Tragedy struck the Zamfara State chapter of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), yesterday , when the party lost three council chairmen in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
afiaolu 2018
ANAMBRA SOUTH SENATORIAL ELECTION: UBAH LISTS 10-POINT AGENDA
A frontline aspirant under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the Anambra south senatorial district and CEO of Capital oil and gas, Chief Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah has listed his agenda and what the people of his senatorial district stands to gain if he gets elected.
According to mediainfo, Dr Ubah made this available in a radio programme titled STRAIGHT TALK.
10 bullets points gathered FROM “STRAIGHT TALK” WITH DR. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah On ODENIGBO 99.1 FM.
1. Indeed, the only political platform for Ndigbo is the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and no other political parties in Nigeria. That informed my decision to return to APGA.
2. Before I founded the Afa Igbo Efuna movement, I have always had the interest of the Igbo nation at heart and supported ex-president Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election campaign because of his love and reference for the Igbo nation.
3. I am a man immensely blessed by God in all ramifications of human endeavor and have always been committed to the growth and advancement of humanity. My involvement in politics is solely informed by my desire to use the seal of power to expand the array opportunities that can be created for our people because there is a limit to which one can effect socio-economic changes by virtue his/her personal capacity.
4. It was at my “FC Ifeanyi Ubah International Stadium” that I prophesied about the 21/21 victory for Governor Willie Obiano. I Presented him a jersey with the number 21.
5. In a historic and unprecedented manner, Anambra people unanimously chose their governor, by returning Governor Willie Obiano for the second term under the platform of APGA.
6. No Governor or political party has gone into any election and scored distinction even in a presidential election. It is only APGA that has been able to do that, and I salute our brothers and sisters in Anambra for showing Ndigbo the way forward politically.
7. The present economic setback suffered by the Ndi-Igbo bears little or no resemblance to what our founding fathers contemplated. My aim of going to the Senate is to pursue that cause to a reasonable end; The Economic recovery of Ndị-Igbo.
8. About 41 items have been unjustifiably banned by the Federal Government and no one is asking questions. Ifeanyi Ubah will ask questions if voted into the Senate chambers.
9. I have confidence in the leadership of our National Chairman, Ozo Victor Oye, the National Executive Committee (NEC) and The National Working Committee (NWC) that the process of nominating a candidate in my senatorial zone and the state will be free and fair within the stipulated guidelines of the party’s constitution.
10. I will congratulate whoever emerges as the party candidate in a free and fair primary contest and work assiduously for the victory of our dear APGA in the main election in 2019.
South-East Women: Beyond the demand for Nnamdi Kanu
Although women tend to do the same thing, whether they are hurting and want to curse or are feeling loved and want to bless, nobody fails to differentiate between both environments. Hurting or loving, women cry, sing, dance and strip.
Several times, the Nigerian woman has been forced to be hurting, resulting always in an outcry: from protesting the poor maternal-child health facilities in Ogun to supporting the grazing bill in Benue, forcing down oil firms in Bayelsa to protecting a traditional stool in Edo against politics.
The most recent being over 100 of the 2000 plus women of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, docked and denied bail for crying, singing and striping penultimate Friday for an “unlawful assembly” which sought the release of their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose whereabouts has been unknown since September 14, 2017. Only to be released one week later, absorbed of all charges.
Women agitations in Nigeria are well documented. The most popular being the Aba Women’s Riot or, to the anti-colonialists and gender-sensitive, Aba Women’s War(1929). When the colonial government decided to review the direct taxation regime introduced and imposed on men the previous year, the enumeration of wives, children and livestock became necessary. Suspicious that the enumeration was a prelude to the extension of direct taxation to them (women), because they had no political power within the patriarchal colonial system, they utilized collective action to communicate their dissatisfaction.
So, on December 2, 1929, more than ten thousand women demonstrated against the enumeration exercise. This event by rural Owerri and Calabar women lit a fire across most parts of the Eastern Region within the next four weeks of the women’s war that spread across no fewer than six ethnic groups. Most significant about it though was the success gained in curbing the direct taxation regime.
Though the issues are entirely different, this latest protest, like other recent protests by women in the region, has become too difficult to turn a blind eye to.
Recall that earlier in January, female members of IPOB, though already proscribed by the Federal Government, reportedly disrupted a meeting of Southern and Middle Belt leaders in Enugu, tagged Handshake Across the Niger.
As they protested and cursed the security operatives who locked them out of the Base Center venue of the event, some of the women stripped themselves stark naked, inviting the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, whom they accused of supporting restructuring, to come and see their nakedness so that he would “die.”
One of them who identified herself as Madam Chichi said, “ How will soldiers kill our unarmed children who were merely agitating for a referendum while those who carry AK-47 rifles, kill and maim Nigerians across the country are hailed by the Federal Government?
“We are tired of being in this country. They should allow us to go to Biafra. Nigeria’s unity is negotiable. We do not want the injustices and oppression going on in Nigeria….”
Very similar to her lamentations were those of Nkechi, one of the women involved in last Friday’s protest, who allegedly told the press: “What is wrong for us to say no to intimidation in this country? We have the right to say we are going to be part of this country?”
Flashback May 2017, pro-Biafran women also protested naked in Abiriba, in Abia State, following the alleged arrest and harassment of their members by military men during their general meeting.
It was gathered that as the women were holding their meeting, soldiers stormed the venue and allegedly started shooting sporadically, and later arrested some of them and took them to the Barrack at Ohafia.
The action of the soldiers angered the women who later stripped naked and marched to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community protesting the soldier’s action.
While stripping may have become common among these women, one thing is clear: these women embody a philosophy that hates intimidation, pigeonholeling and politics of the elite irrespective of tribe. But they exists in a geographical space that seeks, among other things and in the absence of certain conditions, sovereign recognition—Biafra. This makes whatever action the woman from the East takes poignant.
The perennial cry of marginalisation from the Eastern region of the country is one of many across the country. Surely, no government will allow disorder. And, certainly, none will agree to disintegration when unity is a far profitable option. But the truth remains that patriotism is not engendered via political demagogue. Only practical evidence of or even honest attempt at welfare governance gives a people a sense of belonging. Furthermore, some say, and rightly so too, that the people across the Niger should ask their leaders questions.
However, as much as government is uncomfortable about the Owerri women’s questions and threat over 2019 elections, it will be beneficial to understand that agitations against oppression, once taken up by women; as their approach to such causes is often more of “If I die, I die”, as displayed in the Aba Women’s Riot, are always a phenomenal uprising. They never end without some form of results.
According to a Professor at the University of Lagos, who pleaded anonymity as he spoke to Weekend Woman as he considers Biafra a touchy subject, these women carry the very underlying principles of Biafra—independence, industry, love for the land, fearlessness and resilience.
These qualities might be common to many women, he added, “but the Igbo woman’s environment places her in a position to give deeper meaning to the life and philosophy of a fiercely-republican people.”
The Nigerian society and, by extension, government, he continued, is making a grave mistake by treating them in the most dehumanising way—tear-gasing them, beating them up, tearing their clothing, arresting them, denying bail, and even more. “All these will only make them more dogged in their agitations.”
No doubts, the emergence of these women has brought a new dimension to the separatist agitation by thousands of Igbo youths who feel frustrated about the way their country is being run. Even if Biafra, as a geographical space, may never be realised, but as an idealogy, the wise woman from the East will be there as long as they have already emerged. Always. Reincarnating. Ready to cry, sing, dance and strip to love or curse. It is better, cheaper and safer for the country to ensure structures that encourage the former—love.
Perhaps we should begin to consider urgently restructuring the country maybe it will truly help bury these feelings of intimidation and oppression, and restore, in every minority tribe in the country, an utmost sense of belonging. And for the entire country, unrivaled peace.
Vanguard
Man Commits Suicide In Anambra …As Woman Pours Hot Water On 11-year Old Son
A 19-year old man has committed suicide in his room in Mmakwum village, Obosi in Idemili local council area of Anambra State. The deceased, identified as Prince Chigozie, was said to have been found hung dead in his room by his father.
The State Police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Haruna, who confirmed the report in a statement, said the case was being investigated to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“One Uche Gbughemobi of Mmakwum village Obosi, on the 30/8/2018, at about 1300hrs, reported at Obosi Division, how he found his son hanged dead in his room.
“Scene was visited, photograph obtained and victim was taken to Crown hospital Obosi where he was confirmed dead by the medical doctor,” he said.
In a related case, a woman allegedly poured hot water on her 11-year old biological son, Chiemerie Anyalebechi, in Ozubulu, Ekwusigo local council area of the state.
The suspect, identified as Ifeoma, was said to have carried out the dastardly act around 9.30am while the victim was fast asleep.
The Police spokesperson, Mohammed Haruna, who also confirmed the incident, said the victim is presently recuperating at the Ezehinne Health centre, Ozubulu where he was immediately rushed to for medical attention.
He said Police Patrol team attached to Ozubulu division had since visited the scene of the incident.
Mohammed said the suspect has been arrested, adding that the case was under investigation.
The Nation
NZUKO-ORA’S DECISION HIGHER THAN THAT OF IGWE NNEWI – IKEDOJI
Masquerades Partaking in Afia-Olu Festivals Should be accredited – Sam Ben Nwosu
The Public Complaints boss representing Anambra at the Public Complaints Commission, Hon. Prince Sam Ben Nwosu has called for proper planning and accreditation of Masquerades in future Afia-Olu festivals to forestall incidents of death that have occasioned the festival in the last two years.
Reacting to the incident of the death of a middle aged man who died last week in the just concluded Afia-Olu Nnewi festival. Prince Nwosu said it was wrong for ndi Nnewi to cry when they were supposed to be celebrating, he furthermore called on Nzuko-Ora Nnewi to look into the matter, to find lasting solutions.
Prince Sam Ben, maintained that it has become obvious that what is needed is for Nzuko-Ora to properly accredit masquerades who must participate in the festival. He said that in the past there used to be a method of checking the excesses of the masquerades through numbering and therefore called on Nzuko-Ora to revisit those measures.
He however stated that Nzuko-Ora Nnewi should not be blamed, as it is still seen as an accident, but called on them to proffer proactive measures to forestall future re occurrence.
However, the Ombudsman commended the police for their proactive measures that guaranteed peace throughout the festival apart from the incident. He therefore called on the police to double their efforts to ensure that the culprits of the recent murder during the festival are brought to justice, as justice delayed will amount to justice denied.
BREAKING: ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT SEALS-OFF UBA BRANCHES
Banking and transactional activities are currently grounded at different branches of the United Bank for Africa, UBA, in Anambra State as a task force unit set up by the State Revenue Board, sealed off the banks following task remittance irregularities.
Coronavirus: FG Relaxes Ban On Religious Gathering(Opens in a new browser tab)
ATMs are also closed down while customers have been stranded and made to re-route to other banks for minimal transactions.
Source: ABS