to bring those who carried out the murder to book and pay dearly for their wicked act.


The governor has also appealed to Imo indigenes in Kano State to remain calm to enable law enforcement agents do their job by carrying out the needed investigation into the matter and also take the necessary actions.


It is important to state here that no Citizen of the Country has any right to take the life of a fellow Citizen no matter the reason. That is why the security agencies would act and swiftly too on the incident to prove to all Nigerians that the life of any lawful Citizen of the Country is valuable and should not be taken by a fellow citizen under any guise


The governor has also commended the governor of Kano State for showing leadership by condemning the killing of the woman in Kano with dispatch.


He also commended the Police Command in Kano State for the actions they have already taken to that effect, and said criminals who indulge in criminal activities including murder under any pretence should be treated as such no matter where they come from.


Once again, the governor calls for calm on the part of Imo indigenes in Kano and elsewhere, while expressing optimism that security agencies would do their work towards apprehending the perpetrators to face justice.

                                                                         

Sam Onwuemeodo

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.    

OKOROCHA BOOED? LEST WE FORGET ASSUMPTA! OKOROCHA BOOED? LEST WE FORGET ASSUMPTA!

Truly brain is a membrane that forgets after 21 days especially when it has not been in touch with a particular object, subject matter whether inanimate or animate until reminded for reasons.

It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha on the eve of 2011 election had honoured the Clergy when they organized a debate among the then frontline contenders during the race to the Douglas House. In that arena of truth and sincerity; when the human devils had not sown the seed of tares in Assumpta; when the innocents knew innocence, It was on assumpta that we heard from the people, they spoke and it came to pass despite the fact that we had an incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim who lost gallantly in that election.

Again, during the countdown to 2015 elections, Assumpta became another issue and because of the desperation among the angels of Hacate who were interested in having themselves crowned King at all cost, there were conspiracies of all sort; the intrigues were at the apogee; clandestine meetings held while huge money was voted to not only desecrate the historical Assumpta where truth lost its taste; the sons of demon were dressed in contaminated borrowed robes to look like arch angels but in them beats the drum of destruction; they were armed to the teeth; Though covered with precious regalia made of Arabian linen but there faces betrayed their heart of darkness. There identities were known with red cards and whistles to disturb the peace of Jerusalem.

Truly, they shouted. They hailed their gods. They booed and jeered even when their expected arch enemy had not arrived. The sang contrary to the tune associated with assumpta. Alas! The place known for holiness was turned into a market square for gamblers, drunkards and people of the street. The narrative is endless... What happened thereafter. Your guess is as good as mine.

Yesterday, during the requiem to pay the last respect to one of the Best, Late Bon Nwakanma, I learnt it became a place of history for all the negativity. They had not come to mourn neither were they there to condole the family members of the transited. Lo! They were there to sow the seed of discord, they harass and embarrass their Governor... Let us not forget in a hurry the Assumpta drama and its outcome...

I shall stop here for I have no answer to those who volunteered to be agents of misnomer and to deviants if not anathema to the progress of the society. I do not also have the time to begin argue what there were booing and jeering for they are immaterial to the issue at stake.

What goes around comes! The natural law is of God and remains constant as the Grundnorm to all good laws...

Happy weekend and God bless you all!!!

Truly brain is a membrane that forgets after 21 days especially when it has not been in touch with a particular object, subject matter whether inanimate or animate until reminded for reasons.

It will be recalled that Governor Okorocha on the eve of 2011 election had honoured the Clergy when they organized a debate among the then frontline contenders during the race to the Douglas House. In that arena of truth and sincerity; when the human devils had not sown the seed of tares in Assumpta; when the innocents knew innocence, It was on assumpta that we heard from the people, they spoke and it came to pass despite the fact that we had an incumbent, Ikedi Ohakim who lost gallantly in that election.

Again, during the countdown to 2015 elections, Assumpta became another issue and because of the desperation among the angels of Hacate who were interested in having themselves crowned King at all cost, there were conspiracies of all sort; the intrigues were at the apogee; clandestine meetings held while huge money was voted to not only desecrate the historical Assumpta where truth lost its taste; the sons of demon were dressed in contaminated borrowed robes to look like arch angels but in them beats the drum of destruction; they were armed to the teeth; Though covered with precious regalia made of Arabian linen but there faces betrayed their heart of darkness. There identities were known with red cards and whistles to disturb the peace of Jerusalem.

Truly, they shouted. They hailed their gods. They booed and jeered even when their expected arch enemy had not arrived. The sang contrary to the tune associated with assumpta. Alas! The place known for holiness was turned into a market square for gamblers, drunkards and people of the street. The narrative is endless... What happened thereafter. Your guess is as good as mine.

Yesterday, during the requiem to pay the last respect to one of the Best, Late Bon Nwakanma, I learnt it became a place of history for all the negativity. They had not come to mourn neither were they there to condole the family members of the transited. Lo! They were there to sow the seed of discord, they harass and embarrass their Governor... Let us not forget in a hurry the Assumpta drama and its outcome...

I shall stop here for I have no answer to those who volunteered to be agents of misnomer and to deviants if not anathema to the progress of the society. I do not also have the time to begin argue what there were booing and jeering for they are immaterial to the issue at stake.

What goes around comes! The natural law is of God and remains constant as the Grundnorm to all good laws...

IMO DEPUTY GOVERNOR CELEBRATES PARENTS ON GLOBAL DAY OF PARENTS by Uche Onwuchekwa

IMO DEPUTY GOVERNOR CELEBRATES PARENTS ON GLOBAL DAY OF PARENTS

As the world celebrates the Global Day of Parents, the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prince Eze Madumere has joined other eminent citizens around the world to appreciate parents for living up to their parental responsibilities while calling on fathers to pay closer attention to the upbringing of their children.

Prince Madumere remarked that Global Day of Parents is a special day observed on June 1 of every year to honour and appreciate parents in all parts of the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifice towards nurturing this relationship.

He therefore called on all and sundry to always celebrate parents to reciprocate their love, care with huge psychological and material investments they committed towards bringing them up.

He however called on the fathers who ordinarily feel their role ends with working out money for the family to look into the grey areas of instilling morals and values into the children, saying that mothers are over-burdened by domestic chores coupled with the grooming of the children.

He also emphasized the importance of family, which he described as a natural unit and basis of the society but posited that without the role of parents, the concept and place of family and society would be a mere farce.

He therefore called on everyone especially those whose parents are still living to take the welfare and the general well-being their uppermost responsibility; while submitting that posterity and natural justice will not kindly remember those who fail in this onerous responsibility.